“When the investigation is over, I was planning to tell you, but since your cat has ruined everything, I’ll tell you now. The child that woman was carrying wasn’t Merial Crayton.”

“…”

“Although the age might roughly match, the child witnessed together wasn’t a girl, but a boy.”

“…”
The names and genders of the characters have been translated accurately and consistently.

“Perhaps stop hoping that it’s just a disguise. Judging by the resemblance between the woman and the child, they must have been siblings, as I mentioned.”

Duke Pieren, who unexpectedly spoke in a quick tone, fixed a stern gaze on me.

His icy gaze had no intention of leaving any trace of hope.

After several times of biting my unyielding lips, I finally managed to open my mouth.

“……Really? It wasn’t her?”

“No, it wasn’t. Really.”

“…”

“If you knew, don’t act like a fool. It’s not like this kind of news will come running to you every time.”

There was nothing to say in response to the gaze mixed with criticism.

It was true. I was doing something foolish now.

“You said you wanted revenge. Was it just empty words?”

It could have sounded like mockery, but Duke Pieren carefully maintained that line. Rather than being dry and unpleasant, his expression and voice served to awaken a sense of reality.

Therefore, I couldn’t refute or appeal to emotions.

Like sediment settling at the bottom, I clasped my hands together, staring at the dark eyes.

I know. I really know. I understand perfectly in my mind, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

“…I didn’t see it with my own eyes.”

“You don’t trust me, do you?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Then?”

“That’s…”

Like wax-coated sheep, my lips wouldn’t move. I had no confidence in persuading logically.

But I didn’t want to go back like this.

I still held onto a futile hope.

“…Please.”

“Will that be enough to pass over with such words?”

“Karl.”

Calling the nickname I hadn’t used for a very long time felt awkward now, and my mouth felt dry. Nevertheless, I forced my tongue to utter that name from a long time ago once again.

To ensure he could never hear.

“Or should I call you Calyx?”

“……Seems foolish.”

Who would say such things? Silently countering in my mind, I smiled outwardly.

The eyes that seemed indifferent every moment didn’t look that way at this moment. It wasn’t exactly welcoming, but now was not the time to conceal such things.

Use whatever is available. That’s all.

“I’ll do as you wish.”

“…”

Originally, it wasn’t that complicated.

The man in front of me desires me. As a woman. So, isn’t it easy?

I reached out my hand as if proclaiming.

I didn’t want to go back like this.

But that didn’t mean I could just leave recklessly.

Cheshire’s words were lost during the fight, and what little I had left was taken away due to injuries. I needed an ally who could help me overcome the fleeing slaves and the pursuing Crayton soldiers, and the person meeting those conditions was right in front of me.

“Can you even do something like this?”

“There’s nothing I can’t do.”

My heart raced as fast as the quick answer. I spoke confidently, but honestly, I wasn’t sure.
The names and genders of the characters have been translated accurately and consistently.

It wasn’t an ideal moment or setting for seduction now. Although I didn’t look in the mirror, the commotion from earlier was likely evident on my face.

Above all, I wasn’t accustomed to such situations. I didn’t know how to make plausible remarks or possess any remarkable skills to captivate a man as if there was something there.

“Do you dislike it?”

Even so, I grabbed Duke Pieren’s sleeve. I didn’t exert much force, yet he easily followed my touch.

That confirmed my conviction.

He hesitated. The man desires me.

Summoning more courage, I extended my remaining hand. The hand that had risen from the sleeve now grasped the man’s lapel, but my courage didn’t stop there. I applied a bit more force to my hand, intending to pull the man closer.

“Really, you seem like a fool.”

“Do I?”

Warm air brushed against my skin as the face drew closer.

It was someone else’s breath.

As I realized this, my entire body stiffened. Fortunately, I hadn’t let go of the hand that held the lapel, but I felt sweat forming in my clenched palm. It was an uncomfortable sensation, much like wearing ill-fitting clothes.

However, this discomfort made me anxious. The longer I stalled, the more it would be evident that I was inept.

I raised my head, feigning nonchalance. Thankfully, I knew how to smile unaffectedly in any situation.

“I won’t go back.”

It was more of an imperative than a request. However, there was no particular objection.

With a smile on my lips, I pressed my body even closer. The contact made the skin on fire. I had forgotten, but unlike me, who felt cold, the man had a higher body temperature than an average person.

Even though I tried not to be conscious of it, once something was realized, it didn’t easily leave my mind. Instead of leaving, it brought back old memories.

For the past me, the temperature difference was a convenient excuse. I always pretended my hands were cold, extending them first, and he, weaker than others, held my hands without a word. It was the first temptation in my young heart, wanting to appear as a girl rather than a younger brother.

I released the grip on the lapel. The neatly arranged man’s lapel was now crumpled.

I observed that sight silently and slowly lifted my head.

“Will you hold my hand?”

“…”

“Karl.”

It’s different from the time when he knew nothing. But I smiled as I did back then.

Hoping that he would recall that time as I did.

It was then. In an instant, the perspective reversed.

I stared blankly above.

Somehow, the man was now on top of me.