I Unintentionally Cured the Grand Duke’s Insomnia - Chapter 90

45. — How To Ask For Forgiveness (2)

“Adelia Blaise, the Count’s only daughter. How is Young Lady Adelia doing?”

Warren hardened his expression as Joan asked him again, wondering why the Emperor was asking about Adelia’s well-being.

Could he possibly know something?

After cautiously observing the Emperor’s complexion, he eventually relaxed his hardened expression and smiled.

“Yes, of course, she’s doing well. She’s now out in the world from the confines of her room, so there’s no reason for her not to be.”

“Then, that’s good to hear.”

His response was so monotonous that it made him feel as if all the tension he had been holding had dissipated. Warren glanced at the Emperor, who remained unreadable. He wasn’t sure if it was right to confess the events in the territory and seek his assistance.

“Your Majesty, Grand Duke Destro requests an audience.”

Grand Duke Destro?

Warren’s eyes, which had been focused on the floor, turned toward the Emperor, who slowly raised the corners of his mouth and smiled.

“That’s a relief. I wondered if perhaps the Count might be uncomfortable from the recent rumours of an affair between the Grand Duke and Young Lady Adelia.”

“…Yes?”

“If Young Lady Adelia is doing well, and if the Count isn’t uncomfortable with it, may I invite the Grand Duke to come inside?”

Warren’s brow furrowed as he looked at Joan, who was smiling enigmatically. He really couldn’t figure out what was going on in his mind.

˚ ･: * ✧ * :･ ˚

Inside the quiet cafe with only the waiter, the sound of the clock’s second hand echoed. Even though I had already drank three glasses of water, the restlessness in my stomach couldn’t be overcome and it continued to gnaw.

Would he come?

I wondered if Million would come after reading the letter?

As I swept my fingertips across the book placed on the table, my finger traced the letters etched in gold.

“What are you thinking about?”

Startled by the voice coming from right next to my ear, I turned my head. Million, who had a smile on his face at my appearance, took a seat across from me and opened his mouth again.

“I didn’t expect Young Lady Adelia to come looking for me first. To be honest, I was a bit surprised.”

“…I’m sorry. I’m sure you must be busy.”

“It’s okay. I was happy to receive your letter, too… It feels like being recognized by Million, the best-selling author Lian?”

I forced an awkward smile in response to his smoothly returning words. It was something I never wanted, no, I wanted it, but I never thought that the result I didn’t fairly earn would weigh so heavily on me.

“So, what is it that you would like to ask advice from Milcell instead of Million, Young Lady Adelia?”

“….”

“If it’s something I can help with, I’ll do my best.”

Even with his kind words, my lips didn’t easily part.

I made eye contact with him only after giving myself a little mental pep talk that I could do it.

His eyes, as black as the night sky, stared back emotionlessly.

“First of all, thank you again for coming out to meet me. To be honest, I don’t know any other authors who are as well-known as the Young Lord.”

“….”

“So, I reached out to you even though I knew it was presumptuous.”

In response to my cautiously added words, Million nodded lightly as if urging me to continue. I gripped the hand I had been holding under the table tightly and slowly persisted.

“Um. If… What if, what if someone else copied the book you published…”

“Are you saying if someone plagiarized my book?”

“Yes? Oh, yes. That’s right. But, even so, if that person realizes their mistake and wants to apologize! How should they express their sincerity?”

I carefully asked, studying his complexion.

Strangely enough, his expression didn’t change as he quietly listened to my story. Million, who was tapping his fingers on the table, lifted his gaze from my book and looked at me.

“Are you asking if there are some ways to apologize to the original author?”

“Yes, that’s right. It would be appropriate to personally meet the original author and apologize, but the situation doesn’t allow for that.”

“….”

“So, it’s not that I don’t want to or that I’m afraid to meet the author in person. It’s just that the author is in a place I simply can’t reach — somewhere that could never be reached even by boat or carriage.”

I wondered if he understood what I was trying to say because I couldn’t tell him that the author was in a completely different dimension.

As I gingerly waited for his answer, he soon raised the corners of his mouth and smiled.

“Well, if they’re in a place where you can’t meet or reach them, then there’s nothing to be done.”

“You have to die.”

“…Yes?”

“You have to die and ask for forgiveness for your sins. It seems to me that that’s the only way.”

Unlike his wide smile, his eyes weren’t smiling at all. My heart dropped with a thump at the unfiltered sincerity reflected in his pitch-black eyes.

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