I Caught the Villain’s Attention - Chapter 115
Only Krnovel
I Got the Villain’s Attention Episode 115 – #115.
Arriving at the Duke of Berzel’s residence, I was guided by a servant to the reception room.
Even though the outcome of Duke Franz’s trial was as he had hoped, the atmosphere was tense. It was because of Count Maynard and his wife.
Alex shouldn’t have had to act so awkwardly in front of the Count, but with this incident involving Miss Veronica getting hurt and something else related to me, he had no choice but to bow down and come out to Count Maynard.
In the heavy silence that followed, it was Count Maynard who spoke first.
“First of all, I’m glad that Duke Franz, the mastermind behind the incident, seems to have been justly punished. But I couldn’t even imagine that he had done so many things.”
“Everyone seemed surprised.”
“Isn’t the Duke Franz known on the outside not that kind of person?”
“… … .”
“You must have had a hard time.”
“No. Rather, I feel sorry that Lady Veronica was attacked because of me.”
“That thing… … .”
Count Maynard, who had started speaking with a displeased expression, soon let out a long sigh and shook his head.
“Well, that’s fine. It’s not your fault, Duke, so what’s the point of troubling you any further? As the trial showed, it was all Duke Franz’s doing.”
“I’m glad you understand.”
“Rather than that, I think it would be better to talk a little more about what we talked about earlier.”
“You were talking about Ramen Claire earlier, right?”
“you’re right.”
After a brief pause, Count Maynard finally spoke.
“I understand how you feel about Claire. You would like to discuss adopting Claire from the Maynard household.”
“……yes.”
It was the first time I saw Alex so nervous.
Of course, I was also nervous and anxious, and my heart was pounding so hard that it felt like it was going to burst out of my mouth.
“Adopting Claire is not a difficult task for us. My wife Helena will not object to it. She will be happy about it.”
Count Maynard glanced at his wife. She smiled softly in agreement. Then, realizing that I was looking, she smiled back at me. It felt as if she was telling me not to worry.
“There is nothing wrong with incorporating Claire into our family and making her a relative of the Duke of Berzel. Who would dare to refuse a relationship with the Duke who has amassed wealth, power, and everything?”
“then-.”
“But I want to make sure.”
It was Count Maynard who cut off Alex, who had just opened his mouth to speak at the positive sign.
“What is that?”
“Does Duke Alex truly love Claire?”
Count Maynard asked Alex in a low voice.
Alex seemed to hesitate for a moment at the unexpected question, then nodded in agreement.
“Yes, I love you.”
Alex’s tone was firm and confident.
Hearing those words, my heart started beating faster again and my face felt hot.
“Are you sure that your heart will not change?”
Count Maynard asked Alex again, seemingly hesitant to believe his words despite Alex’s assurance.
Alex remained silent for a moment, but his gaze remained unwavering and calm.
After a while, Alex spoke up.
“I can see why you are worried. There is nothing more difficult to believe than a promise of unchanging feelings. But I can promise you that from now on, I will think of Claire as my own body.”
Count Maynard looked up at Alex’s words, which seemed to come out after deep thought.
Even though the gaze must have been burdensome, Alex did not avoid it and stared into Count Maynard’s eyes.
Even though it was just that, my hands felt sweaty.
“Good. I know exactly what Your Highness thinks of Claire.”
Count Maynard stopped talking and turned his gaze to me.
Count Maynard asked me a question in a very different tone from the one he used to address Alex.
“Claire, can you tell me what you think?”
“Me?”
“Yes. It’s okay. Just tell me the truth. Isn’t the most important thing in making this decision the Duke of Berzel and your thoughts?”
That was true. Alex wasn’t the only one involved in this conversation.
I was included too.
I swallowed dry saliva under the gazes that were pouring in. Then I took out the answer to the question that had been asked of me all this time.
“… … I like Alex too.”
I liked Alex so much that I had to admit it to myself.
At first I wasn’t sure.
Whenever I see Alex, my heart races. I wonder if it’s because I’m afraid of him. Or if it’s because I’m reflexively attracted to him because of his handsome appearance.
But it wasn’t until I was kidnapped by Duke Franz that I realized it.
In that dark and scary situation, the first person that came to mind was Alex. In my fear, no one else came to mind.
I even wished so strongly that if someone were to save me, it would be Alex.
But more than anything, I was anxious and distressed because I had no confidence that he would save me.
Because realistically, there was no reason for Alex to feud with Duke Franz to save me, the maid.
However, Alex led his soldiers and stormed into Duke Franz’s residence to rescue me, defying my thoughts.
He did not hesitate, even though it could have led to war.
Alex’s voice, still heard in a desperate situation, was clear.
It was only then that I realized that I had secretly been in love with Alex.
“Won’t you regret it? Even if you are adopted into our family, it might be a difficult path for you.”
I smiled faintly at the worried voice of my wife.
“I might regret it. But I think I’ll regret not making this choice more than I will regret making this choice.”
I felt relieved when I let my feelings out.
Count Maynard and his wife, who had been listening to me, looked at each other. Then they both laughed softly.
“Yeah. We had an idea from what Veronica said, but hearing it from your own mouth makes us feel a little better.”
I turned my head belatedly and looked at Miss Veronica. Miss Veronica shrugged her shoulders as if nothing had happened, picked up her cup, and drank her tea quietly.
“Very well. Now that I have heard the opinions of Duke Berzel and Claire, there is no need to hesitate. Then, I will prepare the procedure for adopting Claire into our family.”
“Is that all?”
Alex asked Count Maynard, who said he would make preparations.
Count Maynard tilted his head as if wondering what more could be needed.
“Then what else should I do?”
Alex seemed even more confused by the following question, his lips twitching and then he shut them tightly.
Count Maynard nodded, as if he understood belatedly.
“Are you expecting me to ask you something like what our family would gain if we became in-laws with the Duke of Berzel?”
“… … .”
Alex did not answer, but Count Maynard could not have been unaware that his silence meant assent.
“You don’t have to prepare anything. I would rather you not prepare such things.”
Alex frowned, seemingly unable to understand Count Maynard’s intentions.
Count Maynard smiled faintly as he looked at Alex.
“Our Count Maynard family has plenty of money. Our business is going well. The same goes for our land. So you don’t have to worry about taking care of us. However, I have one favor to ask.”
“Go ahead.”
Alex looked at Count Maynard with a confused expression.
“Claire is a special person in our house. She is the daughter of Margaret, who was my wife Helena’s maid. Helena and Margaret were very special. They were more than just a master and maid, they were like friends.”
“Like Lady Veronica and Claire?”
“Yes, that’s true. That’s why Helena loved Claire even more. If Veronica thought of Claire as a sister, Helena thought of Claire as a daughter.”
I knew it too well. The reason I considered the Maynards family as family was because the Maynards considered me family.
So I never felt the absence of my late father and mother, because they were all giving me so much love.
“So all we want is Claire’s happiness. We have no intention of gaining anything at the expense of Claire.”
“… … .”
Alex stared blankly at Count Maynard, seemingly at a loss for words, before smiling faintly.
“I understand what you said. And thank you for accepting my offer.”
The atmosphere in the reception room, which had felt heavy, finally became cheerful.
Even I, who had been frozen with tension, felt my heart relax.