I Became A Squirrel Seeking For The Villain Chapter 68

“Soon?”

 

Jayden looked at me with a worried face and spoke carefully.

 

“When soon?”

 

It seemed like he was concerned about Lizzy and me being together.

 

Well, the past two days have been like a war between Lizzy and me.

 

Of course, Lizzy mostly played the victim role, but she was clearly blaming everything on me.

 

Since I was already being blamed, I just decided to torment her a little more.

 

“Uncle.”

 

I looked at Jayden quietly and asked.

 

“Have you ever considered that Lizzy… might be fake?”

 

“Ah….”

 

Jayden looked troubled and rubbed his face tiredly.

 

“The Baby clothes.”

 

It was a baby’s clothes that Sienna even testified were clearly embroidered by herself.

 

Naturally, that would be hard to dismiss.

 

And in this situation, saying something like, “I’m the real Yurika! I actually turned into a squirrel and overheard everything,” without any solid evidence…

 

Would obviously just sound like another outrageous act by a fake trying to deny the real one.

 

Of course, Jayden would say, ‘Of course, you can do that, Yurika,’ but that’s a separate story from whether he trusts me or not.

 

If Lizzy hadn’t appeared, I could have said, “I’m the real Yurika,” without hesitation, but now the timing was too ambiguous.

 

‘Uncle is different from Mariel.’

 

But Mariel knew something Jayden didn’t.

 

So we were able to talk a bit. But Jayden… was different.

 

“But if she is a fake,”

 

Jayden said, swallowing dryly, his voice turning cold.

 

“I’ll find out where those baby clothes really came from and trace it to the end.”

 

I nodded slowly.

 

Because that day was just around the corner.

 

“Then Yurika, even if you stay here, you must never bow your head to Yohan Hyrad!”

 

Jayden said firmly.

 

“I’ll pay several times the amount for your living expenses… Ah, I should make sure of that. How long do you plan to stay?”

 

I smiled slightly as I answered.

 

“Probably… until Yohan’s ceremony at the temple, which is in three days.”

 

“Hmm,”

 

Jayden made a sad face and asked.

 

“Come to think of it, Duke Hyrad will be attending the ceremony, since he’s the person in question.”

 

No other nobles attended this temple celebration ceremony.

 

The celebration ceremony that Yohan requested for the temple was not on a grand scale.

 

No, to be exact, it was almost the minimum.

 

It was just a request for the royals to visit the temple periodically and pray, and for Yohan to be present with them.

 

From the perspective of the organizers, they would need to create a suitable space for Yohan, but…

 

Of course, attending a royal event is efficient and has a good reputation.

 

After all, it would be strange if only Yohan attended the ceremony, and if it was held with the royals, both sides would benefit.

 

“His Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress, and Crown Prince Roymond, Prince Theodore… and Duke Yohan Hyrad, right?”

 

That was the official story, as Jayden mentioned.

 

“Well…”

 

I nodded once and smiled.

 

“That’s right.”

 

“It’ll be boring, won’t it? You’ll be alone at Duke Hyrad’s estate that day, without that beast around… though it’s a good thing he’s gone.”

 

‘Strictly speaking, I was the beast…’

 

“Should I come then? Won’t you be bored?”

 

“No, I’m really okay.”

 

I waved my hand, dismissing Jayden’s concerned words.

 

“I won’t be bored at all that day. Really.”

 

That was the truth.

 

Although I wasn’t on the guest list, I planned to sneak in.

 

‘Of course… to do that, we’ll have to use Runart’s potion again.’

 

“No, what exactly are you going to do?”

 

“Well… I need to take care of some troublesome people.”

 

“Really? Who’s been talking behind your back?”

 

It seemed like Jayden thought that “troublesome people” referred to noble young ladies or young men in the social circle gossiping about me.

 

“I’ll make sure they can’t even step into the social scene.”

 

Well, actually, I was planning to make sure they couldn’t even step foot in the empire.

 

“If it’s a difficult person, you can create a big event, and I’ll take care of it for you.”

 

There’s nothing my uncle can take care of, but… it is a big deal.

 

To get rid of someone in such a high position, a big incident is necessary.

 

Fortunately, with the fake person entering the picture, I was able to plan events that fit perfectly with the celebration ceremony.

 

“Anyway, I’m looking forward to it.”

