Chapter 18

“Perhaps it was because of the nuance in the sentences. The reason it felt like you already knew about events that were destined to happen and had written them down in advance.”

 

“……”

 

“Well, at the time, I felt as though I had gone mad myself, but looking back, it turned out to be an impeccably wise judgment.”

 

“……”

 

“Just as you had written, Hoffmann attempted poisoning, and thanks to playing my part in that absurd farce, I am standing here alive and well.”

 

As if he had finally brought out the most essential core of this long conversation, Ricard looked utterly drained. Standing listlessly as though all strength had seeped out of his body, he finally slumped down into his seat.

 

Meanwhile, Renee was frantically racking her brain, still unable to properly grasp the meaning of his words.

 

“An absurd farce…?”

 

“You witnessed the scene on the day of the banquet where the Commander collapsed while vomiting blood, didn’t you, Madam?”

 

The one who stepped forward to answer Renee’s question in place of Ricard was Rupert. He was now openly addressing Ricard as ‘Commander.’

 

Renee nodded her head blankly.

 

“That wasn’t blood. Well, to be precise, it was real blood, but it wasn’t the Commander’s—it was the blood of a freshly hunted wild rabbit.”

 

“……?”

 

When Renee showed a face that hardly understood, looking as if she were on the verge of tears at any moment, Rupert hastily added an explanation.

 

“The Commander knew Hoffmann would hand him poisoned wine. Thus, he had me procure an antidote in advance and drank it. Even so, to make it look as if he had been successfully poisoned, he pretended to collapse while spitting out the animal blood he had been holding in his mouth. That is what I mean, Madam.”

 

“I… I truly cannot understand what you two are saying at all…”

 

Clasping her head in both hands, Renee muttered in a trembling voice. Rupert looked back and forth between Renee and Ricard, before turning his gaze toward Ricard as if passing any further explanation over to him.

 

“Ah.”

 

And before long, Rupert let out a soft exclamation, as if something had suddenly come to mind.

 

When Renee looked at Rupert, he hesitated for a moment, appearing conflicted over how to open his mouth. In the end, having failed to think of a good introduction, he spoke with a short sigh.

 

“And I am not Rupert Graven.”

 

From bad to worse—at these endlessly cascading, riddle-like words, Renee felt as though she wanted to scream.

 

“Wearing Rupert Graven’s face and telling me you aren’t Rupert Graven, then who on earth are you?!”

 

Renee finally raised her voice, breaking down into tears. Seeing her miserable face, Rupert wore an expression that seemed both embarrassed and apologetic.

 

“Madam Sainer. I am Rob Lugentia, currently inside the body of Rupert Graven.”

 

“Haah……”

 

Renee let out a deep, heavy sigh, as if exhaling all the breath left in her body. These stories were simply far too overwhelming for her capacity to process.

 

Meanwhile, Ricard, having finished his deliberation during the time he had relinquished control of the conversation, steeled his mind. To make his wife understand, it was necessary to explain everything again, step by step from the very beginning.

 

“Reneezmia.”

 

Calling out the name of his wife, who looked completely at a loss while looking at Rob after he revealed his true identity, Renee snapped her head toward him. She looked so unstable that it seemed a single touch of a fingertip would cause her to burst into tears.

 

“I will explain everything to you, piece by piece, so listen carefully.”

 

Renee nodded with a desperate face.

 

“Ten days ago from today, late in the dawn just one day before the banquet.”

 

Ricard began to recall the past.

 

 

***

 

 

That day. Discovering the problematic slip of paper beneath his sleeping wife’s bed was a mere coincidence.

 

He had simply gone to see Renee to deliver her mother’s letter, intending only to look at his sleeping wife’s face for a short moment.

 

If there was a blunder, it was dropping his ballpoint pen while pulling out the letter envelope he had tucked into his jacket pocket. What caught Ricard’s eye as he bent his knees to retrieve the pen that had rolled beneath the bed was a single sheet of paper with its edge slightly curled, tucked away under the bed frame.

 

At first, he hadn’t thought much of it. Assuming it was merely trash pushed beneath the bed, he picked up the paper along with the ballpoint pen—until the unexpected sight of Galael’s name instantly changed his mind.

 

Only then did Ricard close the bedroom door. It was to block out any uninvited visits beforehand, including the maid sleeping outside the door.

 

After confirming that Renee was fast asleep, Ricard sat in a chair placed near the wall. Scanning rapidly from the first line of the paper to the last, the only conclusion he reached was a cluster of question marks.

 

At first, he had wrestled with himself. He was torn between two choices: whether to return to his study immediately to ponder it more deeply, or to wake his wife and ask her honestly.

 

If he thrust the paper in front of Renee’s eyes and interrogated her about what happened, there was no way she would confess the truth. Yet, he couldn’t simply brush it off as nothing either.

 

While he hesitated, unable to decide what to do, a knocking sound came from the door—likely because the maid, who had been fast asleep, had awakened. Oblivious that he was there, she seemed to be trying to wake Renee to help her prepare for work.

 

“Madam!”

 

The moment the maid called Renee, Ricard threw the door open. The maid, slowly raising her head toward the large silhouette, was on the verge of falling backward in shock.

 

“G-Grand Duke! W-W-What brings you here!”

 

As he glared while gesturing for the maid—who was raising her voice thoughtlessly—to be quiet, she clamped both hands over her mouth.

 

Leaving the thoroughly frightened maid standing at the doorway, Ricard wrestled with his thoughts over and over. Time flowed helplessly, and the maid pacing restlessly came into view.

 

“Grand Duke, I am terribly sorry, but perhaps it would be best if I wake the Madam…”

 

“Don’t wake her, leave her be.”

 

When he cut off the trembling maid’s words with a refusal, she couldn’t hide her predicament.

 

“B-But… The Grand Duke has already been waiting for 30 minutes…”

 

“Whether I wait for 30 minutes or 30 years, I will handle it myself, so leave her alone.”

 

“But Grand Duke, the Madam will have to wake up soon anyway to prepare for work…!”

 

After exchanging words for a while, Renee woke from her sleep. It was before Ricard could even come up with an answer to his dilemma.

 

“Even that day, the moment you opened your eyes, all you did was worry about your maid, Bonnie or whatever her name was.”

 

Ricard, who had briefly veered off-topic, complained grumpily. Renee, who was listening intently with the intention of not missing a single word he spoke, suddenly recalled a memory from that day.

 

‘That’s right. That day, right before Ricard left my room, he hesitated as if he wanted to say something.’

 

Now she finally knew the reason. At that time, he had already discovered this paper and read every bit of its contents.

 

“Are you understanding properly?”

 

Ricard asked, as if double-checking. Renee quickly brushed off her thoughts and nodded her head.

 

Ricard stared intently into Renee’s eyes to check whether she was following his explanation well. Renee’s emerald pupils were trembling anxiously, but they were not wandering aimlessly.

 

Only after confirming that his wife understood his words properly did Ricard return to the main point.

 

“In the end, I merely handed over your mother’s letter and left the room without asking about this writing.”

 

Facing Renee, who was nodding, Ricard began to recall the rest of that day’s events.

 

Though he had left the room without confronting his wife, his mind had been entirely fixated on the text Renee had written throughout his work hours.

 

Time flowed several times faster than usual, and before he knew it, scarcely a single day remained until the day of the banquet.

 

The reason he couldn’t take his wife’s writing lightly was because of the two figures appearing in it. First was Galael Haksen. He was an official belonging to Sainer Castle and a colleague he worked alongside, but Ricard had realized early on that he was an individual eager to line his own pockets.

 

He knew that Galael was a person who could take another’s life to get what he wanted, and that “another” naturally included Ricard himself.

 

Furthermore, Ricard had even uncovered circumstances showing that Galael had been secretly interacting with the Imperial Royal Family recently.

 

And Galael wasn’t the only one tied to the Royal Family. Hoffmann, who had been his personal manservant during the time he stayed in the Royal Palace as the former Emperor’s adopted son. Though Hoffmann had left for Sainer Castle together with him, Ricard knew that his heart’s true affiliation was still the Royal Family, not Sainer Castle.

 

And Renee’s writing singled out precise mention of those exact two among the innumerable people inside the castle. For Ricard, it was something difficult to comprehend. How did she know internal affairs that only prominent figures at the very core of high-ranking officials—such as Finance Minister Ian Gray or Foreign Minister Rayden Brick—would be aware of?

 

Meanwhile, the time of the banquet was drawing near. Ultimately, Ricard urgently recalled people from whom he could seek help.

 

The first person who came to mind was Rob. Because he was a top-tier mage renowned in the Empire, capable of discerning the authenticity of a text using only the handwriting penned directly by someone. Provided, of course, that a mage as capable as Rob hadn’t placed a defensive spell on the writing.

