CH 23

“I heard it was a magnificent wedding. Surely you haven’t foolishly given away your chastity already?”

She shook her head in disbelief.

“By the look on your face, it seems you already knew that the imposter was fake, although I’m not sure what you’re thinking.”

Venia gestured dismissively as if swatting away a bug.

“Let’s hurry up and kill her. If we say it was an unfortunate accident after your honeymoon, who would dare say anything? We just need to do a little mourning and marry after that.”

Saying so, she shrugged her shoulders.

“If it’s too much trouble, should I kill her for you?”

Venia’s eyes bore a clear intent to end someone’s life. Although he wasn’t fully aware of the extent of her water manipulation abilities, he knew that she had undergone rigorous training alongside Argenta’s assassins for more than a decade.

The threat that Krua could face sent a wave of unease through Diello, unsettling even for him.

“What’s the rush?”

When he asked abruptly, Venia raised an eyebrow.

“Well, with everything the Duchess of Argenta can enjoy, and considering I’ve been chased for over ten years because of you, to have an imposter taking my place… but, wait—”

As if she suddenly felt something was off, Venia stared at Diello.

“Isn’t it Argenta who’s in a hurry rather than me?”

She furrowed her brow before continuing.

“We should do it quickly. Otherwise, I don’t know what rumors I might spread among this peaceful family.”

Within Argenta’s values, treating fellow Argentas as family was highly esteemed. It was understood that harming or killing a fellow Argenta or one’s own relatives would be a grave flaw for the Duke.

While this principle held true for other families as well, Argenta took it even more seriously.

Regardless, instead of displaying surprise, Diello tilted his head in response to Venia’s overt threat. His expression showed a slow contemplation as if he was pondering a single question prompted by Venia’s words.

He eventually parted his lips.

“Do you know why I watched as the previous Duke and Duchess died?”

He referred to them as the previous Duke and Duchess, as if creating distance.

Venia furrowed her brow.

“You wanted to become the Duke.”

“No. Even if I had stayed still, the position of Duke would have been mine. There was no need for that.”

As he smiled coldly, her eyes widened. Diello leaned closer to her and whispered.

“I find it amusing to watch a rabbit that doesn’t even know it’s jumping to a beast’s mouth.”

His face quickly lost its expression.

“I don’t like fluttering moths that rush in without thinking.”

A chilling atmosphere filled the room as his cold words went on.

“Do you remember why my life was in danger back then?”

At his words, Venia, who had been frozen, nodded slightly.

“…Your body, it was weak, wasn’t it?”

“No.”

Diello shook his head.

“There are hardly any cases of those who have inherited the strong blood of Argenta being born with weak bodies.”

Whoosh!

He lit a flame at his fingertips and spoke.

“If the body’s physical strength doesn’t support it, one cannot withstand this power.”

His words left Venia momentarily speechless. Diello smiled.

“Who do you think was responsible for poisoning the former Duke?”

He knew the answer himself.

The secret of the past escaped his lips, revealing a hidden truth. His father was the previous Duke, an unremarkable noble who didn’t draw much attention. Even after meeting his Ferro and awakening, he remained unchanged.

However, Diello was different.

Once he wielded the power of fire manipulation, the previous Duke recognized Diello’s exceptional talent. Regrettably, they believed it was too premature.

“…Diello had such exceptional talent.”

He thought that his son possessed a power that couldn’t be compared to his, and he knew that in such cases, the mark of the lineage could be transferred early.

“If my mark were to be transferred to Diello…”

His father feared that fact… the fact that his abilities would weaken. Having forcefully demanded Argenta’s loyalty with meager power, he feared losing everything. And his wife, Ferro, who was also Diello’s mother, felt the same way.

“What would happen to the Ferro, the wife of the head, if the lineage changed?”

When the lineage changed, the previous lineage’s Ferro was naturally no longer needed. Of course, she didn’t warmly welcome Diello, who was not even her own flesh and blood.

“If I hesitate even to kill those who tried to kill me, I would have a hard time.”

