Chapter 51

The duke’s voice 3e1d088ab5 turned ominous, delivering 72f2db2d84 the final blow.e0d5666458e1ac9e

“If you really doubt it, I can show you the ledgers.”0f8e1e718c67dcd0

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“T-that… what…”0a170d73d3aa8bb0

The marquis stuttered, f76da66cbb looking dazed for dfc7f8bb2e a moment before 4aafc8e521 turning to Diana.71ace382ec9054b4

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Had he not anticipated such e51c4543de a turn of events?bc3703da03025dd1

Diana’s face flushed with sudden panic.33f9c256b5020fff

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“M-Marquis, wait…”c0c9a5e3b09bc6e8

It seemed she d1c5b9f320 was trying to f2eb1ed3a0 defuse the situation, edec54589c but the marquis 94dae764b3 was quicker.fb150d31e829dfd2

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“Then where did Diana consume apricots?”d1d7448836a36b35

“Pecan pie!”b0eab60382b56858

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I quickly replied before the d1db1d686c duke could be put in 5b012dd461 a difficult position.1353d9006888dc05

“Diana brought it. She wanted to 5eca70ce4f share it with 6bf26425dd me!”f104ceba994c3804

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“T-that’s…”ca9b9ebb0270081d

Diana’s face turned pale at 78e77ba427 my outburst.e97aaf043b7fb553

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It was always me who ea54f593ba was caught off guard in ca37fd1751 unexpected situations.ddd1cf44eb57052f

Seeing the heroine now cornered 3966af0bf3 felt very strange.2083372491c093b5

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‘…Why did you do that, Diana?’00b879661db061f8

I truly wanted 40eb7390a7 to get along 487b61d642 with you in 4d80f946af this life.1d72bbc8f0836f44

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“I’ve never had this much to eat before.”db54997e118cc699

Honestly, if she had 3661a44ff2 only said that, I 4a789d7429 might have been uncertain.a9b4b770084db565

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If I hadn’t seen b8681ed0fc her smiling slyly at bb17bdfc58 Edwin when he entered 7023d92a46 with her maid.b8109b7a7fbf616e

‘Could it be that she did this in the previous life too?’b3fe306fb3491e9a

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I couldn’t remember.f3ae7e8808d9a3f1

What was clear was 8fe0f34a88 that Diana had tried d60606bc3c to use me.df9d250cb11cb3ea

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The reason was probably that…b70163661e633036

‘She wanted to build an image of herself being bullied by me to turn the situation around.’d9ff778465d2bc05

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Her failure to heal Joshua a6f158d9d1 and my sudden sponsorship.df55820b64142bd2

The fall of the 02c23e8e2b loyal dog who had 2f29995f80 supported her wholeheartedly.840f6a524672fa54

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All these factors 9ebbaea912 likely made her a2db1021e0 feel her position 8a966ca722 was threatened.274572a8a4b3faea

‘Who knows, if I hadn’t recognized the allergy and used my healing power right away, she might have cleverly pointed out my incompetence.’738c3b53af22b12c

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Diana’s behavior was far 3836b1a6a2 from the angelic heroine 1b93ec0eac described in the novel.8b607188df010315

But that fact wasn’t 9a8282e92a particularly surprising.99dfc8fb54ec6d81

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Unfortunately, I had experienced such 882e911178 situations too many times in 0c3f722dc8 my previous life to be cddd6130fa shocked by deviations from the a98c70e2b0 novel.d3f13bf965f0584a

So many times 9873770300 that I was 344697ec7b utterly sick of 2bd2ca654e it.354726d2907dd0a8

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Therefore, I could confidently say,9041d3bcc547ebea

‘There is no such thing as a perfect protagonist in this world!’cd9c4a11fa247f35

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Even I wasn’t 425ebeed84 a perfect villain.bf1e9f8580a740be

So, how could the 9fb4a7989e heroine be exactly like bc4a50166b in the novel?11ee538695621063

