Ch. 84 Everyone Listen?(2)
After they were so distance away from the party, Carlisle, who had been following her without saying a word, finally spoke up.
“How far are we going?”
“Ah…”
She halted and looked around. They were sowhere around the grounds where the party took place, but this was Elena’s first ti in this area. She walked without direction, and they ended up in a scene where purple lavenders blood and a wooden bench was provided for anyone who wanted to enjoy the view.
“Maybe I speak to you here?”
Carlisle nodded then gave orders to Zenard, who was following behind them.
“Don’t let anyone approach us.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Zenard bowed his head then walked away at so distance. His behavior was completely different from when she acted as Len the bodyguard. He always looked disapprovingly at her then, but the expression in his eyes now was one of envy.
Carlisle gestured with his eyes towards the wooden bench.
“Sit.”
As Elena approached the spot where he indicated, Carlisle took off his jacket and draped it on the bench. She paused. She knew from the beginning that Carlisle was extrely well-mannered, but the look in his eyes now was not the sa when he looked at other people. Clearly there was so difference between the way he dealt with Elena and other won.
‘This gesture isn’t just for , surely.’
She thought it strange if this behavior was reserved to only herself, so she shook her head and put her thoughts aside. That was not the point now. She wanted to know how Carlisle made his way all the way here.
“The rumors…when did you find out?”
“Not long ago.”
“Did you send Sir Kasha to as soon as you heard? To make an appointnt?”
“Yes. And then I ca right away.”
She couldn’t imagine that that was it. She knew he was furious now, but how did he feel when he first heard the rumor? She paused for a mont before speaking.
“Lady Selby corroborated the tis I was away from the mansion and based her rumors around that. I was afraid that you would expose my alibis–during the tis when I first rescued you, when we went to see the opera, and when we went to Flower Bridge.”
Those were all the tis Len was in action. If soone knew this they may start to piece together the evidence. However, there was no change in Carlisle’s expression, as if he already knew.
“Maybe. But no one else would think that your swordsmanship skills would be so good.”
“You should have told in advance if you were going to reveal our relationship like this.”
She had put in so much work in preserving the story of the first eting at the ball. She had sent Carlisle away when he t her halfway between the south and the capital city, and he bought a private box and rented out an entire restaurant to hide their identities. So far, the both of them had made the effort to give the impression that their first encounter was in the ballroom. But today Carlisle’s words had thrown everything into smoke. She was at a loss how to explain this to her family.
“I was just trying to hide our relationship, just in case my identity was discovered…”
“That would be the ideal situation. But if you have to choose between revealing your true identity and our marriage, then of course it would be marriage.”
“…Of course.”
“I don’t want your identity to be known, either. But will we let our marriage break down just because of these ridiculous rumors?”
“…!”
Elena couldn’t find herself to respond. The breakdown of the contract marriage would be the worst of all. That was why the rumors that Helen spread were so painful.
“You should have asked for help as soon as you heard the rumor. You should have discussed how to handle this with .”
“…”
She had never thought to ask Carlisle for help. She was still not accustod to opening her hands to soone in an ergency.
“…I’m sorry. I didn’t think of that.”
She didn’t give any excuses with her apology. The contract marriage was not hers alone. The misconceptions could have hurt Carlisle as well.
“If you know sothing, tell next ti. I almost killed all the nobles at the party for you.”
Elena could not see the joke of the man’s head rolling on the floor. She shot him a serious look.
“Don’t do that. If you kill people recklessly, you might be criticized as a tyrant in the future.”
“Tyrant? Is that what you think I am when I deal with those who tornt my own? Is it not a punishnt for the nobles who prey on the blood of others?”
His words were full of aning. In fact, the power of the Ruford Empire ca from military force more than anything else. Carlisle continued indifferently.
“And I don’t care what they call . If they want to ruin your honor and ruin our wedding, then I won’t forgive them.”
Carlisle had not known her long, but for so reason he was absolutely convinced that the rumors about her were false. There was not a sliver of a doubt. A thought suddenly dawned on her.
“The rumors…what would you have done if they were true?”
She knew that this question was ultimately aningless, but she was curious about his answer.
Carlisle’s eyes turned silently towards Elena. The instant she t his gaze, a chill ran down her back. His blue irises were so cold.
“…I would kill them all. All the n who ca into contact with you.”
“What if it’s not one or two?”
“I told you, I would kill them all. And if you don’t stop, I’ll kill all the n on the continent.”
Elena swallowed dryly. His answer was beyond imagination.
” If I were the only man in the world, then perhaps you would look at then.”
“…Wouldn’t it be best to just kill the one person and let that be the end of it?”
It was common sense. If you don’t like cheating, you kill the person yourself. It would be too difficult to deal with all the other n. Carlisle gave a low chuckle then looked at her with an enigmatic expression.
“ kill you? That’s ridiculous.”
Elena was dumbfounded by his comnt. Carlisle killed the man who gave a false testimony, and almost killed the other nobility at the party. And then he said he would kill every man on the continent…
It was strange that the only one he would not touch was Elena.
“Well, I’m thankful that you’ll save in any situation. And because of you, the rumors will die. But I am a little worried who might be suspicious of my identity later.”
“I don’t like it either, but it can’t be helped. But now I’ve done this much, the story will soon be buried.”
She was impressed that Carlisle had thought this far ahead. Sotis he acted so stubbornly, but other tis he was ticulous.
“Shouldn’t we have taken the opportunity to punish the person who started the rumors?”
“This is enough for now. The rumors about will disappear anyway, and all that will be left will be the tarnished reputation of Lady Selby.”
“…You are too trustworthy.”
Elena smile faintly. He didn’t seem to understand it yet, but she didn’t make this decision because she was weak.
“And Caril is too emotional. The Selby family is a powerful family. It’s not good to touch them now.”
This was a fight between the daughters, but if Carlisle went after Helen then Marquis Selby would be forced to move in as well. That wouldn’t help Carlisle. Now all of Elena’s choices were focused on making him emperor.
“If you beco the emperor, we can pay back the remaining debt then.”
Only then did Carlisle understand Elena’s innermost thoughts. He gave a look of defeat, then after a mont he laid down with his head on her lap. His sudden actions gave Elena a start.
“What…!”
“Give your lap for a mont. I rode three days and nights to see you.”
Elena didn’t know what to do, but eventually she looked down at Carlisle’s face and saw that he had closed his eyes. She had never looked at him up close before. Carlisle adjusted himself on her knee and spoke in a low voice. She wondered if he really was drowsy.
“I’ll visit your family soon.”
Co to think of it, she would have to explain her relationship with Carlisle when she returned to the mansion. They would find out soon regardless, and it was best if it they heard it from her first.
As she thought over what to say to her family, the sound of steady breathing ca from Carlisle. Maybe he really was tired, and he had fallen asleep right away. She put aside her complicated thoughts for a mont and stared at his slumbering figure.
It was a relaxing afternoon.
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