If one thought about it rationally, she was right. But if so, she couldn’t stay with Noel any longer. Would she be able to accept such a situation on her own? Now she could not bear to live without him.
Anxiety swelled up, and Irene felt guilty. As she sighed in anguish, Irene raised her head at the sound of a voice above her head.
“I will never let you go.”
“…Noel?”
Hearing his abrupt statement, Irene blinked.
“I’m telling you in advance because it seems like you’re worrying unnecessarily.” Noel smiled softly.
“...”
“No matter what my grandfather chooses, even if you have to leave the mansion, I will never leave you first. And I’ll hold on to you so you can’t even run away. I won’t let you go. If you want to leave, say it now. This will be your last chance.”
Was it an illusion? His tone and eyes seemed to have a strange obsession.
Irene bit her lips and nodded.
“Neither will I leave Noel?”
“Then it’s decided.”
Noel smiled, seemingly satisfied. Irene was silent, and she looked at him. Suddenly, this moment felt strange. Who would have known that a relationship that began as a contractual relationship would grow so deep?
“Thank you, Noel.”
-For being by my side. Being my strength. For being my only love. For making me love you more than words can express.
“I am more grateful.”
When he added that statement, Irene let out a short laugh.
She found it strange that as she talked to him, the tension that had been weighing her body down disappeared.
After arriving at the Grand Duke’s room, Irene followed the butler into the room.
The Grand Duke sat down on the upper seat, and Irene and Noel took their seats on the lounge. The experienced butler then served them tea.
“You did well to get that out.”
“Yes.”
After letting the butler go, the Grand Duke looked at Noel and Irene. The kindness he had with Irene was nowhere to be seen, and he was all but serious.
“Okay. What do you have to say about the darling? Before that, maybe Count Rixis is also involved.”
“Yes. Not only that, but Count Chase and... the imperial family are also involved.”
“If the imperial family is also involved, then the Duke of Windress must also be involved.”
“...Yes.”
Hearing the conversation between the two, Irene closed her lips. Speaking it out once again reaffirmed the seriousness of the matter.
Irene struggled to maintain the peaceful lunch as she stroked her trembling fingertips.
Hearing Noel’s words, the Grand Duke closed his eyes and said nothing for a moment.
After a while, he opened his mouth with a calm face.
“Okay. Tell me.”
“Noel, wait a minute. I will tell you.”
The moment Noel was about to part his lips, Irene spoke first. The line of sight of Noel and the Grand Duke turned towards her.
“It’s my story, so I’ll tell you.”
Irene looked straight at the Grand Duke. Noel looked at Irene, but Irene showed no hesitation because she had to do it herself.
“Can I tell you directly?”
“I want you to, Sweetheart.”
Afterwards, Irene took a deep breath and slowly began to tell the Grand Duke what she had been through and what she had learned.
The Duke listened to the shocking and unbelievable story without interruption.
♔♔♔
“This is what has happened so far.”
I told you everything.
She didn’t know how much time had passed, but seeing the rays of sunset beaming into the room through the window, it seemed it must have been ages.
Even after the story was over, the Grand Duke could not speak easily. The stillness in the air made the atmosphere tense, and Irene looked at the Grand Duke with her hardened face.
After a while, he slowly opened his mouth.
“Certainly… that’s an incredible story. I thought the Duke of Windress might have been the culprit for assassinating the former emperor, but you are the daughter of the former emperor’s wife, and Count Chase has thus far covered up that fact. Moreover, it is hard to believe that the current imperial family, Count Chase, and Count Rixis, are working together to attack this place.”
His eyes narrowed. Even so, it must be tragic to hear that his son was trying to attack him.
“Above all, spirits… It seems difficult to believe in such a mythical existence and to process this information all at once.”
“I know it will be hard to believe. It’s because I didn’t even know about the existence of spirits until recently. So, let me show you.”
It seemed more persuasive to witness it in front of his eyes than a hundred words.