 

And Rob’s very first words upon seeing the paper written in Renee’s handwriting were…

 

“He asked if this was truly your handwriting.”

 

Ricard, who had been reciting the lengthy story without a single moment of stuttering or hesitation, paused briefly.

 

“He said that no matter how hard he tried, it wouldn’t read at all.”

 

At Ricard’s following words, Rupert—no, Rob in the form of Rupert—intervened.

 

“It wasn’t that a defensive spell was cast on the script either. Yet, I couldn’t read your inner thoughts embedded in the handwriting or the authenticity of the text at all. It was the first time in my life such a thing has happened.”

 

Rob narrowed his eyes. Only now could Renee clearly recognize that those blue eyes belonged to Rob.

 

“There wasn’t even time to be flustered. On that dawn with less than a day left before the banquet, we decided to first believe that there would be a poisoning attempt on the day of the banquet and prepare for it.”

 

Taking over from Rob, Ricard continued the explanation.

 

“Assuming that the deadly poison Galael was to procure and deliver to Hoffmann would be of the strongest tier, I obtained and drank the antidote in advance.”

 

“Wait a moment.”

 

Renee, who was busy following Ricard’s explanation, suddenly interrupted him.

 

“I don’t understand.”

 

“Which part?”

 

“If you fully believed my writing and thought there would be a poisoning attempt, you could have simply not drunk the wine. It wasn’t a situation where you couldn’t abstain from a single sip of alcohol all day on the banquet day. You only had to avoid drinking the wine Hoffmann handed you, and you could have naturally avoided that much at any time.”

 

When Renee poured out questions in a somewhat excited tone, Ricard nodded his head deeply once, as if he had anticipated her doubt.

 

“Yes. If my sole purpose was merely to avoid this particular poisoning attempt, that would have been the most correct method.”

 

“‘This particular poisoning attempt’… you speak as if you were certain the same thing would happen next time as well…”

 

Renee stopped abruptly mid-sentence. She had realized it herself while speaking.

 

‘Right. If Galael intends to harm Ricard, even if he manages to get past this incident, there’s no telling when another crisis might strike.’

 

In a way, it was like fate—an event destined to happen. More accurately, it was because she, the original author, had dictated it.

 

Galael Haksen was a character designed solely to harm Ricard Sainer. The background of his creation and his sole reason for existing was to perform the role of the story’s ‘villain,’ and thus all his actions would be carried out exclusively to inflict harm on Ricard.

 

Failing this time in collusion with Hoffmann did not mean the people he could entice would disappear. Innumerable employees lived together inside the castle, and among them, there would always be plenty of greedy and fragile souls who held a grudge against Ricard, or who held no feelings toward him at all but would simply move for money.

 

“However, believing your writing at face value placed me in an ironical situation.”

 

Continuing his words, Ricard’s face quickly turned rigid, as if recalling the chaotic and agonizing situation right before the banquet.

 

“To be safe from the threat of murder, I had to cast Galael Haksen out of the castle, but he hadn’t committed any crime yet. Furthermore, I couldn’t simply expel a high-ranking official at my own whim when he wasn’t a mere low-level employee.”

 

“……”

 

“Of course, I could have fabricated a reason, but if the backer behind Haksen was the Imperial Royal Family, I calculated that enduring the aftermath that would unfold as a result would be far from easy.”

 

That ‘aftermath’ Ricard worried about was, naturally, related to Renee. It was all the more so since the Emperor had already used her as leverage to threaten him.

 

A shadow cast over Ricard’s face. Although his expression had not been bright all along, this time it was noticeably different from before.

 

Looking at his wife listening to his story with clear tear stains on her face, Ricard swallowed a groan inside his mouth. She herself probably wouldn’t even imagine that the heaviest burden dominating his mind from the moment he found this paper until now was his worry for her.

 

Of course, he had no intention of confessing this fact to his wife. There was no necessity to, nor did he have any desire to do so.

 

Striving to erase his genuine feelings for Renee, Ricard continued in a calm voice.

 

“In the end, to fundamentally eliminate the possibility of threats that could strike at any time, there was only one choice. Let Galael and Hoffmann succeed in the poisoning attempt, while I remain unpoisoned.”

 

Rob added an explanation as if he had been waiting for his cue.

 

“Because only then could we punish the two of them by exposing it as Galael and Hoffmann’s crime, while also preserving the Commander’s life.”

 

As if riding a seesaw, this time Ricard took over the conversation.

 

“Yes. I drank the antidote in advance and even held rabbit blood, which tasted terribly fishy, in my mouth, succeeding in fooling everyone at the banquet hall like some theater actor.”

 

Ricard’s voice, which had maintained a relatively calm demeanor all along, suddenly surged with passion.

 

“What on earth were you…”

 

After struggling for a long time with his lips closed to suppress the violently boiling emotions inside, he finally opened his mouth again.

 

“…doing wandering around committing such nonsensical acts on the morning of the banquet?”

 

Having finally delivered his final question, Ricard looked at Renee with an expression that seemed driven mad by frustration. Rob was looking at her as well, his face equally begging for an answer.

 

“We prepared by considering every single variable, but there was only one thing neither the Commander nor I could foresee: your actions, Madam.”

 

“……”

 

“Neither that you would go to the wine cellar that day. Nor that you would be caught in the act by the Sainer Castle cook and maid. Nor that upon seeing the Commander carried away vomiting blood, you would recklessly pounce at Hoffmann. Nor that a glass vial of unknown purpose would eventually be discovered inside the clothes of the passed-out Madam. Not a single thing could be guessed.”

 

Wrinkling his eyes tightly while smiling only with his mouth, Rob slightly raised both arms.

 

“Is that not why I am using such forbidden magic to reside inside the body of the investigating officer?”

 

“Everything is rather confusing, but let me ask one thing first.”

 

Renee steeled her nerves and looked at Rob as she spoke. Since his face was still that of Inspector Rupert Graven, it was hard to get used to even after learning the truth.

 

“Since when were you Sir Lugentia, not Inspector Graven? Even up until you arrested and interrogated me, it was definitely Sir Graven. His behavior, tone, and especially his eye color.”

 

Listening quietly to Renee’s words, Rob smiled softly.

 

“You are extraordinary indeed, Madam. Even as a mage, I cannot read your inner heart, yet you, who are not even a mage, see through me to this extent.”

 

“Sir Lugentia. I am sorry, but I feel like I might faint at any moment. Could you please answer my question first?”

 

“Why wouldn’t I?”

 

Mimicking Renee’s tone back to her as if questioning, Rob nevertheless offered a warm smile.

 

Seeing Rob’s smile, it felt as though a heavy burden lodged in her chest had been lifted.

 

It wasn’t as if she had a massive friendship with him, yet merely having a person who was favorable toward her send such a gentle smile made her feel comforted.

 

It was likely because she had spent the past few days in a dark, quiet solitary cell without interacting with her close companions at all.

 

The only conversations she had engaged in with others were being interrogated by Inspector Rupert, who seemed as though he wouldn’t shed a single drop of blood if pricked, or being cornered and questioned like a trapped mouse by her husband Ricard, who acted even colder than the inspector.

 

“Before today, it was indeed Inspector Graven.”

 

Rob answered Renee’s question in a serene tone.

 

“If it was before today…”

 

“It has been me starting from when I called you out this morning.”

 

When Renee raised her eyes upward to pinpoint the exact moment, Rob added a more detailed explanation.

 

Only upon hearing the clear timeframe of ‘this morning’ did the scene from that moment come to mind.

 

The door to the solitary cell had burst open, and the moment she saw Rupert entering through the swirling dust.

 

‘Before opening the door, I did think it was strange for a moment seeing him skip the process of ringing the bell attached to the side and just throwing the door open recklessly.’

 

She had clearly noticed a strange sign in Rupert—who never broke set rules—acting uncharacteristically, but because all her attention was focused on the words he delivered while gasping for breath, she hadn’t been able to think beyond that.

 

‘Because it was the news that I could meet Ricard, whom I had been waiting for so desperately.’

 

While Renee remained silent, lost in thought, Rob waited without rushing her.

 

“Hurry. I told you we don’t have much time.”

 

The one who urged Rob was Ricard. For some reason, while warning that time was short, he glanced at the wall clock.

 

“Don’t you know we have to finish the entire conversation before noon?”

 

“How could I not know? That is the very reason I am inside this body.”

 

At the conversation between the two, an unresolved doubt raised its head again. When Renee looked at Rob with a tearful, frustrated expression, he raised both palms lightly as if apologizing.

 

“Madam. As you just heard, I must exit Inspector Graven’s body before noon. Because on paper, noon is the time you and the Commander are scheduled to meet.”

 

“What do you mean ‘on paper’?”

