Chapter 70
Strikes When You Let Your Guard Down (4)
“It’s too close, Elusiana. You’re supposed to be protecting me, but—this is a bit… direct—”
Aster covered his mouth with one hand, averting his gaze slightly as his cheeks flushed.
Elusiana, leaning close enough to brush her lips against his ear, spoke in a calm, serious tone.
“How much have you prepared, Your Highness?”
Prepared? Aster blinked his eyes and tilted his head slightly at her. The eager look in his eyes seemed… somehow different from what he had expected.
Hesitant, Aster asked again.
“…Prepare for what?”
“Five hundred gold. The sponsorship fund provided by Marquis Klaus’ household.”
“…?”
“And how much will Your Highness provide?”
Elusiana extended both hands toward Aster with a radiant smile.
“You wouldn’t give less than the Marquis Klaus’ household, right? Money—or rather, sponsorship.”
Whoooosh—
Whoooosh—
Clang.
Noel flung the sword he had been holding and collapsed onto the floor of the training hall.
“Ugh… ugh… ugh.”
His heaving breaths refused to calm. He placed his trembling hand on his forehead and clicked his tongue lowly.
“Pathetic, really.”
Noel thought of Duke Sestain, whom he had encountered earlier that day.
Though he had acted calm the whole time, when Sestain appeared before him, he was completely frozen.
Crushed by that overwhelming presence.
“Damn it!”
Noel slowly got to his feet, breathing heavily.
It had only been a couple of hours since he had swung his sword, yet his hands refused to obey him.
Frustration gnawed at him. He didn’t know why, but it had been this way all along.
“Haah.”
Actually, saying he didn’t know wasn’t entirely true. Ever since meeting him—more specifically, ever since Duke Sestain called her ‘mine’—something in him had twisted. He had been displeased.
After staying out of sight for so long, suddenly appearing and claiming she was his…
“Ridiculous.”
As soon as he muttered that, Noel hesitated unconsciously.
Whatever Duke Sestain said, whatever he thought, what did it have to do with him?
There was no reason to get angry at all.
But—
Covering his face with both hands, Noel let out a long, self-deprecating sigh.
He couldn’t deny what he was feeling.
The stubborn face that kept coming to mind, the flower shop he often used as an excuse—it was all just excuses to see her.
“To fall for someone else while Eva’s still in my heart… I’m hopeless.”
Noel, who had been chuckling, suddenly let out a scream.
“Uwaaaah!”
He was pathetic and foolish.
And he couldn’t forgive himself for changing his heart.
After spending the past two years by her side, knowing clearly where his feelings were directed, he had postponed and delayed again due to his own complacency.
Did he think he could atone for Eva by ignoring his feelings?
“What an idiot.”
Noel collapsed onto the floor again. Staring up at the clear blue sky, his face twisted slightly.
“I’m sorry, Eva. I’m sorry.”
Closing his eyes again, he muttered quietly.
“I think… I’ve started to like her.”
Sad tears rolled down his distorted eyes.
Back in his room, Noel immediately summoned a knight.
Now that he understood his feelings, he couldn’t just sit idle.
“I need to dig deeper into Duke Sestain.”
So far, he had only scratched the surface.
A once-in-a-generation mage in continental history.
An illegitimate child who had driven the rightful heir into exile and ousted the former duke to claim the title.
A ruthless strategist who had swiftly consolidated power and expelled rebellious vassals.
That was Duke Sestain.
But Noel had learned nothing about when he had met Lucy, why they suddenly signed a contract, or anything related to that.
Knock knock.
“Come in.”
Noel, rubbing his forehead as he sat in his chair, frowned at the person entering.
“…Butler?”
He had expected the knight he summoned, but it was Marquis Klaus’ butler who arrived.
Why? Noel tilted his head in confusion.
“What’s this about?”
“Marquis wants to see you.”
“Father wants to see me?”
“Yes, young master.”
Hmm, Noel tapped his chin and nodded.
It was actually for the best. Using the Marquis’ information network would be faster and more detailed than trying to investigate Duke Sestain through his own subordinates.
“Let’s go.”
Noel stood, and the butler stepped aside.
“Yes, right away, sir.”
Upon reaching Marquis Klaus’ office, Noel froze at the door.
‘Wait, why are these people here?’
Before he could question it, the door behind him closed. A tense silence filled the room.
He had come at his father’s summons—but why were his mother and Yeriel sitting on the office sofa?
Noel swallowed once and spoke, frustrated.
“Why are all of you here?”
“Why, I came to see my husband. What other reason do I need?”
Unconsciously, Noel’s right foot moved back slightly.
The Marquis’ wife, noticing immediately, smiled gently.
“What are you doing, Noel? Sit down quickly.”
“No, I… I’ll come back later. Something urgent just—”
Thud.
The Marquis’ wife slammed her teacup down and shook her head.
“Sit down immediately! You, the laziest one in this house, what nonsense are you talking about? You need me to check your urgent business to sit properly? Huh?”
“…Yes, I’ll sit right away.”
Thrown into the lion’s den, Noel meekly sat opposite the Marquis’ wife.
Next to him, Yeriel sat comfortably, at ease despite his discomfort.
‘Father.’
Noel’s questioning gaze turned toward Marquis Klaus, seated in the head position.
But before that, the Marquis’ wife spoke.
“Where were you coming from? You seemed to have taken a full purse, yet you came back empty-handed.”
Her smile belied eyes that chilled like a northern wind.
Noel glanced at Yeriel for help, but she avoided his gaze. He clenched his fists tightly.
‘So you told her, Yeriel.’
He had borrowed some money from her. And now it had come back to bite him.
“Don’t say you were at the training grounds. You know that’s not the question.”
“…”
Noel closed his mouth, unsure what to say. Revealing his location was easy—but it could anger her.
‘My mother isn’t exactly ordinary.’
Glancing carefully, he spoke vaguely.
“Just… wandered around.”
“Wandered around?”
“…Yes, mother.”
“Sprinkling five hundred gold all over the street?”
“That… was needed for something important.”
The Marquis’ wife stared at him intently.
It felt like she knew exactly where he had been.
“So, you thought you could deceive me all the way, huh?”
Her smile vanished instantly.
Noel instinctively looked at Yeriel.
“You’re the daughter of Viscount Wires, right?”
“Eh?”
“The girl from the flower shop you visit every day.”
“Wires…?”
“Yes, that girl from the flower shop.”
Noel was genuinely shocked. He hadn’t misheard.
But she was the daughter of a viscount.
‘Lucy is noble?’
More importantly, how did his mother know?
“Why the surprised look? Do you think I didn’t know what you’ve been up to these past two years?”
“No, it’s not that… what do you mean?”
“Noel, I’m your mother. I knew everything: why you assigned your subordinate to her, gave her expensive artifacts, visited daily—it’s all been known.”
“It’s not… haah… you knew all this?”
“You can be honest, Noel. No need to hide.”
“No, mother…”
“Then?”
“You never cared who I met before.”
The Marquis’ wife clicked her tongue and raised her teacup.
“That’s because they couldn’t win your heart. So I ignored it. That’s all, El.”
“…!”
Noel bit his lip, frowning.
How could his mother be so certain of what he just realized himself?
“Ah, I see. You didn’t know your own heart.”
“…”
“Don’t worry too much, Noel. I won’t hesitate.”
“Hesitate about what?”
“I’ve already approved it, El.”
“Approved? What?!”
“I will recognize her as your wife.”
“Eh?”
Noel’s head went numb. It felt as though someone had struck it with a hammer.
