I’m A Doll, But The Tyrant Is Obsessed With Me - Chapter 110
Chapter 110
Declan took a leisurely look at their reactions.
No wonder the two suddenly disappeared right after the incident. In the meanwhile, Salihan pursued them quite tenaciously, but Shadow hid them tightly in the safe house, so he couldn’t find them in the end.
“Salihan, they confessed to poisoning me on the orders of Duke Otien. They say you and Han delivered the order.”
Salihan glanced back and forth between Declan and Duke Otien as he thought for a moment.
‘…He’s thinking.’
Of course, that loyal dog wouldn’t accuse the owner straight away.
‘Well, that’s why it’s more fun.’
The future scenario was clearly predictable.
“They are lying.”
Salihan spoke after making up his mind.
“Lying? Which part?”
“His Excellency never gave such an order. He doesn’t even know them.”
“The Duke did say he saw them for the first time today.”
When Declan agreed, Salihan stepped forward more confidently.
“His Excellency doesn’t know about it. It was all planned and done by me alone.”
At those unwavering words, people could not help but begin to whisper to each other with surprised faces.
“Duke Otien, did you really not know? Aren’t they your servants?”
The Duke stared at Salihan with a puzzled face.
“My deepest apologies, Your Majesty. I will take responsibility for not properly managing and supervising my subordinates. Please punish me.”
Duke Otien slowly rose from his seat and bowed his head a little towards Declan. It was an indirect expression that he did not know.
“No, does that make sense that he didn’t know what his closest aide was doing?”
“Furthermore, they committed a colossal act of trying to assassinate His Majesty… Not once, but twice.”
“Like the last secret letter incident. How is he managing his subordinates?”
The imperial faction nobles all stepped forward and raised their voices.
“How can you know that it is not him who is determined and deceitful?”
“That’s right. His Excellency is also a victim.”
Nobles of each faction fought for Duke Otien.
“Even if it was an aide’s sole action, it was an attempt to assassinate His Majesty. The Duke must be held accountable.”
Duke Buccleuch took a firm stand.
“No, doesn’t His Excellency say that he didn’t know?”
“To think that the head of the Duchy put His Majesty in danger by failing to manage a single subordinate. It’s not something you can avoid by not knowing.”
As Duke Buccleuch slammed the desk and shouted, everyone gazed at him.
“I made up my mind and lied, so how could His Excellency know?”
When Salihan, who had been silent until now spoke up, attention was drawn to him again.
“Your Excellency, I will pay with my life for the inconvenience caused to you by abandoning your grace.”
As he prostrated himself on the floor towards Duke Otien the next moment, the Duke just looked down quietly with a calm face.
“Everyone here is familiar with the Manat Law, right?”
Salihan lifted his head and addressed the crowd in the meeting room.
When the Manat Law was mentioned, the nobles who had been shouting that Duke Otien should be punished shut their mouths. It was because, according to the Manat Law, Duke Otien could not be charged unless it was treason with certain evidence.
Therefore, they could not punish the Duke merely for failing to supervise his aides.
“Of course. There is no noble who does not know the manat law.”
“That’s right. His Excellency did not commit treason, so he cannot be punished.”
“Didn’t Salihan say that he did it alone?”
The nobles of the noble faction insisted strongly this time.
“Hmm. I can’t just punish you for failing to manage your subordinates since the Duke is protected by the Manat Law.”
When Declan acknowledged it, Salihan put on a triumphant face. Similarly, Duke Otien’s expression did not change though the corners of his mouth went up slightly.
“As an emperor, I respect the Manat Law…”
Seeing Declan smile incomprehensibly, both Duke Otien and Salihan wondered.
“…So I prepared solid evidence. Come in.”
People turned their heads to the door in bewilderment at those words. Moments later, when the door opened and Seian entered, Duke Otien’s eyes hardened.
“The time is up. Have you made your decision?”
Seian contacted me exactly on the third day after the offer of the deal. I tucked my flowing hair behind my shoulder and raised my teacup.
“It was quite difficult to make a decision because I was pressed for time.”
Seian narrowed his eyes slightly and replied.
“So, will you join me?”
“You still have a quick temper.”
“You probably don’t even know.”
When I shrugged my shoulders, he smiled lightly.
“Your proposal, I will accept it.”
I had already heard from Shadow that Han had met Seian. Because of that, if he refused the offer, I planned to try to catch him by tying him together with Duke Otien since it was a good thing as it would reduce our effort.
“I am delighted to be working with you.”
Satisfied, I smiled brightly while Seian was also smiling as well.
