“This is…”
Luke picked up the rectangular object that Aria had presented.
“A recording device.”
His expression had changed imperceptibly.
Any physical evidence was not as conclusive as a confession. However, confessions obtained under torture were frowned upon in modern times. Torture was not only barbaric, but many resorted to false confessions to avoid it, making it difficult for investigators to discern the truth.
However, with a recording device, the situation was different. While the possibility of manipulation couldn’t be ruled out, the current situation was already fraught with suspicion.
Depending on the contents within, a judgment could be made.
“Could it be an item from the past?”
No, this recording device was a recent model that had come out not long ago. It meant that the conversation they just had in the reception room might have been recorded.
“…”
Without hesitation, he pressed the play button.
=Actually, we don’t need a car, right?
=…Huh? What do you mean?
=You didn’t come here to have a leisurely drink, did you?
As the recording played, Aria and Oliver’s conversation began to unfold. There were some crackling noises, but there was no problem understanding the speakers or the content.
=It’s a pity. You must be curious about what happened to Bonita by now…
=…What are you talking about?
=Bonita collapsing, wasn’t that something Master orchestrated?
Luke paused at that statement. It was a much more direct question than he had anticipated. If he were to affirm it here…
=Me? I have no idea what you’re talking about.
Oliver denied it.
Similar conversations followed. Aria pressed for answers, and Oliver evaded.
Why was she letting Luke hear this?
As he wondered about this, a moment came.
=What are you doing now…
=Excuse me for a moment.
With a rustling sound, Aria let out a shallow scream.
Even with just the recorded sounds, he could imagine the situation she was in. Luke’s grip on the device naturally tightened.
=What…!
=Quite a cute trick you’ve got there.
And the added remark.
=I have something more interesting…
=What in the world…
=If you were someone who would fall for such a shallow trick, you would have been caught in all these years. It’s a pity.
Luke opened his eyes wide.
=But there’s something more curious…
=What is the meaning of a person who suddenly appears in the Duke’s residence after seven years?
=It was meant to surprise me. I never once imagined that you would spare the Duchess’s life, and not only that, but raise the child.
It was practically a confession.
With just a few words, he could easily guess what had happened seven years ago.
Above all, the content was too shocking, and Luke involuntarily took a breath.
“…Did he really go so far as to kill?”
In fact, this had been the lingering question.
If Oliver had tried to eliminate Bonita for the sake of the succession competition, killing would have been more efficient than switching and sending the child away.
Thinking that Oliver might not be the culprit, he considered the possibility of a third party intending to use Bonita as a hostage to make demands.
“You… You did something to Bonita…”
“It’s better not to say more than this.”
“You think I can’t do it?”
“Of course not. …But you can say if you want.”
Luke had to resist the urge to smash the damn recorder right away.
“That should be enough.”
Hearing only this much was sufficient evidence. Just listening to the vile voice of his brother, different from usual, was horrifying in itself.
But as he was about to turn off the switch, another shocking truth was revealed.
“The spell cast on you is a work of mine. It won’t be easily unraveled.”
“A spell?”
In modern magic, the term ‘spell’ was rarely used. Originally, magic and spells were entirely different concepts. The former referred to the use of ‘mana’ existing inside the body to exert physical force in the real world, while the latter referred to sacrificing something like a victim, one’s own soul, or lifespan in exchange for causing harm or imposing constraints on others.
And spells were mainly… the jargon of dark wizards.
Unlike common elemental magic, which focused on physical attacks, dark magic aimed at mental domination.
“You’re still as stupid as ever, Aria Hilton.”
“Did the duchess suddenly become pitiable? After raising the child alone for so long.”
“It’s about time. It’s better to end the conversation here.”
That was the end.
The conversation between Edward and Oliver that followed, the recorder soon stopped playing.
Luke splashed cold water on his face.
“So that’s how it is.”
He murmured.
“So, you couldn’t tell me before. Is that right, Hilton?”
Aria nodded.
For a long time, Luke wiped his face with a confused expression. Then he asked.
“But what’s the meaning of the person who revealed this to me? With this, I could punish Oliver, but if I listen to his words, you won’t be able to escape punishment either… What if I take this to court and request your punishment?”
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