 

“You submitted a visitation request to the Commander as a suspect, didn’t you? Inspector Graven filled out the application and even received the stamp of the Chief Inspector. All suspects in Sainer Castle who undergo the aforementioned process must hold an interview accompanied by a total of five people: one primary investigating officer, two secondary investigating officers, and two staff members belonging to the security department.”

 

Rob spread five fingers, explaining the situation step by step to make her understand. Renee felt she could now guess the reason he had no choice but to enter Rupert’s body.

 

“So, this meeting right now is unofficial?”

 

When Renee asked cautiously, Rob nodded with a slight smile.

 

“Correct. We couldn’t possibly blabber this astonishing story—that you knew about the impending incident in advance—to five people other than myself and the Commander.”

 

As Renee nodded in understanding, Rob added.

 

“Furthermore, because even the Commander and I have yet to grasp the truth you are hiding, we needed a time like this all the more.”

 

Wandering between curiosity and suspicion toward Renee, a fleeting look of confusion crossed Rob’s face. Watching him, she could feel that the moment to confess the truth was drawing right up to her throat.

 

Renee carefully organized the contents Rob had explained so far in her mind. Then, a question suddenly arose.

 

“By the way, Sir Lugentia. If that was the case, couldn’t the Grand Duke simply have called me out separately? I don’t understand why you had to resort to such deception.”

 

“Hmm, Madam.”

 

As soon as Renee’s question ended, Rob wore a deeply troubled expression. In place of Rob, who was grimacing and smiling as if embarrassed over how to explain, Ricard stepped in.

 

“Seems you’ve briefly forgotten, but officially, you are a suspect who attempted to murder me.”

 

Ricard added in a slightly agitated tone, sounding frustrated.

 

“If I had recklessly sought you out, called you, and held a secret meeting, every single employee in the investigation department would have found out. What would they have thought, and how would rumors have spread inside and outside the castle?”

 

At the suddenly thrown question, Renee frantically worked her mind.

 

“…That the Grand Duke broke the laws of the realm to personally threaten me…? That is, that you tried to execute me in advance while I was still merely a suspect…”

 

“Ha, unbelievable!”

 

When Renee offered an answer in an unconfident voice, Ricard clicked his tongue as if it were utterly absurd. Shaking his head, he wore an expression that went beyond anger into pure exasperation.

 

“If rumors spread like that, it would rather be a relief. How you consistently view a person like me in that light is truly astounding.”

 

“Woah, woah, Commander. Calm down.”

 

Seeing the atmosphere turn hostile, Rob cleverly cut in.

 

“How am I supposed to stay calm? Not even knowing how much I racked my brain and worried over that single person for the past few days, she’s spouting such nonsense—”

 

“Madam.”

 

Cutting off Ricard as he vented his rage, Rob called Renee in a soothing, calm voice.

 

“If the Commander exceptionally broke the rules to meet you separately, that in itself would have become a severe problem. Because he would have granted you special favors solely for the reason that the two of you are husband and wife.”

 

“Ah…”

 

Only after hearing Rob’s words could Renee accept the circumstances that forced the two of them to use magic to arrange such a secretive meeting.

 

‘Right. I briefly forgot how meticulously Ricard handles matters.’

 

As Renee nodded with a somewhat solemn heart, Rob continued.

 

“Actually, the bigger problem lies elsewhere. Try answering from the perspective of a castle employee, Madam. What would be the reason for the Grand Duke of Sainer to extend special favors just to meet his wife separately?”

 

To answer Rob’s question, Renee paused in silence for a moment to think.

 

“I’m not entirely sure, but if it were people who don’t know the full story of what happened… Would they think the Grand Duke is plotting something together with me?”

 

“Bingo.”

 

At Renee’s answer, Rob snapped his fingers with a crisp sound.

 

“In the end, the Commander’s objective is to hold Haksen and Hoffmann accountable for their crimes and punish them. But what if you, who were locked up as a suspect, are somehow excluded from the suspect list after having a private meeting with the Commander, while Sir Haksen and Hoffmann are pinned as the culprits? It is obvious that backtalk would arise later.”

 

Ricard, who had been listening quietly to Rob’s explanation while suppressing his heightened emotions, spoke up.

 

“That you were the actual criminal, but I turned a blind eye to you and pinned the guilt on Haksen and Hoffmann. Or that from the very beginning, I colluded with you to set up a trap to punish those two. Aside from these, countless speculative rumors would circulate.”

 

Ricard was already frowning as if he had a headache. Rob let out a short sigh as if agreeing with Ricard’s words.

 

“Hearing what both of you have said, Sir Lugentia…”

 

When Renee called Rob, he raised his eyebrows as if prompting her to speak.

 

“…it seems that because of me, things have become thoroughly tangled up.”

 

Renee lowered her head and spoke in a dispirited voice.

 

“It’s a relief you at least seem to know it.”

 

Ricard answered on Rob’s behalf.

 

“Then why on earth did you do those suspicious acts right before the incident?”

 

Adding his words, he tapped his foot irritably.

 

“It grieves me to say this to you as well, Grand Duke. But I had no choice.”

 

“What do you mean you had no choice?”

 

“Knowing that the Grand Duke was going to be poisoned, I couldn’t just do nothing and stand idly by.”

 

For some reason, the moment she finished speaking, tears threatened to burst out again. Perhaps it was the genuine feeling she had wanted to confess to him most of all.

 

Even though she hadn’t succeeded perfectly—no, after hearing the full story of the incident, there hadn’t even been a need for her to visit the wine cellar and swap the poisoned bottle—the heart that wanted to save him had been true.

 

“Right. Ultimately, you bring out the most essential topic yourself.”

 

Ricard spoke as if to himself, deliberately avoiding eye contact with Renee, whose face was brimmed with tears.

 

Renee hastily wiped her tears. Before long, Ricard fixed his avoided gaze back onto Renee’s face.

 

“Now answer me.”

 

“……”

 

“How did you know in advance that I was going to be poisoned?”

 

To borrow Ricard’s expression, it was ultimately the most essential question. Looking at his eyes, which were as sharp as an awl, she couldn’t even dream of evading an answer.

 

“That is…”

 

Renee couldn’t bring herself to continue, her dry lips opening and closing helplessly. Ricard was waiting for an answer while exuding an atmosphere that was beyond stern—it was chilling—as if he had no intention of tolerating any further excuses or lies.

 

“I mean, the reason I was able to know that was…”

 

Her voice came out trembling. Finding it hard to meet Ricard’s eyes, she shifted her gaze to Rob across from her, but he too held a sharp look in his eyes unlike before.

 

Ultimately, Renee lowered her head and bit her lower lip tightly. Words buzzed like a swarm of bees, circulating only inside her mouth.

 

Of course, she knew that what she had to do today was already set. To spill the truth. The only thing permitted to her was that single task.

 

‘But how on earth am I supposed to tell you that the world you live in is actually a story I wrote?’

 

Looking back and forth between Ricard and Rob, Renee deformed her expression from an even deeper sense of agony. In her anxiety, she was biting her lip so recklessly that she didn’t even realize blood had begun to seep out.

 

“Madam.”

 

Rob called Renee with a worried expression. Only then did she feel the metallic taste of blood spreading in her mouth.

 

“I believe I told you that we don’t have much time.”

 

Ricard prompted Renee’s answer in a relatively calm tone. Judging by his usual personality, it wouldn’t be surprising if he grabbed her by the collar and shouted, but right now, he was maintaining a strangely static demeanor.

 

Perhaps he was also a little tense. Facing an unfathomable secret would bring a feeling of fear to him just the same.

 

“I am tormented because I have no idea how to explain it to make you both understand, but to confess the truth…”

 

The tension between the three reached its peak. Like a giant balloon inflated to its limit that was about to burst at any second, even the air here felt suffocating.

 

Renee shifted her gaze from Rob back to Ricard.

 

Lustrous black hair, and beautiful light-brown eyes directed at her without shaking. Features so impeccably positioned without the slightest flaw that they felt unrealistic. A distinct gloominess that felt like a cold shadow even when he smiled.

 

Renee, gazing into his eyes as if gathering every single element that comprised Ricard Sainer—whom she had created with her own hands—finally opened her lips.

 

“I am not Reneezmia Dainis.”

 

At her words thrown without front-or-back explanation, Ricard and Rob did not show an immediate reaction. Both of them were merely waiting with expressions demanding an explanation beyond this.

 

“I am…”

 

Stopping mid-sentence, Renee looked at Ricard. Then, with a desperate heart, she opened her mouth.

 

“I came from another world.”

 

The moment she finally confessed the truth, strangely, her heart felt impossibly light. Up until she was pressed for an answer by Ricard, her breathing had been suffocating, but with the confession, she felt as if she could finally breathe a little.

