Chapter 13. It Wasn’t a Confession, But Her Heart Raced

“He really stepped in sh*t.”

From the beginning, he shouldn’t have accepted that man.

No, he should have let go when that man’s schemes fell apart. He shouldn’t have tried to use someone who had become completely rotten.

“Baron Vulti denies it, but his double ledger has spread everywhere, and there’s no way to contain it.”

Viscount Tozille explained the situation he had learned in a gloomy voice.

He had stiffened his face considerably, as if it were his fault for not telling him to abandon Baron Vulti earlier.

“There’s growing resentment toward His Highness the Crown Prince for taking Baron Vulti’s side……”

“What did I ever give him?”

Suharto pondered for a moment before asking. What had he done for Baron Vulti?

He said he had worked at Jellisto Trading Company for a long time and couldn’t stand it anymore. The world thought Count Jellisto was an upright and fair person, but it was all a lie. He said he would reveal everything if he could just borrow that position.

“You gave him your name.”

And he thoroughly smeared mud on my name.

“And……”

Viscount Tozille hesitated, then closed his eyes and reported.

He gave up, as if there was no point in hiding what would be discovered anyway.

“Attention is focusing on Jellisto Trading Company and Grand Duke Rudfelix.”

Those who had insisted on Count Jellisto’s innocence from the beginning and revealed the double ledger to be false were once again on everyone’s lips.

The crown prince had taken the side of a corrupt man, while the Grand Duke had saved someone who was nearly unjustly sacrificed.

Suharto took a long breath to calm his excitement. Only then could he create his usual smile.

A false smile to hide his true feelings.

He had been floating proudly like a swan in the middle of the political arena, and there was no need to flap his wings over such a trivial matter.

“My relationship with Baron Vulti ended previously.”

“Your Highness?”

“Today I gave him one last consideration. I went to tell him to confess, and Baron Vulti, feeling guilty at my words, was caught while obediently leaving.”

The quick-witted Viscount Tozille nodded and got out of the carriage.

Anyway, it didn’t matter who heard their conversation. When the world believed something, minority voices were bound to die out.

The moment Suharto stepped out of the cramped carriage to change to the imperial carriage.

“Do you think you can deceive the world?”

Rudfelix, who had been leaning against the carriage, slowly turned his head. In front of him, Viscount Tozille stood with an awkward expression.

“I never expected you to be listening like a thieving cat.”

Suharto burst into loud laughter.

“You’ve become quite the politician since becoming a Grand Duke.”

A man who used to be nothing but honest.

“You were blatantly riding in the carriage that kidnapped Baron Vulti, yet you call me a thieving cat?”

Suharto’s smiling face twitched, and his eyebrows squirmed. Since Rudfelix had rescued him, he would have recognized the carriage, but to think he had sneaked up and listened.

“How wonderful. This incident must have increased your supporters.”

Suharto spread his arms exaggeratedly toward Rudfelix.

“Was that your aide’s idea?”

Rudfelix would never have handled it this way. Even his taking the kidnapped Baron Vulti was all part of Suharto’s plan.

He had tried to use even that, but hadn’t he been backstabbed?

“……”

Suharto’s mouth widened again as he got his answer from the silence.

It was the bright face of a child who had discovered a toy he wanted.

“I really want her.”

“That’s enough.”

Rudfelix opened his palm.

And faced Suharto’s expression of wanting to possess Elena.

“Elena is like the world to me. If you try to take that world, what do you think I’ll do?”

He pressured Suharto in a low voice.

“I’ll break and destroy your world.”

Suharto clenched his fist at Rudfelix’s strong aura.

“I have no intention of taking your world yet. Don’t provoke me. Even I don’t know how I might change.”

* * *

“What do you think of the results of trusting and entrusting this to me?”

With Baron Vulti’s wailing as background music, Elena gave Rudfelix a questioning look. Though covered from head to toe in an overcoat, his lips formed a small curve under his hat.

“I’m satisfied.”

