Since I Don't Know Anything About It, Shall We Break Up, Your Majesty? - Chapter 60

Gulp.

She swallowed dryly without realizing it.

It wasn’t particularly nerve-wracking, but her heart was beating strangely.

Lumiere’s cheeks reddened as she recalled the events of dawn.

That figure of herself clinging and crying seemed nothing like her at all.

The scent of bare skin that felt so close.

The warmth of skin that made her mind hazy.

Even the kisses that tempered her soul over and over.

As she had begged, Karl hadn’t left Lumiere in her right mind for a single moment.

Even though she had slept well and woken up, her whole body ached, and places she had never felt sore before were swollen and causing unfamiliar pain.

Perhaps because of that, it still felt like he was inside her.

It was an extremely strange and peculiar feeling.

“So, last night…”

As Lumiere spoke with difficulty, Karl cut in as if snatching her words.

“Do as you wish.”

“…Pardon?”

He smiled gently and lifted her hand, interlocking their fingers.

His lips, filled with longing, pressed firmly against the back of her hand.

“If you tell me to forget, I’ll forget. If you tell me to pretend not to know, I’ll pretend not to know. Even if you say it was a mistake, I can accept that.”

“……”

“You can say anything to me. It’s all okay. Do as you wish.”

Hearing his words, Lumiere felt she shouldn’t hesitate any longer.

“…Last night.”

Sunlight piercing through the green foliage sparkled in his eyes.

He was beautiful no matter how you looked at him.

Lumiere could no longer deny that his soul was sparkling as much as these golden eyes.

“I wanted to say thank you.”

Those beautiful eyes shook like a wheat field at sunset.

Lumiere grasped Karl’s hand that was still holding hers and said in a slightly clearer voice.

“Thank you, Karl.”

An undisguised smile spread across Karl’s lips.

* * *

“Miss! An invitation has arrived!”

Upon returning to the mansion, Cindy handed over a green envelope as if she had been waiting.

Quickly opening the familiar green envelope, it was indeed from someone she knew.

“Elina Buick?”

Karl was the first to acknowledge it.

Green was practically Elina’s symbol.

Anyone in the industry couldn’t help but know about Elina’s love for green.

“Yes. She says she received the portrait well and wants to invite me as a token of gratitude. Oh, Karl, did you know that Elina suddenly disappeared?”

“Hmm.”

Karl made an ambiguous sound while tapping his temple.

“I did receive a report that she needed rest. But the detailed matters of operation are under Osman’s jurisdiction, so…”

As Karl trailed off, Chris, who had been waiting with Cindy, stepped forward and picked up the conversation.

“We didn’t ask for details as it was said to be a personal matter. Osman is holding onto the penalty fee for canceling appearances. He said he would leave it as a promise to return if she’s not retiring.”

Elina had been with Osman’s parents since they ran the theater.

In other words, Osman was the oldest audience member who had watched Elina’s first stage.

So he must know how much Elina Buick loves the stage.

“…A personal matter.”

Lumiere fiddled with Elina’s green invitation.

It shouldn’t be anything serious.

“Send a reply saying I’ll visit in 10 days, Cindy.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Cindy answered energetically, but didn’t leave her spot.

She hesitated, hovering around Lumiere.

It seemed she had something to say.

Well, why wouldn’t she?

Lumiere looked at Cindy with softened eyes and opened her mouth.

“How is Jeffrey?”

“Dad is staying by Laurel’s side. Miss, what are you planning to do with Laurel?”

Laurel.

Lumiere had actually been thinking of handing Laurel over to the police.

But…

‘If she goes to the police, she’ll face trial. She probably won’t be able to defend herself properly without a lawyer and will receive a sentence.’

But even so, it would be at most a theft charge.

In fact, it was because she hadn’t directly done anything bad.

But that wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

‘The ones who instigated her will try to harm Laurel to eliminate evidence.’

Tartien.

…How difficult would it be for them to get rid of one maid who came from the ducal family as a criminal?