 

Looking back, from the moment she entered the novel like a lie up until now, it was a secret she had held alone, unable to tell anyone else.

 

Even while holding conversations with the two maids who had quickly grown close as they met morning and night, or while concentrating on cafe work together with the staff of Sainer Castle. Above all, while crying, laughing, getting angry, and sometimes exchanging subtle emotions together with Ricard, loneliness and confusion would brush past her every now and then.

 

It must have been from the moment she grew fond of this world. The truth that she thought she must never get caught by anyone, yet simultaneously wanted to be understood by someone.

 

“I know it is hard to believe, but still… I hope you will believe me.”

 

Having finally uttered that truth was the limit of what she could do. Whether they would believe it or not was now up to Ricard and Rob.

 

However, the two offered no answer nor question. They merely remained silent, as if each were deeply absorbed in thought.

 

Renee checked their faces several times in turn, her heart racing with anxiety. However, she could not find any noticeable signs of agitation in either of them.

 

Why? Ricard and Rob were acting as if they had, to some degree, expected what she had just confessed.

 

“…Grand Duke.”

 

When she called out to Ricard in the hope that he would say something, he quietly lowered his eyelids. Seeing him act as if he were cutting off all external stimuli, including herself, it seemed that for whatever reason, he was not in a state to answer right now.

 

Deciding to give him a moment, Renee shifted her gaze to Rob. He, who until a moment ago had been locked in thought with his lips tightly shut, met Renee’s eyes and formed a subtle smile.

 

“Was it about two months ago? I believe you remember the day you two were trapped in the Forest of Hallucinations.”

 

Out of nowhere, Rob brought up a past incident. When she nodded for now, he picked his words for a moment.

 

“Then do you also remember what I told you back then? Normally, the Forest of Hallucinations is a space created as mana gathers naturally, but at that time, as soon as I tried to control the mana to open an exit, the magic bounced back.”

 

“Yes, I remember. Sir Lugentia, you told me that after I woke up in the hospital.”

 

“That is correct. Which is why I also said that it seemed like someone had deliberately orchestrated it targeting the Commander.”

 

Rob stared into space for a second, seemingly reminiscing about that time. Vivid memories of being trapped in the Forest of Hallucinations resurfaced in Renee’s mind as well, listening to his story.

 

‘But why is Rob bringing that up now?’

 

To Renee, who was plunged into doubt, Rob spoke.

 

“Madam. Ever since that day, I have been investigating the incident back then. And—”

 

“Stop.”

 

The one who cut Rob off was Ricard, who had been silent until now.

 

“…Commander.”

 

“That story is merely a side issue. My wife has ultimately revealed the truth, so what matters now is that we too can completely dispel any suspicion that my wife might be an accomplice to Galael Haksen and Hoffman. If we can clear my wife from the suspect list, there are only two things we need to do.”

 

Ricard continued, as if determined not to give Rob another chance to speak.

 

“One. Clearing the false charges currently placed on my wife. Two. Proving that Galael Haksen and Hoffman are the culprits.”

 

Ricard impeccably summarized the vast conversation up to this point without a single flaw. However, Renee could not shake off a lingering feeling of discomfort.

 

Naturally, it was because he had cut off Rob’s story midway. What was it that the two of them knew, but she did not? Something that must be related to the Forest of Hallucinations.

 

Just as Rob opened his mouth to argue further, Ricard stopped him with his gaze. At his firm expression, showing no intention of yielding, Rob ultimately closed his lips.

 

Yet, Rob’s face clearly betrayed his desire to continue saying what he had originally intended to say.

 

“Please tell me, Sir Lugentia.”

 

“No.”

 

In the end, as soon as Renee—who had been staying quiet—stepped up, Ricard once again blocked Rob before he could even part his lips.

 

“Don’t act like a child. Your current situation isn’t lenient enough for you to indulge in satisfying idle curiosity.”

 

Ricard pointed out Renee’s reality in a stern tone.

 

Though he phrased it as ‘idle curiosity,’ Renee could easily tell that the matter Ricard had blocked was by no means trivial.

 

However, she could no longer press Rob for an answer. The wall clock was already pointing to 10:00 AM.

 

Since they said this secretive meeting had to end by noon, the time allowed to the three of them was only about two hours.

 

“I am sorry, Grand Duke. I was short-sighted.”

 

As Renee offered her apology, she recalled what Ricard had said a moment ago. The part about how, since she had ultimately revealed the truth, Ricard and Rob could now completely dispel their suspicions.

 

Thinking about it again, it was strange. Both of them believed her confession—which should have been difficult for them to accept—without any particular doubt.

 

“Then let us hurry and make a plan. No more dragging our feet.”

 

At Ricard’s words, Rob turned his head to check the wall clock and nodded as if he had no choice.

 

“Very well.”

 

Shifting his gaze to Renee, Rob’s clear eyes shone brightly.

 

“First, the strategy for the upcoming interview.”

 

“You mean the interview where the lead investigator, deputy investigator, and security department staff—five in total—will accompany us?”

 

“Correct, Madam.”

 

“What should I do?”

 

When Renee asked with an anxious expression, Ricard, who had brought blank paper and a pen at some point, placed the paper on the table.

 

“I will write down everything you need to say, as well as what I will answer, so memorize it in the remaining time.”

 

“You can think of it as a kind of play, Madam.”

 

Rob added in a rapidly brightened tone.

 

Seeing the two move as if they had coordinated it, it seemed they had already established a plan to some extent.

 

It made her feel reassured. Or, more accurately, it felt like meeting a savior. Either way, clearing her name was more urgent than anything else right now.

 

“There must not be even a single mistake. Investigator Rupert Graven is a talent with exceptionally sharp senses.”

 

Dipping the nib into dark black ink, Ricard said as he wiped off the excess on the bottom of the paper. Renee let out a deep sigh without realizing it.

 

Of course—since he was a character she created, there was no way she wouldn’t know. That Rupert Graven was one of the top talents among the dozens of investigative department staff.

 

‘If I knew it would come to this, I should have left at least one flaw in him.’

 

It was right when she was regretting the past, feeling a sense of lamentation. As she thought about Rupert, a sudden curiosity arose.

 

“By the way, Sir Lugentia. If you are inside Sir Graven’s shell, where is he right now?”

 

Rob, who had leaned his body forward to sit closer to Ricard, faltered slightly at Renee’s question. Like a tutor who received a bizarre question from a young child, he smiled slightly with a perplexed expression on how to explain it.

 

“Well. Rather than Sir Graven going somewhere, I have temporarily dominated his mind, Madam.”

 

When Renee made an ambiguous expression as if she understood yet didn’t, Rob retained his smile, slightly squinting his eyes as he added: “It might be difficult to understand.”

 

“Then does Sir Graven not remember any of this happening right now?”

 

“Correct. More precisely, he will believe the memories I manipulate as they are.”

 

Rob shrugged his shoulders as if appealing that this was the maximum explanation he could provide on his end. Renee nodded, indicating she would not ask further.

 

Suddenly, the question cropped up in her head whether such a setting existed in <The Sickly Duchess Plans to Kill Her Husband>—a device where magicians in this world could enter someone else’s body, dominate their mind, and even manipulate their memories.

 

However, thinking about it, there might be countless stories in this world that she did not know. Even as the original author, she couldn’t know everything.

 

For instance, what flower blooms first when spring arrives here, how many ferry boats float on the Pomfritz River in a day—these were things she could not know, nor could she set every single detail.

 

The same went for the personal stories of each customer who visited the cafe. Let alone the food that the families of Tatisha and Bonnie—the two handmaidens she faced day and night—ate on important days, or the music her mother-in-law, Melda, listened to whenever she felt down for some reason.

 

In short, this world was moving according to its own rules. This was an enlightenment that came at a somewhat awkward timing, yet at the most necessary moment.

 

Is it not said that just because a child was borne in one’s womb, one cannot know everything about that child, nor move that child’s life according to one’s will? That obvious truth applied to stories as well.

 

‘Whenever events unfolded differently from the original work, or even when things that weren’t in the original happened, I used to panic and feel confused. But maybe… I didn’t need to.’

 

No, to be more precise, to overcome the current crisis, she might need to stop being bound by the original work altogether.

 

Furthermore, considering it, her possessing the male lead’s wife in the first place must have been a massive variable. So, countless elements she wasn’t even aware of might have changed like a butterfly effect.

 

While Renee was endlessly lost in thought, Ricard and Rob were conversing with serious expressions, beginning to write content onto the blank paper.

 

Renee suddenly looked at the side profile of Ricard, who was sitting in the head seat. His face, illuminated brightly as the early morning sunlight settled upon it. Although he had not completely cast off dark emotions like gloom, worry, and anger, the current Ricard was distinctly different from when she first encountered him in this office.

