“I’m sorry, Young Ladies. It’s time to close soon.”
Three young ladies, who opened their eyes at Elusiana’s words to leave on their own, stared at her. Did it make sense to close in the middle of the day? But when had they ever bought anything in the commoner’s area?
They would have severely reprimanded the store if they had been kicked out openly. Still, the store said they would close the door because it was time to close, and their dignity as noble was too high to argue about it.
“Take care, Young Ladies.”
Elusiana’s greeting forced them to reluctantly turn around. Of course, they didn’t forget to add one more word to the end.
“Lady Ingland, you’re not going to attend the New Year’s ball, are you?”
“No matter how thick your face is, it’s not right. Don’t you think so?”
“What’s wrong with you guys? Maybe this will be her last ball. Everyone, please understand.”
“Hohoho. That’s true.”
And after a while, sobbing sounds flowed from the store, where the young ladies disappeared.
* * *
After sending Eirin, who had turned completely pale, into the carriage, Elusiana couldn’t think of anything for a while. She just felt stuffy in her chest, as if a huge boulder had been placed on her heart.
“Ha. I didn’t know she was being bullied like that.”
Her heart ached because she thought Eirin smiled more clearly to hide her wounds.
“That’s why she asked me to go to the New Year’s ball together.”
If she had at least one person on her side, she would have the strength to hold out. Elusiana wondered if this might be how Eirin found her own way in life. When she thought about it, her previous threats were somewhat acceptable to some extent. But she appeared out of nowhere… I’m still in doubt.
Elusiana, who sighed, looked around the empty store. The scenery of the interior, where the silence lingered as if it had been noisy at any time, somehow made the corner of her heart uncomfortable.
“…Should I go with her?”
Elusiana, who shook her head, left her deeply troubled mind by removing the flower branches she hadn’t arranged yet.
“For now, let’s see if there’s any other way to help.”
Eirin’s situation was pitiful, but Elusiana wasn’t in a very good position either. However, she didn’t know if something good would come out if she came together with her. She worked hard to turn her positive circuit and quickly cleaned up the store, shaking off her anxiety.
* * *
After catching her breath, Eirin barely knocked on the door. Knock, knock, knock.
“Come in.”
A cold voice that was incomparable to the past, cut coldly through the corner of her chest. Eirin opened the door, swallowing tears that seemed to burst out at any moment.
“Why are you running around like that? Even leaving your escort knights.”
“…I met my friend.”
“Friend?”
Laughter came out of Count Ingland.
“Is there anyone who still considers you as a friend? I wonder who that friend is.”
“Yee, there is.”
“Don’t think about making such a ridiculous excuse. Just get ready to get married after this New Year’s ball. I’ve already told Baron Armang in advance.”
“F-Father! I-I can’t get married!” Tears eventually fell from Eirin’s eyes, who shouted while shaking her body.
“It seems you still don’t understand. Whether you get married or not is up to me, Eirin.”
“B-but Father. That man is over f-fifty years old.”
“Didn’t I tell you over and over? A woman should always watch her manners. Of all people, why did you have to offend the Eragost family?”
“I-I.”
“Go back now. I didn’t call you to listen to your complaint.”
“Father!”
Eirin, who was dragged out of the office by the butler, held onto the door and begged.
“No! I don’t want to, Father! Please don’t abandon me. Father! Father!”
Count Ingland hesitated for a moment but then focused on looking at the papers. His daughter’s marriage was already out of his hands. The money he had received from Baron Armang couldn’t be returned again.
* * *
Step, step. Elusiana arrived at Waieos Mansion with a tired face. As her worries about the New Year’s ball deepened, she even forgot to be aware of her surroundings. Just when she was about to walk through the gate of her mansion.
“Lusi.”
Elusiana widened her eyes at the warmth of gently grabbing her shoulder. And the moment she met the owner of the hand, she was startled.
“No-Noel?”
“What are you thinking about?” Noel, smiling brightly, made eye contact with Elusiana and curled the corners of his eyes.
“Ah, that.”
