Fakes Don’t Want To Be Real Chapter 24

Chapter 24

 

What met his eyes was the most confident, resolute, and icy expression he had ever seen on a woman’s face.

 

Psychke spoke, her tone sharp and cold., “I’m not going in. Why should I?”

“Psychke.”

“Now that the real lady, Lillian, has returned, isn’t my role limited to keeping Duke Verndia in place? Even that will end once the monsters in the Lestir domain are gone.”

 

Verndia’s expression shifted at her self-effacing words.

Unaware, Psychke continued, drawing from the depths of her chest the words she had long kept hidden.

 

“I’ll fulfill the role because you raised me, but I won’t remain here any longer.”

“Psychke Silkisia!”

“Until the Lestir monsters are gone, I’ll stay elsewhere. If you don’t want this known, don’t send your soldiers after me.”

“Do you think you’ll get your way?”

 

Yzhar, enraged, reached out to drag her by force.

Though he knew she surpassed him in strength, her pale face and the cold sweat beading at her brow made him think he could.

But his attempt was blocked by her iron grip.

 

“Duke!”

“Seems the discussion is over.”

 

Verndia tilted his head, genuinely curious.

 

“She’s an adult, not a child. What’s the problem if she wants to leave?”

“It’s not for you to concern yourself with!”

“It’s my fiancée’s business, so I must.”

“When did you start worrying about such things?”

“Just now, since I’ve been too neglectful.”

 

Caught in the tension between two stubborn men, Psychke turned her head, incredulous and Verndia couldn’t help but chuckle.

 

Lightly holding back the struggling Yzhar, Verndia teased, “Silkisia must have some unusual customs or perhaps there’s much to guard within the mansion.”

“…?”

“Soldiers stand guard not only at the entrance but on every floor. Their presence alone is enough to impress.”

 

Yzhar bit his lip in frustration.

In truth, he had intended to block Psychke with soldiers the moment she arrived, ensuring she would never leav because his father, the Duke of Silkisia, had commanded it.

He had hoped that by concealing the soldiers’ presence, Psychke could be deceived but she was accompanied by Duke Verndia so everything was laid bare; no fool would enter willingly.

Even without Verndia’s hint, Psychke would not have gone in.

 

“Let’s go, my lady.”

 

Having won the verbal duel with Yzhar, Verndia smiled and nudged his fiancée forward toward the Silkisia mansion, not Lestir’s carriage.

Psychke looked at him, puzzled, asking with her eyes why he was steering her this way. Verndia, relaxed now that his tension had eased, answered:

 

“We need to pack.”

“Ah.”

 

A small gasp escaped her lips.

She had only thought about leaving, never about the essentials.

The jewelry she had secretly saved with every little bit of money she had, those would let her stay anywhere, an inn or otherwise. But with her health so poor, she hadn’t dared to venture out.

 

‘So he’s trying to help…’

 

Psychke and Verndia passed by a flustered Lenox, whose eyes widened at the sight of his brother, whom he had considered invincible, being checked by sheer force and anger. Without any interference, they entered the mansion and made it to a room on the second floor.

No soldier in their right mind would stand against the Empire’s only swordmaster, flinging their presence around in vain.

＊＊＊

Psychke clutched the pouch of jewelry and the note Aiden had left.

As soon as Lestir’s carriage passed through Silkisia’s main gate, she spoke.

 

“Thank you for helping. Please drop me off anywhere nearby.”

 

Verndia, seated opposite, regarded her curiously, then leaned back lazily with his arms crossed.

 

“Is this Aiden so important to you, my lady?”

“Pardon?”

“You’ve kept looking after him. Is leaving home because of him? You’ve endured so long being ignored… oh, pardon. I meant it seems you stood firm despite being disregarded.”

 

Hearing someone mention her embarrassing past made her blush slightly. Verndia unconsciously thought she looked quite endearing.

 

Psychke replied quietly, “That’s not it. I had planned to leave soon anyway.”

“Then he isn’t your lover?”

“No, he isn’t.”

 

She looked at him, bewildered, as if to ask why he cared. Really, it didn’t matter whether she and Aiden were lovers. Verndia mumbled an excuse, also unsure why he himself was so interested.

He changed the topic to mask his uneasy thoughts.

 

“Do you have a place to go?”

“Not yet. I’ll check the inns in the capital.”

 

Psychke’s eyes followed the quickly passing scenery, excited at the thought of leaving the prison-like mansion to live on her own.

Watching her, Verndia muttered under his breath.

 

“How about Lestir’s mansion?”

“Huh?”

 

The suggestion caught her off guard, and she paused before shaking her head slowly.

 

“No, that’s fine.”

“I’ve heard the capital’s inns are swarming with thieves. It’ll be dangerous.”

“Are the patrols not doing their job? Strange, I thought it was fine when I checked recently.”

“… That was last year. Now it’s okay. But with the upcoming festival, no rooms will be available.”

 

Though improvised, his words weren’t baseless. A grand festival was planned to celebrate the Second Prince’s coming-of-age ceremony.

 

Psychke’s expression showed her dismay, but she soon relaxed and muttered, teasingly: “Well, maybe I can still find one available room.”

“There won’t be any.”

“You won’t know unless you check.”

“No, I’m sure there won’t be.”

 

Verndia’s temper flared. He considered reserving every inn in the capital for her.

Just then, the carriage jolted as the horses outside panicked.

 

“Ah!”

 

The inside lurched.

Psychke, already in poor health, almost tumbled to the floor and Verndia instinctively caught her. The cold of her body sent a shock through him, she hadn’t been this cold earlier. Her condition had worsened.

 

“Where do you think you’re going in this state?”

“I overexerted. Rest will help.”

 

She tried to push him away, but Verndia didn’t loosen his grip. Instead, he struck the wall toward the coachman.

 

“What happened?”

“A bird startled the horses from the brush. Sorry.”

 

Once the carriage moved smoothly again, Berndia seated her opposite and crossed one leg, showing his irritation.

 

“There are plenty of rooms in Lestir.”

“I don’t want to trouble anyone.”

“The owner says it’s fine. What’s the problem? You’ll feel safer there, and Silkisia’s soldiers won’t overwhelm you in your condition.”

 

Psychke remained silent.

Though she had warned against sending soldiers, they weren’t likely to give up. If they came at night to avoid eyes, maybe, but otherwise, no.

Still, this was between her and Silkisia; Verndia had no part in it. Yet he, wanting to protect her, offered a new perspective.

 

“Ah, one more thing. If Silkisia takes you, it violates the contract.”

“Excuse me?”

 

Psychke echoed, surprised. Violates the contract?

Verndia, with his usual boldness, explained:

 

“Judging by the soldiers being involved, it seems they plan to confine you. You wouldn’t be able to leave at will.”

“……”

“You know both parties must be present for the annulment, right? So—”

“Duke, about that annulment…”

 

The word froze Psychke; her face stiffened, and Verndia tensed as well.

He had intended a carrot to persuade her, but he couldn’t shake the feeling he’d chosen the wrong approach.

And that feeling became reality,

 

“Can it be done right now?”