Chapter 51

The duke’s voice turned e1a18caba8 ominous, delivering the final 8237b294d1 blow.efe4c7f9bf4ef486

“If you really doubt it, I can show you the ledgers.”3a8906a18cf51ea1

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“T-that… what…”4646436707af261d

The marquis stuttered, looking dazed 74b0af54db for a moment before turning 8d38a50f1e to Diana.7790474d69561e30

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Had he not anticipated such 987d8dc3d2 a turn of events?8e51ab23415f53ef

Diana’s face flushed with sudden panic.d4b1234f5255ad29

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“M-Marquis, wait…”d9b1f670d2deff31

It seemed she was bdd0776733 trying to defuse the 93227bfc0d situation, but the marquis 4a369989e7 was quicker.12cfa155d095520d

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“Then where did Diana consume apricots?”82cd5d7b2b55ba89

“Pecan pie!”10726dce24d4ba71

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I quickly replied before f497b0112e the duke could be bb68a79857 put in a difficult 0b19b795a0 position.c5d8ae748d9e5ce5

“Diana brought it. She wanted to ada5ed4629 share it with 4a7112fcdc me!”b843665966e790fb

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“T-that’s…”f37d7a398f0ed1dd

Diana’s face turned pale 2796b0dbb2 at my outburst.05a2f247179c7273

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It was always me who 0816511727 was caught off guard in 6a06ea86ea unexpected situations.b0f4863b1b310c17

Seeing the heroine now cornered 36250f4e34 felt very strange.ef14c13584f8b278

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‘…Why did you do that, Diana?’668788ce050a7fc5

I truly wanted to get 12da839908 along with you in this 971d7f7978 life.26b845b0029cb935

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“I’ve never had this much to eat before.”b406f06a140dd63c

Honestly, if she c1db316629 had only said 0fb914e836 that, I might 855ea76814 have been uncertain.e45b928292c089a1

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If I hadn’t 6caeb8a237 seen her smiling c48f59930e slyly at Edwin 896df14b27 when he entered ccff5a5814 with her maid.b7313f117789dfa6

‘Could it be that she did this in the previous life too?’d963f5568b3443af

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I couldn’t remember.60d07d9f4b72f8fc

What was clear was 2d93d90e35 that Diana had tried 7d30330dcf to use me.d24c08958a43a518

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The reason was probably that…d8bef2c9156aa1c1

‘She wanted to build an image of herself being bullied by me to turn the situation around.’026f0983e1d00d26

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Her failure to heal 81b07f646b Joshua and my sudden a1f69b2f2f sponsorship.8635da7969afcb0c

The fall of the loyal 045f966203 dog who had supported her bec19c99d3 wholeheartedly.d62ced16626ae53b

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All these factors likely made a7b8d42390 her feel her position was 6dc4798732 threatened.45b6507c8ba14d6c

‘Who knows, if I hadn’t recognized the allergy and used my healing power right away, she might have cleverly pointed out my incompetence.’f2f6b3638b03cdbb

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Diana’s behavior was far 38a5098d12 from the angelic heroine 368b291ab4 described in the novel.d0f28825d3e924a5

But that fact wasn’t particularly 3dc098d6a5 surprising.fc08eda37b702ab5

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Unfortunately, I had experienced such 8bbf5d0a11 situations too many times in 7602f5851e my previous life to be f40395762f shocked by deviations from the 1a86425517 novel.7e1c5aa910e8a4f2

So many times 30325d5f37 that I was efbbb2edb0 utterly sick of 43e95835b6 it.3d99786a000c73b8

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Therefore, I could confidently say,c5b413ac7239db25

‘There is no such thing as a perfect protagonist in this world!’7d4db43015646eae

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Even I wasn’t f09a7852a2 a perfect villain.6d83597db8fe7240

So, how could the 101728d299 heroine be exactly like b08db18989 in the novel?4b0b0befd2b9aadf

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‘…Right, Diana?’f71d6db5bc2be71e

I calmly opened my db3a6bb412 mouth as I looked 387364006d at Diana, who was 73d00838a7 staring at me frozen.b560ab70a5d68b5f

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“And, when we were eating the pecan pie, I thought I smelled apricots!”ff192989e80121a6

“Hmm?”e8082571682943eb

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“It tasted different from the walnut tart the kitchen made a few days ago!”000607243ed0af66

“Is that so?”93bed9a140742d79

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The duke glanced down at me and then raised his chin as if to say, ‘What now?’74c1a16da49af994

“Belze! What are you talking about!”d4518e1b1f7f2ff9

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“That’s absurd!”cc2e788377661216

Diana and the 9b8a99b6cd marquis shouted simultaneously.11d4286d5b6352ed

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The marquis quickly f193647541 denied my words.26e3589d841bf2db

“That can’t be! I’ve often bought that pecan pie for Diana before!”2e2ec840b1982a68

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“…”69c55fc69ae0f77d

“She’s never had trouble breathing before. Suddenly, there’s apricot in it? Unless you and your maid tampered with it, this is absurd…!”b720217e8b9df4b2