Wait a second. Why is this man here again? On the previous day, he said he was taking a break, so she passed over it, but it seemed like he came to know she lived here. But how? Could it be that he noticed who I am? Elusiana’s eyes narrowed thinly as if to measure.
“Are you burdened… by yesterday’s confession?”
The family crest engraved on the main gate was almost all erased, making it difficult to recognize. No matter how smart Noel is, guessing her identity based on such traces would be difficult. But what if he was recently told by someone who took an interest in her and knew who this mansion belonged to?
“I like you, Lusi. I really like you.”
As Noel’s sudden confession came to her mind, the face of the high figure, Marquis Klaus, flashed by as if affirming that was the right answer.
Oh my god! Does the Klaus family know? That Noel likes me? Even if her guess was wrong, the fact that they were paying attention to her was enough to frighten her. Especially if that person was Marquis Klaus.
No matter what she felt, that fact didn’t matter at all. Because she could become the target of malicious interrogation just because she was involved.
“Why aren’t you answering? Did you think it was a joke again?”
“What…?”
“You know t my hat I confessed yesterday.”
“Ah!”
Only then did Elusiana’s face turn red when she realized she was talking to Noel. To be in a hurry to examine her situation in front of a man who confessed to her. How could she be so naive! I’m really trash!
Upon seeing that frown, Noel’s face stiffened in an instant. However, with a smile on his face, he spoke lightly. “Hmm, this is a completely unexpected development.”
“…”
“I can tell from your expression. You haven’t even thought about it, have you?”
“I-it’s not like that.”
“Well, it’s not like that.”
“Then, will you answer me?”
“…That’s. S-so.”
Elusiana, unable to answer, stammered and sweated. If it was a question like, ‘Would you like to see me tomorrow?’, she would have sent him back while saying, ‘Enough!’, but this wasn’t a question to be answered lightly. Because it looks like I am already hated by Klaus family.
Looking at Elusiana, who was terrified, Noel said bluntly. “Look, I’m right. You hadn’t thought about it at all.”
To Noel’s confident reply, Elusiana reluctantly replied. “It’s… not like that, Noel.”
“Well, that’s enough.”
Somehow, Noel’s voice, which sounded like a sigh, dissipated to the side of her head. His hand holding her shoulder, slowly dropped.
“I didn’t say it with anticipation.”
Noel, who twisted his forehead beautifully, shook his head.
“But it does hurt a little here.”
Noel smiled, pressing down on one side of his chest.
“I didn’t know anything else, but I thought my face was quite attractive. But I didn’t expect to be so openly ignored.”
“I-I didn’t ignore you. I…”
I’m afraid of your father! If I get a slap by his hand that looks like a pot lid…!
Noel, who sighed low, without knowing what Elusiana was thinking, immediately smiled and said, “Still, I’m not giving up. It means that I didn’t confess with such a shallow heart.”
“What?”
“I really want to get along with you.”
“…!”
Elusiana stared at him, lost for words. The worries she had just moments ago were forgotten, and only his mysteriously sparkling purple eyes remained striking. Noel gently brushed her widened eyes with caution.
“So don’t pretend you don’t know, and look at me properly from now on. What kind of person I am, how much I like you. My true feelings… see how deep it is.”
It was then.
“I can’t listen to it anymore because I think I’m going to get hives.” Not knowing how long he had been there, Aster, with a cold tone, glared at Noel with a cold gaze.
“I told you not to come to my house, but now you’re here causing a scene?”
“What do you mean by causing a scene? You’re going too far, Your Excellency.”
“…What brings Your Excellency here?”
When the startled Elusiana asked, he gently closed his eyes as if he had never become a fierce Grand Duke.
“How have you been? Elusiana.”
“…Ah, yes. I’ve been well. But how—”
Noel, who snatched Elusiana’s wrist, who was about to head naturally to Aster, said, wiping a smile from his face. “Can you be here now? Your Excellency.”
Aster, who looked still, answered with a sneer. “What does it matter where I am?”
“Yes, but. I’m a little worried if you can leave like this.” Then Noel looked at Elusiana.
Elusiana, who had no idea what was happening, asked back with a puzzled face. “What do you mean by that? What happened to the Grand Duke?”
