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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: A Suspicious Guy Staring at Me
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A suspicious guy was glaring at me.
Excited about my night stroll with Akid, I'd come out early, only to find some creep peeking at me.
From my hiding spot behind a pillar, I tried to ignore that apricot-colored head sneaking glances my way by swinging my legs idly and pretending otherwise.
That distinctive hair color unmistakably marked someone from the Essel family.
Based on his age and appearance, I had a hunch who it might be.
For a moment, I recalled a character from the original story, then shook my head.
'No way. The villainess's brother wouldn't be here.'
Especially not in a place as quiet and dull as this.
But that hair color wasn't something just anyone had, leaving me confused.
He looked like he wanted to talk to me but couldn't muster the courage to approach.
His face was growing redder by the second, on the verge of exploding.
In the end, I decided to speak first. He seemed like a kid, and worst case, I could just yell.
"Hey."
"Eek!"
The moment I called out, he flinched, trembling, and darted behind the pillar.
Even for a boy, he was fairly burly, so he couldn't hide his apricot locks.
Far from avoiding me, it only drew me closer. I got up from the fountain and hurried over.
"Why do you keep sneaking peeks?"
"I-I-I wasn't p-pe-peeking..."
He clearly hadn't expected me to approach, stammering away. His face was tomato-red now.
Disappointed by this pathetic watchman's reaction, I crossed my arms and pressed on.
"You were peeking. I saw you lurking behind that pillar the whole time."
"Eek! S-S-Sorry for p-pe-peeking!"
He bowed as if apologizing, then stuck to the wall like he'd teleported there, poised to bolt.
Judging by his state, he didn't seem to be the person I'd thought.
'No way a scaredy-cat like that is Edward Essel.'
Who was Edward Essel, anyway?
The villainess Catherine's brother, heir to the Essel family, and a friend of Zeronic who constantly harassed Mabel and Zeronic.
Just his hulking presence was intimidating, and his nasty personality made him pick fights with anyone out of boredom—a classic delinquent.
Surprisingly simple-minded and siscon-ish, he'd done plenty of dirty work at Catherine's behest.
Thinking of how the heroine Mabel suffered at his hands, he was someone I absolutely wanted to avoid.
I let my guard down and said to the boy,
"Hey. Anyone seeing this would think I was bullying you. Why are you staying so far away?"
"J-Just... Ugh, sorry!"
Did he always stutter like this?
He seemed sickly somehow, and I felt bad for suspecting him. I approached to reassure him, apologizing first.
"Sorry about that. Did I startle you?"
"N-No! N-Not at all!"
"But are you feeling okay? Your face is really red. Maybe you should go to the infirmary."
"H-Huh?!"
Mentioning his flushed face made him panic and cover it with his hands. It looked so much like I'd tormented him that I felt awkward.
A brief silence passed, and I bowed my head.
"Well, I'll be going then."
As I turned back toward the fountain, the boy grabbed my wrist.
"Ack!"
Startled by the immense strength, I looked over to see the boy beet-red all over, finally speaking up.
"Y-Your name."
"Pardon?"
"T-Tell me your name!"
"Whoa, you scared me."
His shout made me clap a hand over one ear—the other was still trapped in his grip.
His voice had been a whisper before, but now it boomed like thunder. Where did that power come from?
"You've got some pipes. You could be an opera singer."
He nodded as if agreeing with my joke—who knows what he was affirming—but he demanded my name again.
"If you're curious about my name, you should introduce yourself first."
"S-S-Sorry!"
"No, you don't need to apologize."
His reactions swung from one extreme to the other. More importantly, could he let go of my wrist?
I'd thought it was just a grab, but it actually hurt. Just as I was about to ask him to release it,
"Ow!"
The boy yelped shallowly and let go in a hurry. Someone had twisted his wrist.
"Lord Akid?"
I looked up in surprise at Akid. His pale blue-gray eyes gleamed coldly as he glared at the boy.
Akid wrapped an arm around my shoulders protectively and interrogated him.
"Who are you?"
