"If you hadn't leaked these documents, why would Count Riegelhoff have picked out and purchased only the items listed in these documents? this is why I had you touch the fake document!"
In other words, they didn't trust me, so they gave me a fake document and let me organize it, and I fell into their trap and leaked these fake documents to Count Riegelhoff. Once again, it was absurd. Because I've never leaked this document. I even replied to the count's letter asking me to leak the documents.
"I have never leaked this document."
"Haha! you're amazing, too. If so, then how do you think this happened? And how did a document that only you can see end up in the hands of Count Riegelhoff?"
"It's not a document that only me could see, Duke."
"What?"
The middle of my chest was twitched. I felt like I was going to be futile in front of them, just as the original Edith had been thorough. But. . . . .But what else i can do besides protest.
"As your Excellency said earlier, this document could also be seen by the Duchess and Miss Lizzy. There must be someone else who made this document."
"They are all members of my family."
"I'm from this family, too. My paper name is no longer Edith Riegelhoff. And it was the Duke himself who sealed the document as a witness to the groom's side."
"Are you going to play with me now?"
"What is Miss Lizzy's name? Is it Lizzy Ludwig?"
To my provocative question, the air in the office seemed frozen.
"Now. . . . .are you trying to put your mistake on Lizzy?"
"Who saw that I leaked that document? If Count Riegelhoff knew what I was looking at, does this fact alone make me the culprit?"
I felt like I was going to cry. These people were treating me like an idiot. No, more like a dumb spy?
"I'll say it again. The Duchess knows that I was looking at those documents, and Miss Lizzy knows too. I also know that if something like this happened, I obviously would be the first person to be suspected. Do you think i wouldn't know that?"
For the first time, the duke's mouth was shut. Yeah, he thinks I'm an idiot who doesn't care that much.
"If you really didn't trust me that much, you shouldn't have left something like a fake document to me in the first place!"
Nevertheless, I know why they entrusted the job to me.
"Well. . . . .perhaps I just needed to speak the word out that I had leaked the document so you could put the pressure on Count Riegelhoff's. right?"
In fact, it was like that in the original. Edith doesn't know it's a fake document, so she steals the information inside the Ludwig's family and sent it to her father, so because of that, Edith who was found guilty about it, was put on probation. Of course, the Ludwigs were not harmed by the false information, and the Riegelhoffs were left with a bunch of unnecessary stuff. But I didn't. Moreover, how the hell did that document reach to the Riegelhoff family? I was angry and put Lizzy's name on it, but there was actually no reason for Lizzy to do that.
'As expected, you can't against the flow of the original?'
I felt like my anxious guess was getting stronger. And it was hopeless.
'No matter what I do, I can't avoid the ending of my death in Killian hand?'
With a possession like this, It would better not do it. I'd rather end my life with just rolling down the stairs! I tried to hold back my tears, but my tears flowed without stopping. Even if you cry, you'll only get bruised and get criticized for dragging your feet, like an idiot. . . . .
"Hmm. Is it really something you didn't do?"
But surprisingly, the duke asked in a softened voice. I just nodded my head.
"If you're so sure I did it, just hit me in the neck. Didn't I tell you earlier? I risk my honor and my life on it."
I was so angry that I couldn't even scream. I really just wanted you to cut my throat neatly.
"You're just said something unfiltered words with your mouth."
Suddenly, Killian interrupted. He looked at me with contempt and gritted his teeth. then Cliff spoke to the Duke in a calm voice.
"Father. Wouldn't it be better to do some more research first? Of course. . . . . The suspects should be prevented from going outside for a while."
The duke nodded heavily as if he were reluctant to accuse me of being the culprit.
"Edith is on probation for the time being. If you are indeed innocent, wait for the truth to be revealed."
And I was 'taken' to my room that way. Killian, who took me by himself directly, closed the door after making Anna and the knight wait outside. Then, without letting go of my forearms that held me tight, he pushed me against the wall.
"Are you losing your mind?"
"I wish that would've been the case."
"You think I'm joking right now!"