 

Jayden smiled slyly.

 

“I’m curious to see what clever way you’ll use to get rid of that person.”

 

I smiled, swallowing words I couldn’t respond with.

 

* * *

 

“You’ve held up well.”

 

While Yurika was in the living room with Jayden, Yohan was sitting with his long legs crossed in his room.

 

Next to him, his aide continued talking eagerly.

 

“Really… I’m relieved. I honestly thought the mansion might collapse.”

 

The sight of Yohan resting his chin on his hand and looking out the window was certainly beautiful.

 

His long eyelashes created a shadow on his white face, and every movement of his slow fingers was sensual.

 

“Your magic was so unstable, it’s truly amazing.”

 

Despite Yohan’s indifferent response, his aide continued talking in admiration.

 

“If anything had happened to Lady Yurika, Count Jayden Abert wouldn’t have stood by quietly….”

 

“That won’t happen,” Yohan said calmly.

 

“There’s no way I’d let Yurika get hurt.”

 

“Then, if the prince had gotten hurt, it would have been a big problem.”

 

The aide sighed.

 

“Although wizards can’t use magic on the royal family, they could still break something and hurt them.”

 

“Is that necessary?”

 

Yohan smirked, but his eyes didn’t soften, making him look even more intimidating.

 

“I could just throw them out of the window without any magic.”

 

“Oh my goodness, Your Highness!”

 

The aide trembled, knowing that it wasn’t a joke or empty boast. Yohan was the type of person who would actually do it.

 

Even thinking back now, it was truly a stroke of luck that all three of them were able to survive in that situation.

 

‘But what exactly happened?’

 

‘Even he seemed quite pleased.’

 

The aide gave up on speculating and changed the subject.

 

“Well, anyway… once the Lady sees the guest off, shall I bring her here right away? I think she probably wants to see you.”

 

Thinking back on how Yurika looked sorry toward Yohan earlier, it seemed like she had something she wanted to say.

 

“Oh, no.”

 

“Yes?”

 

But unexpectedly, it was Yohan—who had followed Yurika as soon as she arrived at Duke Hyrad’s estate—who gave a surprising answer.

 

He slowly stroked his chin and muttered,

 

“If I see her now, I don’t think I’ll be able to hold back.”

 

‘Hold back what, exactly?’

 

As the aide quietly shifted his eyes, Yohan let out a sly smile as if recalling something.

 

Then he opened his eyes with a seductive glint and said,

 

“If Yurika comes looking for me tonight, tell her I asked her to meet me at the top of the tower.”

 

That gloomy and remote tower was a place Yohan often visited anyway. His eerie voice followed.

 

“Don’t let anyone near it.”

 

“Yes.

 

The aide nodded immediately.

 

It was somehow a pitiful day for Yurika, who didn’t yet know Yohan’s true nature.

 

* * *

 

After seeing Jayden off, I went straight to look for Yohan, but his aide told me,

 

“He said to meet at the tower tonight.”

 

“Ah, Okay.”

 

No matter what, he’s a duke, so he must be busy.

 

Especially since Yohan had suddenly inherited the dukedom, he hadn’t even gone through a proper transition.

 

Of course, he would be busy each day—me bothering him like this must have been such a nuisance.

 

It looked like I’d have to apologize for the sudden kiss tonight.

 

I nodded to the aide right away.

 

“I must’ve caused so much trouble. Yohan must have had a lot to take care of, and it must’ve been chaotic since morning.”

 

“Ah… well… I don’t think it was a bother, really.”

 

The aide flinched a little and looked at me before sighing once.

 

“Anyway,”

 

I spoke softly and then smiled.

 

“I feel sorry for Yohan. As his aide, I bet it’s hard watching him go easy on someone like me, right? Someday, I’ll make sure to repay the kindness, so don’t worry too much about your lord being taken advantage of. Even if you don’t trust me…..”

 

Though I tried to speak kindly, the aide’s expression grew even more stiff.

 

Rather, it seemed like he was suffering more somewhere, so I decided to end the conversation there.

 

“Then, please tell Yohan I’ll be at the promised place at the appropriate time.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The aide answered right away, but his expression was odd.

 

He looked at me like he pitied me a little… or like he felt even more sorry.

 

Anyway, that night, I headed to the tower.

 

* * *