CDMGS 19🌻

Chapter 19

“Shasha.”

“Yes?”

I turned my head and met the Duke’s eyes.
It was the first time today that I had looked directly into his red eyes.

For some reason, unlike usual, the Duke stared at me without looking away.
Then suddenly, the flow of air changed.

The Duke’s surroundings slowly turned gray, and soon, everything I saw lost its color.

“Danger.”

A warning rang loudly in my ears.
Fear crushed me, but I couldn’t scream.

I felt it instinctively.

“Don’t move.”

If I even moved one finger, something terrible would happen.
I didn’t know why, but I was certain of it.

I froze in place, hand still on the doorknob, head turned toward the Duke.

‘…….’

Today, his eyes were unusually red.

Normally, I thought they sparkled like rubies.
But now, they were dark and cloudy, as if red liquid—or smoke—was swirling inside his pupils.

Of course, that couldn’t actually happen in a person’s eyes.
It must have been a trick of the sunlight.

But even knowing that, the sight felt far too real.

This strange state went on for a long time.

Even stranger was the feeling that the Duke was reading my very thoughts.

As more time passed, cold sweat ran down my forehead and neck. But I couldn’t wipe it away.
I still couldn’t move.

It felt like time and space itself had stopped—not by my will, but by something else.

How long did I stay like that?

The Duke’s eyes narrowed gently. His expression turned languid and calm.

And then, the colors that had disappeared slowly came back.

Finally, once everything looked normal again, my body moved.

I gasped for breath and clutched my chest.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t breathed at all that whole time.

“But that can’t be true.”

At least five minutes, maybe ten… maybe even an hour?
No, it had to be my imagination.

If I really hadn’t breathed, I’d already be dead on the floor.

Even though I knew it was rude, I bowed my head in front of the Duke, panting heavily.
I couldn’t stop gasping for air.

“What was that just now?”

The pressure had been indescribable.

After finally catching my breath, my shoulders felt stiff.
I rubbed them lightly and sneaked a look at the Duke.

His pupils, which had looked blood-red moments ago, had gone back to their normal ruby shine.

“Shasha, come here.”

“Huh? ……Ah!”

The Duke flicked his fingers.
Suddenly, my body floated lightly into the air.

While I screamed in shock, I was pulled across the desk and landed right in front of him.

“…This is magic, right?”

He had pulled me as if it were nothing.

So, was the reason I couldn’t move earlier because he used magic?

Even though he saw me blinking in confusion, the Duke simply smiled.

Yes, it was a pretty smile.
But it felt like he was peering into my thoughts.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

By now, my heart was racing wildly.
This had to be the shaky bridge effect.

I didn’t know why the mood had suddenly become like this.
But looking at the Duke up close—he was breathtakingly beautiful.

The only thing I could hold onto was the towel in my arms, which was already dried from being twisted too much.

The Duke spoke again.

“Shasha.”

“…Yes.”

My voice trembled. Normally, he would laugh when that happened. But this time, he didn’t.

Instead, he squinted one eye and tilted his head, as if displeased.

“You’re not trying to run away, are you?”

“Run away?”

The towel slipped from my hands.

“What kind of escape are you talking about?”

I truly didn’t understand. My confused expression must have looked strange.

But then, the Duke smiled brightly.
This time, it was a smile without any threat.

“Good. Don’t even think of running away.”

“Y-Yes…”

What was I supposed to be running away from?

Did he really think I’d say I was going on an errand, then escape?

That was ridiculous.

I had no intention of leaving such a good job.
Besides, I still had plenty of time left on my contract.

Running away from Duke Vermanion’s mansion would be suicide.

Ha… I finally understood.

The so-called “monster duke”—

On the outside, he looked cold.
But inside, he was worried that a servant he trusted might leave him.

And he didn’t even realize that was why.

“He’s not scary… he’s pitiful.”

If I hadn’t known this, I probably would’ve run away like a heroine in a novel.
The situation earlier had been that terrifying.

I steadied my trembling legs.
How badly must he have been hurt, to release such power without knowing?

Thinking that, my fear melted into pity.

What I should fear wasn’t the Duke himself, but his hidden wounds.

I resolved to ease his mood completely.

“Your Grace, as I said before, I really love working at the Vermanion residence. I want to continue working here.”

That way, his mood would improve—and I’d also hint about extending my contract.

“So how could I ever leave? I’ll just buy what I need and come right back.”

If the contract was extended, I could also ask for higher pay.

It was the perfect answer.
Because the Duke’s lips curved into a refreshing smile.

‘…….’

I had seen him smile with his eyes closed before.
But this was the first time I’d seen such a bright, full smile.

I was stunned by the beauty, mouth falling open before I quickly shut it again.

Luckily, the Duke didn’t notice my foolish face.
Instead, he pulled a sheet of paper from his desk drawer and handed it to me.

“Going out to buy supplies happens once a week. The date is fixed.”

What he gave me was a map with detailed directions.

“In two days, go to the back door. You can go out with the people there.”

“Thank you.”

“People there?”
“Go out together?”

I accepted the map in confusion.

I wanted to ask more, but the Duke, leaning on his chin lazily, looked so happy that I stayed silent.

Thump, thump, thump.

My heart still hadn’t calmed down.
That oppressive feeling earlier had been unlike anything I’d ever felt.

“Then, I’ll take my leave now.”

I ignored my pounding heart and left the office.

***

At dinner, I ran into Eki.

The moment our eyes met, we smiled brightly at each other and sat in the center of the hall.

Eki didn’t even cut her steak. She just stabbed it with a fork and stuffed it in her mouth.
Her eyes widened as soon as she tasted it.

With both cheeks full, she looked at me.

“Shasha, the steak is sooo delicious today.”

Her words were slurred from chewing.

“Eat lots, Eki.”

I propped my chin on my hand, smiling at her.

Her golden eyes sparkled as if sprinkled with glitter.

Of course, we whispered each other’s names so no one else would hear.

Though, honestly, it probably wasn’t necessary.

For some reason, whenever I ate with Eki, no one came near us.

Not even Alex.

I glanced around and saw Alex sitting at the farthest corner of the hall, eating alone.
As if he was deliberately keeping his distance.