9.

It seems my strategy had quite an effect.

Just by looking at Lucian’s livelier expression, it’s evident.

‘Good.’

I smiled inwardly, satisfied with the outcome, and urged him once more.

“Perhaps it would be better to thoroughly confirm the contents of the letter?”

“…”

“Give it a read.”

Lucian grumbled and pulled out the letter from the envelope.

His blue eyes quickly scanned the letter with a fierce intensity that made them tremble.

Afterward, Lucian’s expression began to change rapidly.

Anger, despair, frustration, and enmity.

Numerous negative emotions flickered across his beautiful face.

I calmly observed his reactions.

Of course, I had anticipated such responses from Lucian from the beginning.

So, that letter was evidence.

Evidence proving that Lucian’s untrustworthy cousin had betrayed him.

Moreover, I had a rough idea of what the letter contained.

‘Roughly, it must have been a request to keep Lucian’s presence at the academy a secret.’

And in return, Marquis Craig would send money to the academy once a month.

Thus, Lucian was currently the most expensive student at Rose Cross Academy…

Anyway.

Crunch!

Having read the letter to the end, Lucian crumpled it in frustration, unable to contain his anger.

Even then, Lucian was clearly furious as he tore the letter to shreds.

“You bastard!”

Lucian ground his teeth in anger.

As I looked at the pieces of the torn letter fluttering down like dead butterflies, my vision blurred…

That letter… I had secretly stolen it from Victor’s study.

Moreover, the letter was given to Victor directly by Dante, or rather, it was intentionally left as bait to provoke Victor.

The incident where “Original Elze” received a severe scolding from Victor and was heavily criticized by Dante was also related to that letter.

So, after showing the letter to Lucian, I had intended to return it to the study before Victor came back…

Oh, life.

But well, it didn’t matter much.

I hadn’t been careless enough to get caught by Victor.

“Did you perhaps forge this letter?”

But then, Lucian fiercely questioned me.

Facing his anger-shining blue eyes, I tilted my head playfully.

“Do you really think I forged it?”

“…”

He seemed to be deeply shaken.

Seeing Lucian biting his lips so hard that they bled, I assumed he might have already known.

Until the moment Lucian was brought to this academy, he had a very close relationship with his cousin.

I heard they often exchanged letters to check on each other.

‘So, you must have figured it out.’

The style of writing, the habits of using the pen, and even the way he concluded the letter…

Everything about this letter must have resembled the familiar features of the letters Lucian had received from his cousin many times.

“Yeah… You’re right.”

As evidence, Lucian muttered in a voice filled with anger, “If this letter wasn’t written by my brother, it would feel even stranger.”

“…”

“How could my brother do this to me? How?”

Lucian shouted as if he were vomiting blood.

Silently watching the furious Lucian, I stood up from my seat.

Then I brought the food tray that was placed on the table.

Cream soup with finely chopped meat and various vegetables, fresh milk, and a sweet pudding for dessert.

Considering that Lucian had been hungry for a long time, all the dishes were prepared with a soft texture that would be easy for him to digest.

I picked up a spoon and took a spoonful of soup.

Well, it had cooled down a bit, but it seemed edible.

“What the hell are you doing?”

In that moment, Lucian’s anger, which had risen to the top of his head, was momentarily forgotten, replaced by an incredulous expression.

That must be natural.

While Lucian was frantically betrayed before his eyes, I was calmly observing the food.

I casually replied, “I’m just tasting the food one by one.”

“Why on earth?”

“Well, I have to prove to the Duke that the food is not poisoned.”

At my strange answer, Lucian’s pupils slightly widened.

Regardless, I elegantly lifted the glass of milk and took a sip.

“Clank.”

As I put the milk glass back down, the sound of the tray and glass colliding rang sharply.

Lastly, I touched the custard pudding.

After taking a bite of the pudding, I glanced up and met Lucian’s gaze.

“What will you do?”

“…”

Lucian met my unwavering gaze with a stiff expression.

I shrugged lightly and spoke.

“The Kalleid Duchy is one of the most prestigious families in the Empire.”

“…I don’t need you to tell me such obvious things.”

Lucian said, gritting his teeth.

“The honor of the Kalleid Duchy is something I, as the head of the family, know best.”

“That’s right. You are the rightful and sole owner of the Kalleid Duchy.”

I nodded.

Then, in a calm voice, I asked, “But now, that precious Kalleid Duchy has been taken away by Marquis Craig.”

