Chapter 95
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I possessed the body of a villainess locked away in a desolate tower.
Chapter 95
By the time I arrived at the Grand Duchy, evening had already fallen.
Ugh, as if a business trip wasn't enough, they're making me work overtime too.
Upon returning, I belatedly felt a pang of guilt for having worked Ian so mercilessly, especially when he was already swamped with his primary duties.
"Ian, it's gotten so late, hasn't it? I'm sorry. Let me send you home right away."
I turned to him standing beside me and made the most apologetic expression I could muster.
As a former office worker, I knew better than anyone how infuriating unscheduled overtime could be.
But contrary to my expectations, he shook his head.
"No, that's not it. I simply have something I'd like to ask you."
"You want to ask me?"
Instead of answering, he made a dismissive gesture toward the group of thugs who had fought so valiantly today, huddled together nearby.
At that, they vanished as swiftly as a receding tide.
'Oh. What's this?'
It felt as though he were commanding well-trained subordinates.
As I stared blankly at the scene, I found myself reconsidering Ian's true identity.
'Could they actually be his former subordinates rather than friends?'
Come to think of it, I'd heard that among people who settle things with their fists, hierarchy is determined by strength, so it was certainly possible.
In any case, only then did Ian speak again.
"Yes. Though it may be somewhat personal...."
"Personal?"
"Yes. ...Why are you avoiding the Grand Duke?"
What?
Upon hearing the question, I froze completely.
Yes, I had anticipated that someone would eventually notice and grow curious. Even Bonita hadn't seemed entirely convinced.
But.
'How on earth am I supposed to explain this?'
That the Grand Duke seems to have feelings for me, yet those feelings appear to be merely a misunderstanding.
And that I'm so certain of this because I know everything that will happen in the future—how could I possibly explain that?
If I told Ian the truth, I'd surely be branded a lunatic, so I desperately scrambled for the right words.
"Well..."
Or rather, I tried to.
The moment my eyes met his—eyes that resembled the Grand Duke's—my mind went completely blank, and I couldn't conjure up a plausible excuse to save my life.
"...just because."
"...?"
"Just... because! I think it would be better for both of us not to see each other for a while. Haha!"
My awkward response hung in the air, and Ian's head tilted slowly.
"Is something the matter."
"Ah, well...."
I frantically began racking my brain for an appropriate excuse.
But it was already too late.
"Perhaps His Highness the Grand Duke upset the Young Lady's feelings or acted in a threatening manner...?"
"No! That's not it at all!"
If anything, it was the opposite!
I shook my head hurriedly before his speculation could continue any further.
No matter what else happened, I couldn't let Blaire Grand Duke bear an unfair accusation.
"Shall we take a walk for a bit?"
With an awkward laugh, I began walking, and he followed behind me.
As I moved toward the Garden, I slowly began to organize my thoughts.
And very gradually, I began to voice the things I had only been vaguely contemplating.
"Actually... I'm not someone who should be at the Grand Duke's Residence, am I?"
Whether by birth or by circumstance.
I was never even a citizen of the Cletan Empire to begin with.
"I'm not sure I understand what you mean..."
"Well, in any case, I'm just a 'distant relative' of His Highness the Grand Duke, aren't I?"
It felt wrong to lie so brazenly without even moistening my lips first.
But at the same time, I felt a baseless certainty that Ian would understand what lay in my heart.
At least, from what I had seen of him so far, he was a more serious person than I had anticipated.
"I can't stay at the Grand Duke's Residence forever just because I'm a distant relative. So eventually, I have to leave."
Apart from the temporary feelings the Grand Duke held for me, our parting was already a predetermined future.
And I had never forgotten that fact for even a moment.
If the unexpected complication of room and board hadn't appeared, I would have packed my things and left long ago.
Only after reaching the center of the well-maintained Garden did I stop and turn to face Ian.
"But I think I've caused far too many incidents and accidents. Enough to become a burden to His Highness the Grand Duke, who is the master of the Grand Duchy..."
"Who told the Young Lady such a thing?"
"No one, really."
But at some point, that thought had occurred to me.
If this weren't a web novel, Stefan Marquis wouldn't have plotted such wicked schemes, and the Grand Duke wouldn't have had to recall such unpleasant memories.
The possibility that I, like some foreign substance that should never have existed, might become an obstacle to the Grand Duke by intruding into the original story.
If there was even the slightest chance of that...
'Shouldn't I be keeping my distance from the Grand Duke?'
After all, the Grand Duke saved me—someone who might have died without a trace after being kidnapped. He even kept me like an imperial pet(?), so to speak.
Of course, he did give me work, but now that I'm actively seeking out tasks myself, there was nothing more to say about it.
As I continued my thoughts in silence, I spoke again to Ian, who seemed to be waiting for an answer.
"In any case, that's why I'm planning to avoid His Highness the Grand Duke a bit, gradually reduce my work, and live quietly. You can cooperate with that, right?"
"...How would you like me to cooperate, Young Lady?"
Was my intuition correct?
Despite the explanation being insufficient for full understanding, he nodded obediently.
Interpreting his attitude as consideration, I smiled brightly.
"If His Highness the Grand Duke happens to appear or I sense his presence, could you let me know so I can hide?"
If Ian, whose senses are sharper than mine, were to warn me, wouldn't he be able to alert me before the Grand Duke arrives?
"Then I wouldn't have to keep abandoning my dresses every time I dive into the bushes..."
"...Have you really been avoiding him that diligently?"
"Yes? Yes.... Haha."
"Your efforts are truly remarkable."
What's this? Why does his voice sound strained, and why do I feel like his teeth are grinding?
But before my thoughts could continue, Ian beat me to it.
"No, that's not it. Then I'll work overtime starting tomorrow."
"Hmm? Why overtime?"
"My primary occupation has become less demanding."
"Huh...."
Wait... could that 'primary occupation' have actually failed?
Is that why Ian's thug friends were all available to mobilize today?
'I've actually been curious about this for a while.'
A mercenary, a carpenter, a miner... or perhaps a bandit? Probably not that.
Considering how strong he looks, my guess doesn't seem entirely off base....
I stopped my pointless speculation at an appropriate moment and carefully composed my expression to appear unbothered.
If his business had actually failed and he had no choice but to work overtime, it would be courteous to pretend I didn't know.
"Well, then I'm actually delighted. Since I also need to avoid His Highness the Grand Duke, I should benefit from staying close to Ian all the time. Haha!"
Since he might not have much money, I should give him as much work as possible.
Ian, unaware of what I was thinking, simply nodded curtly as usual.
"Understood. I will make every effort to ensure you never encounter His Highness the Grand Duke. Or, should you happen to meet him, I won't accept any compensation for the overtime work."
Uh, what?
There's no need for that....
Why does Ian's voice sound so strained when he speaks?
And why does he seem to be in a bad mood...?
It must be because he's tired, right? He was at the protest site just moments ago.
"For now... thank you. But please leave early today. You've worked hard enough."
"Yes, understood."
As I watched Ian turn to leave, I only realized much later that he had headed not outside the Grand Duke's Residence, but inside.
...I quickly forgot about it, assuming he must have left something behind and gone back to retrieve it.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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