chapter 40
Yohan flicked his gaze toward where Baron Penuela was, as if to say, watch closely.
Startled, I grabbed Yohan’s sleeve.
“What are you planning to do?”
“Why, show you how I handle things my way, of course.”
Those crimson eyes brushed over my hand clutching his sleeve, then rose back to my face.
“That Liberthan document—you’re the one who planted it, aren’t you?”
“…”
“That was a good move, but too soft.”
How on earth did he know I was the one who put that document there?
Just how much does he know?
The banquet hall grew noisier by the minute. Perhaps because of the chaotic rumors spreading around.
But when my eyes met Yohan’s, it felt like the world had fallen away, leaving only the two of us.
Yohan’s sharp gaze softened into a wicked smile.
“Idiots who don’t get the message even after a warning… you have to crush them properly.”
He patted my shoulder.
“That way they’ll finally understand their place and bow down on their own.”
Countess Hetel was so shocked she couldn’t say a word.
Why is that man alive?
From the very beginning, Countess Hetel had been uneasy about Baron Penuela. Even if their scheme succeeded, if Baron Penuela betrayed them, everything would be ruined.
So she had used the excuse of “checking evidence” to throw him into prison—and then sent knights to have him killed.
Baron Penuela had died. Her husband, Count Hetel, had said he confirmed the corpse himself.
Count Hetel, too, was just as shocked.
“Ba-Baron Penuela? But I saw the body with my own eyes…”
In his panic, he let slip words he never should have. The surrounding nobles grew even more restless.
“Darling! You’ll make people misunderstand!”
The countess quickly tried to cover for him.
“Yes, you may have once been acquainted with him in the past, but circumstances are different now. You cannot act this way.”
Officially, Baron Penuela was a wanted criminal of the Empire—a vile traitor who had aided the treacherous Duke of Liberthan.
The mere fact that the Hetel family had harbored him was a grave crime.
“Ah, y-yes, that’s true…”
“Count Hetel? And you as well, Countess Hetel?”
At that moment, Baron Penuela, who had been clinging to Chancellor Orteca, opened his eyes wide.
“So you two were here! You dared to use me, then tried to kill me?!”
“W-what nonsense—”
“I gave you all the evidence you needed to frame Duchess Blanchet!”
Every noble in the hall now stared at Countess Hetel in shock.
The countess quickly denied it.
“Y-you must have mistaken me for someone else—”
“Mistaken you? You?”
Baron Penuela was only further incensed by her denial.
“I gave you proof that the contract magic could be forged! You tried to kill me to destroy the evidence, and now you shamelessly deny it?!”
The situation had already spiraled past the point of control.
“Oh heavens, then that tearful speech she just gave us—it was all a lie?”
“How utterly shameless and base.”
“I pity Duchess Blanchet for being dragged into this mess.”
There was no way to hide their crime anymore.
Even Chancellor Orteca can’t cover this up any further.
Now, the only person who could possibly “help” them… was unfortunately Duke Blanchet.
“Your Grace, Duke Blanchet. We, the Hetel family, know we have committed a grave sin against you.”
The countess pushed past Chancellor Orteca and fell to her knees before Yohan.
Yohan only curved his lips into a faint smile as he looked down at her. His sharp jaw tilted with arrogance.
His indifference made her tense, but she forced herself to continue her plea.
“Since we even staked our oath on Oblinte, I know there’s no turning back. But please, grant us mercy so that at least the Hetel line may continue.”
With his hand still resting on Estelle’s shoulder, Yohan asked,
“So now you’re begging me for forgiveness?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“And why is that?”
But Yohan’s words were not at all what she had expected.
Does he want me to apologize again?
Haltingly, she began,
“Because we committed a grave sin against the Blanchet family and stained your honor—”
“No.”
Yohan cut her off sharply.
“That’s not it.”
His elegant voice flowed out without inflection.
“You’re begging the wrong person.”
“What… do you mean…?”
“You’re directing your plea at the wrong target. Must I really spell out every little thing for you?”
The countess’s face flushed bright red.
