North x Northwest

Chapter 330

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As soon as Lil let out a scream, Levi came running and wrapped her arms around her. Enzo and Jean, who jumped out from the crowd as well, grabbed Mireille’s shoulders and pulled him away from her.

Lil buried her face in Levi’s shoulder before glancing up towards the crowd.

The people from Simena’s hotel and the people on the ferry all behaved similarly. They politely covered their faces with fans or hats but proceeded to stir discussions behind the scenes. The mess of being beaten by his former fiancée wasn’t something anyone could handle. Everyone in the audience was intrigued, their eyes shining with excitement. Lil knew, the more shocking and immoral the rumours were, the more Sesbron liked them.

‘It would’ve been even better if it resulted into a scandal. But the fact that I called him a devil will be good fodder as well.’

Lil curled up in Levi’s arms. The latter probably noticed that Lil was acting quite different from what she was used to, but she nonetheless made her way through the crowd and headed to her cabin.

“Get out of the way!”

As Levi used her long arms to weave through the crowd of people to reach the stairs, Shail followed behind and cleared the way from the pursuit of possible onlookers. It wasn’t until Levi sat Lil down on her cabin’s bed that she finally caught her breath, but not forgetting to glare at the entrance to see if Mireille followed them.

Shail, standing guard in front of the door, gently closed it.

“Are you okay? He’s even crazier than I thought.”

“…”

Levi handed over a wet handkerchief and Lil wiped her flushed cheeks. The woman, clearly hesitating, soon asked cautiously.

“…Was that all true?”

‘She’s obviously referring to what she had just heard.’

When Lil nodded her head slowly, Levi’s eyes widened. Her bulging eyes then blinked to take in the truth. Lil thought Levi’s eyes were like those of a deer’s, widening mercilessly as she was startled.

“That’s disgusting. I’m beyond appalled. Really!”

With Levi’s remark, Lil burst out laughing.

“Don’t worry, I don’t feel anything now.”

“How can you say I don’t need to worry when you held my hand so tightly? Also, you’ll be haunted by your past again and be affected negatively! Maybe I should go to Sesbron with you.”

Lil was overwhelmingly grateful for Levi’s reaction.

‘I knew she cared for me, but I never expected this woman to hold a stance as strongly as this.’

Of course, it was out of the question for Levi to get involved, so Lil quickly waved her hand.

“You don’t have to. I’m fine.”

“It’s not fine. I know how the Empire only cares about a woman’s reputation. So many people have learned about your past now, but will those people, the same ones who are fond of scandals, leave you alone?”

“They won’t leave me alone. But this is what I wanted to happen.”

Levi sat down next to her and held her hand.

“Why did you do that? Why do you want that…”

“Because no one knows how vicious and dirty Mireille is. They only know him as the level-headed and successful businessman. Even though he already hails from a wealthy family, he’s favoured even by the new aristocrats because he went into business on his own. The traditional aristocrats initially thought of him as shallow and criticised him. But at the same time, those same people have benefited from investing in his merchant fleet. Moreover, his money lending business with nobles is only growing, so he’s enjoying having the best reputation in Sesbron for the longest time. In this case, don’t you think he’ll be the one most harmed by those new rumours?”

“Still, you’ll take a hit, too. Since he’s a Duke of the Empire, anything that happened in your relationship in the past will be dismissed as a minor flaw only.”

“Even if it’s a minor flaw, a flaw is still a flaw. What good would it bring if it’s kept hidden?”

Levi sighed in frustration, her eyes full of gloom.

“People tend to be judges. No, they’re obsessed with becoming one. They’ll demand obedience and sacrifice from you without having the right. What makes you believe that this will end with the ending you have in mind?”

“Because this way, everyone will become an accomplice. There’s a difference between praising Mireille without knowing anything and praising him while knowing he tramples on his victims behind everyone else’s back.”

‘While I fully understand what Levi means, I have nowhere to retreat to, nor the willingness to do so. It’s completely different this time around. I’m completely different. Far from my younger self who was broken by the harshness and loneliness of the world. And even if I run away, hide myself and live as someone else, it would all be a lie and therefore not the outcome I’m yearning for… At the end of that yearning is the possibility to live as ‘Liloa Obernyu’ once again. To do that, this is a process I have to endure…’

Levi finally nodded after a long time despite sporting a tearful expression that clearly showed her disapproval.

“All right then, if that’s what you’re after, there’s nothing I can do about it, but you… do you know that you’re showing such terrifying courage that it puts the people who see it into fear? Take me, for example, I’m so scared right now.”

“Actually, you gave me the courage. Thanks to you, I’m now able to do this.”

“…Me?”

When Levi’s curious finger pointed at herself, Lil turned to face her and nodded her head.

“Yes. It’s been that way since we first met.”

***

Linhardt paced in front of the crowd with a ferocious spirit. Every time he took a step, the deck that supported his weight made a dull thud.

“…Do you see them?..”

His large body, pale white face, and long horizontal eyes were more than enough to let him exude a threatening aura. Not only Linhardt was commandingly tall, but all of the Roahn Guards were as well, causing the people gathered on the deck to finally slowly disperse.

Mireille’s face looked so contorted that it was impossible to tell whether it was from being beaten by Lil or his actual anger.

‘I have tried my best to turn the tide and take advantage of Edgar’s absence, but the results are nothing but disastrous…’

He took a deep breath and pondered on his shocking defeat.

‘But there is something I cannot comprehend no matter how much I try to piece it all together. How could Liloa talk about such old, humiliating things in front of a crowd? I was so embarrassed and shocked that I even forgot to deny it… Or does she truly think that Edgar loves her and she doesn’t feel the need to think about her reputation? Seeing how she was basically touting the fact that she is a dirty woman… Or, does the great Edgar Retiro himself desire to play right in the palm of that bitch’s hand?’

Mireille spat out angrily at his increasingly unpleasant speculation.

“…That beastly bitch!..”

His voice could only be heard by Linhardt, who immediately turned his head over his shoulder.

“From what I’ve heard, you were supposed to be a decent person. But seeing you like this, I can’t say that I agree…”

“Governor of Roahn! No matter how generous I am, this matter cannot be tolerated. I will definitely point it out. I will report it to His Majesty right away…”

“Why? I have no involvement here. Rather, I was busy chasing away the bystanders.”

“..?”

Linhardt waved an insincere hand gesture and looked down at Mireille. He then muttered.

“…Or did you mean to report the young lady, not me?..”

“Well, of course…”

“But what will you be telling His Majesty?”

“..?”

Linhardt pretended to think deeply and tilted his head.

“Duke, are you really planning to file a complaint with His Majesty for being hit by a woman you molested?”

“..!”

The buzzing people stopped at the sound of the complaint. Linhardt crossed his arms and looked closely at Mireille’s flushed face.

“You must be in a lot of pain. To the point where you can’t even think about saving face.”

Linhardt then tapped his own cheek.

Mireille, who was clearly losing his temper, looked around the gathered audience. People stood still as if they had heard an incredible story. And even when the Roahn guards motioned for them to be on their way, the gazes remained the same. Some noble ladies even dared to look at Mireille with contempt.

Enzo and Jean, who were standing behind him, grabbed his arms to prevent him from doing anything sudden, hoping he would calm down and step back…

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