THJDM 26

chapter 26

When one person stumbled, the young ladies nearby got caught up as well, and they all tumbled together in a messy heap.

“Hey! That hurts!”
“What’s this because of you?”
“Why are you doing this to me? Hii… it hurts…!”

Their irritated voices carried all the way up to the second floor.

“Serves them right!”

Hehe, a victorious smile spread across Rubiana’s face.

Finally, peace had arrived.

Rubiana looked up at Elion and smiled brightly.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“For what?”

“Thanks to you, I was able to give those young ladies a proper lesson and defeat them.”

Elion looked puzzled.

“I didn’t do anything, though?”

Rubiana was equally confused by his question.

“What do you mean? It was all thanks to Your Highness.”
“What do you mean I did anything?”
“You appeared with your handsome face. Not just anyone can do that.”

Hohoho, Rubiana laughed happily.

Elion, staring blankly at her smiling face for a moment, asked again.

“Am I handsome? Do you really think so?”
“……”

What is he talking about?

It was absurd.

Rubiana stopped laughing and narrowed her eyes at Elion.

“What kind of question is that? Don’t you even look in a mirror?”

Ah, never mind. Forget it.

This is the world inside a novel.

Naturally, good looks were concentrated on the main characters.

A non-main character who is beautiful or handsome?

Such a person simply did not exist. Absolutely not.

Grand Duke Elion Klitzman, though a villain behind the scenes, was undeniably a main character and thus enjoyed the full benefit of being exceptionally attractive.

Beautiful and handsome people are always well aware of their looks.

There was no way he wouldn’t know.

He had been told from a young age, countless times, about how good-looking he was.

‘My sister in my previous life was the same.’

Always hearing endless compliments about her beauty—from relatives, the neighborhood, school—she eventually became an actress and received praise from the entire nation.

‘It’s worse when someone acts like they don’t know they’re beautiful, than when they boast about it.’

Shaking her head, Rubiana led the way up the stairs.

Nobles don’t wear ready-made clothes.

They all wore custom-made garments.

Thus, the clothes displayed in stores were for exhibition, not for sale.

But thanks to Rubiana’s explanation, Elion was able to purchase one of the display outfits.

Luckily, one of them fit reasonably well given his model-like physique. Of course, his well-developed chest muscles made the upper part slightly tight, but he decided that was acceptable.

“This outfit will be paid for by the Payson family,” Rubiana told the attendant.

Elion, overhearing this, widened his eyes and quickly spoke up.

“No—”
“Please, just listen.”

But Rubiana was faster.

She leaned close to his ear and explained quietly in a gentle voice.

Elion’s earlobe felt warm from her breath.

“If Your Highness’s name is mentioned here, there will be articles claiming that we went on a daytime date in the marketplace.”
“……I see.”

That could not happen.

Their relationship had to remain as secret as possible.

Elion nodded.

It was his way of agreeing with Rubiana.

“Then I’ll accept it gratefully.”
“Yes.”

Only then did the attendant, seeing their agreement, bow politely.

“Understood, Miss. I will send the invoice to the Payson household.”
“Please do.”

Exiting the tailor’s, Rubiana and Elion immediately got into a hired carriage.

Perhaps considering that most of their clients were nobles, the carriage was quite comfortable.

“And please take us to the circus theater in Grieger City.”
“Yes, sir.”

As the carriage began to move slowly, Rubiana’s eyes sparkled.

‘Finally!’

She could now take action as the heroine.

She could protect the citizens of the capital from monsters.

She could also ease the burden on the Royal Knights and the Capital Patrol, who were still working in an emergency.

Rubiana’s heart raced with excitement as she gazed at the scenery outside.

Elion noticed the twitching at the corners of her mouth.

Watching her, he realized how expressive humans could be.

“You look excited about seeing the circus.”
“Of course! Thank you for accompanying me, Your Highness.”

Elion’s blue eyes reflected an intriguing amusement at her bright, innocent expression.

