SCMBRN Chapter 26

‘No, not yet!’

 

I quickly erased the grim future from my mind, the one where I’d be sent to a convent by the Marchioness Lindsay.

 

There’s a saying: even if you enter a tiger’s den, you’ll survive if you keep your wits about you.

 

Surely there must be a way to avoid getting entangled with the Duke Hiclid, who was storming toward me with an aura as fierce as that of a tiger.

 

I’ll act like it was a complete coincidence. I mean, it was a coincidence after all.

 

“Oh?”

 

I opened my mouth, widening my eyes in surprise.

 

“To think I’d run into the Duke Hiclid here. I hope you’ve been well? Well then, I have some errands to attend to, so I’ll be off.”

 

Emphasizing the coincidence and keeping it brief was my strategy to make a clean getaway.

 

But Cedric stepped right in front of me, blocking my path.

 

“Have you been well? Are you toying with me?”

 

A line creased his otherwise composed forehead.

 

“How did you know I’d be here? Have you been following me again?”

 

Argh. I felt like grabbing my head.

 

‘Right… that happened too…’

 

Charlotte, why did you do that? No matter what I say now, it’ll sound like an excuse.

 

“Young Lady?”

 

Beside me, Sir Calix’s gaze turned cold.

 

“That time, Ayla was the one who…”

 

“I’m sorry!”

 

Panicked, I shouted before Cedric could say another word.

 

“Yes, that matter was entirely my fault, to the point where a hundred mouths couldn’t offer enough apology!”

 

I lowered my body deeply in a gesture of remorse.

 

“Beyond that, I’ve committed countless offenses against both Your Grace and your fiancée, Lady Vinn! No number of apologies would suffice.”

 

“…What?”

 

Cedric’s expression froze in bewilderment.

 

“Despite everything, I’m deeply grateful to both of you for forgiving me with hearts as angelic and merciful as could be.”

 

Cedric wasn’t the only one stunned.

 

The customers inside the store, who had begun paying attention when voices were raised, now murmured among themselves.

 

Of course they would. A meeting between the Duke Hiclid and CharlotteLindsay was already newsworthy, but for Charlotte, known for her arrogance, to admit fault and ask for forgiveness?

 

And on top of that, I included Ayla in the apology, Ayla, whom I’d been practically out for blood just recently.

 

“Given the sins I’ve committed, it’s only natural for Your Grace to suspect me.”

 

To deliver a greater blow, I even pretended to tear up.

 

“But… couldn’t you believe in me, CharlotteLindsay, just this once? The many letters of apology I sent to the ducal mansion were written with nothing but sincerity.”

 

Yeah, that’s a lie. In truth, the Marchioness Lindsay was watching me like a hawk, forcing me to write them.

 

How sincere could a letter be when it was written for a crime I didn’t commit?

 

Still, at least right now, I must appear genuinely remorseful.

 

Because I really, really don’t want to go to the convent.

 

If I ended up there, someone like Raynard might pull some strings for me, but first and foremost, I just didn’t want to be scolded by the Marchioness.

 

“And although I should have offered my apologies in person to both Your Grace and Lady Vinn, I must ask your forgiveness for being unable to visit due to being under house arrest.”

 

The emotion had built up, and while I was at it, I dropped to my knees.

 

Whatever you do, do it properly, that’s my motto.

 

Doing it half-heartedly would only make things worse.

 

“I sincerely apologize!”

 

A gasp rippled through the shop.

 

To kneel before someone is a deeply humiliating act, especially for a noble.

 

Unless the family was about to be ruined and cast out into the streets for failing to apologize, kneeling was almost unheard of.

 

Thus, the gesture I had taken carried enormous meaning.

 

Even more so because it was Charlotte, infamous for being all pride and ego. The shock must have been multiplied.

 

“Your Grace! For forcing my one-sided affection upon you, for being rude out of jealousy toward Lady Vinn, for spreading slander about her, for bribing a servant to ruin her dress.”

 

There were so many crimes I had to be careful not to bite my tongue as I recited each one.

 

“And most of all, for only now repenting after all those grave sins! And countless other misdeeds!”

 

With my head bowed, I lowered my voice.

 

“I offer my deepest apologies. I take full responsibility without a single excuse.”

 

Where once the magic tool shop had been filled with the hum of negotiations and product descriptions, an unusual silence had taken hold.

 

“……”

 

Cedric seemed too stunned to even open his mouth.

 

Naturally. How many times had he suffered due to Charlotte?

 

Every time, instead of remorse, Charlotte had responded with outrage and indignation.

 

Now here she was, kneeling and begging for forgiveness. Words would fail anyone.

 

‘I’ll kneel as many times as it takes!’

 

If that meant I wouldn’t have to deal with Cedric again, this was a small price to pay.

