Chapter 88
“An imperial tuner will be arriving soon. We should prepare.”
“Of all times… why now…”
At that very moment, the dwarves were in the middle of construction.
The imperial family didn’t yet know that dwarves were working on the estate. Ellia had said there was no need to inform them — it wasn’t an obligation, after all.
As long as the duke’s household wasn’t committing treason, the empire didn’t interfere. The imperial family also knew well that the Duke had no ambition for the throne.
They also knew that without the Duke, no one could hold back the monsters of the North.
The real reason for keeping it secret was that they couldn’t let the Grand Duchess know how wealthy the ducal house had become.
If she found out, the Grand Duchess would surely try to suppress them — perhaps even accuse them of treason if things went badly.
And besides, Noah was staying at the Duke’s estate.
It wouldn’t take much for someone to twist the narrative and claim Noah was conspiring to seize the throne with the Duke’s backing.
In many ways, it had been a wise choice to entrust Noah and Ellia to the Tower Master.
“Norman, what happened to the researchers?”
“The Tower Master said he’ll be taking them to the island today.”
“That’s a relief.”
It was fortunate that their departure was perfectly timed. In truth, pursuers had already reached the North.
The Tower Master had used illusion magic to confuse them, leading them westward instead.
He’d created an elaborate illusion of the researchers fleeing that way — it was a complete success.
The pursuers weren’t skilled enough to see through the Tower Master’s magic, which spoke volumes of how exceptional Austin was.
Thanks to the time Austin had bought them, the researchers were safe, and today he personally escorted them away.
Ellia had also sent word — thanks to Zirc’s magic, the new research facility would soon be ready, and the researchers could settle quickly.
“I miss her.”
It was the first time a single day had felt as long as a year.
The first day after Ellia left had been bearable.
But after two, three days passed, everything around Alexis began to remind him of her —
The desk and chair where she used to review documents, the dining hall where she’d delighted in the chef’s food, the training grounds where she’d laughed as Dmitri and Campbell gave her rides on their shoulders, even the laboratory where Felix worked — the sight of her in a white coat had been adorable.
Everywhere in the Duke’s mansion, Ellia’s presence lingered — her laughter in the newly built garden, her teary-eyed pout after slipping on the lawn during a garden party — all of it was vivid.
It hadn’t even been a full month, yet he found himself missing her constantly.
He remembered all her little habits —
Some days she’d tie her hair up and dart about busily, other days she’d braid it into two plaits that swayed as she ran.
And when she curled it into a soft bun, it had been impossibly cute.
Her sapphire-blue eyes, shimmering with life — he’d found them unbearably lovely.
“Ha… this is serious.”
At some point, Ellia had taken up a very important place in his heart.
“I shouldn’t let her go anywhere again.”
Alexis decided — he would keep her close from now on.
* * *
“Huh?”
Suddenly, Ellia’s ear felt itchy.
They said that meant someone was talking bad about you.
“Is someone cursing me or something?”
She thought about it, but the only person who came to mind was the Grand Duchess Christina.
“No, that can’t be.”
Christina had never even seen Ellia in this lifetime, so it wasn’t her.
Ellia’s gaze turned toward Gaji, who was lounging on his favorite cushion — the one he’d insisted on bringing along when he followed her.
[Why are you glaring at me like that?]
‘Were you talking behind my back?’
[Why would I?]
‘You weren’t?’
[If I were going to, I’d say it to your face. I don’t do that behind-the-back stuff.]
‘That’s true.’
Gaji wasn’t the type to scheme or hide his opinions — if anything, he was blunt to a fault.
[Someone talking about you?]
‘My ear just got itchy.’
[So what?]
‘There’s an old saying — if your ear itches, someone’s gossiping about you.’
[That’s nonsense. Don’t believe that stuff.]
‘I don’t, really. Just thought maybe.’
[Instead of wasting time on that, focus on finishing the building. The Tower Master’s coming back with the researchers, right?]
‘Yeah, I should.’
The building still needed time to be completed.
Zirc was doing his best, but it was a massive structure with complex facilities, so it was taking longer than expected.
It was her own fault for wanting it so elaborate.
She felt bad for Zirc — she’d given him such a demanding task.
In many ways, she owed him a lot.
[By the way, that Zirc guy—]
‘Yeah?’
[Don’t you think he’s being too nice to you?]
‘Isn’t that a good thing?’
[It’s a little too much, don’t you think?]
‘Too much?’
[He brings you rare ingredients for meals, makes music boxes so you can sleep comfortably, and takes full charge of the construction without a single complaint. If that’s not devotion, I don’t know what is.]
‘…’
Ellia was momentarily speechless.
She had accepted Zirc’s kindness without question — his efforts to give her only the best of everything.
[Everything in this room is ridiculously high-end, you know.]
The furniture, the bedding, the decorations — all of it was top quality.
[Excessive kindness can be poisonous. Be careful.]
Ellia wasn’t sure.
Zirc’s kindness didn’t feel dangerous — maybe because she trusted him.
But when she thought about it, it was odd.
‘Since when did I trust people this easily?’
After being betrayed twice, Ellia had become deeply distrustful of others.
‘I’ve grown soft.’
She flopped down onto the bed.
It was wonderfully soft — and she didn’t have to force herself to act perfect for anyone.
She no longer needed to diet to maintain appearances; she could eat as much delicious food as she wanted.
She could even enjoy shopping again.
In the past, she’d been told that extravagance was the path to becoming a villainess — that she should be modest and frugal.
She’d worn only what Grand Duchess Christina chose for her and the jewelry Raul gave her.
Her meals were by strict manual — salad for breakfast, light food for lunch, and steak for dinner, though she was forbidden from finishing it all. Raul said it was unrefined for a lady to clear her plate.
Raul was obsessed with appearances.
He always exuded warmth and politeness, and Ellia had followed his example — smiling through every situation.
For a lady, kindness was elegance — and a weapon.
But behind that polite mask, both she and Raul hid their true selves.
When they were alone, Raul would vent his anger toward Prince Serhi, who mocked him, and toward Noah, who had true royal blood.
Ellia had to endure all of it — his thrown objects, his verbal abuse.
“You’re supposed to be my protector, and yet I’m treated like this because you’re incompetent! Do your job properly!”
If she ever dared to give advice—
“You’re my protector, Ellia, not someone who gives me orders. I’m the one who commands you. That’s how you earn my love — isn’t that right?”
Raul was a man who used her weaknesses without mercy. He didn’t care if she got hurt.
“Ellie, stop crying. I’m comforting you right now, aren’t I? You’re just making me irritated. When you act like this, it makes me want to stay away from you.”
Whenever she sought comfort, he’d turn it around — make it her fault.
Thinking back, Raul had never been sincere with her from the very beginning.
Every sweet word had been nothing but manipulation.
“If you want my love, then do what I want, Ellia.”
He had always been coercive, always demanding.
He even made her use the World Tree’s power for trivial things.
One day, he’d offered to let her ride his horse — then suddenly made a bee sting it on the rear. The horse went wild.
Ellia had fallen off and injured her arm.
But Raul, staring at his horse’s swollen flank, barked at her—
“Ellie! Heal my horse! It’s hurt because of you!”
She had cried bitterly that day.