Diello’s chilling words fell, making Venia’s face turn pale.

“…That—”

If this were to be revealed, Argenta would be thrown into chaos, still, Diello willingly whispered it into her ear as though saying that it didn’t matter if she knew.

Advertisements

As if he had the ability to make sure she couldn’t speak about it elsewhere…

Venia struggled to suppress her terror by reasoning that she was his Ferro. There was no way they could kill her.

“…That’s enough. Let’s prepare for the wedding. Argenta also needs to welcome the real Ferro before it’s too late.”

Venia extended her hand and spoke.

Diello, who faintly smiled, stood up from his seat.

Thud, thud.

His footsteps echoed as he slowly walked behind the sofa where Venia was sitting.

“Before it’s too late…”

Far from being too late, it was too early to welcome the real Ferro. Both Duke Alors and Cartier had not relaxed enough, and Argenta’s internal affairs were still not properly organized.

And above all…

Even from a logical standpoint, there were numerous aspects that raised suspicion. It was peculiar how Venia possessed the ability to utilize Alors’ power. Who could guarantee that she wouldn’t resort to contacting Alors through the power of water if pushed into a corner?

Once someone has betrayed, would it be difficult for them to betray again?

Moreover, would Venia even survive this ordeal? Would the Duke, who sent his daughter as the counterfeit Ferro, be willing to spare her life?

From the moment she appeared until this very moment facing her, Diello’s mind was constantly filled with one thing.

At the thought, he glanced out at the bright window.

A person that kept coming to mind whenever something bright sparkled.

“Use me, until the Duke finds the real Ferro and gains power.”

That voice kept echoing in his ears.

Until the real Ferro was found… that was the deadline.

If she were to learn that the true Ferro had arrived, Kura would immediately terminate the contract. Furthermore, since she was still contemplating leaving Argenta, it would be advantageous to have more time to convince her otherwise.

Above all else, how wonderful would it be if the Ferro were someone who truly suited Argenta rather than a person like Venia?

…If only she were the real Ferro, what a splendid outcome it would have been.

Diello, who had remained silent, finally spoke up.

“Argenta’s walls are strong.”

He stopped walking and glanced back at Venia.

“That’s why they don’t open easily, especially to betrayers.”

“…What?”

Venia understood his words but couldn’t comprehend them. Argenta wouldn’t open up to the real Ferro?

“Why do you think I revealed a fatal secret to you?”

His words drained the color from her face.

Still, it was absurd that she had tried to take control of him again.

“Surely you’re not suggesting to do that to the real Ferro?”

At that moment, Diello’s gaze was fixed on the window. Was Krua still in the garden?

“What is the difference between you and Krua?”

He looked back at Venia again.

“What did you have that Krua didn’t, which made you become my Ferro… if only I could find that out.”

Could he turn anyone he desired into Ferro? His cold gaze pierced through Venia.

“Investigate thoroughly.”

As he uttered, his words were answered by the knights of Argenta from the fourth floor.

They were surprised by the lord’s plan to betray the real Ferro, but they faithfully followed his orders because they believed in him. Above all, it was true that this woman was too dangerous and reckless to become the mistress of Argenta.

Diello looked at Venia.

“Examine the entire life of that betrayer and find out what kind of people are chosen as Ferro.”

What was different between her and that woman? What were the rules for becoming Ferro?

At that moment, the sound of the sea echoed in Diello’s ears again. He had always detested the sea, which he didn’t want to see, even in his dreams. However, he didn’t dislike the person who made him think of the sea.

No, he kept thinking of her.

What was different?

The endless cycle of questions left him with only one realization.

…He wanted to possess her.

In that moment, he realized the reason why he had always been bothered by her ‘future plans.’ It slowly crept up on him like the sand on the beach disappearing with the ebb tide.

Unconsciously, he smiled.

Soon his gentle voice echoed through the room.

“I want everything perfect.”

He wanted a ‘Ferro who must be loved’ but a ‘Ferro he loves.’