~ Chapter : 22 ~
I honestly don’t know what this guy wants me to do.
Am I supposed to be scared of him just because I got a little angry? Or is he the type who enjoys seeing someone get mad even when they say they hate him?
Deciding to take a more aggressive approach, I grabbed a small statue from a nearby display and swiped it off with my arm. The statue shattered with a loud crash, yet he just chuckled.
“Are you throwing a tantrum now?”
“What did you say?”
Right now, me being angry posed no threat to him—unless I grabbed a staff and started casting magic, there was nothing he had to worry about.
Not wanting to play along with this ridiculous game any longer, I simply walked toward the stairs. Even though I continued to ignore him, Venice stubbornly followed.
“Cut it out already.”
“You know saying that makes me want to do it even more, right?”
The ghost Camilla had chased away with illusion magic should come here and deal with him instead.
Just as I was about to step down the stairs, Venice grabbed my hand from behind again. I was startled and tried to pull away, but he held on tightly.
“Why are you being so expensive? I’m the youngest son.”
“And what do you want me to do about it? I’m Esmeralda Saint!”
Unable to tolerate him any longer, I gave a hard jerk to break free. But then there was a thud.
“Ahh!”
I wish the hand I swung had hit Venice’s head, but unfortunately, it struck an innocent bystander.
Upon checking, it was the brown-haired maid I had seen in the sitting room earlier. It seemed my arm had connected with her midsection, making her drop the basket she was carrying.
“Are you okay? I’m so sorry!”
“Yes, yes.”
Even though she was clearly in pain, the maid hurriedly tried to pick up the basket.
The cloth of the basket was folded back, revealing something sparkling inside. One had already bounced onto the floor.
A stone of deep green that shimmered with a changing hue in the light, and radiated a faint but strange power.
‘Ah, this…’
It was the same type of magic stone my brother had given me. Venice had already been collecting magic stones?
Frozen in shock, I felt Venice grab my shoulder roughly. Meanwhile, the maid quickly snatched up the magic stone and disappeared.
“Esmeralda.”
His chilling voice made the hair on my arms stand on end.
“Did you see it?”
An extra who glimpses something they shouldn’t in a story has their death flag raised. My heart pounded wildly.
“Hmm, what should I do about this?”
He stroked his chin and looked down at me.
I had no answer. If I tried to show that I knew, saying something like, “It’s a magic stone!” I could end up silenced before anyone knew it.
The best way to avoid the death flag was to act like I didn’t know.
“It’s a really beautiful gem. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
Though I had shown my hostility earlier, I needed to come across as a shallow noblewoman distracted by pretty stones. I hoped my act would work.
‘If he finds out, I won’t survive.’
Whether it was out of naivety or stupidity, Venice let out a short “Ah,” smiled, and released his grip on my shoulder.
“Is that so? It’s a gem imported from a faraway country.”
“Where? I also collect gems as a hobby. Esmeralda, emerald… they even sound similar, don’t they?”
I babbled just to break the tension.
“Huh, so you really don’t know.”
Beatrice wouldn’t have been fooled by innocence, but Venice seemed interested enough that it might work.
“You were acting all haughty before… but now it seems like you’re interested?”
“Of course, I really like it.”
“You really are a helpless noble, huh?”
Apparently my sarcasm had worked on him.
‘I may have more money than you, you brat.’
Suppressing the urge to punch him with a bag of gold, I continued my innocent act.
“I want one too.”
Hearing that, he crossed his arms, satisfied with his dominance.
I hadn’t seen much in this possessed world, but in that world, types like him were predictable—people who thought they were superior.
“If you go on a date with me, I’ll give you one.”
“Really? Do you have many?”
“Not many yet, but if it’s to win your favor…”
Venice reached toward my face. As he tried to stroke my cheek, I subtly turned my head. Even pretending to like him, this kind of touch annoyed me.
“How about next week?”
This time, Venice brought his face close so I couldn’t avoid him.
Even Rosio politely asks for consent before any minor physical contact, yet Venice tried sneaky moves.
“If you resist then, I won’t give it to you.”
I truly felt sorry for Beatrice, who couldn’t become the head of the family because of someone like him.
“See you next week, Venice.”
