Kneel Before The Villain - Chapter 115

“How do you…..?”

 

Noah looked at me with surprised eyes.

 

“Otherwise, what else could there be for you to come to me in such a hurry?”

 

Although it was a guess, I was a little surprised as well.

 

“Yes. What the princess said is correct. Young lady Dana has disappeared.”

 

Noah said with a troubled expression.

 

I raised the teacup with a calm face.

 

“So do you know where she went?”

 

“Yes. In fact, the reason why the report was delayed was to follow up and find out her exact whereabouts.”

 

Noah looked at me and continued.

 

“According to our planted person, they said they saw her take a ride in Young Master Pline’s carriage. After that she went into an annex attached to the Count’s house, so she is probably staying there.”

 

Noah’s words reminded me of the face of the young man who once showed hostility to me for Claire’s sake.

 

Despite the apparent crime Claire committed, he insisted on her innocence and it showed his blind adoration for her.

 

It felt stupid and pathetic, but at the same time, I felt sorry for him.

 

Because no matter how hard he tried and how full his heart was, he was just a chess piece for Claire to use.

 

She would use him then throw him away as soon as his use was up.

 

But apart from that, this gave me a chance, I would have no reason to look after the Count’s situation anymore.

 

“But how did Lady Dana get out? Baron Dana must have had people guarding her.”

 

“After knocking down her maid who had gone to bring her dinner with a vase, she allegedly slipped away with the maid’s clothes in the night.”

 

I frowned at the incomprehensible words.

 

“Now… What did you say? She hit the maid in the head?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Noah said with a calm face.

 

Unlike me who hadn’t calmed down my surprised mind yet, he seemed calm as if nothing had happened.

 

“So what happened to the maid now?”

 

“The maid is currently in critical condition.”

 

My mouth opened spontaneously.

 

For Claire to hurt people, and with her own hands.

 

I knew she wasn’t a good person, but I never thought she would do something so vicious.

 

If the maid was in critical condition, she would have been seriously injured.

 

I got goosebumps thinking about the maid collapsed in a pool of blood and Claire swapping clothes with her.

 

“What are you going to do?”

 

“Leave it.”

 

At my words, Noah made a disbelieving face.

 

“Yes? What did you say now?”

 

“Just leave it. No, if you have something to help, help me in moderation so that it doesn’t show through. So that it won’t become a bigger accident.”

 

A look of amazement spread across Noah’s face at the words I added.

 

He blinked his eyes blankly.

 

Then he looked at me with admiring eyes.

 

“I understood the princess’s words well.”

 

Noah got up and greeted me politely.

 

“Then I will go back. I had to make a lot of excuses to be here late at night.”

 

“You have worked hard to get here.”

 

I tried to pay for the trouble Noah had, but he waved his hand and refused.

 

“It’s alright. Our lord won’t accept a fee for the Princess’ requests.”

 

“This is for the tea leaves you sent me the other day. What I give you for your troubles, keep it a secret from your boss and keep it for yourself.”

 

“Princess……”

 

Noah looked at me with a moved expression.

 

“Take it. And I have one more request…”

 

***

 

After coming out of the mansion, Noah climbed into his carriage with a dazed expression.

 

On the way back, he couldn’t take his eyes off the Duke’s house which was gradually moving away from the window.

 

“Did something happen inside?”

 

Another man in the carriage asked Noah.

 

Noah was highly respected within the organization even after giving up his position as an outstanding merchant and a great strategist.

 

But while the man waited with the carriage on the first floor, he didn’t know what happened.

 

Looking at Noah’s appearance, something must have happened.

 

“I don’t know.”

 

Noah answered briefly and then looked out the window again.

 

A complex expression passed through his gaze.

 

Earlier Princess Lillian paid him. Even though he refused, she was adamant.

 

“Anyway, there’s nothing much different from now, isn’t it?”

 

A black stain on white paper would be very noticeable, but splashing a drop of ink on an already stained surface wouldn’t make much of a difference.

 

However, it was complicated to see that the Princess was trying to avoid a marriage by damaging her own reputation instead of receiving the protection of the family.

 

‘What was the princess thinking…?’

 

Noah let out a sigh of relief.

 

He shook his head with a tired face.

 

‘No, I know what she is thinking, but still.’

 

The carriage ran quickly and arrived at the upper street.

 

He casually opened the door to his office.

 

Before leaving, he had turned off the lights, but the room was now bright with a lamp and a fireplace that someone had lit.

 

Noah went inside, frowning in suspicion.

 

And he found him sitting on the sofa by the fireplace.

 

Noah’s eyes widened.

 

Elvin slowly turned his head to look at him.

 

It was a beautiful face, unchanged from the past, but Noah could feel a strange chill when he looked at him.

 

“How are you?”

 

“When did you come back? Why so soon…”

 

Noah asked with a puzzled expression.

