It Turned Out to be a Useful Fraudulent Marriage Chapter 15 - 3. In Bluebeard's Dark Basement

Eric let out a rough breath and spoke calmly.

 

“If you want to leave here alive, you’d better untie me, Lady Emeline. Just as you said, I came here to meet the princess, and she— ”

 

“She almost returned to the royal palace without knowing Duke Orleans’s secret. If it weren’t for me.”

 

I waved the paper with translucent writing shimmering on it.

 

Last night, I realized something from Eric’s expression.

 

Eric had stolen the document, but he didn’t know how to reveal the hidden ink within it. Therefore, there was a high possibility that the princess, whom I assumed to be Eric’s accomplice, likely didn’t know the secret in this document either.

 

But what if I went to the princess and revealed the secret? And if I said that Eric had deliberately kept it hidden from her?

 

“It would be quite troublesome for you if you’re not cooperative right now, wouldn’t it?”

 

I widened my eyes as I asked, and Eric remained silent for a moment. Then, with a look of frustration and a voice feigning calm, he responded.

 

“So, in the end, you do need my cooperation. Whatever it is you want—money or something else—let’s talk after you untie me. I’ll listen seriously.”

 

‘I caught a big catch.’

 

I realized I had snagged someone far more important than any man I had ever tried to catch.

 

Nodding, I walked over to the restraints on Eric’s hands. His two crimson eyes followed my every move.

 

Though Eric glared at me like he wanted to devour me on the spot, I didn’t shy away from his gaze. Instead, I met it head-on as I climbed onto the bed and threw one leg over him.

 

Eric’s face is distorted. “What are you doing?”

 

“Well, you’re just so big….”

 

“Are you really going to climb over me? Just give me the key, and I’ll—”

 

Despite his grumbling, I managed to get on top of him.

 

Eric cleared his throat, trying to avoid me. I placed my hand over his, and he looked at me as if ready to protest.

 

“Smile.”

 

“What?”

 

“I mean, we need the picture to come out nicely.”

 

Click.

 

I pressed the button on the small device I’d been hiding in my hand.

 

Flash!

 

A bright white light flickered in front of us.

 

Eric shouted. “What are you doing now?!”

 

I kindly pointed to the camera resting against the wall and didn’t forget to show him the switch I’d been holding.

 

“I told you. They sell all sorts of things in the capital. A remote-controlled camera like this was surprisingly cheap!”

 

After that, I took the film from the camera and placed it in the hotel room’s safe.

 

Eric, now beyond angry and more just baffled, shook his still-bound arms in disbelief.

 

Sorry, I never really intended to untie him.

 

“What on earth goes on in your head, Emeline Wedgwood?!”

 

I tapped my forehead playfully as I replied. “Whatever it is, it’s more than what’s in yours.”

 

Chapter 3. In Bluebeard’s Dark Basement

 

Eric was still restrained by the cuffs, tied to the bed. He stared down at the restraints and gritted his teeth.

 

“Where on earth did you even get these cuffs?”

 

“I bought them in a hurry from a nearby shop while you were passed out. Sold a few of the gold buttons from your jacket.”

 

“My jacket? You sold the buttons off my jacket?”

 

At that, Eric finally looked over at his neatly folded uniform on the sofa. I nodded and waved my hand dismissively.

 

“Think of it as a donation. I heard you make regular donations to orphanages for underprivileged commoners. Well, I’m quite underprivileged. Very unfortunate, really.”

 

The gold buttons engraved with the Orleans crest were quite valuable—enough to afford these magical restraints

 

I’m so envious.

 

Suppressing the bitter envy rising inside, I spoke. “Now, let’s talk.”

 

“You want to talk? Like this?” 

 

Eric pinched the bridge of his nose. But he had no other options.

 

After a while, Eric asked for something to wear and I handed him the jacket.

 

As Eric put it on, I smacked my lips and said, “It was better when you weren’t wearing anything. It’s a shame.”

 

“Keep thoughts like that in your head,” Eric said, suppressing his anger.

 

I snickered and replied, “Oh, trust me, I’m thinking much more in my head.”

 

Eric sighed, as if too tired to respond anymore.

 

In truth, Eric was probably the one with many questions, but I was the one in a hurry. In just 48 hours, my mother’s wedding would mark the beginning of our family’s tragic fate.

 

I placed the document on the table between Eric and me.

 

“To be honest, I’m not particularly interested in justice or retribution.”

 

“I care a lot about that, Emeline. If you had to pick between good and evil, you’d choose evil.”

 

Who wouldn’t know that? His insult didn’t faze me in the slightest. He was only speaking the truth, after all. So, I brushed off Eric’s comment and got straight to the point.

 

“Which is why I’m offering to pretend I don’t know Duke Orleans’s secret. For the endless glory of the duke and his son.”

 

Eric, trying to remain calm but clearly suppressing his anger, spoke as if he were a tutor disciplining a troublesome child.

 

“Lady Emeline, even if you take that ledger, you won’t be able to explain its source—”

 

“And I won’t be distributing the film in that safe to the tabloids either.”

 

I pointed to the safe behind me with my thumb.

 

Eric’s eyebrows twitched.

 

Though he was trying to maintain his composure, I could tell he was deeply agitated. After a few coincidental encounters with Eric recently, I had come to understand him.

 

Eric was a transparent person—honest, naive, arrogant. In every way, he was the opposite of me, my mother, or Phillip.

 

I looked into his crimson eyes.

 

‘But he looks so much like him….’

 

When I looked into Eric’s eyes, I could almost see Duke Orleans’ red eyes flickering before me.

 

“The terms are simple. You stop the wedding between my mother and Duke Orleans. You’re not exactly thrilled about it, are you?”

 

I could tell that I had hit the mark after looking at Eric’s face.

 

“And it wouldn’t be all that difficult for you either. You must have shares in many of the Duke’s businesses and assets, and surely, the other vassal families aren’t too keen on the marriage either. Add a little scandal to the mix, something like–”

 

I narrowed my eyes and muttered as I looked at Eric’s broad chest.

 

“I saw Emeline Wedgwood last night in Roses That Bloom at Night, mingling with some shady men. She’s a terrible person. There’s no way I could ever be family with her. That’s how the rumors will spread. When questioned, I’ll cry and indirectly admit it. The duke won’t be able to ignore his vassal families and his son’s words after that.”

 

Then, I would subtly inform the duke that the coastal land wasn’t actually ours, and I’d take my family back to the south.

 

Isn’t this the best scenario for everyone involved?

 

On top of that, if Eric gave me the promised 100,000 gold, we could open a little stew shop or something and live a quiet life.

 

Eric would be happy not to have a bad sister like me, Duke Orleans could continue living as a villain until his death, and everyone wins.

 

In a way, this is the natural order of things.

 

“Wait. So, what you’re asking is… you want me to break off my father’s marriage to your mother?”

 

Eric asked, as if he couldn’t quite understand. I nodded, but his confusion only deepened.

“Wasn’t your mother plan all along to her the duchess and drain the Orleans family’s wealth?”

 

His words made me widen my eyes.

 

“So you knew?”

 

Eric looked exasperated by my shamelessness.

 

“How could I not? It’s what your mother’s been doing throughout her four previous marriages.”

 

What she’s been doing throughout her four marriages, huh?

 

He wasn’t wrong, but he wasn’t exactly right either.

 

I muttered bitterly, “And I’m sure those men did things to Helena during those four marriages too.”

 

“What did they do?” Eric looked at me.