My Husband Caught Me Having an Affair - Chapter 122

Julien immediately rejected the thought that popped into his head.

The Duchess of Dumont? That was impossible. How could she be here of all places? Unless Jacques Alide had gone completely mad, there was no way.

‘…But if that’s not the Duchess of Dumont, then who is she?’

Given the situation, no one else would make sense. According to Jacques, only she knew the identity of the informant. He had also promised to bring the name from her.

‘No… maybe it’s just a maid in disguise.’

At a glance, she did look like the Duchess of Dumont.

Then something struck him. Julien turned to the subordinate beside him and said, “Hey, go get Didier.”

Didier was a non-combat member of Julien’s organization in charge of intelligence. His main duty was gathering information under various disguises.

Soon, Didier came running.

“You said you’ve seen the Duchess of Dumont in person before, right? Is that her?”

“Uh, yes. I think it is.”

“Don’t give me that vague answer. Be sure. Is it her or not?”

Didier furrowed his brows and looked again toward the carriage.

“I think so… No, I’m sure. It’s her.”

At those words, Julien cursed harshly. If that really was the Duchess of Dumont, things were about to get far more complicated.

Julien adjusted his mask and walked toward the carriage. The subordinates surrounding Jacques and the Duchess stepped aside.

“Did you forget what we agreed on? I told you to come alone. I also said not to tell anyone.”

Jacques replied blankly to Julien’s reproach, “I had no choice. Without explaining the situation, there was no way to find out the informant’s name.”

“So? Did you find out?”

“No. But I brought the one who does know.”

At those words, the Duchess of Dumont opened her mouth as if she had been waiting for the cue.

“I’m Camille Dumont. I insisted on accompanying Jacques myself.”

Up close, her beauty was striking.

‘Indeed, it would be hard to believe she’s a fake.’

It wasn’t just her looks. She carried the innate grace and elegance of high nobility. There was no way Jacques could’ve found someone like that in just a few hours.

“You’re quite brave, coming all the way out here.”

At Julien’s words, Camille replied with a solemn expression, “After hearing Ines was kidnapped, I couldn’t just sit still. He doesn’t know about this, so don’t worry.”

According to investigations, she was known to care deeply for Jacques’s wife. It was said she regularly visited the Alide residence for meals, and had even invited her to the ducal estate several times.

‘Even so…’

To risk so much for a mere commoner woman? It was hard to believe.

‘But if she says Ethan Dumont doesn’t know, that part’s probably true.’

If he did know, there was no way he’d allow this. Even if it were a trap, the idea that a man of his stature would use his own wife as bait was unthinkable.

“So, is Ines safe? I’m here now, so let her go.” Camille repeated herself.

“…Are you saying you’ll become the hostage instead, Duchess?”

At Julien’s words, Camille flinched briefly, but soon spoke in a resolute voice.

“Better me than Ines, who has nothing to do with this. I came fully prepared.”

“……”

Julien hesitated to answer. He had no idea how to interpret or respond to this situation.

When he asked just now if she would be the hostage instead, it had only been to test her.

To be honest, doing anything to the Duchess of Dumont was out of the question.

No matter how fearless Julien was, there was a difference between courage and stupidity. He wasn’t bold enough to use Ethan Dumont’s wife as a hostage and try to blackmail him.

‘…Could she have known that and come here on purpose?’

Now that the Duchess of Dumont was aware of the situation, it would be difficult to carry out the original plan of ‘disposing’ of Jacques and his wife.

If she had calculated all that, it was undeniably a brilliant move.

‘No, even so. Coming here herself? Is that even possible?’

Even if she believed they wouldn’t dare touch her, acting on that belief was an entirely different matter.

From what Julien knew, noblewomen were the type to scream at the sight of a tiny bug. It wouldn’t be strange if she had fainted just from hearing Ines had been kidnapped.

And yet she had walked right into a den of terrifying kidnappers on her own? Even seeing it with his own eyes, it was hard to believe.

‘Is she… not afraid? Really?’

His mind was in turmoil.

Still, he couldn’t just let Ines go so easily.