 

“I’m sorry but you seem dissatisfied with my quick return.”

 

Elvin raised the corner of his mouth slowly.

 

As his red lips drew an arc, his expression was irresistibly beautiful.

 

However his eyes were as cold as the early winter moon and he was in a bad mood.

 

“How can that be? I was just puzzled.”

 

Noah, noticing Elvin’s mood, answered hurriedly.

 

He glanced at Noah with a cold gaze, then turned to the fireplace.

 

“More than that, a lot happened while I was away.”

 

Elvin said calmly.

 

The firelight gilded his picturesque profile.

 

Seeing the figure, Noah felt chills instead of admiration.

 

He swallowed dry saliva.

 

“From now on, don’t forget anything about what happened and report in detail.”

 

***

 

Early in the morning, the dew on the grass glistened in the morning sunlight.

 

A group of knights were showing off their overwhelming majesty on horses in front of the main gate.

 

They were the 1st and 2nd Knights led by the Duke.

 

Of course, the one standing in the front was the Duke, and all the servants came out to see him off.

 

“After I leave, you will be alone for a while, will you be alright?”

 

The duke asked me with concern.

 

Even his golden eyes, which had felt cold at first, now feel extremely warm.

 

“I’m fine, don’t worry.”

 

“I won’t come back no matter what until your coming-of-age ceremony. If anything happens in the meantime, tell Stephen right away. If someone bothers you…”

 

“Don’t worry too much.”

 

“Yes. Always watch out for people. Don’t trust anyone and let them into the house, and again…”

 

Was the duke such a talkative person?

 

It was a stark contrast to the cold, taciturn image Roxana remembered.

 

But, on the other hand, I understood his concern.

 

I listened to the duke’s words and looked at the two swords at his waist.

 

One was originally his and the other was a gift from me to him.

 

I never thought that he would carry a treasured sword to the battlefield that would be of no use in real combat.

 

“I have something for you.”

 

Looking at the duke with a puzzled face, I took out a drink I had prepared in advance.

 

The golden liquor bottle coated with the finest rubies glistened exceptionally in the sunlight.

 

“It is to wish well-being and peace to a family member or friend who is leaving a long journey in the social world these days.”

 

The Duke’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.

 

He looked at me with surprised eyes.

 

Feeling embarrassed, I avoided his gaze, pretending not to know.

 

Everything I had came from his family.

 

It felt guilty if I didn’t do anything nice at least once.

 

“Roxana.”

 

The duke called me in a low voice.

 

When I looked up at him, it was quite touching to see that his eyes were slightly reddened.

 

“You are all grown up. I will cherish this.”

 

Strangely, my heart thumped.

 

“Yes. Then stay healthy. I’ll be waiting for you.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The Duke stroked my hair.

 

His hands were large and rough, but warm.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

After a bit of a long goodbye, the duke left with the knights.

 

I stood at the door until they were completely gone and out of sight, then went inside.

 

Now I was alone again.

 

After the Duke left, the large mansion felt even bigger and creepier.

 

Why didn’t I feel it before?

 

It was a bit sad to think of not seeing him for a while. After walking around the garden for a bit, I returned to my room to find Annie watering the plants.

 

It was brought to me by the Hermes some time ago.

 

At first, it only had buds, but when watering it and exposing it to sunlight, the flowers were in full bloom before I knew it.

 

Looking at the colorful flowers, my heart always calmed down.

 

But not today.

 

“My lady, where are you going?”

 

Annie asked curiously when she saw me putting on my street coat.

 

“Upper street. I’ll be back before evening.”

 

It had been several days since I entrusted the request to Noah, but the social world was still quiet.

 

Considering the fast and accurate work done in the past, this was a situation that I couldn’t understand.

 

Moreover, since that day, Noah had not visited the duke’s residence any more.

 

He might be busy, but I didn’t have much time either.

 

The empress’s birthday banquet was approaching fast.

 

If the banquet was held at the imperial palace, I would see the emperor and Payne again.

 

It was necessary to finish the work as soon as possible in order to prevent an unexpected accident from happening at a place where a lot of people gathered.

 

I also didn’t like having to damage my reputation myself.

 

But for now, this was for the best.

 

There was no way they would take a woman with a bad reputation into the imperial family as a wife. Just as I was about to leave the room, Joan ran into the room with an urgent expression on her face.

 

“Lady, a present has come from the imperial family.”

 

She said as she placed a large box on the table.

 

“His Highness the 2nd Prince sent it to the lady. Shall we open it?”

 

At first glance, it sounded like she was asking a question, but Joan’s hands were already holding the lid of the box. Looking at her eyes filled with anticipation, I saw her anxious expression, wondering what was inside.

 

But I had no intention of living up to her expectations.

 

“No. Don’t touch it, just send it back.”

 

***