Episode 28: Complicated Feelings
When the duke left the office, even the butler—who had barely been holding up the head maid—lost strength in his legs and collapsed onto the floor along with her.
“G-Goodness, h-have you ever seen His Grace that angry? The times he got angry before were nothing compared to this.”
Only after the duke disappeared from sight did the heart-pounding head maid manage to speak to the butler, who was drenched in cold sweat.
“It’s my first time seeing it too… and I never want to see it again.”
—
The duke strode out wearing only a thin shirt, not even a robe despite the cold. Forgetting the chill entirely, he spurred his horse forward, chasing the traces left behind by Joshua’s words.
His heart pounded wildly at the fear of what the wanted criminal Joshua might do to Ella, and he gripped the reins even tighter.
From the moment they first met, the duke disliked Joshua. Those eyes that looked at Ella—full of filthy desire.
As the sun set and darkness deepened, the duke tied up his horse and began tracking Ella’s trail.
*The branch snapped recently. This way.*
Following the freshly broken branches, he tracked the signs until he found a small isolated shack and approached quietly.
—
Ella awoke with a splitting headache, the damp smell of mold and heavy moist air filling her senses.
“You’re awake?”
Joshua approached her as soon as she opened her eyes, gently tucking her messy hair behind her ear. Each time his cold fingers brushed her skin, Ella shuddered with disgust.
“What are you doing…?”
Her voice was low and weak from whatever sedative had been used.
“You wouldn’t listen to me, so I had no choice but to bring you by force… If you had just obeyed, none of this would’ve happened.”
Ella shot back sharply at his pathetic expression, as if *she* were the one at fault.
“Why should I ever listen to someone like you?”
Joshua’s gentle touch turned forceful. He yanked her hair painfully, but Ella only clenched her teeth, refusing to scream.
“Why?! Why are you always so cold to me? I treated you well! But you went and reported me to the guards, and now you like some noble you barely even know more than me!”
He exploded, venting all the resentment he had built up.
“Turn yourself in and pay for your crimes, Joshua.”
Though threatened, Ella stared straight into his eyes, unflinching.
“Crimes? Ha! What did I do wrong? If your sister had stayed quiet, she would’ve been sold to a rich man and lived comfortably! Better than slaving away in the countryside raising siblings! I did her a favor!”
He justified himself shamelessly. Ella closed her eyes, realizing no reason could reach him.
As she fell silent, Joshua’s demeanor flipped again—sweet, gentle, as though he hadn’t been screaming moments ago.
“Ella… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just got upset because you keep pushing me away. You’re okay, right?”
His sudden emotional swings were like a madman’s. Goosebumps raced over Ella’s skin.
“I’ve liked you for a long time. You wouldn’t listen to me, so I had to bring you by force. Let’s run away to Hanpen Kingdom. I saved up money.”
He showed her a pouch filled with gold coins and small jewels. Ella nearly gagged—money earned by selling people into trafficking.
“Why won’t you answer? With this, you won’t have to work as a maid anymore. Is it because I sold Anna to the traffickers? I’ll apologize. Just come with me.”
“I’d rather die than run away with you.”
Joshua, who thought she would be happy and agree, began nervously biting his nails.
“What? What are you saying, Ella? You liked me too.”
He recalled her childhood, how she used to follow him.
“Me? No. Not once have I seen you as anything more than a friend.”
She laughed bitterly at his delusion.
“No, you loved me. Why do you think I saved money? I started when you went to work in a noble house because of your father’s gambling debt!”
“Don’t use me as an excuse! You just wanted money, no matter how dirty the method!”
“No! If not, why would I bring you here? When the trafficking ring collapsed and you came home, I wanted to confess everything and run away with you—but you only cared about that damned duke!”
“Don’t you dare insult the duke! He’s a far better person than trash like you!”
“Hah? You call that lunatic duke a good man? The one rumored to behead people and hang them up whenever he feels like it? He’s better than me?!”
Joshua scoffed.
“You’re just like the other women. You don’t love him—just his noble status and money, right?”
“What do you know about him? Don’t judge a person over mere rumors!”
“You sound like you *like* him. What, did you warm his bed and get attached?”
His vulgarity filled Ella with humiliation. She clenched her fist, wanting to punch him, but bound tightly by rope, she couldn’t move.
“You vile bastard!”
Joshua kicked a worn chair in rage.
“Vile? I’ll show you what vile really is.”
Eyes burning with desire, he slowly approached Ella.
If he couldn’t have her, he’d rather destroy her.
He stared at her slender pale neck, swallowing hard.
“Don’t come near me!”
Ignoring her warning, he buried his face against her neck. His hot breath slithered across her skin like a snake.
Ella bit his ear with all her strength. His scream was blood-curdling.
“Ghhh-AAAH!”
Dark red blood streamed from his ear, staining Ella’s collar. Trembling with rage and pain, Joshua grabbed the dagger at his waist.
“You dare attack me? I’ll kill you!!!”
He raised the blade, ready to strike. Ella shut her eyes in terror—
…but no pain came.
When she opened them, she saw a broad, solid back standing between her and Joshua.
“The Duke…?”
“Ella, are you hurt?”
He held Joshua’s dagger in his bare hand, turning slightly to check her safety.
“I—I’m fine.”
Relief flickered in his eyes, then he glared at Joshua—bloody, deranged, disgusting.
“D-Damn it!”
Joshua tried to yank the dagger free, but when it wouldn’t budge, he abandoned it and grabbed a sword from the corner.
“I’ll kill you both!”
He swung at the duke’s head, but the duke tilted slightly, dodging with ease. Joshua lost balance and fell pathetically to the floor.
“Too many openings.”
A sharp chop to the back of Joshua’s neck dropped him like a puppet with its strings cut.
Ella stared blankly at the overwhelming scene—then noticed the blood dripping from the duke’s hand.
“Your Grace, your hand—!”
When Joshua lunged with the dagger, the duke reacted without thinking, grabbing the blade bare-handed. Aura shielded him from a fatal wound, but the hasty move still left his palm bleeding heavily.
“I’m fine.”
He tied a cloth around it haphazardly and cut the ropes binding Ella. Her pale wrists were bruised purple.
“Damn it… Are you hurt anywhere else?”
He scanned her bruises, but Ella was far more concerned about *him*. He had grabbed a blade bare-handed to protect her. The duke—usually cold and rational—had acted recklessly, and it made her chest ache.
Finding no cloth nearby, Ella cut the hem of her skirt.
“What are you doing?”
Her exposed legs startled him, and he looked away quickly.
“Give me your hand. Does it not hurt? Even if you’re strong, grabbing a dagger bare-handed—what if you’d been seriously injured…? I…”
Her voice trembled. She wrapped his hand carefully. The wound was worse than she thought. Tears welled up, cutting her words short.
A strange, overwhelming feeling flooded her—warm, confusing, unbearably tender.
His large hand, always protecting her—felt painfully precious today.
Tears flowed silently down her cheeks.
“Ella…”
Seeing her cry quietly shook something in the duke’s chest. He gently pulled her into his arms.
Ella, always composed and reserved, was crying passionately for the first time—and the duke gave her the only comfort he knew how to offer.
