Episode 14. Eel-ya, Eel-ya
Knox stopped in front of Gray and greeted him politely.
"Hello, Gray-nim."
Gray, back to his usual cool demeanor, smiled languidly yet coldly.
"Hello, Knox. What brings you here at this hour? Isn't it time for estate work?"
"I stepped out briefly to deliver Prince Harold's
edict1)
to the duke."
"I see. Well, get to it."
The conversation seemed about to end simply like that. But Gray suddenly went 'Ah' as if remembering something and stopped Knox's steps. Even then, Gray's hand still held Adel's arm.
Adel, focused on Knox, had ignored Gray's hand—which she would have normally swatted away. Gray grinned.
"I happened to overhear during dinner last night, Knox. I heard another marriage proposal came in recently?"
"Yes. That's what I heard."
"Rayan Count's second lady, they say. Wow, I'm jealous."
Knox stared at Gray silently.
"...Jealous of what?"
He asked as if genuinely puzzled.
It was understandable for Knox. Though an adopted son, he was the son of Gregory Count, the Valoneck Duke's cousin.
Moreover, he received massive support from the Valoneck family and enjoyed the prince's trust as a young chief court clerk.
Knox was well aware of his glamorous reputation as a key next-generation figure in central nobility, backed by traditional nobles' formidable patronage.
Yet pairing him with Rayan Count's second lady—whose family merely maintained its name as distant royal collaterals. It was insultingly pride-wounding for Knox.
On top of that, the duke and sub-duke accepted all proposals to avoid offending other nobles, leaving Knox with unspoken resentment. Especially since undesirable matches for their own children and Gray were flatly rejected.
Thus, Gray's 'jealous' inevitably grated on Knox.
Reading the subtle ferocity in Knox's eyes, Gray released Adel's arm and approached Knox. He propped his elbow on one shoulder and whispered.
"She's pretty. Jugs for breasts, ant waist, right?"
Knox's eyes crumpled. Even Adel, who overheard unwillingly, frowned slightly.
Gray just shrugged and laughed. Tired of Gray's teasing, Knox quickly retreated.
"Anyway, I plan to meet her."
"Yeah. You'll make a good match."
Gray slowly turned to Adel. He casually patted Knox's shoulder while observing Adel's reaction. But contrary to Gray's expectations, Adel was remarkably calm.
Shouldn't she react? Knox meeting a pretty, noble lady?
Gray's head tilted quizzically.
No reaction at all. How boring.
He lightly shifted his gaze back to Knox.
"By the way, no greeting for our Adel? Can't you see her?"
He'd brought up the marriage first, yet now nitpicked the lack of greeting. Knox swallowed a wry smile at Gray's brazenness today too.
Knox's gaze slid to Adel, a few steps away.
"Hello, Adel-nim."
"Hello, Knox-nim. Hard work."
The two exchanged stiff, composed voices. As if greeting reluctantly because of Gray. Once done, Knox turned to leave. But Adel's added words stopped him.
"Have you eaten?"
Utterly formal, rigid phrasing as expected. Knox looked at Adel again.
"Not yet, rushing here."
"The duke just went for lunch. So Knox-nim should eat first."
"It's fine. I'll wait and eat after reporting."
"Then please eat quickly after."
Their gazes lingered a bit longer than before before parting.
In truth, Knox knew this wasn't mere formality. A mother checking her son's meals was natural. To this woman, he was like that son, her little brother.
Once, we were each other's everything in this world.
Knox's jaw clenched taut. More irked than at Gray's flippant 'jealous' earlier.
Pathetic.
What now? Picking up strange names, chasing here... Worry about yourself.
Adel and Knox. Their gazes toward each other were cold, expressions indifferent.
"Then."
Knox bowed curtly and tried to leave. Gray grabbed his shoulder.
"Knox. Our Knox."
"Yes."
"Why so rude?"
A chill flashed in Gray's blue eyes.
"Don't you return a greeting? Aren't you curious if we ate? Why not curious, huh?"
Irritated at forgetting someone right beside him due to Adel-consciousness—especially untouchable rogue young master Gray.
Knox quietly lowered his gaze.
"Sorry. Rushed, my manners slipped. Have you eaten?"
"No. Starving to death."
Then Gray turned to Adel. As if prompting her reply.
His attitude warned: My aide Adel isn't for you to ignore. To Gray, accustomed to arbitrarily ranking from pyramid peak, this was natural.