 

He was concentrating this deeply just to clear her false charges. To the point where he, who was sensitive enough to react instantly even to a passing breeze, did not notice the gaze directed at him at all.

 

A husband who abuses his wife. A tyrant closer to a sword than words. They were all phrases describing Ricard Sainer in <The Sickly Duchess Plans to Kill Her Husband>, but…

 

Was the Ricard she had personally experienced over the past time truly such a man?

 

“No.”

 

The word leaked out of her mouth without her realizing it. Ricard and Rob, who had been engrossed to the point sparks were flying from their eyes, turned their heads abruptly at the same time.

 

“What?”

 

Ricard asked irritably. He seemed extremely displeased at being interrupted while pressed for time.

 

Yet, why was it? Even though he was frowning with all sorts of grimaces as if fully prepared to scold her, he no longer looked like an evil person. Nor did he look like a harsh husband who would eventually lock her in a side room and drive her to take her own life as time passed.

 

He was simply a man doing his best for his wife.

 

“Lord Sainer.”

 

“…I don’t know how long it’s been since I heard that friendly title. Anyway, if you have something to say, don’t drag it out and be quick—”

 

“You weren’t a tyrant.”

 

“…What? A t-tyrant?”

 

At Renee’s rather drastic choice of words, Ricard asked back, even stuttering like never before.

 

“Nor were you a mean husband who neglected his wife and eventually let her die.”

 

As if possessed by something, Renee began to pour out her inner thoughts in a stream. Once opened, her mouth could not be stopped.

 

Ricard, who had closed his lips with an absurd expression, even set down the pen he was holding and leaned his upper body back obliquely, as if telling her to go ahead and continue.

 

“In fact, you weren’t a piece of trash worse than a villain, nor a bastard beyond redemption—none of it. Ah, those were comments that received dozens of upvotes every time a chapter was uploaded.”

 

“M-Madam, saying such harsh words…!”

 

Rob gasped, his mouth agape in horror.

 

Looking back and forth between the faces of the two men, which had turned pale beyond stiffening, Renee realized. That she had crossed the line.

 

Yet, why? The corners of her mouth loosened, and laughter leaked out.

 

‘That’s just how I am.’

 

Renee, who had quietly lowered her gaze, raised her head. Ricard was staring at her blankly, unable to even get angry.

 

“I like you.”

 

Ricard’s eyes expanded in all directions. His beautiful amber pupils flickered, losing their bearing.

 

It was the most bewildered face she had ever seen on him. Facing him like that, a giggle came out on its own.

 

“I like you.”

 

It felt as though time had stopped. Even the air inside the office drooped languidly.

 

 

***

 

 

11:30 AM, thirty minutes before noon. On the first basement floor of the high-rise building containing the Sainer Castle prison, a conversation was in full swing.

 

Six investigative department staff members were gathered, checking the list for the interviews scheduled for noon.

 

“Therefore, for the interview in Interview Room 3, we will need to assign one more security department staff member. And next… in Interview Room 4, the interview between Lady Sainer and His Grace the Grand Duke is scheduled to take place.”

 

When the brown-haired staff member in charge of administrative work finished the briefing while looking at the ledger, Rupert nodded.

 

Standing side by side with him, deputy investigator Ben Foster assumed a slightly stiffened expression. Having worked as a staff member in the Sainer Castle investigative department for just four years now, he had never shared the same space with Ricard.

 

So today was the day of his first face-to-face meeting with him. Even though he was only present in the capacity of an observer, it was impossible not to feel nervous.

 

Ben, who was standing with a face that even conveyed determination, called out to his superior, Rupert, as if something had occurred to him.

 

“Ah. By the way, Sir Graven.”

 

Rupert twitched his eyebrows, as if telling him to speak while re-checking the schedule.

 

“What was your business visiting Lady Sainer’s solitary cell this morning?”

 

At Ben’s question, Rupert, who had paused for a moment, knit his brows as if trying to understand his meaning again.

 

“What?”

 

However, Rupert, scowling as if he still had no idea what he was talking about, asked Ben back.

 

“Pardon?”

 

Ben was equally puzzled as he asked back with a bewildered expression. He added: “You even submitted an outing pass and went outside together with the Madam.”

 

“I did?”

 

“Sir Graven, why are you being like this? Are you teasing me?”

 

“What on earth are you talking about?”

 

Listening to their conversation, another deputy investigator opened his eyes wide and looked at Rupert as if he were talking utter nonsense.

 

“Sir Graven. Were you dreaming? This morning, after finishing breakfast, you said you were going out to get some fresh air, and only returned after a long time, heading straight to the Madam’s room.”

 

Listening to the deputy investigator’s words with a clueless expression, Rupert’s eyes shook.

 

“I did think something was strange since this morning.”

 

Ben chimed in, taking this as his cue.

 

“When I asked you about Case No. 3987 from last night, you didn’t answer me and just rambled incoherently.”

 

“…It seems I might have done that…”

 

Rupert crossed his arms with a confused expression. Because of him acting strangely like never before, the other five stopped checking their respective schedules and stared at Rupert.

 

Right then, Rupert’s gaze, which had been hazy as if fogged over, sharpened rapidly.

 

“Ah. I remember now.”

 

He said in a voice filled with certainty.

 

“Among the details written in the Madam’s statement, there were things requiring scene verification, so we visited a few places inside the castle together. Why, is there a problem?”

 

At Rupert’s answer, the two deputy investigators nodded side by side as if they finally understood.

 

“Of course not. We simply asked because Sir Graven seemed somewhat different from usual this morning.”

 

“Let’s stop this useless chatter and prepare for our respective interviews.”

 

“Yes, understood.”

 

At Rupert’s words wrapping up the situation, everyone bowed their heads in greeting and scattered to their positions.

 

Left alone, Rupert organized the documents with tapping sounds, then paused for a moment.

 

“What was that? It feels like I was possessed by something.”

 

Rupert, who was pondering with narrowed eyes, soon shrugged his shoulders with a lightened expression.

 

“Have I been overworking lately? My mental state is a mess.”

 

 

***

 

 

11:40 AM. Checking the wall clock, Renee picked at the hangnail beside her fingernail in anxiety.

 

Ever since returning to her solitary cell after finishing the secretive meeting with Ricard and Rob about an hour ago, only one thought had been lingering in her head.

 

‘I hope I can give my statement properly without making a mistake.’

 

On the paper Ricard had secretly packed and sent with her, everything she needed to say was written down to the exact word. Having organized their thoughts with Rob with unbelievable speed, his hands had also moved like a machine to write it down for her.

 

The problem was that the amount was vast enough to be impossible to memorize in a short time of less than an hour. There were a whopping four large sheets of paper tightly filled with small text.

 

To borrow Rob’s words, the upcoming interview was a kind of play to be presented in front of the lead investigator, deputy investigator, and security staff. If so, this paper written by Ricard would be the script.

 

Rather than whether she could act naturally, she was more worried about whether she could say what she needed to say without forgetting, and whether she could avoid making slip-ups she shouldn’t make.

 

‘I’ve been completely hopeless at memorization since I was young!’

 

Tick-tock, even the sound of the second hand heightened her anxiety. Renee, who was frantically flipping through the paper while reciting words under her breath, raised her head again to check the time.

 

Time passed like an arrow, and before she knew it, it was 11:50 AM. No sooner had the second hand just passed the number 12 and moved one space further than the sound of a bell rang outside the door.

 

“This is lead investigator Rupert Graven, Lady Sainer. May I enter?”

 

‘Seeing that he doesn’t open the door abruptly, this time it’s definitely the real Rupert Graven. That is, the real Rupert Graven.’

 

Recalling Rob, who had rushed in hurriedly this morning, a faint smile came over her despite her anxiety. Renee, who quickly folded the four sheets of paper spread across her thighs and hid them under her pillow, cleared her throat.

 

“Yes, you may enter.”

 

As soon as Renee’s answer ended, the door opened with the clanking sound of a key.

 

Rupert was standing with two tall men she had never seen before. As Renee stood up to greet Rupert, he gave a brief bow and spoke.

 

“It is time, so I will escort you to the interview room, Madam. These two gentlemen are staff from the security department, and they will be joining us during the interview process.”

 

The two men said to be security staff stood behind Rupert; both caught her attention with expressionless faces and rigid postures to the point of not feeling like living people.

 

“Yes. Understood.”

 

Answering in a calm voice, Renee naturally held out her hands. Taking out handcuffs and a ring of keys from his inner pocket, Rupert respectfully fastened the handcuffs onto Renee’s wrists.

 

“Then, let us go.”

 

Rupert gestured to the security staff. With them leading the way, Renee left the solitary cell.

 

The interview room was located in the annex of the main building, where the prison, interrogation rooms, and solitary cells for detaining suspects were gathered. The passage connecting the main building and the annex was narrow and long, and with only minimal lighting installed and no windows at all, it was dim like twilight despite it being noon.

