* * *
“My goal was to detonate the scandal between the two of them.”
Early in the morning, Helene, having visited the Duke Rukanosa, handed him today’s newspaper.
He unfolded the newspaper and read the article.
「Disgraceful Scandal of the Last Royals
Cynthia Queensguard and Carlos Queensguard, siblings, embroiled in a forbidden scandal. The secret rendezvous photos sent by the informant support the rumors about their relationship…….」
Inside the newspaper, a large photo of the two embracing in the forest was prominently displayed.
What kind of expression would Masera make upon seeing this article? Even if he had no affection for her, he would be consumed by betrayal and anger.
The media would pounce on the discord between the two like vultures, and his image would gradually be tarnished.
The Duke Rukanosa, feeling satisfied, folded the newspaper.
Then, he looked at Helene, who was sitting regally.
She was beautiful, but he felt no emotions beyond those for a business partner. Ironically, Duke Rukanosa knew the unhappiness of a loveless marriage better than anyone.
Helene said, “The goal was achieved, but a problem arose in the middle.”
Helene explained what had happened at the villa:
How she had forged the note, and how, by chance, a kidnapping had occurred, making her a subject of investigation.
Duke Rukanosa immediately changed his attitude and rebuked her.
“What the hell are you doing as the Duchess of Rukanosa? If the truth comes out, the House’s prestige will plummet to the ground.”
Helene tilted her chin up defiantly.
“It’s fine as long as it’s not revealed that I was the one who wrote the note.”
The Duke Rukanosa looked dumbfounded.
“Didn’t you say the evidence was handed over to the Information Bureau? It’s only a matter of time before they catch the person who delivered the note.”
“Negotiating with those at the top is your responsibility. Besides, the deliverer will never be caught.”
Helene snapped her fingers, and a woman wearing a hood hesitantly walked into the room.
“She’s a maid who was processed as deceased and has no personal records.”
She was a maid whom Helene had secretly saved when the servants of the Queensguard mansion had died.
‘Originally, I saved her as a useful witness to trip up my father and Cynthia, but now that I hold her leash, she’s useful in this way too.’
At Helene’s gesture, the hesitant maid removed her hood. She was a fragile-looking woman with light flaxen hair and green eyes.
“My name is Anna.”
The Duke Rukanosa stared silently at the plain woman introducing herself.
Helene smiled leisurely.
“Now, that trivial note won’t be an important issue anymore, will it? We’ve bought time, so we can resolve it while attention is focused on the scandal.”
‘She’s passing off troublesome work to me.’
The Duke Rukanosa, looking at the maid, turned his head and clicked his tongue inwardly.
* * *
Cynthia, having seen the malicious scandal article from the morning, wore a gloomy expression.
‘To even include a photo, how did this happen? Could Carlos have deliberately planned the embrace?’
But if that were the case, Carlos would have a lot to lose as well, wouldn’t he?
Dahlia, who had brought the newspaper, said in a firm tone, “Lady Cynthia, it seems like they’re deliberately waging a public opinion war. We should prepare a rebuttal report.”
Cynthia felt deeply moved by Dahlia, who didn’t doubt her at all.
“Do you think Brigadier General Vicente will believe me too?”
At Cynthia’s question, Dahlia smiled reassuringly.
“Brigadier General Vicente isn’t a fool. He’ll know that this article is trying to cover up something related to the kidnapping.”
If you think about who benefits from this, the conclusion is simple.
It must be Helene.
“Indeed, my aide is amazing. Your insight is no joke.”
While feeling relieved that she had someone on her side, Cynthia couldn’t shake off her anxiety. It was as if the memories of being left alone and isolated were suddenly aiming at her.
She usually shouted, ‘I can live well on my own!’ but being able to do so and embracing loneliness were two different things.
* * *
Diego, having delivered the newspaper to Masera, was watching him with a nervous expression.
Diego waited for Masera to read the newspaper silently, then looked at his wristwatch and asked the question at the right moment.
“What should we do? To clear up the misunderstanding with Lady Cynthia—no, with the Princess…….”
“Nothing really.”
Masera, who had been sitting at his desk, raised his head and opened his mouth.
His cold, dry eyes felt particularly frightening today.
Masera lowered his gaze back to the documents and added, “It’s not something to worry about.”
So, because they were in a political marriage and it was just a matter of mutual interest, he wouldn’t care about something like this?
‘Brigadier General Vicente is a fool…….’
Diego sighed.
