THSM 04

Chapter 4

“…I don’t want to!”

Everyone in the reception room turned to look at me.

Especially Countess Azanie—her eyes staring at me looked as cruel as someone pushing a cow into a slaughterhouse.

I looked straight into the Grand Duke’s eyes and grabbed his hand.

“I don’t want to go, husband.”

Maybe he didn’t like the word “husband,” or maybe he didn’t like me holding his hand—his brows immediately frowned.

But those words made it look like I completely belonged to him.

To the Grand Duke, it looked like I had turned my back on them.

And to them, it looked like I had chosen the Grand Duke’s side.

“You’re not going to send me away, right? Right, dear?”

I spoke with a tearful face, and both Countess Azanie and Lily were shocked.

Even the Grand Duke’s expression stiffened.

“Lea?”

Realizing things weren’t going her way, Countess Azanie quickly stepped forward.

“You’re not in your right mind right now. So listen to your mother—”

“You hit me.”

“What?”

She froze and quickly glanced at the Grand Duke.

“Lea, you really are saying ridiculous things!”

“It’s true!”

“Nonsense!”

As I spoke about what happened earlier, she raised her voice angrily.

In the original story, Lea Azanie treated their words like absolute truth.

She lived like a puppet, believing everything her family said.

Countess Azanie probably thought I would do the same.

But she was wrong.

I didn’t have to follow their will anymore.

“You grabbed my hair and pushed me. You shouted at me and kicked my legs.”

“My goodness! How can you lie like that!”

“I can show you!”

As I reached for my dress to show the bruises, the Grand Duke suddenly stopped me.

“What are you doing?”

I noticed the servants had quickly turned their heads away, as if they shouldn’t see this.

“Can’t I just show my calf?”

“What…?”

“Just a little?”

One of his eyebrows lifted as he looked down at me.

“…That’s quite an answer.”

He looked at me like I was something strange.

I knew showing too much skin wasn’t allowed in this world, but even calves…?

“Then how am I supposed to prove I was hit?”

I asked, unable to hide my frustration.

“…Should we talk privately? I can show you when we’re alone.”

His blue eyes stared at me for a long time.

It felt like he was questioning whether I was sane.

The silence became heavy.

The more time passed, the clearer it became—

He was testing me.

He looked at me like he was trying to pierce through me, to see if I was acting or telling the truth.

Only then did I realize—

This man had no problem staring directly into someone’s eyes.

“Yoonchae, if you avoid eye contact, it means you’re lying. So when you lie, look straight at them. Just relax your eyes.”

“Yoonchae, you can do it, right? You need to help get that old lady’s deposit back.”

My father used to say that.

I never thought his words would help me in life.

But now—if I look away, it’s over.

So I forced myself to meet the Grand Duke’s eyes.

“Your Highness, look at her. This isn’t the kind Lea we knew. You’re not actually believing such ridiculous lies, are you? What kind of mother would hurt her own daughter?”

Countess Azanie quickly spoke.

“With all due respect, I believe Lea has lost her mind—”

“Why… are you the one making that judgment?”

The Grand Duke interrupted coldly.

The atmosphere froze instantly.

Even though his tone was calm, Countess Azanie’s face turned pale.

“…I-I didn’t mean—”

“Judgment… is my role.”

He cut her off and rested his chin calmly.

“Of course, Your Highness… I just thought—”

“That’s obvious.”

His sharp eyes turned cold.

“I have no reason to listen to anyone. And no obligation either.”

His words carried a clear warning.

Countess Azanie’s face turned even paler.

Only now did she realize she had crossed the line.

For a moment, I thought maybe he believed me—

But I was wrong.

His words weren’t just for her—they were also for me.

“…I apologize, Your Highness. I spoke out of turn.”

She quickly lowered her head.

Just then, there was a knock.

“Your Highness.”

The butler entered, looking serious.

“The Grandis Imperial Police Investigation Bureau has come to see Madam.”

The Grandis Imperial Police Investigation Bureau was responsible for investigating serious crimes that threatened the empire.

An attack on the Grand Duke—the only one in the empire and a war hero—was considered a threat to national security.

Therefore, the investigation would be handled by the Bureau under the Ministry of Defense.

“We require a witness statement regarding the Saint Verte Castle attack.”

A man in a purple uniform introduced himself as Commissioner Marcel and spoke politely.

He handed a document to the Grand Duke.

At the bottom, I saw Lea’s name.

“Does that mean you will take Lea?”

Countess Azanie asked, clearly unsure.

Commissioner Marcel nodded firmly.

“Of course. Attempting to kill the Grand Duke is equal to treason against the empire. We must find the culprit. As the first witness, the Grand Duchess must be investigated.”

His expression was unreadable as he looked at me, Countess Azanie, and Lily.

His gaze felt suspicious—and slightly hostile.

It felt like he already suspected me.

An investigation…?

My heart pounded, and cold sweat ran down my back.

If the investigation started, it would be obvious that I was the culprit.

Evidence would surely appear.

There’s no such thing as a perfect crime.

I lowered my eyes, feeling nervous.

But strangely—

Only I and the Azanie family seemed tense.

“Of course.”