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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Throw Her Out Immediately
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“I really did come... but will it be okay?”
Roje, her hood pulled up, paced nervously in front of his mansion.
‘He seemed a bit reluctant, though.’
The Grand Duke had said he'd lend her money, but upon returning to the Count's estate and thinking it over, she was bothered by how unconvinced his expression had seemed that day. She had asked for money to save a life, so he might see her as a materialist. Of course, she had asked to borrow it, not to be given it.
‘What if the Grand Duke glares at me and throws me out?’
Roje swallowed dryly, idly imagining Grand Duke Arteum confronting her.
“Why are you here? Did you take my empty words seriously and come to beg?”
In Roje's imagination, the Grand Duke's expression was incredibly cold as he scrutinized her from head to toe. The fact that he even had horns sprouting from his head showed that Roje still had quite a negative image of the Grand Duke.
“Take this and get out immediately.”
Roje snapped back to reality as her fantasy of him throwing wads of cash in her face ended.
“Haa…”
Then she let out a sigh deep enough to make the ground sink. Perhaps Roje, pacing around with her shabby robe pulled down, looked suspicious, because the knights guarding the entrance approached her threateningly.
“What have you been doing here for a while now?”
Roje flinched, seeing the men who had approached her.
“I've come to see Grand Duke Arteum. My master asked me to deliver something.”
Overwhelmed by the men's imposing presence, Roje barely managed to utter the words she had practiced, her voice barely a whisper. Roje was hiding her identity and acting as if she were a maid. The knights scrutinized her from head to toe and spoke brusquely.
“We can deliver the item for you.”
“Ah, it's something I absolutely must deliver in person…”
At Roje's trailing words, the men's eyes took on a strange glint.
“Deliver it in person? Which family sent you?”
They displayed a subtle wariness that hadn't been there before, staring intently at Roje. It was understandable, as Grand Duke Arteum was a man who didn't even permit visits from ordinary nobles. Yet, here was a maid, brazenly claiming she needed to meet him face-to-face to deliver something... To them, Roje's behavior was utterly suspicious. The knights exchanged glances, then surrounded Roje, closing in. Seeing them approach, their expressions grim, beads of sweat formed on Roje's forehead. The corners of her lips trembled as she forced an awkward smile. She spoke to them once more.
“Please tell the Grand Duke that I have arrived. Then he will let me in.”
She had traveled a full two hours by carriage... Surely, she wouldn't be turned away like this? While she was afraid to meet the Grand Duke, being turned away without meeting him was even worse. Just then, someone stepped between Roje and the knights.
“She is the Grand Duke's guest. Please step aside.”
Roje looked at the man standing before her, his red hair flowing.
‘Who is this person?’
Dressed neatly in a uniform, he clearly seemed to be an employee of the house. His hair, loosely tied and reaching his back, held a hint of curiosity in his gaze as he looked at Roje.
“A guest?”
At Neruan's words, the knights couldn't hide their surprise. After all, Grand Duke Arteum had given orders for over a decade not to let anyone in.
‘As expected, I'm not the only one surprised.’
The butler, eyes wide, felt a sense of camaraderie as he watched them, unable to conceal their shock. Anyone who had worked in this mansion for a long time would be surprised.
‘Just who is this woman?’
Neruan was quite curious about Roje's true identity. A woman in a shabby robe who didn't look particularly special. Her appearance suggested she might be an envoy from some noble family.
“The Grand Duke is waiting. Please come this way.”
Roje, who had been on the verge of tears, worried she might be turned away, let out a sigh of relief at the butler's words.
‘Thank goodness. I wasn't turned away at the door.’
Roje gave Neruan a slight nod and followed him, being led to the reception room.
“I'll fetch the Grand Duke shortly. Would you like some tea while you wait?”
“Ah, yes.”
Roje, whose throat had gone dry from tension, brightened at his offer.
“What kind of tea would you like?”
“Do you have Darjeeling?”
“Of course.”
Neruan's eyes curved gently. His demeanor was exceptionally kind. He called over a maid who was nearby and ordered her to bring tea.
“Bring Darjeeling.”
“Yes, Butler.”
‘...Butler?’
Roje momentarily doubted her ears when she heard the maid refer to the red-haired man as "Butler."
He was clearly a man around Roje's age. This felt surprising because the butler at the Count's estate, unlike Neruan, was an elderly man with streaks of white hair.
“Is there anything else you need?”
Noticing her curious gaze, he met her eyes and looked at Roje.
‘Ah, I must have stared too much.’
