Chapter 4 – Part 5

‘Gael Abyss.’

One such task was handling Harry’s testimony. He had claimed that Kellic was a knight planted by Gael. If Harry’s words were true, Olivia would be faced with a dilemma.

Was there a need to interrogate Gael Abyss? She had to weigh this carefully.

‘Irritating, so irritating!’

Gael Abyss had always annoyed her, even in the original story. Though he was described as a breathtakingly handsome man struggling with his feelings for the heroine, Ronae Olivia couldn’t care less. A good face wasn’t everything; character mattered more!

“Ugh, but I can’t just let it go.”

Whether Harry Palmer took the fall for crimes he didn’t commit wasn’t her concern. However, if Gael Abyss was indeed behind Kellic’s actions, that was another matter. Given his character, it was entirely plausible.

Still, she couldn’t blindly accuse him without understanding his motives. She needed to meet him. Avoiding him forever wasn’t an option.

“I feel suffocated!”

Olivia rubbed her bruised neck. Melanie’s ointment smeared onto her fingertips.

Did she really have to go this far? A wave of doubt washed over her, but the plan was already in motion. She had to follow through.

Olivia quickly donned a suit typically worn by men and stepped out of the mansion. The servants widened their eyes at the sight.

Their surprised expressions were amusing, though not as bewildered as before. Instead…

‘Why do they look so expectant?’

They seemed curious about what she was up to this time. Olivia flashed them a brief smile.

Being late at night, Glenn accompanied her for protection. Truthfully, he was more of a devoted follower than a mere guard.

“Look who it is! The Marchioness herself.”

Despite the late hour, Fore greeted her warmly. Olivia felt a twinge of awkwardness.

“Sorry for coming so late.”

“The Marchioness is always welcome. But…”

“Hmm?”

“Oh, nothing.”

Fore waved his hand dismissively and led her to the backyard instead of inside.

“You’re here to see the lake, right?”

“That’s right, Fore.”

“You’ve always loved the lake at our estate.”

She had often come when feeling stifled. The serene lake, surrounded by the gentle sounds of insects, exuded a subtle, understated beauty.

In the modern world, she could at least relieve stress by hitting NPCs in 3D, but here, she couldn’t. She preferred quiet contemplation over actual swordplay in this world.

Olivia tossed a stone into the water, attempting to skip it, but it merely plunked into the lake.

Who was good at this? If she dug deep into her memories, she could probably recall someone who excelled at skipping stones.

“Marchioness, there’s someone over there.”

“Hmm, I know.”

But there was no need to strain her memory. The presence was too obvious to ignore. Olivia peered into the darkness.

“Stop lurking and come out, Duke Stalker.”

“…”

Apparently, he wasn’t even trying to hide properly. A large man trying to blend in with a tree was ridiculous.

“Should I give you some privacy?”

Glenn, seeming exasperated, asked Olivia. She shook her head.

“No need. I came to see the clear water, not to converse with unpleasant people.”

At the mention of “unpleasant people,” Marsden visibly flinched. Olivia felt a bit of satisfaction.

“I really dislike people who are creepy but have a decent face. What do you think, Commander?”

“I agree. People should be straightforward. Scheming from the shadows is unacceptable.”

Marsden snapped a twig he was holding in frustration. Olivia found herself liking Glenn more. If only someone had half his straightforwardness back then.

“…Buddy.”

“Oh, the insects are noisy. I suddenly hear strange sounds.”

Glenn stifled a laugh, forcibly lowering his lips. The large figure emerged from behind the tree.

“I don’t know what ‘stalker’ means, but I admit to being creepy. I thought I’d run into you if I stayed here.”

Marsden admitted, stepping forward into the moonlight.

‘So you’ve been showing up at the lake instead of barging into the mansion. But you’re still keeping silent about my disappearance, acting all sharp and edgy.’

“Why is a duke’s mental fortitude so weak?”

“Because you were… injured.”

“Hmm.”

“When it comes to you, I always lose my composure. Back when you were my student, I was the one always telling you to stay calm. You’d find it amusing if you could see me now.”

Marsden self-deprecated as he walked towards Olivia, cautious yet unwavering.

“I’ll wait for you in a place you can come to, and if I can’t hold back, I’ll go find you.”

“……”

“I know all of this could burden you and could be seen as violence against you. If that’s the case, I’ll stay where I am and wait for whatever punishment you deem fit.”

