Chapter 70: CH 68

“And then? Was that why you sent me to Caleb’s house?”

“Of course.”

To Yul’s question, Mikael replied casually, as if it was a matter-of-fact. Yuri nodded his head as he stuffed the well-toasted toast into his mouth.

Yesterday was the day of the search, so he was distracted and didn’t think to find out properly, but Yul couldn’t help but admire the fact that Mikael worked harder than he thought to clear up the false charge about the issue of black magic.

It all started when he ordered dozens of dolls that looked just like him for Caleb’s house. With rumors of black magic circulating, it would be suspicious for identical dolls to arrive at Archduke Orlov’s mansion, so the order was sent to Caleb’s house, not the Orlovs.

Also, by any chance, as the search becomes extensive, not only the Archduke Orlov, but also his subordinate Caleb and Levi’s house would become targets, and Yul who was stashed away be found out. So he sent dozens of the same dolls to Caleb’s house, which he had already ordered, so that they did not look strange.

“So, is this resolved now?”

“Probably not. There’s someone who has targeted me and spread rumors about black magic, so I need to find them and take them out.”

“T- Take them out…”

Yul repeated Mikael’s words and shuddered. Of course, he felt outraged by the one who schemed against Mikael, but he didn’t want him to die, so he offered his deepest condolences.

It was then. A knock sounded on the door.

The other person knocked on the door four times. After knocking twice, he paused and then knocked again.

It was a promise that Levi and Caleb had made. When the two of them knocked on the door, they decided to knock on the door as they had set in advance to warn Yul who was inside.

Because of this, Yul noticed that the other person was one of the two and finished breakfast with a comfortable mind.

“Archduke, this is Levi.”

Sure enough, Levi’s voice could be heard from beyond the door. Although he sounded tired.

“Come in.”

Levi, with a worn out expression, entered with a firm expression. Yul tilted his head at his attitude. Mikael also looked at Levi’s condition as if he felt something strange.

“What is going on?”

“A guest has come.”

Levi’s appearance was strangely rigid as he said that, so Yul even put down the piece of bread he was eating.

“Lady Marina Wilson of Count Wilson has arrived.”

Yul covered his mouth with bread crumbs with both hands. If it was someone called Marina, then she was that woman. The woman they met at a hunting tournament.

“She came on her own.”

Mikael replied in a cold voice. Yul snuck a glance at him. He was nervous because he felt like a murder would happen any minute.

“I’ll see her in the drawing room.”

Mikael wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood up. Yul froze with his big eyes blinking, and when he jumped up, he quickly ran and grabbed the hem of his clothes.

“Mikael, Mikael. You can’t kill people. It’s strange to say such obvious things, but anyway, you shouldn’t kill people. Okay?”

“I’ll think about it.”

“No, don’t think about it… !”

Despite Yul’s urgent words, Mikael shook off his small cotton fist and headed for the doorway.

“Mikael!”

Despite Yul’s urgent voice, he didn’t look back once.

* * *

Marina, who was sitting in the drawing room, jumped up from her seat as soon as she saw Mikael. The table rocked as she rose wildly. Because of that, the teapot and teacup that the servant of Orlov Mansion brought her to drink while she waited were shaken. Seeing this, Mikael burst into a laugh.

“You have a liver bigger than your stomach1. To come in here on your own feet.”

“Archduke, I didn’t say that!”

Marina exclaimed urgently.

Her heart felt like it would burst with nervousness. She was waiting for him to be woven into black magic and self-ruin, but the plan failed.

He must have thought she’d been talking about the doll. Although it was true that he was entangled in black magic and wanted him to ruin himself, she didn’t do anything and she couldn’t let this all go back to her fault.

So, as soon as Marina heard the rumor that Archduke Orlov’s accusations of black magic had been cleared, she came straight to him to clarify even though she knew that an early morning visit was rude.

“Of course, I know that it is a situation that can be misunderstood. But not really. I am… ugh-”

Marina couldn’t finish what she was saying. In an instant, she was at a loss for words as the sharp blade of his sword pointed at her.

Mikael’s red eyes felt like blood spurting out of his body. Her spine ached, and he couldn’t even breathe properly.

“How can I believe you? How could I believe you wouldn’t have been blabbering about it.”

“B- But… I- It really was not me, I didn’t say anything. I swear!”

“Who knows. The answer to that will be known if I kill you first. If I kill you and no more nonsense comes out, then you’re probably the culprit, and if not, I’ll think about it again then.”

“I- I am also a daughter of an aristocratic family! The daughter of the Count’s family! Even if you are an Archduke, do you think you can kill the Count’s daughter and get away with it?! This isn’t in the middle of the hunting competition! What excuse are you going to make for killing me?”

Marina, cornered, went so far as to threaten Mikael. Then, Mikael laughed as if it were ridiculous.

“It looks like you’re finally revealing your true colors.”

“I’m not showing my true colors, I’m being realistic. Under Imperial law, the penalty for murder is death. Since the Archduke is a high-ranking noble, even if the punishment is less severe, he will have to be imprisoned in the castle for the rest of his life.”

Marina replied without backing down. She couldn’t back down. Mikael’s eyes were indicating that really ready to slash her at any moment.

“You seem to know the imperial law well. If so, ask me one thing. What if I said you attacked me first?”

“What is that…”

“There are only two people here, you and me. Your maid is outside the drawing room. If you suddenly pointed a sword at me, and I ‘accidentally’ killed you while trying to stop it, would I be guilty?”

Realizing what Mikael was talking about, Marina was speechless in shock. He was terribly clever, and just as cruel. He must have made up his mind that somehow he would kill her. Now there was only one way.

“S- Sorry, Archduke! Please spare me. But really, I really didn’t say anything. I swear.”

Marina broke all her momentum against him and she only begged to be spared. She couldn’t say anything else.

He was really going to kill her, and even if he was going to be punished later, she would already be dead by then. There was no going back on that fact, so she had to live for now. Even if it was being unfairly servile.

“How can I believe that?”

“T- There is no way to prove it, but… I heard about the rumors from my father. He said it was circulating in the salon. I- It’s true! I don’t usually attend salons or social events. How can I spread rumors like that?”

“Rumors spread easily even through the mouth of one person.”

“Yeah, but… Anyway, it’s not me. Really.”

Mikael lifted his chin lightly and looked down at Marina. Her eyes were quivering with fear, but she wasn’t averting her gaze from his for a moment. She was scared, but not with an attitude of someone about to be stabbed.

Even when they first met, he felt it, but she didn’t seem to be very talkative. She didn’t even look stupid enough to go around bragging about how she’d dared to fool him and put her life in jeopardy. In fact, she didn’t gain anything by blabbering about Yul.

It seems to him that Count Wilson wanted to marry him to her, but that, too, was only valid while he was alive. It would do them no good if he was put to death for using black magic.

So this woman was talking. Only someone who had something to gain by slandering him would make such a bold move.

‘Someone with something to gain by attacking me..’

Mikael gritted his molars in the face of the one that came to mind.