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CHAPTER 09
The brown eyes, wet like summer tree bark, shone without feeling out of place among the green leaves. Thin strands of silver hair swayed right in front of the Duke, almost within his reach.
But the moment he raised his hand to grab them, she quickly moved away. She was very skilled at avoiding his grasp.
She was as quick as a cat—fast enough that even knights would find her movement impressive. The Duke pressed a hand to his forehead. This was exhausting.
“I trust you.”
“Yeah, right.”
Even at her disrespectful reply, he didn’t have the energy to correct her. He wasn’t someone with time to waste on pointless matters like this.
“If this is because of Fernando, he exists to protect your identity.”
“And at the same time, he’ll report everything I do and say to you. I hate that.”
This time, she didn’t even show her face—only her voice came from within the leaves. It felt like he was talking to a tree, so the Duke stepped closer to the Lalanka tree where she was hiding.
She was so small that if not for the blue fabric sticking out between thick branches, he wouldn’t even know where she was.
“I’ll tell him not to report you.”
“Really? Swear on the honor of Shantark?”
Shantark was the knightly name he had received.
She was asking whether he would stake a knight’s honor on that promise.
He gritted his teeth, regretting ever revealing his full name. He had never once sworn such pointless oaths on the name Shantark.
“Fine. I promise.”
“Hmm, okay.”
Only then did Su smile in satisfaction. Her face, peeking out between the leaves, looked as bright as blossoms on a tree.
Unlike her smiling face, the Duke’s expression remained cold and sharp.
He had returned after two sleepless nights repairing weaknesses in the southern front line.
As soon as he returned to the estate, he was told the “Lady Marilynne” had gone missing, which sent the maids into panic. He rushed to the garden where she was last seen—and found this ridiculous scene.
The fact that she had the nerve to act like this in front of him made him think she would have no problem conning even the king.
“Now come down.”
His patience was reaching its limit.
Su smiled awkwardly.
“Um, Duke…”
“What.”
“Do you hit women?”
“If you don’t come down right now, I might.”
“I do want to come down.”
The Duke looked up again, thinking she was talking nonsense.
She gave an awkward smile, then looked away.
“…I can’t come down.”
“Ha.”
The Duke finally let out his frustration openly. Why climb a tree you can’t even get down from?
Of all places, she had climbed the oldest Lalanka tree in the garden.
He was so speechless he didn’t even have energy to be angry. For a moment, he wondered if she had done it on purpose just to provoke him.
“Just jump down.”
“What if I get hurt?”
“I’ll catch you so you won’t.”
“What if you mess up and I hit the ground? I’d at least break a leg!”
At her suspicion, the Duke’s patience finally snapped.
Without hesitation, he kicked the massive tree trunk.
His strength was absurdly powerful. The branches shook violently, and Su, who had been clinging to them, lost her balance and fell along with the Lalanka fruit.
“Hey, you brute!”
The curse almost slipped out of her mouth, but the ground rushed toward her face. She shut her eyes tightly.
I should’ve just jumped when he said he’d catch me.
Well, a broken leg wouldn’t stop a con artist anyway… so maybe it didn’t matter to him.
She regretted it deeply. Pain was one of the things she hated most.
She covered her face with her arms to protect her head—but even after time passed, nothing hurt.
Huh?
When she opened her eyes in confusion, the Duke’s long white neck came into view first.
Even after years on the battlefield, his skin was smoother than hers. Looking up slightly, she saw lips as red as if painted.
It was strange how such delicate features could still feel so masculine.
Despite his personality, his face was undeniably perfect. Su stared at him, momentarily entranced, forgetting her situation entirely.
Ah, right. His eyes are the most beautiful, she thought, tilting her head back further.
Their gazes met—deep, dark blue eyes slightly twisted with annoyance. The look of someone who found her extremely bothersome.
“Ah, sorry. And… thank you.”
Su awkwardly smiled and patted his shoulder. He had actually caught her.
The Lalanka fruits had fallen everywhere too, yet he had managed to catch only her. His reflexes were impressive.
“Duke, if you ever run out of things to do, want to join a circus with me?”
At her question, the Duke said nothing and simply set her down.
Thud.
He dropped her without warning, and she landed on her backside.
“Ow! If you were going to catch me, at least put me down properly!”
“…You.”
“Yes?”
“Did you say your etiquette training with Mrs. Keller was finished?”
“Yes! Haha, she said I finished really early!”
“In my opinion, you still need more.”
Su’s mouth fell open.
What—what did you just say?
As if she had been insulted beyond reason, her expression twisted.
“I’ll speak with Mrs. Keller separately.”
“Duke, I’m sorry!”
Without replying, the Duke turned and left the garden.
Su glared at his broad back as it disappeared, then grabbed a fallen Lalanka fruit and threw it at him.
You damned tyrant!
Whoosh.
But the Duke didn’t even look back and dodged it effortlessly.
“Ack!”
Left alone, Su stepped on the innocent Lalanka fruits in frustration.
Stomp-stomp. Run-run. Stomp-stomp. Run-run.
No matter where he went, the Duke found it strange how Su always followed him.
The difference in stride—almost three times his—meant she was constantly running to keep up, yet never gave up.
There was a fierce determination in her brown eyes, the kind usually seen only in soldiers during war.
The Duke stopped when he saw her flushed red face. He was worried she might collapse from exhaustion.
Seizing the moment, Su rushed forward and grabbed his collar.
“Huff… huff…”
She was breathing so hard she looked like she might fall backward any second.
The Duke frowned and removed her hand from his clothing.
But she immediately grabbed him again.
“Didn’t I tell you not to follow me?”
“You might leave for Ba’ha and never come back!”
“You are now Marilynne Sue Sinclair. She has no younger sibling left in the back alleys.”
“Just let me see him once! I’ll come right back!”
She tightened her grip on his clothes, panting.
It had been exhausting trying to convince him. He kept walking as if he didn’t even want to listen.
She was a thinker, not a runner!
She hadn’t run like this in ages. She was drenched in sweat, yet the Duke looked perfectly composed. That made it even more infuriating.
“How am I supposed to trust that?”
At his calm reply, Su snapped.
“You don’t even know what trust means! I said trust me, not believe me!”
The Duke remained expressionless, as if listening to a barking dog.
“Is your brother that important?”
“Of course he is!”
She knew she was risking everything by going to see Mel.
But she couldn’t leave without saying anything. He was still just a child.
The thought of leaving him behind made her chest tighten.
Even after she explained everything, the Duke’s expression didn’t change.
Defeated, Su finally let go of his collar, her shoulders drooping.
The Duke watched her silently.
“…Fine. If you want to go that badly, go.”
“Really?”
In an instant, her gloomy face lit up as she grabbed him again.
“Men aren’t allowed to take back their words!”
“Fine.”
“Yes! That’s my Duke! A real noble should have courage!”
“However, Fernando will accompany you.”
“Damn it… does even my private life have no freedom?”
“No.”