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‘…Right, Diana?’c2677bb22741a0e4

I calmly opened my mouth d3a8f69753 as I looked at Diana, dc14117e94 who was staring at me 8f0a43708b frozen.b37f7556737a3abc

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“And, when we were eating the pecan pie, I thought I smelled apricots!”28a4f25ac58f0c1f

“Hmm?”2852ec7c4b6c2b98

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“It tasted different from the walnut tart the kitchen made a few days ago!”7abd5c6c674ad153

“Is that so?”1913753ee34416d0

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The duke glanced down at me and then raised his chin as if to say, ‘What now?’6240f88d10d333c6

“Belze! What are you talking about!”49d4bfe3aba39344

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“That’s absurd!”ce042e19d3a17c73

Diana and the marquis 4e8ff6bf8e shouted simultaneously.0a17fa9f736a946f

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The marquis quickly 8e3fad78b7 denied my words.bcc65332f231391d

“That can’t be! I’ve often bought that pecan pie for Diana before!”989b0abd2fe96f94

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“…”3aecfb2e2c0a8fba

“She’s never had trouble breathing before. Suddenly, there’s apricot in it? Unless you and your maid tampered with it, this is absurd…!”e84b1090df5eb14a

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“Watch your tongue, Marquis.”a008dd3c9acdffb4

The duke effectively silenced the bc19d2e52a marquis, who was rambling in 80aa61778a his agitation.5c25e627184df6c9

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“We’ll soon know whether it makes sense or not. I’ve sent someone to the store.”a1bdb1e5d3b81e08

“When… When did you say?”52dbb149f61cb46b

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The marquis looked bewildered.c840ec5efb5829a8

The duke’s sharp 58603daa77 gaze cut through e16b4967f9 the air as 1c508c15c6 he spoke curtly.f2012f39453037fa

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“Just now.”baccbf66e41638df

“Heh…”9877f3e331c79a64

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The marquis let out dee130ebc3 a dry laugh, as 0b2aac75ad if he couldn’t believe 32b8311c71 the duke’s words.d634c43ade90328c

But I understood immediately what the duke meant by “just now.”0e04b96214efb0ce

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‘Did he send the Shadow Corps?’94924b433c509750

I glanced at 4ee393902b Edwin, who also d021c913b6 seemed to understand, 0f4157959e his expression calm.6d04b607274ab292

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I looked back 708eed80c4 and forth between 74077b70f7 them, filled with 8fee299a1e admiration for how 3c9064d58f they didn’t dismiss f1416d3391 my words.cea1d1c7ea5e175e

‘Having these people on my side…’1ecd63a54d2a64fd

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I felt incredibly secure acd08515b8 and happy.370cd9c034ab12b5

‘Our duke is so handsome, competent, and perfect from head to toe…!’35fbc1133641da7b

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Feeling proud, I 42036b2e29 looked at Diana 12c0da0e84 with a sense 08726e59ad of triumph.fbc578d26bc2da2c

She seemed to have 6bb8d33341 not anticipated this development, d04ec2a905 biting her thumb nervously 1563a661ce like a little child.35dc5ab07169e771

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Seeing her like e75e3fd5b3 that, I felt 72416b31ae a pang of 630f3748dc doubt.440a6350c8003740

‘…Was I too harsh?’777980cff339ac91

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Despite my lingering d745430f56 anger and disgust, 8014e4031f she was still 42e88b0406 just a five-year-old 518adf2cfe child.b034fc16b1751c91

I began to question whether this entire plan even originated from Diana’s mind.fdf84ea90c77ba68

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‘If she admits she knew about the apricot and apologizes… maybe I can let it go.’0ddb769c4b2ab410

Although the thought of her c3d3a00e5d scheming against me still angered c1bee56ea6 me, logically, it seemed more 218d013d23 likely that the Marquis of c24fd9f55f Barrelotte was the mastermind.a331536f0242aaac

