I’m Not the One Who Seduced the Grand Duke Chapter 35

“…….”

“…….”

A heavy silence hung in the room…….

I calmly looked at Leon.

He had been staring at me in silence as well, his face somehow looking as though he had a lot on his mind.

How long had we been like that?

“Could your decision change depending on whether or not you like my answer?”

“I suppose…… it could?”

“…….”

“That doesn’t mean you’re allowed to lie.”

When I added that, more than anything else, I really hated lies, he stared straight at me.

He seemed to sink into thought again like that, before finally—

“That’s right.”

He nodded.

“I did it.”

“Y-Your Grace?”

His aide, who had been standing behind him, flinched at Leon’s straightforward admission.

He seemed flustered, as if wondering whether it was really okay to confess so openly.

Hmm. So he’s an accomplice too, then.

“But Erna. How did you know I was the one who did it?”

“Is that important right now?”

“It’s become rather important to me.”

His expression was so innocent as he asked whether I could tell him, completely at odds with the outrageous thing he had just confessed to with his own mouth, that I almost laughed inwardly.

Get a hold of yourself, Erna. You mustn’t fall for that face.

“Erna?”

Well, if he was curious, perhaps there was no harm in telling him.

“I was just worried about it, so I had someone keep an eye on you.”

“Hm?”

“Because you seemed a little strange that day.”

 

***

 

Two weeks ago.

More precisely, it was the night he had come to return the Zaherette ring to me.

“Jean. Put someone on His Grace right now. No, actually, it would be better if you did it yourself.”

“Pardon? His Grace?”

Jean practically jumped at the suggestion, as if asking whether I was seriously telling him to follow the Grand Duke.

“Yes. He seemed suspicious no matter how I looked at it.”

I nodded as I answered, watching his back as he walked away from the mansion through the window.

“Well, I suppose it is suspicious for a fiancé to have separate business this late at night.”

“Right? So go and find out. See where he’s going.”

“Understood.”

Jean nodded and thumped his chest proudly.

“Don’t worry. If His Grace has a hidden mistress or lover, I’ll find out everything about her and report it to you.”

With those words, telling me to leave it to him, Jean quickly followed Leon with his men.

But then……

“He went straight to the city guard headquarters.”

“The city guard?”

The answer I received was completely unexpected.

The city guard? What business could he possibly have there?

“But it didn’t seem like a sudden visit. It looked as though he had made an appointment beforehand. When he arrived, someone was already waiting for His Grace.”

“Who?”

“That caught my attention too, so I looked into it.”

Jean cautiously answered, saying he really had no idea what was going on.

“As it turns out, he was a lawyer who worked for Count Valentine’s family. What on earth could they have met about?”

“Someone from Valentine’s side?”

I thought of several unpleasant possibilities.

Perhaps Leon had made some kind of deal with the Valentines in exchange for getting my ring back.

Or perhaps Leon had been on their side from the beginning.

But……

I learned the answer the next morning.

That was when Laura told me the horrifying story.

 

***

 

“So you did have me followed.”

“Ahem. I’m sorry, even if it’s only now. And let me make one thing clear: I’m not normally the kind of person who goes around digging into other people’s affairs.”

I firmly told him not to misunderstand me, and Leon gave a small chuckle.

“It’s fine. You could do anything to me, Erna.”

“No, that’s not what I meant. I wasn’t planning to do anything to you……”

“More importantly, are you sure you’re okay?”

“What?”

I tilted my head at the sudden question, but then he suddenly stepped right in front of me.

The distance between us disappeared in an instant. I instinctively tried to lean back, but unfortunately, the back of the chair caught me.

“You know I’m not such a good man, yet you’re sitting here alone with me.”

“Alone? Technically, your aide is over there too……”

“He’s on my side, so he doesn’t count. Besides, if you had me followed, you must have seen him too. He was there at the same place.”

“What?”

So he was there too?

He had looked flustered earlier, so I had thought he might be an accomplice, but I never imagined he actually was.