Similarly, it would be difficult to prove that Laurel committed the crime under Tartien’s instigation.

‘The moment she’s handed over to the police, she’ll be persuaded or threatened.’

Lumiere looked at Karl sitting across from her, drinking tea.

‘If this man’s influence works, the situation could change. But…’

If so, Laurel would be in even more danger.

Because Tartien’s side would undoubtedly try to kill Laurel by any means necessary.

“Are you thinking about her disposition?”

“Mm. I think Laurel should receive proper punishment. But that doesn’t mean it’s okay to leave her in danger.”

“You mean handing her over to the police?”

When Lumiere nodded briefly in response, Cindy, who had been watching them anxiously from the side, quietly asked.

“Um, why would Laurel be in danger if she’s handed over to the police?”

“Because Tartien’s influence will reach her. They won’t want to leave witnesses or evidence. So they’ll try to eliminate her.”

“……!”

Surprised, Cindy covered her mouth.

She thought Laurel would face trial and go to prison.

If her attempt to set fire to the mansion was acknowledged, in the worst case, an execution could even be carried out.

Even if not a high-ranking noble, she had still attempted to assassinate a noble after all.

‘But that’s just the worst assumption. It’s different from someone directly trying to kill her.’

Moreover, if that someone was the Tartien ducal family, it would have a much higher success rate than being executed.

What should we do?

Cindy bit her lip, trying to hold back a groan that was about to escape.

Laurel had certainly done wrong.

But it was also true that she’s pitiable.

More than anything else, the fact that she had lost her only family was the most pitiful.

Though sympathy might be a luxury for a criminal, she couldn’t suppress her concerned feelings.

Especially since she had been her father’s lover…

‘Dad…’

To be more honest, she was more worried about the shock Jeffrey would receive if something happened to Laurel than Laurel’s well-being itself.

At that moment, when a light silence settled in the reception room,

“…Miss.”

Someone entered the reception room with a voice roughened to a metallic tone.

“Jeffrey.”

He approached Lumiere with a haggard look and knelt down, saying.

“It’s right that she should be punished for committing a crime. But! Please, don’t let her die helplessly like this. It’s a life you saved, Miss.”

“……”

“I know I’m being shameless. I know I shouldn’t make such a request to you, Miss. But, but just this once, I beg you.”

“Jeffrey.”

“I will repay you with my entire life. I will repay your kindness for my entire life, Miss. Please, please…”

Jeffrey begged, banging his forehead on the floor.

Even though he clearly knew his daughter was right in front of him, he was kneeling and begging.

Cindy turned away as if she couldn’t bear to watch.

She turned her head, gritting her teeth as if refusing to take either side.

Lumiere pressed her forehead, swallowing a sigh.

In fact, she had no intention of just letting Laurel die either.

As Jeffrey said, hadn’t she stopped Laurel with her own hands when she wanted to die?

‘…But can I, can someone like me really protect her?’

And even cover up her crimes like this?

As she fell into contemplation, a single finger approached her.

Tap tap.

She raised her gaze at the light sound of tapping on the table.

A voice like syrup made from black tea gently extended a hand to her.

“I’ve been thinking about this… Would you like to hear it?”

* * *

Knock knock.

Knock knock knock!

At the sound of someone knocking on the mansion door repeatedly, Rita the housekeeper, who was busy cooking, shouted in surprise.

“What is everyone doing! Someone hurry and open the door!”

Rita, who couldn’t leave her spot as she was in the middle of stirring stew, stamped her feet.

Where on earth had all the workers gone, there was no answer from anyone.

“Oh, really! Where did you go, Cathy! Jack!”

Whether they had snuck off somewhere to kiss again, there was no response no matter how much she called.

“I’m really going to fire these kids soon!”

As Rita was grumbling and about to move the boiling stew pot aside, the lady, who should have been sound asleep, came down yawning.

“It’s alright, Rita. I’ll go. Yaaawn!”