I Seducing the Black-Hearted Duke Wasn't Me - Chapter 20

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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 20
“Forgive me for being late.”
“Sylvia Oscar! I thought you weren’t coming today!”
No wonder there had been an empty seat the whole time.
At the appearance of a single woman, everyone welcomed her.
Sylvia Oscar settled naturally into the seat across from me that had been vacant.
‘Right. There’s no way you’d miss an occasion like this.’
I’d half-wondered if I might run into you here. And so I had.
‘Dazzling as ever today, I see.’
I sipped my tea in silence, stealing a glance at Sylvia.
Dressed in a Deep Pink Dress that was difficult for most to carry off, she looked like a single rose in bloom.
Over a corset that emphasized the waistline, layers of translucent lace gathered in tiered folds, and the heavy Pearl Necklace draped along her neckline glimmered like cascading foam.
The Flower Ornament adorning her hair could have seemed excessive, but Sylvia wore it with perfect grace.
Truly, the flower of High Society.
“Oh my, you look even more beautiful than ever today.”
“That’s right. I thought a flower had walked in.”
“You’re all too kind.”
Giggle, giggle. Ha, ha, ha.
Typical High Society pleasantries were exchanged.
At that awkward greeting, I could only smile thinly.
‘God… I really want to leave.’
* * *
In truth, I hadn’t come to this gathering entirely unprepared.
The Method of Manipulating Socialite Noblewomen.
First step.
<Flattery Step>
“By the way, Brunhild, I heard your husband is planning to build a large resort facility in his lands soon? With the rainy season approaching, you must have considerable concerns.”
“Oh, I’m afraid I don’t know much about my husband’s business…”
“But the Count’s Territory is famous for its beautiful scenery, isn’t it? If it’s completed, you’ll be able to gain substantial profit from travelers.”
“Oh, oh my. Is that so?”
At the mention of accumulating great wealth, the woman’s eyes gleamed.
“Hehe. Well then, once it’s completed, I’ll invite everyone here~”
“Wow, I can’t wait!”
Urged on by the other women, the Countess’s shoulders lifted with satisfaction.
Now then, second step.
<Humility Step>
“Oh dear, forgive me. I’ve gone and brought up business matters again. The rest of you must find it tedious.”
“What? No, no. Quite the contrary—it’s both interesting and instructive. Where else would we hear such things if not from the Marquis?”
“That’s true.”
As I withdrew slightly, the woman who had just been preening shook her head and quickly spoke up.
Another woman chimed in agreement.
“Still, never mind my talk—please, tell me about yourselves. What’s fashionable these days? What rumors are making the rounds? You ladies are the veterans of High Society, after all, far more than I.”
And to finish it off, a spoonful of sugar.
As the conversation naturally turned to them, the women stirred with excitement.
“Nothing difficult at all~ Let’s see. Oh, did you hear? Well, apparently the Briegel Countess’s younger daughter…”
“But that’s not as interesting as this? You know the Janet Baronial House? Their lady…”
When I lowered my stance and asked them to teach me, the noblewomen’s eyes lit up and they swarmed forward.
Some even competed with each other, insisting their story was the more entertaining one.
Just as the situation seemed to be winding down pleasantly.
“Oh, by the way. I heard the Marquis and Sylvia Oscar are quite close?”
“Yes? Ah, well. That is…”
That Sylvia and I are friends.
I doubted whether that word truly applied, but I glossed over it vaguely.
‘If I deny it here, it’ll only cause gossip anyway.’
Just as I was managing the matter with reasonable flexibility…
Plip, plip, plip.
“M-madam? What’s wrong?!”
Sylvia, sitting across from me, suddenly bit her lip, and then tears began falling from those golden eyes.
Soon her delicate shoulders trembled as she began to sob.
What on earth? Why is she suddenly like this?
“Ah… No, I’m sorry. I just… Why am I like this?”
She drew out a handkerchief and dabbed her eyes with trembling fingers, laughing awkwardly as she insisted I shouldn’t worry and that everyone should simply continue their conversation.
As if that were possible.
“Truth is, I debated coming at all today. I was afraid you might find me… uncomfortable. But it seems you’ve welcomed me after all, and I’m so grateful for that.”
