Since When Were You The Villain?

Chapter 84.   

    

Her gaze briefly shifted to his leg.   

But Killian stood up straight, so no one suspected him.   

Anyway, they couldn’t check if there was an injury to his thigh. They couldn’t take off his pants here.    

“Is it true that the Black Moon appeared?” Killian asked as if he knew nothing.   

Then Beatrice’s eyes narrowed.   

“Yes, unfortunately. You must have been very surprised, Killian.”   

Killian’s emotions surged when he met Beatrice’s eyes.   

Now he knows for sure. You’re the one who killed my parents.   

The mastermind behind all of this.   

It was a great relief that he didn’t have a sword in his hand.   

If he had a sword, he might have pointed it at the Empress impulsively.   

Killian wanted to expose all of Beatrice’s sins to the world.   

He wanted to scream her sins and vent his boiling anger in his chest.   

But he knows. 

Now is not the time for that.   

Acting on impulse and revealing everything would be Killian’s drawback.    

And it would add another undeserved accusation to the burden of his parents’ deaths.   

Killian managed to hold on to the distorted look on his face. 

“I apologize, Your Majesty. As the commander of the military police, I should have been more vigilant and focused on today’s events.”   

He casually conveyed his concern over the incident.   

“No, it’s not your fault. Even someone as skilled as Nicholas was injured.”   

Beatrice comforted him, saying it wasn’t your fault, so don’t worry.  

“Where are Liam and Nicholas now?”   

“Oh, Killian. I’m sure you’re worried, but I can’t tell you until your alibi is proven. I believe that as the commander of the military police, you will understand our position.”   

“Of course, Your Majesty. I will cooperate to the best of my ability.”   

Empress Beatrice had offered to personally listen to Killian’s alibi due to his special status.   

‘That audacious face of her.’ 

Killian couldn’t help but feel a chill as he looked at Beatrice, who had a natural demeanour. 

But he couldn’t blame her. After all, he had also mastered the art of hiding his true feelings and putting on a bold facade. 

“The incident happened less than an hour after you left after talking with me, so I don’t think there’s anything complicated to explain.”  

Beatrice asked him in detail about his whereabouts during that hour.   

Killian briefly turned his gaze to his fiancée on the first floor before speaking up.   

“After my meeting with Her Majesty, I received a message from Sophia, stating that she would be waiting for me in the lounge. I went straight to the lounge.”   

“Is that so? So, you were with Sophia all along in the lounge?”   

“Yes, Your Majesty.”   

Upon hearing Killian’s response, Empress Beatrice elegantly lifted her head and gestured to the guards behind her. 

“Bring Lady Sophia here.”   

Following the empress’s command, a guard went down and returned shortly with a tense-looking Sophia. 

Sophia, who was suddenly summoned, felt the strange atmosphere flowing between the empress and Kylian.  

“Sophia, you must have been quite surprised.”   

Beatrice gently comforted Sophia and brought her closer.  

Then, naturally, she pulled Sophia towards him, separating Killian and her.   

“Sophia, can you tell us what you were doing at the time when the incident occurred? We don’t suspect you, but this is a necessary procedure. Please understand.”   

Beatrice held Sophia’s hands, speaking warmly.   

As Sophia unconsciously tried to glance at Killian, Beatrice held her firmly to prevent her from looking in his direction.   

“Sophia, please tell us.”   

The noble blue eyes urged her to speak.   

Sophia realized why Beatrice had called her.   

‘I guess you’re trying to align my testimony with Killian’s,’ Sophia thought as she locked eyes with Beatrice and parted her lips. 

“I was in the lounge, and His Grace the Duke came to see me. I told him I’d be waiting in the lounge.”    

“I see. What were the two of you doing in the lounge?”   

“Well, you see. If it’s proven that we were together, wouldn’t that establish an alibi?”   

“We need the exact details. The culprit could have prearranged this,” Beatrice said as she held Sophia’s hand firmly, pushing for more information.   

“I suggested that we rest since I was tired, Your Majesty. As you know, it’s my first time at a ball, and I got a little fatigued  early. 

Sophia glanced timidly at Mikhail, who stood behind Beatrice instead of Killian. 

Mikhail stepped forward himself.   

“Your Majesty, I personally witnessed the two of them together.”   

“Is that so, Mikhail?”   

“Killian didn’t seem to be enjoying the ball and appeared to want to take a break away from the crowd.”   

