I Sought Out the Tragedy’s Scheming Mastermind

“Oh, what’s this?”

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The maid picked up the paper that had fallen from Eliana’s clothes.

It was crumpled like trash.
Perhaps it was folded in a hurry and shoved into her pocket.

To everyone else, it looked like trash, but strangely, it caught Verkley’s eye.

“I think it’s trash?”

The maid next to her glimpsed at Verkley and whispered quietly.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

The maid who picked up the paper also answered in a small voice and headed for the trash can.

Then, Verkley, who had been silent, halted the maid’s steps. 

“What is it?”

“Ah, some paper fell out of her clothes.
I’ll throw it away immediately.”

“Give it to me.”

“Pardon?” 

“You mustn’t throw away other people’s things.
I’ll give it to her.
Then maybe we won’t have a problem later.”

“Ah… yes.” 

As he spoke again, the maid scratched her cheek and placed the note into Verkley’s hand.

Click.

The bustling maids left the room with their baskets.

Verkley stared at the note in his hand.

The ink marks made it look like trash.
It was like she’d written something down and crumpled it up to throw it away.

It was simple curiosity that prevented him from throwing it away, even though it seemed unimportant.

Verkley’s biggest interest and concern these days were Eliana.

What the hell was that woman doing, and what was the source of her powers? He wanted to dig through everything.

Pretending to be weak has never been a hindrance in this way.

There were so many things he couldn’t ask because he “could not see.”

How many times did he have to suppress himself, wanting to do things according to his nature?

Verkley straightened out the crumpled paper.

As expected, there was something written inside.

Verkley read the note with his mouth tipped up in interest.

And by the time his gaze reached the end of the note, he was no longer smiling.

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The corners of his mouth suddenly formed a straight line, and his eyes, which had glowed with interest, turned cold.

“What is this…?”

Verkley touched his forehead with a confused expression.

[ Verkley Owen is under a contract with a demon.
]

Written clearly on paper.

Verkley’s eyes took on a fierceness.

A secret that he had never told anyone was written in plain sight.

Verkley supported his body, reeling from the table.

Everything else was difficult to understand.

His plan of revenge was written in detail as if she could predict the future.

As if she were looking into his head.

From the beginning, he had sensed something alien from her, acting as if she knew everything.

She made eye contact, even when she knew he couldn’t see, or she’d smile at the strangest times.

Besides, she wasn’t surprised to see the color of his eyes change last time.

Did she come to find him after realizing everything?

Were the words that she whispered, “I’m on your side, Your Majesty,” actually Hera’s orders?

Strange emotions choked him up.

He was too uncertain of this feeling to call it betrayal.

He frowned at the indescribable emotion.

“I’m here, Your Majesty.”

Verkley turned his head to the familiar voice he heard then.

He made eye contact, no longer hiding anything.

Because there was no reason to put this off anymore.

Eliana flinched as their eyes met.

Verkley didn’t even realize his face looked terrifyingly violent.

Eliana’s gaze drifted to the paper he held in his hand.

Then she began to step back.

Verkley held so much spite that he sprang up and strode up to her.

Why are you avoiding me?

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What the hell do you know?

He had so many questions, but he didn’t know where to start.

Why am I so angry?

Why do I feel so terrible?

He didn’t know the cause at all.

Verkley impulsively pulled Eliana closer by the back of her neck.

Then he raised her chin so they made eye contact.

“How long have you known?”

Eliana’s lips lifted into a faint smile at his question.

Verkley’s face twisted up even more at that smile.

It’s always been like that.

A relaxed smile.
Exactly as if she were peering into him.

Verkley was upset that he didn’t know the meaning of that vague smile.

It was obvious that he had become strange.

He was in a state of panic because he couldn’t understand the intentions of this woman who would die if she made the slightest mistake.

Even as he thought about it, Verkley forced a chuckle at his overwhelming attitude.

As uncontrollable emotions continued to rise, the demon’s power was about to burst through.

