The Villain Protects the Lady!

‘Can I go home? Me, to my cozy house…’

 

Hermia’s eyes rolled back in her head when Grand Duke Leandro said he hadn’t seen Belloa.

 

‘What the hell kind of courage was that, just a few minutes ago?’

 

She swallowed hard as she sat down on the couch in the Oval Office. 

 

‘Ugh, I feel like I’m going to get my head chopped off if I lift a finger.’

 “Hermia Tekins.” 

‘Hic!’

 

She barely composed herself.

 

Her composure was shattered by the sound of Grand Duke Leandro’s voice.

 “Arson in the streets.” 

The papers he was looking at fell to the floor with a clatter.

 “Fraudulent scheme to attract investors for a non-existent mine.” Bang! 

Another piece of paper fell to the ground.

 “Arrested for smuggling luxury goods.” Bang! 

‘Wait, that’s not it?’

 “You were once thrown out of a charity dinner for slandering your stepmother and half-sister.” Bang! “And you once tried to poison a protesting victim.” ‘

Were those huge stacks of paper in his hands all about my crimes?’

 

Hermia blinked at the sheer amount of paperwork.

 

She had arrived at the mansion with Belloa only a few hours ago.

 

All this information in such a short time?

 “Plus usury, kidnapping, blackmail, attempted murder, extortion of property, and illegal possession and sale of scrolls.” Bang, bang, bang, bang! 

Papers began to fall to the floor at an alarming rate. Soon there was a mountain of papers on the floor.

 “Even the Count of Tekin will be blown up tonight and then escape.” Bang! 

Only one document was left in Grand Duke Leandro’s hand.

 

Grand Duke Leandro’s eyes narrowed as he read the last page.

 “This is not a crime, but it is a travesty.” Bang! 

A final sheet fell from the mountain of paper.

 

In large letters it read,

“Accused of the Hidden Sins of Count Tekins.”

 “You are a criminal, Miss Hermia Tekins.” 

As soon as her eyes met his, she felt the same sense of dread she had felt before.

 

The Grand Duke listed her crimes, but she instinctively understood.

 

Hermia was now a candidate for immediate disposal.

 

In short, a situation in which Hermia would not be surprised if the Gradn Duke suddenly drew his sword.

 

It’s scary.

 “You said you brought my niece.” *Thump, thump, thump.* 

Hermia’s heart was pounding so hard that she couldn’t hear Grand Duke Leandro’s words.

 

She thinks she may or may not have smiled slightly.

 “But she looks more like you than me.” 

‘Oh, come on.’

 

Not yet. At least she knows in her heart that he’s going to hear all about Belloa and wield a sword.

 

Hermia kept expecting the Grand Duke to jump up and slash at her with the blade at his waist.

 

Her palms were sweating. Her vision faded in and out of focus.

 

‘No, it’s okay.’

 

There’s no need for the Grand Duke to kill her now. There’s been a misunderstanding. She didn’t commit all those crimes and she’s the one who brought Belloa here.

 

So she needs to calm down.

 

‘I have to say something…’

 

If she stayed like this, she would be called an impostor.

 

But her throat was tight and no sound escaped.

 “You don’t even have to look at her face to recognize her, especially with her trademark pink hair.” 

The Grand Duke’s voice came through the pounding of her heart.

 “At least the role should be plausible, Miss Tekins.” “No!” 

The words flew out of her mouth before she could think of anything else.

 

She shook her head and stared at Grand Duke Leandro. Ragged breaths escaped again and again.

 “No, Your Highness, I think it’s natural for you to doubt me, but not Belloa.” 

She was your real family.

 

Things had changed a lot because of her, but in the original story, she had been missing her real family for over three years.

 “…Belloa is really your niece, please believe me.” 

‘Please don’t tell me that Belloa is a fake, even if it is a lie.’

 “This will be the proof that will dispel His Highness’s doubts.” 

Hermia slid one of the pouches she’d tucked into her arm toward Grand Duke Leandro.

 

She should have shown it to him from the beginning.

 

‘Your sister was unnecessarily frightened and let you hear things you shouldn’t have. I’m sorry, Belloa.’

 

She mumbled and apologized to Belloa.

 “What is this?” 

She didn’t answer, her head hanging to the ground, but suddenly she screamed.

 

Or if her sincerity had reached him.

 

The Grand Duke’s expressionless face cracked slightly.

 

His harsh tone had softened, just a little.

 “These are the mementos of the Grand Duchess Hilda Leandro.” 

Taking the bag from me, the Grand Duke untied the straps with a deft touch.

 

Inside was an amulet.

 

Broken, dirty, and worn, it wouldn’t even open properly, and it contained a portrait.

 “…….” 

The Grand Duke stared at the amulet without a word. The golden eyes that had seemed so frightening just moments before widened slightly.

 *Click* 

He pressed a button and the lid opened more easily than he’d expected.

 

The Grand Duke looked at the portrait inside and stroked his face once without saying a word.

 

That was all.

 

Leandro, his face calm again, turned to Hermia.

 “Is there something you want, Miss Hermia Tekins?” 

