EBCP 15

Chapter : 15

What is this?

Don’t tell me this is some kind of jealousy ploy.

No, that can’t be it. To begin with, Perzen wouldn’t have that much interest in Lucia.

Anyway, it’s a real relief that Lucia didn’t see my face.

Lucia’s jealous gaze felt as if it were piercing through my robe and tearing into my skin.

“I’ll take my maid with me. I’m worried she might be injured.”

Saying that, Perzen held out his hand to me.

But why does he keep calling me a maid every time he speaks?

Looking at that hand while sprawled on the floor made me feel strange.

I was grateful, sure, but it also felt like I was being treated as an actual maid.

In any case, I took his hand and got to my feet.

“Grand Duke, Grand Duke! Please, just listen to me for a moment!”

Lucia pleaded pitifully.

But Perzen only gestured to me as if telling me to go on.

Well, the path was clear now—no reason for me to hesitate.

“Yes, Your Highness. Then I’ll return to attend to the morning cleaning.”

The sky had grown brighter. There truly was no time left.

If I start running at full speed now, could I still make it in time?

I can barely walk—how am I supposed to run?

But that was just my wishful thinking.

After dragging around Diel’s slender legs and suffering all that hardship, even walking was difficult.

If I tried to run in this state, my knees would probably give out first.

Ah! No!

Just then, a fierce—almost cutting—gust of wind came from behind me.

I reflexively grabbed my robe tightly.

Wait… a horse?

Someone on horseback was emerging from the forest path.

It was Perzen.

“Your Grace!”

I shouted without realizing it. Perzen slowed down and turned back.

He looked like something straight out of a pictorial spread.

“Thank you for helping me.”

But what caught my eye right now was…

That black horse!

I want it so badly. It looks faster than the Cal Marquis’s carriage.

Summoning what little strength I had left, I approached him.

“I’m sorry, but could you help me just once more? I will surely repay this favor.”

“……”

Perzen looked down at me, reins in hand.

“Could you perhaps give me a ride as far as the fork up ahead?”

His long eyes were fully revealed as his jet-black hair fluttered in the wind.

“You.”

At that moment, Perzen spoke.

“Do you have money?”

“Yes…?”

This is insane. They say the rich are the worst.

If I had money, I’d be riding a horse or carriage myself—why would I be begging?

Still, I was quick to admit the truth.

Factually speaking, I really was broke.

“I don’t have money, but…”

“Then you shouldn’t make such promises so carelessly.”

It was just a request for a short ride, yet he was being so harsh.

I felt a bit wronged, but there was nothing I could do.

Even if Perzen looked at me, half my face was hidden by the hood of my robe.

And there would be no further connection between us after this.

In other words, this was the perfect time to lie.

“I will pay whatever price you wish, in any way you desire.”

I spoke as if pouring my soul into it.

We’d never meet again anyway—what did it matter?

“A price, you say.”

After a long silence—

“How will you pay it?”

“……!”

My heart dropped.

Perzen had lifted my chin with his fingertips.

“How do you know what kind of price I’ll want from you?”

I hurriedly pulled my robe down to hide my face.

But the man asked calmly, as if he already knew why I was so desperate to conceal it.

“Well…”

I hadn’t thought this far ahead, so I was at a loss for words.

But it didn’t need to be complicated.

“Of course, I’ll do whatever you command, Your Grace.”

“……”

At that, the man gave a faint smile.

Just as a sense of dread crossed my mind—

“I quite like that.”

I felt my feet lift off the ground.

Perzen wrapped an arm around my waist and placed me straight onto the saddle.

It all happened so fast that I barely had time to react.

“Ugh!”

The horse galloped swiftly along the forest path.

Why does this keep slipping off?

As I struggled to keep my robe from coming loose, my body kept tensing up.

“Ah!”

I finally lost my balance and swayed.

“Stay focused and hold on tight. That robe might come off, you know.”

Perzen tightened his hold around my waist.

I ended up pressed right against his chest.

His body was so solid it nearly knocked the breath out of me.

What in the world is this situation?

I didn’t even have time to feel the cold wind scratching my face.

The cool, clean scent enveloping me from behind was far more vivid.

Phew.

After riding like that for who knew how long—

We finally arrived.

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

I quickly dismounted.

I’m relieved I think I’ll make it in time, but…

I had no idea what state of mind I’d come in.

“I will never forget this kindness.”

Despite all the talk of payment, Perzen never asked my name or affiliation.

Looks like I misjudged him back at headquarters. Seeing him in person, he’s actually the coolest and nicest one.

In a palace this vast, it would be impossible to find someone without even basic information.

He didn’t even know my face properly. He couldn’t have helped me expecting anything in return—

“You’d better stop those pointless thoughts.”

Perzen raised one eyebrow as he looked down at me.

“I’ll be sure to collect my payment.”

Had he read my mind?

At those words, my hopeful thoughts came to an abrupt halt.

“Ah, and…”

Perzen smiled strangely.

“That necklace suits you better than I expected.”

I didn’t even have time to ask what he meant.

Perzen spurred the horse back into motion and disappeared into the forest path.

A necklace?

What necklace all of a sudden?

I reflexively looked down at my neck.

“What necklace—ah!”

Unbelievable.

I’d been so focused on hiding my face that I hadn’t noticed at all.

The string tying my robe around my neck had loosened.

“Don’t tell me… he knew who I was?”

Between the loosened strings, the necklace Perzen had given me was gleaming openly.

Early morning.

“You’ve arrived, Sir Alik.”

“Where is His Grace the Grand Duke?”

The knight who had been prostrating himself straightened his posture.

“He is still resting quietly.”

The Grand Duke was currently staying at his private residence in the capital.

It was in preparation for the Roc Ducal House’s banquet to be held in a few months.

“For someone who has come to the capital, he seems more relaxed than expected.”

Still, he had arrived earlier than strictly necessary.

Under normal circumstances, it would have been unthinkable.

The very fact that Perzen was staying in the capital for this long was unusual.

“Somehow, it even seems like he sleeps better here than at the ducal castle.”

For the first time in a while, the capital was filled with people from the ducal estate.

It was a display of Perzen’s authority—something even the imperial palace couldn’t control.

“Your Grace, it’s Alik.”

At the knight’s words, Alik didn’t reply.

Instead, he knocked, counted to five silently, and then opened the door.

“……”

There was no response.

Even so, Alik didn’t hesitate.

“My lord.”

The capital’s morning was lively and warm.

But Perzen’s quarters were different.

Oppressively dark and silent.

“Have you looked over the letters I set aside for you?”

Entering the study, Alik first fixed his gaze on the letters piled on the desk.

“Hm, I see you haven’t read a single one, as expected.”

“……”

“Didn’t I at least ask you to pretend to read those sent by the Central Noble Council and His Majesty the Emperor?”

Still, there was no reply.

Of course, Alik hadn’t really expected one.

“I don’t know what wind blew for you to decide to attend this banquet, but…”

After habitually scanning the study once more, Alik entered the bedroom.

“In any case, while you’re staying in the imperial palace, your relationship with His Majesty should at least be better than when you’re at the ducal castle—”

At that moment—

What is this?

Alik’s expression subtly changed.