The Villainous Family is Against Independence - 123. Surely, you're not jealous

When Adenmir stepped forward, Beltran, who had been acting like he was in charge, glared at him with a reddened face.

“Brother. I thought I told you I would look into this.”

“There is no need.”

“I’ll do it while you take the other side.”

“I can’t trust you, Beltran, for causing friction even before the investigation begins.”

“That’s because Duke Perdia says I shouldn’t take the lady!”

“I don’t see why she would have any reason to object.”

“But Duke Perdia-!”

Adenmir tore his gaze away from Beltran, who was shouting in exasperation and looked back at the Duke of Perdia.

“Duke. May I take the lady with me to investigate this incident?”

Before the Duke could answer, Adenmir added.

“Of course, Duke Kreundel and Mercenary Ian will also be investigated separately.”

The person who asked the question was Adenmir, but the person Duke Perdia was looking at was me.

I smiled foolishly at the stare as if he were looking at the world’s greatest troublemaker.

The Duke sighed and turned away from me to look at Adenmir.

“If the investigation proceeds through legal procedures, there should be no reason to object.”

As the conclusion differed from before, Beltran began to act more defiantly.

‘Tsk tsk. How can he be a great leader when he shows his emotions like that?’

No matter how much I think about it, Beltran was not cut out to be an emperor.

“Well, I guess that’s that, then. I’ll take care of this investigation.”

As I started to get up from my seat, attempting to take off my coat following Adenmir, Jansi stopped me.

“Give it back to me later, Lili.”

“Yes, brother.”

I was grateful for Jansi’s consideration, as it would be disgraceful to travel all the way to the imperial castle in my tattered clothes.

But just as I was about to take a step away, Carlot squeezed the hem of my robe.

“Sister. Do you want me to come with you?”

“Why would you go? You should be practicing.”

“…… Okay.”

I patted Carlot’s arm, who had grown sullen again, and was about to step away again when someone else called out to me.

“Lady.”

This time, it was the Duke of Kreundel, who, after a brief consultation with the prince next to him, walked over to me.

The tall Duke Kreundel approached closely, tilting his head.

“I will contact you later.”

A small voice tickled my ear.

The Duke of Krundel’s face drew away from mine at the same time that I realized we were too close. Adenmir was staring at us, his eyes fierce.

It was as if he thought we were plotting something before the investigation.

‘I have enough to worry about.’

***

As Adenmir had said, I, Raeyan, and Duke Kreundel were separated and traveled independently.

I rode in Adenmir’s carriage to the castle.

I followed closely behind Adenmir, but he didn’t seem to be heading to the investigation room.

“Where are we going?”

“Just follow me.”

After a short while, we arrived not at an investigation room but at a reception room.

“Why are we here?”

“You’re injured, remember?”

I thought we would start the investigation right away, but Adenmir’s first action was to call the imperial physician.

“The wounds aren’t too deep. If you apply the medicine properly, they’ll heal quickly.”

After repeatedly urging me to apply the medicine properly while wrapping my forearm with bandages, the imperial physician withdrew.

Watching the treatment from the side, Adenmir asked me as the imperial physician left the reception room.

“Are there any other injuries?”

“No, there aren’t.”

“None?”

At that moment, Adenmir reached out and stroked my cheek with his thumb.

“…You have scratches.”

Ah, it seemed my face got scratched by flying debris from the collapsing building.

“That should heal on its own if you leave it alone.”

Adenmir, looking somewhat dissatisfied, withdrew his hand and sat down across from me, crossing his legs.

“I’ve been thinking about this before, don’t you know how to take care of yourself?”

I scratched my head at Adenmir’s out-of-the-blue question.

Is my vision playing tricks on me?

His face seemed to be covered in dissatisfaction. After a moment of contemplation, I asked him.

“Why are you upset?”

“I’m not upset.”

Sure, he’s not upset. Even though he’s radiating anger from head to toe.

“You seem upset. Like, with this fierce expression.”

As I mimicked Adenmir’s angry expression, he chuckled as if in disbelief.

“Huh, did I make that face?”

“Yes. Shall I show you in a mirror?”

“Never mind.”

The atmosphere lightened considerably, perhaps thanks to my sacrifice of facial expression.

And thanks to that, I also felt somewhat at ease.

‘He was polite in his own way.’

Rather than being taken directly to the investigation room for questioning, he brought me to the reception room, even providing medical treatment.

If that’s favoritism, then so be it. Considering that Duke Perdia also trusted Adenmir, he probably let me go.

“Now, let’s start the investigation.”

I was eager to finish quickly and leave.

Adenmir responded obediently to my suggestion.

“Could you briefly tell me what happened inside Madame Montgomery’s mansion?”

“I attended the masquerade ball. Suddenly, I heard people screaming, and a rift opened, unleashing a demonic beast. Unfortunately, a fire broke out as well. Since I had experienced closing a rift before, I thought I could handle it this time too. That’s all.”

I purposely left out the story of meeting Gabe Jenade.

He showed up while I was on the balcony, so I didn’t want to get in trouble if I mentioned it, since there was no one who could testify that we were together.

