150: Deliverance
It was Dylan.
Seeing many police officers standing behind him, Avril knew that everything was going to be fine. In fact, the moment she saw him, all tension left her.
“Damn it…! Just leave her behind and run!”
“Don’t let them get away! Catch them!”
Thomas and the others frantically tried to escape through another exit, but there were police officers there too. They were quickly caught and handcuffed.
When Thomas saw Dylan, he twisted his face in disgust.
“You’re the one from the masquerade ball…”
“I am. I was trying to investigate something else at the time. Thanks to you setting me up, I discovered a connection between the drug trafficking and human trafficking. I’m grateful to you.”
“I did think something was fishy! Then, she must be the woman I played chess against?! She seemed like a veteran, so I didn’t catch her, but why did she follow me all the way here? Dammit!”
Avril, who wasn’t a veteran, quickly averted her gaze. Dylan smiled in satisfaction.
“His Highness wanted to investigate all of you covertly, but we never thought your organization would be so shameless. So, we also acted brazenly.”
“If only this b*tch wasn’t here!”
He seems quite angry…! But it can’t be helped…
Thomas Edgar was led away, cursing at Avril. Meanwhile, she calmly saw him off. Having grown up in the Count of Allingham family, she was accustomed to hearing those words on a daily basis. But that didn’t seem to be the case for Dylan.
Before she knew it, Dylan had arrived in front of her. He embraced her head. With her head tightly held against his chest, Avril’s mind was full of questions.
“…?! Lord Dylan…?!”
“Don’t listen to him. Those are words that Avril shouldn’t hear.”
“Okay…”
I see. I was surprised when he suddenly hugged me…
…I see.
To find someone who’s willing to protect me even from verbal abuse—
—I’m so glad.
She looked up at Dylan’s face form his embrace, meeting his blue eyes.
“Lord Dylan. I’m sorry for leaving our room without permission.”
“I was worried.”
“I made a little mistake, but I believed you’d help me, so I wasn’t scared at all.”
“…”
Dylan didn’t answer. Instead, one of the police officers called out to the former duke and Sienna, who were still in the warehouse.
“Brandon Lancester. I’d like to hear your story. Would you accompany me?”
“…Yes. It can’t be helped. I’ll cooperate with the investigation.”
The former duke was present at a human trafficking scene as a customer. No matter the circumstances, he’d be subjected to questioning for the time being. As Avril watched the former duke and Sienna being taken away, she explained to Dylan.
“Lord Dylan. The Former Duke… for some reason, he tried to buy me.”
“That guy—!”
“No, I don’t think he had any ill intentions. If anything, he seemed to be worried about me, and tried to ensure I could return to you safely.”
“…He did?”
“Yes. Even though he supposedly dislikes me, he said, ‘Don’t you want to return to Dylan?’ and started negotiating to buy me.”
“…I can’t believe it, but I understand. We can talk about that later.”
Avril, now alone, glanced around while still being held by Dylan.
I thought I had been brought to a warehouse, but now that I’ve calmed down and looked more closely, it looks like I’m in an old, abandoned church. The light is coming in through the broken stained glass in the round ceiling… It’s fantastical, somewhat…
The entrance door was wide open, making the inside of the church even brighter. She could also see the ocean beyond the window.
“Lord Dylan, the sea looks so beautiful, doesn’t it?”
“…Yes, it does…”
She was so entranced that she blurted it out. But then, she heard an astonished voice right beside her ear, and suddenly remembered.
Come to think of it, I was on the verge of being sold off to a foreign country!
Of course, Avril trusted Dylan and wasn’t worried, but Dylan was clearly worried to death!
Even though the nasty Thomas Edgar was gone, Dylan still had no intention of letting Avril go and kept holding her in his arms.
“Lord Dylan, Mr. Thomas is gone.”
“…I was truly worried.”
“I’m sorry.”
“The entire time you were gone, I honestly haven’t felt alive.”
“I’m so sorry.”
She knew very well that Dylan always cared about her.
Yet, this was the first time he’d repeated the same words over and over again, even though she told him everything was fine.
Dylan’s behavior, as if he was trying to convince himself that everything was fine, made her heart ache.
I’ve really worried the kind Lord Dylan…
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