Chapter 30. A Strange Man (3)
Bang!
“There you are, hiding.”
A woman with a face as cold as a snowstorm twisted her lips and pointed her sword at Noel’s throat.
“Noel Marcia Klaus.”
Klaus?
At the knight’s words, Elluciana flinched and turned her eyes to Noel.
‘That man is Noel Marcia Klaus? The eldest son of the Marquis of Klaus…?’
Even though she’d heard it with her own ears, Elluciana couldn’t believe it. Or rather, her brain refused to accept the information.
‘Is this a joke? The recipient of the flowers ordered by Count Eragost’s family was that—that—that guy?!’
Elluciana tightly shut her eyes, as if trying to deny the whole unpleasant situation. No matter how much the gods hated her, this was an unfair trial.
Meanwhile, the knight woman stared at Noel with eyes as sharp and precise as a blade.
“Noel.”
“So you’ve been scurrying around like a rat, only to hide in a place like this, brother?”
With an awkward smile, Noel tried to push away the sword at his neck. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t budge.
“Let’s put this down first and talk, okay? This is dangerous.”
“So you can push me away and run like last time?”
“Come on, that was an accident.”
“Right, an ‘accident.’ That must be why you ran away without realizing your little sister’s wrist was broken. Isn’t that right?”
“…I told you I was sorry about that, Yeri.”
Shrinking under her murderous gaze, Noel muttered in a small voice, like a scolded child.
“I’ll behave.”
Yeriel scoffed coldly.
“That’s not exactly a trustworthy promise.”
“I mean it. I promise.”
Only after examining his face as if dissecting it, Yeriel finally lowered her sword.
And only then did she notice Elluciana, who was on the verge of fainting.
The sword that had been pointed at her good-for-nothing brother had also been aimed at this young lady’s neck.
Yeriel’s cold, calculating gaze began to tremble as if hit by a storm.
She hurriedly sheathed her sword and, in a voice entirely different from when she was interrogating Noel, began to babble.
“Are—are you okay? I mean, are you hurt anywhere…? Did I scare you too much? I—I’m really sorry!”
About three hours after the Klaus siblings had stormed through the fragrant garden like a hurricane—
Clack-clack. Clack-clack.
Riding in a shared carriage, Elluciana stared at a flower basket nearly as big as herself and clutched her head in frustration.
“Sigh… I’m going crazy.”
Who could’ve guessed that that rude, flirtatious man was the heir to the Marquis of Klaus?
His dazzling blond hair and deep violet eyes.
She should’ve suspected something when she saw his extraordinary looks.
Elluciana shook her head, recalling the pitiful figure of Noel being dragged away by Yeriel.
“How am I supposed to deliver this after what I’ve seen?”
If she wasn’t thrown out at the door, it’d be a miracle.
She stared blankly at the fancy flower basket filled with a mix of purple and white statice flowers and sighed deeply.
‘But the real problem is… this.’
Elluciana looked down at the luxurious envelope with shimmering pearl detail and let out a groan.
The name was clearly written on the soft purple background:
“To my dearest Noel.”
“I have to deliver this… in person? Ugh.”
Elluciana groaned and pulled at her hair.
‘Make sure to deliver it on time, and don’t forget the receipt, miss,’ Trisha had insisted, her voice echoing in Elluciana’s ears.
‘If I’d known it’d come to this, I should’ve hired someone to pretend to be a staff member.’
After all, no one would know unless they were the actual client.
But given how often luck had been against her, Elluciana knew even a falling leaf could be dangerous.
‘Well, I had no other option anyway.’
She let out a sigh heavy enough to collapse a mountain and wore the look of someone who had lost everything.
Knock, knock.
Just then, the coachman knocked on the carriage door—they’d arrived.
“Miss, we’ve reached the Marquis Klaus’s estate.”
“…Okay.”
Pulling her deep purple hood tightly over her head, Elluciana stepped down from the carriage.
She tried to reassure herself—It’s nothing, I’m fine—but the tension still clung to her.
“Hoo… It’s just a job.”
Trying to ignore the sweat in her palms, she slowly lifted her head.
“…Ah…!”
The exclamation slipped from her lips before she could stop it. Elluciana bit her lip hard.
The sheer size of the mansion made it hard to breathe.
The Wyers family mansion was big, but the Klaus estate looked like a solid fortress built with blades.
“…Maybe I should just go back?”
She regretted not pretending not to see him when she had the chance.
But it was too late to regret it now.
“Yeah… it’s too late. Gotta do the job. …Though, really, can’t I just go back?”
Clutching the flower basket like a condemned animal on the way to slaughter, Elluciana stood before the front gate.
A guard approached her.
“What business do you have here?”
“I, um, have a flower delivery.”
The guard, who’d had a sharp aura, looked at the flower basket in her arms and, with a clang, opened the gate.
Led into the reception room of the Klaus estate, Elluciana sat awkwardly in a chair.
They were being far too polite for a mere delivery, but she didn’t dare question it.
If they told her to wait, she had no choice but to wait.
“No way… he’s not going to come accept it in person, is he?”
She let out a chuckle at the ridiculous thought.
Then, the very cause of that ridiculousness suddenly appeared before her eyes.
“Fancy seeing you again, hmm?”
The man leaned on the table with both hands, smiling brightly.
“Y-young Master?”
“Surprised?”
Amused by her startled face, Noel chuckled.
Elluciana quickly stood, spreading her dress with grace.
“It’s an honor to see you, Young Master of Klaus. I’m…”
“Yes?”
“…Lu…cy.”
She bowed again, lowering the dress cautiously and biting her lip.
Foolishly, she had just greeted him with full noble etiquette.
‘I should be hiding my status, not flaunting it! Did he notice I’m a noble?’
Her heart thumped violently with anxiety.
“Well, sit down.”
Noel finally took his eyes off her dress and sat down casually.
His gentle smile looked just the same as the first time.
‘Is he pretending not to notice?’
Hands folded neatly on her lap, Elluciana studied his expression.
But Noel didn’t seem to care at all.
‘Still, I need to be careful.’
That lazy smile could be hiding sharp fangs ready to strike.
“Your name is… Lucy, right?”
Trying to steady her breath, Elluciana answered calmly.
“Yes.”
“My name is Noel, Lucy.”
“…I know. Young Master.”
“Young Master, huh.”
He grinned and shrugged.
“Well, fine. Call me whatever you like. But I’d like a little compensation.”
“…Compensation?”
“Like I said, I’ve never been rejected before. It hurt my feelings.”
…What kind of nonsense is this?
Elluciana clenched her mouth shut to stop herself from swearing.
This man had the gall to smile sweetly while turning her insides upside down—and now this?
Still, she couldn’t afford to lose her temper.
If she walked away now, the contract would fall through, and she wouldn’t be able to face Trisha.
And the one holding all the power was—unfortunately—him.
Suppressing her rising anger, Elluciana opened her mouth.
“I understand what you’re saying. But it’s difficult for me to take it back.”
“Oh, are you mad? You look… really scary.”
Noel feigned innocence with a startled look, and Elluciana barely managed to smooth out her expression. His shamelessness was top-tier.
But losing her temper would only make things worse.
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
“Ah—so I’m right? I thought maybe you were angry I rejected the flower basket.”
Noel leaned back with a smile, looking completely relaxed.
Elluciana’s anger surged, but she held her composure. One thing was clear—this was payback.
‘Wait, is that really it?’
If revenge was his goal, this was a strange way to go about it. Bringing her into a noble reception room, talking vaguely to drag things out…
Elluciana’s brow furrowed slightly.
“You want something else from me, don’t you?”
