The Male Lead’s Sickly Aide is My Type - Chapter 98.2

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Chapter 98.2

They walked slowly down the corridor, disappearing into the darkness.

Duke Lucas watched them go, a bitter expression on his face.

They were a well-matched pair. There was no doubt about that. The image of them dancing at the ball flickered before his eyes.

Intending to have a quiet drink, the duke entered a room and came face to face with Archenas. He wore a mask, but after years together, the duke recognized him instantly.

Archenas glared at him with undisguised displeasure. The message was clear: get out. The duke glared back, equally displeased, but seeing Carinne in Archenas’s arms, huddled close as if trying to remain hidden, he knew he had to retreat.

Carinne loved him with all her heart. Archenas loved her, too.

There was no room for him between them.

‘As a sign of my remorse, I won’t bother you anymore. I’ve decided to let go of my feelings for you. After careful consideration, I’ve realized that we’re not meant to be.’

Not meant to be.

Perhaps she was right. Perhaps his destiny lay elsewhere. The duke chuckled dryly and turned to leave.

Silence descended upon the dark corridor as time passed.

* * *

In the carriage on the way home, Carinne told Archen about the play.

“That was me. People were laughing at me. But I…”

‘But I never did those things.’

She swallowed the words.

Archen didn’t know she wasn’t the real Carinne. His understanding was limited, and she had to be careful not to step outside those boundaries.

“Anyway, that’s what happened.”

Archen sat beside her. His fingers played with her hair, then delved deeper, caressing the back of her head.

“You must be very upset.”

He pulled her head towards him, and Carinne rested it on his shoulder, exhaling deeply. She glanced up at him, and perhaps due to the darkness, his expression was frighteningly hard.

“I’ll find out who ordered that play.”

“No, there’s no need.”

“I have to find out who it was and make sure they never do something like this again.”

Archen was echoing Duke Lucas’s words, but Carinne didn’t want to know who had orchestrated the play. She had worked hard to repair her reputation, and realizing it was all for nothing left her feeling drained.

She was too tired to seek out the culprit, assign blame, and take revenge. Knowing how people perceived her was enough.

“Everyone will forget about it eventually. I just want this to blow over quietly.”

She spoke from the heart.

He remained silent, but the tightening grip on her hair betrayed his anger.

“I cannot tolerate this.”

His voice was chillingly calm. If his voice had a physical form, it would be a sharp blade. Archen leaned closer, lowering his voice.

“Do you remember the witch trial?”

“Why are you bringing that up? Baron Frank was exiled. That will never happen again.”

“No. Do you know why they didn’t use the truth serum during the witch trial?”

“Truth serum?”

Carinne knew about the truth serum. Hadn’t she tried to give it to Archen once? Had she almost taken it herself?

A shiver ran down her spine.

If she had taken the truth serum during the trial, she wouldn’t have escaped being burned at the stake. She would have babbled about transmigration.

“There were orders from above not to use it. It was the decision of the Noble Council. The reason is obvious, isn’t it? They wanted to make it difficult to prove your innocence.”

Archen was serious. Meanwhile, Carinne was thinking something else entirely.

‘I was incredibly lucky…’

It was like strolling through a field, only to realize later it was a minefield.

The nobles, in deciding not to use the truth serum, never dreamed they were saving Carinne’s life. She owed them her life, but they clearly resented her. She remembered the nobles who nitpicked at everything she said during the council meetings.

Now she understood why.

They disliked her meddling, a nobody without a title. Her friendship with Duke Lucas probably seemed threatening to them as well.

“There are those who resent you. They are undoubtedly involved in this incident. I thought it was strange how quiet things had been, but they were clearly plotting this. There’s no telling what else they’re planning. I’ll look into it.”

He sounded resolute.

Carinne knew it would be pointless to argue. Instead, she closed her eyes. Long, slender fingers stroked and caressed her hair.

The sensation, both ticklish and soothing, made her sigh contentedly.

In the swaying carriage, she leaned against Archen, both physically and emotionally, allowing her turmoil to subside. Like ripples on a lake after a stone was thrown, the disturbance in her heart gradually faded away.