Since When Were You The Villain?

Chapter 140

Perhaps they were on night patrol and had heard the sound of the black moon and had come after us.

‘Damn it…!’

If the military police spotted Sophia, she would be in danger, regardless of the truth.

Instinctively, Ian pulled Sophia’s robe tightly over her head to cover her face.

“Go back…!”
“Ian…”

“I’ll do as you want, just go back!”

Ian lowered his voice as he pushed the robe over her face and urged her away.

Then, Sophia’s eyes, which had been sharply focused on Ian, wavered.

“Go!”

When Ian shouted once more, Sophia bit her lip and ran into the forest.

Ian noticed that Sophia was moving away and ran in the opposite direction of her, deliberately making loud noises.

The lights changed direction, following him.

Ian watched the approaching lights and drew his sword. He then slashed his own waist with the blade.

Blood gushed out from the wound where the blade had grazed him.

And he struck the sword against the scabbard and the rock, making a sound that caught people’s attention.

Sophia must not be discovered.

He maintained just the right distance to keep them following him, away from Sophia’s escape route.

When he was sure Sophia had safely fled, he gradually slowed his pace.

Shadows drew closer to him.

“Sir Ian!”

Those who finally caught up to him recognised him and halted.

As he had expected, they were police officers on patrol at night.

Judging from their faces and attire, they seemed like low-ranking agents who would be assigned to patrol late at night, something no one wants to do.

“What happened?”

“We heard the Black Moon was sighted…!”

They were evidently both shocked and frightened to be involved in such a significant matter.

Fortunately, their lack of experience was evident.

“Yes, I lost the Black Moon.”

Ian staunched the bleeding from his waist wound, showing it off.

“Sir, your waist…!”

“We’ll chase them!”

“No, it’s too late. And in this remote area, what good would it do if you two pursued them and ended up as victims?”

Ian insulted their abilities with bad luck.

Their faces stiffened, but they couldn’t refute him.

Even Ian had been harmed; what could they accomplish by following?

Better to alert the military police for a larger search…

“Sir, but what’s that in your hand…?”

One of the officers pointed to the mask Ian held.

“…It’s the Black Moon’s mask.”

“Is that true?”

“Did you see their face?”

“Unfortunately, they covered up immediately. But… it was a tall man.”

Ian lied without realising it.

And he smirked.

He had no right to be angry at Zenon for hiding the results of the match.

Despite desperately wanting to catch the Black Moon, he lied effortlessly.

“Then that means the captain isn’t the Black Moon…!”

Hearing Ian’s words, the officers couldn’t hide their delight.

Ian averted his gaze.

He had never been brave enough to meet their eyes after lying.

* * *

It was past midnight when Ian returned to the Count’s residence after completing his additional report on the Black Moon.

Thanks to notifying a servant that he would be late, his parents were already in bed.

“Ian.”

Sophia was waiting for him outside his room.

Ian knew she wasn’t waiting out of concern for him. She probably wanted to know if he had successfully lied about the Black Moon.

For that damn Killian Viprons Rivelon.

“What were you curious about that made you wait?”

“That…”

His curt question made Sophia hesitate, unable to speak in front of the servants following Ian.

Noticing this, Ian dismissed the bothersome servants.

Only then did Sophia begin to speak.

“How did it go…?”

She seemed to be gauging his reaction or testing him as she watched his expression.

Ian was annoyed by her genuine concern for Killian.

He wanted to lie to upset her.

To tell her that her ridiculous play had been exposed, and she would soon be caught. That she and Killian would be implicated together, and all evidence would point to Killian.

Ian clenched his fist.

‘…She probably knows I can’t do that.’

Sophia likely knew Ian wouldn’t hand her over.

That’s why she had timed her reckless act for when he was returning from Ruchtainer.

If caught by other officers or knights, they wouldn’t protect her like Ian did.

“You planned to use me from the start, didn’t you?”

Ian said to Sophia.
“Because of you, I gave false testimony in the Black Moon case. I did something I detest.”

Ian had always looked down on those who lied for various excuses.

Even the phrase “white lie” seemed hypocritical to him.

He had believed that his role would be to uncover false testimonies in significant cases like the Black Moon, not to give them.

But Sophia shattered all his beliefs.

“You’re truly something, Sophia.”

She had changed him so easily, even though Zenon had given up on him.

Sophia seemed to know exactly how to use him.

Not long ago, he had thought of her as a mere toy. Now, he felt like he was completely at her mercy. (T/L: Served him right.)

…and she wasn’t even a Fraus.

In fact, since realising she wasn’t a Fraus, Ian felt he was even more under her influence.

Perhaps this was her way of exacting revenge for all the torment and neglect she had endured from him.

Would this incident make her forgive him for his past actions, at least a little?

Lately, his emotions and thoughts were all over the place.

And the root of all these problems was right in front of him.

“If I used you, then yes, I did. Because it had to be you.”

“It had to be me?”

Ian’s eyes narrowed at Sophia’s confession.

“You’re a Fraus.”

Sophia had involved Ian because he was a ‘Fraus.’

He had strong feelings about the name Fraus and wouldn’t stand by if a ‘Fraus’ like Sophia was being framed as the Black Moon.

Naturally, Ian wouldn’t tolerate his family being implicated in something as disgraceful as treason.

Ian also seemed to think something was wrong with how Killian had been tortured.

Sophia had placed her hopes on that.

If Ian had simply apprehended her, she would have devised another plan.

“…This time, I owe you.”

Sophia bowed her head deeply in front of Ian.

For some reason, Ian felt a strange sense of unease melting away.

The situation was far from good, but it felt like something tightly knotted was loosening.

Nothing had been resolved, but why?

“…Don’t ever try such a reckless stunt again.”

Ian threatened Sophia, but his voice was softer.

“…I know. I was in such a rush this time that I couldn’t think of another way.”

“Foolish.”

Ian muttered as he resumed walking towards his room.

Then,

“Ian, are you… alright?”

Sophia’s voice stopped him.

“After you’ve caused such a mess, now you’re asking?”

Ian turned back, seeing Sophia with her head bowed and looking crestfallen.

“…Hey, thanks.”

“What?”

“I just thought I should thank you for helping.”

Ian laughed involuntarily. It wasn’t a situation to laugh, yet he didn’t know why he did.

Nothing had changed—he still supported Killian, the Black Moon, and had given false testimony.

“I’m worried you’ll do something stupid like this again, so stay at home for a while.”

“I was planning to.”

She had done all she could for Killian.

Wandering around now would only expose her to unwanted rumours and curiosity.

“Then go to bed.”

Ian, satisfied with her response, entered his room with a lighter step.

* * *

“The Black Moon appeared again last night?”

Beatrice’s hand, which had been petting Elizabeth, frozen.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Sir Ian chased them but lost them. Fortunately, apart from Sir Ian and Sir Estelle being injured, there were no other casualties.”

A knight of Orhelin relayed the events of the previous night.

‘That’s impossible…!’

Beatrice bit her red lips, frowning.

If Killian wasn’t the Black Moon, who was investigating the illegitimate child’s background?

“Did Killian escape from the investigation room last night?”

They had moved Killian to an investigation room, which was more comfortable than a dungeon.

Orhelin knights had locked and guarded the room securely, but it was still easier to escape from than the underground prison.

“No. The knights took turns interrogating the Grand Duke all night.”

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