Episode 45
The next morning, Adrien came to the duke’s mansion very early.
The reason was obvious. He was curious about my relationship with the Grand Duke.
I went to the garden table where he was waiting and calmly sat across from him. I quietly drank the tea the maid had poured, without even greeting him. Adrien just stared at me.
Once the maid left and I took a sip of tea, he finally couldn’t hold it in anymore and opened his mouth.
“What’s going on with you?”
“What do you mean?”
I answered casually, and Adrien let out a short breath in disbelief. He had a lot of questions, but it seemed hard for him to get the words out.
Of course, he wanted to know why I was with the Grand Duke.
But I had no intention of explaining. I’d already decided that before coming here.
Adrien seemed to sense it, too. Even though he came determined to get answers, he ended up shrinking back a little.
“You’re still strong, huh?”
“Huh?”
“But you shouldn’t just rely on your strength and jump into dangerous situations, okay? Fighting takes skill too.”
Even while grumbling, Adrien gave sincere advice.
What surprised me was that he already knew Eilene was strong! That meant I didn’t need to hide it from him.
Now I could relax a bit around him.
After sending Adrien away from that awkward meeting, I went to see the Grand Duke in the afternoon.
But my mindset was completely different.
Seeing him as usual, I suddenly wanted to ask something. At first, I tried to hold back, but I couldn’t help it. I looked at Raymond, and he made eye contact as if he already knew.
“Raymond, aren’t you curious about my strength?”
“Hm? Your strength?”
He repeated it like he had just remembered.
“Weren’t you surprised?”
“I was.”
“Then why didn’t you ask?”
“Would you have answered if I did?”
Oh. That’s true.
Being strong is just… being strong. There’s not much to say about it.
I scratched my cheek with my finger, feeling awkward, but then Raymond finally spoke again.
“Whether you’re strong or not doesn’t matter. To me, you’re still Eilene.”
“Uh… wow, okay.”
That was the perfect answer.
I blushed from embarrassment. My cheeks felt hot.
Even though Adrien left quietly that day, for some reason, he started showing up at the duke’s mansion every single day after that.
“I’m your guardian,” he said, standing in my way with hands on his hips.
Then he insisted on accompanying me to the bookstore.
Was he trying to protect me from the Grand Duke?
Even so, I had Koa with me.
“Don’t worry. The Grand Duke isn’t like that,” I said to reassure him.
But Adrien didn’t like that and raised an eyebrow.
“You shouldn’t say stuff like that about anyone except family.”
“Then you too, right?”
“I am basically family.”
Uh-huh. Sure you are.
I raised my eyebrows this time.
“Anyway, let’s go,” he said quickly, avoiding my gaze and walking ahead.
When I went out to the street, I met Raymond, who was waiting for me. He silently glanced at the “tail” I’d brought along. Then, after Adrien gave a half-hearted greeting, Raymond motioned for us to eat together.
We went to the same seafood restaurant as before. But instead of going to a private room, we sat in the open dining hall—probably because Raymond was conscious of Adrien.
Raymond ordered enough food for three people, and we waited. During the wait, the two men sat silently, pretending not to know each other. The fact that they weren’t talking at all was proof they were paying attention to each other, but neither would admit it.
Finally, the food arrived and broke the silence.
The steaming seafood stew looked as delicious as ever.
The server, who had once been scolded harshly by Raymond, made sure everything was perfect before leaving.
There wasn’t much for me to do, but Adrien suddenly grabbed my dish and started scooping food into it with a ladle.
“Here, Eilene. Eat up.”
He placed the dish in front of me with a sweet smile. It felt a bit forced, but I couldn’t reject his kindness, so I accepted it.
“Thanks.”
I stabbed a whelk with my fork, but suddenly hot broth splashed onto my face.
“Ow!”
“Eilene, are you okay?”
Adrien quickly handed me a tissue and gently dabbed my cheek.
“I-I can do it myself.”