 

“…Your Grace, Your Grace.”

 

“Huh?”

 

Cedric only came to his senses when his subordinate called him repeatedly.

 

“Sir, the people are watching…”

 

The subordinate seemed concerned about the growing attention from the curious onlookers.

 

Only then did I notice Cedric’s simple attire and hooded cloak.

 

‘Was he trying to move in secret?’

 

Then Cedric muttered.

 

“I don’t believe it.”

 

He looked down at me, still kneeling, with a chilling gaze.

 

“Now you’re claiming to be sorry for everything? What kind of scheme are you plotting this time?”

 

It seemed his distrust of me ran deep.

 

And rightly so. People don’t change easily.

 

If things could be resolved with a performance like this, Charlotte would never have been expelled from her family later.

 

“Yes, I understand. I know these are not sins that can be forgiven easily.”

 

I calmly accepted his anger.

 

“If Your Grace will allow it, I would like to continue offering my apologies to both you and Lady Vinn in the future…”

 

“Enough.”

 

Perhaps because I mentioned Ayla, Cedric’s tone turned even sharper.

 

“I made myself clear last time. Don’t ever come near us again.”

 

“I have taken it to heart.”

 

“Then why are you following me again?”

 

“Your Grace! That’s truly a misunderstanding!”

 

“Your proof?”

 

“Ask the people at <Forest of Illusions>. I came here today because I had an appointment.”

 

Cedric turned his gaze to the person he’d been speaking with before I arrived.

 

“Is that true?”

 

A woman who seemed to be a clerk from <Forest of Illusions> responded nervously.

 

“Well, I’m not sure. The manager said earlier that something urgent came up and stepped out for a bit.”

 

“What?!”

 

The one person who could prove my innocence had vanished.

 

“When will they be back?”

 

“I don’t know. Now that I think of it, the manager did say this morning that an important guest would be visiting, but didn’t say who.”

 

She glanced between Cedric and me, clearly uneasy.

 

“To be honest, I assumed His Grace was the important guest. The manager emphasized how significant they were.”

 

…That sounded suspiciously like she was implying I couldn’t possibly be the important one.

 

I mean, if asked who’s more important between a duke and the daughter of a Marquis, anyone would choose the duke, but still, it stung.

 

Cedric gave a small nod.

 

“She’s right. The guest the manager mentioned must’ve been me.”

 

“Did Your Grace also make an appointment?”

 

I asked, and he turned back to me.

 

“No. But I sent a letter early this morning to say I would visit. So naturally, the important guest must be me.”

 

“I made an appointment yesterday. That would make it me.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Excuse me?”

 

Cedric’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.

 

“I asked if you really made an appointment.”

 

“Are you saying I’m lying?”

 

“You’ve dodged plenty of situations with lies before.”

 

Damn… Technically, that wasn’t me, but I couldn’t exactly say that.

 

‘What do I do?’

 

Unfortunately, I hadn’t brought the letter I exchanged with Kyrie yesterday.

 

And even if I had, the signature at the bottom wasn’t the manager’s, but Kyrie’s. I had nothing to show as proof.

 

“It’s odd. The manager of <Forest of Illusions> is known to be highly secretive. They don’t just make appointments with anyone.”

 

“Anyone…”

 

Having read the novel, I knew what Cedric meant.

 

He wasn’t just saying those words to hurt me, nor was he trying to publicly humiliate me.

 

‘That’s simply the status Charlotte holds.’

 

And Cedric wasn’t the only one who thought so. The murmurs from the onlookers proved it.

 

“I heard even powerful figures have to schedule appointments days in advance to meet that manager.”

 

“I’ve been a regular for years and never once met them in person.”

 

“Well, with the rare magic tools they sell, it’s no wonder so many people are after them.”

 

The men closest to us whispered among themselves.

 

They glanced at me as they lowered their voices. Though I couldn’t make out every word, I caught fragments, ‘commoner,’ ‘villainess.’

 

Clearly, they didn’t believe a manager so highly sought after would make an appointment with someone like me, born a commoner and infamous to boot.

 

“Besides, you said it yourself.”

 

Cedric pressed on, driving the nail in.

 

“You said you made an appointment with the manager yesterday.”

 

“And?”

 

“An appointment with someone you’re saying is hard to meet even with days of notice, and you got it just the day before? If you’re going to lie, make it a little more convincing.”

 

“If the manager returns, then, oh.”

 

I had to stop mid-sentence. Cedric had grabbed my wrist and was pulling me along.

 

“Wait outside. Once I’ve finished my business, I’ll figure out exactly how you managed to track my movements.”

 

I was about to shake off his hand, but there was no need.

 

Someone had appeared behind Cedric and took hold of his arm.

 

“If anyone should be letting go, I recommend it be you.”

 

A soft voice spoke.