The Villainess' Son is Innocent - Chapter 18
Chapter 9.2
Valencia grabbed me, warning me that I would get hurt if I intervened. The two of them broke into a fight, and no one could stop them. Rastain didn’t just receive Emil’s blows. He retaliated mercilessly, and they rolled together on the floor.
Emil looked emotionless as he laid his assault on Rastain. As if he were giving him what he deserved. Emil was right to be angry. But…
‘I killed the marquis and marchioness.’
Watching the violent scene, memories of that night came flooding back.
For two years, I observed him gradually regain emotional stability, secretly hoping that it would be okay in the end. But unless the people around him, the people of this country, completely change their perception of Emil…
‘Won’t it be impossible to get rid of Emil’s madness?’
Suddenly, all the blood drained from my limbs, and fear gripped me.
Witnessing Emil ruthlessly beat someone without a hint of hesitation felt like a sudden stab in the back. As I stood there lost in confusion, Hildred rushed past me and stepped in between them.
“…Will the two of you calm yourselves?”
Only then did I snap out of it. I quickly jumped in, throwing my arms around Emil before he could strike again.
“Emil!”
“…Vel.”
“I know you’re angry. But this isn’t the way.”
“…”
Perhaps because I clung to him, Emil softly released Rastain’s collar.
“…Fine.”
“What?”
“Then, how should I have reacted?”
“You…”
“Do you… also think I was wrong?”
His tone was monotonous.
Emil’s eyes looked almost lifeless. Unconsciously, I released my grip on Emil’s arm. While I restrained Emil, Hildred helped Rastain up. His cheek was swollen and painful to look at.
Amid this abrupt situation, a servant hurriedly left the scene to find someone to address the situation. Rastain cooled his puffy cheek with the back of his hand. He sneered.
“…Let’s bring this matter to Duke Calixt.”
And look who’s to blame?! I gritted my teeth. I wanted to confront him immediately, but right now, Emil was my priority.
I glared at Rastain before we walked away, and he called out to me from behind.
“Velsia Lancaster.”
I ignored him, as there was no need to respond.
* * *
As soon as we stepped into the corridor, I cautiously examined the area where Emil was hit. There was already a bruise forming around his eye.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“It’s going to take a while for the bruise to fade.”
Emil asked a question that seemed to carry more weight than the pain of the bruise.
“Velsia.”
“Hm?”
“You didn’t answer me earlier. Do you think I was wrong?”
Facing a question that I truly didn’t know how to answer, I hesitated before managing to respond.
“It’s not your fault, but hitting someone is wrong.”
“…Then I should apologize.”
I never expected Emil, who always seemed quiet and starved for affection, to engage in such a heated fight with someone.
I thought I knew this child well enough.
‘It was my arrogance.’
I wanted to call for a physician, but maybe I should just walk until I find one. There was no one passing by.
“Don’t do that next time. I’d rather be the one doing the hitting.”
“…You?”
“No matter how much Mommy, Daddy, and I try to protect you, Duke Calixt is your real family… So, the odds are stacked against you.”
Ah, I knew the way from there. Coincidentally, I saw the servant who was in the playroom earlier and tried to ask for their assistance.
But the servant was already guiding someone in this direction.
“Emil Lachlan Ronchisté Calixt.”
Emil’s hand began to tremble in my grasp.
It was Duke Calixt. The servant looked between me and the duke. I tried to hide Emil by pushing him behind me.
But it was futile.
“Your Grace…”
“News travels fast.”
It was impossible to keep the quarrel between Emil and Rastain a secret from the duke, but I had hoped he would find out just a little later if anything.
Adjusting his glasses, Duke Calixt smiled at me reassuringly. A smile that seemed somewhat kind at first…
“Step aside. This is a matter between father and son.”
“Emil did nothing wrong.”
“Step aside.”
The duke’s eyes flashed with a cold glint. Suddenly, he forcibly grabbed my shoulder and pushed me aside.
It didn’t hurt, but for a second, my body swayed, and what happened next was in stark contrast to the smile he just had on his face. With the sudden change in temperature, I was oblivious to what had just happened.
“Your Grace!”
Despite my attempt to stop him, a harsh sound, painful to hear, reached my ears.
SLAP!
Emil withstood the duke’s slap.
Arc 2. Reunion After Separation
I can say with absolute certainty that I had no idea why the duke and Emil got into a dispute or that he would raise his hand without considering the circumstances.
“Your Grace! Emil!”
SLAP! The harsh sound echoed once more. Unconsciously, I took a hesitant step back.
“This is your punishment. You will hear more once we return.”
“…Yes, sir.”
This was strange.
Of course, Emil was at fault. There’s no denying that he initiated violence.
‘But to hit your child without listening to their side of the story?’
Emil looked calm as if he was used to this. He faced the slap without a flinch, not even rubbing his cheek. Before Emil could follow the duke, I grabbed his sleeve, pleading for him not to go.
“Vel?”
“Your Grace, let me explain.”
The cause was Rastain Lucretius…
‘But, really… will the duke see that the fault falls on Rastain alone?’
A duke who, beyond indifference, subjected his own son to abuse.
Perhaps, for the duke, Rastain Lucretius from another duke’s family took precedence over his own son, Emil.
“Your Grace, I had a small clash with Lord Lucretius, there—!”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
Emil, who knew what I wanted to voice, gently released my hand.
“I’ll see you later.”
How can he be so nonchalant about it? Emil seemed so calm that it was hard to believe he was the one who hit Rastain first.
My eyes followed the duke until he disappeared from view, and throughout that entire time, Emil never once looked back.
‘W-what should I do…’
The servant approached, seeming uncertain about what to do, and tried to lead me away.
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