“I’m sorry, Young Ladies. It’s time to close soon.”
Three young ladies, who opened their eyes at Elusiana’s words to leave on their own, stared at her. Did it make sense to close in the middle of the day? But when had they ever bought anything in the commoner’s area?
They would have severely reprimanded the store if they had been kicked out openly. Still, the store said they would close the door because it was time to close, and their dignity as noble was too high to argue about it.
“Take care, Young Ladies.”
Elusiana’s greeting forced them to reluctantly turn around. Of course, they didn’t forget to add one more word to the end.
“Lady Ingland, you’re not going to attend the New Year’s ball, are you?”
“No matter how thick your face is, it’s not right. Don’t you think so?”
“What’s wrong with you guys? Maybe this will be her last ball. Everyone, please understand.”
“Hohoho. That’s true.”
And after a while, sobbing sounds flowed from the store, where the young ladies disappeared.
* * *
After sending Eirin, who had turned completely pale, into the carriage, Elusiana couldn’t think of anything for a while. She just felt stuffy in her chest, as if a huge boulder had been placed on her heart.
“Ha. I didn’t know she was being bullied like that.”
Her heart ached because she thought Eirin smiled more clearly to hide her wounds.
“That’s why she asked me to go to the New Year’s ball together.”
If she had at least one person on her side, she would have the strength to hold out. Elusiana wondered if this might be how Eirin found her own way in life. When she thought about it, her previous threats were somewhat acceptable to some extent. But she appeared out of nowhere… I’m still in doubt.
Elusiana, who sighed, looked around the empty store. The scenery of the interior, where the silence lingered as if it had been noisy at any time, somehow made the corner of her heart uncomfortable.
“…Should I go with her?”
Elusiana, who shook her head, left her deeply troubled mind by removing the flower branches she hadn’t arranged yet.
“For now, let’s see if there’s any other way to help.”
Eirin’s situation was pitiful, but Elusiana wasn’t in a very good position either. However, she didn’t know if something good would come out if she came together with her. She worked hard to turn her positive circuit and quickly cleaned up the store, shaking off her anxiety.
* * *
After catching her breath, Eirin barely knocked on the door. Knock, knock, knock.
“Come in.”
A cold voice that was incomparable to the past, cut coldly through the corner of her chest. Eirin opened the door, swallowing tears that seemed to burst out at any moment.
“Why are you running around like that? Even leaving your escort knights.”
“…I met my friend.”
“Friend?”
Laughter came out of Count Ingland.
“Is there anyone who still considers you as a friend? I wonder who that friend is.”
“Yee, there is.”
“Don’t think about making such a ridiculous excuse. Just get ready to get married after this New Year’s ball. I’ve already told Baron Armang in advance.”
“F-Father! I-I can’t get married!” Tears eventually fell from Eirin’s eyes, who shouted while shaking her body.
“It seems you still don’t understand. Whether you get married or not is up to me, Eirin.”
“B-but Father. That man is over f-fifty years old.”
“Didn’t I tell you over and over? A woman should always watch her manners. Of all people, why did you have to offend the Eragost family?”
“I-I.”
“Go back now. I didn’t call you to listen to your complaint.”
“Father!”
Eirin, who was dragged out of the office by the butler, held onto the door and begged.
“No! I don’t want to, Father! Please don’t abandon me. Father! Father!”
Count Ingland hesitated for a moment but then focused on looking at the papers. His daughter’s marriage was already out of his hands. The money he had received from Baron Armang couldn’t be returned again.
* * *
Step, step. Elusiana arrived at Waieos Mansion with a tired face. As her worries about the New Year’s ball deepened, she even forgot to be aware of her surroundings. Just when she was about to walk through the gate of her mansion.
“Lusi.”
Elusiana widened her eyes at the warmth of gently grabbing her shoulder. And the moment she met the owner of the hand, she was startled.
“No-Noel?”
“What are you thinking about?” Noel, smiling brightly, made eye contact with Elusiana and curled the corners of his eyes.
“Ah, that.”
