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Chapter 24
“……?”
At the center of the ballroom where the music had ceased, Richard’s gaze froze.
“Pardon…?”
' Crazy, what is this? '
What was with that sticky gaze and those lines? Did the Duke have that kind of taste? His mind filled with confusion.
Enü_m̆ а́
Did the world line warp because I tried to seduce the male lead? …Sh-should I run away?
“Fufu….”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
The Duke, letting out a sinister chuckle, released Richard’s body in the now-silent ballroom. He turned away slowly.
“Follow me, Young Lord Friedrich.”
“…….”
Richard moved his feet with a wary expression. The destination was the ballroom terrace.
Еṅ u̇m а
Upon the marble-tiled floor, pillars carved with delicate sculptures stood tall. Silver railings were wrapped between each pillar, and the faint light from the chandeliers inside the ballroom cast sparse shadows beneath them.
“…….”
A cold wind brushed his cheek. Richard stole a glance at the man beside him.
“Young Lord Friedrich.”
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The Duke, leaning languidly against the railing, broke the silence.
“Yes, Your Grace….”
Ē n um̃а
Richard replied without lowering his guard.
' What is with this guy…? '
Surely he doesn't really have that kind of preference? Of course… it’s not that it’s a bad thing, but if the target is me, that’s a problem….
“You and I are remarkably alike.”
A snickering laugh leaked through his teeth.
“……?”
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Richard looked at him skeptically.
“My, it seems you don't agree.”
Violet eyes, tinged with a look of regret, fell toward Richard. The vivid moonlight cast a chilling glow over his silver hair.
“But I truly think so.”
His red lips opened, and he raised his head to look at the moonlit night sky.
“Starting from being born as a bastard,”
Ê n̈úm̈ a
“…….”
“To having someone you love one-sidedly.”
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“…….”
“And struggling for the sake of that love.”
“…….”
“And.”
Е ń ú.m̀ а̊
His lips closed for a moment. A brief silence. With the chilling moonlight at his back, he looked at Richard. His red lips drew an arc.
“That we are both engaged in a forbidden love.”
“……!”
Richard’s water-colored eyes widened. Does the Duke really…? Just as Richard was about to stumble backward.
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Thud!
The Duke’s arm pressed against the pillar behind, trapping Richard between his upper body and the stone. With his other hand gripping Richard’s chin, the Duke brought his face close.
Е ňu ḿа . і̃ d̈
“Wa-Wait a moment, Your Grace….”
Richard felt cold sweat running down his back.
“Your Grace clearly… loves Her Late Majesty—no, first of all… I….”
My chastity! Just as Richard, feeling the danger to his virtue, pressed himself tightly against the pillar.
“……Pfft.”
A laugh escaped from between the Duke’s teeth.
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“Ahahaha!”
The Duke burst into a roar of laughter.
“My, ahahaha, it’s a joke, Young Lord Friedrich.”
His shoulders shook and trembled. It was as if he couldn't bear how amusing this situation was.
“……Pardon?”
Richard’s gaze wavered aimlessly.
Ẽn ū m̆а́. ĭ d
“It was merely a test.”
The Duke shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
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“Everything you said was correct.”
Passing by Richard, he strolled leisurely across the terrace. In the quiet night, the sound of his boots echoed in Richard’s ears.
“I had a one-sided love for the Empress.”
His voice became light and calm, as if he were singing a song.
W ë ḃ n̂ о v ėl̆ E̊n û m ã
“I loved her, but… in the end, she chose the Emperor.”
“…….”
“So.”
Suddenly, his steps stopped.
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“I decided to have my revenge.”
Against the Emperor who took her away. The Duke, whispering lowly, looked back at Richard. He looked strangely joyful.
Е̇n úm̆ а
“You know this well, don't you?”
“…Yes.”
Richard nodded slowly.
' …What is this? '
He felt a chill run down his spine. As the Duke said, he knew everything. The Duke intended to seek revenge against the Emperor. The final period to that revenge—his ultimate goal—was to pull down Caelus, the one born between her and another man.
' Wait. '
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For some reason, a sense of dissonance arose. This feeling, as if a single gear was out of alignment, what on earth could it be?
“…Your Grace.”
Richard spoke calmly.
“I believe I can play a part in that revenge as well.”
He decided to ignore the ominous sense of dissonance. For now, he had to make contact with the Duke. To find the Empress’s remains and, further, to achieve his goals.
“Hmm?”
Ӗn̈ ǔm ӓ
The Duke’s violet eyes sparkled with amusement.
“I, too, have something I must do.”
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Richard squared his shoulders.
“I wish to marry the Crown Prince. In that process… I do not intend to hesitate regardless of what happens to his standing.”
The Duke stared at Richard for a moment, then gave a shallow laugh.
“Truly interesting.”
Ẽnu m̈ а
He approached Richard slowly. Step by step. The sound of his heels echoed lowly on the marble.
“You are a truly peculiar person.”
“…….”
“You resemble me. You resemble me far too much.”
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The Duke lightly gripped Richard’s chin once again. The touch of his fingertips felt much softer than before. It was as if he regarded the being before him not as a mere ally, but as something special.
“I felt it from the moment I first saw you.”
Е̇ nŭ m ӓ .i d̈
“…Pardon?”
“Perhaps… you could have been me, and I could have been you.”
Richard pushed the Duke’s hand away without a word.
“I will take those words as an agreement to an alliance.”
He got straight to the point.
“Your Grace. Let us make a deal. Your revenge and my plans align. It would be more beneficial for us to help each other.”
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“A deal….”
The Duke fell silent for a moment, then smiled.
“Fine. But more than making a deal with you, I find myself fond of you.”
“……Fond?”
Richard furrowed his brows.
“Yes. I like you, Young Lord Friedrich.”
Е̌ ñ u m а́ .ïd̂
The Duke’s voice fell languidly.
“More than anyone I’ve met in my life. That twisted gaze, the desire you would never show in front of others….”
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He whispered with a small laugh.
“You really do resemble me.”
Richard felt his heart unpleasantly skip a beat.
' This man… is seeing right through me. '
Ẅë b̆ n̆оv̀еl̊ Е n̈ů ḿã
However, now was not the time to back down. Rather, he had to secure this man.
“Then please, use that fondness usefully.”
Richard extended his hand.
“The revenge Your Grace desires. I shall complete it with my own hands. In return, please assist me.”
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The Duke looked down at Richard for a long time. Then, he slowly took the offered hand.
“Very well. But do not forget.”
Е̌ n umá . їḋ
Violet eyes glinted darkly.
“Once you’ve taken this hand, you are on my side. You can never run away.”
***
' Whew… what does he keep saying resembles him? '
Richard left the terrace feeling utterly bewildered. The more he thought about it, the stranger it was.
' Well, whatever, thanks to that, things were settled easily…. '
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Returning to the ballroom, Richard looked around.
' Where is Lady Daphne? '
He was looking for her. After wandering the vast ballroom for a good while.
' Oh dear…. '
' What should we do…? '
Richard noticed nobles gathering on one side and tilted his head.
Web n̄ оv ӗ ĺ. Е̂ň.ǔ m̈а.
“……?”
What was it? Was something happening? Just as Richard pushed through the crowd of nobles to look into the center.
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Slap!
A piercing, sharp sound rang out.
“……!”
Two people were reflected in his water-colored eyes. The Villainess Evgenia, with her hand raised high, and Lady Daphne, clutching her turned cheek.
Е̊ń.ü m̈а.i d̆
“What do you think you’re doing right now, My Lady!”
Before his thoughts could even form, his body moved first.
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