The Male Leads Were Stolen By The Extra [EN]: Chapter 136

“Search every nook and cranny!”

“Yes, sir!”

Under the command of Vice-Commander Rudd, the knights advanced into the Bennet estate with perfect discipline.

“Wh, what is the meaning of this…! The Baron and the young lady are not here, you can’t just barge in like this!”

The butler protested to Count Rudd, his face pale as he watched the knights storm in without permission.

“This is by order of His Majesty the Emperor.”

Count Rudd confidently presented a document stamped with the Emperor’s seal, authorizing the search of the Bennet estate.

The butler’s eyes widened at the sight of it. It was the Emperor’s command, so he could no longer protest the knights’ unauthorized entry.

“Oh, what to do…”

“Are we all going to die? Is that it?”

“Shouldn’t we run away…?”

The maids gathered behind him, murmuring anxiously.

The butler swallowed hard, sensing that something extraordinary was happening, and spoke again.

“Wh, what is the reason for this? If you would just tell us…!”

“Where is Lady Grace Bennet right now?”

“The young lady is currently out.”

“Where did she go?”

Count Rudd demanded an answer from the butler, his eyes as sharp as a hawk’s as he locked onto his target.

“That is…”

“If you do not answer, it will be considered defiance of His Majesty the Emperor’s order, and you will be arrested on the spot…”

“She went to Duke Vesin’s residence!”

The butler, who had been hesitating, was eventually forced to open his mouth by Count Rudd’s threat.

Having achieved his objective, Count Rudd put the document back in his coat and shouted.

“From now on, we split into teams. The knights who have already entered will continue to search the mansion, and the rest will follow me to Duke Vesin’s residence.”

Count Rudd strode forward, his cloak embroidered with the emblem of the Moonlight Knights fluttering behind him.

A few hours earlier, Ian Chervil had briefly awakened. The words that came from his mouth were ‘Grace Bennet.’

They didn’t know exactly what he meant, but when they tried to ask, Ian lost consciousness again after saying only those words.

Grace Bennet, huh. Did he want to see his fiancée as soon as he woke up?

However, Count Rudd, who had been Ian’s adjutant for a long time, judged that it was not the case.

Because Ian’s eyes were unusual. This was clearly suggesting the direction of the investigation.

As the investigation was experiencing difficulties without any particular results, he reported this fact to the Emperor without delay, grasping at straws.

The Emperor, who was bloodshot with black magic, authorized the investigation of anything suspicious without hesitation.

‘Grace Bennet. Now that I think about it, things have been getting a little strange since the Commander met that woman.’

Maybe that woman really is involved.

“Vice-Commander!”

Count Rudd snapped out of his thoughts at the knight’s voice from outside the carriage.

It seemed they had arrived at Duke Vesin’s residence.

He straightened his clothes and got out of the carriage.

“L, look at this!”

“……Is this really Duke Vesin’s residence?”

Count Rudd, seeing the knights looking aghast, raised his head, his face hardening.

What stood before them was not the splendid and magnificent Duke’s residence. The exterior of the residence had turned as black as a burnt-out tree.

The windows were so distorted that they were unrecognizable, and the same was true of the doors.

It looked as if lava had flowed through the mansion, melting and flowing down everywhere. Like an abandoned mansion on dead land.

Moreover, just standing in front of it gave him a chilling feeling.

“It’s strange. The knights are nowhere to be seen. The mansion is too quiet.”

“Kk, kkaaaaak!”

Following the knight’s report, a scream was heard, and everyone’s eyes focused on one spot.

“Rain!”

“Fall back! Everyone, fall back!”

Count Rudd shouted as everyone panicked in surprise.

Knight Rain, who had touched the mansion, had turned into black ash and disappeared in an instant.

“…….”

“…….”

A suffocating silence descended.

The knights, all pale-faced, bit their lips tightly at the sudden event.

Count Rudd, realizing the situation, gave an order without hesitation.

“We’ve found the base! Report to His Majesty the Emperor immediately and request support from other knight orders! We must surround it completely. Don’t let anyone escape!”

* * *

“N, no way…!”

Grace’s face grew paler and paler. Because she saw Galloway being dragged around like a paper doll, unable to use his strength and only being defeated.

Her father had summoned the undead several times to counterattack, but even that was useless.

Because that damn man destroyed them all.

