Chapter 2

Perceval said that Margret was free to decide whether to join him or not.

Therefore, Margret conveyed her resolve—to face the situation rather than run away.

"---Well, what brings you to my door so early in the morning, my lord?"

As soon as he entered the parlor, Perceval said this with a hollow smile. He escorted Margret, who had entered with him, to her seat with courtesy. Naturally, on the opposite side, the three people who had been shown into the room earlier were seated in a row.

The man seated in the center—Lord Wordsworth—furrowed his brow at Perceval's frivolous attitude.

"Do you call this a matter? This is outrageous!"

The lord deliberately directed his sharp gaze not at Perceval but at Margret.

"Of course, I'm here to take that girl back—Margret, what on earth are you doing here!"

"That's right! For my lady to be staying in Lord Perceval's house is utterly scandalous!"

"Julia is right. It seems there has been some misunderstanding, but your fiancé is very angry. You must apologize immediately to clear things up... don't you think?"

"Exactly! We will not tolerate any more disgrace to our family!"

Margret calmly received the three people's outbursts. If she were alone, she might have been more flustered, but now Perceval was by her side. She had nothing to fear.

"...My lord, my lady, Lady Julia."

Margret solemnly declared to the three who were glaring at her.

"I will not return to the Wordsworth family."

"What... what did you say!?" "No way!?" "What are you talking about!?"

They probably hadn't even considered that Margret would defy them. Perceval couldn't help but laugh softly at their shock. The lord, regaining his composure, glared at Perceval with anger.

"What's so funny, Lord Perceval?"

"Forgive me... it's just too ridiculous."

"Ridiculous!?"

"Yes, isn't it? Margret is not your doll. She is a living human being. Ignoring her will, it's only natural that she would rebel."

Perceval's tone was calm, but his voice was cold. The contempt and disdain in his voice made the lord flinch for a moment, but he quickly rebutted.

"Hmph, what are you saying! Margret is a daughter of the Wordsworth family. The authority lies with me, the head of the household. No matter how much you are Julia's husband, interfering with the Wordsworth family is overstepping your bounds."

The lord, his face red with anger, snorted. Perceval responded with a sneer.

"Yes, that's true—but you have no right to say that after plotting against my dukedom."

"What are you talking about?"

"If you're going to play dumb, I'll be blunt."

Perceval gently took Margret's hand, who was sitting next to him. Across from them, Julia stood up, her voice rising in anger.

"Hey! Why is Lord Perceval holding my sister's hand? You're with the wrong person, aren't you!?"

As if about to charge, the servants of the dukedom, who had been standing by the wall, quickly moved to restrain her. Just as the agitated Julia was about to raise her voice even higher—

"My wife will never be that simian woman."

Perceval said firmly.

A few seconds of silence. Then an explosion.

"Simian!? Are you kidding me!!!"

"Julia, calm down...!"

"Lord Perceval! How dare you speak to Julia like that! To treat your own wife with such disrespect, aren't you ashamed as a man!!!"

Perceval let out a dramatic sigh at the three from the Wordsworth family, who were getting more and more heated. Margret, feeling guilty, squeezed Perceval's hand and said clearly and firmly,

"...My lord."

"I have already told Lord Perceval everything about the switch."

"Wh-What!?"

"Therefore, no matter how you try to justify it, it's useless. I am the witness and the evidence."

"That's right. Of course, we have other evidence as well, so you can rest assured."

As Perceval calmly added, the lord's face turned from red to blue.

The mother and daughter, sensing something was amiss, turned their attack on Margret.

"Hey! What are you spilling! I can't believe it!"

"You useless thing! You're worth nothing if you can't help Julia!"

Despite the torrent of insults, Margret remained calm.

But,

"---Shut up."

Perceval couldn't let it pass.

The low, ground-shaking voice instantly silenced the mother and daughter. Pierced by the cold, sapphire eyes, the two—no, the three, including the lord—froze in place.

"Talking any further here is pointless. We have already determined that this matter is beyond our control."

"What!? You can't be serious!?"

The lord was the first to react. Perceval declared to the stunned lord,

"I have already filed this case for review with the royal family as witnesses. Until the review is approved, the custody of Margaret Wordsworth, an important witness, will be under the Crown Prince, not the Wordsworth family."

Margret's eyes widened in surprise.

But she didn't question it and trusted Perceval completely.

"I brought you here to inform you of this. If you are summoned, you cannot refuse. You might want to think of a good excuse."

"Why... why go this far!? Are you involving the royal family in such a trivial matter!?"

The lord, trembling, shouted at Perceval.

In response, Perceval said,

"Trivial? No way. Margret is my only one. I will crush you thoroughly so that you can never touch her again—this is a declaration of war."

He smiled, a beautiful yet cruel smile.