# 34
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“…Eleanor?”
After a long period of unconsciousness, Tidian slowly opened his eyes.
But his condition was not good yet.
He couldn't concentrate well and couldn't lift his body.
Elinor helped him sit down and asked him.
"Are you okay? Are you starting to regain consciousness?"
“Oh…”
"What happened? Everyone is looking for you."
“The teacher… was trying to escape.”
Tidian said in an indistinct voice.
“So I tried to stop him first... but suddenly he sprayed something on me...”
Now that I thought about it, there was a light, sharp scent emanating from Tidian.
It wasn't just a sleeping pill, there seemed to be something strange mixed in with it.
“I'll call someone.”
Elinor said with a serious face.
“Stay here for a while. I'll be back quickly-”
Click.
Suddenly, a voice that shouldn't be heard was heard from behind her.
Elinor turned toward the door and froze.
Gilbert, wearing a dark blue robe, closed the door and entered the room.
“Gilbert.”
Elinor stood.
“What are you doing? Not only did you impersonate me, but now you are kidnapping me? What medicine did you use on the young master?”
“It was really you, Elinor.”
Gilbert muttered in a dark voice.
“I was wondering, but you were already here watching me.”
"What?"
“You are such a cunning creature. You must be enjoying seeing me struggle.”
"Stop talking nonsense and answer my question first. What medicine did you use on the young master?"
“Aren’t you supposed to know that yourf, you are the smart one that everyone praises?”
Gilbert laughed sarcastically as if he was mocking Elinor.
"Guess what, Elinor. What medicine did you use?"
“Gilbert, I'm not kidding.”
"Nor am I kidding. Guess once."
Elinor looked sideways at Tidian who was breathing hard.
She didn't know how long it had been since he used the medicine, but leaving him in this state for a long time wouldn't be good.
But Elinor, who was secretly escaping from the ward, could not shout to summon the people.
She held back her anger.
"Okay. I'll forgive you impersonating me."
Gilbert, who was laughing sarcastically, stopped.
"It was a little annoying, but I can get over it. Maybe it was a mistake."
"mistake?"
“Yes, wrong. It's exhausting for both parties to focus on a small mistake. So I'll ignore it.”
“Ha!”
“Now there is no problem between us, you can leave Young Master, right?”
Gilbert frowned.
His lips trembled as he stared at Elinor angrily.
“You're always so arrogant. Even if someone impersonates you, you can pass it off like it's a mistake.”
“We know each other, let's solve things calmly...”
“Then why did you accuse me six years ago?”
Elinor paused.
Gilbert muttered, his voice filled with anger.
“Didn’t you say you couldn’t stand me? So you went to the professor and spread rumors that I stole my colleague’s thesis.”
“I did not spread any rumours.”
"You ruined my life. I was going to have a successful life!"
Gilbert shouted angrily, trembling.
Tidian, who was lying on the ground, trembled.
"I was a promising talent. I was about to sign an exclusive contract worth millions of gold. If you hadn't accused me, I would have worked for the imperial family!"
“Gilbert.”
“How are you going to make up for my life? Huh? If it’s so easy for you to forgive, why did you hold me so harshly then?”
“My thesis wasn't just stolen at the academy.”
An exasperated Gilbert froze in surprise.
Elinor murmured quietly.
“Are you trying to pretend there were no other victims besides me?”
“How…how did you know that?”
"I didn't want to make a big fuss at the time. I was suffering from an obsession that I should live quietly without attracting attention."
But the students came to her.
All of them were victims of Gilbert stealing their theses and research.
'Help us, Elinor. If they know that you were also hurt, the professor will take it seriously.'
Elinor could not refuse their tearful pleas.
Among the victims were those who were thinking bad thoughts.
So she helped them, and ended up taking full responsibility.
Because her accomplishments were the most notable among the victims, this happened naturally.
“Even then, I gave you a chance. I said if you admitted your mistake and apologized, I would not escalate the matter. But you were the one who refused, saying that it was the duty of junior colleagues to help seniors.”
"If there were rumors, others must have spread them. I didn't care who started the rumors, so I don't know. I'm sorry."
Gilbert lowered his head.
He was trembling, holding his folded hands tight.
Moments later, he muttered in a dark voice.
“As I expected, I shouldn't have left you.”
"What?"
“Why do you think I stayed here until now?”
Elinor felt like she had been hit on the head with a hammer.
correct. Now that I think about it, why didn't Gilbert run away in the first place?
He even brought Tidian, who everyone was looking for, to his room?
She was so preoccupied with Tidian's condition that she didn't think about it.
Gilbert saw her reaction and smiled evilly.
“I felt like I couldn’t let it go like this. If you reveal everything to Grand Duke Hilliard, I will lose everything because of you again. And you will look at me and laugh.”
He tilted his head to the side.
“Don't you think revenge will make things even?”
“Revenge?”
"Yes."
He put his hand into his robe and pulled out a sharp weapon.
Elinor's eyes widened.
“Why do you think I stayed with the young master in the room? It was all to catch you.”
"Stop. Don't do anything that can't be undone."
“It's too late to back down from the moment you threatened me!”
Gilbert shouted as he pointed the gun at her.
Elinor took a step back.
"Don't worry. I won't kill you."
“Do you expect me to believe that now?”
"You can believe it. It's the pure truth. You have to stay alive."
Gilbert smiled.
“This way, when you can't do any more research, you'll despair that the world will collapse.”
Gilbert's eyes were filled with madness.
The more Elinor retreated, the closer Gilbert approached her.
But at that moment, Gilbert accidentally kicked the basket on the ground, and it fell.
"Waa! Waa!"
Gilbert stopped at the sudden sound of the baby crying.
"What is this?"
"Waa! Waa!"
The child cried violently after the shock of the fall.
Elinor tried to run towards the child, but Gilbert was faster.
He found the child hidden inside the blanket.
Elinor shouted in horror.
“Get away from him now!”
"Haha! What is this?"
Gilbert grabbed the child violently.
He looked at him from all sides and laughed as if he was having fun.
"Did you already have a baby? They said you disappeared after graduation, so was it because you were having a baby?"
“Gilbert!”
“So, you were pregnant while you were at the academy?”
"Waa! Waa!"
"Who's the baby's father? No, it doesn't matter. He must be a worthless person, so you hid the baby in the basket, right? You've hit rock bottom, Elinor."
“Shut your mouth.”