The Young Male Protagonist Who is Destined for Ruin Fell for Me - Chapter 37

Count Gargoyle left the detention room with a self-satisfied air, clearly pleased with his successful intimidation. His gaze, as if watching an animal in a cage, was enough to sour my mood.
To think that a man like him is the emperor’s closest confidant. This imperial family is a blight upon the High Empire. There’s no way I’ll let things play out as they wish.

“Lady Diane, are you all right? That Gargoyle Count—what a brazen man, barging in like that,” the investigator muttered, spitting in the direction Gargoyle had disappeared. He kept glancing at me nervously, likely annoyed that someone like Gargoyle outranked him.

“It was unnerving,” I said with a sigh. “He came out of nowhere and said such frightening things.”

Feigning vulnerability, I shifted the conversation toward my true intention.

“Investigator, I have a small favor to ask. Could you summon His Grace, the Duke? He mentioned his work would be done by this morning. After what the count said, I’m too afraid to leave alone…”

I let my expression droop into one of helplessness. The investigator brightened, no doubt eager to please someone under Kyle’s protection.

“Lady Diane, please relax! I’ll notify him right away!”

Perhaps he felt like Cupid on a mission, but he moved with remarkable speed, vanishing down the corridor. Once I was sure he was gone, I stood and left the room.

Outside, Vanessa, Lady Reina, and Lady Gretchel sat on a long bench, their hands bound. Their pallor suggested they’d overheard Gargoyle’s threats through the frosted glass door.

“Lady Diane, are you all right?” Lady Gretchel asked.
Considering she had the most reason to feel troubled, her concern for me was unexpectedly touching.

It was fortunate that someone as kind as her had been the last to hold the necklace. She would need to be trustworthy if I were to rely on her in finding it.

“I’m fine,” I replied. “But did you hear what Count Gargoyle said?”

The three of them nodded, their expressions grim. Gargoyle had essentially promised to frame me for the theft. Their fear was understandable—if he dared to threaten someone like me, under Chaield’s protection, how much worse would it be for them, who had no such shield?

It was clear Gargoyle was acting on the emperor’s orders. And their goal was obvious: to shift the blame for the necklace’s disappearance onto me, thereby dumping the fallout on Chaield.
If successful, the imperial family could sit back and let Chaield handle Keltman’s wrath and the people’s outrage. It was a pragmatic, if ruthless, solution.

But I won’t be their scapegoat.

In fact, this was the perfect opportunity to bring down the emperor—a womanizer who had squandered the empire’s treasures on his indulgences.

Though I knew, from the original story, that the emperor hadn’t always been a terrible person, his actions now were inexcusable. This was my chance to deal with him once and for all.

“Count Gargoyle seems to suspect all of us who were present when the necklace disappeared,” I said, my tone deliberately somber.
Lady Reina flinched. “Wait, I was there too, wasn’t I? During the attack when the necklace vanished?”

“Yes, Lady Reina. As you heard, this is a diplomatic crisis involving Keltman. Someone will have to take the blame.”

“…!”

Reina stiffened, and I subtly brushed my hand against hers. Her anxious thoughts spilled into my mind.

What should I do? My family doesn’t have the power to prove my innocence… Is this necklace really that important? I’ve heard it is, but…

As I suspected, Reina had no knowledge of the theft. Her worries lay elsewhere.

If I’m taken away, what will happen to my siblings? If I’m accused of stealing a royal treasure, my sisters’ marriage prospects will be ruined… the family’s honor destroyed…

Despite her earlier brashness, Lady Reina was just a devoted elder sister, desperate to protect her family. Her wide, frightened eyes told me everything.

“Lady Reina, if we want to avoid injustice, we need to trust each other,” I said gently.

“Of course. I trust you and Lady Gretchel,” she replied quickly, her sincerity unmistakable.

People with something to protect are always easier to sway. Both outwardly and inwardly, Reina now relied on me completely.
With this, I had secured two allies against the emperor and Gargoyle. Of course, they were inexperienced in actual conflict, so the burden of fighting this battle behind the scenes would fall to me.

