Chapter 68
“His Plan (3)”
Laperre liked things that were fun and cheerful.
Whatever it was.
So he didn’t want to do boring or unpleasant things.
Life was not too short to spend only on fun things?
That’s why Laperre thought this very moment felt uncomfortable.
Even he didn’t want to say the words he had to deliver now.
“…Is the medicine complete?”
“Actually, making the medicine isn’t that difficult.”
At Rebellia’s careful question, he shrugged and answered.
A glance at her face showed many emotions.
Regret, reluctance, sadness—emotions not very pleasant.
“You’re trying to hide it, but… it shows too much.”
“What?”
“No, nothing.”
When he shook his head as if it were nothing, Rebellia stretched and said:
“Well, fine. Actually, I thought you’d come earlier, but you were later than I expected, so I was worried.”
“Worried?”
“Of course. I wondered if you made it too young and forgot the recipe.”
“You’re the best at underestimating me.”
When he sighed exaggeratedly, Rebellia chuckled.
For a moment, the feelings he saw earlier seemed like an illusion. Seeing her laugh so easily, Laperre felt a strange weight in his chest.
It was then.
“Lord Laperre.”
“Mm.”
“The plan you mentioned before—are you doing it today?”
Laperre rolled his eyes, smiling mischievously.
“Would you be okay with that?”
“What?”
“If we carried it out right now.”
Rebellia shrugged after a pause.
“Well, it can’t be helped. It’s not like I didn’t know.”
“And since you came all this way, it must mean it can’t be delayed anymore.”
“…”
“You’re capable, Lord Laperre.”
Her playful words sounded like comfort.
“Sometimes I think, Lady, you’re far too perceptive.”
“Maybe because I’ve lived on scraps of awareness for more than twenty years. Hard to pretend not to notice.”
Laperre thought the sight of Rebellia sitting in sunlight was dazzling—more than the real Heidi Eliana she was pretending to be.
“Are you okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“It may only induce a coma, but it won’t be painless. It will hurt as much as drinking real poison.”
“…”
“You’re not only kidnapped in Heidi’s place, you’re also threatened with death.”
She looked at him blankly, her blue eyes like the sky. Laperre frowned.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I didn’t think I’d ever have such a normal conversation with you.”
“…Is that a new kind of insult?”
“I’m joking.”
She smiled mischievously.
Then she tapped the book she had been reading before looking straight at him.
“It sounds like I’m pitiful, but I brought it on myself.”
“What do you mean?”
“Did you forget? It was my plan to be kidnapped instead of Heidi.”
“…”
“Of course, this wasn’t my plan exactly.”
His eyes dropped to the book before her:
[The History of Esperos]
She claimed she didn’t expect this outcome, but perhaps the one most affected by her reckless plan was Calier.
“Lady.”
“Yes.”
“If you want, you don’t have to leave.”
“What?”
“The Tower Master is fickle. If I say I don’t want to keep my promise anymore, that’s that.”
Maybe Rebellia didn’t have to leave Esperos after all. If Calier knew the hostage had been switched, he could fix it.
“That’s tempting, but you don’t have to.”
“Why? You think I can’t?”
“No. I just don’t want you to.”
“…”
“Even a fickle Tower Master can’t be someone you can’t trust.”
Her bright smile left him breathless. He quickly turned his face away.
“The mouse worries about the cat.”
“Maybe she thinks it’s a cat that won’t eat her.”
As she tidied the scattered books, she muttered:
“Thinking of going outside to live, everything feels dark. Maybe because I haven’t decided where to go yet.”
“Any plans?”
“Plans?”
“Yes. Zeros will be difficult because of Piace and Heidi. Hestonia too, because of Calier. At least have a plan for where and how to live.”
“I don’t.”
“What?”
Her casual reply shocked him.
“I’ve never had plans succeed anyway.”
“So this time you didn’t plan at all?”
“There’s a saying: the perfect plan is no plan.”
“…”
“Don’t worry too much. Or… would you lend me some money?”
“I’ll refuse. I doubt you’d ever pay it back.”
Her pout at the sharp refusal made him suddenly think—he wanted to see the real Rebellia Piace again.
“This is just a question.”
“…?”
“What if you told Calier the truth? That you’ve always been Rebellia Piace, not Heidi.”
“Is that like asking for a one-way ticket to heaven?”
He frowned deeply.
“Forget it!”
“Why bring it up then…”
“I said forget it!”
Laperre thought what he felt was regret. Regret that his time with her might soon end.
He stood, telling her:
“Five days from now, at dawn, Heidi will come. She’ll hand you a whistle. You know—once you bite it, you’ll die.”
“…”
“When the servants find you the next morning, it’ll be too late. But they won’t be able to do anything anyway. They’ll just learn the hostage wasn’t Heidi.”
He wondered if he’d been too harsh, but it was too late.
“Then five days from now—”
“W-wait!”
Rebellia grabbed his clothes. After hesitating, she said softly:
“Can we change the plan, just a little?”
Calier stared at Heidi’s tightly closed chamber door.
Four days ago, after his confession, she blushed red—and since then, she had avoided him openly.
Leaving before dawn for the library, returning only after drugged sleep.
He let her be, knowing she was embarrassed by his sudden confession. But still—
“I didn’t think she’d avoid me this openly.”
He hadn’t imagined that sharing his heart, realized only after nearly dying, would burden her so much.
Maybe it was better to keep silent?
But then, her chamber door opened.
Moonlight poured in through the window beside her, and she flinched when she met his gaze.
“Heidi?”
Carefully, he called. She approached, touching his hand nervously, then lifted her eyes.
“I came because I have something to say.”
“What is it?”
“Mei says since the moon is bright tonight, tomorrow’s weather will be good.”
“…?”
“So…”
Lips pressing nervously, she met his eyes.
“Let’s go on a date tomorrow.”