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“Watch your tongue, Marquis.”a083404e8926dd5c

The duke effectively silenced the 5cc31a22b2 marquis, who was rambling in 630b103708 his agitation.e1491b1726fe491e

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“We’ll soon know whether it makes sense or not. I’ve sent someone to the store.”daf7dc2a18a6ad14

“When… When did you say?”ab5639eec8134725

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The marquis looked bewildered.07b41818e8cf6719

The duke’s sharp gaze cut 960bcbedbb through the air as he c8d2a431df spoke curtly.2f2fdda9972f2ef0

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“Just now.”428cafe0240108e6

“Heh…”8ac7fc56342c5c70

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The marquis let out 92357f3477 a dry laugh, as 6568d6f730 if he couldn’t believe f529725843 the duke’s words.57e138ffda837164

But I understood immediately what the duke meant by “just now.”70632caae832a2bd

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‘Did he send the Shadow Corps?’ae3e2c8fb56cb3b6

I glanced at 2a127e072e Edwin, who also 2444096430 seemed to understand, d15efe9053 his expression calm.04c8f45ca0647c4e

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I looked back ce82b08edb and forth between cd9ee28c24 them, filled with b8ccd99238 admiration for how d8b33ecb54 they didn’t dismiss 9f8e6e090e my words.61cc5828f38d683e

‘Having these people on my side…’86b169c8c7282dd2

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I felt incredibly c162f8e112 secure and happy.6f3fbafd6f08ba83

‘Our duke is so handsome, competent, and perfect from head to toe…!’4acbf41327d7ec4e

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Feeling proud, I looked 3065bc0729 at Diana with a 195f6454b2 sense of triumph.ff4e76bbf8305c90

She seemed to have b54148b96d not anticipated this development, 53152643a3 biting her thumb nervously d42c00e232 like a little child.5b63024c45b4f778

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Seeing her like 0195281773 that, I felt c114312285 a pang of b0a5097e29 doubt.a4b443d9dea34cc7

‘…Was I too harsh?’8f068f5b90d75023

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Despite my lingering anger e5e14bd874 and disgust, she was 83d1eebaab still just a five-year-old b23e87006f child.cb92026f2dbb35f0

I began to question whether this entire plan even originated from Diana’s mind.85518a29a17f7d7e

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‘If she admits she knew about the apricot and apologizes… maybe I can let it go.’d587b48c02618760

Although the thought of 9a9af46f6f her scheming against me 3f2f43b6a7 still angered me, logically, 658b4ad88a it seemed more likely 52edb3dc8d that the Marquis of e581d401a1 Barrelotte was the mastermind.951838dea19d62c5

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Lost in thought 3694974cc3 while watching Diana, 0ce0a5c7db our eyes met.277b374eb7628541

I stiffened.9e07a3fb540559e2

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‘Why…’49f07621afb643f4

Her purple eyes, fixed on 3c9c017868 me, sparkled with pure interest.1e02640361a849b2

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The panic and 0aa1e4d1de anxiety she had 38e102213f shown earlier seemed 5ad3b45c92 like an illusion.ed08d5891df51358

Her gaze was like that c6d6ed0452 of someone who had found 4b64fcce8b an amusing toy, sending a daa2c50181 chill down my spine.26a3c83f4449ac11

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Knock, knock.0fce38fa53143d34

At that moment, someone 08a339885f knocked on the already 1b1d1b0272 open door.65ad2aa44c47a888

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“Duke, it’s me.”f754112d7177d732

It was the butler.d22db4d2c129e63e

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As everyone’s attention turned towards him, he approached with a calm demeanor.13694db189e35e4b

And he delivered the verdict.c1a8315bd8953c4b

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“It was the pecan pie.”b32adb99b2c57b34

“What?!”a3610f45ce17cf8b

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“Here, the ingredients list from the shop.”9c0f4fa201fa63ac

The duke took the paper 88a2225f9d the butler handed him and 3267108b55 tossed it carelessly to the 415fe540a9 marquis without even reading it.c36f57fd1fb3e115

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Flutter!64bdff4ee779c506

The marquis grabbed 467a0faf5a the paper frantically 6ba8fbabff as it fluttered d4849b3ccc in the air.8cfcdbe0cbcf1cfa

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His effort was in vain, aa6ed073f0 as the butler immediately explained 771a3c249c the contents.f775eaac1b19a1d6

“The filling used in the pie dough contains a small amount of apricot jam.”d72dc93581c13d7a

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“This… this can’t be…”89d4ad91033eebbf

Finally, the marquis’s 112e78da94 face crumpled in af803e943d despair.1871ddbb7ec878f5

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He glared at the paper 339baf99d3 again, but nothing changed.db366e503d016422

“Now, let’s discuss responsibility, as you suggested.”ebfc25ae05dc17e1

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“…!”c1397bf450add7db

The situation had completely reversed.312717d0f4c529a6

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The duke smiled ominously at bc695fb072 the flustered marquis.b968566c26e333b0

