Reincarnated as a Villainous Aristocrat in an Otome Game, So I Bought the Main Heroine with Money - Chapter 62: Attempting to Rescue Liese

Chapter 62: Attempting to Rescue Liese

《Cerios’ Side》

The forest surrounding the Duke’s territory was eerily silent, the cold night wind rustling through the trees.

Moving through the darkness, I ran through the plan in my head.

Liese’s location. Kiru’s movements.

Right now, nothing else mattered—I had to get her back.

“Lord Cerios, Kiru is here.”

Emma had tracked the exact location where Kiru had taken Liese.

“No signs of movement nearby.”

Kanon’s voice was low and cautious as we reached an abandoned building hidden deep within the Duke’s lands.

“So Kiru and Liese are inside?”

I studied the structure carefully.

If Kiru was a member of the dark guild, he should have been more cautious.

And yet—this place felt too open.

As if someone was waiting.

“I’m going in alone. You two stay here.”

“Lord Cerios, going in by yourself is too dangerous!”

Kanon’s voice was firm, but I didn’t turn back.

“This is my fight. Saving Liese is my responsibility.”

Kanon looked frustrated, but after a moment, she nodded in silence.

I stepped inside.

Surprisingly, the interior was far more organized than I had expected.

I had assumed it would be covered in dust, but instead, it was clear someone had been using it recently.

And in the center of the room, a single figure sat waiting for me.

“So you came, Cerios von Egrid.”

In the dim light, his stark white hair shimmered faintly.

His eyes—though calm—held a deep, unspoken conflict.

“Where is Liese?”

“Relax. She’s safe. I haven’t laid a finger on her.”

There was no lie in Kiru’s voice.

And yet—that only made this more unsettling.

Why had he taken Liese?

What was he really after?

“Then why do this? What’s your goal?”

Kiru let out a small laugh. Then, slowly, he rose to his feet, turning to face me.

“I didn’t have an answer. Liese’s words shook me. But just hearing them wasn’t enough to change me. So I went to see Duke Everett.”

“…Duke Everett?”

I frowned. That was unexpected.

Kiru meeting with Duke Everett?

“I asked him for advice. I asked him how I could protect Liese… and how I could change.”

“And what did he say?”

Kiru lowered his gaze for just a moment, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.

I had no idea why he went to Everett.

What was their connection?

There were too many unanswered questions.

“He told me—’Look at what she truly wants. Not what you want, but what Liese wants.’ That’s why I’m here.”

I was stunned.

That was the last thing I expected to hear from Duke Everett.

I had always assumed he was a selfish man—someone who cared for nothing beyond his own ambitions.

I had believed he didn’t even think about Clarice.

But if what Kiru said was true, then…

Everything I thought I knew about the situation was completely wrong.

Still, I couldn’t let my doubts fade just yet.

“Then why take Liese?”

“I wanted to protect her… When she healed me, when she showed me kindness—I felt something. For the first time, I felt warmth. So I investigated Duke Everett. The royal family. And you. And I realized… she shouldn’t be involved with any of you.”

Kiru’s words weren’t entirely wrong.

A part of me had thought the same.

If Liese remained untouched by all of this, if the events of this otome game never played out…

That would be one possible ending, wouldn’t it?

If I had never gone to the academy.

If Liese had never met me.

If I had just killed her from the start—

…That thought crossed my mind for the briefest second.

Wouldn’t that have prevented my bad end?

Wouldn’t that have ensured a peaceful outcome?

…But was that really true?

Could I, knowing everything, simply turn a blind eye and move forward?

No. Impossible.

“Everett told me this— ‘If you want to protect her, test your convictions.’ That’s why I needed to face you, Cerios. For Liese’s sake—I needed to confront you.”

Kiru’s gaze was unwavering. There was no deception in his eyes.

“Are you testing me?”

“That’s right. And there’s one more thing—Duke Everett left a message for you.”

“A message?”

Kiru gave a small nod before speaking.

“‘Cerios von Egrid, you have yet to prove your resolve.’ That’s what he said.”

“I haven’t… proven my resolve?”

The words caught me off guard.

I couldn’t hide my shock and confusion.

“What does that even mean? The Duke actually said that?”

“Yeah.”

So Everett used Kiru as his messenger?

“Cerios von Egrid—I have a question for you.”

“What is it?”

“Liese said it herself. She belongs to you. I looked into it. You imposed heavy taxes, then used that money to save her and her mother. After that, you ruled as a proper noble. But then you caused trouble at the academy. You clashed with the royal family.”

He had the facts, but that didn’t mean he understood the truth.

Even if someone could gather information, that didn’t mean they could interpret it correctly.

Emma had once described Kiru that way.

Maybe, after piecing together fragments of stories, he had judged me as a villain.

“I see. And what did you think after hearing all that?”

“I don’t know.”

“What?”

“I can’t decide if you’re good or bad. The only thing I can determine—Is whether or not you’re capable of protecting Liese.”

With those words, Kiru drew his dagger.

“Killing is all I know. If you defeat me, I’ll entrust Liese to you without regret. But if you’re weak—if you lose—then I’ll take her and run. I’ll disappear with her forever.”

In the end, this was no different from the condemnation end

But there was one key difference.

I wasn’t going to be killed blindly by an assassin who didn’t know the full picture.

This time—we were facing each other head-on.

“Here I come!”

Kiru lunged forward, his stance low and precise.

I dodged sideways, stepping into the open space of the room, and drew my sword, blocking his attack.

I hadn’t spent my time in this world in vain.

I had fought bandits, assassins, and worse.

I wasn’t about to go down easily.

“Guh!”

“What’s wrong? Are you injured?”

“Shut up. It’s none of your business.”

His movements lacked precision.

This wasn’t the same Kiru from the game—the flawless assassin I had expected.

“I don’t know what’s weighing you down. But right now—against this version of you—I won’t lose.”

After exchanging several blows, it became clear—I had the upper hand.

And then—I knocked his dagger from his grip.

“Tch—!”

“Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t stand a chance against you. But right now? In your weakened state? I can win.”

“Shut up! Just kill me!”

“Fine. But first—answer me this. Why are you so weak right now?”

Kiru hesitated.

Then, with a bitter voice, he spoke.

“Because… I found out Liese is being targeted.”

“Liese?”

By who?

“While investigating the royal family, I found people who were after Liese.”

“What?! Who are they?”

“I don’t know. But I killed them. And in the process… I got wounded.”

Kiru’s back bore a deep wound—he had already been too injured to fight at full strength.

That explained everything.

“What will you do now?”

“I’m leaving Liese to you. Protect her. No matter what.”

“I swear it.”

Kiru let out a small, almost relieved smile.

“Then I’ll disappear. She already said it herself—she belongs to you. I was never meant to be a part of her life.”

With that, Kiru vanished into the night. 

I’d have to let Emma handle the aftermath.

But right now—I had only one priority.

I had to get to Liese.

I found her in the back room, fast asleep.

Safe.

A wave of relief washed over me.

“Liese… thank god.”

She stirred, then rushed toward me.

I pulled her tightly into my arms, feeling the warmth of her body.

And for the first time in what felt like an eternity—I could breathe.

“Sorry… I took too long.”

Lifting her into my arms, I carried her out of the ruined building.

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[Afterword]

Hello, this is Iko!

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