A World Where You All Are The Villains - Chapter 43.2
A little while later.
With Nancy’s help, I finished lightly dressing up and headed down to the first floor.
“Welcome, Your Ladyship!”
Whether by the Duke’s orders or not, the servants stood in line from the front door in neat uniforms.
Their synchronized, sharply angled bows felt a little overwhelming.
The floor, likely just cleaned, gleamed so brightly the marble looked slippery.
‘Who on earth is coming that they’re making such a fuss…’
Following the butler’s lead, I stood quietly in front of the main entrance.
Clatter, clatter!
Before long, the sound of carriage wheels and a flurry of movement came from outside.
Wearing a mildly bored expression as I waited, I quickly wiped my face blank and straightened my posture.
Bang!
The door burst open, and the Duke entered.
“Welcome back, Your Grace!”
The servants’ loud voices echoed once again.
Wearing a slightly awkward smile, I approached the Duke alongside the butler.
“Father, you’re back?”
“Yes.”
“By the way, who exactly is this guest…?”
I was about to ask what warranted all this fuss.
When the figure that followed shortly behind him froze me in place.
Jet-black hair and a uniform that seemed to darken the very lighting around him.
Eyes like an abyss, devoid of any visible irises or emotion, flashing coldly like a reptile’s.
And a stark white bandage, boldly wrapped around one side of his forehead.
“Hiya— Been well, Ducal Lady?”
Male Lead #4.
Serge Belnac raised one hand and grinned like a specter.
‘…You’ve got to be kidding me.’
Even though he clearly hadn’t used his abilities, my breath caught in my throat.
‘Why is he here…?’
It hadn’t even been half a day since I swore to avoid him no matter what.
And yet here he was, inside my own home.
My brain stuttered like it hit a lag spike.
And to make matters worse…
That rampage meter, which had somehow skyrocketed just a few days after the purification. What the hell.
“Edith, greet him. This is His Highness the Grand Duke of Belnac. Your Highness, this is my daughter.”
“I’ve already heard plenty about the Ducal Lady. Her reputation precedes her.”
“Aha ha… What are you doing? Hurry and greet him properly.”
The Duke, chatting warmly with the Grand Duke, gave me a sharp glare.
I had been blankly staring above the bastard’s head and finally snapped back to my senses.
“Greet…ings, Your Highness the Grand Duke. I am Edith Blake.”
I should’ve smiled, but the muscles in my face refused to cooperate.
With trembling lips, I barely managed to finish my greeting. The Grand Duke tilted his head and let out a low laugh.
“We just saw each other three days ago. Isn’t that greeting a little stiff?”
“……”
“Just relax, Ducal Lady. Like last time.”
“Like last time…?”
The Duke glanced between us with a puzzled expression.
“Your Highness, did you have a private conversation with my daughter at the banquet?”
“Well, I suppose you could call it that. Though we did more than just talk. We had quite a bit of fun—”
“E-Excuse me—!”
Shut up, please!
Panicking, I cut him off mid-nonsense and quickly asked,
“W-What brings Your Highness here today?”
Strangely enough, it was the Duke who answered.
“…Tch. You careless child. If it weren’t for His Highness, you wouldn’t have even known you lost your earring!”
“My… earring?”
“Yes. Thankfully, His Highness happened to find it.”
“That’s not mine.”
I denied it reflexively, without even thinking.
‘Father, please. Just this once, let it go. Please…!’
Desperately, I shot pleading glances at the Duke, begging for help.
“I’m sorry to have wasted your effort, but I haven’t lost anything…”
“I checked it myself. Of course it’s yours. It’s the one I gave you as a gift for the banquet.”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
The Duke hadn’t caught on to my signals at all, and the realization made my vision go dark.
‘Honestly… No one in this house is even remotely helpful.’
A quiet pfft of laughter brushed past my ears.
“Ah! No, no… Let’s head to the parlor, Your Highness!”
Completely oblivious, the Duke began trying to usher Male Lead #4 in like an honored guest.
That’s when it happened.
“Hmm… Duke, I’d like to personally receive thanks from the Ducal Lady.”
That devastating line dropped from the bastard’s lips.
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