“Did you have an appointment with Lord Kreundel?”

I wasn’t expecting this question, but I didn’t want to be caught lying, so I answered truthfully.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“And what about Mercenary Ian?”

“He’s my escort.”

It was natural for an escort to be near the person they were escorting, so I wasn’t surprised.

Despite answering all questions truthfully, Adenmir stared at me with a look that suggested he had something to say.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You don’t like such places.”

The moment I heard Adenmir’s words, I unconsciously clenched my fist under the table.

The reason I didn’t attend such parties was to avoid tarnishing my honor as the fiancée of the First Prince. I only participated in official events, fearing that attending parties from other noble families might lead to accidents or worse.

I had no choice in the matter, and I never had the opportunity to develop a preference. However, it felt strange to firmly assert, “I don’t like it,” and it somehow left me feeling off.

For some reason, a slight sense of resentment crept in. I looked at Adenmir with a big smile.

“I’m trying to like it now.”

“Why?”

“Because I think I’ve had a very dull life so far.”

“…….”

Adenmir looked at me with eyes filled with complex emotions.

Although I couldn’t guess the exact meaning, the fact that I stirred some emotions in him was satisfying. After a brief silence, Adenmir spoke first.

“Still, attending such events with an unfamiliar man can be the subject of gossip, so it’s better to be cautious.”

Despite his words of advice, it sounded like unnecessary interference to me.

“I don’t think that’s any of your concern, Your Highness.”

“…….”

Silence fell again as I looked at Adenmir. In a playful manner, I added.

“Surely you’re not jealous.”

Jealousy. That’s what I said, but it was absolutely ridiculous….

***

Adenmir remained frozen throughout the process of completing the formalities and escorting Elodie home. 　

“Surely you’re not jealous.”

The words echoed in his ears.

“Ha.”

A small laugh escaped his lips, but then he stiffened.

He was just concerned that his ex-fiancee was suffering from some unnecessary scandal.

Because she was his ex-fiancee and nothing else. But he couldn’t stop thinking about Elodie receiving attention from Duke Kreundel and the mercenary Ian. Why was he so annoyed earlier when he leaned in close to her and whispered in her ear?

“Surely you’re not jealous.”

Again, Elodie’s sweet voice filled his head.

“Jealousy.”

Nonsense.

No.

No way. Adenmir, who vehemently denied it, suddenly blushed and covered his mouth with one hand.

‘…Me, jealous?’

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Jealous of his ex-fiancée, the one he’d broken up with? The moment of realization was horrifying.

***

The location: the office of Duke Perdia.

I was now experiencing one of the top five moments of shame in my life as Elodie.

Wriggle…….

I wriggled my body slightly, and the sharp voice resounded.

“Elodie.”

“Heup.”

I quickly righted myself and threw my arm up in the air. Yes, I was being punished.

I was being punished, a corporal punishment reserved for children: kneeling and raising my arms! I dare not imagine how a grown woman of noble birth would laugh at me if she knew I was being punished like this, but the funny thing was that the Duke of Perdia told me to keep one of my arms down because it was injured, and not to move it.

Giving and taking, creating a fuss.

I wished he had done just one of them…

In a subtly watchful manner, I spoke with a sullen tone.

“I won’t go there anymore…”

“Punishment is not for attending such a scandalous party. Raise your arm until you realize the reason and reflect on it yourself.”

I said I wouldn’t go there again, so if it’s not because of that, what is the reason? No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t find an answer.

As much as I wanted to be remorseful, I couldn’t because I didn’t know why.

All I could do was glance up at the Duke of Perdia as I fidgeted with my stiff arm again, and the Duke sighed and put down his quill.

“Elodie.”

“Yes.”

“You should have come out at the first sign of danger. But you didn’t.”

“But I had to close the rift……”

“Who commanded you to close the rift? Did anyone tell you to do so?”

“But I thought I should resolve it before the situation escalated. In the end, it was resolved well.”

If I hadn’t stepped forward, there might have been many casualties in the heart of the city due to the rift. Although it’s a speculation, there would likely be a group blaming me, mentioning my previous closure of the rift during the founding festival when the situation escalated.

So, I could consider my actions as the best course of action.

But the Duke of Perdia seemed to have a different perspective.

“And if something happened to you?”

“Nothing happened.”

“It’s entirely possible. You have no means of defending yourself.”

Frowning slightly, Perdia’s gaze fell to my bandaged forearm.

The cut hadn’t been deep, thankfully, but given the circumstances, it could easily have been more serious. Ah, I see. I understood what the duke was saying.

“……I’m sorry to worry you.”

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and the Duchess entered with graceful steps.

“Oh my.”

She, finding me, covered her mouth with a fan in surprise.

Wriggle…

Embarrassed, I curled up, becoming part of the study’s interior.

The duchess approached the duke and asked.

“Your Grace, what is this?”

“As you can see, I am punishing her.”

The duchess looked back at me with a look of wonder.

“If you were going to give her a punishment like kneeling, you should have provided a soft carpet.”

“Pardon?”