Chapter 11.10

“….”

Kaiden’s eyes flickered.

How obvious.

Kaiden shook off Melosi’s hand and looked at her with a bitter smile.

“That doesn’t matter anymore.”

Facing his cold gaze, Melosi smiled sadly.

“No, it does matter. I know it’s presumptuous, but I’ve always known. From the moment we first met. I always knew where your gaze was.”

Melosi remembered the day she first met Kaiden. She hadn’t received a proper education and had just come up from the countryside. The first person she met was Kaiden Bannon.

At first, she was interested in his handsome face, then charmed by his gentlemanly demeanor.

But wherever Kaiden went, he only looked at Brienne Ford. Always with a faint smile on his lips.

That sight, as if he was trying to hide his feelings, made Melosi care for him even more. She was curious. She wanted to know what this man was thinking.

And as those feelings grew, she became more envious of Brienne Ford, who caught Kaiden Bannon’s gaze. The more she understood the deep emotion in that gaze, the more she felt it.

Melosi could always see it.

Kaiden’s feelings for Brienne, his gaze, his smile. Every moment he thought of her was as clear as the summer sky when she first met him.

How happy must it be to receive such overwhelming love?

Not long after having those thoughts, she became engaged to Kaiden. For a while, her heart fluttered, but day by day she grew sadder.

Because Melosi knew how warm his feelings were, and exactly where they were directed, she could never be happy.

“…Kaiden, Miss Ford will soon marry Young Master Belif. Then you’ll be left alone. You’ll become the unhappy man who lost the woman he loved most to his closest friend.”

An unhappy man.

Kaiden repeated the words, not so different from his current state, and gave a small laugh. But he didn’t realize how tightly he was clenching his hand.

Melosi’s gaze fell to Kaiden’s tightly clenched hand.

“But I can promise you just one thing. For me, it will always be you.”

Melosi’s voice was gentle, but such words gave Kaiden no comfort.

“That almost sounds as if you love me.”

At his mocking tone, Melosi’s eyes wavered. Biting her lip, her voice trembled.

“…I suppose you could say that. But I know it won’t affect your decision.”

Kaiden.

Melosi, whispering his name in a cheerful voice, continued.

“I’m just asking you to make the most ideal choice as Young Master Bannon. Since you were born with the name Bannon, you should bear the responsibility of that position. I should as well.”

“Responsibility…”

Kaiden gave a short laugh and looked up.

“Melosi Bailey. Then let me give you what I think is the most ideal answer.”

Melosi, facing his cold answer, lowered her head. She knew what kind of answer those eyes, that voice, would give her.

“Please, Kaiden…”

Even so, Melosi clasped her hands together and whispered. Her pale blue eyes, filled with transparent tears, looked so pitiful.

But Kaiden’s answer was as smooth as ever.

“No matter what you say, I’m not going back. I’m no longer Young Master Bannon or your fiancé. So, Miss Bailey, if you’re looking for a savior to pull you out of that unfortunate life, I hope it isn’t me.”

Kaiden nodded politely and turned away. Tears fell from Melosi’s eyes as she stood up after him.

“It’ll always be the same! Even if you try to run from your fate, nothing will ever change!”

At those words, Kaiden’s steps stopped.

Melosi, not missing that brief moment, hurried to block his way.

“Maybe the Duke isn’t looking for you now. But what will you do in the future? Do you really think you can escape the Duke of Bannon’s grasp?”

“That’s none of your business, Melosi Bailey.”

Kaiden answered firmly and turned his gaze away from Melosi. Still, just a little, please… Melosi, who had clung to hope with many words, let go in that moment.

Melosi nodded and gave a powerless smile.

“…If your resolve is that strong, then I won’t force you anymore. Instead, I’ll make you another offer.”

“An offer?”

“I’ll tell you the Duke of Bannon’s weakness. I have in my hand, stolen from my father’s study, something that is the Duke’s weakness.”

“…How can I believe that?”

With a rather confident face, Melosi stepped closer to Kaiden.

“You came here because you want to win Brienne Ford back, didn’t you?”

His deep blue eyes, staring straight at her, wavered.

“That wish, I’ll make it come true for you.”

* * *

Derrick Harrington’s interrogation took place the next morning, under the direction of Garzen, who had exclusive investigative rights.

However, Brienne, who was directly involved, could not participate because she had to attend Academy classes, and Herace, the assistant, was also unable to join for the same reason.