Wait a second. Why is this man here again? On the previous day, he said he was taking a break, so she passed over it, but it seemed like he came to know she lived here. But how? Could it be that he noticed who I am? Elusiana’s eyes narrowed thinly as if to measure.
“Are you burdened… by yesterday’s confession?”
The family crest engraved on the main gate was almost all erased, making it difficult to recognize. No matter how smart Noel is, guessing her identity based on such traces would be difficult. But what if he was recently told by someone who took an interest in her and knew who this mansion belonged to?
“I like you, Lusi. I really like you.”
As Noel’s sudden confession came to her mind, the face of the high figure, Marquis Klaus, flashed by as if affirming that was the right answer.
Oh my god! Does the Klaus family know? That Noel likes me? Even if her guess was wrong, the fact that they were paying attention to her was enough to frighten her. Especially if that person was Marquis Klaus.
No matter what she felt, that fact didn’t matter at all. Because she could become the target of malicious interrogation just because she was involved.
“Why aren’t you answering? Did you think it was a joke again?”
“What…?”
“You know t my hat I confessed yesterday.”
“Ah!”
Only then did Elusiana’s face turn red when she realized she was talking to Noel. To be in a hurry to examine her situation in front of a man who confessed to her. How could she be so naive! I’m really trash!
Upon seeing that frown, Noel’s face stiffened in an instant. However, with a smile on his face, he spoke lightly. “Hmm, this is a completely unexpected development.”
“…”
“I can tell from your expression. You haven’t even thought about it, have you?”
“I-it’s not like that.”
“Well, it’s not like that.”
“Then, will you answer me?”
“…That’s. S-so.”
Elusiana, unable to answer, stammered and sweated. If it was a question like, ‘Would you like to see me tomorrow?’, she would have sent him back while saying, ‘Enough!’, but this wasn’t a question to be answered lightly. Because it looks like I am already hated by Klaus family.
Looking at Elusiana, who was terrified, Noel said bluntly. “Look, I’m right. You hadn’t thought about it at all.”
To Noel’s confident reply, Elusiana reluctantly replied. “It’s… not like that, Noel.”
“Well, that’s enough.”
Somehow, Noel’s voice, which sounded like a sigh, dissipated to the side of her head. His hand holding her shoulder, slowly dropped.
“I didn’t say it with anticipation.”
Noel, who twisted his forehead beautifully, shook his head.
“But it does hurt a little here.”
Noel smiled, pressing down on one side of his chest.
“I didn’t know anything else, but I thought my face was quite attractive. But I didn’t expect to be so openly ignored.”
“I-I didn’t ignore you. I…”
I’m afraid of your father! If I get a slap by his hand that looks like a pot lid…!
Noel, who sighed low, without knowing what Elusiana was thinking, immediately smiled and said, “Still, I’m not giving up. It means that I didn’t confess with such a shallow heart.”
“What?”
“I really want to get along with you.”
“…!”
Elusiana stared at him, lost for words. The worries she had just moments ago were forgotten, and only his mysteriously sparkling purple eyes remained striking. Noel gently brushed her widened eyes with caution.
“So don’t pretend you don’t know, and look at me properly from now on. What kind of person I am, how much I like you. My true feelings… see how deep it is.”
It was then.
“I can’t listen to it anymore because I think I’m going to get hives.” Not knowing how long he had been there, Aster, with a cold tone, glared at Noel with a cold gaze.
“I told you not to come to my house, but now you’re here causing a scene?”
“What do you mean by causing a scene? You’re going too far, Your Excellency.”
“…What brings Your Excellency here?”
When the startled Elusiana asked, he gently closed his eyes as if he had never become a fierce Grand Duke.
“How have you been? Elusiana.”
“…Ah, yes. I’ve been well. But how—”
Noel, who snatched Elusiana’s wrist, who was about to head naturally to Aster, said, wiping a smile from his face. “Can you be here now? Your Excellency.”
Aster, who looked still, answered with a sneer. “What does it matter where I am?”
“Yes, but. I’m a little worried if you can leave like this.” Then Noel looked at Elusiana.
Elusiana, who had no idea what was happening, asked back with a puzzled face. “What do you mean by that? What happened to the Grand Duke?”