 

Following quietly behind Rupert amid the solemn atmosphere, she soon arrived at the annex. On both sides of the small building where cool air drifted, dozens of interview rooms were lined up in sequence.

 

“It is here.”

 

Rupert, who stopped in front of Interview Room 4, said. Renee, who nodded, followed behind Rupert and stepped inside.

 

The interview room exhaled a somewhat desolate and gloomy atmosphere. In the center of the space—about three or four times larger than an interrogation room—was a long, rectangular wooden desk, with eight chairs placed in total, two on each side.

 

A minimal amount of light came through a small window on the wall. The wall clock hanging right next to it was worn out and faded like an antique.

 

“Madam, you may sit here.”

 

Rupert pointed to the chair farthest from the door. After seeing Renee sit down, he stood and conversed with the two deputy investigators.

 

Meanwhile, the two security staff members stopped right in front of the door; that seemed to be their designated spot. Whether intended or not, their motionless, upright posture and sharp gazes seemed to convey a message that if anyone attempted an escape, they wouldn’t stand by quietly.

 

Placing her handcuffed hands on the desk and staring at them blankly, Renee raised her head to check the wall clock.

 

11:55 AM. Exactly 5 minutes remained until noon, when the interview was scheduled.

 

Rupert and the two deputy investigators seemed to have finished the conversation they needed to have, as they were each seated. While a heavy atmosphere flowed with no one opening their mouth, only the sound of the clock’s second hand broke the silence.

 

Just then, footsteps approached outside the door. Following that, low voices conversing were heard, and all three people who had been seated at the desk—excluding Renee—sprang to their feet.

 

Almost simultaneously, a knock was heard.

 

“His Grace the Grand Duke has arrived.”

 

“I will open the door.”

 

Responding immediately to someone’s words outside the door, Rupert opened the door himself.

 

Renee raised her head and glanced through the crack of the opened door. Outside the door, Ricard and his executive secretary, Evan Hayden, were standing side by side.

 

The two entered the interview room together, receiving greetings from the security staff. Renee kept her eyes on Ricard without avoiding his gaze.

 

The one who subtly turned his head away the moment their eyes met was actually Ricard. Sitting opposite Renee with his back to the door, he began to engage in light conversation with Rupert.

 

Having just finished talking about the recent status of a certain infamous thief who had recently been locked up in prison, Ricard, who moved on to a new topic, did not give so much as a glance to Renee throughout the conversation.

 

It was not as if he had originally been a husband who exchanged affectionate gazes, but currently, he was blocking his vision excessively, as if he would turn to stone the moment their eyes met.

 

She felt as if she had been reduced to an invisible person. In the midst of this, a feeling of hurt tried to rear its head unexpectedly.

 

‘No. Ricard and I are meeting as victim and suspect right now, so if he showed me a gaze filled with affection or familiarity, that would be even stranger.’

 

Quickly soothing her heart, just as Renee was about to take her attention off Ricard and review the words she had to say shortly: ‘Huh?’

 

What suddenly came into Renee’s field of vision were Ricard’s ears. The tips of his ears, burning like bread dough forgotten inside an oven.

 

‘What’s this? Somehow, it’s a familiar scene…’

 

As Renee pondered deeply, an enlightenment flashed through her mind.

 

‘That’s right!’

 

It was a few days after her first meeting with Ricard—about four months ago, when she was confined for the crime of trying to escape the castle.

 

That moment when she urgently grabbed the wrist of Ricard, who turned away coldly after questioning her for attempting to flee in the dead of night. Back then, Ricard’s ears had flushed bright red just like now.

 

At the time, she thought it was because he was furious that she dared to lay a hand on his body. But for some reason, in Renee’s eyes now, he looked like a man too embarrassed to meet the eyes of the woman he loved.

 

And that was a very strange thing. Though she now realized and knew that Ricard cherished her at least as a wife and was doing his best in his role as a husband, back then, there was no way he could have felt that way.

 

‘Right. There’s no way Ricard, who had just returned from the battlefield and met me for the first time, felt affection for me. Back then, his ears were red simply because he was angry.’

 

Easily wrapping up her thoughts, Renee nodded her head all by herself.

 

Right on time, the brief conversation between Ricard and Rupert came to an end. Rupert looked at the seated people one by one before opening his mouth.

 

“I am Lady Sainer’s lead investigator, Rupert Graven. These are deputy investigators Ben Foster and Lydon Kane.”

 

When he paused briefly, Ben and Lydon stood up from their seats and formally greeted Ricard. After waiting a moment, Rupert continued speaking.

 

“Lastly, those two gentlemen over there are staff from the security department. The two deputy investigators will be recording the contents of today’s conversation without missing anything, and the security staff will take appropriate measures in the event of an unforeseen situation.”

 

Just as Rupert explained, thick notebooks and pens were indeed placed on Ben and Lydon’s desks.

 

“Since time is limited, we will conclude the introductions briefly here and begin the interview.”

 

At Rupert’s words finally announcing the start, Renee took a deep breath and tried to maintain her composure. It was then.

 

“Wait.”

 

The one who stepped forward to halt the situation was Ricard. Everyone else’s eyes gathered upon him.

 

It was a baffling moment.

 

Because something like ‘Wait’ was a line that wasn’t in the script Ricard had written in advance.

 

Unable to hide her anxiety, Renee rolled her eyes. The rest of the people, excluding Ricard, were equally unable to grasp the situation.

 

It was then.

 

BANG!

 

Ricard slammed his hand down on the desk as if to break it.

 

At the unannounced loud sound, everyone present flinched in shock. Even Rupert, who was like a stone statue, twitched his shoulders.

 

Meanwhile, Renee, who almost let out a scream, barely managed to cover her mouth.

 

‘Why is he suddenly acting like that?’

 

She looked at Ricard with nervously trembling eyes, but he didn’t even glance at her.

 

What Ricard was staring at intently was Rupert, Ben, and Lydon.

 

“Grand Duke. Is there perhaps a problem?”

 

“What, a problem?”

 

As soon as Rupert’s question finished, Ricard asked back, exhaling a terrifying atmosphere. At the sudden situation, the three investigators as well as the security staff standing guard at the doorway busily exchanged glances.

 

“Now that I’ve been watching, you are stepping way over the line.”

 

“…Grand Duke.”

 

“Rupert Graven.”

 

“Please speak!”

 

The moment Ricard called his full name, Rupert sprang up and bowed his head so low it looked as if he would slam his forehead against the desk.

 

The two deputy investigators quickly scrambled to their feet as well, taking the hint.

 

“My order to treat my wife like any other suspect meant you shouldn’t grant her unnecessary favors, not that you could cast aside even the most basic courtesy.”

 

Ricard was displaying a level of fury never seen before. He looked ready to sever the heads of everyone in the interview room then and there.

 

“Who allowed you to refrain from identifying your affiliation and name to my wife?”

 

Only then did Renee realize the reason behind his anger.

 

It was because Rupert had introduced himself and the two deputy investigators only to Ricard, entirely ignoring Renee.

 

Under normal circumstances, everyone working in this castle was obligated to declare their identity and status to Ricard, who held the highest authority, and immediately after, to her.

 

However, given her current standing as a suspect—compounded by Ricard’s previous command to withhold special treatment—Rupert had naturally omitted the greeting.

 

At Ricard’s chilling rebuke, Rupert snapped back to his senses with a look of realization. Moving behind his chair, he prostrated himself flat on the floor.

 

“Spare my life, Your Grace! It was my grave oversight.”

 

The two deputy investigators hurriedly threw themselves down, bowing their heads as well.

 

Gazing down at the three investigators with a disgusted expression, Ricard slowly turned his head. His eyes landed on the interview room door—more specifically, on the two security staff members who stood frozen, gauging the situation.

 

“Are you two unable to read the room?”

 

Ricard sneered like a tyrant beyond mere strictness. At his words, the two security officers also frantically bowed, pressing their foreheads to the floor.

 

“Please spare us, Your Grace!”

 

Everyone trembled, begging for their lives in unison.

 

Faced with this unfamiliar sight, Renee flusteredly checked Ricard’s reaction.

 

‘Wait. Come to think of it, wasn’t this Ricard’s original personality in the novel?’

 

Looking at him, looking as though he might draw the sword at his hip at any second, she realized once more: she wasn’t the only one who had strayed from the setting of the original work in speech and action.

 

“With you all bowing like that, the tops of your heads look like targets.”

 

“Gasp!”

 

At his truly terrifying words, a gasp escaped Renee’s lips.

 

“Everyone, get up. I assume you’ve understood, so let us proceed with the interview without wasting more time.”

 

As soon as Ricard’s order fell, everyone returned to their positions like lightning.

