Chapter 28

Episode 28: You Are Brave

“But this is the first time Raymond has shown interest in a woman like this.  Besides, you really fit his taste.”

“Is it possible? I heard that Your Majesty loves beautiful things.”

“Who said that to you? Grand Duke Ludwig?”

Once again, she made eye contact with me, lifting the tip of my chin firmly. I felt like her subtle brown eyes penetrated through me.

“Chloe Garnet. Viscount Garnet’s illegitimate child, brought out of the burning Garnet’s mansion by Grand Duke Ludwig. A beautiful-looking lady who has been raised under the support of Grand Duke Ludwig since she was twelve. You were the one who went to Raymond’s bedroom at the New Year’s party, right?”

“…….”

Her voice, which was reciting about me, took out my past one by one and captured me. She looked at me, probably pale and tired by now, and laughed a little.

“You don’t have to make a face that’s scared of me like that. I didn’t mean to do your background research from the beginning, but, somehow, I became interested in you.”

“I…..”

“Raymond referred to you as a scapegoat for himself and for Grand Duke Ludwig. Of course, he didn’t tell me everything, so I could only infer with the information I had, but you certainly intended to seduce him at first, didn’t you?”

“…….”

There was nothing wrong with her words, so I couldn’t even make excuses. No matter where I am and what I think, the past days when I seduced him to destroy him did not disappear.

“But why did you change your mind now? Did you not like your night with Raymond?”

“That, that…!”

Her finger slid down along my jawline. My face turned red with her outspoken remarks. She must have enjoyed my reaction. Otherwise, there’s no way she’d giggle with such a nasty smile.

“Oh my, I’m sorry. It was a question that could be quite embarrassing for a 20-year-old lady, but I asked because I was really curious. Sadly, I don’t know what Raymond is like.”

“What, what…..?”

“Poor Raymond. For some reason, I thought it was strange that a man who had everything like that couldn’t fall in love properly.”

I was confused with a red face, while she muttered to herself, ignoring me.

“Your Majesty, I……! That’s not the reason. I just don’t want to deceive him! I don’t know why Your Majesty is making such an offer to me.… I really don’t want to.”

At my cry, she stopped muttering and made a strange face.

“… You say something similar.”

After shouting what was inside, a belated fear came. My heart pounded, but I never regretted what I just said. As I looked at her with a tense expression, the woman let out a sigh.

“I hope you don’t look at me like a villain like that. I didn’t make that offer to you to deceive Ray.”

Seeing the woman’s face that suddenly subsided bitterly, I had to glance at her.

“I owe Ray a great debt. Well, this is all my situation, so I can’t force you to do it. I won’t suggest it again because you don’t want it.  Whenever you change your mind, please tell me. Raymond is a really good man.”

“I’m sorry.”

“There’s nothing for you to be sorry about.”

She turned lightly and walked toward the table.

“Sit down.”

Following her gracefully sitting down, I sat carefully across from her. Seeing me clasping my hands, she grinned.

“It’s really amazing. How could even a sitting posture be Raymond’s taste? After all, I’ve known Raymond since he was very small. At that time, I was two heads taller, but now I look up to him.”

I knew that Empress Daria was a very solemn and scary woman, but the way she brought up her story one by one was a little different from what I imagined.

Of course, she must have been an elegant woman with dignity in each tone, but she was more generous than I thought and seemed to be a benevolent person.

She didn’t appear to be a bloodthirsty murderer, as rumored. I don’t think she’s a person who mercilessly slaughters her opponent just because she feels a little twisted.

“I’ve never seen Raymond so restless, that’s why I decided to help. Of course, I’ll take a little price.”

The empress smiled with one hand holding her chin. Somehow that posture and smile reminded me of Raymond.

“In the future, you will stay in the Empress’ Palace and be protected by me. No matter how powerful Grand Duke Ludwig is, he wouldn’t dare to touch my person.”

“To be the Empress’…….”

“You’re going to be my maid.”

I was frozen for a moment by her unexpected words. I can’t believe I’d be the Empress’ maid, I’m only an illegitimate child of the Grand Duke Ludwig’s family.

