The Reason Why the Forsaken Fake Returned Chapter 107

Albert scoffed as if he found it absurd. However, he was momentarily lost for words, captivated by the fragrant scent of flowers that wafted over him.

 

“Yes, friends. Sometimes a man and a woman getting to know each other slowly are called friends.” Shailoh smiled softly and fluttered her fan. “Will you take me there?”

 

There might be a deadly secret hidden there for Albert. Her breath trembled with anticipation and excitement. Perhaps she only needed to endure this charade a little longer. She gently pressed Albert, who seemed lost in thought. “Well? Will you take me there, Your Highness?” Her voice was as beautiful as rolling jade beads. Her features were flawless and beautiful like a bisque doll, with a long neck like a deer, deeply set collarbones, and a seductive cleavage.

 

The deliberation was brief. Albert swallowed dryly and eventually surrendered to her temptation. “…Alright.”

 

* * *

The carriage slowed down only as dusk approached, after traveling deep into the darkened forest path.

 

“We’re here.”

 

As soon as the coachman announced their arrival, Albert stepped out of the carriage and gestured proudly to the surroundings, extending his hand to her.

 

“Wow.” Feigning admiration, Shailoh glanced around, scrutinizing the area thoroughly. Guards were hidden everywhere, seemingly ready to eliminate intruders and conceal the existence of this place. “What’s it like inside?” To dispel any signs of tension, she deliberately smiled and took Albert’s arm.

 

Albert chuckled at the natural contact and led her as if showing off to a charming mistress. “Inside is rather ordinary. There’s just a separate room for card games or billiards. And there are quite a few guest rooms.”

 

“Welcome, Your Highness.”

 

The moment they stepped inside, the caretaker, who had been notified in advance, greeted them respectfully. Albert pointed to him and introduced him. “This is the caretaker, Jonathan.” The man introduced was an elderly gentleman with graying hair.

 

Albert then introduced Shailoh. “This is Miss Sasha Griche. My companion.”

 

“Pleased to meet you, Miss.”

 

“Likewise.” Shailoh clung even closer to Albert, wearing a coquettish smile. “Have you served His Highness for a long time, Sir Jonathan?”

 

“Ah…yes.”

 

Shailoh didn’t miss the way the shrewd eyes that had been scrutinizing her shifted from wary to slightly contemptuous. She quickly turned her gaze away from Jonathan and clung to Albert’s arm, pleading. “With so many entertainment rooms, it must be wonderful! Could you show me around?”

 

“Of course. That’s why we’re here.” Albert grinned and, arm in arm with her, ascended the stairs.

 

As she followed him up, Shailoh continued to discreetly observe her surroundings. Jonathan was whispering something to a man who had approached him. Curious about their conversation, Shailoh sharpened her senses, and before she knew it, Albert had proudly opened a door in front of them.

 

“This is the card game room.”

 

“Oh my!”

 

Rather than a place for entertaining only one or two guests, the room was as spacious as a respectable dining hall. Several round tables were arranged throughout, and beside the chair was a slanted wooden stand for holding cards. This was undoubtedly where Albert and his close associates indulged in gambling.

 

“What do you think? You’ve never seen a place like this before, have you?”

 

“Yes! It’s more elaborate than I expected.” Feigning delight, Shailoh clapped her hands, but suddenly fell silent as she noticed something. There was a small door on one side of the room.

 

While Albert was busy explaining the surroundings, Shailoh stealthily approached the door and slowly opened it. “What is this…?” It was strange. Four beds were lined up in a row.

 

Feeling uneasy, her eyes widened as a hand reached out from behind her. Startled, she had no time to retreat before Albert closed the door.

 

“I thought it was closed, but it was open.” His tone was as usual, but there was a chill to it.

 

Shailoh felt a shiver down her spine, hesitated for a moment, then quickly flashed a bright smile. “Was that a guest room just now?”

 

“Guest room?”

 

“Yes. You mentioned there were many guest rooms. Is this one of them?”

 

“Ah.” Albert paused as if in thought, then nodded. “Yes, it is.”

