I Abandoned the Male Lead Who Cheated with the Villainess - Chapter 158
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
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Herix did not respond. Neither a confirmation nor a denial, but Johann knew that it was a confirmation. In that case, it was clear that Arnold was the one who lied.
‘Aiden is alive, yet the Emperor said he died in front of him, and he thought he killed the former Crown Prince.’
It wasn’t even necessary for Johann to let his bias affect his judgment. This was the truth. He was also curious when Herix found out that Aiden was actually Isaac, but he knew there was no need to ask.
‘His Highness, knowing that Isaac is Aiden, must have given him the death sentence from the beginning, accusing him of being a spy for the Osbloom kingdom.’
Perhaps Herix had suspected this unbelievable truth for a long time. Johann’s eyes flared with realization.
“Isaac is behind all of this too, isn’t he?”
“…”
“He’s the one who practically destroyed the Cyand family.”
The man who made Celestia go rogue by approaching her—he was certainly Isaac as well.
“Perhaps Isaac, or rather Aiden’s machinations, had been going on long before. For example…”
Johann rubbed his chin with a complicated look in his eyes. When his unshaven chin turned red, Johann suddenly seemed to realize something.
“Count Ulfest and Celestia suddenly falling in love…”
There was no reaction from Herix. He had likely already come to the same conclusion as Johann.
Johann felt a complicated emotion stirring within him. While Johann had been consumed by thoughts about Herix and Ivonne’s relationship, Herix had been thinking further, considering Isaac’s schemes as well.
‘All alone, too.’
He could hardly imagine how much emotional turmoil Herix must have gone through. No wonder Herix had become more sensitive, irritable, and even violent over time.
‘He knows Isaac is Aiden, but he doesn’t know how Isaac will act.’
In psychological warfare, the defending side usually has to be more vigilant. Like Herix.
‘Then… I see. His obsession with restraining Miss, it was… a form of protection.’
Of course, part of it was due to Herix’s unhealthy love. But now Johann understood some of the anxiety that Herix had been carrying.
“Making contact with Count Ulfest and Celestia, killing the Cyand father and daughter on their way to the monastery, manipulating King Osbloom into starting a rebellion…”
Johann rubbed his chin once more. The pieces were nearly in place. But one important thing was still missing.
“But why did he do it?”
That was the key—his motive.
It was clear that Aiden was behind the conspiracy. But why had he done such a thing? Why now, after all this time of living quietly?
So Johann’s questions returned to square one.
‘So… why is His Highness so desperate to kill Aiden, or Isaac? There doesn’t seem to be any personal grudge, at least not one I can see.’
It was the most pressing question, but no matter how much Johann thought about it, the evidence Herix had provided so far was not enough to draw a conclusion. Just then, Herix spoke quietly.
“Little finger.”
“…Little finger?”
It was an incomprehensible statement.
Johann asked again, but Herix did not elaborate further. It was as if he had already said everything that needed to be said. And he wasn’t wrong about that.
‘When I found Miss Ivonne, I will tell her that there’s a misunderstanding with His Highness.’
The rest was for Herix to explain directly. It was, in fact, a perfect setup. But Johann didn’t even feel the urge to smile wryly, let alone feel frustrated.
The psychological fortitude he’d developed through dealing with Herix’s many strange actions wasn’t going to crumble over something like this. Johann clapped his hands together with a snap and stood up.
“Understood. Then, shall we go find the Miss again?”
His voice was so lighthearted, it made the listener feel as if everything was about to go smoothly. The truth, however, was that Johann’s fundamental questions still remained unanswered.
‘Why is Isaac obstructing His Highness? Why is His Highness so desperate to kill Aiden? And how does Miss Ivonne fit into all of this…?’
But Johann was a man who knew when to strike and when to pull back. Herix, looking up at Johann, stood up as well. As he brushed past Johann, he muttered,
“This is my karma, but if I get Ivonne’s permission… I’ll tell you first.”
Herix had promised it first. It was undoubtedly the best reward Johann could have asked for.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
When Ivonne opened her eyes again, she found herself alone.
Her body still ached, but at least her neck no longer felt hot from lying in a strange position. Moreover, her surroundings had shifted slightly. The place she had been lying on was a cold stone floor, but now she was on an old bed.
“Ah… ah…”
Trying to get up, Ivonne instinctively placed her hand on the bed, groaning slightly. She then noticed bruises on her wrists, as if something had been tied around them.
‘Is this… handcuff marks?’
Herix had never put handcuffs on her, only the shackles. What could have happened while she was unconscious?
A shiver ran down her spine, and she instinctively touched her own body.