After Diego finished his report and left.
Crack.
It was the sound of the fountain pen that Masera was holding in his hand shattering into pieces. The corners of his lips twisted savagely.
“How dare they…….”
What he hated most was someone touching what was his. Because he had never owned anything, he was a man with a stronger possessive desire than anyone else.
* * *
The capital, the mansion where Count Queensguard and his brother resided.
“What is this! You said you weren’t interested! You said you were going to marry another woman! Explain!”
Edford waved the newspaper in Carlos’s face, jumping up and down.
Carlos lightly ignored the whining Edford and headed to his father’s study.
Count Queensguard, who had been looking out the window and turned around, raised one eyebrow and looked back at him. On the desk was a crumpled newspaper.
“I need to know who’s trying to ruin things.”
At his father’s cold questioning, Carlos shook his head.
“It’s true that I embraced her of my own will, but I didn’t deliberately plan it.”
The Count Queensguard picked up a long golf club leaning against the wall and smiled slyly.
“Is that the end of your excuses?”
He looked ready to beat his son at any moment.
“If you’re not only failing to be useful but also betraying your father, there’s no reason to treat you like a son anymore.”
“I only comforted Cynthia because I knew there were talks of me marrying another woman, and I was afraid she might change her mind.”
The Count Queensguard lifted Carlos’s chin with the end of the golf club and gave a bitter smile.
“And that was accidentally photographed, and you were even kidnapped together?”
Carlos recalled Helene’s warning.
“Go ahead and say I did it. It’ll just be dismissed as nonsense anyway.”
She was Duchess Rukanosa and a powerful figure.
Carlos couldn’t bring himself to talk about Helene. He knew it would be useless, as even his father, Count Queensguard, couldn’t win against her.
At that moment, a maid came in and informed the Count Queensguard that a guest had arrived. At this, the Count Queensguard smiled and looked at Carlos.
“Brigadier General Vicente has arrived. He told me he was visiting earlier.”
Seeing Carlos’s hardened expression, the Count Queensguard waved his hand, signaling him to leave.
“You know who he’s here to see, right? Go. Don’t offend him if you value your safety.”
* * *
Carlos headed to the reception room where Masera was waiting.
When he opened the door, he saw Masera sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed, wearing his uniform.
Sensing someone’s presence, Masera took off his peaked cap, stood up, and turned to look at Carlos.
“What brings you here…….”
It was the moment Carlos began to speak.
Bang-!
In an instant, Carlos’s body was slammed against the wall.
Masera’s eyes, gripping Carlos’s neck, sank darkly.
“Is it because of the newspaper article?”
Carlos, feeling the pressure on his neck, let out a hollow laugh.
“I came to investigate the mastermind behind this scandal and to give you a warning.”
Masera, having released his grip on his neck, began to roll up his sleeves.
“Please cooperate.”
Carlos shrugged and looked at Masera.
“Cooperate? Seeing you resort to violence before words, you can’t hide your origins after all.”
But before he could finish speaking, Carlos’s vision plummeted.
“Ugh!”
His previously sprained leg was kicked with a military boot, causing him to sit down pathetically.
“That’s right. I’m a human butcher who has lived a life of slaughter on the battlefield.”
“To attack my injury in such a cheap way…….”
Masera, mercilessly grabbing Carlos’s hair and pulling him up, lowered his eyes and glared at him.
“You only know how to imitate people; you don’t know anything about humane methods.”
“How dare a commoner war orphan do this to me and expect to get away with it?”
Slap-!
Carlos, having been slapped on the cheek he had been hit on before, looked dumbfounded.
Masera said in a quiet voice, “Even if I kill you here and leave, nothing will happen to me.”
He pointed to his cheek, which had been scratched during yesterday’s suppression.
“Besides, my wife would be more worried about this than your death.”
Carlos couldn’t bring himself to argue.
The other party was a world-renowned war hero, and he was a fallen royal with original sin. And it was clear that Cynthia’s heart had left him.
“If you’re not even sincere with Cynthia, why are you going this far?”
A moment of silence passed, and only the sound of their breathing could be heard.
Smack-!
Masera, having slapped the other cheek this time, smiled grimly.
“Because she’s mine, no matter what. I absolutely abhor when someone touches what’s mine.”
Soon, he began to unfasten his watch.
“From now on, you will only answer the questions I ask. I don’t care about the status or origin of the person I’m investigating.”
He loosened his tie and glared coldly.
