IHIMML Chapter 70

 

“So, Emon.”

Philome spoke slowly and carefully, as if addressing a child.

“Just because I have money doesn’t mean I have to give it to you. What you’re saying makes no sense at all.”

“…I know I’ve hurt you a lot.”

Emon bit his lip tightly.

Seeing that he seemed to finally understand, Philome was about to turn away with Kaien.

But suddenly, Emon started unbuttoning his shirt with a look of anguish.

“If I could heal the wounds I caused you, I would do anything. I would give you my body… cough!”

“He’s disgusting, Philome.”

Kaien, standing in front of Philome, smiled brightly.

Philome blinked in shock at the sudden turn of events.

Just before Emon could unbutton the fourth button, he was kicked away by Kaien.

The sound of bones breaking was just an added bonus.

Philome closed her eyes and then opened them, staring at Kaien’s face, which filled her vision.

“Could you hold on for a moment? My eyes are rotting and need purification.”

“Anytime.”

Philome was able to wash her dirty eyes while looking at Kaien’s face and then at Emon’s body. Emon was groaning as he crawled away in the distance.

Emon clutched his ribs.

“Y-you! No matter how much of a duke you are, is it okay to hit someone like this?! Huh?!”

“I’ve punished you on behalf of His Majesty for dirtying Philome’s eyes.”

“You…! Prepare to pay compensation! You’ll have to prepare a hefty sum if you want to settle this! Otherwise, I’ll report you to the newspaper! The Tiven Newspaper!”

“Oh dear.”

Philome wore the same expression as Kaien.

“It wouldn’t matter if you reported me.”

“What…?”

“That newspaper is mine, Emon Kevan.”

Of course, the biggest newspaper would be the one Kaiyen owned.

Emon stood there in shock before shouting at Philome again.

“You, you, are you that petty? Are you that unattractive?”

“I have a lot to offer. I’m quite pretty, you know?”

Philome tilted her head. At that, Kaien wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

“Exactly. My wife is beautiful. It seems Emon Kevan has no eye for beauty.”

Philome raised an eyebrow at Kaien, who casually referred to her as his wife.

“Why am I your wife?”

“Aren’t we getting married?”

“We haven’t married yet.”

“His Majesty just referred to you as ‘spouse’ a moment ago. We’re already like a married couple.”

Emon, who had been listening to their conversation in a daze, clenched his teeth.

When he heard the shocking truth about Philome, he still believed her. After all, the Philome he had known for about a year wasn’t that kind of person.

But listening to their conversation plunged him into deeper shock. Emon muttered with his head bowed.

His muttering gradually grew louder.

“Yeah… so that’s how it was.”

Emon lifted his bloodshot eyes.

“Philome. You’re truly cruel.”

“Go hold hands with Nadia Alice and head to the psychiatric ward.”

Kaien was about to turn away.

“Stop!”

Emon gritted his teeth and stood up. His ribs, which were clearly cracked at least, ached, but he was so furious that he ignored the pain and approached them.

“I know your secret, Philome!”

Philome had nothing to feel guilty about, but seeing him so confident made her decide to hear her out. Emon grinned, revealing how he had processed this information.

Philome recognized the resemblance to the Marchioness of Kevan from months ago. Back then, the Marchioness had held her captive, spouting nonsensical claims about her secrets.

Though she couldn’t dismiss her confidence, Philome had a feeling he might say something just as strange as the Marchioness had.

“Philome, you.”

And then it came.

“You have a child.”

It hit the mark.

Philome was left speechless in disbelief.

‘As I thought, I was right.’

While Philome was flustered, Emon trembled with rage, finally feeling he could strike back at them.

“A daughter around ten years old, right?”

“……”

“I’ve figured it all out. You suddenly went abroad ten years ago and came back after a month or two. At that time, you must have hidden your pregnancy and had the baby before returning, right? That daughter is the child of Duke Wintbell, and the two have been lovers for a long time. You approached me with a plan to bring down the Kevan family and pushed Nadia into the picture! This was all premeditated!”

After finishing his rant, Emon gasped for breath, clutching his chest.

Perhaps from the nonstop talking, his ribs felt like they were about to break. But seeing Philome’s dazed expression made him want to laugh.

Emon burst into laughter, his face contorted with emotion.

“Hahaha! Always pretending to be so smart, and now you’re making such a foolish face! How does it feel to get hit by someone you usually look down on? Now do you realize how remarkable I am?!”

Emon gasped for breath, inhaling and exhaling roughly.

“So if you want to silence me, give me money. No, erase all the debts the Kevan family owes. And I want compensation for the past few months in cash. Half of the Wintbell family’s assets would be generous. As for my brother and parents… there’s no need to release them. They were never any help in my life anyway.”

Emon finished speaking.

His ribs ached as if he were about to faint, and his mind felt hazy, but his spirits soared.

It felt like holding an angel’s hand just before falling into hell and rising to heaven.

Yes, once I get the money, I’ll use the reporters to restore my reputation. I’ll take revenge on the servants who dared to abandon me and hire the right people and find a new mansion…

Clap, clap, clap.

The silence was filled with Kaien’s applause.

“Really impressive.”

“Hah, how much did you look down on me to think this is impressive? I can easily do even greater things than this!”

“Is that daughter of Philome’s you’re talking about silver-haired with green eyes?”

Since it was the exact description ‘that person’ had given, Emon nodded.

“Yes.”

“That’s my niece.”

Emon burst into laughter.

“Officially, I suppose.”

“She’s the daughter of my deceased brother, you know?”

“I already know everything, Your Grace. There’s no need to hide it.”

“Hmm.”

Kaien pondered how to deal with Emon, who was lost in his own world and didn’t seem to care about what others were saying.

“Emon.”

Then Philome, who had been quiet, spoke up.

“If that were true, you’d be dead by now.”

“What…?”

“Threats are only effective against those who can be intimidated.”

Philome looked around.

“There’s no one around. The Duke is a transcendent, and you look so pathetic.”

Philome’s eyes sparkled sharply.

“Who would know if you disappeared here? They’d probably think you ran away again, unable to endure the burdens of the marquisate.”

“What do you mean…?”

Emon’s face turned pale in an instant as he understood Philome’s words.

“You’re threatening to kill me…”

“There’s no need to threaten someone who doesn’t require it.”

Emon’s lips trembled, but he couldn’t say anything.

Philome was right.

Today was the day of the royal banquet, so everyone would be preoccupied, and it was already dusk, with few people in the garden.

Moreover, they were deep inside the garden. Emon was injured, and Kaien was a transcendent.

Above all, Emon hadn’t come with any aides or subordinates. If Kaien were to kill him here… everyone would think, as Philome said, that he had fled again, unable to bear the debts.

Emon felt a chill run down his spine and trembled.

“But if a high-ranking noble disappears from the palace…”

“Who do you think the Emperor would consider first, the Duke or you?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, it was Kaien.

Emon felt his legs give way and slumped down to the ground. He then awkwardly scooted back on his behind.

“If you kill me, it will be a big problem…!”

Philome suddenly smiled as she heard Emon’s trembling, shouting words.

“Who said anything about killing? That’s just talk, right, Your Grace?”

She asked, linking her arm with Kaien’s.

For a moment, Kaien, who was blankly staring at Philome’s imposing presence, nodded a beat late.

“Oh, right. I was going to kill you.”

“What?”

He had blurted that out without thinking, and realizing he had spoken his true feelings, he hurriedly tried to backtrack.

“I never thought of such a thing.”