He stared at me as if he were going to eat me.
"Do you know what the Duke of Axel Ludwick's nickname in the battlefield? The guillotine without warning. In front of such a person, do you want him to cut your head?"
That's a big nickname. No, but what does it matter now? As I frowned, Killian clenched his molars as if he were barely holding back his anger.
"I understand very well that you have a lot of guts. But don't say anything about dying. It's cowardly to run away with death."
"So. . . . .does it matter to you if he takes my head or not?"
"If you commit a crime, you have to pay for the crime. If not, the truth will be revealed."
You think I'd kill myself to keep Count Riegelhoff safe. Now, I'm laughing out loud at this absurdity situation. It felt like I was talking to a wall.
"Well. As much any of you don't believe me, I won't trust any of you either. I think they're going to find a way to frame me as the culprit no matter what."
"What?"
"Is it not like that?, He were the ones who put the fake document into my hands, He the ones who informed me that the Count of Riegelhoff acted according to the documents. Also, he is the one who will investigate it and make a judgment by it. As for me, now I'm just stuck in this room with no other options than accepting and just following they judgment."
The arrogant man who believed that the Duke of Ludwig was flawless frowned as if in displeasure. But he's not a stupid man, so it was enough to make him think twice. He just stared down at me with his morals clenched, then barely managed to open his mouth and muttered.
"I promise, on my honor, that I will never investigate biasedly. I'll also tell you how the work is going on from time to time."
I couldn't tell how he felt. In fact, I didn't have much depth right now.
"Do whatever you want. Oh, but about what are you saying earlier. . . ."
As he looked at me with a frown, I said with a feeling of self-destruction.
"Are you confident that you won't be biased even if Lizzy and I are on the suspect list at the same time?"
His mouth was closed. I pulled my forearm out of his loose hands.
"That's what it means to be unbiased, Killian. That's why I don't trust you."
He tried to say something, but I didn't want to hear anything.
"I'm so tired. so just go back."
With those words, I walked to the dressing room. Without looking at him.
***
"Is it cowardly to run away with death? Do you know how it feels to be someone who even thought of that?"
Locked in the room, I was reproducing my anger while thinking over what Killian had said. Killian seems to mistake me for trying to defend my family's honor with death, but I just wanted to claim my innocence in that situation where no one believes me purely.
"You're such a bad guy. Is it all because of that handsome face? Or is it because he has a good body, fits, and is in good shape. Tsk. Thinking about him makes me want to see him again! damn it."
I really hate this world where faces are probable. I want to hate Killian, but if I think of his face and body, it's really hard to hate him.
'Marriage based on looks doesn't last 3 years? no, it doesn't. I still think my husband is handsome even after 15 years of marriage. When you have a fight with your husband, but seeing your husband face, your anger will melt away. I didn't expect that the day would come when I could understand the Internet story and say that, 'Handsome man is the best.'
But with this situation, where my handsome husband has no intention of appeasing me, it's natural to feel angry and upset.
"Hah. . . . . I don't mind being pointed out for being cowardly, I just want to die. If that's the way it's supposed to be, why would I suffer?"
Punching my pillow in frustration, I sighed heavily and swept my face with both my hands. This life is annoying, too, but it's my past life that was more like a dog than this. My life is always stressful, I had a eldest brother who always comes to me and takes my money whenever he can, i had a sick body, my ex-boyfriend who cheated on me or ignored his promises, my acquaintances who look down on me and stab me in the back. . . . .In the 28 years that I lived in that life, I never thought about dying. But I have a memory of protecting myself from suicidal thoughts from my past life. It was at the time when I shared a hospital room with leukemia patients the same age as me.
***
"Huh. . . . .Ugh. . . . .hmph. . . . ."
The day I found out that my brother's bone marrow matched me, I lay down on the bed alone and cried endlessly. It wasn't because I was happy
"Oh, no, i don't want to! that's fucking painful! just tell her to die!"
It was because My brother's voice telling me to die without any hesitation in front of me keep coming into my mind.