His eyes grew redder and redder.

He spoke with a smile, scorning himself.
“It’s that expression again.”

Eliana took on a curious look.

It was an innocent face as if she didn’t know what type of expression she had on.

He didn’t even know if that made him angrier.

Eliana did not look surprised, even as she kept eye contact.

As expected, she already knew he was not blind.

Verkley struggled to quench his strong desire and drew Eliana closer and closer.

A close distance in one’s arms.

He dipped his head lower and stared at Eliana.

His black hair cascaded over Eliana.

An idea fell from Verkley’s mind, but he didn’t acknowledge it.

It was the first time he had seen Eliana so close.

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Her lemony-gold eyes slightly shook.

Her expression changed variously to match what she was thinking.

Verkley blankly stared at her and clenched her nape even tighter in a fit of irritation.

Her slim neck, which he could fit in his hand, was warm.

Unlike his cold hands, her body was very warm.

But the emotions stirring inside Verkley were hotter than her warmth.

With a burning thirst, Verkley couldn’t wait for an answer and asked with a dry voice.

“Have you become mute? I’ll have to twist your neck to get you to talk, won’t I?”

“If you twist my neck, I won’t be able to talk, Your Majesty.”

Her answer was bold.

Eliana, who spoke even as she was about to die, was ridiculous.

At first, he thought she was acting comfortably because her rank was so low.

But she’s still behaving the same, even after being exposed.
Did she think he’d let her off the hook so easily?

But that didn’t seem to be the case.

Because she was the type of woman who held his gaze even as she trembled by his verbal threats.

Perhaps she was trying to hide her fear.

He could just kill her right away, but strangely, he didn’t want to.

With his feelings broken, Verkley asked in a slow voice.

“…Even at the brink of death, you have the guts to talk back.
Aren’t you taking this too lightly?”

Somehow, as he stared at her face, his emotions gradually regained stability.

Yes, it won’t be too late to dispose of her after finding out everything.

Eliana opened her mouth to explain, staring at him intently with a piercing gaze.

“Your breath is tickling me.
That’s why I can’t speak, Your Majesty.”

“…”

Verkley widened his eyes, stunned by the remark.

Did she not realize he was holding her neck?

Was she in a situation where she could answer so carelessly? Was she not that scared of him?

Verkley pulled back roughly in bewilderment and embarrassment.

Even after moving away, Eliana was quite silent.
She just breathed evenly.

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Verkley combed his hands through his hair roughly.

Why the hell was she taking so long? He felt impatient.

Eventually, Verkley, who couldn’t stand it any longer, spoke again.

“What? Are you going to say you can’t talk because I’m too far away now?”

“Not at all, Your Majesty.”

“Then explain at once.
Before I decide to kill you.”

His smile was savage as if he truly intended to kill her.

In reality, he did not intend to kill her, but he deliberately threatened her mercilessly.

Her mouth twitched and then she made a small noise.

What she said further confused Verkley.

“I’m not from this world.”

* * *

Eliana stared into Verkley’s eyes.

He looked as if he had heard something entirely strange.

Eliana said softly, rubbing the nape of her tight neck.

“I-It sounds strange, but it’s true.
We’re inside a novel I read.”

“Who do you think you’re fooling?”

Verkley retorted with a softer expression than before.
Just by looking at him, it was obvious that he did not believe her.

Yeah, anyone listening to her would say she’s crazy.

It was true that they were living inside an actual novel, but no one would react with, “Oh, really?”

Eliana, contemplating how to make him understand, pointed to the note and shouted as a thought flashed across her mind.

“T-That’s proof! You’ve seen it, you know now.
I knew Your Majesty would take away Mary’s power as well as her ability.
I know what’s next!”

“Then what is that power?”

“What power?”

Eliana tilted her head at Verkley’s sudden question.

Then Verkley came close again.

He snatched Eliana’s wrist and lifted it.

He locked their fingers together and coldly said,

“This power.”

T/N: I can literally smell the tension.