“It’s a relief we’re on the same page,” I said, smiling. Reina and Gretchel mirrored my relief, but Vanessa, sitting at the edge of the bench, remained silent.

“Lady Diane…” Vanessa finally spoke, her voice hesitant.
“Yes?” I responded neutrally, watching her face cloud with unease. It was clear she saw me as her last hope. And the needy are always the first to reach out.

Tears glistened in her eyes as she said, “I’ll be accused too. But unlike you, I’m just a commoner… If I’m arrested, my siblings will starve…”

Starve? Really? I knew for a fact she was an only child who had lost her parents years ago.

Feigning sympathy, I said, “Oh, how tragic. Vanessa, why don’t we speak privately?”

I led her into the interrogation room, ensuring the others couldn’t overhear. Even in this private space, Vanessa clung to her pleading expression. How had the original story’s protagonist ended up like this? It seemed true that privilege shaped character.

“Vanessa, I have something to say.”

“Please, anything! I’ll do whatever you need.”

Having failed to steal the necklace and become the leader of the Aretists, Vanessa seemed desperate to align herself with me. I wasn’t about to waste the opportunity.

Vanessa Maeve was an extraordinary fighter, having survived within the Aretists even without Aretite. If I confirmed a few things, she would make the perfect bodyguard for my plans.

“Vanessa, do you know much about Aretite?”

Her eyes widened in shock. Naturally, Vanessa knew Aretite better than most, and now she stared at me, questioning how I could possibly know about it.

“I have Aretite,” I said calmly.

“I thought so… Your beauty is otherworldly—I suspected there was something exceptional about you.”

Her flattery was as smooth as silk, but I wasn’t fooled. I dropped the real bombshell.

“I can read the thoughts of anyone I touch.”

“W-what?”

“The engagement ring His Grace gave me is embedded with Aretite.”

“…!”

“At first, I could only hear the thoughts of people I touched directly. But now, as I’ve grown accustomed to Aretite, I can even sense thoughts through objects or weapons.”

Vanessa’s face twisted in shock. I smirked and touched the hem of her dress, just for effect.

The Duke must be obsessed with her. Giving her a ring with Aretite?

Well, Chaield does monopolize Aretite…

Anyway, as long as she’s here, seducing the Duke is impossible.
“You’re right. As long as I’m here, seducing Kyle is impossible,” I said, watching her shock deepen.

Vanessa’s thoughts spilled over, chaotic and desperate.

Damn it… She must know I tried to steal the necklace and failed.
“Of course I know,” I replied smoothly. “That’s why I wanted to speak with you. Vanessa, if you don’t agree to my plan, I can easily prove you attended the ball with the intention of stealing the necklace.”

I smiled as I spoke. Vanessa’s eyes trembled as she wrestled with her decision.

Damn it. I have no choice. I have to stick with her if I want to survive.

Her thoughts were clear. Still, she worried that I might overhear them. Pretending not to notice, I spoke softly.

“Vanessa, I need a bodyguard for a dangerous task. I can’t pay much—my funds are limited.”

“Lady Diane, money isn’t an issue! If you need me, I’ll work for free.”

“Good. For now, I’ll bring you to the Chaield mansion. Of course, Kyle will have to approve.”

I already knew Kyle would agree. The distant clatter of an arriving carriage confirmed it.

“I’ll tell him we’ve known each other for a long time.”

“The Chaield mansion?” Vanessa asked, her voice tinged with awe.
“Yes, for the time being.”

The emperor would undoubtedly send someone to spy on me. Even with Chaield’s security, trained imperial agents could easily infiltrate. Until the necklace incident was resolved and I provided The High Times with an exclusive, my safety was paramount. Vanessa, the former harbinger of destruction, was more than up to the task.

“Can you handle it?” I asked as Kyle’s hurried footsteps drew closer.

Vanessa, now brimming with loyalty, replied, “For Lady Diane, I would give my life.”

And so, the original protagonist was now my chess piece.

At the same time, I was ready to deliver a devastating blow to the tyrant emperor.