EWEF Chapter 11

The first crisis had been overcome.

Afterward, the people from Allozé returned to their territory, and Dielo and I returned to the Argentta estate under the excuse of his busy work schedule.

That night—

I let out a sigh and collapsed onto the bed.

“Whew…”

A sigh escaped me involuntarily.

I didn’t think they’d actually come to check!

I had expected that the Duke of Allozé wouldn’t let things slide, but—

“I mean, wasn’t it a bit much to demand actual proof?”

What kind of proof did he expect?

And to approach me in the form of a child, no less!

He probably chose the child form because it would be easier to lower my guard.

Even though he revealed himself as an adult woman when showing the evidence, it was still deeply unsettling.

Showing up like a kid, and then pulling that stunt?!

“Ugh.”

Say what you want—Allozé is undeniably twisted.

Just as I sat up—

Click.

The door creaked open slightly, and Dielo peeked in.

“…May I come in, Croa?”

I mean, are we not newlyweds? Why would he ask?

I nodded.

“Of course.”

When I patted the spot beside me, he entered with a warm smile.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you this afternoon. Something urgent came up on the coastal front.”

I waved my hand dismissively at his words.

“It’s fine. It was urgent, after all. And besides, someone like me who doesn’t even know much about Argentta’s affairs being in the office would’ve looked strange.”

No matter how lovey-dovey a couple may be.

“Besides, I glanced up at the office window several times.”

“…You did?”

Dielo blinked.

What was he so surprised about? I burst out laughing.

“Thinking, ‘When will he come down?’ Like a newlywed bride desperately waiting for her husband.”

At that, Dielo blinked again and gave a sheepish smile.

“And yet I didn’t come down. I must be a terrible husband.”

“But at least the Duke of Allozé won’t think we’re a loveless couple.”

I shrugged. That was enough for me.

“Oh, and about the Duke of Allozé.”

This was something important—I had to share it.

I showed him my collarbone.

“He came to check.”

“…!”

Dielo’s eyes widened.

After a moment of hesitation, he asked cautiously,

“…Personally?”

His face twisted slightly in discomfort.

I made a face too.

If he had been the one standing there instead of that watcher, what the hell would I have had to show and to whom…?

“No! It was someone else.”

Someone else. A completely different person! A woman!

I flailed with my hands and feet, strongly denying it.

Seeing my desperate denial, Dielo finally took my hand and gently calmed me.

“I understand. I almost seriously misunderstood the Duke of Allozé.”

He said with a calm voice.

“I mean… he’s the enemy anyway, so what’s there to misunderstand…”

I mumbled as I looked at him.

This guy actually needed to misunderstand the Duke more.

That bastard was the one who killed the previous Duke and Duchess of Argentta!

“…Anyway, we got through the first crisis.”

Dielo tilted his head.

“By first crisis, you mean…?”

“Don’t you think he’ll continue watching us?”

I tapped his chest lightly.

“The Duke of Allozé is waiting for me to erase this lily.”

The mark on his body—one that faded the more Dielo gave his sincerity and purity to his marriage partner.

Right now, of course, it was as vivid as ever.

And for the next two months, it wouldn’t fade.

Not until the real Ferro appeared.

“I see.”

Dielo’s expression turned serious. I patted his shoulder.

“Don’t worry. Until the real Ferro shows up, I’ll keep playing the same role.”

Relax! Smile! I gave him a gentle grin.

“Oh, but… before that, there’s something we need to clarify.”

A question I’d been meaning to ask since earlier suddenly came to mind.

Especially after what I observed today.

When I saw Pielle and the other maids of Argentta—

“What is it?”

Seeing Dielo respond so seriously, I asked,

“Exactly who in Argentta knows our secret? At the very least, I know Pielle does.”

To act strategically, I needed to know who was aware of our contract marriage.

“Ah.”

When I mentioned Pielle, his mouth opened slightly.

