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IPTVI – Chapter 13

Chapter 13

At my question, Grand Duke Benedict Richard rubbed his temple, his face stiff.

“During the banquet, Baron Hayden sent a note through a servant, saying he had something urgent to tell me and asking to meet in the garden.”

“That note could’ve helped prove your innocence. Why didn’t you submit it to the police?”

A small sigh escaped through the Grand Duke’s clenched teeth.

“He wrote not to tell anyone and to burn the note as soon as I read it. Such a method isn’t unusual amongst nobles, so I didn’t think much of it and burnt it.”

Burning notes after reading them might be common practice, but it meant the sender naturally guided him into destroying evidence. I stroked my chin, feeling uneasy.

“Are you sure it was really from the Baron?”

“I assumed it was. I had some issues entangled with that man.”

Baron Devon Hayden, Vivian’s father, was originally a poor commoner working as a blacksmith. After his daughter married the Crown Prince, he was granted a Barony and gained control of some foreign trade rights.

The problem was that the Baron’s merchant group often brought in banned goods. And the 107th Regiment, which is under the Grand Duke, managed the border, so they had clashed several times over said issue. Red flags were popping up everywhere. I asked the Grand Duke.

“Did you check on the servant who delivered the note?”

“Turns out he died in an accident on his way home that very night.”

“This just keeps getting shadier.”

I raised one eyebrow. The proof and witness who had drawn the Grand Duke to the crime scene were both gone. Was that really just coincidence?

It was entirely possible that someone had sent notes separately to lure both the Grand Duke and the Baron into the garden, then killed the Baron and framed the Grand Duke for it.

The Grand Duke let out a low sigh.

“I know exactly what you’re thinking. But there are no clues left.”

“……”

I fell deep into thought. Perhaps mistaking it for me being disheartened, the Grand Duke spoke in a gentle tone as if to comfort me.

“You’ve done enough already. Why not give it up? Stop this ridiculous charade, too.”

“No. It’s too early to give up. From the circumstances, we can still narrow down the list of suspects.”

I firmly rejected his second attempt to nudge me into ending the contract by suggesting divorce.

“The Baron showed no signs of a struggle when he was stabbed. And there was no evidence he was dragged. It means he never thought he’d be killed until he was suddenly stabbed.”

“So?”

“They strictly controlled guests that night because of the banquet. That means the person the Baron was meeting was someone he already knew well enough to see privately in the garden.”

“There’d be dozens like that. You’ll question every single one?”

“Of course not!”

I shook my head.

“Motive is key in murder cases, remember? We just need to look into people with a motive first.”

“Motive…”

“Someone who wanted the Baron out of the way. Or…”

“Or?”

At his question, I looked him straight into the Grand Duke’s eyes.

“Someone who wanted you out of the way.”

While the Baron was one who was actually murdered, the culprit was obviously trying to frame the Grand Duke and get rid of him. And in the novel, the person who wanted the downfall of the ‘main villain’ was none other than—

‘The male lead.’

I slowly tilted my head, recalling the twisted look on Crown Prince Lawrence’s face in the courtroom.

 

* * *

 

The next morning.

A strange vibe ran through the servants of the Grand Ducal Residence. It was all thanks to the lewd sounds that were heard coming from the Grand Duchess’ room late into the night.

“You’re just going to thrust it at me like that?”

“I’m already ready. This should be big enough.”

“That… club… it’s too… big and hard…”

After that, came the sound of the bed creaking, and the rough tearing of fabric. Those on night patrol around the Grand Ducal Residence knew they shouldn’t, but found themselves frozen right outside the door. From their vivid testimony, all the servants held their breath for what came next.

“We should’ve begun from behind to start with.”

“W-wait. It’s going to tear if you do that. S-stop! It’s too rough!”

The sound of ragged breathing could be heard leaking through the tightly closed door. Then for a long time afterward, all that could be heard was the intermingling of their panting.

The servants exhaled hot breaths with flushed faces.

“This morning, the maid who went to tidy up Her Highness’ bedroom, nearly fainted.”

“What? Why?”

“Apparently the bedding and pillows were so shredded from last night’s… vigor, that there wasn’t a single piece left intact.”

“Good heavens…! I knew His Highness was formidable, but… this is…”

“They say Her Highness was a commoner… maybe she knows some special techniques? That’s how she melted that icy Grand Duke…”

It wasn’t long before the talk around Elena grew downright outrageous. A sharp voice finally scattered the gossiping servants.

“What are you all doing? Their Highnesses will be down soon. Get back to your posts at once if you don’t want trouble!”

It was Madam Verona’s scolding. The expression Madam Verona wore as she berated the shameless staff was somehow more solemn than before, almost fierce.

A little while later. The main characters who had set the Grand Ducal Residence abuzz finally appeared, arm in arm, with smiling faces. The servants all swallowed hard at the sight of them looking so affectionate.

 

* * *

 

I’d been suffering ever since I woke up. It was all because Grand Duke Benedict moved like some mindless tin soldier.

“Could you relax your face a bit?”

I quickly whispered to him. Ever since I linked arms with the Grand Duke, he’d gone rigid and mechanical.

“I’m trying my best.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be good at everything involving your body?”