In this world, trust and reputation are everything. If word got out that he backed down just because the Duchess of Dumont showed up, his name would be utterly ruined.

‘Even without that, Marlon Girard won’t let it slide.’

Girard was a powerhouse, rivaling Dumont as one of Alveni’s two great ducal houses. Rumor had it the current Emperor favored Dumont more, but in the underworld, Girard’s influence was undoubtedly stronger.

‘Damn it, what do I do? Should I contact Girard first and stall until I get a response?’

As Julien frowned in silence, Camille spoke again, sounding tense.

“You said you wanted the name of my informant, right? I’ll tell you what you want—just let Ines go.”

At those words, Julien widened his eyes slightly and looked at the Duchess.

“…You’ll give up the spy’s name?”

“Yes. That was the exchange from the beginning, wasn’t it? If I had sent Jacques alone, there’d be no guarantee you’d keep your word. That’s why I came myself.”

“……”

Though she tried to appear composed, the Duchess couldn’t completely hide her nervousness. Now that he looked closer, her clenched hands were trembling ever so slightly.

‘Of course. There’s no way she’s not afraid.’

She suddenly seemed different to him.

‘Acting out of misplaced righteousness, going behind her husband’s back and doing something she can’t handle. Sounds like something a naive noblewoman would do.’

If that were true, then her showing up in person wasn’t part of some elaborate plan—just a result of worry for Jacques and Ines.

Otherwise, there would have been no reason to offer the informant’s name so willingly.

Having regained his composure, Julien said in a leisurely tone, “Then let’s hear it. What’s the name of that rat?”

Camille hesitated for a moment before speaking, “Let Ines go first. Then I’ll tell you.”

“Tell me first, and then I’ll let her go.”

“How am I supposed to trust you to keep your word? You could just hear the name and break the deal.”

“The same goes for us. How can we be sure the name you give is real?”

A small wrinkle formed on Camille’s smooth forehead. “Then what do you suggest?”

“Well, we’ll hear the name first, then confirm whether someone like that is actually in Girard’s ranks. Don’t you think that’s reasonable?”

“That won’t do. Who knows how long that might take? The sun is already starting to set. If I want to avoid raising his suspicions, I need to return before it gets too late.”

“Even so, what’s not possible is not possible.” Julien crossed his arms as he spoke.

“……”

Camille bit her lip lightly.

‘This might go smoother than expected.’

Julien cast a sidelong glance at Jacques. He had been pale and silent for some time, sweat forming on his brow.

It was clear he’d acted out of desperation to save his wife, and was now fretting over the consequences.

“…If it turns out the name I give is real, will you really release Ines?” Camille asked in a low voice.

Julien spread his arms dramatically, as if he’d been waiting for the question. “Of course. I always keep my promises—even more so when it’s with a beautiful lady like yourself.”

Naturally, it was a lie. Julien had never once kept a promise made to a woman.

“Alright. But before we talk, let me see Ines. I want to at least confirm with my own eyes that she’s unharmed.”

“……”

Julien paused in thought before responding, “Fine. But first, we’ll need to conduct a body search. You too, Alide.”

Camille looked flustered. “But I have nothing dangerous on me—”

“It’s just procedure. And of course, a woman will conduct the search. You can relax.”

“…Very well.”

Camille reluctantly nodded. At Julien’s signal, one subordinate stepped forward.

“This way.”

Camille and Jacques followed behind. Once they were gone, Julien turned to the others.

“Check the carriage. Look for hidden compartments or anything suspicious. Keep an eye on the driver too—don’t let him do anything foolish.”

“Yes, boss.”

Then Julien addressed Alex. “Send a messenger hawk down the mountain. Let Girard know what’s going on.”

“Understood.”

With this, their preparations were complete.

Julien’s side had fifty fully armed soldiers, while the opposing force consisted of just three unarmed people—one of whom was a woman.

Even if Dumont had laid some wild trap, there was no scenario where it could overcome this tactical advantage.

‘All that’s left is to slowly reel the Duchess in.’

The moment of panic he’d felt earlier now seemed laughable.

A relaxed smile formed beneath Julien’s mask.