I Became the Keeper of a Suspicious Forest - Chapter 70

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 70

Indeed, this was a ducal house with the greatest power in the Empire.

Gordon Rambo gaped with his mouth wide open, unable to take his eyes off the interior decorations of the study. He hadn’t been able to hide his expression since entering the ducal house.

Everything that filled the space was an absurdly expensive item that would only be handled by the Imperial Court.

If he had even one of these items, it would be treated as a family heirloom and stored separately. In front of such objects, he drooled.

That was exactly what he was hoping for.

Click.

“I’ve kept you waiting long.”

Finally, the supreme authority who owned all of this appeared. Though Gideon showed a gentle face and smiled softly, there was also an intimidating presence.

Gordon, who had been sizing up his opponent with a merchant’s instinct, bowed his head deeply.

“Oh no, not at all. It’s an honor that Your Grace would meet with me personally.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

As he leisurely sat at the table, a man who appeared to be a butler personally poured tea and left. Though it was strange that a butler would personally do what a servant should do, the Duke accepted it naturally.

Only the two of them remained in the study. However, the Duke showed no sign of starting a conversation. Just as Gordon was wondering whether he should risk being rude and speak first.

“So, you say you saw the missing young master of Devonham.”

“Yes, yes!”

“Where?”

At the voice that was both kind yet subtly urging, Gordon almost answered thoughtlessly but came to his senses.

Gordon showed a good-natured smile. If he had a beard, he could have shown more composure and leisure while putting on airs.

“Before I tell you, there’s one thing I’d like to ask.”

“Hmm… I don’t like it when people don’t answer important questions. And quite a few such people have told lies.”

“Delaying an answer? That’s not it at all! If I could help Your Grace safely find the young master, what greater honor could there be!”

When Gideon showed no noticeable reaction even to the flattery, Gordon revealed his true nature.

“I’m just a little curious about the value of the information I’ve brought.”

“Value?”

“I saw the heir of House Devonham, whom neither the ducal house’s attendants nor the Imperial Court’s guards could find. That value would be immeasurable in money.”

It wasn’t an exaggeration.

This was none other than the Devonham Duchy. The greatest power after the Imperial Court. Gordon had no intention of ending this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that had come to him with just ordinary profit.

Pfft.

A deflating sound pierced Gordon’s ears.

“Your Grace?”

“I understand what you mean.”

The gentle face instantly turned cold.

“How impudent of you to try to do business in front of me.”

“B-business? I’m making a reasonable request…”

“Without even knowing how to use proper judgment.”

Why was it that under that stare looking directly at him, he thought of his own death, which he hadn’t even considered in the forest?

He had heard that Duke Devonham was kind-hearted and merciful, someone who never said an unpleasant word to others.

In the long silence, Gideon stared at him as if thinking about what to do with an annoying bug.

Just as he instinctively tried to jump up from his seat, Gideon put down the teacup he had been drinking from.

“But what wouldn’t I do to find my beloved nephew?”

“…”

“I’ll give you anything.”

“Pardon…?”

“I’ll give you whatever you want.”

“…”

“Now then, will you tell me where you saw my nephew?”

Gordon opened his mouth, and Gideon’s hand that had been touching the teacup stopped.

* * *

Adam personally saw Gordon out and immediately returned to the study.

Gideon was looking out the window.

“Master.”

“It’s strange. Strange. I clearly confirmed that he was dead.”

Gideon rarely showed confusion, displaying a bewildered expression.

“Did I see wrong? That can’t be. I definitely confirmed it.”

However, what Gordon had said was far from the facts Gideon knew.

‘I saw the young master of Devonham in Mirban Forest.’

‘He was with a forest keeper and another man.’

‘The forest keeper is a woman from a baronial house named Ponia Harbel, and whether she’s holding the young master captive or has some other impure intentions…’

However, what Gideon was curious about wasn’t some forest keeper who was hiding his identity and operating in secret.

