Chapter 62
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The Male and Female Leads Broke Up - Episode 62
When the moon hung highest in the sky and the world fell silent, I feigned sleep to slip away from the Manor unnoticed.
"I'm going to bed early, so don't wake me up until morning no matter what."
"You're retiring already?"
"Yes, I'm exhausted."
"That's understandable. Then I'll take my leave. Sleep well, Miss."
Fortunately, having visited so many places today, I managed to allay Mary's suspicion.
"Mm."
Mary closed the door and left.
I immediately shed my nightgown and changed into clothes that would allow me to move freely.
I waited for everything to grow quiet, listening intently to the sounds from outside.
Once I could no longer hear the servants' footsteps, I carefully opened the window.
I needed to escape through it.
Despite being on the Second Floor, the height was greater than I'd anticipated.
So after finishing my meal, I'd secretly prepared a rope, tied it to the bed's Column, and let it hang beyond the window.
The rope touched the ground with a soft sound, suggesting it would be sufficient for my descent.
I pulled hard on the rope once more to ensure it was secure, then grasped it and climbed out the window.
The moment my feet touched the ground, I crouched low and surveyed my surroundings—no one was in sight.
Afterward, I pulled my robe over my head and carefully slipped out of the Manor through a dog gate I'd known about for some time.
'Phew, no one noticed me.'
There was only one thing I needed to confirm today. I would verify it and return immediately.
But I couldn't tell anyone about what I was doing tonight.
That's why I had no choice but to proceed with this reckless action.
'Let me hurry and get back.'
I'd told them not to let anyone in all night, but anything could happen.
So I quickened my pace, thinking I needed to return swiftly.
The Carriage accident had occurred on a Forest Path away from the Shopping District along the way to the Arena, and it was close to the Heitz Family's Manor.
I walked diligently and arrived at the accident site.
I'd worried they might have already taken the Carriage away, but it remained in place, apparently preserved for investigation.
However, there was a man guarding the area around the Carriage, holding a torch and nodding off drowsily.
I carefully approached the Carriage without being noticed.
Since the soldier was dozing in front of the Carriage, it was easy to sneak around to the back.
The Carriage had only its rear wheels charred black and was tilted, half-destroyed, while everything else remained intact.
'So it really was a small bomb.'
Seeing the state of the Carriage, it seemed that whoever the culprit was, they hadn't been targeting Adela's life.
'This is not the time for this.'
I conjured a small flame in my palm and, relying on its light, swiftly surveyed my surroundings.
I hastily searched for anything I might recognize—any object that could frame me as the culprit.
But....
Unlike the original story, I saw neither a necklace nor any other incriminating item.
'Well, of course.'
The situation had diverged from the original narrative, so there was no reason for the same events to unfold.
That was a relief.
Still, confirming this eased my mind considerably and lifted a weight from my chest.
'I should leave now.'
With my task complete, I simply needed to depart as though I had never come here at all.
I extinguished the flame in my hand and took one final look at the man before me when suddenly another man burst forth from nearby.
"Hey!"
The dozing man jolted awake with a start.
I too was startled by the sudden appearance and quickly concealed myself behind the carriage.
"How can you sleep on the job!"
"I'm so drowsy."
"Get yourself together. Why don't you go splash some water on your face?"
"You're right. I'll be back in a moment."
"Fine, I'll keep watch here."
As the two men switched positions, the drowsy one quickly departed.
"Who's supposed to come here that I need to guard it? I haven't seen a single rat."
The man grumbled and sighed in frustration.
From his words, it seemed he hadn't noticed me.
'Let's go quickly.'
I moved more cautiously than before, gradually distancing myself from the carriage.
I kept to the rear of the carriage to remain out of his sight.
And just as I thought I had put sufficient distance between us and was about to slip into the nearby forest—
"Ah— ugh!"
"Shh...."
Why is this person here?
As I was about to cry out as if I'd seen a ghost, he pulled me into his embrace and barely managed to cover my mouth.
Then he held a finger to his lips, signaling me to be silent.
I nodded vigorously in understanding.
"What was that sound?"
The man guarding the carriage heard the noise I'd made brushing against the grass and began surveying the area.
We cautiously moved toward the forest, staying alert and out of sight.
"What's going on?"
At that moment, the man who had been dozing earlier and had gone to wash his face returned.
"I thought I heard something. I guess it was you."
"Who did you say was coming here?"
'Phew.'
I was grateful they weren't particularly perceptive.
Exhaling in relief, we concealed ourselves completely within the forest.
Once they were out of sight, the body that had been embracing me from behind withdrew, and the large hand that had covered my mouth fell away.
But my startled heart wouldn't settle.
My mind had gone blank as a sheet of paper under the weight of the moment.
So I simply gazed up at him with a bewildered expression, my eyes posing a silent question.
'Why are you here?'
Understanding my gaze, he gestured for me to follow.
Though we'd hidden ourselves, neither of us could converse comfortably in this place.
I carefully followed him.
And when we emerged into a small clearing beyond the forest, I immediately asked him what had been gnawing at me most.
"Aiden, why... why are you here?"
Even as I spoke, I suddenly realized he would be wondering the same about me.
"What I mean is..."
I couldn't even explain to myself why I'd come here.
"I had some business with the Carriage."
His voice emerged flat and measured.
"Ah, is that so? I also had something I wanted to check..."
Clouds devoured the moon, leaving the night utterly devoid of light.
So I couldn't discern his expression or how he was looking at me.
'Will he suspect me?'
The thought that he might suspect me for something I hadn't done made my mood plummet rapidly.
Or perhaps... it was because of him.
"I came to check on the Carriage briefly, and I was startled to find Belita here."
In truth, it was only natural that he'd be more surprised than I was.
I collected myself and thought through how to escape this situation, again and again.
Finally, one approach occurred to me, and I opened my mouth while looking at his darkened face.
Since I'd been caught, I had to make him understand why I had no choice but to be here.
"I went to House Byon today. Oh, but how is your body? Are you better now? You collapsed in the Arena during the day, and I've been worried ever since."
"You were concerned about me?"
"Of course. After you collapsed like that, I was so worried. It looked like you were touching around your neck—was your neck hurting again?"
"..."
"You collapsed in Ulita because it hurt so much. Why does it hurt? Is it still hurting?"
I poured out all the worry I'd been holding back, continuing to ask without even waiting for his response.
"...It's fine. It doesn't hurt anymore."
The voice of someone saying he was fine sounded somehow hoarse.
"That's a relief. And Adela? How is Adela? I heard about her accident and went straight to House Byon, but Byon Duke wouldn't allow me to meet with them. So I had no choice but to return without seeing either of you."
"You came to the Manor?"
"Yes, I couldn't just stand by and do nothing. But the Duke believes I'm responsible for what happened. Because I used the incendiary bomb, and also...."
"And what else."
"He says only I knew that Adela was going outside today. But that's not true. Why would I do that? I have no reason to."
I felt utterly wronged.
So deeply, profoundly wronged.
And so I poured out every ounce of my grievance to him.
"That's why I came here—hoping to find something in the carriage that might point to the real culprit."
Of course, I'd also come hoping to find nothing that could be used to frame me as the perpetrator, but it amounted to the same thing.
Either way, I needed to prove my innocence and find the true culprit.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org