 

The interview began in an icy atmosphere.

 

“Madam. What was your reason for wanting to meet with me?”

 

And hearing Ricard’s polite address—meant purely for show—for the first time in a long while, Renee finally understood why he had created such a terrifying atmosphere.

 

“It is, of course, to clear my name. Regarding my suspicious whereabouts on the day of the incident, by the hour—”

 

Even when she froze shortly after starting, having forgotten her lines, none of the three investigators dared to cast a suspicious glance her way.

 

Ben and Lydon, the deputy investigators who had yet to shed their novice traits, were still trembling, while even Rupert, a seasoned veteran, was thoroughly terrified compared to his usual self.

 

Lydon was even breaking out in a cold sweat, his trembling hand clutching his pen, unable to even lift his gaze.

 

Thanks to the time bought for her, Renee was able to recall her forgotten lines.

 

“I will explain my suspicious actions on the day of the incident timeline by timeline. By doing so, I wish to persuade Lord Sainer and the three investigators here to clear me of suspicion.”

 

“I shall hear you out for now,” Ricard replied nonchalantly.

 

“First, I will explain the reason I visited the wine cellar.”

 

“Yes. That was the decisive reason you came under suspicion for attempting to murder me—visiting the wine cellar on that specific day when you had never set foot there before. Furthermore, a suspicious recess was carved into the wall behind the barrel, as if you had carved it yourself to hide a glass bottle containing poison. Lastly, a suspicious empty bottle was found in the inner pocket of your dress after you collapsed.”

 

Ricard recited his lines fluently without a hitch.

 

He was indeed a man born with a brilliant mind. She could not help but feel impressed amidst the tension.

 

“I fully understand what you mean, Lord Sainer. And my answers to those three questions can be explained within a single context.”

 

“Explain in more detail.”

 

“Well…”

 

Renee rolled her eyes, her lips faltering.

 

The words Ricard had written down surfaced sporadically in her mind without context, tangling together.

 

“Well?” Ricard prompted back in a carefully calm tone. His eyes seemed to lend her strength, as if saying, “Focus. You can remember it,” but her blank mind could not find its bearing at all.

 

‘As I thought, memorizing that vast amount of content in such a short time was impossible.’

 

Renee lowered her head, her face turning red with embarrassment. The scratching sound of the pens had long stopped when her speech faltered.

 

A wave of frustration washed over her. Was this opportunity, secured even by borrowing Rob’s magic, going to be thrown away so fruitlessly?

 

‘No. I can’t give up without even opening my mouth.’

 

Asking and answering herself silently, Renee snapped her head up.

 

Hiding his pity and desperate expression as best as he could, Ricard was staring at her.

 

Renee applied intense focus, starting to piece together the words floating around in her head.

 

Meanwhile, Ricard was offering silent encouragement while facing his wife, who was anxiously biting her lip. No, it was closer to a plea than encouragement.

 

“Please, Reneezmia. Use that small head of yours for once. Recall it. Think!”

 

Yet, as if unaware of his desperate heart, Renee lowered her head with a pale complexion.

 

Watching her, a wave of inevitable defeat washed over him.

 

As expected, no matter how much he and Rob had struggled together, time had simply been too short compared to how the situation had unfolded.

 

Just then, Renee, who had been slumping weakly, raised her face abruptly.

 

What dwelt in her beautiful green eyes was clear madness.

 

“In truth, I knew beforehand that the culprits of this incident were Lord Galael Haksen, an official of Sainer Castle, and the servant Hoffman.”

 

“…?”

 

A question mark floated over Ricard’s face.

 

The moment she confirmed his expression, Renee realized: ‘I screwed up.’

 

The names of Galael Haksen and Hoffman floating in her head—only after assembling the words and blurting them out did she faintly remember.

 

On the paper Ricard had handed her, it had definitely been written like this:

 

[ Reneezmia: In truth, I knew beforehand that Hoffman, a servant of Sainer Castle, was plotting something with someone. Please understand that I cannot reveal the informant’s identity to protect them. (Caution: Do NOT mention Galael Haksen’s name during today’s interview under any circumstances) ]

 

To only remember the warning ‘do not mention’ now—what kind of cruel joke was this!

 

Though she closed her mouth belatedly, she could not take back the words she had already uttered.

 

“I am terribly sorry, Madam, but I would like to confirm if I heard correctly.”

 

Ben, who was recording Renee’s words, raised his hand and asked. Lydon had a similarly incredulous expression, doubting his own ears.

 

“Did you say Lord Galael Haksen and Hoffman?” Ben asked cautiously.

 

Renee shifted her eyes, quickly gauging Ricard’s reaction.

 

And the moment her eyes met his, she had no choice but to avert her gaze hastily.

 

Ricard was glaring at her with a burning expression, looking as if he were about to grab her by the shoulders and shake her violently at any second.

 

‘How was I supposed to memorize four pages of text in an hour?!’

 

Renee protested silently, clenching her fists tight. Beyond feeling wronged, she was on the verge of tears.

 

Not only was the content Ricard had given her vast, but there were also countless explanations regarding words that must not be mentioned and words that had to be mentioned.

 

‘How am I supposed to remember everything about what to say and what not to say? Especially in such a terrifying atmosphere!’

 

“Excuse me, Madam?”

 

Ben called out to Renee once more while checking Ricard’s reaction, wanting to confirm if he had correctly heard the name Galael Haksen.

 

For a moment, Renee conflicted over whether she should say her slip of the tongue was a mistake, or that Ben had misheard, but looking at Rupert’s expression, she realized that wasn’t the answer.

 

Rupert had clearly heard Galael Haksen’s name, so denying it now would only fuel his suspicion.

 

“Yes. I did say Lord Galael Haksen’s name.”

 

In the end, Renee admitted her previous statement.

 

Ben and Lydon busily moved their pens. Though they and Rupert all kept composure on their faces, Renee could easily sense it: The air inside the interview room had subtly changed.

 

Galael Haksen was a figure with a significant presence among the officials of Sainer Castle. Not only was he connected to the Imperial Family, but he also possessed strong self-interest, often instigating matters big and small, causing his name to be frequently brought up both inside and outside the castle.

 

And judging by the current atmosphere, it seemed highly probable that many of the investigative department staff knew him as well. Perhaps at least one among the three investigators and the two security officers held loyalty to Galael Haksen behind Ricard’s back.

 

‘If so, today’s conversation will reach his ears intact.’

 

It was right when Renee fell into despair, unable to continue her words.

 

“Continue.”

 

Surprised by Ricard’s unexpected comment, Renee merely blinked blankly.

 

In a situation where it wouldn’t be enough for him to yell at her to shut her mouth and end today’s interview right here, he was telling her to continue.

 

Unable to read her husband’s true intentions, she helplessly stared at his face.

 

Then, she suddenly felt that his deep, quiet gaze was telling her that it was okay.

 

And as if agreeing with her thoughts, Ricard even gave her a nod.

 

‘Right. When I said I would start a business, and even when I hid secrets several times—he trusted me.’

 

Seeing his eyes—devoid of anger toward her and filled with a shred of trust—an unknown courage surged within her.

 

Come to think of it, from the moment her escape failed until now, hardly anything had gone according to her plans. Each time, she had navigated twists and turns, resolving crises like a miracle.

 

‘If I can’t remember it anyway, I’ll just improvise. If I say something inconsistent or make a slip of the tongue, Ricard will help me.’

 

With firm resolve, Renee took a deep breath and opened her mouth.

 

“As Lord Sainer might be somewhat aware, I possess an ability that others do not.”

 

“Ahem, ahem!”

 

At Renee’s bombshell statement, Ricard cleared his throat hastily.

 

“It is a fact fairly well known among the customers who visit the cafe. I can discover the secrets that others hide.”

 

“W-Wait, Madam.”

 

Ricard stepped in to stop her, even stuttering.

 

The moment his wife accidentally let out Galael’s name, he had quickly grasped the situation and judged that trusting his wife was better than forcibly ending the interview here.

 

However, her blabbing about that darn ability was not in Ricard’s calculations.

 

Three investigators and two security officers—a bombshell confession delivered right to them.

 

The risk was far too great.

 

Yet, Renee seemed to have no intention of stopping, adding in a confident tone: “I know it will be hard to believe. Therefore, Lord Graven, may I first talk about ‘that incident’ when you decided to become an investigator?”

 

 

***

 

 

The interview, which dragged on well past the scheduled time through the night, finally ended around 4 AM the next morning.

 

To the three investigators standing with dazed expressions, Ricard spoke.

 

“It seems my wife has spent too much time in the solitary cell. What do you think?”

 

Looking at Ricard, who seemed to be asking for an opinion but had clearly predetermined the answer, Rupert hastily replied.

