Chapter 21 

In the end, Jeremy had to rub his stiff legs after sitting for so long and get out of the carriage.

“Young Master… Is this really necessary? Wouldn’t it be better to return and send a letter to the royal family rebuking the Duke of Vallière’s rudeness?”

“I’ll be back, Sir Eliot.”

Jeremy raised his free hand, the one not holding his cane, to silence Eliot. Then he paused to gaze at the sprawling, almost cruelly vast gardens of the ducal mansion.

‘I can do this. I have to bring Rosalie back.’

Jeremy squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them and took his first step.

“Welcome. We’ve been expecting you.”

About forty minutes later, Jeremy, wiping away sweat that poured like rain, stood at the entrance and followed the butler’s guidance up the stairs.

Hystein shamelessly did not even come out to greet Jeremy.

Given Jeremy’s status and the fact that he had been kept waiting for over two hours, it was an excessive discourtesy.

However, Jeremy wasn’t bold enough to openly criticize Hystein.

“The master is inside. Please, go in.”

Standing in the lavishly decorated, bright hallway, Jeremy barely nodded and caught his breath.

He was already exhausted from chasing after the butler, who walked quickly without considering his limp.

Click—the butler opened the door, and sunlight poured violently through the gap. Jeremy squinted against the harsh rays.

Hystein de Vallière was lounging on the sofa in the drawing room.

“So you’ve finally arrived.”

Even to another man, his deep voice was attractive. Jeremy flinched and entered the drawing room. Only then did Hystein, who hadn’t bothered to greet him before, turn his gaze to Jeremy.

“What’s our relationship again? My father’s brother’s grandson—how complicated.”

“Um, technically, we’re sixth cousins.”

Jeremy instantly noticed himself shrinking before Hystein. That excessively handsome face, broad shoulders, and elegant suit.

The fact that he’d supposedly just been sleeping was an obvious lie, given how immaculate he looked.

“First, please, have a seat.”

Jeremy quickly wiped his sweaty, shiny forehead with a handkerchief. He struggled not to focus on his tongue, which kept stumbling over his words.

“That… that won’t be necessary. You already know why I’m here, don’t you?”

Was he really going to offer him tea? He had no intention of hospitality at all. Jeremy felt his grip tighten slightly on his cane.

Hystein looked at Jeremy as if he were a pitiful puppy and shrugged nonchalantly.

“I have no idea.”

Although they were related by blood, Jeremy and Hystein seemed entirely different. If they had anything in common, it was their pale skin and above-average height.

But even then, the other side was far superior.

Since meeting Rosalie, Jeremy’s long-forgotten feelings of inferiority seemed to awaken. No—he had to pull himself together. He couldn’t lose his nerve after coming all this way.

Jeremy took a deep breath to steady himself and spoke clearly.

“I’m here to take Rosalie, my fiancée, with me.”

“…Rosalie? Why would you look for that woman here?”

A moment of silence passed, so brief that only someone on edge would notice. Hystein laughed as if he’d heard something ridiculous and slowly stood up.

His long limbs wrapped in a navy suit were impressive even to another man. D*mn, enough already.

Jeremy wanted to bash his own head for being so dazzled.

“Explain yourself, Cousin. Surely you have a good reason for visiting.”

“I-I heard you and Miss Rosalie were lovers.”

“That’s ancient history.”

“Then why did you return to the country just now? Was it because you heard about the marriage talks between Aloua and Malève?”

Jeremy spoke quickly, as if he had been waiting for this moment.

He remembered the night before the villa ball when his mother lamented to the maids.

The maids tried to comfort her, saying, ‘No, that can’t be,’ but Jeremy thought differently. So did the nobles at the ball.

Even hiding behind the curtains, overwhelmed by the crowd, Jeremy heard it clearly.

‘The Duke of Vallière’s return is very suspicious.’

‘Oh my, well, it must be a coincidence.’

‘Just wait. Those two will definitely get involved.’

At that time, Jeremy had pathetically run away, leaving Rosalie alone. Later, he’d secretly gone to look for her, but Hystein was already there.

After checking Rosalie’s ankle, Hystein had said something cold, but Jeremy had noticed.

The affection and resentment in Hystein’s gaze at Rosalie. The suffocating, dizzying atmosphere. The confusion in the air.

It felt like he’d witnessed something he should never have seen that night.

“It seems you’re terribly mistaken, Cousin.”

A cold voice snapped Jeremy back to reality, and he stepped back. Hystein was suddenly standing right in front of him.

How could that aristocratic-looking man ever have been a wandering painter? Jeremy found it hard to imagine Hystein’s past.

“I returned to Rodin for other reasons, not because of Rosalie de Malève.”

“That… that doesn’t matter. More importantly, Miss Rosalie…”

“I told you, Rosalie isn’t here.”

Thud. Jeremy, trying to back away from Hystein, bumped into the drawing room door.

He stared blankly up at Hystein, who sounded almost angry.

“Whether that woman was dragged off by a murderer or not, what does it have to do with me?”

“Y-you don’t mean that…”

Jeremy now understood what it felt like to be a ‘mouse before a cat,’ as he’d only read in books. But even when about to be devoured, he had to speak.

Jeremy swallowed hard and pushed Hystein away with his fingertips.

“The murderer was caught, barely alive. Surely you’re not going to pretend you don’t know? You’re the only one who could have done it.”

“And if I say I don’t know?”

“No one else in Rodin would do such a thing. The gentlemen of Rodin wouldn’t act that way. If anything, they’d have just shot him cleanly.”

“So you’re saying I’m the only ungentlemanly noble in Rodin?”

Hystein looked bored, his eyes half-closed, tilting his head. Jeremy sensed his deduction was correct.

Hystein was clearly annoyed by the comment about not being a proper noble.

Status seemed to be the only insecurity in that overly perfect man.

“If the police or a commoner had caught him, they’d have reported it immediately. If a noble had found him, Miss Rosalie would have been protected first.”

Jeremy paused to catch his breath. Hystein’s gaze was cold. His tongue finally loosened.

“But the suspect was found in rags, and Miss Rosalie was already gone… In that situation, you’re the only conclusion I can reach.”

“And I’m telling you it wasn’t me.”

“Duke, I know you are lying. I’m taking Miss Rosalie with me.”

“Rosalie isn’t here. Maybe she’s floating somewhere in the river.”

“Miss Rosalie is alive. That’s why you’re so calm.”

Jeremy felt he’d used all the courage he’d ever had in his life. If it weren’t for Rosalie, he’d never have done this—no, he couldn’t have.

But the problem started now. Even if Rosalie was here, would the Duke let her go? He doubted it.

“…I never thought the Young Master of Aloua would be so taken with my former lover.”

Hystein briefly changed the subject, putting his hands behind his back and stepping away. Jeremy watched the man stride to the window, wondering how to persuade him.

“Hm…”

Hystein no longer looked at Jeremy. Jeremy, lost in his own thoughts, didn’t care about Hystein either.

How much time had passed? Suddenly, a knock sounded behind Jeremy.

“Master, it’s Countess Mago de Aloua.”