Chapter 4 (Part 6)

“The accusation that I tried to poison the Duke… The injustice of it just won’t go away.”

Sellakia gestured with her eyes for the knights holding Sophie to step aside. They hesitated but retreated once they realized Tenus was allowing Sellakia’s actions.

With the support gone, Sophie collapsed back to the floor.

Sellakia approached Sophie.

“Sophie. Do you admit to the crime of poisoning the Duke and trying to frame me?”

“….”

“If you don’t answer, you might lose your life, so think carefully.”

Sophie, seemingly having given up on everything, remained silent.

Perhaps that’s for the best.

Without a word, Sellakia lifted the heavy hem of her dress with her left hand. As she rummaged through the layers of lace, she felt the smoothest hem at her fingertips and a slight opening around her thigh.

The only time she could escape Nancy and Roberta’s watchful eyes was when Tenus was around. It was a spot she had hastily adjusted when even Tenus had gone to change clothes.

The dress, with its abundant frills, was undoubtedly designed for such a purpose. The expensive fabric didn’t stretch or sag even with slight damage. It perfectly concealed the item she had hidden underneath.

She hadn’t wanted to feel the merit of wearing a leg holster in this way.

Sellakia couldn’t decide whether to praise her preparedness or curse her unfortunate fate as she pulled a dagger from the small opening.

“What, what’s this?”

“A sword? Why is there a sword…?”

The sudden appearance of a well-sharpened blade from a dress without pockets caused a stir in the surroundings.

“W-what are you doing!”

Aldrich looked as if he might faint from shock.

In the midst of the chaos, Sellakia heard a small, deflating laugh. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it belonged to.

Sellakia gripped the dagger firmly, ensuring its point wasn’t directed at Tenus, and bent down to meet Sophie’s eyes.

“Stop it! What are you doing!”

“The one who suggested immediate execution was none other than you, Lord Logue, wasn’t it?”

“Still, how can you wield a sword inside the mansion…”

Aldrich looked to Tenus as if urging him to intervene.

“Let her be. Imagine how hurt she must be to be falsely accused of trying to poison her beloved husband.”

Tenus’s voice carried a hint of amusement. It was unclear whether he was defending or teasing her.

Sellakia exhaled deeply. If she didn’t constantly remind herself of who her true enemy was, she feared the dagger might end up pointing in the wrong direction.

“Sophie. Lift your head.”

Sophie didn’t move at Sellakia’s command. Reluctantly, Sellakia lifted Sophie’s chin with the dagger’s tip.

A thin line of red blood trickled down Sophie’s chin.

Sellakia thought she had controlled her strength, but the dagger’s sharpness, which never dulled without special honing, was difficult to handle precisely with her skills.

“This is your last chance. Was all of this truly your own doing?”

Sophie’s lips moved as if enchanted by the sweet voice that seemed to coax a confession.

However, Sellakia interrupted before Sophie could speak. She didn’t want Sophie to open her mouth.

“Your silence must mean you admit your guilt. In that case, there’s no helping it.”

“This isn’t something for you to stain your hands with!”

Aldrich hurriedly ran to Sellakia’s side. His anxiety had reached its peak as the script he had crafted spiraled out of control.

“You might want to step back unless you want blood on you.”

Aldrich glared defiantly, unwilling to comply.

“Don’t refuse Sellakia’s kindness.”

But when Tenus insisted, Aldrich reluctantly took a few steps back.

Sellakia adjusted her grip on the dagger.

From Aldrich’s position, he could only see Sellakia’s back. Meanwhile, the servants lined up against the opposite wall had a view of Sophie’s back.

All the servants were trembling and had their heads bowed low, seemingly afraid of getting caught in the crossfire.

Among them, Nancy stood out, her head held high. She looked as if she might burst forward at any moment. Sellakia pretended not to notice her desperate demeanor.

“….”

As she shifted her gaze, Sellakia’s eyes stopped at a particular spot. Amidst the bowed heads of the servants, she saw another face besides Nancy’s.

It was Amy.

Amy was staring directly at Sellakia. Her dark brown eyes were entirely different from when they had met in the drawing room before.

Her straightforward gaze, no longer trembling with fear, seemed to be scrutinizing Sellakia.

Sellakia composedly looked past that gaze to focus on Sophie.

“….”

Was this scheme truly Aldrich’s doing alone? 

The question suddenly arose.

The ruby brooch Sophie presented as evidence had come from Sellakia’s dressing room. If Aldrich had entered there, others would have surely noticed.

But a maid, like Amy, could move freely. She could enter the servants’ quarters and leave a letter on Sophie’s bed without anyone paying attention.