I hugged him casually. Hugging friends was normal, but even this greeting with Venice felt unpleasant. When he tried to place his hand on my back, I quickly broke away and ran off.
After finally shaking Venice off, I tried to think calmly.
‘If I report Venice now, the story’s sequence will change.’
In the original story, the villainess is executed first, and Venice’s family would be annihilated for possessing a large number of magic stones illegally.
But if I arrested Venice now?
‘With no other heirs, Beatrice would likely become the next head of the family.’
Despite some hidden issues in her background, Beatrice consistently used her Erhen surname in the academy and official documents.
Even if people tried to slander her, she had a legitimate claim to become the next head. Some of the marquisate’s officials even recognized her exceptional skills.
Beatrice originally wanted a marquis title; joining the Duke’s family was her second option. Even with a lower title, she wanted to fully lead the marquisate herself.
If she could achieve her original goal—or even just seem capable of doing so—she would lose interest in Rosio as a lover.
‘I can avoid danger, and Beatrice might not be executed.’
I had to tell Lipt about Venice collecting magic stones as soon as possible.
In the original story, both Beatrice and Venice are executed, the Erhen family is wiped out, and the lands scattered. If the punishment stops at Venice, it might be better for him too.
I planned to find a solution with Lipt.
Tonight with Rosio was out of the question, but the greater good came first.
‘I should tell Rosio to meet me tomorrow.’
I searched and finally found Rosio, leaning silently against one side of the ballroom with a cocktail glass, looking almost lonely amid the crowd.
‘What’s going on?’
There was some inexplicable distance, making it hard to approach, but I had to convey my message quickly.
“Rosio.”
“…Esmeralda.”
Usually he met my gaze, but this time he avoided my eyes. I felt a little puzzled, but pressed on.
“Rosio, I’m sorry, but I won’t be available tonight. Something urgent came up.”
“Something more important than me?”
His cold, unfamiliar tone startled me. His expressionless face looked strange. Had he ever made this expression? Reading his mind was harder than usual.
I had no time to explain the situation fully.
“I’ll explain to you later, Rosio.”
“…Not now?”
“No, not now.”
I said firmly and briefly. I wanted to explain everything, but involving him now would make things more complicated.
“Understood. Then go ahead. I also have other matters.”
Rosio accepted it quietly, but something seemed to bother him.
Not long after speaking with him, noblewomen began gathering around me, scrutinizing me with curious eyes. I felt a slight sense of danger.
“Rosio, may I visit the duchy tomorrow?”
I had to say it before someone stopped me.
“The duchy?”
“Yes. Could you come meet me at the duchy gate? The duchy is vast, and it’ll take a while to reach the ducal estate from the outskirts.”
My magic could barely manage round trips from the city outskirts to a marquisate; for the larger Agnes Duchy, it would be just barely enough.
Teleportation was a necessary magic for me, yet it didn’t consume too much energy, thankfully. Although servants like Jenna would have to return to the county without me.
“Then as you wish, Esmeralda.”
Rosio gave a light nod and turned away. I glanced back once as he left, feeling uneasy about his lonely expression.
‘What is it…? Something feels off.’
Perhaps Rosio had made a joke, as nearby noblewomen were laughing lightly. Rosio also seemed to be smiling, so maybe my worry was needless.
Suppressing my discomfort, I hurried on. Surely, he wasn’t genuinely smiling, right?
As Rosio moved to the terrace, he saw Esmeralda and Venice close together in the hallway.
Sensing a strange atmosphere, he hid his presence.
‘Of course, I like it.’
At that moment, Esmeralda clearly said that to Venice.
The rest of the conversation was unclear, but afterward, they hugged and even made a date plan. What else was there to know?
He didn’t ask if he was her first; such a question would have been rude. Still, while dating her, she should focus on him. Even if it was a secret relationship, it was still a relationship.
‘Does Esmeralda find me alone insufficient?’
She had explored his lips and body roughly, giving the impression she desired him, but he wasn’t yet sure if she truly loved him.
In fact, he was half-convinced that Esmeralda was only excited by his face and body. Still, he thought it was better than nothing.
‘But the reason she wants a secret relationship… could it be… with others as well?’
His heart said no, but a reasonable doubt began to creep in.
