Chapter 291

The truth about the black map comes out in painful fashion.

This chapter is dedicated to Jess! Thank you for your support, every little bit counts!

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Episode 291. About 5 months (14)

"No way...!" 

"That's what I intended, but the mole didn't come for the map even on the day of the operation. It didn't matter to me that it didn't work. But... you, you found the exact location of the map and copied it. And now you're saying you found it in a history book beforehand? You really expect me to believe that now?" 

"...!" 

I was speechless. My thoughts were jumbled, and the details of the dream with Author Kim on the bench kept replaying in my head. 

And then I suddenly realized. I had interpreted the information in the dream the way I wanted to interpret it.

"I didn't want to think any of this. Honestly, you almost had me until halfway through because the look in your eyes desperately told me it was true. No. I wanted to believe it. I really wish the nonsense that came out of your mouth was true. If it was the truth, I wouldn't have to question why you started working with me. I want to believe that you only joined me to become Family Head." 

"I... I..."

The words stuck in my throat and wouldn't come out. Even if I told the truth now, it would be a lie the moment it left my mouth.  

"A year ago, during the Administrative Exams, you deliberately applied for the Military. And even after you went to Durben, you somehow managed to get transferred back to the Capital and work under me. I was foolish enough to believe your silver tongued lies, even though it would've been much easier to become a First Aide in the Inner Palace, and even easier to become Family Head, Tara!" 

The way he said my name was so foreign to me. He had never spoken to me so harshly before.  

I took a deep breath and opened my mouth to explain as calmly as I could, but his next words cut me off.

"When did it start, Tara...? When did you start associating with that filthy bastard Hans?" 

“... No, no. Really. No. I truly have nothing to do with that bastard Hans. Believe me, I really thought he made that map, Kyle. I didn't want you to get hurt.”

"Am I really that fragile? Did you underestimate me? A Sword Master? The truth that you chose to confess when cornered was that you remembered your past life…  You, the most rational person I've ever met, tried to deceive me with that kind of explanation. Did I overestimate you? Or did you underestimate me, thinking that I would be blinded by you and believe such a ridiculous story?" 

“I know it's hard to believe, and I know full well that it's unbelievable under the circumstances.”

"Stop! Those eyes, that face, that look that says you're telling the truth. Don't give me that pleading expression to deceive me!" 

His words were cutting. I flinched at his merciless attitude. He seemed unwilling to listen to anything I had to say, but I couldn't give up like this. 

"Kyle, what can I do to make you believe me? ... Yes, I know! I have a notebook where I recorded all of this a long time ago. It's in the desk drawer in my room. It details all of the events that happened in the history book..."

Knock! Knock! Knock! 

Startled by the urgent knocking, I cut myself off. Kyle just stared at me, unblinking and in pain. 

Then. 

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The knocking sounded more urgently. 

"Are you disobeying my order not to disturb me!?" 

"Your Highness! It's Chris. The Countess of Reese has been attacked...!" 

Before he finished his sentence, Kyle flung the door open to a startled and disheveled Chris. 

"Who?" 

Kyle's body was tense and radiated murderous intent. Sensing it, I stood up in surprise. 

Chris, who had taken a hesitant step back in fear, quickly answered, "It was clearly done by trained knights, even though they were dressed like thugs. They were aiming for Countess Diane, who was out for a walk, but the guards Your Highness appointed a long ago took care of it all. The Countess was a little shocked, but she's safe. Except..." 

"Except...!?" 

I focused on Chris with bated breath. 

"They say Lady Angela Benson, who joined her a few minutes before the attackers struck, was slightly injured." 

"How would they know where...!" 

Kyle stopped mid-sentence and whipped his head around to look at me, his eyes burning with rage. 

“You can't be serious, I would never do that!”

"The only people besides you who know that Diane is my only blood relative are the Emperor, myself, and my three captains. That leaves you." 

"Kyle, for God's sake, no!" 

"Kyle? You want to add blasphemy to the list?" 

It was then that I knew he had completely turned against me. 

"...!" 

My breath caught in my throat. It felt as though I was stuck in a tight web, a web I had woven myself. 

No further explanation or the truth would convince him. All those feelings that only I was privy to were instantly concealed in a hard shell. 

