Chapter 34: 19.1

Chapter 19.  Mutual Aid (1)

“Deon Filtmore. Bandelli Portiers. Lupian Pearson. What’s this?”

So-hee’s right hand trembled as she held the document.

After taking a deep breath, her eyes caught sight of a crumpled letter underneath.

[Your Grace, this is Bandelli. There are more than one or two projects that couldn’t be implemented because the subordinate didn’t approve them. Grand Duke Deon. I believe that you have more power than what they limit you to. As a partner who carried out several projects with you, I believe and rely on your capabilities.]

So-hee had set this up as the novel’s author.

Joshua called in a forger to copy Bandelli’s handwriting and seal perfectly to serve as pieces of evidence for treason.

When did he manage to bring it when they were in each other’s company all day long?

“My novel is ruined.”

Nostrils flaring, So-hee got up from her seat and stood firmly.

She assumed she had successfully prevented him from doing this, but it wasn’t effective.

“You meticulous bastard.”

So-hee rubbed at her arms to get rid of the goosebumps on her skin.

Then, she put the paper back in the drawer and fell into a dilemma.

This was originally her plan to stop the plot from moving for the meantime.

That was why she had clung to Joshua’s side until her legs were healed entirely so that she would be the one to steal the necessary documents from Deon’s mansion and burn them herself.

It wasn’t difficult to figure out what that particular document entailed.

If she got rid of it now, then she might as well have revealed herself as the culprit.

“Oh, I’m in trouble.”

‘Don’t get rid of it. Don’t get rid of it, So-hee.’ She reminded herself.

Time had flown by, but she still couldn’t stop herself from worrying.

As she fixated on the third drawer,  So-hee’s gaze lifted the instant she heard the door open.

His pretty blood-red eyes—-which appeared a bit cold and empty—had reflected her image in them.

“Do you want some biscuits, Ariad?”

He flashed her a beautiful smile, but it eerily felt like his handsome face was the sea.

Deep down, there was something far creepier beyond his mask.

Joshua settled his strong arms underneath her to lift her and added, “There are macarons, too.”

So-hee’s lips pressed in a straight line as she agonized.

Can she still save Deon?

* * *

The day passed quickly while she was being cared for.

During this time, an author couldn’t care less about anything else when she was too concerned about the web novel’s plot development.

Her mind felt like it was swimming in a deep, murky swamp earlier but then, a brand new opportunity seemed to show itself from out-of-the-blue.

As expected, there was no way Ariad would just die like this.

“It’s the first Saturday of every month, right? Wow! Why didn’t I think of this?”

Sohee was alone in Ariad’s room.

Perhaps, she should reverse her tactic since sticking to Joshua every day proved to be a more significant obstacle than getting rid of the documents altogether.

Still, there was hope.

A regular meeting was held just a short distance from the current one.

Joshua would be forced to attend that as well since his father, the Emperor, was the one who initiated it.

“The office will be empty at that time.”

That meeting would be held in the morning for about two hours, and So-hee could do a lot in that specific time frame.

She might be put in captivity with both of her legs broken, but she still had an opportunity to change the outcome.

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It might be challenging, but So-hee could still help Ariad survive despite her living a trashy life.

“You know what they say? Yesterday’s enemy can become today’s friend.”

She heard a strong murmur on the other side before someone started knocking on the door.

A woman with blond hair— like gold bars glinting under the sunlight—-entered the room.

“Why did you call me?”

Kelly, who responded to Ariad’s call, stared at her in disapproval.

Her behavior made sense considering the war of nerves two days ago.

She just stood there, glaring down at Ariad, despite the empty chair next to her.

“I wanted to apologize for what happened last time, so I called you over here. Let’s be friends.”

Kelly’s eyes widened in shock from how unexpected it was.

She recalled that she crossed the line two days ago and that malicious remark came out of her mouth without her brain thinking it through.

Ariad deserved an apology from her.

Why was she doing this?

It felt like she was the one being beaten up after she played such useless tricks.

” I reflected on many things the last time I talked to you, Ms. Kelly. I am aware of how people perceive me from what I have done. And none of what you said was wrong. I get mad whenever someone tries to tell me about it when I already know. That’s why I have thrown away the innocent cookies you have baked because I wasn’t innocent. I’m sorry about that.”

“No, it’s not—-” Kelly trailed off as she stared sullenly at the corner of the bed.

So-hee peeked at her underneath her lashes.

When the hostility in Kelly’s blue eyes gradually subsided, she immediately implemented the plan she had set up immediately.

“You seemed to have more wounds around your neck.”

Kelly frowned at the unexpected remark.

She quickly turned her long blond hair over to cover her neckline as if she had been caught in the act.

“It’s nothing to worry about. If you called me here just to apologize, I’d have to leave now. I’ve got a busy schedule——”

“I know Mrs. Eurecia very well, Kelly.”

Upon hearing the name of her abuser, Kelly’s steps faltered towards the door, and she immediately turned around to face her again.

“She can’t stand the Empress paying attention to you more than her two daughters. The more you shine, the angrier she gets.” So-hee added.

“What are you talking about?”

“I am aware that Duke Eurecia had just praised you for becoming the Empress’ favorite, Miss Kelly. Isn’t that the reason why she abused you again?”

When she saw Kelly’s wounds, So-hee remembered the sequence of events she had written in her novel and roughly guessed where she was in the current storyline.

Kelly stiffened, and her reaction made So-hee believe that the incident she had just pointed out had happened precisely a while ago.

“How do you know that, Lady Ariad?”

“I heard the Duchess talking to someone about it.”

When Sohee looked at her, frown lines marred Kelly’s forehead.

She was genuinely uncomfortable being talked about.

“Did she talk about this outside?”

So-hee fell into a moment of worry.

Kelly would think Ariad couldn’t go around talking to high-ranking yet ill-mannered aristocrats when she was here the whole time.

When the credibility of her story seemed to have been slightly diminished, So-hee reinforced another half-truth.

“That’s not the point. In a little while, you’ll be in a lot of trouble, Miss Kelly. That’s what I have overheard. ”

“What the hell am I supposed to say this?”

“Miss Kelly. Please listen to me. I’ll help you escape trouble, but you must also help me. It’s not that difficult. I’m sure that the information I have is legitimate. ”

This was a two-way street, and So Hee could have never been prouder of her plan despite the slight suspicion remaining in Kelly’s blue eyes.

So Hee appealed again out of desperation.

“Please trust me just once.”

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