12 O’Clock Marionette

Chapter 28

No matter how I think about it, nothing is as clean as money.

I’ll gather as much as possible and indulge in every luxury before I return to my original body.

If only the church's account still existed, I wouldn’t have to go through these roundabout conditions to act like a sacred priest. But right now, money outweighs honor.

Cruello let out a short laugh.

"Darling, I can’t tell if you’re greedy or modest."

"I’m greedy. Very, extremely, ridiculously greedy. So make sure you prepare a lot of money."

"As you wish."

He chuckled lightly, uncrossing his legs.

Well then.

"Should we change how we address each other?"

"You want to add even more?"

"Not me—you."

"Bast—... Hm."

"You can call me a bastard if you want. It’s unique, I like it. Or you could call me ‘Roy’ like we agreed before."

Why haven’t you used it even once?

The way he looked at me made my throat dry.

"It feels childish? I’ll just call you by your name, Cruello. Hmm, nice name. Hmmm."

"Well… fine. Also, I think we should go on regular dates until the engagement ceremony."

"Why?"

"So the rumors spread properly?"

The rumors that Cruello had fallen for me?

The ones already circling the capital at least three times over?

I must have made a disgusted face because he just laughed and leaned against the carriage window.

"You wouldn’t believe it, but I was a pretty good kid once."

Yeah. Young Roy had been a kind child.

"I even acted obedient for the Elders. They thought they had brainwashed me, so I played along. I figured if I kept up the act, they’d eventually feed me the information I wanted. But they took too long."

"Hm."

"Now it’s time to move."

What was I supposed to say to that?

Since I was the one who broke his brainwashing, anything I said now would sound suspicious.

I carefully picked my words.

"Won’t it be dangerous?"

"I won’t go into details, but if I’m ever in a situation where I might actually die, you’d help me. Even if it costs your life."

That was true.

They had spent centuries crafting the perfect vessel. There was no way they’d let him die so easily.

"And what if they try to brainwash you again?"

"Ah, that’s why we need dates."

The conversation circled back to its original topic in the strangest way.

"For proper brainwashing, you need a severe psychological shock. It works by prying into a moment of vulnerability and taking control of the mind."

"And?"

"But as you know, I don’t have anything shocking left to experience. I don’t have anyone close to me either."

"Right?"

"So if I pretend to be madly in love with you, that makes you my weakness, doesn’t it?"

"Then the Elders will come to kill me."

"Exactly."

"Do you have some kind of grudge against me?"

"Darling, you won’t die. You’re strong."

"That’s it! I’ve had enough of you—!"

I shot up in anger—right as the carriage came to a stop.

I nearly slammed my head against the ceiling.

If Cruello hadn’t blocked my forehead with his hand, I absolutely would have.

"I’ll do my best to keep you alive too."

He smiled as he ran his fingers through my hair.

As his fingers traced along my scalp, parting the strands, the fine hairs on my nape stood on end.

I slapped his hand away.

"So what exactly do you get out of this?"

"The hyenas will come running."

At first, just some second-rate assassins.

Then, trained professionals.

And when that wasn’t enough, finally—the Elders themselves, who had mastered the darkest magic.

"Darling, be my bait."

Cruello whispered slowly.

I scowled, then exhaled deeply.

Fine.

It was a good plan. I couldn’t deny that.

"Alright."

He smiled in satisfaction.

Then, as if casually making conversation, he asked:

"By the way, darling, how much physical affection are you okay with?"

"As much as murder."

"…Excuse me?"

"I’m a bold person."

"—"

"Duke, Lady Siora. We have arrived at the Bonetti estate."

At the coachman’s call, I immediately threw open the carriage door.

Outside, the now-familiar Bonetti mansion awaited.

Let’s just take a break.

I barely nodded in greeting and was about to step out of the carriage when Cruello handed me a document.

"A present for you, darling."

A present, out of nowhere?

Curious, I broke the wax seal and peeked inside.

…Huh?

"What is this?"

"A weapon for my love? You’ll need it."

His words carried an ominous weight.
***

When I returned to the Bonetti estate, Betty was—unsurprisingly—the first to greet me.

She delivered startling news.

"The Count has returned, my lady. He asked you to come to his office as soon as you arrived."

Count Bonetti is back?

After being questioned for so long, I thought he had practically moved into the Imperial Palace.

I wasn’t particularly eager to see him. Now that he had nothing left to offer, his existence was more of a nuisance. But as someone at the bottom of the power pyramid, I had no choice but to comply.

Knock, knock.

Two taps on the door. A response came immediately.

"Come in."

Oh…

The long investigation had clearly taken its toll on him.

His complexion was pale, his cheeks sunken, and his overall demeanor had grown even more severe.

I was momentarily surprised, though not the least bit sympathetic.

Well, maybe you shouldn’t have smuggled Beatitudo.

"I hope you had a safe return, my lord."

Despite my unkind thoughts, my greeting remained perfectly polite.

