I Unintentionally Cured the Grand Duke’s Insomnia - Chapter 152

76. — Becoming the Target (2)

“I think it’s finally time to start putting the plan into action.”

“….”

“Honestly, I figured it was only a matter of time before the Marquis started suspecting me. Though I didn’t think it would happen because of a mistake I made.”

“…What are you talking about? You’ve been acting strange since earlier.”

Million looked at Evelyn, who was frowning deeply, then turned his head toward the door the Marquis had exited through.

“What I mean is, ignoring what you know and actually bringing it up are two very different things.”

“….”

“Why do you think the Marquis is bringing it up now, even though he already knows about my little schemes?”

“…Do you mean it’s a warning?”

Million smirked, raising the corner of his mouth in response to Evelyn’s hesitant question.

“Yeah. It’s probably his way of saying that if we cause any more trouble, he’ll cut me off. So now, it’s our turn.”

“….”

“I’m more suited to hunting than being hunted.”

̊ · : * ✧* : · ̊

Lord Jackson was definitely acting strange.

Beads of sweat dotted his forehead, and his gaze became hazy. He clenched his jaw as if holding back pain and roughly unbuttoned the collar that was constricting his neck. I watched him quietly, noticing how he looked like he was in pain, then, almost in disbelief, my eyes moved to his arm.

His arm was shaking uncontrollably, and the bandage was stained with dark red blood. Startled by the gaping wound, I quickly jumped up from my seat and spoke.

“I-I’ll go get a doctor, Lord Jackson! Just a moment…!”

“Lia!”

I was turning toward the door when I froze at the sound of his irritated voice. When I turned to look at him, Lord Jackson pointed to my seat with a sharp gesture and said,

“…It’s dangerous inside the castle right now, so sit down.”

“But Lord Jackson, your arm…!”

“Sit.”

“….”

“Just sit here, Lia.”

His expression wasn’t just concerned. It was cold, almost threatening.

I met his gaze and slowly sat back down.

After making sure I had sat down, he ran a large hand over his face and let out a deep sigh. I briefly turned my gaze away from him and glanced toward the window. At that moment, I thought I locked eyes with a skylark sitting on a branch, but before I knew it, Lord Jackson’s lowered voice cut through the silence.

“Now that I think about it, that skylark was there yesterday as well.”

“….”

“Doesn’t that seem odd to you?”

Through his fingers, which covered his face, his eyes glinted fiercely. I held onto the hem of my dress and smiled as casually as I could.

“Maybe it’s a different bird? To me, all birds look the same.”

“….”

“To be honest, even His Highness the Grand Duke and Michael look alike, so it’s difficult to tell the birds apart.”

As I casually glanced out the window, the skylark was gone, vanished into the distance. Lord Jackson, who had been watching me silently, stood up slowly and spoke.

“Yeah. It could just be a mistake. I thought those two looked a lot alike, too.”

“….”

“At first, I even wondered if he was the Grand Duke’s stand-in.”

‘Stand-in…?’

I furrowed my brow at the unfamiliar word.

Lord Jackson rose from his seat, grabbed a handful of dried leaves from the desk, and threw them into his mouth. As he chewed, a pungent smell wafted from him. The more the smell stung my nose, the more his twisted expression softened into calm.

The atmosphere felt increasingly dangerous, and I glanced nervously toward the door. Should I make a run for it? If I dash out of here right now, could I make it without getting caught? I frowned at the door, which seemed so far away, and that was when I heard Lord Jackson’s voice.

He was slowly approaching me, his eyes fixed on mine.

“But now that I think about it, that’s not what’s important.”

“….?”

“Either way, the person I was after wasn’t Grand Duke Destro.”

“Lord Jackson.”

He had gotten closer without me realizing, now standing near me and leaning on the back of the sofa. I leaned back, trying to create some space between me and Lord Jackson, who had closed the distance.

“That’s a little too close…!”

He roughly grabbed my wrist, which had been resting on my thigh, with a tight grip. His hold on my wrist was so forceful that it felt like he might break a bone, causing my face to contort in discomfort.

“Don’t you agree, Adelia?”

Just then, a knock on the door shattered the tense atmosphere.

He forcefully grabbed my wrist, which had been resting on his thigh. His grip on my wrist was so tight that it felt like he might break the bones, and my face twisted in pain.

“Don’t you think so, Adelia?”

At that moment, a knock echoed, breaking the tense atmosphere. As I turned toward the sound, I caught a glimpse of a strange symbol briefly peeking out from between the collar of Andre’s shirt.

Two black snakes intertwined…

It was when I made a face at the unfamiliar symbol—

“May I ask what you’re doing right now, my lord?”

I turned my head, startled by the familiar voice, and saw Irene standing there, her face set in a stern expression.

“Irene!”

Her clear, gentle eyes were glimmering sharply.