Translated: reireiss, MTLs-nim 

Edited: reireiss, Grammarly ssi 

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Chapter 23

"Let's all go to the living room. Are you okay with that, Duke?"

Claude summoned the servants, Alexander, and me. As the people of the large Manor gathered, the living room felt as cramped as if it was about to explode. I sat on the sofa and took a sip of the whiskey that Alexander had brought me.

"Well, first...... I'll start with you, Duke. Where were you and what were you doing last night, around 1 am?"

Claude who opened his notebook looked at Alexander.

Alexander who looked uncomfortable to be questioned, sighed while placing the hand supporting his chin on the armrest of the sofa.

"Isn't it late? I was sleeping."

"Are you alone?"

At Claude's question, Alexander's gaze fell on me. Finally, I deliberately put my drink down hard, but it was useless.

"No. I'm with my sister."

"......Is it true?"

This time Claude looked at me. At the same time, it wasn't easy for me to ignore the gazes streaming my way. The servants didn't say anything, but they exchanged glances.

'See. Like I said.'

'No, really?'

Sounds like an odd conversation. I pulled the corner of my lower lip with force.

"That's right."

"Very well. Then Miss Ophelia will pass, but what about the butler?"

"I... I stayed up late and took care of the servants cleaning the pavilion."

"Do you remember the names of the servants?"

"Of course. Brandon, Chris, and Daniel. Oh, I almost forgot, I called Henry too. I thought I'd need more hands later, so I called Henry."

"Do you know what time it is?"

"Actually, my pocket watch is broken......"

"So the exact time is unknown, huh."

"Ah, but I didn't hurt Henrietta."

The Butler started to sweat profusely. Don't you know? It would be even more suspicious if you behaved like that. I looked at the head maid Claude pointed at next.

"M-Me? I finished work early, so I'm resting at the dorm."

The head maid said in a flustered voice. Claude muttered, scratching his head with a pen.

"The Head Maid has a separate room. So you can't prove your alibi."

"Yeah, but it's not unusual to be alone at that late hour."

"Besides, there have been some reports that you weren't very friendly with Miss Henrietta."

Claude's eyes twinkled sharply. The head maid covered her cheeks with both hands and shouted loudly.

"It's not just me. Everyone here must hate Henrietta. That child isn't good enough at her job, so I scolded her."

As if asking for approval, the head maid looked at me. Several maids who also made eye contact with her also nodded.

"That's true, but I don't hate it so much as to want to kill Henrietta."

"Me too! She's a wizard, so if we carelessly deal with her we'll be in trouble. Am I right, Becky?"

"That's right...... Previously, a maid named Leslie hit her arm while chatting. Then, Henrietta lifted Leslie in the air and knocked her down."

Many testimonies. Henrietta's anecdote that I don't know about. She didn't live a smooth life either. Little sympathy appeared.

"That's a new fact. Fine. What were the maids doing back there last night?"

Claude asked, scribbling something in his notebook. The maid named Becky opened her mouth first.

"The three of us share the same room. That's an alibi for sure. No one comes out at night. I light candles and do some embroidery."

"Isn't work over?"

"Yes...... Actually, I was embroidering a handkerchief for a knight I admire."

A blush appeared on Becky's freckled face. Claude, who was smiling mischievously turned his gaze to the other maids.

For a long time, the people who gathered in the living room struggled to claim their innocence.

"Right now, the ones who don't have a clear alibi are the Head Maid and the other 2 maids. Plus you guys had a lot of fights with Miss Henrietta."

Claude, who had finished asking everyone, stood up. The Head Maid immediately grabbed him and shouted.

"Are you suspicious of me? I'm offended!"

"It's not just you. I have to suspect everyone here. That makes sense."

Claude let go of the head maid's hand coldly. Then, he asked Alexander,

"Duke, can I borrow the living room? I'd like to have an in-depth conversation with the Head Maid, Miss Lily, and James."

"Do what you want. As long as you let us go."

"For now, yes."

Alexander said with a faint smile. Claude also answered with a smile and asked a nearby maid for a cup of tea.

One by one, the servants who had gathered in the living room left. I also went out and walked in the corridor. Alexander clung to me. I looked at him while placing my hand on my forehead.

"Alex, you are too close."

"You hate it?"

The angle of his eyebrows dropped down. He openly expressed his disappointment.

"Why should I hate it?"

"Then, excuse me..."

As soon as I answered him, Alexander lowered his head and kissed me on the cheek. When the servants glanced at him, he hardened his expression. Seeing that, the servants quickly disappeared.

"Are you afraid of people's stares?"

Alexander made eye contact with me and asked. His eyes radiate desire as if he's about to kiss me, push me against the wall, and lock our tongues every time. Slowly I lowered my gaze.

"......Me? Now? If I were like that, I wouldn't sleep with you."

"Thank goodness. I want it."

"But why are you avoiding my gaze?" Added Alexander, then he caressed my cheek which felt hot because of a glass of whiskey gently.

"It's not like that. It's just...... I'm tired."

"Then let's go upstairs. I hope today we will have a good rest."

"Isn't it still noon?"

"Ah, I don't understand what you mean."

He laughed suspiciously. It seemed that Henrietta's death had not affected Alexander. He had a calm demeanor as if he knew something like this would happen one day.

"I do not mean it."

"You mean?"

"Asking for things you know is a bad habit."

I grabbed the back of his hand, which was lined with blue veins. Alexander stuck out his tongue and smiled playfully.

That afternoon, we went to the study room after a long time. He no longer reads novels with immoral content. I lay on Alexander's rock-hard thighs.

