The Villainess's Secret Bedroom Service
Chapter 97: Couple of Fools

Chapter 97: Couple of Fools

The events that unfolded subsequent to the revelation of yet another illicit children’s gladiatorial arena were nothing short of hectic. This case swiftly metamorphosed into the foremost subject of conversation within the grandeur of the Capital. The news spread like wildfire through the veiled hours of the night, rousing the city’s dwellers from their slumber with its profoundly disturbing revelations.

Each and every nobleman apprehended within the razed bastion of Lord Kaylen found themselves summarily incarcerated, a decree executed by none other than Damien Dio himself. In these confining walls, they awaited their fates as the wheels of justice turned, with the prosecution diligently preparing their case for trial. These accused noblemen remained in suspense, their destinies hanging in the thread, all contingent upon the ultimate decree to be issued by the discerning Emperor.

As the Grand Duke was already engrossed in the meticulous preparations for both his impending wedding and the imminent military campaign, he found himself excused from taking the helm of this particular case. Despite his initial reluctance, the unwavering command of the Emperor himself compelled him to relinquish control and entrust the matter to the assisting prosecutor. Regrettably, his acquiescence was not a matter of volition, but rather one of necessity.

***

As soon as he woke up, Damien departed for the Imperial Palace and in the midst of this flurry, Rosalie, preoccupied with aiding Illai in acclimating to his unfamiliar surroundings, consequently missed her opportunity to converse with him. Therefore, the disquieting details of the distressing case unfolded as mere fragments, which she gathered from her personal knight, Sir Logan.

It was almost noon when Richard, the bearer of timely tidings, conveyed that Damien had at last returned to his grand residence from the Imperial Palace. Without a moment’s hesitation, Rosalie embarked on a determined sprint, her footsteps echoing urgency, directly toward the Duke’s study.

"I beg your pardon, Lady Rosalie, but you want us to do what?"

With a sense of hopelessness, Damien lowered his hands onto his expansive wooden desk, casting a look of profound astonishment upon his fiancée. His discerning, serpent-like eyes carefully scrutinized her face, searching for any hint of jesting.

"Like I said, Your Grace, let’s keep the child here. He clearly needs to rest and heal and when he does, I am sure we can offer him some kind of job here. Don’t you think it is a good idea?"

The duke reclined in his chair, his robust arms folded authoritatively across his chest. A weariness permeated his demeanor, evident in the resigned sigh that escaped his lips. It was clear that this proposal failed to resonate with him.

"Pray, Lady Rosalie, what prompts you to believe that offering him sanctuary within our domain is a wise course of action?"

"Well, it will definitely be good for him! You have seen his face, Your Grace, even after getting out of that hell, his life will not become any easier. He was clearly neglected in the orphanage, and then he was sold to Lord Kaylen, the boy has absolutely no skills to survive in the outside world!

Moreover, the only skill he possesses is swordsmanship, so instead of letting his youth rot away until he manages to make ends meet in the company of mercenaries, why cannot we let him stay and continue learning swordsmanship here and eventually join the Shadow Knights? You allowed Laith to do so!"

Abruptly, as if jolted by an electric charge, Damien visibly recoiled, leaning closer over the desk. He cast upon Rosalie an intense, scrutinizing look, laced with suspicion and intrigue.

"Did you just say Laith? Lady Rosalie, what exactly do you know about Laith?"

’Oh, I got caught again...’

Caught in an awkward moment, Lady Ashter absently scratched her right temple, her large gray eyes momentarily evading his penetrating stare. She wrestled with her thoughts, seeking a plausible explanation. Yet, none seemed adequate, leading her to embrace the simplest recourse: honesty. She reengaged her sparkling gaze with the Duke and, with a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders, responded in a candid and matter-of-fact manner,

"I had a talk with her earlier today, she asked me to have a word with you about the boy. Please do not scold her for any of this, despite everything that happened, she only had good intentions in mind."

Damien’s expression bore the weight of his exasperation as another weary sigh escaped his lips. He gently massaged his throbbing forehead, recognizing that an increasing number of individuals were now aligning themselves against his stance.

"It is not about one’s intentions, Lady Rosalie. They were acting on their own, conspiring behind my back, and breaking the correct order of things. And just for that alone, they deserve to be severely punished."

"Your Grace, have you considered why they have chosen this course of action?"

The Duke, his expression tinged with disappointment, could only respond with a resigned shrug of his shoulders.

"It appears that they have embarked upon a mission to champion justice. They were on the verge of committing a serious crime, I cannot simply let it slide, no matter how much I appreciate their service."

The girl quietly took a seat beside Damien, occupying Felix’s vacant chair, and placed her elbows on the wooden desk, resting her chin on her open palms. In her gaze was an unspoken comprehension of the man’s vexation. The audacious actions of Laith and Felix bore the unmistakable marks of peril and recklessness, capable of further sullying Damien’s already bad reputation. Yet, perhaps the most grievous transgression lay in the betrayal of his trust—a bitter sting, perhaps the first of its kind during their many years of dedicated service, and a wound that ran deep.

Following several minutes of profound contemplation, the lady eventually turned her face toward her fiancé, her voice adopting a somber and subdued cadence.

"I can understand that they wanted some kind of revenge, but did they not think of consequences at all? And to think that everyone would have found out that they worked for you! I thought they both were smart..."

Unexpectedly, the serene confines of the study were abruptly disrupted by a subdued yet resonant laughter. Startled, Rosalie flinched, her gaze fixed on Damien, her eyes widening in sheer astonishment as she bore witness to this unanticipated outpouring of mirth.

Finally, the Duke composed himself, the remnants of a broad smile still playing at the edges of his lips as he responded with an unexpectedly cheerful tone,

"Indeed, I thought they were smart too, turns out they were just a couple of fools."

Bewildered by this unforeseen response, Rosalie observed as Damien succumbed to another bout of laughter. A pleasantly warm sensation unfurled within her chest, prompted by the sight of the man’s handsome countenance illuminated by a genuine smile. In that moment, she found herself effortlessly drawn into the orbit of his infectious emotions.

In this harmonious exchange, the two of them transformed the room, imbuing its solitary walls with the joyous resonance of shared laughter—a sound previously foreign to its confines.

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