“Ah, that’s a face that says you didn’t know.”

“You should have just told me, Your Grace, instead of confessing everything so readily……!”

“But I don’t want to lie to my fiancée.”

“No, but still!”

His aide protested indignantly, saying that Leon had caused him to be exposed as an accomplice as well.

“So, Erna. What are you going to do now? Hmm?”

“…….”

“There doesn’t seem to be anyone on your side in this room. What would you do if I grabbed your hand right now and forced you to sign the papers?”

“You…… wouldn’t do that.”

“Who knows? I can’t promise you that. As you know, I’m a very frightening person who has done something terrible behind the scenes.”

“…….”

“I’m not just the good man everyone thinks I am, you know?”

Even the faint smile he always wore had disappeared from his face. His features looked almost sculpted, which somehow made him seem even more chilling.

It felt as though he was deliberately trying to intimidate me, but why was that?

Strangely, I wasn’t particularly frightened.

Not at all, actually. Which was rather amazing.

Phew.

First, I let out a small sigh.

“I never said what you did was something terrible.”

“What?”

“I just wanted to make sure. I wasn’t planning to blame you for it or lecture you about what you did.”

“…….”

“Ah, but if something that dangerous ever comes up again, I’d appreciate it if you gave me a heads-up beforehand. We’re going to be in the same boat from now on, after all.”

“…….”

“Leon’s faults will become Zaherette’s faults, too. I’ll do my best to work hard so that I can become someone worthy of Bernstein as well.”

It was fine if he fell alone when he stumbled, but that wouldn’t be the case anymore.

At those words, Leon froze.

His expression seemed to question whether what he thought was happening was really happening.

Yes.

It was.

Without saying a word, I looked up at him, then picked up my quill again.

And quickly wrote my name in the signature field of the document lying on the desk.

Scratch, scratch.

The only sound in the quiet room was the movement of the quill.

Soon, everything was finished, and I held the completed document out to him.

Leon stared at the document in bewilderment before fixing his gaze on me.

“……I thought you were going to refuse.”

“I don’t think I ever even said that.”

“I thought you brought this up because you were disappointed in me.”

“More precisely, I was worried, not disappointed. About you. And about our House Zaherette.”

I corrected him, telling him to put it properly.

“We’ve practically become a community of shared fate. If something goes wrong with you, Leon, I’ll be dragged down with you too, you know?”

Yes.

That was exactly why I had been agonizing over this all along.

Whether or not I should let this man into my life.

And after thinking about it over and over……

Whatever. Let’s try taking that hand. Just like Laura said, it hasn’t happened yet, and people can change.

Hmm. Still, I was a little uneasy……

“Ahem. Leon, there’s one more thing I’m curious about.”

“What is it?”

“Um, your elder brother. I mean, His Majesty the Emperor. Are you two on good terms……?”

I cautiously asked whether there were any signs of trouble in their relationship as brothers.

But then—

“Erna.”

“Yes?”

“Are you interested in my brother?”

“No, seriously, how does your train of thought even manage to end up there?”

Good grief.

He had done the same thing when we were talking about Young Master Valentine earlier.

I lamented over how our conversations always managed to veer off in that direction, and the slight displeasure that had appeared on his face quickly disappeared.

“Then why are you asking that?”

“Because I think it would be nice if brothers got along well. And, well, I was a little worried when His Majesty summoned you the other day. I thought it would be a bit troublesome if the two of you ended up on bad terms because of me.”

I continued speaking while sneaking a glance at his reaction.

He didn’t know this, but as someone who knew about the future that was coming, I couldn’t help but worry.

According to the outsider’s note, he would soon betray the Emperor.

So I have to make sure that never happens.

Fortunately, it seemed that the intention behind my words had gotten through, because Leon spoke with a much gentler expression.

“If you’re worried because of the way I was rude to His Majesty the other day.”

If that was the case……?

“I’ll make sure to be more affectionate toward my brother from now on.”

“…….”

Huh?

Is it that simple?