Chapter 65
What Are You Doing Right Now? (1)
Eluciana barely managed to avert her gaze and spoke, trying to sound calm.
“…Honestly. Nothing’s changed at all. I told you to watch your words a little. Throwing them out like that just makes the young ladies misunderstand you.”
“Lucy, aren’t you the one who doesn’t understand my feelings at all?”
Eluciana secretly breathed a sigh of relief at Noel’s sudden mischievous shift in mood.
He usually spoke without any filter, but this boldness was something she hadn’t seen before.
Phew—thought he was about to confess.
Trying to calm her pounding heart, Eluciana opened the order ledger beside the table. Noel pressed down on it lightly and asked:
“Are you going to work?”
“Yes.”
“Does it have to be now? It’s been a while since we’ve spent time together.”
“Yes. It really has to be now.”
Eluciana brushed his hand off the ledger and turned the pages again.
“That’s not what I mean, Lucy. Can’t we talk for a bit?”
Noel pressed down on the ledger she was looking at again, pouting.
Their deep purple eyes met in a mesmerizing gaze.
But for some reason…
The face she had once thought beautiful now seemed tired, like a sulking child.
“Making that expression won’t work. I really am busy.”
“Why are you so cold? Don’t you think about me at all?”
Eluciana shook her head and pulled his hand away from the ledger.
“Don’t be childish.”
“Lucy.”
“Could you think about me for once? I’ve been working nonstop since morning.”
“That’s harsh, really.”
Noel’s eyes drooped, reddened at the corners. He looked pitiful, as if betrayed.
But Eluciana knew that was just his habit.
She resumed flipping through the ledger.
“…So how long do I have to wait?”
“You’ll see when we try.”
Sigh… fine.
Noel, whose eyes rolled around like a drenched puppy, stood up.
“How about some tea? I’ll make it.”
“You know where the pantry is, right?”
“Of course.”
Noel cheerfully went to the pantry and prepared the tea. Carrying a tray with a cup of refreshing peppermint tea, he placed it in front of her.
“Thank you.”
Sitting across from her, Noel quietly observed her and said:
“Lucy, I’m curious about something.”
“What is it?”
Eluciana took a sip of tea without looking up from the ledger.
“Why do you work so hard?”
“Why would there be a reason? I do it to make a living.”
“But don’t you think that’s too much for just making a living?”
Noel asked purely out of curiosity. He knew the shop’s profits weren’t small, so he couldn’t help wondering.
Lucy glanced through the ledger and replied casually:
“There are children I care for. You could call it sponsorship. I’ve been helping them for quite some time—so now I feel responsible and can’t stop. Even if I go hungry, I can’t let the kids starve. That’s the feeling, I guess. Hehe, a bit embarrassing, isn’t it?”
A faint smile appeared on Eluciana’s lips as she spoke. Her words subtly revealed how deeply she loved the children.
“Where are these kids?”
“At an orphanage. It’s called ‘House of Angels’ on the outskirts. Have you heard of it?”
Eluciana hesitated slightly. That place was sponsored by the Wires family, so anyone who didn’t know…
Ah, now more people wouldn’t know.
Since the family had fallen from power, whatever they sponsored wouldn’t attract attention.
Eluciana let out a small laugh and looked at Noel.
“If you’re interested, maybe you could sponsor them too.”
Perhaps that’s why she could ask such a casual question.
She realized he, the arrogant noble, wasn’t much different from the nobles who had criticized pointless acts.
A hint of resignation flickered across her face.
“Did you sign a contract with the Sestain Dukes for those kids?”
“…How would you know that, Noel?”
A hint of caution appeared in Eluciana’s eyes.
Noel shrugged nonchalantly.
“I saw it last time. You were holding some documents.”
“Documents?”
“Yes. They had the Sestain Duke family crest on them.”
It seemed he was referring to the day she received the contract from Luis. But that was just the envelope.
“How did you know it was a contract?”
