Chapter – 11
“W-Why is the Duke in my room…?”
Why do you think?
Deto awkwardly stood up from his chair.
I threw the towel in my hand straight at the count’s face.
“You will do it.”
I couldn’t interfere before because I had no excuse.
“…My personal service.”
Now I had an excuse.
The reason to interfere.
“How could I do such a lowly task!”
“You ordered Lady Demia to do it, didn’t you? And is serving me a lowly task?”
I hardened my expression and lightly pushed the desk with my foot.
Oops. I pushed harder than I meant to.
The count groaned and was trapped between the desk and the wall, clutching his stomach.
“You must know about me and Her Highness the Princess.”
I rested my foot on the desk and raised my eyes darkly.
“Isn’t this a scheme to damage my honor and turn me against the imperial family?”
“No! I only meant to help you recover from fatigue—!”
“Then why order the lady to do it?”
“Well—if a superior orders it, one must obey, right?”
Ah. Rank bullying.
“Then you will serve me. I came in a hurry and left my attendant behind.”
He probably thought that meant changing clothes and such.
“My skin is sensitive. I always wash in flowing valley water.”
“…We use city water here, Duke.”
“That’s exactly the problem. Can’t you see this? I washed once with your water and got a pimple.”
“…Your skin looks clean to me, Duke.”
I leaned my pale face closer.
“Your eyes must be bad. Maybe if you get hit a bit, blood will rush to your head and you’ll see better.”
“N-No! I see it! Yes! Right there!”
Deto waved his hands wildly.
I nodded, satisfied.
“Then from now on, morning, noon, and night, you will go fetch water from that valley.”
“…That valley?”
Deto’s face darkened immediately.
No wonder.
The valley I pointed to was beyond the Bahat camp.
“The water quality there is excellent.”
“But that’s four hours round trip! Three times a day means all day carrying water! And we have to go around the Bahat forces—”
Exactly.
Long hours. And fear.
The same fear he forced civilians to feel.
Did he think this was the end of revenge?
No.
This was just the opening.
“You were the one who said a subordinate must obey a superior.”
Rank bullying, right?
I’m a duke. You’re a count.
That’s a two-rank difference.
“Also, it looked like you sold the castle gate. What happened to the funds His Majesty sent?”
I glanced at the playing cards scattered on the desk.
Gambling. Obviously.
“I-I will do it.”
“Good.”
After giving him one final warning look, I left the room.
“Ah!”
Demia, who had been listening with her ear to the door, fell backward.
She covered her mouth, eyes wide.
“Lady Demia. I need to speak with you.”
I pointed to my room.
Click.
As soon as the door closed, I got straight to the point.
“I assume you already knew. That the count has sided with Bahat’s Crown Prince, Kellian.”
“…What are you saying?”
This war would be impossible without help from inside.
And that helper was Deto.
“Normally, a lord protects his people. Not out of kindness, but because they are his source of tax.”
“….”
“But the count chose open battle, knowing civilians would die. As if he wanted to make the war bigger.”
“….”
“That way, the Berwen Knights would appear and attack the Second Prince. Kellian defeated his rival without lifting a finger.”
I explained my other suspicions one by one.
“Isn’t that right?”
“Duke, that’s just speculation!”
She wasn’t wrong.
This was only imagination.
But reasonable imagination.
“Then please find proof.”
“…Me?”
“The count will be very busy now. The place I sent him to is dangerous, so he’ll take all the knights with him. The estate will be empty.”
“….”
“During that time, find evidence. The household staff already support you.”
Demia’s eyes widened slightly.
“Find proof. Find hidden assets. Find everything that can become your weapon.”
I catch the traitor through another’s hands.
She protects her family and takes revenge.
A fair deal.
And revenge feels best when done with your own hands.
“When Deto is removed, I will help the person you want become lord.”
It left a bitter taste.
A perfect lord stood before me, yet I couldn’t place her openly.
Still, even if not in name, Demia would rule Hessen.
“Will you join hands with me?”
I held out my hand.
After a brief hesitation, Demia took it with clear, intelligent eyes.
“Yes, Duke.”
Their eyes curved slightly as they met.
And so, a secret alliance was formed between the novel’s villainess and the Duke of Berwen.
“Good. I don’t even need to gather evidence myself now.”
My workload just got lighter.
Demia was truly capable.
Before dawn, while Deto was fetching water, she brought me evidence.
“With this, I could pressure Kellian.”
I thought about using it in negotiations—
Until I met him.
“Ah. I was wrong.”
“Welcome.”
As I entered the negotiation tent, a deep, pleasant voice reached my ears.
Kellian, head of the Bahat delegation, stood neatly from his chair.
“…Wow.”
My mind went blank.
Another unreal beauty like Lesius existed?
Jet-black hair. Black eyes shining dangerously.
From Rosaline’s stories, I imagined him as a mischievous rogue.
But—
Not even close.
“He’s like a beast.”
The real Kellian felt dangerous.
Mature, yet wild.
“Good to see you.”
I stared blankly at the hand he offered.
Thank goodness I was wearing a helmet.
“Cough.”
Someone from Bahat cleared their throat, signaling me.
I reached for his hand—
“Are you shaking hands like that?”
He raised an eyebrow, looking at my gauntlet.
Get it together.
I removed it and took his hand. Rough—like someone who wielded a sword.
“You won’t remove your helmet?”
His sharp gaze fixed on my eyes behind it.
Knowing it was rude, I removed it.
He watched closely the entire time.
“Good to see you again.”
Still staring at me, he leaned closer and whispered.
Why are you like this?
Our eyes met.
“Everyone, leave. I need to speak with His Highness alone.”
I dismissed my knights and aides.
From his eyes, I knew.
Yeah. He’s insane.
“So the duke wants to be alone with me.”
No, I don’t. I just don’t trust you.
At his gesture, his people also left.
Silence filled the tent.
“This is a letter ordering our ally to attack the Second Prince.”
I placed the evidence Demia found on the table.
One of many proofs.
Even secret contact alone would trouble him.
“Oh dear.”
Kellian sat, crossing his legs casually.
He read the letter—and smiled.
“Duke, how cute. You even found this?”
His smile deepened.
I panicked.
Hey. This is bad for you.
“If you were curious, you could have asked me directly. I would’ve told you everything.”
Everything?
Honestly… he probably would.
So I asked the question I wanted most answered.
“Are there more helpers in Hailen? Besides the Hessen count?”
“Yes.”
His easy answer made me sit too.
Who?
I had a guess.
“Count Kabant?”
He stared at me, then laughed.
“That wasn’t a question about me.”
His long fingers set the letter down.
“Let me ask again. Are there more helpers like this?”
“Duke.”
His voice dropped.
His eyes—red.
Ah.
Those eyes.
Rosaline told me.
They turn red when he’s excited or murderous.
But she said sometimes.
They’ve been red since my helmet came off.
“That’s not free information.”
He leaned across the table.
“What will you give me?”
You said you’d tell me everything.
“So cheap.”
“Will you become my knight?”
He touched my chin, smiling.
Terrifyingly handsome.
Then I realized—
He’s seducing me!
“Demon blood…”
Kellian was descended from demons.
Strong emotions changed eye color.
And demons—
“They enchant people.”
Legend and novel both said so.
“If I don’t snap out of it, I’m done.”
I hardened my expression and pushed his hand away.
He raised an eyebrow, amused.
Then salvation arrived.
“Duke, please excuse us.”
One of Kellian’s knights bowed to me and whispered urgently.
“Your Highness. The Eighth Prince has disappeared.”
What?
The protagonist… disappeared?