A shell that was even thicker than the original one. 

Even if I couldn't resolve the misunderstanding about the map right away, I still had to resolve the misunderstanding about Countess Diane. I wouldn’t be remembered as a wicked woman who tried to kill his closest family member.

I summoned up the last of my courage to tell him, but as they say, when it rains, it pours, and it didn't end there. 

"Chris, go and monitor the situation," Kyle commanded. 

Each word was full of suppressed anger, and until the end, he never took his eyes off my face.  

"Yes, Your Highness. By the way, did Lord Elias tell you about...?" 

"You mean there's another problem with that family?" 

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Explain."

"We didn't find a complete list of the 'Enlightened Gentlemen's Club' membership, but we did confiscate some documents, and Logan Elias was one of the executives of the Capital branch. He's not a Black Crown contributor, but there was a big speech not too long ago, and the last speaker was Hans Button. And we have records of him attending alongside, Secretary Tara." 

My eyes widened.

"... You may not believe me, but I had nothing to do with Reese or that club. Don't jump to conclusions...  Please trust me..." 

"Unfortunately, your lies are too big for me to trust you." 

His words pierced my heart like a knife. I thought my heart was unbreakable, but it cracked open and slowly crumbled to pieces. 

"Relay the situation back to House Elias, and have this woman taken to the Internal Affairs detention center for further investigation. She is not to see anyone but her lawyer without my permission." 

***

Kyle turned and headed for the door. Then he heard a voice behind him.

"...Go ahead."

Her voice was muffled and barely audible.

“What?”

When he turned around, she stood with her head held high, speaking slowly.

“I know you don't believe me now, but the truth will come out when the real culprit is caught, and you'll regret this moment.”

She said it so brazenly, without shedding a single tear, despite having so thoroughly betrayed his trust.

He didn't think he could feel any more angry than he did a moment ago, but sure enough, Tara Elias had pushed his anger to the next level.

Kyle strode toward her shameless figure. Her face was still lovely, her eyes defiantly upturned. His eyes were drawn to her beautiful, thin, white neck. He clenched his fist so tightly that his fingernails dug into his palms, afraid he might reach out and grab it.

"What will I regret? This moment? My foolish self for wanting to build a future with a woman who betrayed me? The night I whispered to you that I loved you? Or the fact that despite everything coming to this, I’m still stupidly wishing I never set that trap or made that map?"

She looked up at him, her eyes full of pity, and raised her hand as if to comfort him.

“I'm so sorry I didn't tell you about my situation beforehand. I didn't do it on purpose, but it's all my fault that your heart is broken because of it. If you'd just give me a little time... then... Aah!”

He gripped her thin, white wrist tightly, but only for a moment. It felt like it would snap with the slightest pressure, it would only take a little more strength. He felt pathetic.

"My Lady! What on earth is happening?"

Bernard, who had been listening with bated breath since the door had been opened, rushed forward. Walter and Chris both moved to block him. 

"If you take one more step, I'll kill you!"

Her beautiful eyes trembled wildly, full of earnest desperation that told him it was the truth. But now, he wouldn't be deceived.

“It's okay, Bernard, I'm fine...”

"Even in the midst of this, you're still worried about your knight. That's great. It must've been so easy to trick that faithful knight of yours into trusting you, since you fooled me into believing you cared for me even a little bit.”

“.....”

Her lips pursed as resentment filled her eyes.

Resentment?

Incredible.

“I won't fall for that look anymore.”

“Once this is all over, and you've taken a long, hard look, you'll see the truth.”

Triggered by her calm words, Kyle tightly grabbed her by the shoulders.

He glared into her accusing eyes and whispered low so only she could hear.

"You might as well admit the truth! Because you did it, Tara!"

“...It may be unbelievable, but it wasn't me.”

Glaring at her, Kyle released her shoulders and took a slow step backward.

It was as if his blood had gone from boiling hot to freezing cold in an instant, his emotions draining out from under his feet.

When he spoke, his voice was soft, even, and composed.

"I never thought I'd have to use this again, but I'll use it here. My personal favour."

“...!”

___

This chapter was edited collaboratively by all of us because we all needed to share the agony.

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