Chapter – 27
I finally felt free from people’s gazes only around the time the guests gathered in the banquet hall had each finished their first dance and were slightly drunk.
I stepped out into the hallway, let out a sigh of relief, and looked around the Messena main estate.
‘It’s beautiful.’
It was a much more elaborate and proportionally harmonious building than I had expected.
I had seen many European castles, but it was hard to find architecture that combined both formal beauty and convenience to this degree.
It was a glimpse into the discernment of the late Duke Messena—my grandfather.
‘Beautiful is beautiful, but…’
Where is Leo?
Since he disappeared earlier without a trace, he might have gone to a completely different building.
A single servant provided a clue that made me think so.
“I think I saw him go that way.”
Although it was an uncertain tip, I entered another building’s second floor, following the path the servant indicated, thinking I’d also take a look around the castle.
On the second floor, there were several doors, all leading to a single room.
The room, which was that large, was filled with a dazzling array of antique artworks, and among those artworks—
‘Nothing but naked men.’
Of course, they were figures from mythology, but seeing even a general going to war bare-chested made it clear.
This is Luiza’s ‘collection.’
‘Probably too embarrassing to sell, I guess.’
That must be it, considering these remained even though she sold off everything that could make money.
It was somewhat absurd, but as I looked closely at the artworks, I thought these pieces weren’t merely sensational.
Judging by the discernment I’d gained from visiting numerous museums and art galleries, these were objects imbued with meaning and value.
They might be considered somewhat unconventional in this era, but in a hundred or two hundred years, their evaluation would undoubtedly change.
‘I want to take them with me.’
Looking at the artworks that weren’t even properly maintained, I was tormented by a desire to steal, but I held back because I didn’t want to cause trouble in this castle.
It was then.
As I looked at the painting above the fireplace, I suddenly realized.
‘The gazes are connected like a line.’
The traveler in the painting looks at the noblewoman, the noblewoman looks at the baron, the baron looks at the king, and the king—
I looked at the painting opposite where the king in the painting was looking.
This is kind of fun. This technique is often used in mystery stories—
As I was having such trivial thoughts, I gently pushed the painting on the opposite wall with my hand.
‘…….’
I guess it won’t move.
I tried to restrain my delusions, then suddenly noticed something like a scar on the polished floor. The moment my hand, following the end of that curved scar, touched the wall.
I felt a groove-like indentation in the wall.
‘Don’t tell me—’
Grind.
The wall moved.
So it was the wall that moved, not the painting.
I was staring with a bewildered face at the pitch-black cavity beyond the opened wall when a line from the novel passed through my mind.
<If Luiza hadn’t sold off the Messena main estate back then, the Emperor might have found the evidence of the previous emperor’s murder sooner. That evidence was hidden by the previous Duke inside the Messena main estate. Herotia, who bought the estate, didn’t know the evidence was inside, and Luiza didn’t know that the evidence was evidence.>
I had thought about looking for it if I came here—
I paused, startled, looking into the dark cavity.
That ‘evidence’ proves that Callinan murdered the previous emperor and becomes the most crucial justification for the 1st Prince to execute Callinan.
‘If I find and present that so-called evidence, it should reduce a death flag by -1 or so.’
But to do that, I have to go in there, and I’m really not feeling it.
Having been locked in closets, basements, and even freezers since childhood because of Shin Sung-hyun, I hated pitch darkness.
The only pitch darkness I liked was the blackouts in the middle of plays.
‘I think there was a candlestick in the hallway.’
I found a candlestick from the hallway and began examining the inside of the warehouse-like space.
I only thought about moving as quickly as possible, checking for any suspicious objects, and then getting out. I felt around the dusty interior with my hands.
But there was nothing there.
A perfectly empty space, except for an old carpet.
So, did that mean this wasn’t where the evidence was hidden?
I frowned.
And then—
Grind, Bang.
The back of my neck instantly prickled.
It was the sound of a door closing.
“……!”
I walked to the door, threw my body against it, and pushed with all my might.
“…….”
No way it would work.
Then, is there another passage inside?
‘…As if.’
Damn it.
It was clear. This was someone locking me in from the outside.
Feeling the darkness gradually creeping up my back, I felt my breath quickening.
My heart started beating faster and faster too.
<You arrogant brat. You stole my thing. Apologize. Say you’re sorry, and maybe I’ll let you out.>
Shin Sung-hyun’s voice echoed in my ears.
Of course, I never once said I was sorry. Shin Sung-hyun framed me for stealing his thing, but that wasn’t the truth. It was unfair.
But it wasn’t that I didn’t apologize because it was unfair.