Thinking she might have been rude, Roje checked his expression and shook her head.
“I'm fine.”
Despite Roje's bland answer, Neruan remained quite kind.
“Then I will go fetch the Grand Duke.”
Soon after Neruan left, a maid brought the tea. As Roje picked up the handle, a warm sensation spread to her fingertips. She raised the teacup, savoring the subtle aroma, and took a sip of the Darjeeling.
“...It's delicious.”
Roje's body, stiff with tension, felt as if it were melting. Roje looked around the reception room and emptied her teacup. The firmly closed reception room door opened, and a familiar voice echoed through.
“It's been a while.”
Roje set down the teacup and stood up. Seeing the Grand Duke after three days, he didn't seem as frightening as she had worried. Dressed in a pastel blue shirt, he had his buttons undone again today.
‘A pleasant scent...’
Unlike the scent of blood from last time, a freshly applied perfume pleasantly tickled Roje's nose. The Grand Duke slowly scrutinized Roje, who stood before him. Checking for any wounds or injuries. Fortunately, it seemed his worries had been unfounded.
‘She must have snuck out.’
The Grand Duke saw Roje, her face completely hidden by her robe, and surmised that she didn't want to reveal her identity. Grand Duke Arteum gestured lightly to Neruan, who was standing behind him.
“You may leave now.”
“Yes... Understood.”
Neruan replied, his voice trailing off as if disappointed. He was quite curious as to what business the woman before him had here. The butler walked out slowly, like a turtle, along with his answer. His intention was to overhear even a single word of their conversation, but,
“Leave quickly.”
At the Grand Duke's words, which left no room for lingering, he had no choice but to quickly exit the reception room. After confirming the butler had left, Roje finally took off her robe. As the robe came off, short blonde hair was revealed instead of her original light pink hair. The Grand Duke, facing Roje, stared at her with an intrigued gaze. He hadn't expected her to be so thorough as to even wear a wig.
“You are quite thorough, madam, more than you appear.”
***
Meanwhile, at this time, Eric was with the Emperor's faction of nobles. Duke Pliche, seated at the head of the long table, was speaking to the nobles.
“It's a pity. If the plan had succeeded that day, we could have struck him much faster than we anticipated.”
Duke Pliche slowly let his words trail off, then stared intently at Eric. It was not a kind gaze. After all, Eric was the husband of Roje, who had completely ruined his plans.
“You certainly have a fine wife. Thanks to her, His Noble Grand Duke Arteum's life has been prolonged.”
At Duke Pliche's sarcastic remark, the other nobles chimed in.
“Tsk, can't even manage your own wife... What exactly were you doing at that time, Count?”
“Why even ask? It's obvious without seeing.”
“He must have been enjoying himself somewhere.”
They sneered and mocked Eric. Many had seen the bright red lipstick stain on Eric's shirt that day. Duke Pliche, who had been listening to their criticisms with a smirk, stepped in to mediate, as if doing a favor.
“That's enough, everyone. The Count still has his dignity.”
Duke Pliche, who had initiated the conversation, cut it off as if to protect Eric. Then he gazed at Cedric, Eric's father, whose face was flushed beside his son. Cedric couldn't lift his head, feeling as humiliated as if he himself were being publicly shamed by his son. Cedric clenched his trembling hands into fists and glared at his son, Eric. He had worked like a dog for Duke Pliche. With just a little more effort, he could have achieved what he desired, but the tower he had built was ruined right before the finish line. And it was none other than his son, Eric, who had done it. Yet, to be precise, his son was not at fault. It was all because of that damned Roje. If she hadn't given that cursed testimony, the plan would never have gone awry.
“She's a foolish child who couldn't grasp the situation and interfered recklessly, it seems. I'll make sure to give her a stern talking-to.”
Cedric subtly shifted the blame from his son to Roje. It was the only excuse he could offer. After the meeting, Cedric, unable to suppress his rage, swung a fist at Eric's face. With a dull thud, Eric's head snapped violently to the side.
“What a humiliation, all because of that mere girl!”
Eric caressed his stinging cheek. Bright red blood stained his palm. His lip seemed to have split.
“You woman-crazed fool! Look at how ridiculous our family has become because of one wrong woman you brought in!”
Veins bulged on Cedric's neck as he raged. His wide, glaring eyes scourged Eric.
“I can't tolerate this any longer. That girl, throw her out immediately.”
Cedric's words provoked Eric's rebellious spirit. Eric's eyes, as he looked at his father, lost focus, then glinted with a half-crazed look.