“Ha.”

Sellakia let out a bitter laugh. It felt as though an unwanted puzzle piece had found its way into her hand. Even if she completed the puzzle perfectly, she had no intention of using it, so it wasn’t particularly welcome.

Sellakia decided to clear her mind and focus on the present moment. The important thing now was to deceive Aldrich and safely conclude this charade.

“Sophie.”

Sellakia’s low voice echoed like thunder in the silent dining hall.

Sophie, seemingly resigned, didn’t move an inch. Her face was a mess, with swollen cheeks and a long trail of crimson blood running down from her chin.

Sellakia lowered her head as if to wipe the blood from Sophie’s neck. Then, in a voice only Sophie could hear, she whispered.

“You have the letter, right?”

Sophie’s unfocused eyes slowly turned to Sellakia. Her face expressed confusion at the subtle question, but she gave a faint nod.

Sellakia smiled slightly and gently caressed Sophie’s cheek, as if to reassure her. Whether Sophie understood the gesture was uncertain.

Now, her role was crucial.

The key was to deceive everyone with quick thinking and ensure her own safety with adequate strength.

Sellakia once again firmly grasped the dagger’s handle with both hands.

Just as she steadied herself to thrust the dagger, Tenus, who had approached unnoticed, gently grasped her hand.

“If you hold the dagger like that, you’ll get hurt.”

Sellakia realized belatedly that her hands were trembling under the soft grip covering her knuckles.

“I’m too uneasy to watch you like this.”

Tenus knelt down and gently took the dagger from Sellakia’s hand.

“I’ll handle this unpleasant task.”

Distracted by the warmth that enveloped her hand, Sellakia didn’t even think to stop Tenus.

In the blink of an eye, red blood splattered across her vision.

“Ah…”

For a moment, it felt as if the flow of air surrounding them had stopped. Sellakia forgot to even breathe as she stared blankly at Sophie.

Drip, drip.

The sound of blood dripping onto the marble floor was chillingly clear.

“The dagger is too short to kill with one strike.”

Tenus lifted the blood-soaked dagger for all to see. With his other hand, he supported the maid’s heavily leaning body.

Why isn’t he letting Sophie fall to the floor?

Amidst the shock muddling her mind, Sellakia noticed something suspicious about Tenus’s hand placement.

The shoulder area of the maid’s uniform, which was uniformly navy blue, was darker where Tenus’s hand touched. As she lowered her trembling gaze, she saw Sophie’s untouched abdomen. There was no blood flowing, not even a scratch on her clothing.

A flash of realization struck her bleached mind.

Sophie hadn’t been stabbed by the dagger.

Therefore, her life wasn’t in danger.

As this stream of consciousness passed through her, she could breathe again. Simultaneously, the metallic scent of blood in the air quickly cleared her mind.

Then whose blood is that…?

“This…”

This madman!

She almost shouted out loud. Sellakia bit her lower lip and cursed Tenus inwardly. The fact that what he did was exactly what she had intended to do didn’t matter.

“A funeral for a criminal would be a luxury. Dispose of her in the sea.”

Tenus commanded Mark. His face was calm, as if he hadn’t spilled a single drop of blood. His voice was equally composed.

Sellakia glared at Tenus and then urgently clutched her head.

“Ah, seeing the blood made me dizzy…”

It wasn’t something someone who had drawn a dagger and threatened to execute Sophie on the spot would say. Shame washed over her, but she couldn’t think of anything else.

“My legs are weak, I can’t walk.”

She closed her eyes and subtly leaned towards Tenus, who instinctively caught her. The hand that had been on Sophie’s shoulder now touched her back.

Just as she suspected. The spot where his left hand touched her back began to feel warm and wet. It was undoubtedly blood.

Madman, madman.

Sellakia opened her eyes slightly, cursing under her breath. She saw Tenus’s smooth face looking down at her with a frown.

Perhaps it was her imagination, but his complexion seemed pale. Sellakia, feeling urgent, mouthed silently.

‘Bedroom. Quickly.’

Tenus paused, his long silver eyelashes fluttering as he blinked. Soon, his eyes curved into a smile, as if he were enjoying the situation.

‘What are you doing!’

Sellakia put more force into her eyes, urging him silently. Finally, Tenus lifted her into his arms and stood up.

“Since the culprit has been executed, we’ll leave this matter as it is. You all know how to conduct yourselves.”

Tenus, who Sellakia thought would immediately rush out, took a moment to look around at the servants. He didn’t forget to check on Aldrich either.

“The Madame isn’t feeling well, so we’ll take our leave.”

Leaving a final command for the servants to clean up the dining hall, Tenus finally exited the room.