This Villain Is Mine Now

Chapter 117

The summons arrived. Sarah couldn’t hide her worry as she read the letter, which even included the exact time.

“Do you really have to go alone?”

Anxious, Sarah stomped her feet. She knew the courthouse, as a place that upholds the law, was sacred. Still, expecting the summoned individual to attend alone seemed far too much in her eyes.

“Please don’t do this. Explain the situation to the court—that you’re anxious and want to go with Master.”

“I have no choice. I must comply with the court’s request. It won’t take long. I just have to answer a few simple questions and come back.”

“What do you mean you have no choice! You know how dangerous it is to go alone. The Marquis’s house must be burning with rage, waiting for any chance to harm you. If anything truly happens to you, I…”

Sarah, usually so spirited, spoke tearfully to Elaina.

“Can’t you just not go?”

“That’s not an option, Sarah.”

Ignoring a court summons was already a serious crime. Doing so would send public opinion careening entirely in favor of the Marquis.

Responding confidently to the court’s summons was the first and foremost step in proving her innocence.

“Then I’ll be off. I’ll be back.”

Elaina spoke to Sarah and Lyle, who was standing beside her, and then climbed into the carriage with a bright expression.

She opened the carriage window and said to Lyle, “I should be back before dinner, right? Let’s have dinner together.”

It was Elaina’s way of saying she would return safely. Lyle said nothing but nodded silently. He feared that if he showed his worry, Elaina’s resolve might waver too.

The carriage carrying Elaina quickly departed.

***

“As I stated in writing, the Archducal House has no such thing as a method to control someone’s mind. Here, if necessary, this is a written consent allowing a search of every space, including the estate.”

Elaina defended herself calmly.

“To the Marquis, the Marchioness was his wife. But to me, she was also my friend’s mother. She died right before my eyes. What could I possibly gain from killing the Marchioness? No. I am the victim who was attacked by her.”

As Elaina spoke with composure, the jurors began to waver. Seeing her offer even a written consent to search the estate, it seemed clear she was genuinely innocent.

However, the situation was far too unusual for them to rush into an emotional judgment.

“Then let’s conclude here for today. We will inform you of the next court appearance at your estate.”

“Yes. Understood.”

A long sigh escaped naturally as the lengthy interrogation came to an end. Elaina had pretended to be composed in front of Sarah, but she’d been so tense that sweat had gathered on her fingertips despite the cold weather.

Still, it had gone much more smoothly than expected. The witness interrogation had finished earlier than anticipated, lifting a weight from her chest.

Now all that remained was to walk to the entrance, call a carriage, and return home. Just as she was about to move—

“Your Grace the Archduchess.”

A man appeared before Elaina. She recognized his face.

“…Young Lord Redwood.”

“Did the witness interrogation go well?”

The eldest son of Marquis Redwood, designated as the heir to the title. Elaina took a cautious step back, wary of the man who spoke to her so amicably.

“Step back. You do realize we’re not supposed to be speaking to each other right now, don’t you?”

“I do. But I came because I have something I must tell Your Grace.”

Something to say? What on earth could there be to discuss with someone from House Redwood? Her confusion only lasted a moment before the Young Lord’s voice reached her ears.

“Before my mother passed, she left a will for Diane.”

“…What?”

Elaina wondered for a moment if she had misheard. The Marchioness left a will for Diane? That couldn’t be.

“I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true.”

The Young Lord pulled an envelope from inside his jacket. It included a statement verifying that the will had been written in the Marchioness’s handwriting.

“Why are you telling me this? Wouldn’t it be better to inform Diane directly?”

Elaina’s distrust didn’t waver. In response, the Young Lord gave a sorrowful smile.

“My father has lost his mind.”

“…Excuse me?”

“He squandered our family’s fortune overnight, and even struck my mother.”

Struck her? This was the first Elaina had heard of such a thing. Her eyes widened in shock. Seeing her reaction, the Young Lord’s smile deepened.