“Me?”
Well, uncomfortable was certainly accurate.
‘But I’m not fool enough to show my distaste so openly.’
“Why would I find you uncomfortable?”
“Because… you know my brother’s secret. I was worried I might offend you.”
“You just said my secret?”
The noblewomen’s ears perked up at the mention of something intriguing.
Mine did as well, naturally.
My secret?
That some alien occupied my body and then vacated it?
That this alien’s reckless schemes tangled my entire life into knots?
Or perhaps that it wasn’t I who seduced Leon Obsidian, but that woman instead?
‘There are too many to even guess.’
“I know I should keep silent to protect you, but I’ve gathered my courage and come here for my brother’s honor. After all… we might have become family.”
“Family? Madam, I’m not sure what you mean.”
Exactly. What had she been babbling about this whole time?
I stared at her in disbelief, and Sylvia Oscar’s eyes, which had been fixed on me, crinkled slightly at the corners.
Then she said:
“You and my brother shared a very… special bond.”
“What? Is that true?!”
“Yes. They were lovers who had recently promised each other a future.”
Sylvia’s bombshell sent the room into chaos.
Some froze with their mouths hanging open in shock.
Others refused to believe such an outlandish claim.
Still others—young ladies who’d been mired in despair—suddenly glowed with newfound hope and joy.
And then there was…
Sylvia Oscar herself, whose lips curled into a faint smile as she looked at me.
‘Is she actually insane?’
“Come to think of it, there were rumors about that before, weren’t there? That they were lovers.”
“That was just Valentine spouting nonsense alone, wasn’t it? At least, that’s what I heard.”
“I heard that rumor too! I always thought you and Valentine looked perfect together. Who knew they were actually involved?!”
The young ladies, apparently decided on the truth of the matter, descended upon me with gleaming eyes.
“Now that I think about it, wasn’t it during last year’s Festival of Light? I’m sure I saw the two of you together. The way you looked at each other was so tender…”
“I didn’t attend that event.”
“Ah… I see. Then perhaps I saw them somewhere else.”
The young lady, caught in her fabrication, shot me a defiant look that seemed to say, ‘Well, it’s true anyway, isn’t it?’
Truly shameless.
“Um… Marquis. Is what Mrs. Oscar said true?”
“It absolutely is not.”
I, who had been silent until now, shook my head firmly.
“I was so shocked I couldn’t speak for a moment. But Mrs. Oscar, what on earth were you thinking, fabricating such a story? And right in front of the person involved, no less.”
At my sharp tone, the surrounding murmurs suggested agreement.
Though there were still some who refused to abandon their suspicion, insisting that Mrs. Oscar would never lie.
“This is too much, Marquis. My brother loved you with all his heart. How could you turn your back on that love so easily? Oh!”
Sylvia’s eyes glistened with tears as she placed a hand over her heart and cried out.
She looked exactly like a tragic heroine betrayed by her beloved.
‘But what does she possibly believe gives her the right to go this far?’
She couldn’t push this hard without some conviction backing her.
“Of course I understand the Grand Duke is an incomparable match. But… how could you be so callous to my brother? After you both shared genuine love?”
“Madam, I’m afraid I cannot listen to any more of this. If you persist with false statements, I will file a formal complaint with the Oscar Baronial House.”
“You’re the one who’s lying! You gave my brother a ring and even proposed to him!”
A ring?
“Did you just say proposal? And a ring?”
“Either that’s true, or Mrs. Oscar is suffering from delusions.”
The crowd’s eyes lit up with intrigue as they looked between me and Sylvia with keen interest.
Meanwhile, I felt my brow furrow deeply.
Something felt wrong—a premonition I couldn’t shake.
‘Did she just say Ring?’
[I pawned the Ring you were wearing, after all.]
Unfortunately, I had recently lost a Ring of my own.
And now, at precisely this moment, a Ring appeared.
‘It couldn’t be……’
A chill raced down my spine, and I found myself staring at Sylvia Oscar without a word.
Her pupils glinted as she met my gaze, and her crimson lips curved slowly upward in a smile.

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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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