“Is that right?”   

Beatrice’s sharp gaze returned to Killian.   

“But, Killian.”   

“Yes, Your Majesty.”   

“It seems like you changed your clothes.” 

Beatrice’s keen eyes noticed the change in Killian’s attire.   

The cravat was tied differently, and the cut of his pants was distinct.   

‘Ordinary people might not notice the difference in black pants, but Beatrice was sensitive to fashion in high society,’ thought Sophia.   

“You’re not the type to change your clothes at a ball just to show off, after all,” Beatrice remarked.   

Sometimes, people attending social events or parties would change their coats, shirts, shawls, and more to flaunt their fashion.   

But Killian wasn’t one of them.   

“Was there a reason you changed your clothes?” Beatrice inquired.   

“That is…”   

Under Beatrice’s probing, Killian locked eyes with Sophia.   

Sophia nodded, confirming their story. Just as he had explained to Mikhail, he could say that they had shared deep love in the lounge.   

However, Killian couldn’t bring himself to utter those words.   

Just one or two hours ago, he had told the Queen that he had no interest in Sophia.   

If he now claimed they had made love in the lounge, it might lead to even more suspicion.   

Above all…   

‘I can’t drag Sophia into this.’  

Killian’s own actions had led him into this situation.   

Unfortunately, the world is indeed unfair, and it would be Sophia who would be hurt more by such an excuse.   

‘It will surely be on everyone’s lips, and she will receive contemptuous glances.’  

Sophia nodded, reassuring Killian, but he couldn’t allow Sophia to suffer because of him.   

‘I can’t let Sophia get hurt because of me…’  

However, when the truth about the day of the incident is revealed later, Sophia, who proved her alibi, is also in danger.  

“Killian, I asked you why you changed your clothes.” 

Killian remained silent, and Beatrice probed him once more.   

Sophia couldn’t understand why Killian was staying silent when he had a clear and accurate explanation. 

‘Why is he sealing his lips frustratingly when there’s a clean and precise excuse?’ Sophia couldn’t comprehend. 

“Your Majesty, it’s because when I was with his Excellency in the lounge…” 

Sophia, who couldn’t stand the frustration, tried to explain instead of Killian, but Mikhail grabbed her.    

Startled, she turned to look at him, and Mikhail subtly lowered his head.   

“Your Majesty.”   

Mikhail decided to step in.   

“Killian changed his clothes because of me. When he came to you earlier at your command, there was a wine spill accident.”   

“Is that so?”   

“His shirt and pants were soaked, so I had a servant fetch his clothes, and he changed.”   

Mikhail glanced at Killian through Beatrice, reproaching him for his negligence.   

Killian locked eyes with Mikhail in silence.   

Mikhail gave Killian’s shirt a light pat and offered a faint smile.   

“I mentioned sending clothes that should roughly fit your size, Killian. It seems my clothes are a bit tight on you now.”   

Unbeknownst to Beatrice, Mikhail glanced at Killian and teased him gently.    

Mikhail looked at his younger brother, who had grown taller than he knew, and said that he should have given him clothes that were more spacious.   

Mikhail instructed a servant to confirm the owner of the clothes Killian was wearing. The results confirmed that the clothes belonged to Mikhail.   

Beatrice’s sharp gaze softened, and she appeared to trust Killian more.   

‘Very clever, Killian.’ 

Beatrix hadn’t completely cleared away her suspicions of Killian.  

However, ‘Mikhail’s clothes’ was undeniable proof.  

Besides, if she pushes Kilian further here, even Mikhail will be involved in this incident.   

“I think we can conclude the alibis of both of them at this point.”   

Beatrice nodded, indicating that the two of them could leave.   

Upon hearing this, Killian moved closer to Sophia, as being separated from her in front of the empress made him uneasy.   

“Your Majesty, I am concerned about Nicholas’ condition and would like to check on him.”   

“Oh, I see.”   

Beatrice instructed her guards to accompany Killian to check on Nicholas.   

“I’d like to come too.” (Sophia)  

When Sophia attempted to follow, Killian made eye contact with her and said: “It’s not good news, so you stay here, or better yet, wait in the lounge where we were earlier, I’ll come over.”    

Sophia understood that she shouldn’t accompany Killian in this situation and nodded her head in agreement.   

(T/L: This story really took an unexpected turn from here.)  

  

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TRANSLATOR:

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