CH 31

Disclaimer: Some words or phrases may be lost in translation. The word might not have a literal translation in English or there may be sayings in Korean culture that I am not familiar with.

(athanasiafrost)

His inquiry regarding whether we had met before his proposal caught me off guard, halting my breath. I fought to suppress the emotions surging within me. My surprise, however, was unmistakable.

“Tell me.”

Johannes asked again. His calm gaze betrayed no hint of emotional turbulence, while my own mouth inexplicably dried up.

“When did you first meet me?”

It was a question with unwavering certainty, yet, despite the racing of my heart, I managed to answer composedly.

“Perhaps there’s a misunderstanding? You were merely someone I glimpsed from a distance a long time ago.”

Even if Johannes had embarked on a quest for vengeance in his own right, could he really outdo the sole ‘Ace’ member who had been there since childhood? During my time with ‘Ace’, I had undoubtedly honed my courage.

No matter how surprised I was, I was not one to panic. I grinned, pointing towards my own visage.

“It’s somewhat hazy, but you left a lasting impression. Blondes may not be a common sight in these parts, but the capital is full of them.”

I said with confidence.

As I returned, all the moments of our encounters and entanglements vanished into the mists of the past. Within my newfound life, our introduction had occurred when I proposed.

Thus, although I had no inkling of Johannes’ motives, it was obvious that I could not provide physical evidence because I had never actually met him. I rolled my eyes playfully and feigned genuine curiosity.

“But what led you to this belief?”

Johannes studied my fake smile with an inscrutable gaze. He had a stern face that didn’t look like he was smiling at all. He seemed completely unwilling to answer my questions.

Of course, I didn’t expect him to tell me why either. Having put my cards on the table, there was no way for Johannes to reveal his own hand.

After a moment of silence, Johannes gently released my ankle. The warm imprint of his touch dissipated, leaving an eerie chill in its wake.

“Hmm.”

His silence affirmed my supposition – he wouldn’t delve further. It was evident that I could present no additional evidence. Nevertheless, this would not change his mind at all.

“I don’t wish to pursue this further; that concludes the matter.”

Johannes’ gaze, fixed upon me as if he knew it.

“By the way, Duke.”

Certainly, I couldn’t answer that query. Ultimately, I replied with whatever calmness I could muster. When rendered speechless, there was just one response left to me.

“I came here because I genuinly like the duke.”

“Very well. Whatever internal musings led you to crawl your way here, I am entirely certain that your mouth will tell them.”

Johannes’ smile, as he moved closer, grew more pronounced. It was as if my confession hadn’t even registered with him. His animalistic, bright yellow eyes glinted.

“It might take the skill of an interrogator to open that mouth.”

“… yes?”

I was pretending to be calm, yet at the utterance of the word ‘interrogator’, my heart gave a startled leap. My trembling hands, concealed beneath my sleeves, were barely under control, and my entire body unwittingly tensed.

(athanasiafrost)

It’s an interrogation.

Despite being his spouse, I had entered as a duchess post an informal wedding, devoid of any suspicious activities. Yet now, I stood at an investigation.

Various painful experiences from ‘Ace’ began to pass through my mind.

Barbara’s smiling face occasionally intruded upon nightmares; the excessive punishments doled out by the self-proclaimed ‘masters’; and numerous grueling training sessions that left me breathless.

And then there were those nightmarish few days when I had been captured and my once-in-a-lifetime bid for escape had ended in bitter failure… The term ‘interrogation’ are associated with too many things

“Interrogation?”

“Exactly. A hearing.”

His calm words is causing my knees to quiver. Was he truly about to subject me to an actual interrogation? Could he be so merciless?

In reality, no matter the treatment he meted out to a lone woman in his land, none would question him. It was possible that, after getting rid of me, not even the smallest whisper would escape to the outside world.

I inhaled sharply, my mind whirring with a desperate search for an escape route. No amount of physical suffering had made it easier. Johannes slowly began to speak.

“Tell me.”

“… What?”

“What you need.”

In that moment of terror, I nearly spilled the truth, confessing about the ‘Time Stone’ stored in the treasure room. But in reality, it couldn’t have improved the situation. Even if the first family head had acquired the Time Stone and retained it until now, there was no reason he would readily entrust it to someone like me who held no genuine interest in it.

“Damn that much money?”

While I remained silent, Johannes probed once more, his gaze appearing as though it could devour me whole.

“Or perhaps it’s the power to make people grovel like dogs?”

It was the look of knowing that the answer to the question was not. Nevertheless, his voice resonated with the confidence of a man who had it all.

“I’m truly intrigued now.”

His frigid words sent another shiver down my spine, despite the nerves already coiled tightly within me. Drawing his chiseled face closer to mine, he whispered,

“The great man lurking behind you promise you that you would risk your life so charmingly?”

Though his tone carried an air of friendliness, his piercing gaze resembled that of a predatory beast. I struggled to draw breath, but replied resolutely,

“There’s no one lurking behind me, Duke. I’m not that important.”

In that instant, I was genuinely innocent. Confronted by that overwhelming intimidation, I relied on the confidence that I was speaking the truth.

“As a human, I do have desires, of course, but… .”

When I was younger, the natural human desire for a longer life was only to be expected. I persisted confidently in my rationale.

“I don’t desire something that could be handed to me as easily as a well-tailored garment.”

“hmm… therefore… .”

And my mental strength was there.

No matter how clearly I intended to voice it, my throat constricted when I attempted to pronounce the word ‘interrogation’. My voice wavered as vivid memories of my time with ‘Ace’ surged to the forefront.

Even as I had relied on my judgment of Johannes’ character, his appearance was undeniably daunting. Beyond his good looks, he exuded an eerie aura that carried a menacing undertone.

Perhaps this was why I attempted to compose my face, yet my facial muscles seemed to betray my control. Straying far from my previous natural act, I struggled to maintain my composure, wearing an expression that could have swayed anyone.

“… Interrogation, interrogation… No matter how much pain and suffering you subject me to… you won’t be able to extract a background that doesn’t exist.”

“What?”

Johannes scowled as if puzzled by my statement. I continued to speak, begging, while biting my lip.

“I-I don’t know how much torture you plan to inflict, but I-I saved Leo…”

Under normal circumstances, I would have proclaimed it confidently and without reservation.

However, the aftershocks of the word ‘interrogation’ weighed heavily upon me. While I could conceive of logical words to convey, it was as though the memories of agony prevented me from uttering them in a natural manner. I breathed heavily and continued.

“T-the f-f-facts remain unchanged… .”

“W-wait, wait. Stop.”

Even as I trembled pitifully, akin to my previous demeanor, I mustered the strength to continue speaking, but Johannes raised one hand with an absurd expression.

“Pain, torture… What on earth are you talking about?”

Johannes gazed at me blankly.

(athanasiafrost)

Late update, there were no reception when I was camping.