This couldn’t be happening. No matter how skilled he was with a sword, how could he burn the undead summoned by black magic with just a flick of his finger without even using a sword?

Where on earth did that bizarre power come from?

He doesn’t chant spells or swing a sword, so how can he lift people into the air and instantly destroy the undead!

“He’s a monster. That’s a monster!”

Thud.

Something touched Grace’s back as she stumbled backward in panic.

When she turned her head, she saw Celonia, who had approached her unnoticed, smiling brightly.

“Why? Isn’t he the man you wanted so badly?”

“……You.”

Grace bit her lip.

That arrogant, relaxed expression. She knew everything.

That the man was a monster.

Grace’s lips twisted as she finally realized everything.

“Ha! So that’s how it was. Just like you, the Grand Duke also dabbled in black magic. And then you pretend to be noble and frame me and my father?!”

Grace was convinced. That they had their hearts stolen because Celonia had used the same tricks as her, and that the Grand Duke was also a black magician.

Why the Empress’s earring didn’t work on her, and what the source of the Grand Duke’s terrifying power was. Otherwise, none of this could be explained.

“The Grand Duke also? So you’re admitting that you used black magic?”

Celonia asked, her eyes flashing sharply at Grace’s words. She secretly took a picture of Grace with the earring she had in her arms.

“Yes! So what if I did! I was just trying to get my body back. Give me back my body! You stole someone else’s life and shamelessly…!”

Grace shouted, her eyes sharp and angry at the ridiculous question.

“The knights are stationed outside. It seems like we can just catch you and take you out.”

Reyev, who had seen the situation outside, approached Celonia immediately.

It seemed that the Imperial Knights had finally found out. There was no way to escape.

“Reyev! Help me! That woman stole my body! I’m innocent! I was just trying to get my body back!”

“…….”

Reyev’s face hardened as Grace desperately clung to his arm. The goosebumps on his arm showed how unpleasant he was feeling.

“Hic, Reyev, it’s me! I’m the one you swore your knight’s oath to! You always said you’d protect me!”

Grace pitifully grabbed Reyev and reddened her eyes, trying to appeal to emotions that she had forcibly created with her tricks.

If you didn’t know the truth, she would look innocent enough.

Celonia thought. When you look at it, she’s really good at acting.

“……God will not forgive you. Repent for the evil deeds you have committed and accept your punishment willingly.”

However, Reyev coldly removed Grace’s arm that was holding his arm.

He had many things he wanted to ask, but he bit his lip and swallowed them inside.

He knew that no words would work for Grace, who had not repented at all and was trying to cling to him even though the situation had turned out like this.

“Re, Reyev…….”

Grace’s hands fell helplessly down as she couldn’t overcome the difference in strength.

Celonia chuckled at the sight of her looking like she had nothing left and opened her mouth.

“Oops. Sorry. What should I do? The tricks you used are gone now. I’ve undone them all.”

As she smiled exaggeratedly, her face, which had been pathetic until just now, changed into a venomous one in an instant.

“You…… How dare you! Kkyaaaaak!”

Thud!

Grace, who had been grinding her teeth with a flushed face, suddenly screamed and fell forward.

McRyan was standing behind Grace, where she had fallen, with one foot extended.

He had mercilessly kicked her over.

“I can’t even beat her up. Aish!”

He was angry that he could only do this much, and he stomped his feet and threw a tantrum, then tied Grace’s arms behind her back as she lay on the ground.

“What is this! Let go of me! McRyan!”

Grace struggled, but it was useless.

“Everyone’s crazy! You’re all being deceived by that woman! Don’t you understand yet?! You’ve been tricked!”

“Shut up. Or I might really kill you.”

McRyan growled as he got up, as if he was holding back from really wanting to kill her.

When he completely tied up her feet so she couldn’t run away, Grace ended up lying helplessly on the floor like a caterpillar.

“I’m the real one! That’s my body! I’m Celonia Vesin! I’m the real one!”

Grace’s face grew paler and paler as she was tied up and only raised her head and screamed.

“……What. Why, why are you looking at me like that?! What is that look!”

The eyes of the three people looking down at her were filled with contempt and hatred.

It was clear that they were disgusted, as if she was a heinous murderer.

“Why are you looking at me like that…… Kkyaaaaak! Father!”

Grace screamed in surprise.

Tan had dragged Galloway, who was half-dead, and threw him next to Grace.

Now there was no one to take her side and protect her.