“What?”

“Do you plan to stay like this, helplessly, without taking any action?”

Lucian froze in place.

At the same time, my smile grew slightly deeper.

“Or do you plan to escape from this dreadful boarding school and reclaim the family that was taken from you?”

Inside the cell, it was now so quiet that even the sound of a falling needle could be heard.

Only the stirring in my heart continued, tempting me.

“To Marquis Craig, who greedily coveted what belonged to you without even knowing the subject….”

Before the young man with a face as cold as ice in front of me, it seemed like he had forgotten how to breathe.

To him, I calmly concluded my words.

“Will you choose revenge?”

With that, I pushed the food tray, which I had taken small bites from, in front of Lucian.

“The choice is yours, Your Grace.”

Perhaps my whisper sounded devilish.

But, you see, that’s how a demon operates.

When dealing with someone I’ve targeted for corruption, it’s best to use their most desperate desire as bait.

To dangle that bait right under their nose, enticingly, seducing them…

Lucian’s eyes blazed with intensity.

“Fine, I admit it. Your words make sense.”

As he retorted, Lucian clenched the utensils in his rough grip.

“Kalleid is mine.”

His icy voice lowered.

“…It can’t be taken away from me by anyone.”

Yes, that’s right.

I responded with a satisfied smile.

* * *

After that, Lucian quickly recovered.

It seemed that the motive of revenge gave him the strength to bounce back.

Anyway, from my perspective, it was a satisfactory outcome.

Then, one day, Lucian, who reluctantly emptied his plate under my watchful eye, put down his spoon and opened his mouth with a bored expression.

“I have something I’m curious about.”

“What is it?”

“On the first day we met, you said that you were on my side.”

…Yes, I had said that.

Afterward, Lucian never mentioned it again, and I had completely forgotten about it as well.

Lucian asked again, “Why did you say such a thing?”

“Um, well…”

I couldn’t bring myself to say that it was to manipulate you and use you as a stepping stone for my escape.

…So I searched for an excuse.

Fortunately, Lucian’s words were not yet finished.

“I understand that you want to live a life of your own, to be free. Being by Marquis Offenheir’s side… is indeed dangerous in many ways.”

After all, Dante is surrounded by numerous criminal suspicions and his notorious reputation with women.

And most of those suspicions are true.

“But despite knowing all of that, you still decided to become Marquis Offenheir’s lover, right?”

As Lucian hesitated, I filled in the words for him.

“You said you are passionately in love with him.”

Unable to continue his words, Lucian remained silent for a moment.

“I head it the story, you… I mean…”

“I am passionately in love with him.”

I finished the sentence on behalf of Lucian.

However, what couldn’t be helped was the fact that my heart was trembling and throbbing.

‘Is this… the emotion of the original Elze?’

In the original story, Elze was described to harbor a fanatical affection for Viscount Offenheir.

Why is it that just hearing the name of the person you love can sway and stir you so much?

Elze’s feelings for Dante were a twisted kind of emotion, so putrid and foul-smelling that it couldn’t be sweetly labeled as love…

On the other hand, Lucian wore a somewhat perplexed expression.

“Well… There are rumors like that.”

“Well, it’s not entirely baseless gossip.”

I shrugged my shoulders, nonchalantly maintaining my attitude despite hearing rumors about myself.

Lucian’s expression became rather peculiar as he observed my demeanor.

Meanwhile, in my mind, I was frantically calculating.

‘Is it the right time now?’

It was the right moment to offer Lucian a new bait.

I reconsidered Lucian’s behavior up to this point.

His willingness to entrust his treatment to me, his tone of speech becoming much milder compared to the first encounter, the trust he gained by bringing Lord Craig’s letter.

Moreover, he is now showing interest in me, or rather, Elze, and her situation.

In other words, Lucian is treating me not as a ‘villainess’ but as a ‘human being.’

If that’s the case…

‘Should I think of it… somewhat positively?’

To take advantage of Lucian’s somewhat accommodating attitude and lead him into a more favorable position…

I subtly opened my mouth.

“Shall I tell you a secret?”

“A secret?”

Lucian responded with a doubtful tone.

Still, he couldn’t hide his curiosity, pretending not to be interested.

After all, at the age of eighteen, one is naturally curious about the word ‘secret.’

I calmly continued.

“I want to escape from this place.”

In an instant, Lucian’s pupils widened.

A bait I threw to Lucian.

And that bait’s true identity was nothing but ‘my sincerity.’