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Chapter 49
“Are you leaving now?”
“No. I’m going to wait a little longer and go home with Nox.”
In response to Nathan’s question, Elaina shook her head lightly. Since she was already at the academy, she planned to leave when Nox’s class ended.
“Then I’ll step aside as the intruder. You two enjoy your time together.”
“Intruder? I never thought of you that way, Elaina!”
“I’m joking. But days like this, when Nathan finishes work early and comes back, don’t happen often. It’s a rare opportunity, so enjoy some quiet time together.”
Sure enough, Diane and Nathan were already holding each other’s hands tightly. Elaina gave a bright farewell and left the dormitory.
She had gone out in the morning, and before she realized it, the afternoon had grown late. The conversation with Diane had been so pleasant that time had slipped by unnoticed. Walking slowly toward the building where Nox had class would roughly match the timing.
As she wandered around the academy, taking in the sights, she overheard the voices of children.
“That guy’s definitely going to get scolded badly tomorrow.”
“Yeah. Bark’s mom is really scary.”
“Serves him right. He always hangs out with the girls.”
Elaina paid little attention at first. The kids, about Nox’s age, were talking as they walked toward the carriages waiting nearby.
But the next moment, a name she knew well slipped from their lips.
“What if he brings my brother? I heard he’s a murderous monster.”
“Hey, do you believe that? He’s not that different from Nox, right? It’s probably just a rumor. Honestly, I don’t even believe it all.”
“Really? No… my mom says he’s huge and scary. She says he looks like he has no blood or tears. What if Bark bullies him and he takes revenge?”
“Bark’s dad is a marquis, right? Even if he’s a grand duke, my mom says he comes from a poor family. He probably wouldn’t be able to do anything. You saw his face, right?”
One of the boys giggled.
“When they told him to bring his family, he went completely pale. He’s too proud to bring anyone. He bragged so much when his brother returned, but he’d never let him bow in front of others.”
Elaina’s smile vanished. If her ears weren’t deceiving her, they were clearly talking about Nox and Lyle.
Just as she was about to call the children to hear more, Marion’s voice came from behind.
“Elaina-unnie!”
Marion, wearing the academy uniform, recognized Elaina and ran over excitedly. The boys, realizing someone was behind them, quickly ran off.
Marion pouted as she watched them leave.
“They’re really bad kids. Did they say anything mean to you, unnie?”
“Mean? What do you mean?”
“They keep teasing the girls, calling them pumpkins. Because of them, Sonetia and Buen cried.”
Marion turned her head with a huff, clearly annoyed by the mischievous kids.
“Really? Is Nox friends with them too?”
“No! Nox is different from them!”
Marion shook her head emphatically.
“He’s such a kind and good kid. All the girls in our class like Nox. When those boys bother the girls, Nox fights back for them.”
She glared at the spot where the boys had disappeared.
“They’re really bad. They said something really mean to Nox today.”
“Something mean? What?”
Marion rolled her eyes, seeming unsure if she should tell. After a moment’s hesitation, she began to explain about Nox.
Elaina’s expression grew colder as she listened.
“The teacher told them to reconcile, but both refused. So the teacher said tomorrow they should both bring their families.”
“……I see.”
“Bark’s mom is really scary. What if Nox gets scolded a lot? They were the really bad ones.”
Elaina gently stroked Marion’s head, who was wearing her hat.
“Thank you for telling me, Marion.”
But the spring-breeze-like smile she usually showed Marion was nowhere to be seen. With her face set firmly, Elaina clenched her jaw until it ached.
Not long after Marion left, Nox came out of the building. He was holding a piece of paper, and with a somber expression, he read its contents several times before putting it back in his bag.
Taking a weary step forward, he suddenly found Elaina standing in front of him.
“W-what!”
Startled, Nox shouted. His heart pounded, worried she might have seen his earlier actions.
“I came to meet Diane and thought it’d be nice to go home with you, so I waited.”
“Who asked you to go with me? Why do things like that without telling me?”
“Oh my. Do I really need permission? We’re family, so what’s wrong with going together?”
The word “family” made Nox stop in his tracks. Somehow, it felt unusually heavy today.
“Let’s go. On the way, we can buy some snacks. After homework, we’ll play a game of chess too.”
“Chess? No thanks…”
Nox shook his head weakly.
Even in the carriage, he stayed downcast. Elaina studied him carefully.
He refused the snacks and chess, retreating to his room.
He only left his room for dinner. By rule, unless there was another engagement, the three members of the Grand Duke Grant family ate together.
Though they had only been married for a few weeks, Nox adapted quickly to the new family life. The boisterous atmosphere he usually created at dinner was now subdued.
“I’m done… I’ll go up to my room.”
His plate was barely half empty. The butler urged him to eat a bit more, but Nox stubbornly refused.
“Phew. If he eats that little, he’ll surely be hungry in bed,” the butler muttered anxiously. Elaina, who had been watching Nox closely, gestured to the butler.
“Yes, ma’am. Is there something you’d like to say?”
“Prepare a little snack for Nox with food he likes.”
The butler’s face brightened at the suggestion that Elaina would personally serve it. Even the stubborn young master would likely listen.
“Yes, I will prepare it immediately.”
The butler hurried off to inform the chef. Still, Elaina’s expression remained unreadable.
Nox’s gaze naturally fell on his bag. He knew the dinner was carefully prepared by the chef, but thinking about the paper inside made it hard to eat.
He remembered Bark’s triumphant face earlier, eager to tell his mother everything. Even with bruises on his cheeks, he looked more joyful than pained.
Confused about what to do with the paper from his teacher, Nox’s thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the door flying open.
Turning around, he saw Elaina, clearly upset.
“W-what?”
“I brought food because I thought you might be hungry.”
“I’m not going to eat it.”
“Eat it.”
It wasn’t a request—it was an order. Nox flinched, noticing the change in her demeanor. The playful smile he was used to was gone. Her expressionless look was intimidating.
Worried he had made her angry by not eating, he took the plate from her hand. It had his favorite sandwiches and milk warmed with cinnamon.
“Is something bothering you? If you can’t tell your brother, I’ll listen.”
A worry.
For a moment, Nox wanted to tell her everything.
But he kept his mouth shut and shook his head.
“I’m not worried. I really just wasn’t hungry.”
Elaina stared at him intently.
“Really?”
“…Really.”
“Really, really?”
“…I said really!”
“Really, really, really?”
“Ah! Why are you asking so much!”
Elaina’s repeated “really?” questions, teasingly persistent, made Nox twitch nervously. Regretting his sharp response, he glanced at her again. Unwavering, Elaina spoke:
“Then may I read the paper in your bag?”