“Perhaps guilt softened his heart. He finally decided to tell Diane where her mother is buried.”

His voice turned secretive.

“As you know, I can’t disobey my father. The reason I waited so long today just to speak with Your Grace is because I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor? What is it?”

“Please deliver my mother’s will to Diane.”

“…A will.”

“Yes. It includes a portion of the estate she set aside for Diane. It’s not much, but it’s something.”

“Wouldn’t it be better for you to give it to her directly?”

“That would be ideal, but if I meet with Diane on my own, my father will be informed immediately. That would put me in a difficult position.”

He laughed awkwardly, clearly embarrassed.

“Besides, Diane probably doesn’t want to see me anyway. I was never a good brother to her.”

The Young Lord bowed his head deeply, sincerely repenting his past actions. It seemed genuine enough to make Elaina hesitate.

“It’ll only take a moment. Could you spare just a little time?”

He explained that he had hidden the will elsewhere and just needed her to come with him. He kept trying to persuade her without pause.

“I wanted to hand it over comfortably here, but as you know, everything that enters the courthouse gets logged.”

Because of the risk of leaving a record, Elaina finally made up her mind.

“How far is it? I must return home before dinner.”

“Don’t worry about that! It won’t take long at all.”

The Young Lord smiled brightly, as if truly relieved. Though his smile wasn’t an exact match, it faintly reminded her of Diane. That resemblance made it harder to maintain her suspicion.

‘It’ll be brief, I’m sure.’

She figured they would only stop briefly near the Marquis’s estate. Thinking so, Elaina nodded in the end. It wasn’t a simple decision. After the incident with Anna, most of the servants had been dismissed, making it difficult to check the surroundings of the Marquis’s estate. Talking with someone from the household was even harder.

‘If I talk to him, I might learn what the Marquis is planning.’

Elaina still didn’t fully understand the plan the Marquis had set into motion, even at the cost of his wife’s life. As the firstborn son and heir, the Young Lord might reveal something during their conversation.

“Let’s go. But remember, I must return quickly.”

“Of course. I understand.”

She turned away from the beaming Young Lord. Though she didn’t feel entirely at ease, she had little choice. When it came to Diane, Elaina tended to loosen her standards a bit.

***

“Young Marquis.”

“Yes, Your Grace the Archduchess.”

“…Where exactly are we going?”

Hearing Elaina’s tense voice, the Young Marquis’s lips curled into a deeper smile.

“Why, as I said—where Mother’s will is.”

“…Not the Marquis’s estate?”

“I never said the will was at the estate.”

“Stop the carriage. I want to go back.”

The carriage had already passed far beyond the city streets. From the direction they were heading, Elaina could only think of one possible destination.

The city gates.

“Are you trying to leave the capital?”

“Indeed. That’s exactly it.”

“I said stop the carriage!”

Elaina shouted. But the Young Marquis only grinned, as though amused by her panic.

“You know you can’t do that.”

“…What?”

“Shut up and come quietly. Unless you want things to get ugly.”

The Young Marquis pulled out a knife hidden under his seat. With a face faintly resembling Diane’s, he delivered the threat without hesitation.

“How foolish. Did you really think Mother would have left a will for that lowborn girl Diane?”

Elaina glared at him. Having lied about Diane to deceive her, the Young Marquis showed no trace of guilt. The smile that once vaguely resembled Diane now only cast the Marquis’s shadow.

“You’d better get some rest. Don’t even think of doing anything stupid.”

Elaina bit her lip. She quickly glanced out the carriage window, checking if anyone was following. But the situation was hopeless.

How long had they been traveling? Without a single stop after leaving the capital, the carriage finally came to a halt.

“Get out.”

Chuckling, the Young Marquis stepped out first. They had stopped in the middle of a forest. A tower rose before her eyes.

“Climb.”

The Young Marquis pointed a blade at her back and ordered.

What a disaster. Just as she thought that, Elaina caught sight of “something.” In that instant, a glint flickered in her eyes.