Chapter 225: An Unintentional Confession
In the heavy, quiet dimness of the Duke’s private office, Matthias stared at the document in his hands, his brow furrowed.
"It seems Cedric is highly suspicious of my sudden presence in the guard. He has been digging into my movements with unsettling precision. I used that pseudonym to throw him off, but he isn’t a fool."
Leon let out a soft, sharp snort, trying to break the sudden tension. "Your pseudonym is absolutely ridiculous, just so you know. Ambus Seraph? Seriously?"
"I picked it without thinking under a time constraint, that is not the point," Matthias snapped, his jaw clenching so hard the bone looked ready to break. "The point is that the bastard is demanding a face-to-face meeting. A mere royal guard cannot simply reject a formal, written request from a high Duke. And..."
"And what exactly are you going to do?"
"Nothing," Matthias replied with a chillingly indifferent shrug, his eyes darkening. "It will be my absolute, unadulterated pleasure to liquidate him along with the rest of the traitors."
Leon slammed his own hand against his forehead in sheer, unmitigated exasperation. "So, your grand plan is a blatant suicide mission? Have you completely lost your mind? Cedric is an absolute lunatic and a master deceiver. He is setting a blatant trap for you, Matthias!"
"It doesn’t matter. I will go meet him regardless of the cost."
"But—"
Before Leon could finish his angry protest, a sharp, sudden, and demanding knock cut him off completely.
The door didn’t just open—it burst inward, and Olivia marched into the room. The heavy, dark violet silk of her elegant gown dragged aggressively behind her, whispering against the stone floor. Radiating pure, concentrated fury, she didn’t bother with greetings, aristocratic manners, or standard formalities. She stormed over like a force of nature and slammed herself down into the velvet chair, her sharp, piercing gaze locking directly onto Leon like a predator spotting its prey.
"Leon," she demanded, her voice cutting through the room like a honed blade. "An entire week has passed. An entire week, and Matthias hasn’t shown his face here even once. I understand he is supposedly operating in hiding, but what on earth is wrong with him? Are you two intentionally hiding something from me?"
Leon raised his hands defensively, forced to offer a strained, highly diplomatic smile to mask his internal panic. "Olivia, usually people start a conversation with a pleasantry before jumping into a full-blown interrogation. Besides... why would we hide anything from you, sister-in-law? He is simply occupied with tedious imperial business."
Out on the balcony, hidden securely behind the heavy velvet curtains, Matthias felt his heart cold-stop before slamming violently against his ribs. Olivia.
Hearing her voice after seven agonizing days of self-imposed exile was a exquisite torture. He held his breath, pressing his back against the freezing stone, terrified that even the sound of his ragged breathing would pierce the glass and betray his pathetic hiding place. He had spent the week washing his hands in the blood of traitors.
He had been desperately avoiding her for days, utterly terrified of having to explain his recent bizarre behavior, his prolonged absence, and the sickening truth of his family’s curse. He held his breath, pressing his back against the cold stone, listening intently to the sharp, melodic cadence of her voice through the glass pane.
Olivia, completely unfazed by Leon’s predictable deflection, leaned forward. Her tone dropped into a dangerous, calculated, and terrifying calm. "Leon, we are repeating the exact same old patterns. The disappearances, the vague excuses. Please, just tell me what the problem is, because I know for a definitive fact there is one. Tell me while I am still speaking politely, before I decide to unlock my villainous side."
Leon let out a heavy sigh, leaning back and crossing his arms tightly over his chest. He glanced subtly toward the balcony before speaking. "Fine. All I will tell you is that there is indeed a massive problem, and it directly concerns Matthias. But I will not give you the details. That is his own business to share, and his own cross to bear."
Behind the thick curtain, Matthias cursed Leon violently in his mind, his fists clenching until his scars turned white. Damn you, Leon! Why the hell are you dropping hints to her?! You’re driving her right to the edge!
"What do you mean by that, Leon? Tell me right now!" Olivia pressed, her eyes narrowing into dangerous slits.
"I told you, it’s none of my business," Leon replied, his natural, highly provocative instincts suddenly flaring up in full force. He leaned forward over the desk, a scheming, wicked glint illuminating his eyes. "In fact, I don’t understand your behavior at all, sister-in-law. Why are you so intensely, obsessively invested in what happens to Matthias? Weren’t you always completely annoyed by his very existence? Why do you care this much now?"
Olivia crossed her arms, throwing her head back defensively, her pride flaring up like a shield. "I am his wife. Have you forgotten? It is my duty to know."
On the balcony, a faint, involuntary, and remarkably tender smile touched Matthias’s hidden lips. At least she thinks of me, he thought, a rare, beautiful warmth settling deep into his chest despite his despair.
But a safe, traditional answer like "duty" wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy a naturalborn instigator like Leon. A slow, mocking, and triumphant smirk spread across his face as he stepped even closer to her chair, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial purr.
"My dear sister-in-law," Leon whispered, his voice dripping with pure mischief. "You did a lot of incredibly reckless, insane things when you heard the news of his supposed death. And you are constantly, aggressively furious whenever you don’t see his face. Could it be... oh, could it actually be that you have fallen genuinely in love with my brother?"
Olivia didn’t flinch. She didn’t blink. She locked her sharp eyes with his, returning his gaze with the exact same mocking, defiant, and terrifying intensity that made her the dreaded duchess.
"And what if I am?" she shot back, her voice ringing with absolute clarity. "What exactly are you going to do about it, Leon?"
Leon’s smirk widened into a triumphant, booming grin. "Me? I am not going to do a single thing about it. But as for him... I think he might."
With a dramatic flourish, Leon casually gestured with his index finger toward the heavy balcony doors.
Olivia turned her head swiftly, following the line of his hand. The velvet curtains parted slightly under the evening breeze, revealing Matthias standing right there in the open doorway.
His mouth was slightly parted in sheer, unadulterated, and pathetic shock. A light, faint crimson blush had violently rushed up from his collar, coloring his usually pale, scarred face. He stood entirely paralyzed under the moonlight, staring at her with wide eyes, utterly unable to comprehend or believe the magnificent confession that had just left her lips