Chapter 10
Su grumbled but nodded at the duke’s firm attitude.
It was enough that she could see Mel before leaving Ardel.
“Don’t talk carelessly to your brother. You don’t know how His Highness will investigate your identity.”
“Got it! I can be careful, you know?”
The duke didn’t respond and simply walked ahead. Su felt a bit annoyed at his refusal to answer, but she quickly smiled.
She had gotten what she wanted and didn’t mutter any curses at his retreating back. Somehow, his back looked beautiful to her—something she had never noticed before.
Probably his face was twisted in frustration, as always when he gave in to her stubbornness.
Raising her voice to his stubborn back, Su stretched her arms high, like trying to reach the sky.
“Anyway, thank you, Duke! I’ll be careful!”
The duke didn’t turn around.
“So… your younger relative lives here?”
“Yes.”
Fernando looked around suspiciously, unused to dirty back alleys. All the buildings were painted gray. It was very different from Ardel’s marble-lined streets. Every step stuck in the grimy muck, and he couldn’t hide his disgust.
Su, however, ran ahead without caring whether Fernando’s shoes would get ruined, her red ribbon fluttering behind her like a butterfly in the alley.
“Miss Marlene!”
Fernando hurried after her. She arrived at a small brown wooden house. It was shabby, but cleaner than the other alley buildings.
Su had bought the house at fourteen with money she had saved. She had pampered the carpenters so well that even ten years later, the house remained sturdy without repairs.
“Mel!”
Su ran inside with a big smile.
Fernando tried to follow, but Su quickly turned to stop him.
“Sir Fernando, please wait outside.”
Though a disguise, her position made her a “future consort.” Between the duke’s orders to keep an eye on her and Su’s command, Fernando hesitated. Su slipped inside and locked the door quickly.
“Miss Marlene!”
Fernando finally banged on the strong door, but it didn’t budge. Su had built it sturdy, expecting anyone she tricked to come after her.
“Sis?”
Mel, awakened by the noise, rubbed his eyes and crawled out. Seeing Su, his eyes widened, and he ran to her.
“Sis!”
“Hey, hey. How have you been? Did you eat well?”
“Where have you been all this time?”
“Just… some things. Did Veronica not come to see you?”
“She told me to join Willettan Royal School. If I graduate there, I can become a knight. But because I’m common, they said no, so a distant relative of Veronica—some Healer Viscount, I think—offered to take me as an adopted child.”
“Then why didn’t you go and stayed here?”
“Where would I go without telling you?”
Mel frowned, his hair longer after a few days apart. Su thought about tidying it up before he left.
“Where have you really been? I was so worried…”
She smiled at his childish complaints.
“Mel, I need to stay away from Ardel a little longer.”
“What? Why? Did you get caught scamming? Just slip the guards some money!”
“No, it’s not that. A job came up, and the pay is really good. It’s not even that hard.”
Mel eyed her suspiciously.
“Really?”
“Yes. So don’t worry… You go to school. It’s a boarding school, right? I’ll come see you when I’m done.”
“Where are you going?”
“Baha.”
Mel’s face darkened. Su gently held his puffed cheeks and handed him a small pouch.
“This is emergency money.”
“How long… how long will you be gone?”
“I don’t know.”
Mel sighed, realizing it was because of him. Looking into her eyes, he saw pride instead of anger. He remained silent, understanding that her “good job” was for his sake.
“Be careful.”
“Eat well, don’t skip meals just because I’m not there. You know, your sister’s picky eating stunted her growth.”
“And don’t trust men! All men are wolves, except me!”
Mel scolded like a caring older brother, and Su nodded quietly. Normally, she’d have teased him back, but knowing she wouldn’t see him for a while, she felt proud of his concern.
Her little brother was just a child, even if he looked grown. She worried about how he’d adjust to a noble-heavy royal school. She hugged him tightly, feeling protective.
Suddenly, Fernando’s loud knocks came from outside. The duke’s time limit had passed.
“I have to go.”
“Already?”
“I only came to say goodbye. If anyone asks about me, say you don’t know.”
Mel nodded obediently. Su smiled, ruffled his hair, and left the house. She trusted him to manage well, even in a strange place.
Outside, Fernando kept checking the time nervously. The duke’s scolding must have scared him. Su shook her head. Such a cold, handsome man, yet so jumpy—what a shame.
“You’re late.”
“It’s okay. Take your time.”
Su smiled to calm him.
“The duke only gave half a day to get from the mansion to the back alley. You should’ve expected he’d be late too.”
Fernando remained discouraged despite her encouragement. He remembered the duke’s warning:
“‘If you’re late, I’ll check your sword.’”
Even knights willing to fight the Duke of Mairamonte wouldn’t like that. Fernando knew “check your sword” meant “hit you as much as it won’t kill you.”
Later, at the mansion:
The duke’s expression was indifferent, as always. He lightly shook Su as if dusting a blanket.
Su wondered if he was naturally good at household chores.
Despite his effortless movements, Su, clinging to him like a bag of cotton, felt sick and dizzy.
Finally, the last hidden jewel fell to the floor, and the duke set her down. She staggered, exhausted.
“How did you know?”
Su was amazed that her crime was discovered. She wasn’t scared at all. The duke sighed lightly, not out of forgiveness, but because dealing with her was bothersome.
“Leave.”
“Okay.”
Su looked regretfully at the jewels he collected but left the room. She didn’t regret stealing—there would be even more valuable treasures in Baha.
She ran toward the carriage waiting outside, laughing to herself. The duke followed slowly. His face was pale—probably scolded by the Count of Ardel before leaving for Baha.
Thinking of the cunning count and his daughter, Su shook her head. “Like father, like daughter,” she thought.