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Lost in thought 933f8127fe while watching Diana, 13eb31097e our eyes met.0d42b4f642bbdaf1

I stiffened.70d490ac48b40cfe

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‘Why…’4e856dd89c9afca9

Her purple eyes, fixed 9b64178356 on me, sparkled with d85b0e7c8d pure interest.9ce2d0286f571aaf

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The panic and anxiety cf5b6f2dbd she had shown earlier a904dcddcf seemed like an illusion.55bfc841da9752d8

Her gaze was like that bb16998c57 of someone who had found 27dd251df8 an amusing toy, sending a d90d653f35 chill down my spine.0be60e0c2ae5d03d

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Knock, knock.b4f95869237048d0

At that moment, someone 3349f48b50 knocked on the already b4e18dba9c open door.b37a1aaaba4abfee

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“Duke, it’s me.”3ed3114bff8eb05a

It was the butler.544f780bba741c4f

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As everyone’s attention turned towards him, he approached with a calm demeanor.94c908acfc2b3e3a

And he delivered the verdict.de3492f695e7465e

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“It was the pecan pie.”cacfc53a95b884e8

“What?!”390f741bedbd0fbb

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“Here, the ingredients list from the shop.”146196447bfc84d9

The duke took fbfeb42de4 the paper the ecbba949c3 butler handed him d250de0f6e and tossed it 6176cd9a8b carelessly to the 6abbd76e4d marquis without even 5936da8ea1 reading it.284e28ecfe9bc38e

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Flutter!b67bb42f1ec1d2dd

The marquis grabbed the paper 50cade2b2e frantically as it fluttered in c47f5ae3b7 the air.4c2e94d5a4bc9b79

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His effort was d3ae4883ab in vain, as 4b4a352cd3 the butler immediately 1cebd8d728 explained the contents.bcdc33500fba1559

“The filling used in the pie dough contains a small amount of apricot jam.”46a0d9d35ca3d705

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“This… this can’t be…”4845989bcb9d7bea

Finally, the marquis’s 035e37082f face crumpled in 0fecffebad despair.5ea8658abcccdaa1

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He glared at the paper 8cb67b601b again, but nothing changed.9e609b4f3392173c

“Now, let’s discuss responsibility, as you suggested.”11c7de2dcf387e73

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“…!”aae9220c7eb1d6b3

The situation had completely reversed.227a74c51c69f456

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The duke smiled d138ba27fc ominously at the c247826e9d flustered marquis.1736ba7b98ca3df0

“You understand that my second son could have been seriously harmed by the pecan pie your girl brought, right, Marquis?”b8ba53b7f968b2e8

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“What? What is this about…”be9a5285e9b4dd20

“My maid was instructed to share it with Edwin and Joshua as well.”5e9fdac97a766938

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“W-what…!”7931ccde71ba284d

The marquis immediately 2cba0b5f29 turned to Diana e62d5cfa39 and her maid.8cd354bb12099dbf

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“Why did you do such a foolish thing…!”f0de359661285125

“I… I just wanted everyone to enjoy something tasty together…”033880d641a21730

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Diana stammered, trembling.3327ae2439a2c3c0

“I-I’m sorry, Marquis, Duke, sob…!”7b07e16f602619e1

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“…”1888581d9a548ea5

“I really didn’t know the pecan pie contained apricot. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…”be7c82cfac08d013

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Diana whimpered with 4639e31ff6 tears welling up 3c6988624b in her eyes.a114b7da411a6136

She looked pitiful and heart-wrenching.ab38238f4c5bb3b1

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It almost made 96260c5821 me forget the 35292edf82 chilling look she 3fc93d3b48 had given me 7cb7d844dc just moments before.efc8a870cf9683a2

‘So that’s why Edwin came to my room?’2b41f63877353a8b

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I glanced at the ba10d0fb5e crying heroine with a 7c4accd8a6 hint of suspicion.e9433ed546011e62