Understanding Gray's intent, Adel stared silently at Knox. Then bowed calmly.
"I have."
Gray's body stiffened momentarily.
From 11 a.m. to past 1 p.m., stuck in the duke's office together. Yet she ate lunch?
She alone ate?
What a lie...
Gauging her gaze toward Knox, Gray stared piercingly at Adel. She just bowed calmly again. This time to Gray.
"Then I'll go ahead, busy."
She left the corridor. Without looking back.
Yet didn't forget snatching the documents from Gray's hand.
Gray watched Adel's swift, unflustered receding figure, then abruptly turned. Seeing Knox's upright, manly face, he frowned slightly.
Fine meeting other women, but worries about skipped meals? This healthy, cheeky guy fasting two days—who cares?
What. Turns out even more pure-hearted than thought? All bold and sharp pretense solo.
Receiving Gray's blatant stare, Knox shrugged to leave. Before Gray's firm grip clamped his shoulder.
"Knox."
Yet Gray's voice remained ever gentle.
"Yes."
A pale, straight finger suddenly rose, slowly tracing Knox's facial lines.
"Do you think you're handsome?"
"Pardon?"
Knox's brows shot up. Excluding royalty—no, as loyal retainer courtesy, honestly even including royalty, Gray Valoneck was the kingdom's top beauty. Absurd question from him.
"If I'm handsome?"
"No."
Gray's fingertip indifferently passed Knox's brow bone, sliding down the straight prominent nose bridge. With firm pressure.
Gray savored the fingertip sensation, appraising.
Why such a uselessly big nose. Nose dominates.
Honestly ugly?
"Not if you're handsome, but do you think your face is handsome."
Subtle difference.
Knox frowned slightly.
"No."
Voice always this serious. Boring guy.
Gray's fingers tapped Knox's smooth cheek.
"You are handsome, man. Have confidence, treat Rayan lady well, yeah?"
"......"
"But don't lower your voice like that. Really not good."
Sincere advice. Minus the handsome lie.
Gray finally straightened. He winked at Knox supportively, smiled, and sauntered toward where Adel vanished.
Knox alone stood in the corridor, looking dumbfounded for a while.
***
"Eel-ya, eel-ya. Get lost. Only when you, you disappear will trout come."
After delivering the prince's edict to the duke and exiting the estate, Knox halted at faint singing from somewhere.
"Eel-ya, eel-ya, hurry off."
To some, like a child's nursery rhyme tumbling from distant alleys; to others, rustling wind.
"Mud puddle's for you, get lost."
But Knox knew exactly the song. And singer.
Standing still, confirming no one around, he walked toward the sound's source: building's rear shadow. As expected, Adel was there.
"Stop singing."
Knox said brusquely. Adel halted similarly.
"Better than calling 'Knox.'"
True, of course.
No telling who might see or hear in this estate. Rumors of Adel and Knox meeting secretly would spell trouble.
Using their private-code song to summon Knox was wise. Yet Knox disliked it too.
Knox irritably frowned.
"Why?"
"Eat in the carriage."
Adel offered a rye bread sandwich.
Aged bacon from the time young Knox got caught stealing sausages, beaten harshly by the owner.
Seeing protruding bacon end between bread, Knox grimaced. His thick-lined manly face—unlike delicate painterly sister—distorted heavily.
He glared lightly at Adel, snatched the sandwich. Adel promptly extended her other hand. Green ointment jar in white palm.
"Got it hard from Quran merchants days ago. Said it fades frostbite scars."
"Hah."
Snorting, Knox snatched the jar too.
"Stop this. If you care about me, just leave this house."
"Can't."
"Why not?"
"Why not...!"
Adel nearly raised her voice unwittingly, then shut her mouth.
She knew. Autumn's death was beyond Winter's control too.
Yet resenting Winter for doing nothing before their sibling's death was inevitable for her.
Now unknowable if Winter truly couldn't or deliberately didn't. Seeing loyalty to Valoneck family... Perhaps Winter...
Adel steadied her heating gut, breathed.
"Let's stop."
She passed Knox. His irritable voice halted her.
"Yeah, stop. Let's finally stop. No more weird stuff, sis—just leave this house."
"Take care."
Knox roughly grabbed Adel's hand.
"I know this sounds ridiculous, but Summer. Do you like Gray by any chance?"
1)Edict: A document conveying the royal family's orders.