In the study room, he kept following me. And Alexander didn't even choose a book. He said that actually from the beginning he did not like to read. He played with my hair hanging above his feet.

"What the heck? Don't bother me."

"You are too much. My heart hurts."

Alexander rings the bell to call a servant. Then he ordered the maid to bring over the documents piled up in the Duke's office. So he would work and I would read a book.

Unnoticed, time passed without anything happening. Except, when I felt that Alexander's thighs were hard.

It's not a good substitute for a pillow, so when I try to get up, he whimpers and tries to get my sympathy.

"Even being healthy is a mortal sin before you."

He said such nonsense. However, the day passed like that. Claude was still in the living room with the servants, so Alexander and I had dinner together.

Pretending to be casual is one of the things I'm good at, I've always thought. But, in front of Alexander who always follows my every move with a face that looks like he wants to die, I can't do it easily.

Moreover, now I'm not sure, was he really with me last night?

"I have to take a shower now. Henrietta... Because... Hm, that's how it goes." I muttered after finishing my dessert.

If I rang the bell, then Henrietta would come running and look at me with frightened eyes. I can't believe now it won't happen again.

The deaths of the people around me have always been like that. Just like when my mother died. I thought that Mother would come back from her trip and say, 'Did you miss me, my daughter?'

But the dead will never come back. Eye contact, conversation, and body temperature exist only in memory. If only I had known about it sooner.

"You're daydreaming. Can't you see me?"

Alexander asked, suddenly his face was in front of me. This is a big deal! This kind of behavior feels more seductive than rude. This is really a big deal!

This made me want to continue living in the Duke's Manor. This made me want to stay and trust Alexander.

"Ugh, I can't see it. And yes, I can clearly see your mind filled with dirty things."

I smiled and pushed his face away. Alexander took the chance and grabbed my palm and rubbed it against his cheek hard.

"I like your soft hands. Mine are rough."

"Somehow, when I grabbed yours, the reaction was amazing."

I bent down slightly and whispered in his ear. In an instant, Alexander's face turned bright red.

"......Sister."

He seemed to stretch his tail and then looked at me while waving his tail. I was freed from Alexander's grip. As soon as I left the dining room and was about to return to my room, somehow Alexander was beside me.

"Let's sleep alone today. Henrietta died and it would be strange for us to be alone together. Henrietta likes you."

I entered the room and pushed him away. Alexander raised the corners of his lips sarcastically.

"Does it matter? I don't want to care about a liar like her."

"......I am worried."

He had an angry look in his eyes. Lean against the wall with your arms crossed. The room is dark, so his image is only in my eyes.

"Even if you regret it, there's nothing you can do to get it back. If I had known something like this would happen, I would have treated Henrietta even better."

"I know."

"You know, do not you."

"......"

"You're going to push me like this again?"

He was no longer smiling. We stare at each other. His eyes shone under the dazzling moonlight. Even if it was just a glance, it looked threatening. Even though I knew he wouldn't hurt me.

No! Do I really know? Am I sure that he won't hurt me?

My back feels cold. Then I was the first to break the silence.

"Get out."

"Sis, you have always been like this. Drawing boundaries, building a wall between us."

"You want to fight?"

"Impossible."

His breathing became a little rough. His piercing silver-gray eyes looked uncomfortable. I took a step back. Haaa, Alexander sighed heavily as if he would listen to me.

"......Fine. I understand what 'wanting to be alone' means. But next time, I hope you say it directly. I'm not talking about Henrietta or anything like that."

I can't answer that. Alexander stared at me for a moment, then muttered something and left the room after I turned my face away from him.

In the end, I was left alone and sat on the floor as if I had fainted. Slowly my shoulders shook.

"......Stupid."

I grabbed the hem of my skirt and took off my dress roughly. I went to the bathroom and took a steaming hot shower.

I took a long shower. No 'marks' on my white skin, like new.

After drying my hair, I fell asleep quickly. For the past two days, I've only slept together with Alexander, and somehow I feel lonely lying in this wide bed alone.

After falling into a deep sleep, I was awakened by the immense pressure on my neck.

I can't breathe. Someone strangled my neck.

Argh! Danger......

No sound. Everywhere was dark and nothing could be seen. I can only say that there is someone above me.

There is a pair of eyes glowing in the darkness. Who's this? Who's this? Fear enveloped my mind. At this rate, I can't use magic. If you can't concentrate, no matter how strong a wizard is, it's useless.

It's no use, I can't fight back. All I could do was move my body randomly. The grip grew stronger. My consciousness is fading. Slowly my eyes are closing.

I don't want to die. Not in this way.

An arm that was raised suddenly touched the perpetrator's face. Even as I lost my senses, I didn't miss, my fingertips touched the perpetrator's face.

If I forcibly cast magic, the side effects would be severe, but it's normal pain if it's for survival.

Kwaak!

There was a terrible smell of melted skin. It was the same magic that melted the keyhole of the Duke's office.

"Argh!!"

The perpetrator's hands that gripped my neck weakened. I didn't miss the pass. I couldn't get up from my position, but it was possible for me to release stronger magical energy into this face I was holding.

"Argh!! Arghhh!! Arghhhh!!!"

I keep melting this person's face! Jiiigeu! Jiiigeu! Jiiigeu!

The smell of burning is very scary. This person can't strangle me anymore. The room is dark, but I can hear the perpetrator falling, rolling, and screaming on the floor.

But, is it because I forced the use of my magic? I couldn't even finish my revenge on the person who tried to kill me, and I lost consciousness.

One thing I remember and know from the scream, he was a man, and the voice was quite familiar.


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