“Brother goes on business trips secretly?”
“There have been times when he left without disclosing his destination.”
“…”
Come to think of it, there had been times when even his secretary didn’t know exactly where he was going, right?
“Viego Windsor is someone who values every second like gold. He sets a time limit when dealing with people.”
“…”
“Someone who thinks of time as money leaves without a destination and doesn’t return for a long time. Isn’t that strange?” A mocking smile appeared on Ignis’s lips as he spoke. “Unless he’s secretly hiding a woman, it’s suspicious.”
“…”
Though I didn’t respond, Ignis’s words of suspicion continued.
“I honestly find the carriage attack suspicious too. Thinking about it, was it really the crown prince’s doing?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m blackmailing Viego with the scripture, right? So, how much do you think your brother wants to kill me? Don’t you think so?”
“…”
I smiled silently. This subject was something I didn’t want to talk about anymore. There was no need to reply.
“Lord Ignis.”
“Why, rascal?”
“You mentioned that the Windsor family is suspicious. Does that have anything to do with why you left the family?”
As soon as I asked that question, Ignis opened his mouth as if he had been waiting for that question. However,
“…”
He couldn’t speak. Because my clear eyes stared at him intently.
“Sigh.” As if giving up, he shook his head and then grabbed my chin. “Forget it. Grow up a bit more. Then I’ll tell you.”
“You know I’m already an adult.”
“In my eyes, you’re still very much a kid, a kid.”
“That’s because you’ve seen me since I was young.”
“That’s why you need to grow up more. Only then you can decide whether to get married or not. What am I supposed to do with a kid like you?” He was still talking about marriage.
I already told you I couldn’t. Raios wouldn’t annul our engagement.
Looking at him with those eyes, Ignis secretly smiled. And then, he leaned forward suddenly. “Do you want to run away with me?” He whispered in my ear. “We could just take everything from your vault and run away. How about it? Sounds thrilling, right?”
“…”
Thrilling my feet.
I didn’t respond.
* * *
It was the next morning.
“There’s news.”
I looked over the new documents Lethe had brought.
“Here, the bullets have been returned.” Lethe placed an item on the table. It was a box containing two bullets, bullets that had lodged in the tree during the carriage accident, which I had personally collected at the time of the accident.
“And here is additional information related to that.”
“Thank you, Lethe.”
I read through the documents Lethe handed me. There, precisely the information I wanted was fully written.
As expected.
Lethe had quickly and accurately found out. Of course, it was possible because of the money I supported him with—.
Indeed, he’s really good at his job. I smiled in response, thinking I wanted to take Lethe with me when I returned to my world. “Thank you, Lethe. It’s perfect.”
“Do you need any more information?”
“No, this is enough.” I stood up from the chair. “I need to go to the imperial palace now.”
To meet Raios Geranze.
* * *
“Ah. Danae Windsor.”
Raios was again in the imperial hunting grounds. It seemed he was enjoying hunting to the fullest before the onset of the winter.
“What brings you here?”
Mounted on a black horse, his friends were behind him as always. And as always, they were ignoring me.
Ignoring the nobles who wouldn’t even give me a glance, I shifted my gaze back to Raios. “Can we talk for a moment?”
“Ah, sorry, but as you see.” Raios gestured to his friends behind him. “It’s a similar situation as before.”
“I see,” I answered coolly and walked past Raios, heading towards where his friends were. As I approached, it was clear they were startled. What? Do I look like I’m carrying a plague or something?
I stood beside one of them and then grabbed his collar. “Count Cedric.”
At that moment, perfect silence descended. It felt as though the air itself had frozen solid. I knew that everyone was tense at this moment. Not that it mattered.
“We’ve met before, haven’t we?”
“…”
Count Cedric’s face was a picture of confusion. He had a look as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing, yet his gaze was still fixed elsewhere as if looking at me would kill him.
I sighed softly. Really, what a hassle.
“When I was with Justin Lancaster, we crossed paths in front of the theater.”
“…!”
I clearly saw his eyebrows twitch. So, it was you who told Raios back then.
“It’s unfortunate. Was it that day or the next? Justin died…”
Then, I lightly grasped the tip of Count Cedric’s pinky. At that moment, a strange groan escaped his lips.
“No, Lady. Please.”
Please? Please for what? Not to touch him? Or else, would his finger be cut off?
Ignoring him, I opened his palm and placed something on it. It was a bullet.
“…”
Leaving the frozen count behind, I turned around. By then, Raios had dismounted and was watching us with his pitch-black eyes. He spoke quietly. “So, it seems you’ve taken a liking to my friend now.”
“I just had something to return.”
“And the bullet?”
“You heard about the attack on my carriage, right? It’s from that, but after investigating, it turns out Count Cedric bought it multiple times under different identities.”
“So?”
“It must have been your order.”
“I see.”
“…”
“Therefore?” Raios asked as if he was genuinely curious.
“Therefore.”
“…”
“What about it?”
I was momentarily at a loss for words. How could he be so shameless?
“After attacking my carriage, is that really what you have to say?”
“How dare.” Raios cut me off. “How dare you ask for an annulment and expect to return safely. That’s the consequence of your arrogance, isn’t it?”
“…”
Having said that, Raios smirked, letting out a sneer between his lips. “Don’t be mistaken. It wasn’t my doing. I swear to God.”
“Do you think your oath means anything to me?”
To that criticism, Raios just laughed. “Even if I did it, I would never admit it. But even if I had, what’s it to you?”
What a madman. I shuddered at his shamelessness. After all, Raios was always this kind of man. Even if he was caught cheating with Allice, he would hold his head high and claim his righteousness.
“Why won’t you agree to the annulment?”
“Does asking for annulment mean you want to break up?”
“We’ve already broken up.”
“When?”
“What do you mean?”
“When did we break up?” Raios smirked, lifting the corners of his mouth. “I don’t seem to recall that conversation.”
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