Chapter 135
“I know. While I’m indebted here, I have to be careful not to damage the prestige of the Grand Ducal family… but…”
Erika’s whispering words tickled him like fairy dust.
“But I… don’t want to do an updo. I’m not a noblewoman, you know.”
A tiny, pouty voice.
“I don’t even want a pin in my hair! Have you seen a flower pin? You probably haven’t. They’re ridiculously extravagant…”
“…”
“If I walked around the Denters Mercenary Guild with one of those huge pins in my hair, people would call me crazy.”
For some reason, she looked pitiful and explained herself to Chawood.
“Are you listening? Please stop Joseline from touching my hair.”
“…”
Chawood slowly reached out his hand.
He brushed Erika’s stray hair behind her ear.
“I’ll make sure no one touches it.”
He ran his fingers gently along the strands, barely grazing the surface.
Even breathing felt delicate.
“…”
Regardless, Erika glanced around restlessly.
Owen had already walked away, and no other servants were nearby.
She pressed close to Chawood.
On tiptoe, she whispered into his ear.
“Chawood.”
“…”
He tensed.
He could barely move his eyes to look down at her.
They were so close that even a slight turn of their faces might have their lips touch.
Amid the tension, Erika whispered softly.
“…I feel like I’m suffocating. Could you loosen the strings on my back a bit?”
“…”
“Ugh, the corset is tied so tight! I feel like I’m going to die!”
“….”
Chawood let out a short, disbelieving laugh.
He reached out and grabbed her slender waist.
“Turn around.”
Erika complied, turning just slightly. Chawood looked down at her calmly.
“…”
Because her hair was neatly gathered to one side, her pale nape was exposed.
He wanted to press his lips to it immediately but restrained himself.
“What do you want me to do?”
The feeling of her waist under his hands made his resolve crumble.
His whole body felt like it was melting.
“The knot at the back… just loosen the end a little.”
Softness wrapped around his hands.
He couldn’t resist.
“…”
He wrapped his arms around Erika from behind, hugging her tightly and pressing his face to her shoulder.
“…?”
Frowning, Erika turned her face to look at Chawood’s crown.
“What are you doing?”
“…”
“I said loosen the knot!”
Chawood let out a wet sigh.
“…”
His sigh was a limit in itself.
It was so close; it felt like the dam of his restraint would break at any moment.
He couldn’t meet Erika’s eyes.
Her pink eyes were always so clear and pure.
And reflected in them was always his own greedy face.
“….”
Honestly, he didn’t know how much longer he could hold back.
Grand Ducal Palace, Glass Greenhouse
The glass ceiling was so high that it felt like being under the open blue sky.
The space was vast, giving the feeling of enjoying tea outdoors on a warm day.
The chirping of birds raised inside the greenhouse could be heard.
In the center, a large round table was lavishly set with an afternoon tea set.
Maidservants stood nearby, attending to everything.
Luxury dessert plates and delicate small dishes were arranged neatly.
“…Hazelnut ganache cookies!”
Erika’s eyes sparkled.
Among all the desserts made by the palace pastry chef, these were the absolute best.
Erika had always wanted to eat them daily and had lavished the chef with constant praise.
The pastry chef, proud and elated, would march through the kitchen with shoulders back and head high.
These were Erika’s favorite hazelnut ganache cookies.
And they were the highlight of today’s tea time.
Crunch.
“….”
Just taking a bite of the cookie drew everyone’s attention.
“….”
Crunch, crunch.
“….”
At a refined tea gathering like this, no young lady would noisily eat cookies.
Except Erika.
“…?”
Crunch, crunch, crunch.
She continued eating while her eyes rolled around, observing her surroundings.
Eight daughters of northern vassal families had been sent.
The Brooke family was excluded.
Each was dressed beautifully, yet the young ladies only toyed with their teacups in silence.
“….”
“….”
The young ladies were on edge.
They had already heard about Erika.
A guest staying at the Grand Ducal Palace would be joining today’s tea.
She was only introduced as a friend of the Grand Duke.
“The Grand Duke… had a female friend like that?”
“…But no one mentioned that she looked like a goddess fallen from the sky.”
That was the most important detail, yet somehow it was omitted!
Her dazzling presence at their first meeting left everyone instantly overwhelmed.
The young ladies quietly observed from the sidelines.
They glanced at Roche, seated in the place of honor.
“…She must feel bad.”
“…Roche.”
“…Look at how she’s controlling her expression.”
The tea host, Roche.
She was the cherished granddaughter of the first vassal family, the Nigelius Marquises.
Rumor had it she had eyes only for the Grand Duke, waiting to become his consort.
Having rejected all previous suitors, she likely assumed she would eventually become the Grand Duchess herself.
So the young ladies attending this gathering were extremely tense.
“…As a vassal of Aragon, I think it’s meaningful for us to gather under the warm flowering trees of the Grand Ducal Palace today.”
Roche smiled.
Although she could easily guess what the other young ladies were thinking, she elegantly led the tea gathering.
Trained from childhood as a high-ranking noble, she exuded grace.
She savored the fragrant tea slowly, making no clattering noises with her cup.
“….”
Roche turned her attention to Erika.
“Erika, who has specially joined our gathering today…”
“Oh, I’m not a young lady. I’m a commoner.”
Roche hesitated, then composed herself.
“Well…”
She stumbled over her words—she had never invited a commoner to tea before.
She seemed unsure what honorific to use.
Erika smiled brightly.
“Please call me ‘Sir.’ I’m a knight. From Tene’arh.”
“…?”
A murmur spread among the attendees.
“Tene’arh?”
“A knight of His Majesty the Emperor?”
“Swordmaster!”
They exchanged glances, reaching a single conclusion.
“…So that’s why she could be friends with the Grand Duke.”
“…She must be his sparring partner.”
“If that’s the case… then she’s just a pure friend sharing swordsmanship.”
Their gaze returned to Erika.
They noticed her healthy, straight shoulders and upright posture.
A perfect knight’s physique.
It was completely different from the soft frames of the young ladies beside her.
Looking closer, they noticed many small scars on the hands she used to pick up the cookies.
Hands marked with tiny, old scars.
A stark contrast to Roche’s pristine hands holding her teacup.
“Scars on the back of her hands…”
“Pretty face or not, she’s a rough woman wielding a sword… The Grand Duke would never see her as a woman.”
One by one, the young ladies nodded.
“She’s the Grand Duke’s buddy!”
They concluded that being a pure friend who shared swords was harmless.
Thus, Roche had no reason to feel slighted.
Everyone glanced at her, relieved.
She still quietly savored her tea, her thoughts unreadable.
“Sir Erika,”
Roche spoke.
“I’ve always been curious about Tene’arh. Could you tell me about it?”
“…!”
Everyone understood Roche’s intent.
She wanted Erika to speak honestly about the rough, sweaty life of a knight.
A world incomparable to that of noble ladies—she wanted Erika to tell it all!
