It's A Misunderstanding That I'm Dating The Villain

 

“Hmm?”

Hearing that, I turned her around and checked her face.

As Ludger had said, her complexion was pale, with a bloodless face and lips, as if she was feeling extremely cold. She looked like she had already lost her mind.

‘Did I hurt her anywhere while binding her? No, that shouldn’t be the case.’

“Let me search her body. It could be a side effect of some kind of magica tool.”

“Yes.”

At Ludger’s permission, I quickly searched the girl’s body.

There were two suspicious objects that were found after the search. One was a crude bracelet that seemed to have no practical use for fashion, but as soon as I took it off, her appearance changed.

It seemed to be the magic tool she used to disguise herself as someone else.

‘And the other one….’

It was a pocket watch that seemed to have rusted over time.

However, the color of the rust wasn’t your usual rusty color, but more like charred. Is it a magic manipulation tool?

“I think it would be better not to touch that thing carelessly. That thing might be the cause.”

“Yes… Then, I will hand over all the evidence, as well as the fugitive to Vice Captain Gustav.”

“All right.”

But somehow….

Ludger’s expression, as he looked at the unidentified pocket watch, was still cloudy.

Obviously, it wasn’t Ludger who showed the expression of unease, but I had heightened my senses with the help of my Spirit so I could feel it.

‘Perhaps it’s an object that looks ominous in a wizard’s eyes?’

At that moment, an inexplicable feeling of discomfort and familiarity rose inside me. Something seemed to appear in my mind, but the images were hazy as if they were covered by a thick curtain of fog.

‘Did something like that appear in the original…?’

It had been a long time since I read the novel or remembered its and bits of the plot. Therefore, my knowledge of the original had turned fuzzy.

The situation was like when I heard the name of the Thief Heilbronner for the first time, it accidentally triggered my memories related to the novel. Because of that, I recalled many things that happened in the novel and had acquired fragmentary knowledge through them.

Similar to that time, seeing Ludger’s reaction to that object, something seemed to try its utmost to surface in my mind. I had a vague idea what it could be but I couldn’t clearly see the image.

‘That’s not important right now. I must focus on my work.’

Swallowing the discomfort, I followed his advice and refrained from touching the pocket watch carelessly as I dragged the woman away.

After the commotion was over, the gathering was called off early.

Considering the risk of another suspicious person mingling with the guests, I conducted a thorough search and investigated the nobles when sending them home.

Needless to say, the nobles showed an expression of extreme annoyance. However, seeing the figure of Duke Kassen, a high-ranking noble, instructing the search, they tried their best to hide it.

‘This guy can be a real help sometimes….’

The few resentments I had towards him because of the Heilbronner incident seemed to dissipate a lot.

After the urgent matters were settled, I sent Sir Sein home first.

He was already working overtime, but the incident made it even longer. When I met him, he had the expression as if he was about to die. When I told him he could leave work, his face bloomed in a happy expression as he swiftly left the temple, as if he had buried a honey pot at home.

 

[T/N: ‘Buried a honey pot at home’ is a metaphorical phrase. It means inner contentment for achieving/gaining something valuable and storing it away safely.]

 

To clean up the matter completely, I went with the Sapphire Knights.

To be honest, since it wasn’t a work of the knight order I belonged to, it wouldn’t have mattered if I left with Sir Sein… but my sense of judgement refrained me from doing so, and because it was me who caught the culprit, it was imperative that I go and hear the circumstances.

“Sir Clara, the Vice Captain has called you.”

“Understood.”

I thought that there might be something else to discuss for which he called me, so I headed toward the terrace where the knight said Gustav was.

Gustav, who was looking over some documents under the soft lighting of the terrace, smiled when his eyes landed on me.

“You’ve come, Clara?”

“Speak.”

“Working hours are almost over now. Since no one is listening anyway, should we speak informally with each other?”

“….”

I remained silent.

Staring at Gustav’s smile as if he meant no harm, I almost thought that the past events were perhaps all my delusions.

It was a terrible feeling, as if I had become a persecution complex.

“… I just remembered, is your Captain still sick?”

“Oh, our Captain? Yes, he is sick. It’s almost the 6th month of leave. I think it will be better for him to settle down in the form of honorary retirement.”

“I see. Then you will become the next Captain.”

“Maybe? I still have many shortcomings, my shoulders are already heavy with responsibility.”

‘Nothing but lies on your tongue.’

This was just a conjecture on my part, but the fact that the Captain of Sapphire Knight suddenly fell ‘ill’ and lost power, and the Vice Captain Gustav rose to the real power was probably part of that bastard’s scheme.

“Yes. It’s early, but congratulations. So, what’s the reason for which you called me…?”

“Ah.”

Gustav smiled brightly, spreading his arms exaggeratedly.

