Chapter 79
The Obsessed Frail Duke (1)
Noel, escorted to the drawing room, immediately summoned Camilla as if issuing a threat the moment he sat down.
“Miss Eragost.”
Camilla, quietly observing Noel, added her usual practiced smile as she greeted him.
“It’s been a while, Sir Noel. Although, I don’t recall sending you an invitation.”
“……”
“Nevertheless, I’m delighted by your visit. Unfortunately, the banquet has already ended.”
Finishing her words, Camilla lifted a glass of champagne from the table and offered it.
“Still, it’s fine to enjoy a little, right? At least, wet your throat a bit.”
However, Noel didn’t even glance at the champagne. Instead, he asked,
“What’s going on?”
“What do you mean?”
His sharp gaze seemed to pierce into her very heart.
“I heard you came here.”
Camilla, still smiling serenely, tilted her head slightly and replied,
“Are you looking for someone? You’ll need to tell me exactly who, Sir, so I can assist you.”
“The proprietor of the Fragrant Garden.”
“Oh? That woman?”
Camilla appeared as if she were barely suppressing a laugh, which caused Noel to frown instinctively.
“So she came here. Where is she now?”
“Hoho. His Grace, Duke Sestein, has taken her.”
“……Who took her?”
Camilla, with a slight lift at the corner of her lips, grabbed Noel’s wrist and placed the champagne in his hand.
From that close distance, she whispered into his ear:
“The master of the House of Duke Sestein.”
“……!”
“They seemed very close. Especially the way the Duke looked at her—it was unusual. Did you know about this, Sir Noel?”
The champagne glass trembled violently in his hand, then shattered with a crack. Golden liquid poured over his hand.
Ignoring it, Noel stared at Camilla and demanded,
“When. Did he take her?”
“Curious?”
“Are you testing my patience?”
“Of course not. I wouldn’t want you to dislike me, Sir.”
Once more, Camilla brought her lips gently to his ear.
“She left just before you arrived.”
If I hurry, I might still catch her… Hoho.
With a fierce glare, Noel stormed out of the drawing room. Camilla’s face hardened sharply at his sudden disappearance.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that expression, Noel.”
A look of frantic fear of losing something of his… it was strangely unfamiliar, yet oddly familiar.
Camilla frowned.
“I’m the one embarrassed… why…?”
You’re worried about that insignificant worm, aren’t you?
Even then, she smiled kindly only at that vulgar knight.
Camilla twisted her lips into a grotesque shape.
“I simply cannot ignore it, Noel.”
How could she stand idly by while that lowly girl tarnishes the dignity of something noble?
Breathing slowly, Camilla murmured softly,
“Hal.”
“Yes, Miss.”
A knight, whose presence she hadn’t noticed, bowed before her.
“I need to learn more about that vulgar girl.”
“……”
“Her face seems familiar. Too arrogant for a commoner girl.”
Hal bowed and responded,
“I will begin the investigation immediately.”
“Then, I leave it to you.”
Camilla raised her champagne glass with a gentle smile. Her flushed face glimmered with a delighted excitement, as if she anticipated something.
“Lucy!”
Noel abruptly grabbed Eluciana’s wrist—or tried to. His hand would not have held hers if it weren’t for its size.
“Let go of my hand.”
“Why? Planning to break it?”
“……!”
Looking at his own hand, outstretched aggressively, Noel’s frown deepened. His anger had blinded him, and he almost broke Eluciana’s wrist, as the Duke had warned.
Clenching his teeth, Noel said,
“I understand… so I will let go.”
Astor sneered, twisting his mouth in mockery.
“Rude, insolent, and without common sense.”
“That seems a bit harsh, don’t you think?”
Suddenly, sparks seemed to fly from the eyes of both men.
“Harsh?”
“Then isn’t it?”
Astor shook off Noel’s arm as if dusting it, replying,
“I didn’t know you could be so heartless.”
“Why… why are you both like this?”
Eluciana shouted, slipping between the two, as if ready to intervene physically.
“My arm is fine, so calm down, both of you. And Your Grace, please control your anger.”
‘This could get really bad, Duke!’
When Eluciana glared sharply at Noel, thinking she was defending her, he smiled sweetly and clung closely to her side.
A surge of murderous intent rose through Astor’s entire body.
But before that, Eluciana gently pushed Noel’s shoulder away.
“Noel, be careful too. I was really scared just now.”
“Hmm, sorry.”
“Shouldn’t you apologize to the Duke as well?”
“…Why?”
“Are you really asking because you don’t know? You were rude to His Grace. You lost your temper without any proper greeting. He’s letting it slide because he’s gracious, but you truly made a serious mistake, Noel.”
“W-Well…”
Every single word she said was correct, leaving Noel no room to argue. Yet seeing the Duke smirking from behind her reignited his anger.
Unaware of Noel’s thoughts, Eluciana nudged him forward toward the Duke.
“Hurry. Start with the apology.”
Murmuring softly, just loud enough to hear, she prompted him, and Noel reluctantly parted his heavy lips.
“I’m… sorry.”
“I can barely hear that.”
Astor pretended not to hear, which made Noel grind his teeth. Taking a deep breath, he continued:
“I sincerely apologize, Your Grace, and ask for forgiveness for my rudeness.”
“Good.”
Astor gave a brief reply, turning his head as if to indicate there was nothing more to do. Then he approached Eluciana awkwardly, speaking gently:
“Shall we hurry? We’ve lost a lot of time. After this, you should also rest.”
“Yes, Your Grace. I’ll lead the way.”
The two walked side by side, each carrying a basket. Watching them, Noel pouted in frustration.
After much trouble, the three finally arrived at the Fragrant Garden and entered the store.
‘F-Finally!’
Eluciana, exhausted as she had been mistreated by nobles at the Eragost estate, plopped into a chair.
The two men, who seemed calm at first, immediately began baring their teeth at each other as if to devour one another.
She could only soothe them with kind words a few times; after repeated conflicts, her strong mental endurance was stretched to its limit.
‘I just want to go home.’
She missed touching Soda’s fluffy fur and the warm embrace of her kind father.
But her pleasant thoughts were shattered by the renewed argument of the two men.
“This is my seat.”
“Did you put your name on this chair?”
“You don’t need a name tag to recognize what’s mine. Do you walk around with your name on your forehead, Your Grace?”
“If we’re talking like that, this chair belongs to Lucy.”
“Then we can ask her whose chair it is.”
“Who do you think I am?”
Eluciana felt a pounding pain on both sides of her head.
When they left the Eragost estate, she felt a mild headache, but now her entire head throbbed.
‘I can’t… please stop already!’
She internally screamed, glaring at the two men. Knowing this or not, Noel scoffed at the Duke’s pride as if it were pathetic.
“Are you seriously threatening me over a single chair?”
“Seems my previous warning wasn’t enough.”
“You are so narrow-minded, Your Grace. Why not just use force?”
“Do you want me to show you what truly narrow-minded means?”
A chilling presence expanded, radiating lethal intent. Sharp force pierced and scratched Noel’s entire body. He could not move against that immense power.
‘Intimidating.’
That was all he could think. At any moment, the Duke could crush him like a fly.
Yet Noel refused to yield. The arrogance of claiming Eluciana as his own and the condescending gaze he cast irritated him immensely.
Clenching his teeth, Noel shouted:
“If I intended to be broken by mere force, I wouldn’t have even started.”
“…So you’re going to truly face me—”
“Ah! Stop! Please stop already!”
Unable to endure any longer, Eluciana screamed. Pressing her throbbing temples, she glared sharply at the two men.