“Still, how did you make up your mind? I thought you were hesitant when I offered you an offer?”
Apparently, Seian was weighing my proposal that day. Besides, since he went all the way to Han, he must have been more worried.
“Even if I decided to be your partner, I can’t show you all my hands.”
Seian looked mysterious.
“Let’s just say I’m curious about the prey.”
‘…He had an idea who the prey was?’
While pretending not to, it was clear that he had a detailed understanding of the situation within the empire.
“Before that, I want to confirm His Majesty’s confirmation letter.”
“Here it is. His Majesty’s seal is stamped on it so you can check it.”
When I handed over the letter of confirmation without hesitation, Seian slightly widened his eyes. It seemed that he didn’t think that I had prepared it already for today… so if he were trying to buy his time with this, he would be completely wrong.
“…Did His Majesty really approve?”
“I am the Savior. I don’t play tricks.”
“So easy…”
Easy?
How much effort did I put in to get here? The tip of my nose twitched, thinking of my past efforts to rehabilitate Declan.
“His Majesty also always had a heavy heart for the Kingdom of Gemina.”
I was a little embarrassed at the expression on his face that said it couldn’t be.
‘No, even if it wasn’t to the extent that he was tormented by guilt, he had an uncomfortable mind.’
Even though I wanted to defend myself word by word, I swallowed it quietly as I didn’t think it was something I would talk about in front of him.
“When everything is over, His Majesty will formally apologize.”
Hearing the word apology, Seian’s eyes shook slightly. Of course, although the pain they suffered would not go away, we must ask for forgiveness because that was the least courtesy for those who suffered.
“…I can’t imagine it.”
Seian looked bewildered.
“Since you gave me the confirmation letter as promised, I have to do my part. How can I help you?”
“First of all, do you know who ordered the abduction of Her Highness’s doll?”
“Isn’t it Count Nolan? I know he committed suicide in prison.”
As I opened the truth eye to see if he really didn’t know the real man behind it, the white flames visible through his pupils flickered.
It was a lie.
‘…As I guessed.’
If he already knew who was behind it, this side was rather advantageous.
“Could Count Nolan have done such a great thing alone?”
“Are you saying there’s someone else behind the Count?”
Seian pretended not to know and asked with interest.
“There are several forces involved in the doll abduction case.”
“Among them are our Gemina people.”
His face darkened.
“His Majesty got rid of the guild that kidnapped the doll, but why did he spare the people of Gemina who were involved in it?”
“….”
“And why didn’t he even question you?”
“What do you want to say?”
Now that the smile had disappeared, it seemed to be the real him.
“It was because he knew that the Gemina people were being used as tools.”
If it weren’t for me, he certainly wouldn’t have known. Still, I continued my words, “And because he didn’t want the people of Gemina to be sacrificed anymore.”
Seian just kept his mouth shut.
“Did you know that the guild took the families of the Gemina people hostage?”
Seeing his eyes flickered for a moment at those words, I couldn’t tell whether he knew this or not.
“The people behind the kidnapping did not care about the safety of the Gemina people.”
“…Why are you telling me this?”
“Because behind that is the prey I want to catch.”
Seeing that Seian’s pupils were interested, I smiled with satisfaction.
“Duke Otien is behind it.”
With those words, his face turned terribly cold.
“Do you have any proof?”
“You think Count Nolan committed suicide, right? No. Duke Otien killed him… to silence him.”
I recently heard this story from Declan. He mentioned that the assassins came looking for the Count as soon as he had given the order to protect the Count. And after chasing after them, they found that they were Salihan’s subordinates.
“They were the ones who delivered the secret letter between Princess Medicis and the Duke.”
The people who delivered the Duke’s secret letter to him are among them. Seian’s face hardened as if he understood the meaning of my words.
“Are you interested in a game?”
“Can I ask you something?”
I shrugged my shoulders, saying, “Ask away.”
“Do you know what happened to the Gemina people who were held hostage by the guild?”
I knew he would ask that.
“I know that His Majesty rescued them before he dealt with the guild. We are now keeping them safe.”
A small breath of relief flowed from Seian.
‘…Does he really not know?’
For a moment, I doubted whether his actions were acting.
“If you become independent, we intend to send back those who are imprisoned as well as their families.”
That alone wouldn’t dampen their anger at Declan. But at least, I just wanted to let him know that I had no intention of using them or sacrificing them.
When the story was all over, Seian raised his head after a while.
“How are you going to catch the Duke?”
I smiled and calmly explained my future plans.
—
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
