Chapter 70
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The Male and Female Leads Broke Up - Episode 70
Like Aiden, I found it difficult to believe she was the culprit.
But the moment Adela crossed my mind, something that had nagged at me throughout the carriage investigation suddenly clicked into place.
'Then was everything she showed me—all that warmth and familiarity—nothing but a lie?'
Why would she go this far?
I couldn't make sense of it.
I needed to see her.
Only then could I find the answers I sought about all of this.
So I resolved to visit Adela at once.
* * *
"Belita!"
The moment I entered Adela's Room, she greeted me warmly.
It was because Byon Duke was absent.
Earlier, the Duke had mentioned searching for Aiden, and it seemed the two of them had gone somewhere together.
"Adela."
I masked my emotions as best I could, offering her a smile in greeting.
"How are you feeling? Are you doing better now?"
Since my concern for her during this time had been genuine, the words came naturally.
"Yes, I'm much better."
"I was so shocked when I heard about the carriage accident. And incendiary bombs, no less! I heard that the three families have joined forces to resolve this incident. Rest assured, we will catch the culprit. You just focus on recovering."
"Thank you, Belita. Just hearing that puts my mind at ease."
"Where has Aiden gone?"
"Yes, he went out with Father on some business. He should be back by tomorrow."
"Ah, I see? I have something important I must tell Aiden...."
"What is it? Shall I pass the message along?"
"Well, we've found decisive evidence about the culprit. So I felt I needed to tell him right away."
"D...decisive evidence?"
In that moment, I caught the subtle shift in Adela's expression.
"Yes, you've heard that we captured Owen Est, who was guarding you, haven't you?"
"Yes, I have."
"We searched his person and found decisive evidence."
I deliberately emphasized the word person.
"On his person?"
"Yes, and he felt quite guilty about his involvement in this incident. He said he would confess everything, even if it meant his own death."
I deliberately emphasized the word "death" as I spoke.
"He said he would confess everything, even if he had to die?"
"Yes, isn't that fortunate?"
"I... suppose so."
"However, Aiden needs to verify the evidence, and since he's coming tomorrow, there's nothing we can do but wait. I'll tell Adela once everything is confirmed. I don't want to trouble her with worries while she's already suffering. You understand, don't you?"
"Yes... I understand."
"Thank you for understanding, Adela."
"By the way, where is that Knight now?"
"Pardon? Owen Est?"
"Yes...."
"Of course, he's at the Manor that the Investigation Team is using. Since there's an Underground Prison beneath it, we've locked him away there."
"I see."
"Yes, by tomorrow everything should come to light. It's a relief. We'll finally be able to catch the culprit who did this to Adela."
"Thank you for going to such lengths."
"Don't mention it. Adela is my friend, after all."
I smiled broadly at Adela.
And she returned my smile with one that seemed rather strained.
* * *
After leaving Adela, I returned to the Investigation Team's hideout.
The night had grown deep, and the entire world lay shrouded in darkness—it was very late.
Save for a few people guarding this place, there was hardly anyone around, and the surroundings were quiet.
I waited near the Underground Prison.
I had deliberately sent the Knights guarding the entrance elsewhere.
If Knights were standing at the entrance, she might see them from a distance and turn back.
Since I had deliberately stirred things up, if Adela was indeed responsible, she would surely appear here.
I had been staring intently for quite some time.
A figure approached nearby.
From the faint silhouette visible in the darkness, the person was a delicate woman.
'She came.'
Despite having orchestrated her arrival, I had secretly hoped she wouldn't come.
These contradictory feelings tangled together, and a heavy melancholy washed over me.
She entered the Underground Prison.
I carefully followed behind her.
But a strange scent emanated from the entrance.
I quickly covered my nose and mouth with a handkerchief.
'She's burned a sleeping incense.'
I waited for the scent to dissipate somewhat, then held my nose and mouth firmly closed before rapidly entering.
When I entered, two Knights who had been guarding the prison lay collapsed on the floor.
It appeared they had been affected by a sleeping draught.
I passed them and approached the source of the voices.
"So you truly wish for what's around your neck to burst."
"No, no! I said nothing!"
"What? You said nothing?"
"Yes, I kept my promise with the lady!"
"Don't lie! I heard you were going to confess everything tomorrow."
"No, my lady! I never revealed what you ordered me to do! It's just—."
"That's correct."
When I suddenly interjected and answered in her stead, both of them turned their heads toward me.
The woman's hood slipped off as she turned her head hastily, and her face was revealed beneath the torchlight.
"Adela."
"M-my lady...!"
Owen Est's expression bordered on shock.
"Belita."
Adela's expression, by contrast, showed not a trace of surprise.
Aiden Byon had once told me something about his sister.
He said that because her body was frail, her spirit was equally weak.
No, he was entirely mistaken.
Adela, his sister, possessed a spirit far more resilient than anyone else, despite her physical fragility.
That's why she could have everything exposed to me and not bat an eye.
"Shall we go upstairs to talk?"
"Very well."
The conversation ahead didn't seem suited for this place, so I suggested we find somewhere private.
We left the Underground Prison and made our way to the Manor's Garden.
The moment we arrived deep within the Garden, we faced each other.
"Did you realize I was testing Adela when I visited today? You seemed far too composed when you saw me."
"No, I didn't know. I simply thought you had come when I heard your voice."
She felt strangely unfamiliar to me.
The person who had asked me to call her by name was now addressing me as "my lady."
In her dignified and composed demeanor—something I had never witnessed in the sickly, pitiful girl before—I even found myself wondering if she might be someone else entirely.
"Why did you do it?"
I didn't hesitate and asked the question that truly consumed my curiosity.
"Why did you do that to me?"
She seemed lost in thought for a moment.
I waited for her patiently.
"You truly don't know the reason?"
I had asked for the reason, yet she was the one questioning me instead.
"Is it because of the Duke of House of Maxius? I clearly told you that regardless of what feelings he holds toward me, it has nothing to do with me."
"Yes, but it does matter to me."
"What do you mean?"
Despite telling Cain Maxius that I held no affection for him and that he should never entangle himself with me, my words had fallen on deaf ears.
"Because you took away all the Duke's attention and affection that were directed toward me."
I found myself at a loss for words.
"That wasn't something I wanted."
"That's why I'm angry. Why I feel disgusted. Why I'm furious."
"What?"
"Your indifferent attitude as a lady is even more repulsive to me."
Her unexpected words left me momentarily stunned.
Was Adela truly calling me repulsive?
"The way you possess everything I desire yet show no joy—that carefree composure of yours makes me sick."
"So that's why you did it?"
"...."
"You pretended to be close to me to make me lower my guard, and then you were going to stab me in the back?"
"Yes. But in the end, I failed."
"How can you be so shameless? Why don't you apologize to me? You're the one wronging me right now, Adela. You tried to frame me and push me into ruin. You feel no guilt whatsoever?"
"Then give it back to me."
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