At the center of the ballroom, where the music had stopped, Richard froze.
“Pardon?”
What the hell is this?
What’s with that suggestive look and that line?
Duke, are you into this?
His mind flooded with confusion.
Did the course of the world change because I tried to seduce the male lead? ...Sh-should I run?
“Hehe...”
Laughing sinisterly, the Duke released Richard in the now-silent ballroom.
Then he slowly turned around.
“Come along, Young Master Friedrich.”
“...”
Richard followed him warily.
Their destination was the ballroom terrace.
Pillars engraved with delicate carvings stood upon the marble floor.
Silver railings ran between them, and the faint light from the chandeliers inside the ballroom cast sparse shadows beneath the railing.
“...”
A cold wind brushed Richard’s cheek. He glanced sideways at the man beside him.
“Young Master Friedrich.”
Leaning languidly against the railing, the Duke began to speak.
“Yes, Your Grace...”
Richard replied without lowering his guard.
Who the hell is this man?
He couldn’t possibly be serious about that, could he? Of course... it’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it would be a problem if I were the target...
“You resemble me quite a lot.”
A snickering laugh escaped through the Duke’s teeth.
“?..”
Richard stared at him in bewilderment.
“My, it seems you don’t agree.”
Violet eyes tinged with regret settled upon Richard.
The bright moonlight cast a cool glow over the Duke’s silver hair.
“But I truly think so.”
His red lips parted as he looked up at the moonlit night sky.
“Starting with being born a bastard.”
“...”
“Loving someone who does not love you in return.”
“...”
“Striving for that love.”
“...”
“And...”
His lips closed briefly.
A moment of silence passed.
With his back to the cool flood of moonlight, he turned to Richard. His red lips curved into an arc.
“Being in a forbidden love.”
“!..”
Richard’s watery blue eyes widened.
Duke, seriously?
The moment Richard faltered and stepped back—
Thud!
The Duke braced one arm against the pillar behind him, trapping Richard between his body and the pillar.
Gripping Richard’s chin with his other hand, the Duke brought his face close.
“W-wait a moment, Your Grace...”
Cold sweat ran down Richard’s back.
“Your Grace clearly... loves Her Majesty the Empress, don’t you? No, first of all... I...”
My purity!
Sensing that his chastity was in danger, Richard pressed himself tightly against the pillar behind him.
“Keuk.”
A laugh burst through the Duke’s teeth.
“Ahahahahat!”
The Duke erupted into loud laughter.
“My, hahahahat, I was only joking, Young Master Friedrich.”
His shoulders shook as though he could not contain his amusement.
“Pardon?”
Richard’s gaze wandered aimlessly.
“It was merely a test.”
The Duke shrugged impudently.
“Everything you said is correct.”
Passing Richard, he strolled leisurely across the terrace. In the stillness of the night, the sound of his dress shoes echoed in Richard’s ears.
“I loved the Empress without ever being loved in return.”
His voice became light and detached, as though he were singing a song.
“I loved her... but in the end, the one she chose was the Emperor.”
“...”
“So.”
His footsteps suddenly halted.
“I decided to take revenge.”
On the Emperor who had stolen her away.
After murmuring the words in a low voice, the Duke looked back at Richard.
He looked strangely delighted.
“You know that well too, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
Richard nodded slowly.
What is this?
A chill ran down his spine.
As the Duke had said, Richard knew it all.
The Duke intended to take revenge on the Emperor.
The final culmination of his revenge. His ultimate goal was to bring down Cailus, who had been born to her and another man.
But...
Something felt wrong. It was as though a cog had slipped out of place, but what exactly...
“Your Grace.”
Richard spoke calmly.
“It seems I, too, can play a part in that revenge.”
He decided to ignore the ominous sense of incongruity looming over him.
First, he had to establish contact with the Duke. To find the Empress’s body and, beyond that, accomplish his own purpose.
“Hmm?”
The Duke’s violet eyes gleamed with amusement.
“I, too, have something I absolutely must do.”
Richard straightened his shoulders.
“I wish to marry His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince. In the process... I will not hesitate, regardless of what becomes of his standing.”
The Duke studied Richard for a moment, then smiled faintly.
“Truly interesting.”
He slowly approached Richard.
One step at a time.
The sound of his heels echoed softly against the marble.
“You are quite a peculiar person.”
“...”
“You resemble me. Far too much.”
The Duke gently gripped Richard’s chin once more.
His fingertips felt much softer than before.
As though he regarded the person before him not merely as an ally, but as something special.
“I felt it from the moment I first saw you.”
“Pardon?”
“Perhaps... you could have been me, and I could have been you.”
Richard silently pushed the Duke’s hand away.
“I will take that to mean we have formed an alliance.”
He went straight to the point.
“Your Grace, let us make a deal. Your revenge and my plan are intertwined. It would benefit us both to help one another.”
“A deal...”
The Duke fell silent for a moment, then smiled.
“Good. But beyond making a deal with you, I have taken a liking to you.”
“A liking?”
Richard frowned.
“Yes. I find you pleasing, Young Master Friedrich.”
The Duke’s voice lowered languidly.
“More than anyone I have ever met. That twisted gaze, those desires you would never reveal to others...”
He smiled faintly and whispered.
“You truly resemble me.”
Richard’s heart gave an unpleasant jolt.
This man... sees right through me.
But now was not the time to retreat.
Rather, he had to seize hold of this man.
“Then please make good use of that liking.”
Richard extended his hand.
“The revenge Your Grace desires—I will accomplish it with my own hands. In return, please help me.”
The Duke looked down at Richard for a long moment.
Then he slowly took his hand.
“Good. But do not forget.”
His violet eyes gleamed darkly.
“Now that you have taken this hand, you are on my side. You can never escape.”
Sigh... Why does he keep going on about how much I resemble him?
Finding it absurd, Richard left the terrace.
The more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed.
Well, anyway, thanks to that, everything was resolved easily...
After returning to the ballroom, Richard looked around.
Where is Lady Daphne?
He needed to find her.
He wandered through the vast ballroom for quite some time.
“Oh my...”
“What should we do?”
Richard tilted his head when he noticed a group of nobles gathered in one area.
“?..”
What is it? Is something happening?
Richard pushed through the crowd of nobles and peered toward the center.
Crack!
A sharp, tearing sound echoed through the ballroom.
“!..”
Two figures were reflected in his watery blue eyes.
The villainess Evgenia, one hand raised high,
and Lady Daphne, covering her turned cheek.
“What are you doing right now, My Lady!”
Before he could even think, his body moved first.
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