The Grand Duke’s eyes were as calm as ever as he looked at her again. But his hands were clenched tightly, as if he were holding something precious.

 

Yes and no. He hadn’t said it exactly, but he had hinted that there was some leeway.

 

Of course there was.

 “Tell me what you want.” 

There it was.

 

The one she’d been waiting for!

 “What do you want from me?” 

Finally, no more trembling.

 

She cleared her throat, once.

 “Your Highness!” Boom! 

Hermia slammed her head into the desk.

 

The Grand Duke’s eyes narrowed in displeasure.

 “I know my sins!” 

‘Ah, the tears. Don’t forget the tears.’

 “Bringing Belloa here will not erase all my sins, and I am willing to be punished for them.” “You want punishment?” “Yes.” 

She nodded resolutely; her gaze fixed on Grand Duke Leandro.

 “If your Excellency permits me, I will drop the name of Tekins and enter a convent to live out my days.” 

In this empire, relegation to commoner status was a punishment worse than death.

 

To be stripped of their titles and forced to work for the rest of their lives as the commoners they despised.

 

In a way, it was worse than death for the nobility.

 

‘But for me? It’s nothing!’

 

She has spent her whole life as a slave to a shitty company that treats her worse than a commoner.

 

On the contrary, being a commoner is a step up!

 

The convent was a bit of a bluff, but she meant it when she said she was leaving the Count of Tekins and going down to commoner status.

 

And it was the safest way.

 

If she’d only sent Belloa, the trash collection would certainly have blamed her for all their sins.

 

But if she took the initiative and received the appropriate punishment, the Grand Duke wouldn’t have to kill her later.

 

Hermia bowed her head sharply and cried out with all her heart.

 “Please allow me, Your Highness!” 

She expected an immediate nod, but for some reason there was a heavy silence.

 

‘What is it? Wasn’t he in a good mood just now? Oh, I wonder if he’s trying to figure out how to reduce his punishment.’

 “Miss Tekins.” 

Her modest hopes were dashed by the Grand Duke’s words.

 “You must be mistaken.” 

At Grand Duke Leandro’s words, Hermia looked up, mesmerized, and met his golden eyes.

 “The crime you have committed is not one that can be forgiven by giving up your name and going into a convent.” 

The Grand Duke stared down at her, his eyes unflinching, as if sentencing her to death.

 “The most I can do for you is to grant you a small favor for finding my sister’s relics.” 

‘What the hell was he talking about?’

 

Her heart began to pound in a pounding, racing fashion.

 

‘So I’m going to die? After everything I’ve been through? I thought so.’

 

The Grand Duke said something, but no more was heard.

 

‘I knew it wouldn’t work.’

 

She thought he would raise his hand in the end, just like in the novel, just like in the movie, though it was a faint hope.

 

He didn’t.

 “No.” 

Hermia swallowed hard. Anyone else would have known, but she knew the Grand Duke would have swung his sword mercilessly to kill the real her.

 

She’d read the original story many times before the possession.

 ‘I hate it, I really, really hate it.’ “I don’t…” “Now what?” “I don’t want to die!” 

Hermia burst out. It was her worst line, but she couldn’t stop herself.

 “I don’t want to die like this, I barely made it out of there.” 

She screamed.

 “I don’t know if it’s because I burned the mansion, but I had to, otherwise I would have been stuck in there and died.” 

Even though she didn’t know what she was talking about. She just kept digging out what she had stored up inside.

 “I want to live, I want to live!” “Miss Tekins.” “I want to survive somehow and be happy this time!” 

She didn’t want anything big, she just wanted to live simply and peacefully.

 

To cut all ties with her family, who treated her like an asshole, and just be herself, thinking only of herself, thinking only of her happiness, thinking only of her health.

 

Was that wrong enough to die twice!

 “It’s not!” “Miss Tekins!” 

Suddenly her vision cleared. She spat out the breath she had been holding in.

 “Calm down.” 

Grand Duke Leandro grabbed her wrist and slowly sat her down on the couch.

 

Then he placed a glass of cold water in front of her, as if he wanted her to drink it.

 “I will not kill Miss Tekins now, and if I do, it will be after due process, for you are a noble, not a commoner.” “…….” 

‘Is he telling me to calm down now?’

 

Hermia felt the lump in her throat shrink in disbelief.

 “But I thought I gave you a chance.” “Huh?” “Yes.” 

Grand Duke Leandro’s eyes were calm as he replied.

 “I’m giving you a chance to live and be happy.” “What?” 

She gripped her water cup tightly and stared at the Grand Duke.

 

No matter what came out of his mouth, she had to say yes.

 

It was the only way to live.

 

Even if it was such an injustice…

 “You will be my fiancée.” 

‘I had to… huh?’

 “For three years.” 

Hermia spit the water she’d been drinking back into her glass and narrowed her eyes.

 “I promise never to love you, and I promise never to touch you.” 

That, that, and that.

 “How about that, Miss Hermia Tekins.” 

‘I’m sorry, but wasn’t this a contract marriage, not a parenting thing?’