The Villainess Who Accidentally Stole Their Hearts - Chapter 14
Chapter 7.2
Leonard clenched his fists tightly.
‘I can’t leave Emma by the side of a woman like that.’
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In front of the small conference room at the residence of Grand Duke Delosif.
Leonard’s gaze burned as he stared at the firmly closed door. When he first arrived, he’d been overwhelmed by the intimidating presence of the Grand Duke’s mansion. But now, standing on the verge of meeting “the Young Lord Delosif,” he felt no trace of fear.
Instead, his mind was calm with cold anger.
“Please, go in.”
The butler opened the door and gestured for him to enter.
The atmosphere in the conference room was heavy. The young lord’s attendants watched him with stern expressions, and at the center, seated in the most honored position, was the Young Lord of Delosif.
‘…What an overwhelming presence.’
While the attendants sat rigidly like sheer cliffs, the Young Lord leaned back leisurely. Despite his relaxed posture, the moment their eyes met, Leonard felt as if a sword were pointed at him.
Leonard bowed his head.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Young Lord Delosif. I’m Leonard from the Periwel Merchant Guild.”
The young lord looked him over with a sharp gaze and uttered a single word.
“Young.”
Everyone in the room understood the implications of that word.
Mikarin smiled gently, speaking up in Leonard’s defense.
“Brother, though Lord Leonard may be young, he’s recognized as an elite within his guild, already trusted with significant duties. He might even be the next guild leader.”
Leonard clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘I appreciate her trying to support me, but…’
That kind of talk wouldn’t work on someone like the Young Lord Delosif.
Leonard stepped forward and bowed.
“I apologize. I’m hardly in a position to negotiate with the Grand Duchy of Delosif. Ordinarily, the guild leader himself would have come to meet you.”
“….”
“However, this is a matter I’ve personally taken the initiative to handle after receiving permission from the guild leader. I’m honored to have this opportunity to meet Your Grace.”
The young lord, who had been watching Leonard silently, finally spoke.
“You said your name was Leonard? Let’s get to the point.”
“Thank you…!”
As he bowed, Leonard felt a surge of admiration.
‘As expected of the Young Lord of Delosif. Even though I have the upper hand, he still manages to take control like this.’
Normally, anyone else would try to secure Akitane by agreeing to the conditions first, but the young lord was different. Instead, he was showing a willingness to hear Leonard’s request.
“There must be a reason you persuaded your guild leader to arrange a trade for Akitane.”
“Yes.”
“Tell me what you want.”
Mikarin’s face brightened instantly at those words.
‘It’s done!’
Leonard had brought Akitane to give her power.
With this, she wouldn’t only redeem herself from the ‘Arake incense incident,’ but everyone in the main family would also look up to her.
‘Go on, say my name! Tell them that you brought Akitane at Mikarin’s request!’
Leonard’s lips seemed to move painfully slowly.
After a long wait, his voice finally resonated through the conference room.
“Please grant me permission to marry Emma.”
“…?!”
‘What…?’
Mikarin stared at Leonard in utter disbelief.
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Leonard’s request for permission to marry.
This was something that hadn’t happened before the regression. Back then, he had simply stated the conditions of the Periwel Merchant Guild and mentioned Mikarin.
‘It seems provoking Leonard was worth it.’
I didn’t make Emma kneel and keep bringing up her lover to Leonard for no reason.
Mikarin stared at Leonard with a look of betrayal.
I smirked.
‘Did you think you were the only one who could provoke Leonard?’
The atmosphere in the conference room turned tense. It was a condition no one had anticipated. Zerno furrowed his brows and asked again.
“Emma?”
“Oh, she’s my personal maid.”
“Then you’ll need to get Nike’s permission, not mine.”
Mikarin’s expression hardened.
With just a nod from me, I’d be contributing to the Akitane deal.
But I didn’t nod.
“Involving a person as part of a trade condition seems a bit like human trafficking, don’t you think?”
“Emma is my lover.”
Leonard continued in a strong tone.
“She’s not some woman with nowhere to go, treated as a passing amusement.”
“You have no real connection with Emma. And now, suddenly, you’re saying she’s your lover?”
“I was introduced to her through Lady Telsi.”
At those words, everyone’s gaze turned to Mikarin, leaving her no choice but to explain.
“I happened to meet Emma when I was with Lord Leonard at a gathering. By chance, we ended up sharing a table…”
“Thanks to Lady Telsi’s kindness, she didn’t treat her as just a maid and allowed her to join us.”
I nodded.
“But isn’t this a matter that isn’t really mine to decide?”
“If it’s up to Emma’s consent… she’s wanted to marry me for some time. But she’s always said she’d need her master’s permission first—”
“That’s what I’m saying; it’s not up to me.”
I shifted my gaze to Mikarin, meeting her eyes.
“You’re her real master, so you’re the one who should decide, Mikarin.”
“S-Sister? W-What are you talking about…?”
Mikarin forced an innocent smile though her eyes flickered with a whirlwind of emotions.
Had she been discovered? No, that couldn’t be. Could it really be? No… but why…?
“Emma is your personal maid, Sister. Naturally, you should be the one to grant permission…”
“Before being my maid, she’s a resident under your jurisdiction, isn’t she?”
“….!”
“….?!”
Mikarin’s eyes narrowed sharply.
At the same time, the attendants exchanged quiet glances.
Zerno’s expression was… unreadable.
‘What worries me even more is Reynold.’
Leonard had taken a step back, observing the situation. Although this all started with his words, he seemed to recognize that, now that it had become a family matter, it wasn’t his place to step in. Still, that didn’t mean he’d stopped thinking.
Emma’s words, Mikarin’s words, and the newly revealed truth…
Being perceptive, he must have sensed immediately that something was amiss.
‘Maybe… he’s starting to get an uneasy feeling.’
I know from experience.
No matter how carefully the truth is delivered, it can hurt, so it’s better to get it out quickly.
“Sister, it seems like you’re misunderstanding something. Emma isn’t one of my—”
“Oh, that’s right. Even if you do give permission, she can’t marry right away, can she?”
Before Mikarin could respond, I finished my thought.
“She’d have to get a divorce first.”
“….!”
“Emma is already married and has a husband.”
Perhaps due to the sudden turn of events, a few of the attendants covered their mouths to stifle their reactions.
‘What?! She has a husband?’
‘She’s married?!’
As quiet glances passed between them, a tense silence enveloped the room.
The first to speak was Leonard.
“What is the meaning of all this?”
His voice was steady, without a trace of emotion. As I expected, he seemed to have already sensed that something was off.
Leonard wasn’t looking at me.
His sharp green eyes were fixed on Mikarin.
“Lady Telsi, were you deceiving me from the start?”
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