It seemed like I could hear more voices from inside, but I didn’t want to listen anymore, so I left the room immediately without checking.

Coming outside, I felt like the tightness in my chest was easing a bit.

I wanted to check once, but after confirming the reality, I couldn’t shake off the bitter feeling.

I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

Then I started to move to go back down the way I came up.

That’s when it happened.

I heard the sound of the door bursting open behind me. As if I had become a scared bird, I flinched greatly at the sound of the door opening.

Belatedly turning my head, I saw Alex approaching me from the door.

Alex sighed in relief as he confirmed that I was nearby. Then he strode towards me with his long legs.

“Let’s go together.”

“What? Why? Don’t you have something to do inside, Alex?”

When I asked him in confusion, Alex shrugged his shoulders.

“I’ve already taken care of everything I needed to handle anyway. The rest is for Lady Maynard and Kruger to do.”

“Still…”

I recalled Duke Franz whom we had just met.

Duke Franz seemed to be acting as if he had something he believed in.

He didn’t seem to care at all that the two dukes were pressuring him.

I thought Alex should stay at Duke Franz’s confrontation site to prepare for any possible contingencies.

However, contrary to my concerns, Alex smiled faintly to indicate it was fine.

“Duke Anstis is there, so don’t worry.”

“…I see.”

I looked at the door we had come out of for a moment.

Although Alex said to be at ease, I couldn’t help but worry.

I had already seen with my own eyes how Duke Franz was being treated here, so the anxiety could only be greater.

Even so, I had to agree since it wasn’t something I could question Alex about when he said he had done what needed to be done.

“Shall we go down for now?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

I nodded at Alex’s suggestion, thinking that staying here any longer would only make me uncomfortable.

Alex naturally took my hand. The gesture was so natural that even I thought it was normal.

I looked up at him, taking in the warmth that enveloped my hand, which had grown cold from the encounter with Duke Franz.

He was smiling kindly.

Looking at his face, I felt the anxiety that had bloomed in my stomach until now easing a bit.

Soon, Alex started to walk slowly. I followed him out of the corridor.

“I knew he was that kind of person.”

Alex muttered in a small voice just as we arrived on the first floor.

Realizing what he meant, I gave a bitter smile.

“Is that why you were more opposed?”

“…Yes.”

Alex sighed softly and agreed.

Somehow, I thought it might be like that.

If there was someone among us who knew Duke Franz well, it would be Alex.

He had been dealing with Duke Franz from before, so he would know better than anyone how eccentric Duke Franz was.

That’s why he was so opposed when I said I was going to meet Duke Franz.

I felt good, newly realizing that Alex was being considerate of me.

“Thank you for caring.”

“…Are you okay?”

When I spoke in a small voice, Alex carefully asked back.

“Of course. I was a bit surprised and shocked at first, but now I’m fine.”

The crimes committed by Duke Franz had surfaced, and the victims were starting to show themselves.

Even Alex and Duke Anstis, who were nobles like him, were showing evidence of being attacked by Duke Franz.

That’s why I thought Duke Franz would be suffering in an underground prison.

No matter how noble he was, I thought it would be difficult for him to avoid punishment this time.

But reality was very different from what I thought.

“I guess I just didn’t know.”

“……”

I answered in an indifferent voice, but Alex remained silent.

Thinking it was an expression of agreement, I slowly walked out of the security office when suddenly Alex tightened his grip on my hand.

“Suddenly, I wonder if it was a mistake to call you to the capital.”

I could understand what Alex was trying to say.

“The things I’ve experienced here have certainly been too painful and difficult. I don’t want to go through them again.”

As I readily agreed, Alex closed his mouth. He looked apologetic.

“But it’s not like you intended that, Alex. It was unavoidable, and you got caught up in it too.”

When I spoke in a deliberately cheerful voice, Alex smiled faintly.

Then he looked at me again with wavering eyes.

“Claire, you are really brave and admirable.”

“Me?”

I opened my eyes wide at his words.

“In what way?”

“In every way.”

“That’s why I’m asking you to explain why you feel that way.”

As Alex tried to brush it off, I frowned as if offended, and he laughed softly.

“Every moment I’ve watched you has been like that. Coming to find me in the warehouse, proposing a contract to me to protect the Maynard county, and even after experiencing unpleasant things while staying at my mansion, telling me you want to stay by my side.”

Was it like that?

That was the only option I had to choose.

If I had let things flow as in the original story, it would have been difficult to save not only other people’s lives but also my own.

And I couldn’t just stand by and watch the Maynard county, which had cherished me like family, collapse.

To me, the people of the Maynard county were all family.

Miss Veronica also thought of me as family, so she willingly came up to the capital for me.

The fortunate thing was that Alex wasn’t the villain I knew from the original story.

Thinking about it that far, I seemed to understand why Alex was different from the original.

The original story begins a year after Miss Veronica saves Alex.

Even now, it would be a matter of a few months later.

That means Alex had to go through all of this alone.

Being betrayed twice by the knight he trusted, and to make matters worse, Duke Franz being behind it all…

I don’t think there’s justification for Alex’s evil deeds in the original story, but somehow I could understand why he became so twisted.

Maybe I should say it’s fortunate that the current result came about.

Just as I was about to speak to him after accepting the situation, someone approached from the side.

Alex reflexively stretched out his hand in front of me as if to protect me.

I belatedly checked who the approaching person was. An unknown man was standing in front of us with a heavy expression.

“Sir Lucas.”

Alex called the man in a low voice, seeming to know him. The man then took a step back.

Wondering what he was doing, I watched as he suddenly knelt in front of us.

“I’m sorry, Duke Berzel. What Duke Franz did to you is certainly unforgivable. These words alone can’t cover up what happened. But, couldn’t you show leniency just this once?”

The knight called Lucas pleaded to Alex in a low voice.

Alex looked down at Lucas with an expressionless face.

“If you’re talking about your own crimes, I might show leniency. But if it’s about Duke Franz, I’ll have to decline.”

As I had roughly guessed from the conversation, Lucas seemed to be a knight of Duke Franz’s family.

He gritted his teeth as Alex finished speaking. Then he bowed his head deeply.

Alex frowned, seemingly displeased with Lucas’s behavior.

“Do you know what it means for you to kneel before me and ask for leniency for Duke Franz?”

“I do.”

“And how Duke Franz would react if he found out about this?”

“…Yes.”

Lucas’s answer fell heavily.

“I’m disappointed. I know you’ve already acted against Duke Franz’s wishes, but you shouldn’t have knelt before me.”

Alex seemed greatly disappointed. However, despite Alex’s words, Lucas didn’t raise his head. Or rather, he couldn’t.

As Alex, having finished his business, tried to lead me away, a low voice was heard from Lucas.

“I’ve confirmed all the measures you’ve taken, Your Grace. If the trial proceeds like this, Duke Franz won’t be able to avoid punishment.”

Alex stopped at his words.

“As you said, Your Grace, I know well that my arbitrary apology is damaging to Duke Franz’s honor. But I can’t just wait and do nothing while he receives punishment.”

Lucas raised his head. He seemed to be filled with desperation.

Alex silently looked down at Lucas, then turned his gaze away for a moment. He seemed to be organizing his thoughts and emotions.

Then he soon turned his gaze back to Lucas.

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible. Besides, I’m not the only one you should apologize to, am I?”

“……”

Hearing those words, Lucas’s gaze rested on me. He soon bowed his head with a solemn expression.

After confirming this, Alex finished speaking and pulled my hand.

I watched the unfolding situation and then followed Alex out of the security office building.

Looking back, I saw that even after we had left, the person called Lucas couldn’t get up from that spot.