“Well—just guessed. The size was exactly that of a contract.”
Eluciana still looked skeptical but slowly nodded. She decided it wasn’t worth questioning.
After all, what kind of secret could a simple employment contract hold?
“Yes. I signed a slave… uh, a labor contract.”
“I see.”
In truth, what Noel was curious about was something else.
Why she suddenly took on work for the Sestain Dukes after staying so quiet all this time.
Having observed her for the past two years, he naturally wondered.
She took great pride and affection in the flower shop’s work, so she wouldn’t have burdened herself needlessly.
Yet she suddenly signed a contract with the Sestain Dukes? There had to be another reason.
A reason she needed to earn extra money, even pushing herself.
So he impulsively asked:
“Will you take me there?”
“…Where?”
“To the place you care about.”
Noel smiled slyly.
“I should know where I’m sponsoring too.”
“…!”
Eluciana’s jaw dropped without realizing it. She hadn’t expected him to say that, so it hit harder.
“Are you serious?”
“Would I lie?”
“Yes. Someone like you could easily do that and more.”
“My trust was really that low?”
“You weren’t asking because you didn’t know, right?”
“Ha! Ridiculous, really.”
Noel furrowed his brows and let out a chuckle. He looked like a sulking fox, making Eluciana giggle.
“You’re finally smiling.”
“Hmph. I always smiled well, you know?”
Eluciana cleared her throat and quickly returned her gaze to the ledger. Her ears were slightly pink now.
“Then why the serious face?”
“It’s not—huh?”
Eluciana’s crimson eyes widened suddenly while looking at the ledger.
Noel glanced at what she was checking.
“What’s this? …The Eragost Count family?”
It was about a special order Camilla had issued through her maid.
“All done.”
Noel closed the shop for her with a broad smile.
His golden hair shone softly in the moonlight.
Maybe because it’s night, he looks even more alluring.
The man who was always just beautiful now exuded a decadent charm under the soft moonlight.
“Lucy, shall we go?”
Noel brushed his hands and smiled warmly. Eluciana’s face, about to say thanks, hardened instantly.
“…Huh? Go where?”
“Why the shocked look? I said I’d escort you today.”
Eluciana’s eyes widened as she stared at Noel.
Since when?
Noel gave a teasing smile.
“You said it before leaving. Didn’t hear me?”
She shook her head. While his words didn’t seem like lies, she couldn’t have him follow her home.
Which commoner in this continent would have a house in the center of the noble-dominated city?
“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll refuse.”
“Don’t you know there are dangerous rumors around here?”
Eluciana frowned, looking down the unusually dark street, wondering if he was trying to persuade her.
“I’m not joking, Lucy. Haven’t you heard that a few corpses have been found nearby?”
“C-Corpses?”
“Yes, and only young women.”
Eluciana flinched and stepped back a few paces at Noel’s low, threatening whisper.
The law enforcement here was poor compared to modern times. It wasn’t uncommon for people to die if they got unlucky wandering the streets.
Even entering that dark alley, one could easily die without anyone noticing.
But that was someone else’s problem. Not immediately hers.
Still, she felt an inexplicable shiver run through her.
Noel, noticing her expression, faltered and hurriedly mumbled:
“W-Why such a serious face? I’m joking, joking.”
“…!”
“Haha. Just saying. Uh… was that too much? Hey, Lucy?”
Eluciana, blushing, spun around. Who jokes about life when it’s not a trivial matter?
Right. So he knows how to handle a sword, huh?
Since he could protect himself, he had nothing to fear.
She quickly walked on, not looking back. She didn’t want to spend a moment with a flirt who took lives lightly.
“Huh? Lucy! Are you really angry?”
“……”
“Joking, I said! Come with me! Wait!”
Noel watched her stride away with hostility, scratching his head awkwardly.
“She really is angry.”
The rumor about a murderer targeting only young women was true. He had only framed it as a joke because she seemed too frightened.
Unfortunately, it seemed to have had the opposite effect.