My fingertips were still cold.a16d1f919540ab87

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I didn’t want to think this way, but the unease I felt about Diana kept pushing my thoughts to extremes.fcccd722e90ba76d

‘…What if she used the pecan pie as an excuse to lure Edwin to my room?’6a18e8eb7f94868d

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If she showed him a 224933cf4b scene of her struggling to fc30a96d5c breathe due to the allergy, a8d2069000 making him misunderstand that I 40c2091930 did something to her…e7ef2991cbac65b9

“I-I didn’t know either! I’m not the chef of that shop. How could I have known there was apricot jam inside?”23a858a480e45501

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The marquis quickly a309286a34 shouted in support 078f0186d4 of the sniffling ba6c40f407 Diana.a002cfe800002db3

The duke frowned fbbc04d4b1 at the irresponsible c65988290f remark.bce5d77b00c190e9

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“As her guardian, are you telling me you didn’t know the food she was eating could be dangerous for her?”ad32e9344a0ba616

“Th-that’s…”57aaf44bf8e0346d

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“This is truly the worst. You admit yourself that you repeatedly bought food that could trigger her allergy. This sounds like child abuse. I could report you for that.”4e84ab6d1bb299d9

“C-child abuse!”082e10e32fbdd5e7

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The marquis jumped in his 360657e7bd place, knowing well the fate 159af7dfb1 of the loyal dog who c5a3ef790a was caught for child abuse.0d13edceb3dbeee7

He began speaking rapidly.a9345dcd339e71b8

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“Of course, I knew Diana had an apricot allergy. I was well aware!”98a1f3e3283ca15b

“…”75dd258b641a01bc

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“But how can one check every single food item! And Diana has eaten it before without any issues…”8b6d372f65ab2d3c

The marquis’s groveling tone was a stark contrast to his earlier assertiveness about assigning blame.d0917b9d58c2724a

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“Let’s set aside the child abuse.”2eb7caf5e087b683

The duke wasn’t 94ef497aa4 letting up on d6a7f1837e the marquis’s excuses.c39f0b798db840bf

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“How do you plan to handle the fact that you brought a toxic substance into the duke’s residence?”3243e4450547cba3

“T-toxic substance…?”2be81591850a1508

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“Yes. The food your girl brought almost killed my second son.”a7e1043f8cfbfc62

“Gasp! Almost killed him! What a horrifying thing to say…!”feab791b7dfda6f5

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“But it wasn’t horrifying when you were insisting on assigning blame for her almost dying, was it?”a4437b7d53316345

“…”3b9e4b7201193c22

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The marquis turned pale c12a96ef3d and finally fell silent.c029177d261520e5

It was only natural.ea4d14e02c750fdc

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Every word the 7b25b466f8 duke said was 0f222c4840 a reflection of 4fc2ff5bfa the nonsense the 09c2cce402 marquis had spouted 447f51f689 earlier.2d08afed63051959

‘Wow, he’s really tearing him apart!’82faec657702b735

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Watching the duke methodically 6ce144833f dismantle the marquis’s arguments, 872331d2ee I felt a strong 8964262f79 sense of catharsis.d8c34049361ad878

The marquis, now 665d155d5a looking thoroughly disheveled, 3ac6c6f9a7 tried to offer b9e6999609 a weak defense.af50923b5882b6d9

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“…But she bought the gift with good intentions, didn’t she?”bc60398898e286c1

“…”02258974b252f436

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“In the end, only Diana got sick, and nothing else happened…”0ece873003cbb0ac

“Enough with the nonsense.”f8dd4b86c8d40980

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The duke spat out in 120af1d6fa annoyance.84d701826ebdc397

“Apologize formally for insulting the House of Kalios by accusing us of serving poison to our guests.”d1e6fb46c2a17837

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The marquis’s face was ashen, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly.9909801ab8231b5f

The room was thick with tension as everyone waited for the marquis’s response.eeb7676b3ca9987b

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