At his acknowledgment, Elena shrugged. From the beginning, she had no intention of using the double ledger only for the deal with Baron Vulti. She had torn out the inner pages to send to each noble and offered to make a deal with just the cover.

Burning the ledger at the end was to eliminate evidence that the inner pages were missing, but it was also intended to lull the baron into a false sense of security.

“With this, Spark Trading Company will focus solely on internal reorganization for a while.”

Since even the trading company master had been captured, they wouldn’t be able to run wild seeking revenge against Jellisto Trading Company.

“My father has been completely cleared of false accusations, and Your Highness has become known as someone with excellent judgment of character.”

The nobles he supported would now be considered basically trustworthy. Of course, this effect wouldn’t be significant from just one incident, but it was enough to add to Grand Duke Rudfelix’s basic reputation.

The situation that could have been disadvantageous to Rudfelix had completely reversed, so nobles would be more eager to ally with him.

Conversely, the crown prince was left with the stain of having supported Baron Vulti.

“Killing two birds with one stone, digging a ditch and catching a crayfish. We’ve gained two benefits from one action.”

“It was even more fruitful than that.”

At the hint that there was more, Elena tilted her head.

While racking her brain to figure out what he meant, she looked up at the warmth touching her head.

“I also heard a confession that my aide likes me.”

“I said that because you asked if I was Baron Vulti’s aide.”

“I don’t mind if you meant you like being my subordinate. Whatever it means, you said you like me.”

Rudfelix slightly lifted Elena’s hat. Then he barely brushed her eye area, which had reddened in embarrassment, with his index finger.

“I like you too. I’ve come to like you, Aide Elena.”

“Thank you.”

Since hearing that he liked her was better than being told outright that he hated her, Elena expressed her gratitude. She felt his finger that brushed her face was hot, but she didn’t mention it.

He said he liked her as an aide, but her body twisted uncomfortably.

“Aide Elena.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Interpret my saying I like you as more than just an aide.”

Rudfelix lowered his voice as he lowered his hand. It was the tone he usually used when giving instructions, but Elena froze as she was about to take out her notebook.

She had realized something strange while mulling over his words.

Considering Elena’s reaction more entertaining than Baron Vulti’s capture, Rudfelix took out the notebook for her instead.

“This notebook is for writing down things that shouldn’t be forgotten, so write what I said two or three times.”

“Your Highness? So……”

Elena received the notebook and forcibly pieced together words from her complicated mind, trying to figure out what to say.

Do you like me?

You like having an aide?

Have I taken the aide position you like?

Though she clearly understood what he meant, her usually praised clever mind wasn’t working properly due to her confusion.

“You like having an aide?”

“No. I said I like you, Aide Elena. Elena Jellisto.”

Just saying he liked an aide would be troublesome. Don’t drag Quiet into this.

Rudfelix shuddered.

“Since when?”

“I was confused before, but I became certain when you told me you liked me earlier.”

While Elena was arguing with Baron Vulti over the ledger, Rudfelix had an inner struggle regarding his feelings for Elena.

In the quiet basement, where Elena and Baron Vulti’s loud voices had been exchanged, he remained silent, but a tumultuous war raged inside him.

Even knowing she often changed her words submissively and expressed liking things depending on the situation, he couldn’t casually dismiss Elena’s words of affection.

Perhaps he wanted to use her words as an excuse to firmly root his wavering heart.

While Elena was dealing with Baron Vulti, Rudfelix sorted out his feelings.

“Is this a confession?”

Though it was obviously a confession, she asked if it really was one. She spoke half-impulsively without thinking about how to react if he said yes.

“No.”

“No?”

Elena’s mind cooled as if cold water had been poured over it.

Ironically, only after being denied that it was a confession did her mind start working again. To understand what Rudfelix meant, she mulled over what he had told her.

“I merely informed you of the facts since you’re my aide who must work closest to me.”

Rudfelix looked around. In doing so, he subtly reminded her that they were in the middle of the street. Though it was of no use since she wasn’t looking at him.