“Here.”
For a moment, Irene’s eyes sparkled as she received the book from Carlos. She hugged it as if it were a precious treasure.
“You seem to like books.”
“I love them.”
For Irene, who had spent her life confined to the house, books and newspapers were the only connection and friends she had with the outside world.
All the knowledge that Irene knew was acquired by reading books or newspapers.
That’s why she loved them, but to Carlos’s eyes, it seemed strange. Most people would shudder just by looking at etiquette textbooks, but to love them this much was unusual.
“Shall I let you read other books?”
She was so happy just to receive an etiquette textbook; how happy would she be if she was given other books?
Curiosity struck Carlos, and Irene’s face instantly brightened. A bright smile hung on her lips.
“Yes! Please let me read!”
“……”
On the other hand, Carlos’s face stiffened.
“Why… are you doing that?”
Did I do something wrong? A frightened Irene cautiously asked, and Carlos exhaled a faint sigh and covered his eye sockets with his hand.
He turned around and left the restaurant without saying he would leave.
[Star Icon]Almost fleeing from the restaurant, Carlos wandered aimlessly without a destination in mind.
His head was filled with images of Irene’s smiling face.
It was his first time seeing Irene smile so brightly.
She always wore an expression of fear or a faint smile that seemed about to collapse, but he didn’t know she could smile like that.
Well, she’s a human, so it’s natural…
“She was pretty.”
Unknowingly, he blurted out his true feelings, and Carlos frowned, stopping abruptly.
“Are you alright, Master?”
Duus asked, also stopping, having quietly followed behind.
“……”
Carlos turned around with a scowl, and Duus bowed deeply, apologizing.
“I asked an outofline question. Please forgive me.”
He was annoyed by his loyal subordinate’s behavior. Carlos touched his throbbing temple and moved his halted foot again.
He headed for his office. Sitting in his chair, he asked Duus, who followed him in.
“So what’s the matter?”
He had ordered a servant to bring a book, but Duus coming with it meant there was something he had to report.
Duus stood straight in front of the desk and reported.
“There is strange content written in the newspaper published by the temple.”
As soon as he heard the word “temple,” Carlos’s eyebrows creased.
Like most residents of the underground world, Carlos also did not like the temple.
The temple had historically treated all underground residents as demons, claiming that they had to be killed, and that was why.
Even now, acknowledging the mistake and formally apologizing could have untangled the twisted relationship a little, but sadly the temple did not.
Rather, it incited the people with a witchhunt, further persecuting the underground world residents.
Because of this, the underground world and the human world almost severed their relationship, and now there were many more humans who didn’t know the existence of the underground world.
In any case, the situation was such that one couldn’t feel good about it even if they wanted to.
Strangely, there was a weird content in the newspaper published by the temple side.
It was clear that it was related to me, considering what Duser had reported.
“Bring the newspaper.”
Duser immediately handed over the newspaper. Whether she had only brought the part where the article in question was written, it could be found right away.
[The loser of the North, enthralled by the witch.]“It’s insane.”
A chuckle escaped as soon as the headline was seen. The content of the article was obvious, so it wasn’t read. Neither did one want to put those filthy letters in their eyes.
“Which temple has published this newspaper?”
“It is the Monserra Temple in Kaman territory.”
Kaman territory was a small town near the territory of Silas.
The surrounding territories, including Silas’s, contacted Monserra Temple when they needed the temple’s help.
In other words, it means that the Baron of Silas also contacted that temple.
Because a flame managed by the temple would have been needed to burn Irene as a witch.
Therefore, Carlos could understand that Monserra Temple knew of Irene’s existence.
What was not understood was…
“How do they know that I took her?”
Unless he was insane, the Baron of Silas would not have told the temple first.
Moreover, according to Duser’s report, the Baron of Silas died from a fire at the mansion even before meeting the priest sent by the temple.
He had received a report that the priest who arrived late saw the carnage, was shocked, and conducted the funeral.
How could the temple side know about this?
The answer to the question came easily. Someone must have denounced it to the temple.
“Find out meticulously who denounced this to the temple side.”
“Yes.”
After Duser left, Carlos read the newspaper article. He checked in case there were clues about the denouncer, but it was a wasted effort.
“What a waste of my eyes.”
Carlos crumpled the newspaper into a ball and threw it in the trash can, leaning back in his chair. He put his feet on the desk and tilted his head back.
The reason the temple side had put out this article was clear.
To use this as an excuse to exert the temple’s influence on the Esper territory and family.
“They think I will just let them do as they please.”
The purple eyes flashed ominously.
He intended to make them pay heavily for daring to climb a tree they couldn’t climb.
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
