Chapter 60
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The Male and Female Leads Broke Up - Episode 60
Byon Duke was decidedly different from my father.
Had I been injured in such a manner, Father would have been far more furious than usual.
Yet Byon Duke remained composed even in this situation.
His gaze was cold enough to kill, piercing and lethal as he looked at me, yet he showed no sign of agitation whatsoever.
"I do not have much time to spare for the lady. State your business concisely."
"Is Adela's condition quite serious?"
Above all else, I was concerned about Adela's wellbeing.
"...How shameless of you."
"Pardon?"
"On what grounds does the lady presume to inquire about Adela's condition?"
I could not back down here.
I could not accept such accusations for something I had not done.
"Are you suggesting that I am the one who planted a bomb in Adela's carriage?"
"...."
"I did not do it."
"You did not?"
"No."
"How am I to believe you?"
"Then what basis do you have for believing I did? Are you judging me solely because it was an incendiary device?"
"...."
"Fire may be the symbol of the Heitz Family, but it is easily obtained anywhere. Therefore, accusing me of being the culprit based solely on the use of an incendiary device is a grave error in judgment."
"Adela...."
The Duke, who had been watching silently to see how far I would go, finally spoke.
I held my breath, listening intently to his words.
"Only you knew that Adela was going out today."
"Only I knew?"
"That is correct. Excluding those of our household, only you knew that Adela would be going out today."
This was not right.
This was a perfectly orchestrated conspiracy to frame me.
"Yet you say you did not do it.... How could I possibly believe you in such circumstances?"
"But—"
"That is all. I have nothing more to say to you."
An abrupt dismissal was issued.
Yet I could not simply leave like this.
"I did not do it."
I asserted my innocence once more, enunciating each word with deliberate force.
"That is not what I wish to hear. I have already said there is nothing more to discuss if you continue in this manner. The culprit will be revealed soon enough. And when they are, I shall show them no mercy. Now, leave my presence."
The Duke, convinced of my guilt, fixed me with a withering stare.
'This is maddening.'
It seemed I had no choice but to withdraw for now.
I would need to uncover more of what had transpired before taking further action.
I bowed respectfully to the Duke and departed from his Study.
Further down the corridor lay Adela's Room.
It had a beautiful door adorned with an array of flowers.
I gazed at Adela's Room from a distance.
'Adela.'
I would uncover the truth, no matter what.
I could not fathom why such a thing had befallen both Adela and me, but I swore to myself that I would discover the answer by any means necessary.
* * *
I was riding in the carriage back to the Manor.
"Stop for a moment."
"Miss, what is the matter?"
"Take me to Maxius House."
"Maxius House?"
"Yes."
Before my journey, I had visited without fail every single day, but since my return, I had not set foot there once.
Mary regarded me with a bewildered expression and asked again.
"Are you truly going to Maxius House?"
"Yes, let us make haste."
"Very well, I understand."
The carriage turned and headed toward Maxius House.
If Cain Maxius were not the culprit, I would come to regret this hasty decision made today.
Yet my instincts continued to whisper that he was the one responsible.
And so I resolved to sound him out.
"Miss."
"What is it?"
"I am concerned because you have suddenly decided to visit Maxius House."
"It is nothing to worry about. I simply need to confirm something."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
After reassuring Mary, I found myself lost in thought until we arrived at Maxius House.
As I descended from the carriage, a familiar face greeted me.
"Miss Belita."
It was the Butler of Maxius House.
"Miss, it has been quite some time."
"Have you been well?"
"Yes, I have been managing without any troubles."
"I've come to see the Duke."
"The Duke is currently in his Study. Please follow me."
'Nothing has changed at all.'
More than two years had passed since I last visited, yet this place remained exactly as it had been.
The cold, austere atmosphere that resembled Cain Maxius was immediately palpable.
Shortly after, the Butler stopped before Cain Maxius's Study.
"Duke, Miss Belita has arrived."
Though the Butler spoke loudly enough for Cain Maxius inside to hear, there came no response from within.
"Duke—"
Just as I was about to speak again, the door suddenly burst open and Cain Maxius appeared.
"My lady?"
Unable to believe I had come, Cain Maxius stared at me with an expression of surprise.
"My lady?"
"Duke Cain Maxius, I apologize for arriving unannounced like this."
"No, not at all. You are always welcome, my lady. Please, come in."
Cain Maxius stepped aside to allow me passage.
I brushed past him and entered the Study.
As the door closed behind me, Cain Maxius called out to me.
"My lady."
I turned to face him, my expression impassive.
"Please, sit here."
"No, thank you. I won't be staying long, so I prefer to remain as I am."
"I see... very well."
My cold demeanor caused Cain Maxius's expression to harden.
I paid it no mind and immediately broached the subject I had come to discuss.
"Duke, did you hear the news of the carriage accident involving the Byon Family's lady on the road to the Arena today?"
"I did."
"I heard the carriage exploded due to an incendiary device."
I deliberately emphasized the words "incendiary device."
"An incendiary device? Who would do such a thing—? Surely the Byon Family doesn't suspect you, my lady?"
How interesting. He doesn't even ask if Adela is all right.
Regardless of their broken engagement, she had once been someone he loved deeply. I found myself clicking my tongue once more at his indifference and coldness.
'That's why he treated me the same way.'
Two years ago, when I heard his demand for our annulment and collapsed to the floor, he hadn't even spared me a glance.
And now, that same man claims to be concerned for me.
No, I'm only concerned about myself.
I wasn't pleased by that at all.
"Yes, it seems that way."
"How could you suspect a lady of the nobility?"
"...That's precisely why I'm saying this. But regardless of what anyone else thinks, it's undeniable that this was orchestrated to target me."
I slowed my words and studied his expression, tilting my head in confusion at his reaction—it wasn't what I had anticipated.
He appeared genuinely furious on my behalf, as though I had been unjustly framed.
'What is this?'
Was Cain Maxius not the culprit?
No.
It was too early to draw such a conclusion.
I searched for words that might provoke him further and opened my mouth.
"I believe this incident was orchestrated either by Byon Duke's daughter herself, or by someone seeking to drive a wedge between the Heitz Family and the Byon Family."
"That does seem to be the case. But the reason you've sought me out after so long...."
Something dawned on him, and his expression turned cold in an instant.
As expected, this man was remarkably perceptive.
"Surely you don't suspect me."
He asked me directly, without hesitation.
"...."
Yet even as he spoke, his expression conveyed disbelief.
"You think I would commit such a heinous act simply because I harbor feelings for the lady?"
"People...."
I paused briefly to collect myself.
"People will do anything when they desire something desperately enough."
"So you've concluded that I did it based on that reasoning?"
His face contorted as though he could barely contain himself.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org