Treat the Second Male Lead Like a Stone

Chapter 117

"Not only did you visit suddenly, but you're even asking me about my ex-fiancé. How absurd."

I rubbed my arm with my hand, not hiding my displeasure.

"……Are you trying to say that you don’t know Ricardo’s whereabouts? And you want me to believe that?"

"Then may I ask you a question in return."

As I took a step toward Erkishian, the curve of his lips, which had been relaxed, turned into something closer to a sneer.

"What reason do you think I have to hide Ricardo?"

"Weren’t you two close enough that words weren’t needed? To my eyes, you were unmistakably lovers."

"I’m not sure which part made you think that. I believe we were ‘close enough not to need words’ in a different sense."

At my words, Erkishian couldn’t answer.

No, I couldn’t tell whether he didn’t or couldn’t.

Only an unreadable gaze lingered on my face.

Just as that chilly silence continued—

"Your Highness! You must come to the fourth floor!"

A knight hurriedly called out to Erkishian from the top of the stairs.

He had been silently watching me, but at the knight’s call, he moved up the stairs without a moment’s hesitation.

"The fourth floor……!"

The moment Allen tried to block Erkishian’s path, I stopped him.

"But, my lady, there is……."

"Let’s go up too."

As I cut off his words, Allen bit down on his lip and withdrew the hand that had been reaching for his sword. I patted his shoulder and followed after Erkishian.

The place the knight led us to was none other than a room on the fourth floor.

"What is the meaning of this rudeness! This is Lord Blua’s room!"

The attending physician who had been caring for my grandfather was visibly flustered and tried to stop them alone.

The knights hesitated to enter the room where he lay bedridden.

"What do you think you’re doing?"

Erkishian, who had arrived just in time, shouted with a voice like a whip, and the knights jumped in, startled.

Despite the commotion spreading through the room, Grandfather didn’t open his eyes.

I desperately prayed that he wouldn’t have to face this situation and covered both his ears.

Erkishian, who had come beside me at some point, gave me a warning.

"……If what I seek is here, you will not escape punishment either."

"Thank you for personally reminding me of something everyone already knows."

At that moment, the knights reached toward the bed where Grandfather lay.

Anger overtook me, and I couldn’t help but speak forcefully.

"Show proper respect to the Former Marquis!"

"……."

"I hope you haven’t forgotten what he represented to the Empire."

At my words, the knights hesitated. Erkishian stroked his chin and spoke in a domineering tone.

"It seems you don’t yet understand the situation……."

I didn’t avoid Erkishian’s gaze.

"No matter how glorious a hero he may have been in the past, I won’t tolerate such conduct before me."

"Lady Bianca!"

Atticus’s voice rang out. As I turned my head, I saw Cedric behind him, his face drained of color.

But the moment our eyes met, he quickly regained his composure.

"Marquis, isn’t this far too late?"

Cedric approached without hesitation, pulled me behind him, and stood between me and Erkishian.

"I greet you on behalf of the House of Roygin."

"Now we can finally talk properly. Judging by your expression, it seems you’ve already heard the news?"

His crooked tone suggested that the anger directed at me was now likely to shift unfairly to Cedric.

As I tried to step out from behind him, Cedric held me back.

"Marquis, the young lady of your house tried to instruct me. Is that the teaching of the Roygin family?"

"I understand Your Highness’s anger, but that anger must not be misdirected."

Cedric continued in a level voice.

"If your goal is to find the whereabouts of a traitor, then the dignity of the hero lying in that bed must come first."

At his words, Erkishian let out a short, dry laugh and rubbed the back of his neck.

"If the purpose is a search, then it could be done while maintaining proper decorum. My sister merely raised that point."

"……."

"Please consider her words as coming from a place of affection for our grandfather, and I ask that you show her your understanding."

Cedric gave a slight nod to Atticus. As if waiting for it, he opened his mouth.

"I will accompany the search of Lord Blua’s room."

"Do so."

Before I realized it, Erkishian was looking at me.

Not with eyes of reproach, but as if trying to judge whether I had truly hidden Ricardo.

But he didn’t seem certain.

After all, he had come here based only on vague suspicions, without solid justification.

‘If he had any proof, he would’ve acted more aggressively than this.’

Or he would’ve shoved it in my face first.

I opened my mouth to speak to him.

"I have no reason to help the Duke of Hessen. As Your Highness mentioned earlier, I wouldn’t be able to avoid punishment either."

"……."

"Everything I need to protect is here, in the House of Roygin. So there’s no way I’d do anything to harm my family."

Erkishian’s brows furrowed. His eyes, which had been fixed on me, shifted to Grandfather. Then, lastly, to Cedric.

"In accordance with the will of the Imperial family, the House of Roygin will cooperate with the search."

At my words, he, who had been silently deep in thought, let out a small laugh.

It was a laugh whose meaning I couldn’t quite decipher.

Leaving only unease behind, I wondered how much time had passed since then.

Erkishian thoroughly searched the estate with his knights, but he didn’t gain anything of value.

……Which, of course, was only natural.

"Ah, perhaps I was mistaken. You two were so close, after all."

"Ha ha."

"Let’s end it here for today. Thank you for your cooperation in the search. I’ll remember the Marquisate’s innocence."

Erkishian raised one corner of his mouth.

"I hope there won’t be a need to confirm it again."

"……."

"If there is a next time, you won’t come out unscathed."

It was a warning that sounded quite menacing.

And with that, the sound of boots from the Crown Prince and his knights echoed as they exited the estate.

Thud!

The moment they were out of sight, my legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the floor.

‘They’re really gone, right……?’

No, Ricardo’s really okay, right?

Even though I had already confirmed his safety, facing Erkishian made it feel like I was being suffocated.

I panted, staring blankly at the floor.

"Bianca!"

A pale hand touched me—it was ice cold. Cedric, startled, rushed over to me.

I clenched my trembling hands into fists and forced a smile.

"Brother."

"……."

"……I did well, right?"

"You did well."

Cedric answered immediately. The moment his firm voice echoed, relief washed over me.

"Haa……."

Alright, that’s enough.

That was the best I could’ve done.

Still, I didn’t make any mistakes… right?

Did I manage to keep my expression under control?

A hundred thoughts raced through my mind.

"……!"

Cedric gently pulled me into a hug. For some reason, he seemed to be trembling too.

As I blinked, startled by the unexpected gesture, his voice, filled with rare self-blame, reached my ears.

"I’m sorry I was late."

The hand patting my back was off-beat.

An awkward gesture, like someone who had never comforted anyone before.

For a moment, I thought his face looked deathly pale.

"You’re really bad at comforting……"

But that clumsy side of him felt like Cedric, so I buried my face into his shoulder.