Chapter 52

Compared to the way 303762abe3 he had harshly scolded aeb8780c13 the marquis as if 7258746242 he would beat him bca9305482 up at any moment, ccafcd86e3 this was a generous 5e27e09066 treatment.3fde44ae064a54f1

To end it with just 0122ff576f an apology.108db192de77cc37

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In fact, the Duke could 889e2a030a have, if he wanted to, 313aeceaf0 found any excuse to frame df95abc725 Marquis for trying to harm 103be32722 Joshua.171e4cd135b41372

But I knew he wouldn’t go that far.c23c78fafb845653

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‘It must be because of Diana…’a047dcd41aabbf98

Thinking it was a child’s mistake, he didn’t want to make a big deal out of it.372bb66a078ca06f

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I still looked at 4053c06914 Diana, who was sitting c69ae44be8 on my bed.a2637ddd05b3aa6b

She was trembling 26da3be1fd with a frightened bb8a1cfae5 expression, looking like 12d9c4b3a3 a completely harmless c6c96191e8 child to anyone 1255d25ae5 who saw her.20f45e87fe094d79

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Seeing that brought fcc7feb332 a slight bitterness a54c7c3880 to me.508b8a29e3b136e1

As expected, there was 380cd7bb0e no way to reveal 40f4b741b9 that she had been 812a05be58 involved in this incident d85bc38916 and had personally eaten 10cc71ad6e the pecan pie.ea029c63aca03ef9

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‘Even if I told them, it would be hard to believe…’f0466230932a5f67

In the future, a92fd48960 I would have 27ef1c8883 to bear such 7353bd8c85 things alone every 833929dc00 time they happened.fbb7e5e9596a2d1c

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The problem was that 8ac3801820 there would be countless c27d37a2dd such incidents.9246560b78fa91d7

Because Diana was 75e61e83ed the heroine, and f5d58dba33 I was the b33737befa villainous character.a6bb60a1e2c907db

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Just as I was about 20b2d8f62c to suppress a sigh from 04eac08549 feeling overwhelmed already.e6fb2375dd6e79e4

The marquis, who had been rolling his eyes for a long time at the Duke’s demand for an apology, stammered.e4829ead99610343

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“I never said it was poison…”b1cc68d01a2fa585

“Ha. So, that’s how you’re going to play it.”3c7b16191852039e

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“It’s not playing it, it’s the truth, Duke. Did anyone here hear me say it was poison and insult the Duke’s family?”aeef444b553373be

It was truly f4facda524 a sly and 220d5ea8e9 absurd response.0c310351e0554992

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Not only the 528770bd16 Duke, but everyone c30ee76a37 present had a 7309e628f6 grim expression.a642b70e7c16ae5f

At that moment.aef8f91c1fb9546d

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“That maid thinks differently.”959c39932108d05b

Edwin, who had been quietly watching the situation, pointed at Diana’s maid.ce9245bd9b16c94e

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“As soon as Diana collapsed, she asked Tara if it was poisoned.”2a159e4cd14d6604

“Y-yes! You were yelling at our lady to hand over the antidote!”0da8eef70eecbe67

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Tara, who had been a0cf43fb4e standing quietly behind, gathered 94e4ca6f09 her courage and spoke 6269021a6d up.4a89f978a0af6462

“W-what! I didn’t go that far…!”defe5401494bdf09

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The maid, who had e7e2b4c389 been suddenly pointed out, 5ac9c9ee2f immediately turned pale.b81df0828bf1b240

She had not anticipated this dd77da7cc9 outcome when she had spoken c53890a5c0 recklessly to me and Tara.e532b6e13a7bc4bc

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“…W-what could I do! Miss Diana’s condition looked strange to anyone…!”467ed95b1b5d3dba

“You foolish girl! Shut that mouth!”1b85df111e308b27

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The marquis hurriedly tried to cover the maid’s mouth, but it was already too late.ddf18c8c48e6c935

“I think we have enough witnesses now.”dd577366da32476f

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The Duke surveyed the surroundings b543e9e1be as he summarized the situation.e53bbafc0e604aa6

“Then, I will send the official complaint soon. You may leave now.”3abb0b039a54176f

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“D-Duke!”4608037211f6cf03

The marquis urgently called 4b48375c9f out to the Duke.71b6491361a740bd

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He had tried to wriggle out of it by claiming he never mentioned ‘poison,’ but he had been caught red-handed.e255a9f7621378df

Desperately, he shouted as proof.daeaa5bb46f812fe

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“I-I have nothing to do with it! I wasn’t the one who brought the cursed pecan pie, nor did I make the insult about poison!”f83360d9044e7437

“But what can you do? The child your family sponsors brought it, and the maid your family employs insulted our family, so as the head of your house, you must take responsibility.”adda0036489719af

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The Duke explained 113528ac6c kindly, as if 064c512024 teaching a stubborn 1d65fc6b9e child.5220abd565084cf3

