Chapter 142 : The Smile of a Tyrant
╔══════════════╗ ⎾ Chapter 142 ⏌ ╚══════════════╝
When I came out from meeting Christian, cold sweat broke out all over my body and my bodice was damp.
A heavy sigh escaped my lips.
I thought as I looked back at the closed door. The cold gaze still felt like it was tingling the top of my head.
How on earth does she know? And how deeply involved is she?
It was around this time that I narrowed my eyes.
“Oh, I’ll show you around.”
A familiar voice came from behind. When I turned my gaze toward the voice, I saw Frederick, Edward’s gardener, standing there.
Perhaps because of the chemicals, his face became more leaden than before and his body became thinner.
Is Edward continuing to experiment? To make another Eden Blanc…?
Since they don’t want to be seen by anyone, they probably have set up an underground laboratory somewhere and are conducting research there without proper ventilation.
Seeing that it wouldn’t be strange if he collapsed right away, I unconsciously let out words of comfort.
“Research is good, but take care of your body too.”
As I stared at him, Frederick, who seemed to be wondering, frowned with bleary eyes.
Then he said:
“…I don’t think it’s time for the Duchess to worry about who or what.”
Ah, I kept my mouth shut.
Well, who am I worried about? Now I’m almost like Edward’s hostage.
And Frederick also probably knew everything and was making poison, but he had useless sympathy.
I smiled bitterly and responded.
“Sorry. I meddled for no reason.”
There was no intention to do so, but a cold voice leaked out. Then Frederick’s jaw tightened.
“Ta, follow me.”
He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye and then led me to Edward’s office.
I followed Frederick as he walked down the wide hallway with a dark face. Meanwhile, I couldn’t believe this situation at all, so my legs were shaking.
‘What on earth does Edward have in mind? What about Christian?’
After meeting Christian, I became more curious and scared of her true feelings. Because I don’t know what she has in her deep eyes.
As I let out a deep sigh, Frederick’s skinny shoulders trembled. But he soon slumped his shoulders and hurried his steps.
He, who had been walking along the floor with his worn-out shoes, suddenly turned around.
Then he looked at me with a lot of focus in his eyes. When I pulled my upper body back in surprise, Frederick opened his lips awkwardly.
“Wow, don’t rebel in front of His Highness the Prince. It will be good for your safety to please them as much as possible.”
Why are you saying something like that now? What if Edward kills me, he won’t be able to handle it?
“What happens at Barberin Castle does not leak out. Therefore….”
“I will take care of it.”
I decided to judge his thoughts and intercepted Frederick’s words rather coldly. Then his face crumpled horribly.
“Well, then you can do whatever you want.”
Frederick turned his head again. After that, there was no conversation between him and me.
How much longer did I walk?
It was only after nervously taking steps without realizing it that I realized that I had arrived in front of Edward’s office.
“May I tell you?”
I slightly shook my head in response to Frederick’s dry question.
I needed time to gather my thoughts before facing Edward properly.
For example, he is so determined that he does not waver no matter what kind of provocation Edward Windsor throws at him.
What kind of face did Edward Windsor have?
I even recalled the expression on his face when I saw him with old Mrs. Russell a little while ago.
He, who sometimes had a look of boredom on his face, seemed very happy about the current situation.
He even provoked me in front of Old Mrs. Russell, looking like he was waiting for me to scream in anger.
‘It seemed clear that I was old Mrs. Russell’s granddaughter.’
Now that I think about it, even at Mussen’s ball, people kept saying that I looked like old Mrs. Russell.
‘Even then, I deliberately tried to see my reaction…?’
I gritted my molars.
I guess he intentionally left us two in the same room because he wasn’t sure if I knew the truth at the time.
But this time too, there would not have been much profit.
So this time, there was a high possibility that I would secretly wonder whether I knew about it or not. Whatever the situation, you must use old Mrs. Russell and me appropriately.
The next thing to consider is the explosion that occurred in Mussen.
Therefore, I had to pretend as much as possible not to know that I was old Mrs. Russell’s biological granddaughter.
However, Edward Windsor is suspicious by nature. Fooling such a person is harder than picking a star from the sky.
‘…Can I do well?’
I kept wiping away the sweat that was welling up with my palms and held on to the doorknob of my office. After standing there for a while, Edward told me to come in.
Windsor’s office was so empty that it felt strange. In contrast to the interior of the inner room, which was filled with colorful things, it was entirely filled with neutral colors.
On one wall hung several women’s dresses, which, in contrast to this place, were usually extravagant.
Are you playing with dolls with women? And then to kill him…?
I let out a laugh.
Edward Windsor was looking out the window from a place with a clear view of Eden Blanc Garden. He got goosebumps when he saw the artificial green flowers in full bloom.
There must be people who died under Edward buried down there as well.
Otherwise, the rose would have been white and unstained by poison.
When I didn’t show any signs of interest, he turned around and looked at me.
“Isn’t the garden more beautiful than Mussen?”
“…….”
“I didn’t expect Johannes to give up on you so easily, but I was surprised that he let you go easier than I thought. I guess we’re not as affectionate and fond of each other as I thought?”
“I guess so.”
When I answered harshly, disappointment was visible on Edward’s face.
He took a deep breath and exhaled.
“What, it’s not fun. Why do you talk like that?”
“Then what should I answer?”
“Well? Why are you asking me that?”
Edward walked slowly and approached the front of the dress. Then he started rummaging through the dress with a very worried look on his face.
I couldn’t help but laugh at that sight.
“What kind of answer should I give to please you? Should I have asked this?”
“It’s not nice to talk that way, Duchess. So, will you survive in aristocratic society?”
Then she took out a green dress with lace trim and pretended to put it on me.
“…What are we going to do now?”
“Also! It happens again. Don’t ruin the mood like that. Pick a dress you like.”
Oh, I forgot that you shouldn’t expect Edward Windsor’s actions.
What is the question about old Mrs. Russell? He was acting completely different from what I expected.
Even though I couldn’t hide my embarrassment, Edward continued to pick out dresses.
“How about this?”
“…What is this now?”
“Take your pick. You don’t want to like something this flashy?”
The anger that I had barely suppressed burst out in an instant. I took a long stride and stopped in front of Edward.
“I asked what we should do now. Just joke around.”
Edward’s face, which had been smiling like a foolish person, became cold.
The cool face hidden behind the mask was revealed. He said, roughly pulling the back of my head.
“Hey, I told you to choose.”