Akid jumped straight to informal speech, making the boy scowl. Rubbing his wrist, he shot back,
"And who the hell are you?"
What? He talks fine?
I stared wide-eyed at the boy responding fluently.
I'd assumed the constant stuttering was normal for him, but apparently not.
His once-flushed face had returned to normal in no time.
His golden eyes glowered at Akid. Akid smirked mockingly and asked me,
"My lady, who is this gorilla?"
Gorilla, right to his face? And was he emphasizing 'my lady' on purpose?
Akid's sly smile nearly made me lose it, but I barely held on and answered.
"I don't know him. We just met here."
"Then why was he holding my lady's hand?"
His gentle tone belied the icy stare fixed on the boy—like he'd make him pay if he got closer.
Facing the sharply tensed Akid, excuses spilled from me. Unfortunately, they only provoked him more.
"He just suddenly grabbed it..."
"Suddenly grabbed it?"
Akid's smile froze. For a split second, time seemed to stop, a chill creeping over my skin.
Akid sneered at the boy.
If looks could kill, the boy would've been dead already. The air grew frigid enough to raise goosebumps.
As I floundered, Akid said,
"So you're saying he manhandled you like some thug."
"What? Thug?!"
The boy's face flushed angrily in an instant.
Hard to believe it was the same timid stutterer from before—he looked downright menacing now.
I flinched, and Akid patted my shoulder lightly, whispering sweetly,
"My lady, what should I do with him?"
His voice promised anything, eerie yet irresistibly sweet.
Gentle only to me, it was reassuring—until the boy staggered.
"M-M-My lady?!"
His menacing air vanished into defenseless shock. His lips quivered like he'd heard something unbelievable.
Akid replied with cold sarcasm.
"That's right. So apologize for your rudeness to my wife right now. Maybe I'll spare your life."
"N-No way! Who gets married at that age...!"
The boy started protesting, then froze, his gaze flicking to Akid's hair.
"Wait, your hair is black."
"And your plucked-chicken fuzz looks all pallid."
"What did you say?!"
"Pfft."
I couldn't hold back a laugh, picturing pale skin on a plucked chicken.
The boy flushed red again at my laughter, and Akid's glare grew even deadlier.
"Keep your filthy eyes off her."
"..."
Why was Akid picking fights with a stranger today of all days?
Cold sweat beaded as the tense mood threatened to erupt again between them.
As I debated intervening, the boy calmed his rage easily.
"Black hair in the North means only the Hadellus Grand Ducal House."
Recognizing Akid's features and lineage marked him as nobility from a prestigious house too.
'No way, right?'
Another ominous feeling rose, and I stared at the boy. Akid sneered,
"So what brings the Essel Young Duke, who should be in the capital, all the way here?"
"None of your business."
"...Edward Essel?"
No way! Why is he here?
I was stunned the moment 'Essel Young Duke' left Akid's mouth.
The novel described him as a burly daikon type, but he didn't seem that threatening up close.
Okay, a bit scary earlier, but not like my imagination. At my mutter, life sparked in Edward's eyes.
"Y-You know me?"
"My lady."
Akid looked at me in surprise, as if asking how I knew his name.
'Ugh, I let it slip without thinking.'
Roena April had never met Edward Essel.
She'd married into Hadellus territory young and died early, so it made sense.
"I think I heard about you back at April Castle. My brothers were at the same academy as you."
I cleverly wove in original story details to explain. Edward reacted,
"Oh! So you're the twin... uh, the twins' little sister?"
Was there a weird word before that?
Luckily, he knew the April marquessate twins already. I nodded quickly, and Edward beamed.
"I think I've heard. They said they lost contact after their sister married off."
Edward's face fell sullenly at 'married off'.
His energy surged then deflated—such a moody guy.
Moments later, his eyes lit up again as he asked,
"Then since you know my name, tell me yours, miss."
"Ah, I'm..."
Just as I was about to give it,
"That's far enough."
With a chilling voice, Akid pulled me behind him and barked coldly.
"Young Duke Essel, I'd appreciate it if you didn't cross the line any further."