“Of course. I graduated top of my class at the military academy, and on the battlefield I could cut down dozens of enemies at once, take the head of enemy commanders—”

“Uh, right.”

I gave him a half-hearted response as he rambled on about his past tales of heroism. Is this what he calls being good at using his body? At least his arms and legs are moving in the same direction now.

His brow furrowed, apparently annoyed by my lack of enthusiasm.

“Come on, don’t make that face, keep smiling. Nice and wide.”

Pasting on my brightest customer service smile, I urged the Grand Duke with ventriloquism. At long last, he managed to slap something vaguely resembling a smile onto that face of his.

As we walked downstairs like that, the servants lined up and paid their respects courteously.

“Did Your Highnesses sleep well last night?”

“Yes, of course. Gah!

I broke off with a scream, clutching at my back. All eyes instantly snapped to me. I quickly gave them a bright smile.

“It’s nothing. I just wrenched my back a little in bed last night.”

At that, shifty glances zipped around the air. Gulp—someone’s throat bobbed with an audible swallow. I frowned slightly at that.

‘Is a sore back really that big a deal?’

It was from reenacting the crime scene with the Grand Duke last night.

I held up a pillow to stand in for the victim while the Grand Duke stabbed it with a wooden club. We’d picked the bluntest tool to avoid injury as much as possible, but blocking the strikes of a man trained by war was no joke.

Eventually we even tied the pillow to my back and tried stabbing it like that. Naturally, my back took the brunt, and the pillow ended up shredded.

The Grand Duke clicked his tongue quietly and muttered.

Tsk, how are you supposed to keep handling me if you’re this fragile?”

“It was just my first time, that’s all. I’ll be better next time.”

I whispered back sharply, ruffled by how he made it sound like it was my fault. Coughs started bursting out from all around us.

‘Everyone has such a bad cough. This world must have a dusty season as well.’

Tilting my head, I made my way to the Grand Duke’s office.

“I’m Albert Dobier.”

A slim, middle-aged man wearing a monocle introduced himself. He served as both butler and manager of the Grand Ducal Residence for quite some time. While the Grand Duke stepped out to speak with Victor Genoa, who had suddenly popped by, Albert handed me a single sheet of paper.

“I’ve prepared some information I thought Your Highness might be curious about.”

I narrowed my eyes at the towering pile of documents on the Grand Duke’s desk.

‘He gets reports that thick, and all I get is a measly sheet?’

Scanning the paper he gave me, I saw lines for expenses like wardrobe allowances, social function funds, and dignity maintenance costs allocated to the Grand Duchess. Checking the contents again, I frowned and spoke in a confused voice.

“Hmm, are these the only budget items for the Grand Ducal Residence?”

“Well… of course there are other budget items, but I gathered only what I thought would interest Your Highness.”

It was a polite but distinctly businesslike answer

“I’m actually interested in the Grand Ducal Residence’s overall finances.”

After ruining my back last night over the reenactment, I was starting to think I might die before catching the culprit. So if there were any hidden assets in the Grand Ducal Residence, maybe it’d be smarter to take those and end the contract.

“Are you sure you really want to see the residence report? It might be a little difficult to understand….”

He answered with a reluctant face, voice tinged with the assumption that as a Grand Duchess from a commoner background was insisting on seeing documents that she couldn’t grasp. I slowly leaned back into the sofa, crossing my legs.

“When did you start keeping residence reports?”

“They go back twenty years, since I took over.”

“Then I’ll take all twenty years’ worth.”

“Pardon?”

Albert craned his neck towards me as if saying, ‘What nonsense are you talking about?’ I smiled and held my hand out.

“Right now.”

 

 

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I Plead the Villain’s Innocence

I Plead the Villain’s Innocence

흑막님의 무죄를 주장합니다
Score 10
Status: Ongoing Type: Author: Artist: Released: 2024 Native Language: Korean
One day, while living as a cutthroat lawyer who only cared about money, I woke up as Elena Christie, a penniless extra in a rofan novel. “Let’s see whose head has the biggest bounty on it.” To escape the poverty-stricken hell that was scarier than the actual fiery one, I decided to defend Grand Duke Benedict Richard, the greatest villain in the story, who was on the verge of being sentenced to death for murder. My contingency fee was half of his confiscated assets. “Is there any evidence here that the defendant committed the murder?” I thought I had torn up the courtroom with my airtight defense… What? They’ll only return his assets if I catch the real culprit? I’ll catch that culprit. I’ll get that money. And so, I ran myself ragged trying to catch the murderer, and even saved the Grand Duchy from financial ruin, as it was teetering on bankruptcy due to the confiscated assets. I also managed PR for the Grand Duke, who was branded as a murderer, hoping it would help with the acquittal. I gave my all to protect the compensation I would earn upon winning. “We have a contractual relationship, that's it. Don’t have any other expectations.” The Grand Duke declared, far too solemnly, that there would be no special incentives other than the agreed upon compensation. I shook my head at how stingy he was for someone his size. *** “Haa…” Benedict Richard let out a troubled sigh. This was serious. He frowned deeply and muttered, touching his forehead. “I think Elena Christie is in love with me.” Something strange was definitely going on.

Comment

  1. shin387 says:

    Hahaha man, i wished they made this into a manhwa

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