So Aaron agreed to attend in Brienne’s place and deliver the results of the interrogation. As soon as class ended, Brienne headed to Herace’s office to find Aaron.

“Miss Ford! You’re here!”

Aaron was waiting for her on the office sofa.

“Yes, where’s Herace?”

“He’s not here yet. Ah, if you’d like, would you like to look over the documents first?”

Aaron sprang up and awkwardly handed her an envelope.

Brienne smiled as she accepted it, finding Aaron’s attempt at formality amusing—he really seemed like someone who’d just attended an interrogation.

“Thank you. You must have had a hard time going so far for me since morning.”

“Not at all. Thanks to you, I got to see the royal palace—it was nice, really…”

Scratching the back of his head, Aaron suddenly looked up.

“Ah, instead of just standing here, should I make some tea?”

“Aaron?”

“Yes, I’m really good at brewing tea—I always get praised by Herace. So, just wait a moment. I’ll make you some really delicious tea!”

“Oh, I’m fine…”

Brienne tried to decline, feeling a bit sorry, but Aaron didn’t mind and turned toward the corner of the office.

Having no choice, Brienne closed her lips and sat on the sofa, examining the envelope.

On the neat envelope were Lusellion’s name and the seal of the Marquis Bartshire family. The royal emblem was also on one side.

‘Lusell must have written this.’

Without much thought, Brienne opened the envelope right away.

[Derrick Harrington.]

The first page of the document listed his identity and the purpose of the investigation. It was a format she’d never seen before.

But as Brienne flipped through the pages with curiosity, her expression soon stiffened.

‘What… is this?’

Brienne’s eyes stopped at one spot.

Frowning, she adjusted her posture and quickly flipped through the documents.

Page by page. The closer she got to the end, the more the once-stiff paper became crumpled.

So when Herace returned to the office, he was greeted only by the wrinkled documents, an empty teacup, and the serious faces of the two.

“…Brienne?”

Herace, opening the door with his coat in hand, paused, looking a bit surprised.

Sensing the mood, Aaron explained the situation briefly to Herace and left the room.

With just Herace and Brienne left, a subtle silence settled in the office.

Herace, placing his coat on the sofa, carefully checked Brienne’s complexion.

“…Ah, Herace.”

Brienne’s gaze, which had been fixed on the documents, finally moved to Herace.

“Is everything alright?”

Brienne shook her head with a faint smile. After hesitating for a moment, a weak voice escaped her lips.

“Derrick Harrington claimed that he only lent his name to that business, and that the underground prison wasn’t his property. He said he didn’t order my abduction, but only did it as a favor to Melosi Bailey.”

“…”

“Did Miss Bailey really lie to me?”

Brienne’s face, trying to smile, grew dim.

She’d always thought that day was Derrick Harrington’s revenge, and never imagined Melosi Bailey’s name would come from his mouth.

She couldn’t figure out what was going on.

“May I look at the documents?”

“Of course.”

Brienne pushed the documents toward Herace and nodded. While he checked them, Brienne sighed deeply, feeling frustrated.

On the last page, it stated that Derrick Harrington was sent back to Rontiano immediately after the interrogation.

With the investigation into the kidnapping case—which had stalled due to his disappearance—now resumed, he would surely be punished there.

With even the testimony of the Prince of Roeta, there was no way he could escape investigation now.

Yet, rather than feeling relieved that the ordeal was resolved, Brienne felt more wronged and angry.

Not only was Melosi Bailey possibly involved, but Brienne felt utterly deceived by her.

“I still don’t understand. That day, Miss Bailey…”

She had acted as if she were the only victim, seeking Brienne’s sympathy, without any hint of the real story.

Brienne was angry at herself for comforting her.

Even though she’d already been fooled once.

She’d fallen for Melosi’s broken appearance and tears, never even thinking to suspect her. Even after hearing Herace’s suspicions about Melosi and Derrick’s relationship.

‘…How foolish.’

Brienne let out a hollow laugh, trailing off, and Herace spoke to comfort her.

“I know very well that Melosi Bailey never said anything like that, Brienne. Let’s meet her again first. She said she’d give us more information if we arranged for her to meet Kaiden, so we can use that as leverage to set up a meeting.”

“…Yes. I think that’s best.”

Brienne nodded, her face dark.

But something else was bothering her.