CH 39

The Count’s scream could only come out as a squeak due to Blanche’s strength pressing his face down.

There was no mercy in Blanche’s eyes as she looked down at the captured prey.

“Answer me, old man. Where are the keys to the treasury?”

“T-Treasury? I have no idea what you’re talking about… Ahh!”

At the blatant lie, she moved her hand again.

In the end, the Count had no choice but to weep like a child and ask for her forgiveness. It was the same as when countless debtors had come to him and asked for mercy.

Blanche repeatedly asked the whereabouts of the keys to the treasury.

He confessed reluctantly.

“The key is in the safe in the library.”

[System/ Count Juan’s stress increases.]

The meaning of the rapidly rising stress stat was obvious.

Blanche spoke.

“Lie.”

“H-How am I lying? It’s not like that!”

[System/ Count Juan’s stress increases.]

The corners of Blanche’s eyes curved in an arc.

“Let’s see. Where should I hit you so that you start telling the truth?”

* * *

Earlier that day.

Count Juan’s wedding had finally ended. Giacomo took advantage of the opportunity to reveal Irene’s identity to Count Juan.

Before the reception began, the Count, who had been resting with Giacomo for a while, opened his mouth wide.

“What? Irene is Mariette’s twin sister Blanche? Wasn’t Blanche dead?”

“That’s right. Besides, there’s something strange about it.”

“What else?”

“The second lady of the Marquis family was famous for her timid and dark personality, right? But today, her temper was similar to the one who will become the madam.”

“Hmm.”

“In addition, the way she talked was different from the way she did before.”

“Are you sure?”

“Boss. When did you see me talk nonsense?”

The Count struck him on the knee.

“Is that right! Then the bride could have been swapped!”

But Giacomo thought differently.

“I don’t think that’s right. If the Marquis was going to replace his daughter from the start, why would he dare to bring his second daughter into the Count’s?”

The Count snorted.

“How would I understand the brain of ​​an id*ot who lost his business even though he had that much money?”

Giacomo scratched the back of his head.

“I want to know because it’s frustrating. Even if the Marquis replaced the real daughter, that’s a problem. How the hell are we going to prove that? They both look the same anyway.”

“Find out. By any means.”

“But. Boss is a man, you will do well with either one.”

“Ha-ha! That’s obvious!”

“Oh. Illia’s son. That guy escaped.”

“What?! How are you even doing your job?!”

Giacomo leisurely waved his hand despite the Count’s criticism.

“Don’t worry, boss. I already told the soldiers a while back. That guy. I don’t know what he was thinking. Did you know he even attended your wedding?”

The Count’s eyes became sharp.

“How dare he try to ruin my wedding! I will kill that guy.”

The Count ordered Giacomo.

“You have to bring that bastard back to the dungeon right now, Giacomo.”

“Of course.”

“But you can’t move private soldiers or knights. Don’t make so much noise so the guests wouldn’t notice anything strange. Now that I’ve joined the d*mn high society, I can’t get caught.”

“Please trust me.”

Giacomo smiled confidently.

* * *

Thanks to his natural appearance, Ricardo easily blended into the aristocratic group he met for the first time today. Moreover, he even boldly attended the reception.

The reception was so grand and clearly reflected Count’s desire to be incorporated into the upper classes. Ricardo, who sat near the end, was served with six kinds of meat dishes and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Ricardo was well aware of how expensive fruits and vegetables were in the middle of winter. Also, it had been a long time since he realized that the dress and jewelry worn by Blanche were expensive.

It was because he was more knowledgeable than his peers. Although he was a fifteen-year-old boy, he was also one of Digitalis’ criminals, so it was only natural.

Ricardo looked around the dining hall where the reception was being held.

The dining hall, which was filled with a beautiful scent, was as luxurious as the great hall used for the wedding ceremony. It was also unbelievably warm considering that it was midwinter.

Good food, good clothes and a good house.

All of these were things that Ricardo could never give Blanche. Feeling inferior, Ricardo glanced at the distant superior.

His stomach twisted at the beautiful sight of Blanche, who was sitting beside the Count.

At the same time, Ricardo felt that she was so far away. Ricardo’s tender heart filled with pain and anxiety.

‘Will I be able to keep hiding like this? What if Mariette hates me because I’ve been hiding here? Right. That girl will hate me. Because she’s a noble girl, and I’m just a thief from Digitalis.’

His shoulders shrunk.

‘Besides, how did Mariette know what was going on in Digitalis? It must have been a joke that she saved me. Our relationship was a lie from the beginning…’

Tears welled from Ricardo’s eyes. He was choked up because their relationship didn’t even start the right way. That was how Ricardo found out for the first time today.