Even if I said it, he wouldn’t let me out.
Telling me he’d let me out if I apologized was just a trick to make me more servile.
And this now is probably similar.
A scheme to tame me, to make me servile.
‘Catherine.’
I recalled her, who had been dealt a severe blow by the play and was glaring at me.
There was no description in the novel stating that she didn’t know about this place. So, she knew the location but didn’t know the evidence was hidden here.
‘It was a trap.’
No wonder the servant’s expression and tone reminded me of an actor giving a poor performance.
I just hadn’t thought the crazy host would go so far as to lock up a guest at her own party.
“……Ugh….”
When I was a child, it was mostly Shin Sung-hyun who let me out.
If I didn’t admit I was wrong, didn’t ask to be let out, and stayed still like a dead mouse, perhaps because it got boring, the door would crack open after about half a day.
<F*ck. I couldn’t even hear you breathing, thought you were dead. You liar.>
With a voice full of contempt.
So… just like now.
“…This is why stealing is bad, Master.”
I reacted to the voice coming from the other side of the wall I was leaning against.
Was there another door?
I looked at Leo, his face cold, and let out a rough breath. My body slumped without me realizing it.
Soon, Leo, whose face was barely visible due to the backlight, walked towards me.
In Leo’s hand, which had come very close, was a long sword.
“You… that…”
It was the moment I instinctively crouched.
I looked at the sword Leo was holding so elegantly.
His brightly smiling appearance was somewhat chilling.
Seeing his face often during recent practice, I had momentarily forgotten that this guy is the one who kills me.
“…I needed it to open that door over there, so I used a decorative sword.”
But did you have to hold it so realistically?
Swallowing those words, I spoke, trying to act as nonchalant as possible.
“You seem quite skilled with a sword.”
He sat down in front of me, wiped my sweat-drenched forehead, and laughed.
“I am. I also know how to kill people.”
“……How do you know something like that…”
“I learned.”
I flinched and backed away every time his hand touched my forehead.
Of all things, to be alone with this guy in a space where I could be killed without a sound.
I gritted my teeth.
Then Leo frowned.
As if telling me to relax my jaw, his fingers lightly stroked my chin.
“You know too, Master. Who I am.”
“……!”
I instinctively swallowed and looked up at him.
So, this is just a remark.
Just a random probe.
As I tried to comfort myself with that thought.
“You recognized me.”
Leo’s face hardened coldly.
“Liar.”
<Mother. You seem to be in a good mood.>
It was a coincidence that Leo, hiding in the central garden, heard Jeanne’s voice.
Jeanne had, of all things, left the door to the reception room right next to the central garden wide open, and Leo had sharp hearing.
<Of course I’m in a good mood. Since our party is such a success, you’ll soon be able to find a good match.>
At Catherine’s answer, Jeanne replied as if it was absurd.
<You were in a bad mood until a little while ago.> <That was…. Because of that wretched girl—> <That wretched girl hasn’t even disappeared, so why did your mood improve…. How curious.>
As soon as he heard Jeanne’s voice, Leo moved instinctively.
His complicated mind became filled with only one thought.
Where is Luiza?
Luiza Messena.
The person who ultimately made the real me emerge.
Leo had been thinking only about her, even in the garden.
Thanks to his immersion, which was on a completely different level than during practice, Leo realized.
How each line of the Prince’s resonated so deeply with his own situation.
That’s also why he had ended up revealing his true self entirely.
Being here at this party, acting in front of the faces of a few people who might not even know him, brought on a strange sense of nostalgia.
Especially since the Messena main estate was a place Leo had also visited when he was very young.
“…….”
Using that experience, Leo watched the building windows from the central garden. Soon, he was able to detect suspicious movement and followed the trail.
As expected, he could hear the voices of two guards there.
“Is this really okay?”
“If it’s not okay, are you going to disobey? I’d rather take a few hits from the delinquent lady than endure the Madam’s tyranny.”
Stupid fools.
They didn’t know how terrifying the crime of insulting a noble was. They only thought about bowing to their employer.
Leo, standing on the staircase landing, listened to the two guards’ conversation, then carefully reached his hand towards the wall beside the stairs.
His groping fingertips touched something.
A small groove.
He had discovered this a long time ago.
Back when Leo was still Leo.
The day he was invited to Luiza’s engagement anniversary party held at the Messena main estate as the 1st Prince.
<I gave you everything you wanted, and you steal! Tell me what you did wrong, and I’ll let you out then!>
<It’s a false accusation….! Jeanne is lying! Really…!>
Bang!
Along with an angry voice, the sound of something closing was heard.
Grind, the sound of a heavy object being dragged too.
