My Husband Caught Me Having an Affair - Chapter 104

I quietly rang the handbell. Soon, a maid entered the office.

“Clean this up and prepare a new tea set.”

“Yes, Madam.”

The maid wiped up the spilled tea and removed the teacup. Ethan waited for her to leave before continuing his words.

“Rest assured. I didn’t summon you to condemn you, Sir Vincent. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.”

“……”

Vincent looked at Ethan with a pale face.

Ethan spoke expressionlessly, “I will save you from the difficult situation you are currently in. Not only will you no longer have to take unwanted risks, but in the end, I will also erase your debts. Of course, this is on the condition that you disclose everything you know and cooperate with me entirely. Can you do that?”

For a brief moment, complex emotions flickered in Vincent’s eyes. But this was no situation for hesitation or indecision. Living in a world where a moment’s judgment could mean life or death, Vincent responded immediately.

“…Of course. Just tell me what to do.”

It was a wise decision. Had he tried to feign ignorance and escape the situation, things would have only worsened for him.

“Good. Then first, let’s hear what you have to say. Who ordered you to carry out this mission, and what conversations took place between you? Leave nothing out.”

Vincent did as Ethan instructed. He revealed that the person who had threatened him was Guillaume Bonello, the owner of Noir Perle. As expected, Vincent had no idea that it was actually Girard who had orchestrated the trap he had fallen into.

After listening to everything, Ethan turned his gaze toward me. I met his eyes and gave a small nod.

“Now, I’ll explain the plan from here on. To avoid arousing suspicion, we will not have any further contact after this meeting. So listen carefully and remember everything I say.”

“Yes, Your Grace. Please continue.”

At Vincent’s response, Ethan paused briefly before speaking again.

“I intend to give the people who threatened you exactly what they want. The duel tomorrow will proceed as scheduled, and at that time, you will inflict a grave injury upon me—one severe enough that it wouldn’t be strange if I collapsed and died on the spot.”

Vincent gaped blankly at those words.

“W-what do you mean…?”

“Of course, I don’t mean for you to actually stab me. The point is to make it look like you did.”

Ethan said this and signaled to Mael, who then placed a specially prepared leather armor in front of Vincent.

“This armor was custom-made for this plan. From the outside, it looks ordinary, but the interior of the abdominal guard is hollow.”

Mael lightly tapped the stomach area of the armor as he spoke.

“Tomorrow, this part will be filled with pig’s blood. A simple slash will be enough to make the blood gush out dramatically. Of course, if the wound looks too superficial, it may raise suspicion, so it should at least appear convincing. But with your skill, Sir Vincent, that shouldn’t be difficult.”

“Of course, cutting too deep would also be a problem. I have no intention of actually dying.”

Ethan’s words were meant as a joke, but Vincent didn’t seem to take it that way. With a face drained of color, he hurriedly responded.

“That will never happen. I swear.”

“Good. Once I take the blow and collapse, I will remain secluded under the pretense of receiving medical treatment. Soon, rumors will spread that my life is in danger. As days pass, some may even speculate that I have already died.”

“……”

Ethan continued in an even tone, “What’s crucial is what happens next. The success of this plan depends on your acting skills.”

“Acting… skills?”

“That’s right. If the person behind this plot is truly the one I suspect, they will never reveal themselves easily. Even if rumors of my death spread throughout the capital, they will not be satisfied until they confirm my corpse with their own eyes.”

For the first time, a chilling edge crept into Ethan’s voice. Vincent swallowed hard.

“I hear that knights who reach mastery are invariably skilled at hiding their emotions. I trust you will do well, Sir Vincent.”

“…What exactly do you need me to do?”

Vincent asked in a slightly cracked voice. Ethan looked him straight in the eyes and began speaking.

“That aside… Sir Vincent performed even better than expected.”

Jacques muttered, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“That day, Sir Vincent was truly intoxicated. We did suggest he drink just enough to make it look natural, but I never thought he’d go that far…”

“Of all people, Sir Vincent had the most at stake in this operation. He must have been overwhelmed by guilt and suffering all this time. This was his one and only chance to escape Girard’s trap and restore his honor—of course, he would have been desperate.”

At my words, Mael nodded seriously with a solemn expression.

“The Duchess is right.”

Vincent was now hiding in a safe house prepared by the Dumont household.

With Mathieu and his subordinates completely disappearing, Vincent was the only person left for Marlon to track down for answers.

In this situation, the importance of intelligence warfare went without saying. There was no need to inform Marlon that we were the ones who captured Mathieu, nor that we had anticipated Girard’s scheme and turned it against him.

Right now, Marlon must feel as though he was lost in a dense fog. He could suspect all he wanted, but there was no way for him to be certain.

On the other hand, for the Dumont side, this was the perfect opportunity to secure a decisive advantage.

“Up to this point, everything has gone according to the Duchess’s plan. But the real challenge begins now. If we can’t get those men to talk, we won’t be able to do much,” said Jacques.

“Do you have any plans beyond this?” Ethan looked at me and asked.

At the same time, Jacques and Mael turned their gazes toward me. For some reason, their eyes were filled with expectation. It was clear they had no doubt I already had a plan in mind.

“Well, I was thinking of having a little chat with them myself.”

At my words, Ethan furrowed his brow.

“You’re saying you want to interrogate them personally?”

“Yes.”

“No. It’s too dangerous.” Ethan responded firmly.

I tilted my head slightly. “Dangerous? What do you mean? They’re shackled and completely restrained.”

“That’s only for now. We don’t know what could happen later. Girard still doesn’t know who you really are. If he finds out that you were behind this entire operation, we have no idea what he might try to do to you.”

“I agree with His Grace. The Duchess is our most valuable trump card. There is no reason to reveal it needlessly,” Mael added.

“Well, I see things a little differently.”

Jacques’s words drew everyone’s attention to him.

“If not for the Duchess, we wouldn’t have achieved any of this. And it’s also true that we’ve hit a dead end at this point. More importantly, the fact that the Duchess herself suggested the idea means she already has a plan in mind, doesn’t it?”

“Thank you, Jacques.”

At my words, Jacques smirked and pulled up one corner of his mouth.

Ethan’s expression hardened once more. “If you have a plan, you can share it here and now. There’s no need for you to face them directly.”

“It’s not that simple. To make them talk, I need to change strategies in real-time based on their reactions. No matter how detailed the instructions I give you here, it won’t be the same.”

“Camille.”

Ethan’s eyes were filled with deep concern.

I smiled lightly and said, “Don’t worry. I have everything figured out. When have I ever not?”

“……”