I’ll Become the Female Lead in this Trashy Webnovel

28. Something you’ll regret (1)

“Is that all?”

She glanced down when she met Joshua’s blood-red eyes, similar to the sunset.

“Well, of course. It wasn’t a big deal, so I don’t even remember it.” So-hee replied without knowing that the corners of her mouth were twitching.

Joshua’s long fingers touched the tip of her nose.

“Ariad, why are you shaking so much?”

His fingers ran sideways to pinch her cheeks.

The insistent heat in the atmosphere felt suffocating.

“I’m not pushing you. I’m just asking out of curiosity.”

“Hahaha.”

Joshua matched her awkward laugh.

So-hee couldn’t understand his intentions at all.

That’s why she couldn’t help but gloss over it.

“Nothing happened. I was just bored.”

“Really? I’ll come as early as I can tomorrow.” He replied casually.

No further questions were asked after that.

Joshua seemed a little off, but she suddenly realized something was blocking her nostrils.

He undid his tie, rolled up his sleeves, and attempted to find a part of her lower body.

Was he trying to get her an ice pack again?

Perhaps what she had expected was true because Joshua slowly lifted the hem of the dress to loosen the bandage on her legs.

What he was doing bothered her at first.

She even had to put up with this dress for a long time to get rid of the bandage, so it embarrassed her greatly to have her underwear revealed.

She was used to it because she had done it a few times.

“Ariad.” He called her in a low voice.

So-hee, recalling the incident not long ago, met his gaze.

After finishing the work, Joshua’s big hand lifted the bandage he had just loosened.

“Why is the bandage so dirty? Did you sweep the floor with it?” He asked sharply.

So-hee’s nostrils flared because she had no excuse.

Joshua was a scary person.

How could he pick that up so accurately?

“Oh. I must have rolled to the ground while sleeping.”

She put it around her again.

Her lies would end up giving birth to endless lies.

A few days ago, she heard a voice that said she was a terrible liar.

She wondered if they were going to be revealed.

By the time she began to worry, Joshua had gone to the edge of the bed and moved close to her to grab her waist, forcing her to sit down.

“Did you fall out of bed?”

“Uh. Yes.”

“Are you alright?”

Joshua’s ‘concern’ for Ariad seemed to be a perfect tool to find out about her awful secrets.

Joshua scanned her from head to toe, ensuring she wasn’t hurt.

Then, he made eye contact with Sohee again.

“I’m really alright. Don’t worry anymore.”

His broad chest approached to hug So-hee tight.

“Always be careful, Ariad.” He whispered, making her heart pound.

Perhaps, it was due to guilt from all the lies she told.

* * *

As the days grew colder, the sunrise became delayed.

Joshua stepped in, breathing the dim morning air.

“I heard Duke Randolph came to see her yesterday. Did Ariad say anything?”

Joshua nodded when Macon, walking right next to him, asked a question.

He couldn’t have known that the Pearson family’s business had been ruined.

Joshua roughly expected what Randolph had asked Ariad to do when he found out he had visited his daughter.

There was nothing she could do since she was locked up at the moment.

So, of course, Joshua figured she would ask him for help, but she was busy avoiding his questions.

“She didn’t seem to want to talk about it. I don’t know why.”

“Maybe, she didn’t want to burden you.”

Joshua agreed with Macon’s speculation.

So-hee’s strange behavior would cause some misunderstandings to pile up between them.

“Did you prepare the money I told you about yesterday?”

“Yes, all the money is ready. All you have to do is send it to Duke Randolph.”

“Then, I would like him to have it by the end of the day,” Joshua ordered.

Macon bowed to him before the crown prince entered the greenhouse garden.

Joshua, who seemed to shine brightly the instant he was there,  saw Bianca at the center of the flower garden.

When she caught sight of him, Bianca opened her mouth. “There you are. You asked me to have a meal with you first.”

“Good morning.”

Disregarding the Empress’ hard tone, Joshua sat on the chair.

Along with that, the clatter of formal tableware slowly began.

From an outsider’s perspective, the atmosphere might seem relaxed but it was actually full of tension.

Bianca, who cut the goose liver sandwich and placed it into her mouth, chewed and swallowed it all.

She didn’t start speaking until long after.

“What do you want to tell me?”

Both of them weren’t on the same wavelength to have a meal together.

That’s why Bianca knew only a little bit about him.

“I heard you pulled out all the money you invested in the Pearson family to start a similar business.”

Joshua recited precisely what she had already expected.

“The rumor spreads fast. Are you going to ask me to return the investment if I say I’ll do what I want?”

“No. As you said, it’s Her Majesty’s money. What authority do I have to do that?”

After the calm words, silence reigned.