She could bow her head easily enough to Yohan… but somehow, lowering it toward me was unbearable.
As her pride made her body tremble, Count Hetel, anxious, spoke up.
“Darling, what are you doing? Hurry and apologize properly.”
The countess froze, staring at me—sitting gracefully in silence.
Her head had bowed so easily before the duke.
And now you expect me to bow before that woman?
That lowborn commoner?
Her arms, pressed to the floor, shook violently. She simply could not bring herself to do it.
I kept watching the scene unfold.
So this is all part of Yohan’s setup?
The Hetel family trying to deny their wrongdoing, Baron Penuela raging at them, the nobles whispering in shock, Chancellor Orteca frowning as he pieced things together—
Everything was moving exactly as Yohan intended.
It’s like watching a puppet show.
Perhaps that was how Yohan viewed the world.
Does that mean he sees me as just another puppet too?
The countess, who had just been shamelessly begging Yohan, now hesitated when her eyes met mine.
Only when she reluctantly bowed her head did Yohan’s voice slice through the air, cold and merciless.
“So, the Hetel family doesn’t value its life?”
Count Hetel blanched.
“Wh-what?”
“Or did you truly think such a meager apology could atone for your crimes?”
The killing intent in Yohan’s tone pressed down on them.
The countess finally collapsed, bowing her head in terror. Her hesitation was gone.
“I beg your forgiveness, Duchess Blanchet. Blinded by greed, I slandered you. How can I ever repay this sin…”
“Hmph.”
“The entire Hetel family knows this is a debt we could never repay, even if we all bowed our heads before you…”
Even as she knocked her forehead against the floor, she kept darting nervous glances at Yohan.
Yohan tilted his head slightly, one corner of his mouth curving up.
“Is that all?”
“Th-then how should we atone…”
“Beg like dogs.”
A crooked grin twisted his lips.
“Grovel for the mercy of keeping your lives.”
“…”
“Only then might I feel the urge to grant mercy.”
At those words, the Hetel couple froze, unable to move.
Yohan rose gracefully from his seat.
And in that fleeting moment, he leaned down to whisper in my ear, low and quiet:
“Watch closely. What comes next is the climax I’ve prepared for you.”
My heart pounded with uneasy dread.
Every time Yohan says something like that, something terrifying follows.
Yohan stepped before the kneeling Hetels.
Chancellor Orteca, who had been watching in silence, asked,
“Duke Blanchet, what do you intend to do?”
“Teach them a lesson.”
Yohan ignored him and brought his boot down on Count Hetel’s hand.
“Arghhh! D-Duke Blanchet!”
“This is the hand that tried to frame my wife?”
His boot ground harshly into the man’s hand.
Screams rang out.
“P-please, spare me…”
“If you dared attempt such a scheme, you should have been ready to accept the consequences.”
Unable to endure the pain, Count Hetel fainted. His wife went even paler at the sight.
“That’s all it takes to break you?”
Yohan shook his foot as if brushing off filth, then turned to the countess.
“Now that I think of it, didn’t you insult my wife with that vulgar tongue of yours?”
“P-please… spare me…”
“From that moment I wanted to rip that ignorant tongue right out.”
Desperate, the countess screamed toward Chancellor Orteca.
“Ch-Chancellor Orteca! Please stop him! This isn’t a proper trial—he can’t treat a noble this way—”
“Did you not swear Oblinte?”
Orteca’s voice was cool.
“Every action the duke takes now is the price exacted upon House Hetel. I cannot intervene.”
“T-that’s absurd…”
“You yourself swore Oblinte, Countess. Bear the consequences.”
Despair consumed her.
Yohan turned to me then, smiling beautifully.
“My dear, should I start by ripping out her eyes, or her tongue?”
I flinched. It felt like being yanked back into harsh reality.
“I-I have to choose that?”
“If possible, I’d like to grant your wish.”
I didn’t want to choose either.
But Yohan is the kind of man who would actually do it—that’s what’s terrifying.
It’s not that I had any affection for the countess, who tried to bury me alive. But still… I couldn’t stomach watching her body mutilated right before my eyes.