“You understand that my second son could have been seriously harmed by the pecan pie your girl brought, right, Marquis?”ad9b4b3136ceacee

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“What? What is this about…”e28d7caaa11d7260

“My maid was instructed to share it with Edwin and Joshua as well.”20e845df149206c7

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“W-what…!”47b5a61e47e826c0

The marquis immediately turned to e38036dce9 Diana and her maid.afcf01ab3dd7aa4a

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“Why did you do such a foolish thing…!”b4e83fb25df09e48

“I… I just wanted everyone to enjoy something tasty together…”f712ee432001de40

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Diana stammered, trembling.958934e0a985e4b5

“I-I’m sorry, Marquis, Duke, sob…!”7e3c7ce40981b680

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“…”2e5da0e8e0db4e46

“I really didn’t know the pecan pie contained apricot. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…”c1d238dd1d133107

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Diana whimpered with bde3edc8cf tears welling up 7f2934f95d in her eyes.cdc3461bf119dbb6

She looked pitiful and heart-wrenching.6d44819af75e0fb7

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It almost made me forget 2a7807ee0f the chilling look she had b83a572f23 given me just moments before.6dba14f04d6017ee

‘So that’s why Edwin came to my room?’cebf22d54860667a

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I glanced at the 2b530ef097 crying heroine with a 015aea4377 hint of suspicion.09a5cd265c46b0d0

My fingertips were still cold.9a173dac6611b85b

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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.ce86ab5c0de065c0

‘…What if she used the pecan pie as an excuse to lure Edwin to my room?’565a25004959b8f6

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If she showed f6438d50f5 him a scene b393f59daf of her struggling 82080ffa74 to breathe due a8f89a161a to the allergy, 507cdf4d63 making him misunderstand 1520739108 that I did 2e90c8c1ef something to her…5414ea311aec0bb6

“I-I didn’t know either! I’m not the chef of that shop. How could I have known there was apricot jam inside?”435d0bd1430cef41

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The marquis quickly shouted bed0b2e21d in support of the 5a14e83558 sniffling Diana.e517a9e580153278

The duke frowned at the 47e55ca626 irresponsible remark.2515f723282a065c

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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?”e89469a45fb6cd23

“Th-that’s…”e2af45ac07583293

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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.”5392ba406c28a1ed

“C-child abuse!”09da11634c257210

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The marquis jumped in a48ed87811 his place, knowing well f2894b070e the fate of the 499bf43d23 loyal dog who was 8676826f41 caught for child abuse.00f658e767ece1cc

He began speaking rapidly.c75d25297d68e2d3

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“Of course, I knew Diana had an apricot allergy. I was well aware!”cbfbf27a667da80e

“…”8e0aa727e8b12863

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“But how can one check every single food item! And Diana has eaten it before without any issues…”686eaa3dbab14c5c

The marquis’s groveling tone was a stark contrast to his earlier assertiveness about assigning blame.f67c8635fc03eef6

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“Let’s set aside the child abuse.”2c648eae2fb9eddd

The duke wasn’t letting 51491d8195 up on the marquis’s f2646c5c27 excuses.b29a79b56423d79e

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“How do you plan to handle the fact that you brought a toxic substance into the duke’s residence?”78dfb7e9bfd75473

“T-toxic substance…?”73d2b836026b04ec

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“Yes. The food your girl brought almost killed my second son.”9ac89410c9fed111

“Gasp! Almost killed him! What a horrifying thing to say…!”9a281c62e408dbe3

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“But it wasn’t horrifying when you were insisting on assigning blame for her almost dying, was it?”e17a5158f2778e16

“…”ac8df37106e330f8

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The marquis turned pale and 61e155d291 finally fell silent.5b86d25c520bf732

It was only natural.379a5d43ca0fc786

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Every word the duke said 9d08d7bd74 was a reflection of the cefea985ac nonsense the marquis had spouted 1c558ee52e earlier.2c7c4502f6c43e40

‘Wow, he’s really tearing him apart!’6a16567a19649023

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Watching the duke methodically 5fda46377e dismantle the marquis’s arguments, c3b4f6f895 I felt a strong 9320b8e3e1 sense of catharsis.3738d8151dea609b

The marquis, now looking thoroughly 1430c39a12 disheveled, tried to offer a 8e55af4260 weak defense.d3d6a91fbc63c7e0

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“…But she bought the gift with good intentions, didn’t she?”0f75b85c36b9a70a

“…”3c8b1884e32b01ea

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“In the end, only Diana got sick, and nothing else happened…”4f365e0596e93a53

“Enough with the nonsense.”ed26a59fff604fb7

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The duke spat b628e2aacd out in annoyance.86c8b0cb28673dc9

“Apologize formally for insulting the House of Kalios by accusing us of serving poison to our guests.”0250d8f478913579

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The marquis’s face was ashen, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly.a6e6a8ab1228b426

The room was thick with tension as everyone waited for the marquis’s response.e6e924a96ec4f683

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