The Final Villain Has Fallen to the Lust Demon - Chapter 2.24

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“We have arrived, my lady.”

At the coachman’s announcement, Ayla began to hurriedly tidy her appearance.

I lightly caught her wrist as she tried to disembark first and said,

“I’ll get off first.”

There was one fact I hadn’t bothered to tell Ayla. This morning, the head butler had reported the news he had just received.

“My lady. A Heron informant has reported that Luge Ryner has personally come up to the capital to check on the inheritance lawsuit.”

“Thanks. He came later than I expected.”

“……You don’t seem surprised. Did you anticipate this?”

I had simply given a small smile without answering the head butler, who asked with a look of slight surprise after finishing his report.

It wasn’t so much that I expected Luge to come to the capital personally, but rather, I was the type to believe the saying that even a stepped-on worm will wriggle.

‘People with nothing to show for themselves usually don’t know where they’ll bolt when their weaknesses are attacked.’

Since Luge Ryner was a man who knew how to do nothing besides gaslighting his niece to steal her inheritance, I figured he would react if that inheritance was touched.

So, while I invited Ayla to our mansion to protect her, I had also planted informants to closely monitor Luge’s movements.

‘The central district’s bank and the Academy are close, so I wonder if he’ll stop by.’

To be honest, I was hoping that Luge, not knowing his place, would fly into a rage and cause a massive scene.

That way, he could be thrown into prison quickly, and Ayla could start her second life with her inheritance in a world without her uncle.

‘If an ambush is expected, it’s only polite to prepare for it.’

After hearing the news that he had come to the capital, I put on a defense magic stone necklace and earrings that I usually didn’t wear because they were too flashy, and I even lent some extras to Ayla.

Unlike usual, two Heron knights were following the carriage as guards.

I stepped out of the carriage without letting my guard down.

“……!”

In an instant, I felt a gaze filled with killing intent pierce through me.

Almost at the same time I became conscious of it, a scrawny man with a haggard impression rushed toward me as if he had been waiting.

“Levi Heron!”

However, the one who subdued him was not the countermeasure I had prepared, but an unexpected man.

“To think you’d consider causing a commotion within the Academy.”

The man who suddenly appeared and blocked my path spoke in a voice that was calm yet carried a sense of intimidation.

The movement of seizing the wrist of the man rushing toward me was disciplined, like that of a well-trained knight.

As he turned his head, thick blonde hair that looked like melted gold swayed, and soft emerald eyes sent a worried gaze my way.

Frid Yvelun.

The male protagonist of the original story and the 2nd Prince of the Empire.

Having appeared in a flash to subdue the assailant, he asked me,

“Are you alright?”

“Ah…… thanks to you. My gratitude.”

I followed up with a greeting according to etiquette, but I was slightly flustered.

I wasn’t surprised by the possibility that Luge might attack me for helping Ayla, as I had been entertaining that assumption.

But I had never once expected to face Frid in this manner while getting off the carriage.

As I faltered for a moment, Frid wore a gentle smile while simultaneously tightening his grip on Luge’s wrist.

“A person with suspicious movements suddenly rushed toward the Heron family’s carriage.”

Clink—

As he twisted the wrist even harder, a small blade hidden inside Luge’s fist fell to the ground.

Frid stepped on it, kicked it under the carriage, and bound Luge’s arms with a binding spell.

“Miss Levi Heron. I’ve heard many stories about you.”

“…….”

“I didn’t know we’d end up talking in this manner, though.”

While Frid spoke to me in a kind voice, he pressed down on Luge’s shoulder, forcing him to his knees.

In his eyes as he subdued the wicked, there was no sign of sympathy or hesitation.

I could tell that his rise to Commander of the Knight Order at such a young age—and the fervent support he enjoyed—wasn’t just due to his connections.

The Frid I met in person was not a character who was merely kind and naive.

Rather, the way he calmly smiled while subduing his opponent was reminiscent of a highly intelligent fox.

“Uncle Luge, what is the meaning of this…….”

While I was faltering, Ayla, who had disembarked from the carriage, discovered the familiar face and was horrified.

There was no way she wouldn’t recognize the man who had been subdued by Frid while rushing toward me.

I saw the blood instantly drain from her pretty face.

Finding that the uncle who had tormented her all this time had eyes filled with madness, it was understandable that she was surprised enough to turn pale.

“Levi, because of me……”

“I wasn’t hurt, thanks to His Highness the 2nd Prince’s help.”

I subtly shifted the credit to Frid.

I was wearing a ring embedded with a defense magic stone large enough to make my finger feel stiff, so there was no way I would have been harmed by an attack from someone who wasn’t even a knight anyway.