“If it’s hard to choose, I’ll just do both.”
There was a glimmer of interest in Johann’s red eyes.
It seemed he was very curious about which choice I would make.
“Hmm, then I’ll…”
“Yes, my lady?”
“Achoo.”
I deliberately let out a cough and pressed a hand to my forehead.
Let’s pretend I’m sick and escape!
Luckily, since I was often ill, my acting was convincing. I made my breathing shaky as if I were struggling, and Johann’s face darkened at once.
“You really are sick right now, aren’t you?”
“No, I’m fine.”
I shook my head as if nothing were wrong.
“But I can’t just go back to rest.”
“Why not?”
“Because I can’t interfere with what you’re trying to do, Johann.”
Did he buy it?
I carefully studied Johann’s face with that thought in mind.
“My lady…”
Unexpectedly, Johann looked even more serious than I had imagined.
“We’re going to see a doctor right now.”
“R-right now? But Chancellor Orteca is here, and the situation—”
“None of that matters.”
Johann clenched his jaw tight and lifted me up into his arms.
“The only thing that matters to me right now is you.”
Ignoring everything else, Johann carried me out of the banquet hall.
“Duke Blanchet?”
Chancellor Orteca called after him in disbelief.
“What on earth are you—”
Of course, Johann didn’t even pretend to listen. He strode straight out of the hall and toward the physician.
As we left, I could hear the nobles’ startled voices.
But I could guarantee—no one was more surprised than me.
I-I didn’t think it would work this well!
Still, the important thing was that I’d succeeded.
At least now I didn’t have to watch Countess Hetel die right in front of me.
Anyway, since Baron Fenula is here, Count Hetel and his wife will be sent to the capital. And besides, Marquess Orteca has the Libertan documents too. There’s no way out for them.
That’s enough.
Honestly, if they had to suffer a punishment even crueler than what they had done, I think I would’ve felt a little uneasy.
In the blink of an eye, we arrived at the room where Dr. Henry was waiting. Henry’s eyes widened at the sight of Johann looking so urgent.
“W-what’s the matter?”
“My wife suddenly feels terribly dizzy,” Johann said in a grave voice.
“Her condition is extremely serious. She needs immediate treatment.”
Henry tilted his head as he looked at me. My complexion was perfectly fine.
“But you seem all right—”
“What?” Johann cut in coldly.
“I-I mean, you seem in very poor condition! I’ll examine you right away.”
Henry quickly sat me down and began checking me over.
Meanwhile, Johann glared at him with a murderous look.
“Tell me every single suspicious symptom.”
“Y-yes, yes, of course.”
“If you leave out anything and I find out later, you won’t live to regret it.”
At Johann’s growled threat, I found myself getting nervous for no reason.
What do I do now?
I couldn’t exactly claim that I was suddenly all better.
Just then—
—Child. Do you know what news we’ve brought you?
—It’s news so good, you’ll scream with joy when you hear it!
Even in my confusion, the trees began talking to me. I answered them as quickly as I could.
—I’m in a tight spot right now. Can I answer later?
—If you put it off, it won’t mean anything! You must hear it now!
—I said I can’t right now!
—Fine, then I’ll get straight to the point.
Why did so many things have to happen all at once today?
—We’ve found a place with traces of the fairies. By making contact with the trees there, we’ve discovered a way to weaken your curse.
—Anyway, since you insist you can’t hear it all now, I’ll tell you only the urgent part.
—Through our prayers, your fairy powers will recover more quickly. So we forced all the other trees to pray with us.
Johann stroked my cheek, asking anxiously,
“Are you feeling worse? You’re still the patient, and—”
“It’s not that.”
But then, an ominous feeling crept over me.
What is this feeling?
I tasted something metallic in my mouth.
Don’t tell me the recovery of my fairy powers means…
Somehow, Johann’s eyes were trembling with shock as he stared at me. His voice shook as he spoke.
“There’s blood… at the corner of your lips.”
I quickly wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. Black blood stained my sleeve.
…I’m done for.