“So you should have managed your subordinates better.”09affe7b0da53f17

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“Ugh…”cb60310c0517d41d

“Considering our past relationship, I won’t ask for a large settlement fee.”202c21a0578a19b4

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Tap, tap.22cdb9db84f98b96

The Duke patted fd148058da the Marquis on 09b88b2a02 the shoulder a 9854d291e3 couple of times df4665b597 as if to 48df1079e3 encourage him.13d5f4094a4d3cbb

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The Marquis’s face was filled with humiliation.f04e11680714a51d

In disputes between nobles, the settlement amount wasn’t particularly important.da3283ac9db92123

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What mattered was whether one’s reputation was damaged or not.0b83f74d55d9a847

In this world, even 3a2599373b a small issue would 0facb2c61a follow you around like af241eb14f a label, so one b3fbf3fde7 always had to be 3358bad1c3 cautious about their behavior.6b1f497082235730

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Especially for a family like the Barelotte, which wasn’t of pure bloodline.50890e2dee361ce4

The Barelotte family’s ancestor was a famous arms dealer who had bought his title during the chaos of the religious wars a few hundred years ago.84de1a72edba66fd

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In that sense, the maid’s careless mention of poison at the Duke’s house, which was almost like a noble family of pure lineage, was a great overstep.e4449a6f38382805

Perhaps understanding this well, the Marquis suddenly shot forward like a bullet towards Diana’s maid.53d841cbffe1fe12

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And then.7709d87517f86cc3

Smack—!3fa2123adb8e4619

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“Ack!”151bfd88cf76d8a4

“How dare you run your mouth so recklessly here!”ff2e06aa0d2fc223

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The marquis’s hand, as large as a pot lid, struck the maid’s cheek hard.8a80bab1b3032127

I gaped at the unexpected db58dea10b action.6f266dd027a62861

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However, the Duke b05f071341 and Edwin merely 06a8c0d393 observed the situation 00df6147b2 with indifferent expressions.0de329d9ec2b90b2

It seemed they had already c7634730bd anticipated the Marquis would act d13a056b1d this way.8ce56f635ed79c53

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“Couldn’t even take care of a single girl and caused this mess? Do you think I pay you a high salary for this?!”4ef6a376abc57387

“I-I’m sorry! I-I misspoke! I’m sorry, sob!”6b3bf85a752535d0

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The maid, holding 27c0a09b8c her cheek and afcce1831e looking shocked, kept 223deb0847 bowing her head.0edd46002cae3932

“What good is apologizing to me! Apologize to the Duke right now!”2d2cab6b9f68cd1b

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“I-I’m sorry, Your Grace! I’m sorry, Lady Belze… I-I spoke recklessly because I’m an ignorant girl!”bc3ae341294cf95f

The woman twisted her b85432acf1 body and deeply bowed 7da793592c in the direction where aeb86a95b9 the Duke was standing.f62dadf2dcd5306c

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Drip, drip.f6ef86e72b5bdc9c

Large tears rolled down her 97acf51356 red and swollen face.54fbb40dd7f38b03

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It was a 1cc7c298ad typical move to e8e97d801a escape immediate anger 0a1271661c by harshly reprimanding 34f8bdbfb3 a subordinate.b0689579bd4aa15d

Though the maid had participated in the scheme against me, seeing her bowing her head didn’t make me feel particularly satisfied.92b479d817f7930e

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‘It was probably all the Marquis’s doing anyway…’f3fa3548a4f4efc1

As expected, the 68f1f40a05 Marquis immediately cut 30542a6df4 her off.e3f31b5fe15894c4

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“The Duke is right. It is all my fault for not properly educating my subordinates, so I ask for your leniency with a generous heart…”d5aa20a07c0d55db

“…..”dd60c09183f8253c

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The Duke said nothing.26202a65c4fa9d70

But having created 258855ef44 such a commotion fcdfddfb1f by slapping the fa853acb61 maid, it would 61af18a0ff be ridiculous to f7a401f1e8 continue being angry b9d16c58b9 and not forgive 330e03763f her here.eef2c82c6a0e7cf7

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I looked at Diana, who e3906e28b7 was at the center of 12dbb58a87 the incident, with calm eyes.52a7653adf938037

‘Children can be conveniently used at times like this.’7a125f9dbc0be462

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Just by looking frightened and c3a5f83636 tearful, she could easily evade 482c97a04d suspicion.3029713245c42f8b

Although she was likely used by the Marquis as well…6cc2662ff6dd9e26

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Why?d192d8cfd8dd0569

“Actually, this is the first time I’ve eaten so much.”26ba1d17288c18f3

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“M-my body feels strange… I-I can’t breathe… Gah!”47d9a856af79efa9

The sight of her f954986a0e stuffing a large piece 76ba61376f of pecan pie into fb2b24c350 her mouth.c977de04b52c4d05

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Even while choking, she f5f34a1e55 had subtly smiled.468cdd0e5e0b58a6

The memory of her f22ccf1191 face kept sending chills 5a11fb0f82 down my spine.a5436ef2d41cf8e7