“As you just said, I’ll be the Captain soon. I’ve been the Vice Captain for the past six months.”

“…That’s right.”

“Because of that, I’m somewhat well aware of the various circumstances and discussions happening among the higher-ups.”

“….”

What the hell does he mean?

By now, I had already stopped pretending to be friendly with him, so he started speaking informally to me. However, I was still speaking formally, so seeing him speaking so casually to me felt like he was treating me rudely. The thought was enough to put me in a foul mood.

While I was busy swearing in my head, he said something shocking.

“But, if things continue like this, your Ruby Knights will have a hard time surviving and may disband soon.”

“…What?”

Forgetting that the person standing before me was someone superior to me and I had to show respect, I raised my head in surprise and let out an audible shocking sound. As if he was pleased to see my reaction, Gustav’s fox-like smile grew even darker.

“In the first place, why do you think the case of chasing the Thief Heilbronner was transferred to your knights? Do you really think you could catch him?”

“That’s….”

“Obviously, someone as intelligent as Commander Geloic must have had some sort of expectations towards you. However, the higher-ups like to have different thoughts.”

He swept his brown hair and gave me a mocking look.

“I’m trying to find a fault in your works to disband the Ruby Knights. In my opinion, your knights have no reason to continue existing.”

“…!”

“If you keep failing to catch Heilbronner, it will become a complete disgrace to your knights. If that happens again, won’t that be enough reason to disband the Ruby Knights?”

“Haa….”

“But I’m letting you know this in advance because I was quite fond of you in the past. Prepare yourself mentally.”

“Oh, right.”

Before he opened his mouth and started spouting nonsense, I knew he wouldn’t push me into a miserable position because of his ‘fondness’ in the past. But the words that followed changed my perception into certainty.

“Of course, the outcome is unfortunate for you… Clara, it’s your wish to live a hassle-free life as a knight, right?”

“Oh, yes. I’m gonna be a knight until I shit in my pants.”

When the words spoken by me came out harshly because of my temper, Gustav chuckled as if he was glad.

“I’ll make it possible for that wish to come true.”

“What?”

“The invitation from back then is still valid, Clara.”

Gustav’s eyes flashed with mad obsession. It was the same look I had seen before.

“Become mine. Throw away your chivalry, kneel before me, and tell me that you will follow me. If you do that, I will protect you forever.”

“….”

“Don’t you know reality a little better now than back then?”

The past flashed in my head.

The days of constant bullying, harassment, and immense pressure. And the days when I was only crushed despite my achievements.

At that time, I thought that Gustav, who had been my friend and had been affectionately encouraging me, was on my side.

Even when I saw him with the nobles who sometimes harassed me, I thought it was just my illusion or misunderstanding.

No, it’s not that I misunderstood that he wasn’t the one behind all the harassment. I once considered that human scumbag a friend.

But the day I found out that Gustav was the source of all the suffering surrounding me….

That bastard said the same thing he had just now.

That it was all part of the process of taming me.

Needless to say, my answer was the same as before.

“Eat shit, you bastard.”

Smiling brightly as if I was looking at my long lost friend, I showed my answer clearly by raising my middle finger.

There was no way this bastard would call me over to just let go. Honestly, I was somewhat prepared for that to happen again.

“You think you’re some kind of person of great status, but aren’t you just the second son of a Marquis? Even if you mingle with high-ranking nobles, you’re not the one who makes decisions, are you?”

“….”

“I’ll take care of my own business, so don’t worry about it, Vice Captain Gustav. When the Ruby Knights are disbanded, whether I become a mercenary or a day labourer, that’s my life and has got nothing to do with you.”

“….”

“Then my business with you is over….”

At that moment, a knock sounded at the entrance to the terrace.

“Gentlemen, wouldn’t it be better to talk about private matters in a private space? The sound of your humble discussion is echoing outside.”

“….!”

The person who appeared was none other than Ludger.

He opened the terrace door expressionlessly and walked in.

“Oh, Young Duke!”

Gustav reacted with rare embarrassment and hurriedly bowed to him. But Ludger calmly ignored his greetings and stated his business.

“The knights are urgently looking for the Vice Captain. I think you have too many things to handle to have a long private conversation.”

“Yes, it was my fault. Sir Clara is not at fault. If Your Highness wants to punish someone, please punish me.”

‘Would you look at this bastard?’

The way he took the blame upon himself while subtly pushing me to the point where I was responsible for the mistake just now was truly brilliant. He had always been a sneaky bastard, both in the past and present.

Ludger sent Gustav a cold look and urged him, “Leave.”

Gustav seemed to have something more to say, but ultimately he left without saying a word. His momentum was perhaps disrupted because of Ludger’s presence.

Now, it was just me and Ludger on the empty terrace.

I swallowed hard.