Such is life.

The Count stared at me in silence for a while.

As the silence dragged on, I started counting the cats embroidered on the carpet.

Why did he call me here?

There was really only one plausible reason—

To praise me for helping Gavotte summon a spirit…

"You’ve gotten quite close to the Duke."

—Or not.

What a cold-blooded man.

Even during his investigation, he had managed to catch wind of that rumor.

"It’s not bad."

"You can’t trust someone like that completely. You’d have to peer into his mind to know what he’s planning…."

The Count tugged at his cravat, loosening it as if it were suffocating him.

"But he’s not one to grow bored easily, so he’ll probably keep up this little game for a while."

"Mm. Right."

"Take a look at this."

With an utter lack of formality, the Count tossed a document onto his desk.

What a refined and courteous father.

I obediently picked it up and skimmed through the contents.

Something about a magic stone mine in Olarr and mining rights.

And? So what?

"The one most likely to secure the mining rights is Duke White Desert."

"That makes sense."

"Make him back off. Ensure the rights are handed over to Bonetti."

…Excuse me?

So the Count actually believed that whatever I said, Cruello would just do it?

Even though we weren’t even officially engaged yet?

Noticing my incredulous expression, the Count continued.

"This will be the Duke’s tenth engagement, but you’re the only one he’s kept around this long. Seems like he’s actually interested this time—we might as well use that."

"……."

"I understand that you still lack awareness, but you are a Bonetti, Siora."

Oh, I’m very aware.

By now, "Siora Bonetti" rolls off my tongue more naturally than my actual name.

"You’ll gain plenty, but your responsibilities will be just as heavy. I don’t expect success—just plant the seed."

"Mm…."

"If you discover any weaknesses or unusual information about the Duke, report them immediately."

"So… you basically want me to act as a spy?"

"A spy?"

Cruello's words from earlier echoed in my mind.

"A weapon for my love? You’ll need it."

If someone heard that, they’d think Cruello knew my future better than I did.

I sighed, rubbing my forehead.

Most people worry that rumors aren’t believable enough, but Count Bonetti’s problem was that he believed them too much.

"I’m not doing it."

"…What?"

"I won’t whisper in his ear. I won’t gather information. None of it."

Ugh.

"My role ended the moment I replaced the engagement candidate. I have no further obligations."

"Siora."

"If that’s all you wanted to say, I’ll be taking my leave."

There was nothing worth listening to.

I turned and walked toward the door.

Just as I reached for the handle, his voice rang out.

"I can annul your adoption at any time."

I stopped and turned to look at him.

He was glaring at me.

No—his expression wasn’t just anger. It was the patronizing scorn of someone mocking a pointless rebellion.

"You’d have to suffer some personal disgrace, but if I stain your reputation enough, revoking your adoption won’t even be an issue."

The same logic as the White Desert Elders.

Villains truly do think alike.

"Even if the Duke pretends to be in love with you, it’ll be a different story once you’re no longer a Bonetti. He’ll throw you away in an instant."

Would he, though?

At this point, my value to Cruello was probably higher than my value as a Bonetti.

But I didn’t feel like complicating things when everything was finally going smoothly.

I let go of the door handle and leaned against the frame, crossing my arms.

Digging through my memory, I recalled a few key lines from the document I had read earlier.

"Forced acquisition of the Gradient Merchant Guild. Threatening the guild master. Kidnapping his entire family. Murder of six executives who resisted, followed by arson."

The Count’s expression shifted.

His eyes widened in shock—a sight worth remembering.

"Hummington and Wolffish Guilds taken over using similar methods. Bribes of 3,000 gold paid to investigators and judges—"

"Shut your mouth!"

Convenient timing—I had only memorized up to that point.

"Seems like you only targeted small but promising guilds to avoid major consequences."

"How… How do you know that…?"

"Someone told me because they thought I’d need it."

The document Cruello had given me?

It was a detailed record of Count Bonetti’s crimes.

I had only skimmed the first section, but the sheer volume had been impressive.

"Ha! Weapons are only useful to people with actual power! You think you can threaten me?"

"If I’m already being threatened, why shouldn’t I?"

"Siora!"

His voice rose in fury.

He had been calm this entire time, but now his panic bled through.

And everyone knows—the one who yells first loses.

Which meant I won.

"Count—no, Father."

I turned the door handle without hesitation.

"Try living righteously. You might get punished otherwise."

Then—slam.

The moment the door shut behind me, the Count roared my name at the top of his lungs.

Ah. The wail of the defeated.

But even after winning, I didn’t feel completely satisfied.

Was all of that really his doing?

Should I just let him be? Is that really the right thing to do?

If I had to weigh the fate of the world against one man’s corruption, the choice was obvious.

But being a bystander wasn’t exactly enjoyable either.

Ugh. I sighed, shaking off the thought as I lifted my head.

And then—

"Minuet."

My gaze locked onto a pair of green eyes.