I Became the Keeper of a Suspicious Forest - Chapter 83

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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 83

The door opened, and Sionel entered together with Adam.

Handcuffs were fastened around his wrists to prevent any sudden movements.

Though what use would struggling be at this point.

The only light in the study was a single candle on the desk that Gideon had lit.

But even that alone was enough for Gideon and Sionel to look directly into each other’s eyes.

“Master, what should we do now…?”

Adam’s voice trembled as he trailed off. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Sionel properly.

Having deceived Sionel for so long, it seemed uncomfortable for him to reveal that fact now.

Gideon endured Adam’s pathetic attitude and spoke gently.

“You may leave. I have something to discuss with my nephew alone.”

“That won’t do!”

Adam cried out in alarm. Then immediately looked around nervously.

Gideon no longer bothered to manage his expression. His coldly frozen eyes fixed on Adam.

This was someone who always followed his orders without question, yet lately he’d been making frequent mistakes.

“Do you find my words amusing? You’re being particularly obtuse today.”

“Ah, I, well, that is… Ah…”

Gideon suppressed the urge to throw something right then and there.

Adam also noticed his master’s gaze. Not knowing what to do, Adam looked at Sionel instead of Gideon.

Quiet blue eyes stared directly at the butler.

Adam hurriedly bowed his head and left the room.

Click.

Gideon slowly moved to the sofa. Then he fingered the silver dagger that was on the sofa.

“Sit comfortably. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you.”

Gideon’s warm smile was not much different from the smile he had shown when first seeing Sionel.

His nephew, who he thought would pour out curses, surprisingly sat obediently on the sofa.

“It’s been a long time, Uncle.”

Even offering a respectful greeting.

That small unexpectedness gave Gideon displeasure. However, Gideon soon hid his emotions and continued the conversation.

“Yes, you managed to stay alive. Even winning over the assassin I sent.”

“I was lucky.”

Sionel showed no emotional disturbance even in this single statement.

Never to waver at any time was one of the teachings Gideon had given Sionel when he was young.

However, his nephew had always been a child who treated people with a sincere heart.

He knew everything about Sionel. He had to. Gideon had raised his nephews under his control.

As he looked persistently to figure out Sionel’s inner thoughts, Sionel suddenly chuckled.

“Uncle, you’re still the same.”

“…What do you mean?”

“The fact that you still believe you can control everything as you please.”

Gideon showed his agreement by not answering.

Gideon quietly looked at Sionel, then suddenly realized that he had never once avoided his eyes.

“…You, why are you looking at me with those eyes?”

Sionel had always looked at him with eyes full of respect and affection.

Even on the day he learned that the person who tried to kill him was him, he had never shown such eyes, even if he showed hatred and fear.

What was contained in those eyes was…

Amusement?

No, that couldn’t be.

There was no way Gideon would be such a trivial existence to Sionel.

“Let me ask you one thing.”

Cutting through Gideon’s thoughts, Sionel asked a question.

“Why did you try to kill me?”

“With you around, it’s difficult for me to rule the Ducal House.”

Even at the answer without a moment’s hesitation, Sionel noticed the small disturbance that Gideon showed.

It was a gap that only he, who had spent long years trying to resemble Gideon, could recognize.

“You’re not the type of person who makes rational judgments like that.”

Sionel no longer maintained courtesy.

“You were swept away by that emotion of fearing me and tried to kill me.”

Gideon burst into laughter.

“I was afraid of you? You’re seriously deluded.”

However, at the words that followed, Gideon could no longer laugh.

“You think you’re the only one who can lead the Ducal House best, and that no one is superior to you. That any head of house other than you would be wrong.”

“….”

“I was always curious. I accomplished everything according to your teachings, so why did you look at me with those eyes?”

“….”

“You looked at me like you were watching a hunting dog that would someday bite its master.”

Gideon tightened his grip on the silver dagger. It was an action he took without realizing it.

Sionel didn’t stop speaking.

“You’ve been suffering from an inferiority complex toward me all along. After father died, you thought you were the best all this time, but when it seemed like I might surpass you, you tried to eliminate me.”

“….”

“You are nothing.”

Sionel spoke in a dry, matter-of-fact tone.

“What you’ve accomplished, what you think you’ve achieved. It’s all actually fake. Because you yourself are fake to begin with.”

Gideon, who had been quiet all along, rose from his seat as if having a fit. He pointed the silver dagger at Sionel.

What Sionel said was arrogant, but he could have endured it.

What he really couldn’t stand was Sionel’s attitude of speaking calmly as if he were listing facts.

That dry tone seemed to carve deep into his bones that he was nothing.

Gideon calmed his rough breathing.

“It seems we’ve talked too long. I didn’t originally plan to go this far.”

A chillingly beautiful blade aimed for the end of Sionel’s neck.

Sionel’s life was already in his hands. Gideon regained his composure at that fact.

Gideon approached Sionel and met his eyes.

“How exactly does a brat like you plan to surpass me? When you’ve ended up offering your life before me like this.”

“….”

“You couldn’t protect anything. Not your parents, not your only sibling, not the rights that should have rightfully been yours. In the end, I took everything from you.”

Gideon wore a victor’s smile.

And so did Sionel. Incomprehensible words spilled from his curved lips.

“You must have been quite shaken by my words, Uncle. Seeing that you still haven’t noticed.”

“…What?”

Suddenly, the window near the desk shattered. At the same time, masked figures entered and pointed their swords at Gideon.

“What the hell is….”

Click.

Soon after, Roen opened the door and appeared, unlocking the handcuffs that bound Sionel.

Gideon watched the situation with an uncomprehending face, then belatedly spotted Adam entering the room and realized what had happened.

“Adam betrayed me.”

He was someone who had followed him out of fear and terror rather than loyalty.

Sionel had not been captured by the assassins and had ultimately entered the manor on his own feet. Adam had begged for his life and agreed to deceive Gideon.

Now the situation was reversed.

Gideon was disarmed of his dagger and forced to his knees. Sionel stood before him.

“You will be stripped of your ducal position.”

“How?”

Gideon spoke calmly.

“Do you have evidence that I tried to kill you?”

“….”

“You know the testimonies of assassins are useless. In the end, what determines the verdict in court is material evidence.”

Gideon was confident.

Even while ordering many assassination attempts on Sionel, he had left no traces of his involvement.

He had burned all transaction records and rosters, and killed everyone involved.

He had always moved cautiously.

Seeing Sionel looking at him without saying anything, he became even more certain.

“If not that, are you going to kill me right here? Just for revenge?”

No, he absolutely couldn’t do that.

Whether he liked it or not, Sionel, who had been raised by Gideon’s hand, had been educated to take responsibility for the family as an heir.

Sionel couldn’t destroy the Devonham Family with his own hands. Especially not this place that his deceased parents had built up.

In the end, there was only one thing Sionel could choose right now.

To make a deal with Gideon at a reasonable level and step back.

For instance, Sionel would inherit the marquis title, and Gideon would be sent to a distant place under the pretext of recuperation.

“I will make sure you meet a miserable end.”

Sionel declared firmly, and Gideon snorted.

Sionel paid no attention and looked toward the door.

Gideon also followed that gaze, and soon someone opened the door and entered.

“Brother.”

It was Aren Devonham.

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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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