I Just Wanted Revenge, But Everyone Loves Me - Chapter 42
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 42
“Irritated?”
“Yes.”
It was an answer almost like a sigh.
“Veronica’s been insufferably pleased that she gets to spend time with you. That’s what got under my skin just now.”
The Duke remarked that she’d been teasing him for days whenever she caught an opening, as if it were no small matter.
“Then it’s not that you distrust me—”
“It’s Veronica, that woman, who irritated me. The way she carries around one person like she’s won the world… But still, I shouldn’t have acted that way.”
The Duke cleared his throat once, then lowered his gaze.
“I apologize. That must have looked terrible to you.”
“Oh, no! I thought you didn’t trust me, so—”
When I carefully conveyed my worry that he might tell me not to approach her, the Duke let out a breath of exasperation.
“Child. Do you know how old Veronica is?”
“Ah… no?”
“Twenty-four. For reference, I’m thirty-three.”
“!”
“At that age, you can at least judge whether someone you keep close is trustworthy or not.”
His golden eyes rolled toward me.
“Veronica trusts you. That’s why she dotes on you. She’s as suspicious as I am, that woman.”
“So… then.”
As I listened to his explanation, I couldn’t help but ask.
“And you, sir?”
“…”
“Do you trust me?”
At my words, the Duke’s lips moved several times. For a moment he seemed uncertain, then his brow furrowed.
It was at that moment.
“I…”
“Your Grace, forgive the interruption, but I must step in.”
The office door opened before I could hear his answer.
It was the secretary who had given me the digestive remedy and left earlier.
“What is it?”
“Hyacinth has sent word. It seems we need to check it right away.”
“… Bring it here.”
The Duke gestured lightly. I glanced about cautiously.
‘It’s a shame I didn’t hear his answer.’
Still, given the circumstances, it seemed right to excuse myself.
But the moment I rose from the sofa, the Duke who’d received the letter turned to look at me.
“Is the seat uncomfortable?”
“Pardon? No, it seemed urgent, so I was going to step out…”
“No.”
The Duke opened the letter envelope and moved his lips.
“Stay here.”
“Is it alright?”
I’d expected him to tell me to leave.
While I was still surprised by his unexpected words, the Duke quickly skimmed through Hyacinth’s letter and spoke.
“Would you like to read this as well?”
“…!”
“If you don’t want to see it, you don’t have to…”
“I want to! Please!”
A report from Hyacinth?
That meant it had to be about the Crown Prince’s Maid, didn’t it?
Since she was a crucial person who could clear Bangcadium’s name, of course I wanted to check.
And the moment I said this, the Duke snapped his fingers.
At the same time, the two letters in the Duke’s possession flew toward me.
“What?!”
I quickly caught the papers and widened my eyes.
“Wow…!”
This is amazing!
It wasn’t my first time seeing magic, but it was always fresh no matter how many times I witnessed it.
“That’s incredible, sir!”
“Such a simple trick—”
He cleared his throat.
Despite his words, his eyes showed he didn’t dislike the praise.
I grinned and examined the letters in my hands.
<The atmosphere in the Capital isn’t as bad as I expected. The nobles do curse Bangcadium, but on the other hand, they question why the Imperial Family takes no further action. Sensing this, the Imperial Family has sealed off Bangcadium’s location in the Capital with meticulous care. Damn dogs. I hope their little toes stub on doorframes every day.>
It seemed the report was rather heavily seasoned with personal wishes.
But I felt the same way, so I read through the rest of the sentences.
‘Even the nobles find it strange.’
Well, even I would want to strike down Bangcadium immediately and rise up alongside the Magic Tower.
The Crown Prince’s assassination wasn’t even capital punishment—it ended with a Seal Order—so it was bound to seem suspicious to others too.
‘The Emperor didn’t kill the Duke.’
More precisely, he couldn’t kill him.
‘Because of the Oath of Founding.’
If Bangcadium had truly attacked the Imperial Family, it might be different.
‘The Duke is innocent.’
So as the Duke had said before, attacking Bangcadium carelessly would only dig his own grave.
‘Which means.’
No military action beyond the Seal Order could be taken.
<However, security is extremely tight. Not only Bangcadium’s retainers but even related nobles are all under surveillance. I couldn’t make contact… But instead, as I mentioned before, I’m proceeding with help from the Guild. I kept refusing, but who am I? When I threatened to defecate in front of the Guild, I managed to obtain some information.>
“…Wow.”
To fulfill a command, even human shame must be set aside for a moment. I’d inadvertently learned something of the adult world.
<Oh, by the way. The Guild’s name is ‘Cloken.’>
“What?!”
“?”
“Miss?”
…Oh no!
I came to my senses abruptly, but both their gazes had already locked onto me.
I scrambled to excuse myself.
“I just got startled at the mention of… defecating…”
“That’s understandable.”
“That is understandable.”
Fortunately, it was an excellent excuse.
I laughed awkwardly and looked back at the letter.
But the words “Cloken” remained exactly as they were.
‘Of all places, my aunt’s guild.’
Cloken was where I went the moment I returned to the past.
In other words, it was where I’d asked for document forging to enter Iztale.
‘Out of all the places in the world…’
There couldn’t be such a coincidence.
<But there’s something strange.
The Maid does seem to be hiding somewhere in the Slums, but I can’t figure out where. I’ve searched just about everywhere—>
“Hmm.”
She can’t figure out where.
‘I did think she’d probably gone toward the Slums.’
If she’d walked around openly, she’d be caught immediately. I figured she’d avoid people’s eyes as much as possible.
‘…Wait.’
As I continued reading the letter, a small thought struck me.
‘It’s not that she can’t be found anywhere in the Slums.’
What if she’s hidden herself so she can’t be found?
A place people avoid visiting most. Or rather, a location they’d naturally steer clear of altogether.
“Your Grace.”
“What is it?”
“I’m suddenly confused about something and wanted to ask.”
I gripped the letter tightly.
“There’s a Common Cemetery in the Slums, isn’t there?”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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