“Your acting skills are impressive.”
“Oh… that? You were surprised when I suddenly called you Brother Alex, right?”
“Well, a little.”

He chuckled softly.

“I couldn’t help it… but I am sorry for turning someone originally an exceptional swordmaster into an imperfect person from a spirit-user family who couldn’t become a spirit-user.”

Recalling the moment, Rubiana scratched her cheek embarrassedly.

“Did they really call you that?”
“Yes. It hurt a bit, but thanks to Your Highness, I could get revenge, and I’m glad.”

Shrugging lightly, Rubiana spoke as if it were no big deal.

She saw a hint of sympathy in Elion’s gaze.

‘Oh no… is this villainous duke sympathizing with me again?’

She appreciated it when it was intentional.

But when it wasn’t… it annoyed her.

So she smiled brightly to calm him.

“No need to look at it that way, Your Highness. Thanks to meeting you, I’ve regained my health, and I’ll definitely become a spirit-user.”
“…….”
“I’m certain of it. So when I become a spirit-user, see you at the Royal Knights. My goal is to join the first elite squad of spirit-users.”
“……Alright. Do your best.”

Only then did a faint smile appear on Elion’s lips.

Rubiana turned her gaze back to the window.

‘Huh? There it is, a shabby shack!’

Her eyes widened as she spotted the half-ruined hut.

Squinting, she scrutinized the scenery outside.

‘After passing the shack for about five minutes… it should be where a few scraggly trees are gathered… ah, there it is!’

She tapped the wall connected to the driver’s seat and shouted,

“Wait! Stop the carriage!”

At her urgent shout, the carriage immediately halted.

Elion asked, surprised,

“Why all of a sudden?”
“Well, um….”

Rubiana’s face turned red as she hesitated.

Although she had planned and practiced this act, it was still embarrassing to perform it in front of a man—especially the villainous duke—as a noble young lady pretending to urgently relieve herself.

But she had to do it.

After tossing and turning all night searching for alternatives, she found none.

She lowered her head, blushing, and twisted her body slightly.

She believed he would understand without words.

Fortunately, she was right.

“Ah! Ah…”

Elion guessed her situation and let out a low groan, blushing himself.

Seeing his red face, Rubiana was completely flustered.

‘Why… why are you even more embarrassed than me?!’

Though she wanted to scream, she held back.

I’m a noble lady pretending to urgently relieve myself for the story’s sake!

‘Sacrifice the minor for the sake of the major.’

Biting her lower lip, Rubiana flung open the carriage door and dashed out.

“Ugh… so embarrassing! Embarrassing! Embarrassing!”

How would she ever face Elion again?

Was this what it felt like to want to bury your face in water and die?

‘No! I can’t think about dying at such a critical moment.’

She flung the carriage door open and sprinted.

Watching Rubiana dash off at full speed, Elion burst into laughter.

A young lady stopping the carriage because she urgently needed to go and running off like that!

He had neither seen nor heard of such a thing.

“Puh, hahaha!”

Once he started laughing, he couldn’t stop.

Suddenly, he realized how long it had been since he had enjoyed laughing like this.

‘…Huh?’

It wasn’t just this laughter.

He recalled how flustered he had been when she suddenly knelt before him.

Every act of sharing magic with her had been exhilarating—mind-blowing.

And realizing later that he had been probing her mouth… how humiliating! He wanted to punish himself and lock himself away.

The intensity of emotions was overwhelming.

He had never experienced such feelings before.

‘But… since meeting Miss Payson, I seem to experience this constantly.’

Experiencing emotions surge and then settle… it wasn’t unpleasant.

It even felt somewhat enjoyable.

While recalling the past few days with Rubiana, a scream rang out.

“Uwaaah!”

Elion’s heart leapt into his throat.

He immediately ran toward Rubiana.

As he moved his legs quickly, he blamed himself.

He shouldn’t have left her alone; he should have been more careful; he should have tried harder.