He seemed surprised.

He must’ve thought I didn’t know about her.

“I’m not so dull that I wouldn’t notice something like that.”

I crossed my arms.

“It would be troublesome for you to have a dumb accomplice, wouldn’t it?”

At my words, Dielo finally let out a defeated laugh.

“You’re right. Pielle does know.”

And he admitted it without hesitation.

I didn’t bother telling him that I already knew Pielle was a cleaning maid.

No need to raise suspicion.

Instead, I scooted a little closer to him.

And asked in a low voice,

“Tell me—who in Argentta can I truly trust?”

Because I’d have to be especially careful around everyone else.

At that, Dielo stroked his chin, then tilted his head.

“If that’s what you’re worried about, there’s no need to be, Croa.”

No need? For what?

“You don’t have to be on edge—at least not on this floor.”

This floor? The fourth floor? Where this room is?

I blinked in confusion.

And then he dropped a bombshell on me.

“Anyone in Argentta who comes and goes on the fourth floor can be trusted.”

“…?”

I blinked again. Several times.

Not because I didn’t understand—

Because I didn’t want to understand.

No way…

“You mean everyone who comes to this floor… knows?”

Even if it’s just one floor, there are still multiple rooms, not to mention the maids and guards!

To that,

My dear, innocent accomplice—

“Yes.”

Nodded brightly.

…Oh my god.

I looked at his innocent, glowing face and held my forehead.

“Really, you don’t have to worry.”

His voice was so pure I wanted to scream.

Fwoosh!

Just then, a flame flared at Dielo’s fingertips.

He turned to me and said,

“Especially those with this power who serve on the fourth floor—those are true Argenntas. You can trust them.”

“…”

His clear blue eyes sparkled as he looked at me.

Can someone really be this naive?

Where do I even begin?

Do I explain that not everyone in the world is good?

That people are capable of betrayal?

“That’s…”

I couldn’t even finish my sentence. Dielo extinguished the flame and burst into laughter.

“You don’t have to worry about betrayal from the fourth-floor Argenttas, Croa.”

He patted my shoulder reassuringly.

“True Argenttas know that betrayal is a foolish act.”

Well… I looked up at the ceiling and then turned back to him.

“…Dielo, everyone knows betrayal is foolish. What they know, more precisely, is that if betrayal fails, they’ll be ruined.”

And they also know—

That if betrayal succeeds, it becomes justice.

People don’t betray expecting to fail.

Even with my cool-headed words, Dielo didn’t waver.

He simply smiled that characteristic smile of his.

“I understand your concern, Croa.”

He gazed into my eyes as he spoke.

His blue eyes made me feel like I was going crazy.

How could someone be… so pure and innocent?

He smiled, crinkling those pretty eyes.

“Once you get to know the people of Argentta, your worries will fade.”

He gently wrapped his arms around mine—then, after a slight pause, pulled me into a warm hug.

Soft lips brushed lightly against my neck. Not as deep as yesterday, but enough to make me flinch.

“…It’s okay to practice, right?”

He murmured, his face still against my neck.

“Of course.”

Of course! I tried to hide my flushed face.

Click.

Fortunately, just as I spoke, the lights slowly dimmed.

The lighting, powered by Argentta’s energy, faded.

“Good night.”

He whispered softly as he laid me onto the soft bed.

And then, the room was swallowed by darkness.

The next morning.

I found myself thinking about my future.

Once the real Ferro arrives and Argentta fully opposes Allozé, I’ll no longer be able to return there.

By the terms of my agreement with Dielo, I’ll naturally become someone aligned with Argentta.

Even if I give up the Argentta name and leave the estate, my life will remain closely tied to this place.

There’s no avoiding that.

But then—

“…You want me to do this?”

“Yes, the master asked that you handle it.”

Pielle smiled as she handed me a contract.

This was why, early in the morning, I had suddenly begun to worry about my future.