Dirty Heart - Chapter 24

“Y-Young Duke. Please, talk it out first.”

If this kept up, it really looked like something serious would happen, so Courtney hurriedly tried to stop Lionel. He collapsed all the time, yet when had he learned swordsmanship? Killing intent poured off him.

“Get lost.”

After coldly spitting that at Martin, Lionel turned to look at Courtney. He still hadn’t lowered his sword, but his expression had softened considerably.

“Are you okay?”

“Ah, yes. I’m fine.”

Courtney forced a smile, but inside she was in turmoil.

‘What’s going on? Why is he looking at me like that?’

Could it be that the rumors hadn’t reached his ears yet?

‘That can’t be….’

She found it impossible. With reporters trying to sneak into the ducal residence every day, disturbances were breaking out several times a day.

Then, given his awful personality, it would only be natural for him to demand what the hell this was all about, but for some reason, the way he looked at her was endlessly affectionate.

“Um….”

“Yeah?”

“Have you not heard the news yet?”

Unable to hold back her curiosity, she finally asked carefully.

“I’ve heard, Courtney.”

Lionel answered calmly. Then, with his free hand, he pulled Courtney into a full embrace while still holding the sword.

“But what about it?”

“Pardon…?”

“I mean, in the end, I’m the only one you love.”

Courtney’s eyes widened. The situation was moving in a completely unexpected direction.

“It doesn’t matter if other men desired you. I know I’m the only one in your heart.”

“….”

“I only need your heart, Courtney.”

His gaze burned so intensely that even the maids watching this scene from the side were left stunned.

In truth, everyone thought Courtney would be cast aside soon. With rumors of her being promiscuous spreading day after day, they believed the Young Duke wouldn’t let it pass.

But reality was the exact opposite. In Lionel’s eyes, there was no anger or disgust, only deep affection. He looked at Courtney with warmth, as if she were the most precious treasure in the world.

“Th-that’s amazing!”

“As expected, real love is different!”

“I’d have no wish left if I could receive love like that.”

“The Young Duke is a fantasy unicorn in the flesh!”

Everyone who witnessed this clapped and cheered, but Courtney’s expression, the one at the center of it all, stiffened rapidly.

‘What is he plotting?’

The intentions of the other party, which she couldn’t gauge, felt more frightening than ever.

***

“Liam, come here.”

While Charlotte was away, the attendant called the boy in a trembling voice.

A sharp knife gleamed in his hand. He was carrying out the director’s order to cut off the child’s finger and send it to the ducal house as a parcel.

“Hic… I-I did something wrong. I’ll do whatever you say. Please don’t cut off my finger….”

Liam’s shoulders trembled pitifully in terror, but the attendant spoke with a cold face.

“It’ll be over quickly. Close your eyes.”

“Ahhh…!”

At last, the sharp blade brushed lightly past the tip of the boy’s index finger. Soon, from the small cut, drops of red blood fell one by one.

“Ahhh…!”

“This kid, what a fuss.”

“…?”

Liam, who had squeezed his eyes shut, slowly lifted his head. For a finger being cut off, the pain was far too slight.

Quickly bending Liam’s index finger, the attendant wrapped it skillfully with a bandage. As blood seeped through the tightly wound cloth, it created the illusion that the finger had actually been severed.

“It’ll be uncomfortable, but keep it like this for now. If the director finds out, both you and I are as good as dead, understand?”

“…Hic, sob! Th-thank you.”

Only then did Liam realize the attendant had shown him mercy, and he burst into tears. The relief of having survived made him feel like he might lose consciousness at any moment.

Lightly patting Liam’s shoulder, the attendant took out a box he had prepared in advance.

Inside it was a small finger that had already turned purple, something he had managed to obtain with difficulty from a nearby unclaimed corpse cremation site.

“Phew.”

A small sigh escaped the man’s lips. No matter that it was the director’s order, he couldn’t bring himself to cut off a living child’s finger, so this too was a gamble with his life.

Without hesitation, he took out the severed finger and wiped the bloodstained blade clean. Drops of Liam’s blood seeped into the cold, pale finger.

“That should do it.”

A satisfied smile spread across his face. Now the perfect evidence was complete. As long as Liam and he kept their mouths shut, he was certain no one would suspect anything.

‘If Sister sees that, she’ll faint….’

Watching everything unfold, Liam swallowed hard. The relief of saving his finger lasted only a moment, and the thought that Courtney noona would be completely deceived made his chest ache unbearably.

***

During the past few days of chaos, Courtney couldn’t fall asleep and spent the nights wide awake. Every time she closed her eyes, Lionel’s affectionate gaze came to mind and drove her nearly insane.

He hadn’t shown up for days after getting furious about Liam, but once the article came out, Lionel changed his attitude as easily as flipping his hand. He even went so far as to publicly reaffirm that she was his one and only lover.

‘What exactly is he plotting….’

Courtney tried to view her situation as rationally as possible.

‘Right now, Lionel has two choices.’

First, to proceed with the surgery even if it meant accepting the side effects.

Second, to give up on Courtney and let her go.

Courtney bit her lip tightly. Judging by Lionel’s behavior now, he had clearly chosen the first option. His obsession with keeping her by his side was written all over his face.

‘What a disgusting bastard.’

Under the pouring morning sunlight, she pressed her throbbing temples firmly. Her thoughts were tangled with countless possibilities, leaving her mind in complete chaos.

But no matter how much she thought it through, one thing was certain. Lionel’s choice was also a gamble.

The anxiety that something might go wrong if he proceeded with the surgery despite the side effects. The fear that a single miscalculation could cost him his life. Those emotions must be taking root in Lionel’s heart as well.

A gamble always collapses the moment certainty begins to waver. She concluded that turning his anxiety and fear into reality, making him a coward, was her only chance of winning.

“But how?”

Her expression grew unusually serious. Should she go as far as a threesome with Lionel watching? If so, who would be the right person to involve in something this dangerous?

Martin came to mind first, but after what happened this morning, he would keep his distance. Lionel caused such a scene in front of the servants, there was no way he’d have the nerve to approach Courtney again.

Then what about other nobles?

Among those sending obscene love letters, there were quite a few prominent young noblemen.

What if she requested a secret meeting with them? Unlike commoners, they had their own power and backing, so even the Erhardt ducal house wouldn’t be able to meddle with them carelessly.

“Let’s see.”

Rising from the bed, she began to examine the pile of parcels stacked in one corner in detail.

Just as she was about to pick out the letters bearing noble family crests, a small box wedged among the packages caught her eye.

It looked ordinary on the outside, but for some reason, a bad feeling crept over her.

“Where is this from…?”

The moment she opened the box out of curiosity.

“Aaah!”

Courtney’s scream shook the room. Inside the box was a finger, discolored to a purplish hue. And not even an adult’s, but a child’s.

“Courtney? What’s wrong?”

Startled by the piercing scream, Bailey shot up as well.

“Liam… Liam….”

Unable to finish her words, she lost consciousness and collapsed on the spot.