I Caught the Villain’s Attention - Chapter 110
Only Krnovel
I Got the Villain’s Attention Episode 110 – #110.
After finishing breakfast, I was busy preparing to go out.
It was just washing, changing clothes, and getting dressed, but I felt like I put more effort into it than usual.
Since the defendant in this trial was Duke Franz, it seems that most of the central nobility was present to observe it.
It seemed as if the maids of the Duke of Berzel, including Abina, were dressing me up more diligently, as if some kind of instruction had been given.
It seemed that he felt that since he was going to appear before the nobles after the ball, he should not be looked down upon.
Since everyone had serious expressions on their faces, I naturally became nervous too.
“It’s done, miss.”
Only after Abina finished speaking was I able to properly check the mirror.
Beyond the mirror was a person so beautiful it was hard to believe that she was my old self.
“and…….”
It felt different from the ball.
I felt awkward about my lonely appearance, so I just looked in the mirror for a while.
I was satisfied with my usual appearance, but I kept looking at myself when I was all dolled up because it felt different.
“Do you like it?”
“I like it. How can you be so talented? I couldn’t even dream of it.”
Abina smiled proudly as she burst out in admiration.
“It’s time to go out now. Everyone must be waiting.”
“Right. I should go, then.”
At Abina’s words, I started walking hurriedly.
I really liked the way the hem of the dress swayed with every step I took.
Click, Abina opened the door and the waiting room came into view.
“I came out… … .”
Alex, who had been turning around reflexively at the sound, stared at me without finishing his sentence.
“How is it? Isn’t it pretty?”
I smiled and laughed with a new feeling.
But there was no answer from Alex.
“Alex?”
I called out to Alex, who was still looking at me with a blank expression. Then Alex belatedly came to his senses and smiled faintly.
“You’re usually pretty, but you look even prettier today.”
“Isn’t it? It’s really amazing. How can someone be so dexterous? When I look in the mirror, I think it’s not me, but someone else.”
Alex laughed softly as she started to act cute.
I thought Alex might be a little nervous because it was the trial day, but looking at him now, it seemed like that wasn’t the case at all.
“Is the time okay?”
“It’s a little tight. Let’s talk on the way.”
“yes.”
Alex politely extended his hand toward me. Now, it didn’t feel awkward for him to extend his hand for an escort. I guess I’m used to it.
As I finished thinking, I carefully placed my hand over his.
Alex made me put my hand on his forearm and then walked straight out into the hallway.
“I heard that many other nobles are coming too. Is that true?”
“Yes. This is no ordinary case. As you know, Claire, all three dukes are involved. The accused is Duke Franz. This case will draw the attention of not only the central nobility but also the Empire.”
“I guess so.”
I wondered if I could attend a trial like that.
“Are you nervous?”
Then suddenly Alex asked me.
I looked up to see Alex, and saw him looking down at me with affectionate eyes.
When his eyes met mine, he smiled faintly and then looked straight ahead again.
“It can’t be helped. There was something that happened when I met Duke Franz, and I’m also afraid of what he’ll do at the trial. Also, I wonder if I should get involved since other nobles are coming.”
“Shall we go back?”
“Huh? No, now?”
When I asked back, surprised by Alex’s unexpected words, Alex shrugged his shoulders.
“You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. I don’t want to force you.”
“still…….”
I kept my mouth shut, unable to find a word to refute Alex’s statement.
As he said, I didn’t have to go.
As a commoner, I wasn’t even qualified to be a witness.
That’s why I went this time as an audience member.
It wouldn’t have been a bad choice to just give up and not go here.
Because if I went there for no reason, I didn’t know what problems might arise.
but…….
“No. I want to go. I want to go.”
I didn’t want to avoid it.
The thought that it had been a mistake to leave the room on the day of the confrontation with Duke Franz kept lingering in my head.
It was nice to walk around the market with Alex back then, but I shouldn’t have run away like that. For Alex’s sake.
But at that time, I was not sure. The reason was that I thought that if Duke Franz was released, the risk would increase.
This time, I wanted to see Duke Franz’s trial with my own eyes without avoiding it.
Alex stared at me for a moment at my words, then nodded.
“Do that. But if it seems too much, just tell me.”
“all right.”
Alex started walking again. I followed his footsteps and came out into the lobby.
When we arrived at the portico of the Duke of Berzel, the carriage was already ready.
Before getting into the carriage, I turned around to look at the mansion. I caught sight of Christine looking in my direction through the second floor window.
I smiled faintly at her, though I’m not sure if she could see it.
As soon as I got on the carriage with Alex, the carriage started moving at a slow pace.
Now that I think about it, I realized that Miss Veronica would have moved with me if it had been normal, but she wasn’t there in the hallway or beside the carriage. It seemed like she had left while I was getting dressed.
“Did the young lady go first?”
When I asked Alex to confirm, he hesitated.
“Yes. Because I have work to do. There’s a lot to prepare.”
“You’re not late because of me, are you?”
“Claire, you worry more than I thought. Don’t worry about being late. If you were late, you wouldn’t be going at this speed.”
“That’s fortunate.”
Alex let out a sigh of relief and laughed helplessly.
***
Fortunately, I was able to arrive at the courtroom before the trial time.
Beyond the waiting room, a group of people who appeared to be nobles could be seen gathered in groups of three or four, talking.
As expected, many nobles seemed to have come to observe this trial.
“Go this way.”
Alex glanced over at me and whispered to me as if he was not interested.
“Can I not go over there?”
“Not yet. For now, the trial comes first. There’s no reason to waste your energy on useless things.”
“Are you here, Your Majesty?”
As I was walking and talking with Alex, the security guard I had seen earlier greeted Alex. He then looked at me, paused for a moment, and then greeted me politely.
“The young lady is here too. I will bring her this way.”
As we followed the staff with Alex, we came across a separate gallery that could seat two people.
Alex pulled out a chair so I could sit down.
As I sat down, Alex also sat next to me.
“Shouldn’t Alex go too?”
“Once it starts. It’s okay for now.”
After finishing speaking, Alex placed his hands on the table, rested his chin on it, and stared at me intently.
“… …Why? Is there something on my face?”
It wasn’t the first or second time that Alex had seen me, but this time, he felt different, so I asked him.
“You asked.”
“Really?”
When I asked back in surprise, Alex reached out his hand toward my face. Then he gently touched my cheek with his hand.
“What should I do if I keep walking around like this?”
“yes?”
As I froze in shock at Alex’s incredible words, Alex laughed as if he found it amusing.
“You were just kidding, weren’t you?”
“No? I’m always sincere.”
“… … .”
In fact, Alex’s voice was extremely serious.
Rather, I was so embarrassed by his words that my face turned red.
“Were you always that sly?”
How can you say something like that so naturally without your expression changing at all?
When I asked, feeling the air getting hotter, Alex frowned as if thinking.
“Well, I never thought it would be like this before I met you.”
The Alex I know in the original certainly wasn’t like this. He was a bit more sensitive and sharp.
“You changed me.”
I felt the back of my neck tense up for some reason at the soft whispering.
“In the past, I would not have forgiven Kruger or accepted Christine Roblin at his request.”
“Is it a positive change?”
Alex thought for a moment at my cautious question and then agreed.
“huh.”
While the conversation was going on, the courtroom door, which had been closed the whole time, opened and quite a few people started coming inside.
It seemed like the audience was finally starting to arrive.
One by one, the empty seats began to fill. Among them, I saw faces I had seen at the ball before.
Then the door directly opposite the one through which the audience had entered opened, and the defendant in this trial, Duke Caron Franz, entered.