 

“You are entirely correct, Your Grace. Furthermore, as the lead investigator watching today’s interview, I find it extremely difficult to press murder charges on the Madam any longer… That is, while sending her out of the solitary cell before trial is unprecedented, I simply…”

 

Rupert babbled incoherently, unlike his usual self. When he could no longer continue, Ben, looking just as bewildered, stepped in instead.

 

“We will take measures so that the Madam may reside in her inner chambers rather than the solitary cell until the trial two weeks from now.”

 

As soon as Ben finished speaking, Rupert nodded vigorously.

 

“Yes. That is precisely what I was going to say.”

 

Ricard, who was about to smile with satisfaction, quickly erased his smile and assumed a businesslike expression.

 

“Please pay special attention so that no procedural issues arise. For instance, our kingdom has a law stating that if a suspect whose charges are not yet confirmed suffers from a severe illness, they may recover their health in a living space rather than a solitary cell.”

 

The moment Ricard dropped the hint, Rupert nodded fiercely as if he understood.

 

“Of course, Your Grace. I have memorized the laws of the Hebaron Kingdom without missing a single syllable.”

 

At Rupert’s answer, Ricard nodded with a satisfied face.

 

“It seems the remaining schedules have been delayed, so good work.”

 

Offering a brief farewell, Ricard turned his back to the interview room. Then, he threw a glance at Renee, asking what she was doing instead of quickly following him.

 

“Ah, yes. I am coming, Grand Duke… No, Lord Sainer.”

 

Acting like an affectionate couple instead of using a rigid title like addressing a superior since there were watching eyes, Renee was about to step forward before pausing.

 

“Um, Lord Graven.”

 

“Ahem, hmph. Yes. Please speak, Lady Sainer.”

 

Rupert, who seemed flustered as if he hadn’t pulled his mind together yet, cleared his voice and answered the moment his name was called.

 

“Thank you for listening closely to my story, which must have been hard to believe. The same goes for Lord Foster and Lord Kane. And…”

 

Pausing briefly, Renee put on a cool expression on purpose.

 

“I hope everything we discussed today remains our secret. If rumors spread inside and outside the castle that Lord Haksen’s name came up during the interview and things blow up, I worry that the three of you might be endangered as well.”

 

Trailing off her words and lowering her gaze slightly, Renee secretly gauged the expressions of Rupert, Ben, and Lydon. And just as she intended, all three wore fear-stricken faces.

 

“We understand well, Madam. Please do not worry.”

 

Rupert answered in a tone so firm it felt resolute. Renee bowed her head in greeting instead of answering, then turned around.

 

Quickening her steps to stand side by side with Ricard, who was far ahead, she heard a quiet chuckle from him.

 

As they began walking in step, Ricard whispered in a low voice: “Who did you learn to threaten people so nonchalantly from?”

 

“From whom do you think?”

 

When Renee offered a vague answer, Ricard let out another light laugh as if he knew without being told.

 

“I have a mountain of things to ask you, and there are always many listening ears in this castle, so let us go to your bedroom for now.”

 

Entering the passage leading to the main building, Renee almost cheered in emotion the moment she heard Ricard’s words to ‘go to your bedroom.’

 

It had been a week since she was confined to the cold and cramped solitary cell. How long had it been since she last heard the word ‘bedroom’? Just hearing it made her feel as though she were lying on a soft bed, buried under a fragrant blanket.

 

Exiting the main building, it was a pitch-black dawn outside. Climbing into Ricard’s carriage together, Renee fell asleep almost at the same time she heard the coachman’s whip crack.

 

And was it a dream?

 

Somehow, it felt as though Ricard’s scent repeatedly drew near and receded several times.

 

 

***

 

 

It might be more accurate to say she had passed out rather than fallen asleep.

 

To explain this situation where she opened her eyes to find herself lying on the bed without any memory of getting off the carriage, that was.

 

It must have been because her tension had dissipated. Only after savoring the soft texture of the blanket in a dazed state for a while did Renee realize she was wearing white silk pajamas instead of the ash-gray dress assigned to suspects.

 

‘What’s this? I don’t remember changing myself. Did Tatisha or Bonnie drop by while I was asleep?’

 

She tried to trace her memories, but from the moment she boarded the carriage, everything afterward was a blank, as if cleanly cut off.

 

‘I don’t know. Is that what’s important right now? I just managed to overcome a crisis where I was about to end up in prison after staying in a solitary cell all this time.’

 

Renee, who had been lying on her side facing the wall, was about to close her eyes again when she was suddenly overcome by an unfamiliar sensation.

 

This was her very familiar bedroom. However, the feeling of the bed was somehow…

 

‘No way.’

 

Trying to deny the ominous foreboding, Renee slowly moved her body. And the moment she turned around to lay on her back:

 

Her hunch became reality.

 

“…!”

 

Ricard was lying in the same bed. What’s more, in a posture lying on his side, facing her directly.

 

Lying on his side with both eyes closed, he was fast asleep without even making a loud breathing sound.

 

“Grand Duke…”

 

Renee, who was about to call Ricard, hurriedly shut her lips. Because she felt that if she woke him now, she might face a situation that would be difficult to handle, to say the least.

 

Therefore, it would be better to step outside now while he was asleep. The inner chambers were a massive building with dozens of spare rooms at a minimum, so sleeping in any of them for today would suffice.

 

Swallowing her saliva, Renee adjusted her movements to stand up quietly.

 

And the moment she carefully tried to pull down the blanket, for some reason, she couldn’t take her eyes off the sleeping face of Ricard.

 

‘Is this the second time I’ve seen his sleeping face?’

 

Excluding the times he took short naps inside the carriage, she had seen it twice—when they were trapped in the Forest of Hallucinations, and right now.

 

With his eyes closed in an harmless expression, his refined features seemed even clearer. His handsome face was vivid in the dark room illuminated only by the faint dawn moonlight.

 

Though she had thought it a few times before, sleeping Ricard truly looked like a child. An odd feeling washed over her.

 

Ultimately giving up her plan to sneak out of the room, Renee carefully laid her body back down. As if even this subtle movement nudged Ricard’s nerves, he slightly knitted his closed eyes.

 

Reaching out her hand without realizing it, Renee grabbed the blanket around Ricard’s waist. Then, she carefully pulled it up to cover his shoulders.

 

It was then. Reaching out his hand without making a sound, Ricard—whom she had thought was asleep—grabbed Renee’s wrist.

 

Startled, Renee could not even make a sound, merely blinking her large eyes like a deer chased by a natural predator.

 

‘What? Wasn’t he asleep?’

 

She stared blankly at Ricard’s face, feeling her heart pounding as if it would explode, but he remained motionless.

 

‘Does he sleepwalk or something?’

 

Right around the time an absurd curiosity arose in her mind, he slowly lifted his eyelids.

 

His soft amber pupils shone hazily. Seeing his eyes full of sleep, he seemed to have just woken up, but seeing how he lacked the disheveled expression typical of someone who had just woken from sleep, he also seemed as though he had never fallen asleep at all.

 

And Ricard did not open his mouth. He simply sent a gaze as scorching as the ground sizzling under the scorching summer sun.

 

A precarious tension seized her entire body. The grip of Ricard’s hand holding her wrist felt firmer than the handcuffs that had bound her over the past few days.

 

Renee twisted her hand to pull her wrist free. However, as if that movement stimulated Ricard even further, his hand strength only grew stronger.

 

“Since when were you awake?”

 

In the end, Renee, who gave up on pulling her hand out, asked cautiously.

 

“When you confessed that you liked me, you were so bold, and now?”

 

The answer from Ricard was entirely unrelated to the question. At the same time, it was something more than enough to fluster Renee.

 

Why was he bringing up the words she had impulsively uttered in his office yesterday morning again in this dark bedroom?

 

“What’s so grand about covering your husband with a blanket that you have to tremble so much?”

 

Ricard continued in a low, sunken voice. It was a teasing line as usual, but no trace of a smile could be found on his face.

 

He didn’t have a mischievous expression or a slick demeanor either. Instead, he radiated a languid and subtle atmosphere.

 

Perhaps it was the subtle sensuality that the bedroom as a space provided. Even the skin of her wrist, held tightly by Ricard, had become intensely sensitive.

 

“Your hands just can’t stay still.”

 

“That’s because you suddenly, Grand Duke…!”

 

“Are you going to use polite formality with me again?”

 

Ricard asked in light scolding.

 

Only after hearing his words did Renee realize that she had been using a rigid title with him again without realizing it.

 

“…Because Lord Sainer suddenly grabbed my wrist.”

 

Hearing the title that was instantly corrected, Ricard smiled faintly in satisfaction and parted his lips.

 

“There’s no need to be embarrassed over just this. After all, I’ve already seen you completely naked.”

 

“A-Ah, you saw me completely naked?!”