The Villainess Captured The Grand Duke - Chapter 52
Chapter 52
Scheuer’s face turned bright red at his recitation. Desperately, she tried to justify,
“W-Well, they say it’s trendy to write on stones these days! Ta-da, a new notebook!”
She grinned, pointing to the new stone plates scattered on the floor, but he didn’t stop.
“Those who leave me and go won’t even go ten miles before falling ill? It’s practically a curse.”
“No, it’s not a curse! Look, I removed the curse, didn’t I?”
Thinking it was too much, she hastily erased what she had written on the stone. But as she protested Raygrain’s reading without reflecting the changes, his gaze narrowed.
Since she had intended to discard the stone later anyway, she had written whatever came to her mind—whether she missed the Duke or planned to go to a delicious place next. It was just idle talk she wrote impulsively, feeling unjust about not being able to see him wearing the accessory she gave him at today’s banquet due to the stone.
Scheuer responded brusquely, pointing at the stone plate with her hand before he could read more.
“That’s right. You always go to dangerous places.”
“In the central region, that’s not likely to happen.”
“That’s why I’m talking about the North. Yes, the North!”
Boldly fluttering her eyes, she nodded.
Cautiously watching his reaction, Scheuer gently pulled the stone plate he was holding. Raygrain willingly let go. Has it worked? In response to Scheuer’s expectation, he leaned his body off the bed.
As if to say, “Is that so?” he stood upright and said indifferently,
“I see. Well, then, let’s start with why you forged the stone plate.”
He spoke in a calm tone, as if he were conducting an inquiry. Even if he asked, Scheuer couldn’t honestly answer. This was the world of the novel, and revealing that the second stone plate would contribute significantly to the weakening of the Northern faction when it was publicly disclosed would eventually lead to him going alone to exterminate the demon and dying.
Without knowing the plot, Raygrain silently waited for an answer. Emotionless, he was someone who could dismiss anyone if they didn’t logically convince him. It was clear that he operated according to principles.
If the fact that she forged the stone plate were to reach Netriga’s ears, the person in a tight spot would be Blanga, who welcomed her as the Duchess. So, she tried not to get caught if possible. Faced with an unavoidable reality, Scheuer carefully weaved answers, mixing truths and lies.
“During the time in the South, it seemed like Erina misunderstood quite a bit about the North in the first stone plate. I had to clarify things with Blanga a bit…”
Though she never actually heard it, since the first stone plate was planned to be used that way anyway, Netriga would have already discussed it. So, it wasn’t entirely a lie. However, Raygrain casually brought up a rather daunting statement,
“Someone who would betray the Central at some point. I already know rumors circulating secretly in Central.”
“What if you say it out loud? You’ll be denied!”
Scheuer was shocked and instinctively covered her mouth with both hands.
Raygrain nonchalantly pulled her hands away, saying,
“That won’t become a reason for why you forged the stone plate.”
It meant he lacked enough evidence to trust her. As expected, Scheuer was ready for that much. Touching the lips that briefly touched his and the palm of her hand, she continued,
“Lady Anabelle recently received an invitation to a banquet in Netriga. Nobles from the Central will gather.”
It was an unexpected gathering at a time when the North was weakening. Raygrain, if anyone, would sense what Netriga desired. They aimed to gather Central nobles and join forces to challenge the authority of the royal family and the collapse of the North. In order for Erina to become the overall commander rather than the leader of the 2nd Order of Knights, traditions that had been upheld so far had to crumble. Even the current occupant, Zelos, who had been trained in Blanga, was someone who learned swordsmanship in Blanga.
Given that the North was thriving, it was known even in the royal family. She explained,
“That’s why. It seemed inappropriate to coincide with the content announced at the temple, so I was careful.”
His sharp eyes stared at her as if trying to unveil the truth. This was all for him. Unable to be honest in this situation, she pouted,
“But still, I didn’t only listen to the North. Just to avoid any misunderstanding, I spoke well of Netriga too.”
“Thanks to that, there’s quite a stir from the royal family to Central forces.”
At this level, it seemed like something significant had happened at the banquet. Raygrain sighed faintly, a mix of regret.
He looked at her with eyes that now seemed to believe her. In this situation where she couldn’t honestly confess, she pursed her lips.
“Still, the Stone Forgery seems to be more important to the Duke.”
“Foolish.”
He probably knew. That she had significantly contributed to finding a place to scatter the stone plates. Raygrain sat on the bed with a heavy tone.
“If someone had found out, what were you planning to do?”
Only now, as she thought that his sigh was because of her, did she feel a little sorry. As she inched closer to him, he asked in a stiff tone,
“Forgery of stone plates corresponds to the crime of treason. Is it something you knowingly did?”
Feeling the weight of his questioning voice, Scheuer honestly replied,
“More than that, Duke is more important.”
“Foolish.”
He probably knew. That she had made a significant contribution to finding a place to scatter the stone plates.
She responded with a hesitant smile instead of answering.
It was said that she couldn’t spit on the face that usually smiled.
Raygrain turned his head to block her laughter.
Scheuer, as if seeking reassurance, replied with a focused look.
“You shouldn’t hand it over to the central. They’ll be calling out the Duke’s name day and night, crying.”
“Do you think that would be considered a threat?”
“It wasn’t heard. As long as the Duke stays quiet, no one will know.”
Scheuer laughed as if revealing some great secret.
But he didn’t react at all.
Could it be true that he was really thinking of handing it over to the central?
With vague anxiety, Scheuer tilted her head to catch his gaze.
Now she could face his cold face.
The gaze looking down at her was as calm as usual.
There was no sympathy, difficulty, or even a hint of annoyance.
He had been like that from the beginning.
Maybe it was because he had become his escort and shared the same bed before going to sleep.
She had misunderstood that he had come close to her.
His grip on the hand holding his clothes became stronger.
“Again, you’re worrying about trivial things. You are a person of Blenga,”
he whispered in a gentle voice.
So, he whispered that he would not hand it over to the central, and with a light tap, he flicked Scheuer’s forehead with his finger.
The anxiety that had momentarily invaded disappeared with that gesture.
His voice, still felt the same, continued smoothly.
“That means your affairs are also my affairs.”
It took a moment to interpret his words.
Blinking for a few seconds.
The unidentified sound seemed to come out of the tightly closed throat.
To prevent the sound from leaking, Scheuer covered her mouth with both hands.
Ignoring her like that, Raygrain added dully.
“That’s what you learned, so it’s natural.”
Ah. I instantly understood his meaning.
To him, even this kind of thing was in the ‘knowledge’ domain.
How many moves did he teach in Blenga?
Although it was a result calculated in the head, the fact that he became her person brought joy, but at the same time, impatience arose from his still dry emotions.
The emotion that had been soaring until just now subsided dramatically with Raygrain’s continued words.
She returned to reality.
“First, I’ll call the court ladies, so get changed.”
“Why?”
“They demanded your attendance due to the slate issue. Since you were perfectly fine until yesterday, there are those who doubt.”
Uh, Scheuer made a groaning sound and reluctantly got up from her seat.
“Smile Love”