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Chapter 28
“Great! The ball bounces, so it’s harder than it looks.”
“You must always keep your promises.”
Licio threw the first ball.
“Uh… huh?”
The ball went straight into the basket. It was an unbelievably clean shot.
“Duke, you’re amazing! That was fantastic!”
A small smile tugged at the corner of Licio’s lips.
Ellen clapped her hands enthusiastically, cheering him on.
“Kyaa! It went in again! Duke, you’re the best!”
The next balls followed suit, landing perfectly one after another.
Setting the bet aside, Ellen’s jaw dropped just at the fact that all five balls went in.
“Wow, incredible. How did you do that? Do you have a secret?”
“Hmm… because I’m cool and the best?”
Licio handed her the coin purse she had won as a prize.
“If you don’t need it, throw it away.”
“Why would I throw this away? I’ll treasure it.”
This purse held the memories of today, making it especially precious to Ellen.
But Licio didn’t seem very pleased.
“Not a single feature is drawn properly. A complete mess.”
“This little dog, isn’t it cute in its own way?”
Licio glanced back and forth between the dog on the purse and her, giving a strange smile.
“Now that I look at it again, it’s quite cute.”
“Wait, are you saying this looks like me?”
He let out a short, amused laugh.
“Correct.”
“No, that’s wrong. This one looks like you, Duke.”
Ellen gave a faint smile and brushed over the illustration, and Licio didn’t tease her anymore.
After their enjoyable game of throwing balls, on the way back, Ellen found herself distracted by the crooked nose of the dog drawn on the coin purse.
But one couldn’t afford to relax here. As expected…
“Nice drawing.”
A rough, mocking voice called out.
Ellen’s head shot up. Several thugs were grinning with yellowed teeth, standing in her path.
See? I told you not to come! Ellen glared at Licio, full of blame.
But he remained unfazed, expressionless, not even stopping his steps.
‘They’re not going to just let us pass…’
Ellen’s hands trembled on the armrests of her wheelchair.
“Are you deaf?!”
Sure enough, the thugs charged at her with snarls.
Instinctively, Ellen flinched and closed her eyes.
“Ugh…”
Groaning in pain, Ellen opened her eyes slightly—and they widened in shock.
The thug was being lifted by his collar by Licio.
His face was red as if he could barely breathe.
Caught in disbelief, Ellen blinked as the thug was thrown against the wall.
The menacing man crashed into piles of miscellaneous items lining the alley with a thud.
“Step aside.”
Licio muttered grimly.
The remaining thugs hesitated for a moment, then drew their daggers.
Seeing the flashing blades, Ellen gripped the wheelchair handles, wanting to flee immediately.
“Ugh!”
But before she could even turn the wheels, the thugs started falling one by one.
Licio barely moved his feet, using only his hands to knock aside their arms holding the weapons.
“Argh!”
One man screamed, clutching his broken—or maybe dislocated—arm.
The last thug was kicked by Licio’s long leg. Even in his sprawled state, he looked pitiful.
“You need to pass. Now scram.”
Licio casually shoved the thugs out of the way, clearing a path for Ellen.
‘No mercy… ruthless…’
Remembering how she had quietly pushed and hit Licio before, Ellen hunched her shoulders in apprehension.
“Shall we go now?”
Smiling as if nothing had happened, Licio grabbed her wheelchair handles.
Ellen jumped in surprise.
“Were you scared because of those guys?”
“Uh… y-yes.”
He wasn’t a petty dog—he was a predator.
Though he looked refined, one would never expect such strength from his delicate face.
Wait, Licio was the empire’s only Swordmaster and a war hero.
Everyone knew that. So why had she forgotten such an important fact?
Should she apologize now for acting foolish all this time? Ellen swallowed hard.
Then a gruff voice cut in.
“Uh, wait… we’re here to collect the money the Duchess borrowed before her wedding…”
Borrowed money? What’s that about? Ellen’s eyes flickered at the thug’s words.
Licio looked at her, as if expecting an explanation, but she had none to give.
The thug pulled a document from his coat and crawled forward, kneeling before Licio.
“Here’s the IOU.”
He presented the document respectfully with both hands.
Licio took it, his gray-blue eyes scanning the text.
Ellen felt a wave of unease as his expression slowly changed.
‘No, this can’t be… Anais wouldn’t have borrowed money from somewhere like this.’
Her palms grew sweaty.
Finally, Licio’s firmly closed mouth opened.
“Ha… Anais. Have you been running around here to borrow from loan sharks?”
Damn it! Ellen’s vision went black in panic.
“Can I take a look too?”
Seeing the document, her face twisted in anger.
‘Crazy, Anais! Borrowing from a loan shark!’
Ellen’s eyes blazed like fire as she scanned the papers.
“Are you sure I borrowed this? There are many swindlers around here.”
The thug protested, looking wronged.
“Swindlers? There’s a document and several witnesses!”
Licio snatched the papers from her hands and, approaching the kneeling man, muttered ominously:
“My aide will come here. Wait. If you appear before my wife again or tell even the tiniest lie, you won’t live to see another day.”
He dropped the papers, and the man bowed submissively, smiling feebly.
“Yes, yes, I just want my money. I’ll wait quietly here.”
Licio turned casually and left the street with her.
In the carriage toward the Duke’s mansion, silence filled the air. Ellen fidgeted, glancing at Licio.
“I don’t remember borrowing money…”
I didn’t borrow it! Ellen wanted to scream at the top of her lungs.
“You don’t remember?”
Licio’s piercing gaze fixed on her.
“It’s true… I really didn’t…”
“Seeing you throw those balls, your body remembers something. A noble lady wouldn’t have gone to such a place. Not just a drinker, but a gambler too. Impressive.”
Who would understand the grief of now carrying debt too? Ellen’s eyes burned with indignation.
“What will happen to me?”
“You’ll know for sure when Alex returns.”
Why had she gone there so foolishly? Dozens of regrets swirled. What was supposed to be a fun outing had turned into a nightmare.
“Indeed, the Duchess borrowed the money.”
Alex’s report confirmed it, and Licio couldn’t hide his amusement.
“Did she gamble?”
“She didn’t go to any gambling house. She always borrowed money and returned.”
“Where did all this money go? There’s nothing particularly expensive here.”
“I’m also puzzled. Even before marriage, she rarely went out and didn’t enjoy shopping.”
Before the wedding, they had conducted a formal background check on her. She had no familiar acquaintances, didn’t attend tea parties, and mostly went out only to the temple.
“Repay all the money and prepare the transfer documents. Find out where this money went.”
“Yes, sir.”
A small smile tugged at Licio’s lips.
“What is Anais doing now?”
“According to the maid, she’s been lying down all day, heartbroken. But this isn’t a debt you can’t handle, so perhaps be lenient…”
For Licio, this sum was negligible.
It was more a chance to tease Anais, which pleased him.
How should I play with her?
Licio leaned back in his chair, basking in the rising happiness.
Then Alex cautiously spoke.
“It would have been very dangerous if she were alone. It seems the Duchess needs a bodyguard.”
“A good idea.”
“Coincidentally, Paladin Rohan volunteered to be her bodyguard. He even led the knights at the temple, so he’s trustworthy.”
Licio’s gray-blue eyes froze cold.
