The Villainess Just Wants to Study

Chapter 38 ~ The Emperor's Seal

Gasps and suppressed whispers filled the ballroom. The nobles were all shocked by the unexpected turn of events. 

A multitude of emotions passed over the Duke's face as he paled. Disbelief. Shock. Fear. Anger. He swayed and Dylan reached out for him, but his big frame was far beyond her ability to support, and he fell to his knees on the ground. 

"What's happening?" he asked in wide-eyed disbelief.

"Father," said Dylan. She put a hand on his shoulder and shook it a little. "Father, get ahold of yourself!"

Dylan was pretending to be a devoted daughter in front of the other guests. She forced her hands to tremble a little. Her chin quivered and her eyes filled with fake tears.

She shook his shoulder again. "Father."

His outburst lasted only a moment as he regained his composure. His face stiffened, and he rose to his feet with the help of both Dylan and Grisa. 

"Your Highness, this must be some sort of misunderstanding!" he shouted desperately.

"We have enough evidence to take him into custody now," the Crown Prince announced, loudly. "If you oppose, tell it to the judge and plead your side of the case in court."

The Duke immediately shut his mouth. His son left home four years ago to travel and study—but did he truly know what his son had been up to? He gulped as though this were a thought his stomach could not quite accommodate.

"Father, you mustn't make a move now," Dylan whispered to him. "The Duchy of Beaumon might be dragged into this problem if you speak carelessly! It's best if we prepare our side of the case first."

The Duke didn't say anything. Probably because he knew she was right. 

"This is that bitch's fault!" Axil screamed angrily from where he was surrounded. "She set me up because she wants my position as heir apparent! I'm innocent! I'm innocent, Your Highness!"

Dylan burst into fake sobs, and stammered out through her tears: "I'm scared, I'm scared!"

Grisa immediately threw her arms around Dylan protectively. "You have no right to accuse Dylan—not when you've been abusing her both physically and mentally!"

Whispers filled the ballroom like a great whoosh of air once more. The reason why Dylan wanted to attend the ball with Grisa was because she was one of the only people to witness Axil's abuse firsthand. 

'What's your move, brother?'

Axil gritted his teeth. The nobles in the ballroom stared at him with hateful eyes. Nobody believed him. Nobody took his side—not even his father or his friends. Seeing Axil's furious expression, Dylan wiped her watery eyes to hide her smirk. 

The Duke held his breath and looked at his pale, trembling daughter. If he made a move now, it would look like he was taking the side of an abuser and a criminal. He would have to prepare for court—it was the only way he had a chance at freeing Axil of his charges. 

He reached out and patted Dylan's back with a solemn face. "Let's go home now," he whispered. "There are too many eyes here."

Even if Axil was proven guilty, in the end, he still had Dylan. Dylan was more than capable of being his successor based on her intelligence and skills alone.

***

Following midterms and the ball, students were granted two weeks off as a break. Dylan returned to the Duke's mansion in the capital. The entire place had been thrown into chaos by the sudden turn of events.