‘What’s the name of the man who’s with the forest keeper?’

After briefly retracing his memory, Gordon came up with a name.

‘He was a repairman, and I heard them call him Chad.’

“Right, so it was because of you.”

When he couldn’t find Sionel who should be in the forest and sent a memo saying he was searching. When he hid her from Gideon who had confronted the forest keeper, and concealed the forest keeper’s identity. Even when he made him confirm that Sionel was dead.

Everything had been Chad Moreau’s intention.

He had sent him to kill, but never expected he would choose to join hands with his own nephew. Gideon admitted that he had been complacent.

“Haha.”

Gideon laughed with a face devoid of any humor, then turned his head.

“Send assassins to Mirban Forest. Assemble the most skilled ones. And bring Sionel before me.”

“Yes. What should we do about Chad Moreau?”

“Kill Chad Moreau on the spot. And bring me his head.”

Now it was truly time to end everything with his own hands.

* * *

To carry out Gideon’s orders, Adam hurriedly left the study.

The path around the corridor corner heading toward the stairs.

“….”

Adam stopped abruptly at the end of the stairs. Then he immediately ran to the corner to check the corridor.

“Was I mistaken?”

He thought he had briefly heard footsteps,

Adam, who had been retracing his steps to check the corridor, turned back again, thinking he needed to quickly relay Gideon’s orders.

The sound of footsteps grew distant from the corridor as he went down the stairs.

And inside the room located at the end of the corridor that Adam had been watching for a while.

“….”

Aren stood there, covering his mouth and leaning against the wall.

* * *

If there was one thing that had changed about Ponia since coming to the forest, it would be this.

Her sleeping in late, which Kustin had nagged her about endlessly.

Her long sleeping hours that hadn’t been corrected for years were finally fixed.

Was it because she couldn’t sleep comfortably in the life-threatening forest and remained in a state of tension? Because she was afraid her family might cause another incident while Ponia was away? Because the life as a forest keeper suited her well and she developed a regular routine?

None of the above.

“….”

What influenced her early wake-up time was, without a doubt, because of Sionel Devonham.

“You woke up early.”

“…What are you doing from the morning?”

“Wondering when you’d wake up.”

Sionel had just been watching her without waking her up while she was asleep. Ponia blinked for a moment, then naturally sat up.

Ponia turned her back to him, pretending to tie up her hair.

‘That startled me.’

Seeing his face glowing from the morning right in front of her eyes was more overwhelming than expected. Especially the morning after responding to his confession!

“Couldn’t you just pinch me to wake me up instead?”

“I don’t really want to do that.”

“I guess you really wanted to pinch me before.”

“Back then, you were annoying.

“….”

“You acted like someone who couldn’t leave me alone, then slept so well by yourself, it was irritating.”

What, that’s what it was?

“I thought it was because of my personality.”

Even though she muttered, her soliloquy was audible, and Sionel hesitated for a moment before standing in front of her.

“Did I make you feel very disappointed?”

“Rather than disappointed….”

‘The fantasy was shattered.’

Looking at Ponia with an anxious expression as she gave no answer, a small expectation appeared in his blue eyes.

“Then, does that mean you like even that side of me?”

“…Well.”

“Then, what did yesterday’s confession mean….”

“Yes, I like you. I do like you.”

She finally gave up completely against Sionel, who was determined to bring up yesterday’s events.

She couldn’t tell anymore whether it was strange that he was moved by her confession that she liked even his bad personality, or whether it was strange that she honestly answered that she liked him.

‘Isn’t it good that it’s good?’

The fact that they could freely exchange words filled with affection made her realize anew that she and Sionel had become lovers.

Though nothing had really changed much in their daily life.

“Ponia.”

“Yes.”

“Ponia Harbel.”

Her full name, which she thought she would never hear in this forest.

“Yes.”

An irrepressible smile bloomed on his face.

“Won’t you go on a date with me?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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