 

“What other rooms are there?” Changing the subject, Shailoh naturally took Albert’s arm and led him in the opposite direction.

 

“There are plenty of rooms.” Albert shrugged his shoulders and guided her out of the card game room to another room.

 

The next room was a relatively ordinary billiards room. The only difference was its relatively large size compared to other rooms.

 

“You must have a lot of friends.”

 

“Partly that, and I can’t stand cramped spaces, so I built it spaciously.”

 

“You certainly have grand plans.” Clapping her hands in praise, Shailoh pondered the room she had just seen as she reached for the cabinet.

 

“Your Highness.” A knock was heard, followed by Jonathan entering the room.

 

Albert frowned, thinking their intimate time had been interrupted. “What is it? I told you not to disturb us unless it’s important.”

 

“There’s something you must know.”

 

“What is it?”

 

Jonathan glanced at Shailoh with a serious expression, then whispered quietly. “Could you step outside for a moment…?”

 

“Sigh.” Albert let out a low sigh, nodded, and looked at Shailoh. “I need to step out for a moment due to some business.”

 

“Take your time. I’ll be exploring.” It was the opportunity she had been waiting for. With a bright smile, Shailoh waved her hand and pretended to be engrossed in the cabinet, watching the two men leave through the glass.

 

Once alone in the room, she began to inspect every corner. She was filled with the thought that Albert might have hidden something incriminating here. If she was lucky, she might find something useful. Then she could stop this charade. Shailoh focused on the sounds coming from outside the door while she bent down to check under the billiard table for anything hidden.

 

“Damn it…”

 

But no matter how hard she searched, she found nothing. With a sigh, Shailoh approached the window. She could see the guards pacing around the villa. It seemed impossible to find anything from outside.

 

“It’ll be a problem if I leave empty-handed.” As she bit her nails, the room she had just seen flashed through her mind. Perhaps there was an important clue there.

 

* * *

Albert let out a deflated laugh, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You’re saying I should suspect Miss Griche.”

 

“Yes. We can’t rule out the possibility.” Jonathan nodded resolutely, lowering his voice. “You might not have noticed, but she’s been carefully observing this place the entire time. She also discreetly checked how many guards there were.”

 

“Isn’t that being overly suspicious? We’ve already investigated her thoroughly. Besides, I personally saw my brother strangling her with my own eyes. If I hadn’t intervened, she might have died.”

 

“What if that was all a disguise and a trap?”

 

Albert was about to dismiss it as nonsense, but he stopped at Jonathan’s next words. “A disguise?”

 

“Yes. What if all of this is deception? What would you do?”

 

“I told you that’s impossible.”

 

“Test it?”

 

“You just went into the card game room, didn’t you? Did she happen to see the side room?”

 

“That’s right. I specifically ordered it to remain locked whenever it wasn’t being used.” Albert’s face contorted as he recalled the thought, and he reproached Jonathan. “That was close. Good thing I noticed it quickly.”

 

Expecting Jonathan to bow his head and apologize, Albert was surprised by the caretaker’s calm response.

 

“I instructed a maid to leave it open on purpose.”

 

“What…?” Albert’s eyes widened in disbelief.

 

“When I saw Your Highness bring her here, I prepared just in case.”

 

“Prepared what?”

 

“Your Highness.” Jonathan took a deep breath and spoke carefully. “My intuition tells me that while Your Highness was away, Miss Shailoh will go to look inside that room.”

 

“What?”

 

“If that’s the case, then my claim that everything is a disguise and a trap would be correct, wouldn’t it?”

 

Albert nodded instead of answering. Though he didn’t want to consider it, Jonathan’s words seemed plausible.

 

Sensing Albert’s agreement, Jonathan respectfully suggested. “Then let’s go confirm it. Enough time has passed that she should have gone to investigate by now. I deliberately cleared out all the maids and servants as well.”

 

“…Fine.” Albert nodded and led the way to the card game room. He opened the door without making a sound, trying to keep his presence unnoticed. For a moment, he was tense, but as he looked around, he muttered in disappointment. “There’s no one here.”

 

“She’s definitely inside.” Jonathan shook his head as he brushed past him and swung open the door to the side room.