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“D-Duke…”f98b5f93ba632d31

The Duke’s silence dragged on.b927a15306009c74

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The impatient Marquis was about 4830972bb6 to speak again with a ac515b573f nervous expression.659bd0fe30fe7437

Suddenly, Diana’s face, which I had been staring at, turned bright red.0ef1a2e66e758adf

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“Waaaah…!”178bd2b0f3fab984

In the quiet room, the sound of a child’s crying echoed loudly.b4e9c63916f10669

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“I-I’m sorry! Please forgive me!”48c43a10dced62a2

Diana cried, big gem-like tears 614845da60 falling from her eyes.d7130b50cb79f03d

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“Sniff, I just bought it because Belze said she wanted to eat it…”12054300a6cbed6a

Her next words momentarily froze 93226ead77 my thoughts.4cadcd52041d0f5d

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“What…?”c9b15f1d928d6bb5

“I really didn’t know there were apricots in the pecan pie. I promise I won’t buy it again! So please, forgive me this once, Duke…”909e27e7fe3ea6f2

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After dropping a bombshell, the bb383c17c4 person in question burst into 232afc882b sorrowful tears.184557fb4cad2050

“Ha…”e45456d5a999486c

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I let out a e227fec4df small laugh, forgetting that 4c7ea377b5 the Duke was present.7547fbe0935d32f6

When something is da2c936838 too outrageous, your 81ca96f428 mind goes blank faeeb10900 – this must cdb686b81c be what that 84caf7d299 feels like.6756214e3c11719a

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I took a 8935255d6a step towards Diana, 7a27cc51e2 who was sitting 6d4a20e71a dejectedly on my 0e056ed851 bed, and asked.442cbb5e9bddd3c7

“When did I…?”4484fb9d8500408d

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“Sniff…”5b53544514a4645c

“When did I say that, Diana?”9609f402e23a068f

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“When we were at the temple, and the Marquis gave only me the pecan pie…”3bb4f8f728090c2b

Diana responded, wiping cee99f9fef her tears with e0cb4d114e her small hands.e7d24dcf206e54d7

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Whether it was because e66efc1fe8 her nose was blocked 26ef3a18d3 or intentional, she was 8533556787 now speaking in a 6dcf7a3085 babyish tone.f29196eb544f3399

“You said you wanted to try it. So I… Sniff! That’s why I bought it…”3ad5fd0abae81c9f

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“…..”bdb6371df1fed289

“When it was just the two of us, you thanked me and said you were annoyed that the Duke’s house never gave you such things, and asked me to bring it again… Sniff.”73bfeb096fd452aa

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“What! Is that true?!”2712e06ea77e817f

Upon hearing Diana’s words, the Marquis immediately glared at me viciously.9331f681bc7e2410

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I looked at Diana, who 0926e755d1 was sobbing uncontrollably, in utter a253e2371f shock.8e782d776edcb0ec

It was obviously a lie.4653bbdff3f0fb04

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I knew better than 9db7d69525 anyone that she was abfc5f7a60 lying without batting an 45fe4f9c8c eye.44c97de1955b8fff

‘But…’bf6fe059b93ee194

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There was no way 45b3802b29 to prove that it fa06a8e52f was a lie.08ce754d3ff53d18

She had cleverly mentioned 57661d5da9 the time when Tara daca9ccff8 was not around, so df480ea851 there was no one 3940caa742 to support my side.817377ea08ba906c

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If I recklessly e31c0b5016 accused her of c0e35943d0 lying here, I 1a705c5071 might end up cab63769e7 looking like the 5ddaa8804f weird one.79d9884f2ec5eea8

Because I was 22e0eb883b the most notorious 6d434aeaec troublemaker in the 3a5fb06a9f temple.44724225522ba0c7

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Whereas Diana, who was 46cbf92c1f known as a model 56b16fbda9 student, was currently crying 22ea46d11e with a face full 0ec6dde64b of genuine grief.1a037f35bd03c752

‘…What should I do? Just take the blame and move on? Or, should I cry too?’44ed5740d125c706

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While I bit my lip c6322cd492 and searched for a way ef1b5e8e49 to break through the situation, 8057c36a8c the Marquis, now looking cheerful, f02ba96acc shouted.7dbd3c428a48efd5

“If that was the case, you should have said so earlier, Diana!”f31c8744cc9e28b5

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“But I didn’t want to get Belze in trouble…”b2c4904f3c52df1b

“What trouble! Duke, did you hear that? The reason she brought the pecan pie was all because of that girl! So our Diana is not at fault at all…!”5b812c4bfd4f9c0e

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At that moment.8b380af792ca5c5e

Clatter! Bang!775511cc94a7424c

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With the sound of 437eeb1b4f a sliding door opening, b4f4ebd8e1 someone burst out of bcbf4771db the dressing room and ded430568f shouted.aa3f879f965753f0

“It’s all lies!”0a7155005c1a1548

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