“Hold still.”
He carefully checked my face and wiped every spot before pulling his hand away.
After eating more, I felt full. I finished by chewing on a piece of squid and swallowing it.
“Ahh, that was so good. Thank you for the meal!”
“Here, Eilene. Drink some water.”
Adrien handed me a glass, smiling the whole time as he watched me take it.
Okay, what’s with this guy? Why is he acting like this?
But it didn’t end at the restaurant. He insisted on coming along to the bookstore too.
As I browsed the shelves, I spotted a pink-covered book on a high shelf titled A Countess’s Day.
Ooh, sounds like a romance novel!
I’d been searching the entire store like I was digging for buried treasure, and this felt like a jackpot. I smiled big—but even on tiptoes, I couldn’t reach it.
Just as I was struggling, Raymond came up behind me. He reached up to grab the book for me, and I felt his firm chest lightly brush against my back. My heart started racing.
It felt like a romance moment… but that moment was ruined by a certain someone.
“Here you go, Eilene.”
Adrien showed up out of nowhere and handed me the book before Raymond could. He smiled brightly at me, but that smile faded when he looked past me at Raymond.
Yeah. He really is acting like an overprotective guardian.
I let out a long sigh.
And at that moment, I made a decision: I’m never going anywhere with Adrien again.
But life never goes the way you want it to.
Especially when it depends on other people’s choices.
The next day, Adrien once again blocked my path at the mansion.
“Let’s go.”
He started walking ahead like it was the most natural thing in the world. I just stood there, watching him.
He stopped, turned around, and looked at me.
“You’re not coming? Is today not a go-out day?”
“Adrien.”
I paused, then carefully said,
“Sorry, but from now on, I’m going alone.”
“Why? Because you’re meeting someone and don’t want anyone else around?”
Ugh. Why does he say stuff like this when he already knows?
I wanted to explain kindly, but then—
“Do your parents know you’re meeting the Grand Duke?”
He smirked as he asked that.
Darn it. Looks like I’ll have to take him along.
Once someone threatens you, you don’t have much of a choice.
Raymond looked happy when he saw me—but as soon as he saw Adrien behind me, his expression soured.
“You brought your tail again.”
“I was blackmailed,” I said honestly.
Adrien stared at me in shock, but I turned my head like I didn’t notice. I’d felt a little guilty earlier, but the moment he brought up my parents, all of that vanished.
Even a worm will squirm when stepped on. Hmph.
Raymond noticed I wasn’t in the best mood and lazily rubbed his chin, his eyes gleaming oddly. Adrien met his gaze without flinching.
“Blackmail, huh? I can’t let that go.”
“That’s exactly what I was going to say.”
“Then I suppose it’s time someone taught you a lesson.”
“Gladly.”
The two of them squared off, their gazes sharp like drawn swords.
Wait—what?! Why are they acting like this all of a sudden?
If I didn’t stop them, something bad would definitely happen. I rushed between them.
“You’re going to fight again? Seriously?!”
“A swordsman speaks with his sword,” Raymond said.
“A swordsman speaks with his sword,” Adrien echoed.
They said it at the exact same time.
Unbelievable.
I was about to yell at them again when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
It was Koa. She shook her head slowly while holding my shoulder.
Her look basically said, Let them be. You can’t stop them anyway.
I understood the message just from her eyes.
Maybe it was time for them to settle things.
So I decided to watch, just this once.
We moved to a nearby training ground—usually used for sports or matches. Luckily, no one else was there.
The two men stood a set distance apart, preparing for a duel. Instead of real swords, they used wooden practice swords that Koa found nearby.
From the way they stared at each other, it was clear—they both believed they’d win.
They say puppies don’t know to fear tigers… and Adrien was now challenging Raymond, who was famous for being a master swordsman.
Was Adrien out of his mind trying to fight the Grand Duke?
I was worried about him… but also a little curious to see their skills.