The fact that such a desperate feeling was hidden within him.

Sadly, all he could do now was to repress his pained heart and leave this place.

Ricardo was too shabby to stay next to her, who was shining brightly.

‘Let’s go back to father as soon as possible.’

He left the dining hall and said goodbye to the nobles he was hanging out with.

A thick hand grabbed his shoulder as he passed through the crowded hallway. It was Giacomo.

“Why is my pretty girl here?”

Ricardo was so startled that he couldn’t even scream. He also couldn’t properly rebel.

Giacomo smiled kindly, rubbing his shoulder tenderly.

“Come on, let’s go. Illia.”

He also called the boy by his father’s name.

When Giacomo bullied Ricardo, as he always did, Giacomo called Ricardo ‘Illia’.

For a moment, Ricardo thought. 

‘I have to scream right now. Only then will I be able to reveal to all these people of Giacomo’s evil deeds, even just a little.’

But he already knew. The fact that he couldn’t escape from his persistent, watching eyes.

Ricardo had no choice but to quietly follow him, his whole body trembling. He himself couldn’t figure out why the hell he was behaving like this.

Ricardo was already drowning in helplessness.

Giacomo’s behavior became more blatant than before as they stepped into a less crowded hallway.

He boldly rubbed his waist against Ricardo’s pelvis. However, Giacomo’s behavior stopped shortly after.

He didn’t like the old lamp hanging around the center as he m*lested Ricardo.

Giacomo frowned and pulled [Edith’s Lamp] from Ricardo’s belt.

“What is this garbage?”

At that moment, a light returned to Ricardo’s blue eyes.

Where did he suddenly get the courage? Ricardo kicked Giacomo’s shin with all his might in an instant. He leaned his upper body forward unexpectedly, grabbed [Edith’s Lamp] from him and started running.

In his mind, he was earnestly calling the name of the woman who saved him from the darkness.

‘Blanche, Blanche…!’

Ricardo knew Blanche’s real name was Mariette, but when he was in a moment of crisis, what came to mind was not Mariette, but Blanche.

Giacomo shouted from behind his sprinting back.

“Illia!”

A roar filled with anger rang loudly, as if it would swallow him at any moment.

Ricardo ran hurriedly like a man who was being chased by a monster from behind. The boy was almost caught by the monster.

Feeling desperate, Ricardo regretted it belatedly.

‘I should have asked Blanche at the wedding somehow! Maybe she would have wanted to run away with me right now! There’s no way she can escape the Count’s castle alone!’

Tears started forming again.

‘I was stupid! Leaving Blanche behind, why did I do that!’

As he ran, Ricardo bit his lower lip with all his might.

‘Blanche wouldn’t be happy with this marriage!’

As Ricardo observed, Blanche only smiled when her eyes met Count Juan and remained expressionless throughout the wedding and reception.

Moreover, at the wedding ceremony, Blanche’s fresh green eyes, who shared the oath of kiss with the Count, were as cold as ice.

Because of this, Ricardo vowed. He promised to leave this terrible place with Blanche after he himself defeated the monster.

No more. He will no longer stay buried in despair.

Without such a determination, he won’t be able to survive the reality he was facing.

In the end, Giacomo still caught him.

It was late in the night when Ricardo was captured by Giacomo.

Giacomo enjoyed watching Ricardo desperately run away, like a cat playing with a cornered mouse.

***

[Warning! S*x*al as**ult on a minor]

***

West Wing – 2nd floor Warehouse

The warehouse, lined with cleaning tools and miscellaneous items, was as large as the Count’s castle. It was also dark because it was not frequented.

Tak. A cold, hard wall touched Ricardo’s back.

Ricardo, whose anxiety reached the top of his head, shoulders trembling, looked up at Giacomo, who was standing in front of him with a flushed face.

Crack! [Edith’s Lamp] was shattered to pieces by Giacomo’s foot.

Ricardo’s expression contorted in anguish.

More excited than ever, Giacomo grabbed the boy’s chin with one hand, and licked Ricardo’s lips with his tongue. He skillfully subdued Ricardo’s struggles.

Giacomo did not hide his cruelty.

“What the hell are you so disgusted with? Did I put it in your hole or did I slap it? Besides, you enjoyed it too.”

Ricardo screamed desperately at the unexpected words.

“I never did! I never liked it!”

“Really? Then, shall we go all the way today?”

In an instant, Ricardo’s eyes turned white.

Ricardo was quickly engulfed in fear.

“Aargh!”

Ricardo struggled, as if he had been thrown into the dirtiest, deepest bog in the world.

The corners of Giacomo’s lips ripped open as if he was satisfied with this reaction.

“Illia. It’s okay. It will feel really good… Ackk!”