Instead of apologizing, he was essentially begging for death. Olivia shoved her hands into her coat pockets.

“You have no intention of saying anything until the end?””

“…Yeah.”

“You’d rather be suspected as the culprit than speak? That’s a pretty dumb mindset.”

She heard Glenn gasp behind her, likely shocked by the conversation’s direction.

“Troy Marsden.”

“Yes, Olivia.”

“If I told you to die, would you do it?”

The wind rustled through the grass, and she heard the faint plop of droplets falling from leaves.

“Even after death.”

Marsden smiled softly.

“You can take everything I leave behind. Take only the good, leave the bad.”

Olivia wanted to kick Marsden in the shin. Annoying bastard. Truly an irritating bastard.

With a surge of anger, Olivia strode towards Marsden. The dagger at her waist glinted between her clothes, as if daring her to take his life.

She raised her hand and brought it down on his fair skin…

“Oww?”

Marsden clutched his forehead, stunned. Olivia, having flicked his forehead, sneered.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Troy. My temper may be foul, but I’m not one to kill out of mere anger. I’ll find out if you’re guilty myself. Until then, don’t expect any sympathy from me.”

“…Can I at least stay by your side?”

Marsden stepped closer, undeterred by the forehead flick.

“You can stay beside me, then?”

Despite the forehead flick, he looked at her with an earnest expression.

‘Idiot’ Her rational side doesn’t even suspect him as the culprit.

“If you turn out to be the culprit, can I kill you right away?”

“I know a renowned blacksmith called ‘The Artisan.’ I’ll get you the sharpest blades in every variety.”

Always the smooth talker. Olivia shook her head in disbelief.

“Fine. But you should know there’s a price for your silence. You’re not just hiding the culprit; you’re also concealing where I was left and how I managed to return. You’re withholding the mystery behind my reappearance.”

“I’m aware.”

Olivia meant it. The murdered ‘Olivia’ had vanished, only to reappear in her bedroom one day. Marsden was entwined in that mystery.

“What will you do if I find out?”

“I’ll break the curse the culprit cast, so we can take our time killing him together.”

It was a curse that affected anyone who caused harm. She could have someone else do it, but there was no need to sacrifice anyone else.

Such a hassle! Olivia clicked her tongue.

“Curses, such… tedious and complicated things.”

“Exactly, so I don’t want to lose you to it.”

Olivia looked up. Marsden’s face was clearer under the moonlight, his features etched with anguish.

He had lost his family to a curse. Thinking of Marsden’s past, Olivia felt a pang in her heart. Unconsciously, she raised a hand to unbutton her collar.

“…?! What…”

Marsden’s large hand grabbed her wrist. Unlike her calm demeanor, Marsden’s face was twisted with fury.

“What happened to your neck?”

The sound of his teeth grinding rose from his throat.

“Who did this? Tell me. Who did this to you?!”

Marsden, abandoning his submissive posture, hugged her to examine the wound.

Olivia stood still, drawn to the touch. It’s right.

‘It’s right.’

***

If she couldn’t hear the truth, she wanted to know his sincerity.

The people who wanted her gone, or were suspected of it, were universally uninterested in Olivia’s condition.

They didn’t care where she was hurt. They only cared about whether she was in the condition they were familiar with. Among them, someone like Harry Palmer was particularly upset that she had “survived.”

“When did this happen? Was it today?”

A chilling voice fell on Olivia. The aura was so intense that it made Glenn instinctively alert.

But the body holding her was trembling slightly. As if he couldn’t bear not knowing more about her injuries, the gloved hand slightly lifted Olivia’s shirt collar.

“……!”

His teeth were bared slightly through his lips, showing how tightly he was clenching them. He looked ready to bite whoever had hurt her.

“Are you curious?”

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll kill anyone who might have done this to you. They won’t be of any help to you alive anyway.”

Olivia was a bit surprised by how casually he talked about killing people. The intensity of his menace was deeper than she had expected.

“Ha… The fact that the bruising isn’t severe suggests you got away in time… The width of the wound indicates a man did it. The uneven scratches suggest his hands were unsteady. Should I start by cutting off his hands?”

Veins stood out on his pale forehead. Olivia tried to remove Marsden’s hand, but it didn’t budge, like a stone.

“If you’re not going to talk, just let me know. I’ll start with the most likely suspect.”

“Do you really mean to kill them all?”