“That’ll leave a stain on Your Empress’ name!”

“But there’s no way I can protect you more clearly than that, otherwise you’ll have to be Raymond’s mistress? I don’t think you and Ray want that, so this is the only way, right?”

“…….”

“Don’t worry too much. Unlike Raymond, I never make unpaid sacrifices. You don’t have to be sorry for me because I decided to get something from Raymond.”

Originally, the empress’ maid was only possible for women who were from  Duke’s or Marquis’ family, no matter how low it was, it had to be a Count or above. If the empress carries me around, the illegitimate child of Garnet, who has fallen, it will just be a laughing matter for people.

“Oh my, I’m really fine. I’m not really conscious of people’s eyes. If you feel really sorry, you should give it to Raymond, not me. It’s Raymond who’s going to lose out in this deal.”

“……Have you already decided?”

“Yes. I never intend to close this deal. If you interfere with it, I won’t let you go even if I have to follow you to the end of hell.”

The face of the woman bending her eyes seemed to be sincere.

I didn’t know what Raymond had decided to give as a condition to protect me, but it would never be light, even more gloomy emotions hit me.

“Raymond is that kind of guy. If he decides to take responsibility once, he will take responsibility until the end at any cost. Of course, not everyone is the target. So I thought you would be very special to Raymond.”

She was talking with a playful smile, but every word of the woman came into my heart and hit me. I didn’t eat anything, but I was nauseous.

“I heard how you got out of the Duchy. I want to let you rest a little longer, but…… You can’t take a long break. You need to solidify your place before Grand Duke Ludwig finds out about your lies.”

“I’m fine.”

“Yes. You’re brave.”

When I nodded quietly, the woman rolled up the corners of her mouth as if satisfied.

Raymond, who had gone out like running away, did not return, and I was assigned a place in the Empress’ Palace, where I will stay in the future.

In my past life, I gave birth to Raymond’s child, but I was definitely a mistress. So, it was a place where I could never step except once when the empress had called me.

In an unfamiliar palace, I sat in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room and stared out the window blankly. Strange anxiety and excitement coexisted in my mind as I looked at the whitish grey moon.

Hating, despising, and loathing Kailos, I struggled to get away from his side somehow.

However, after leaving the Duchy like this, I couldn’t help feeling anxious. For a very long time, I have lived only for Kailos.

At the same time, the thought of finally getting away from him was accompanied by a weak fear and gave me an unfamiliar excitement.

‘I don’t want you to cry.’

‘I think your smile is more beautiful.’

There were two voices intersecting in my head. Chloe Garnet who doesn’t cry, Chloe Garnet who looks more beautiful when smiling.….

‘I want you to be happy.’

‘I’ll protect you.’

The person who wished for my happiness, the person who said she would protect me……. Those who give for Chloe Garnet, who deserves to be an unfortunate one…….

‘Are you happy right now?’

I also wanted to ask. Can Chloe Garnet really be happy? How dare I smile in front of you?

* * *

Chloe Garnet, the daughter of a Viscount who had been sponsored by the Grand Duke had left. Just one person left, but Ludwig’s castle, which had quiet beauty, turned into a bleak and desolate old castle.

Crash! Crack! Crack!

The servants screamed and ran away at the sound of the broken furniture thrown in all directions. Erikson, the old butler, sighed and stepped carefully into the room.

“Master, it’s okay…….”

A dull object hit his forehead with a crackling sound. Warm blood flowed down and at the same time Erikson’s mind became dizzy.

“No one.”

In the middle of the room, the young Grand Duke growled in a gloomy voice.

“I’m sure I told you not to let anyone in.”

There were red veins standing in both eyes staring at the opponent with open eyes. His shape was like a beast, and the old butler swallowed his breath and froze.

Erikson, an old butler of Ludwig’s castle, has known his young master since he was born, but he’d never seen him so changed and crazed.

Kailos Ludwig has always been a gentle and benevolent master since he was very young. He had never been angry at anyone or made a loud noise. He was the ideal owner who always smiled affectionately with a soft smile on his lips.