Chapter 23

Thank you for the Kofi, Yona ! (5/8) ????

***

It seemed as if the stone had just flown over the calm water.

The ripples of the water surfaces were so powerful that they made him forget about his revenge.

For some reason, the boring time he experienced all day felt meaningful when he was with her.

From some point on, he started to smile sincerely, not wearing that robotic smile anymore. And he had another dream that he never had in his life.

The dream of making a family with Nelia and continuing those happy days together.

However, the conversation they have today formed a crack on the tower that was being built for his dream.

He was preparing to avenge the emperor, and naturally his hands would be stained with blood.

But can he extend that dirty hand of his to Nelia after that?

The duke let out another sigh. He was so overwhelmed that he felt like going to explode soon.

The revenge for his father’s sake has been his spur for continuing his life so far.

But because of Nelia, the confidence in his objective waned.

As his gray vision gradually drowned in the warm light, he wondered if revenge still became the goal of his life.

Is it right to seek revenge that he has wanted to do since forever……?

The duke looked up at the ceiling blankly.

He suddenly dropped his gaze. He looked around at his surroundings.

He spotted a silver scale.

He forgot to take his medicine, and ended up turning into a snake.

He was sick of having to take medicine all the time.

Duke Hart curled himself up and rolled his tail. The bed felt unnecessarily wide today.

‘Cold.’

But Nelia’s body was warm.

He remembered vividly the feeling when he held her hand, the warmth he felt when hugging her, and everything.

What comforted him was this situation, the feeling of knowing she was staying in the room next to his.

That alone felt like sending a certain amount of warmth in his cold body.

***

Nelia parted ways with the duke yesterday and fell asleep right away in her room.

And she woke up in the morning.

She was worried if she would be able to fall asleep since it was her first night staying in an unfamiliar room, but the magical bed quickly drove Nelia to her dream.

She woke up feeling refreshed……

‘What is it?’

There was someone beside her. Nelia’s hands came in contact with the cool skin.

Cool skin……?

Nelia opened her eyes gently and looked sideways. The familiar features under the dazzling silver hair was clearly the face of someone she was familiar with.

And under it……

“Aakh!”

Duke Hart slowly blinked his eyes as Nelia let out a scream. Silver eyes appeared and disappeared repeatedly following his movement.

And he looked at Nelia quietly as soon as he regained his consciousness.

“……Uh, Nelia?”

“Why is Your Grace sleeping beside me! Also……. Without any clothing!”

Nelia stole a glance at the duke’s broad chest. Luckily, most of it was covered by the blankets.

The duke got up to his feet. When the blanket went down, his torso was completely visible to his sight.

In other words, it was just amazing that his muscles looked attractive even if all he did was sit down every day.

Nelia unwittingly swallowed.

The duke looked around with a look that hadn’t fully woken up.

“Why am I sleeping in Nelia’s room?”

“That’s what I’m asking!”

Nelia exclaimed as if she was dumbfounded. Fortunately, she was still in her pajamas.

In other words, it’s not something that should have happened.

The duke was silent as if he was thinking about yesterday. And he soon let out a noise of realization, ‘Ah……’

“I didn’t take the medicine last night, so I became a snake.”

“And then…….?”

“And I fell asleep thinking it was cold, but I guess I naturally seek warmth.”

The duke wore an innocuous smile.

‘…….What kind of silliness is that?’

Despite his ridiculous explanation, she felt like her heart melted at the sight of a face that cleansed her eyes.

He wasn’t dressed, but he just slept beside her and he didn’t look like he was lying.

‘…….No, it’s not.’

Even so, she thought she shouldn’t let it slide. He sneaked into the same bed and slept.

Nelia also realized that she almost fell for the sneaky Duke Hart again.

Hm, she deliberately cleared her throat to keep her voice stern.

“But this is not right. How dare you barge into my room like this……!”

“I’m sorry, Nelia.”

Duke Hart lowered his gaze.

“I’m really ashamed of myself.”

He looked pathetic. However the determined Nelia thought that she had to clear this up.

“I don’t think it’s a matter that would be solved by a simple apology.”

The duke raised his head. His silver eyes looked somewhat sullen.

“I do want to help you, but if you don’t have respect for me, I can’t stay here, Your Grace.”

“Nelia……”

The duke’s eyes shook slightly.

“I need time to think about today.”

Nelia spoke with a determined face, and the duke nodded.

“…….. All right.”

“I would like you to leave now. Because I have to change.”

After Nelia announced her request, Duke Hart was about to get up when the blanket dragged south and his sculpted torso could be seen just barely.

“W, Wait! More importantly, where’s your clothes!”

“I have no idea. It all happened while I was asleep……”

“All right. Then please wrap yourself in a blanket instead.”

Nelia turned around and walked away from him.

She soon heard the sound of Duke Hart’s footsteps, then the sound of door opening and closing.

Nelia turned around again only after it subsided. The duke has left with her blanket wrapped around his body, leaving the chilly bed unoccupied.

‘Phew, seriously.’

She was staying here to help Duke Hart, but he kept crossing the boundaries.

His handsome face and sly attitude made her wonder whether she should just let this one slide or not.

But she would make sure to warn the duke this time.

Nelia has made up her mind.

***

When she went down to the study, she saw the duke already arrived and started working.

Nelia sat down at her desk and glanced at the duke. She felt awkward about what happened this morning.

The duke didn’t say anything either.

Nelia struggled to put aside the thought of him and finished what remained of her work from yesterday.

Scribble, scribble.

Only the sound of the pen moving over the paper reverberated in the quiet room.

“Nelia. I’m sorry but could you do this for me?”

“Yes.”

The stern voice escaped Nelia’s mouth. The gaze was also fixed on the handed paper, not at Duke Hart. Then she turned away and sat down again.

It happened repeatedly today.

Even during lunch, she would answer shortly on purpose when Duke Hart tried to initiate a conversation.

The more he did that, the more subtle Duke Hart’s expression seemed, but she would not fall for the duke’s trick again.

The impatient Duke Hart brought up what had happened in the morning because he was unable to endure it any longer.

“Nelia……”

“Yes.”

“Can I talk to you for a second?”

She didn’t answer, but the duke walked up to her.

He knelt down at Nelia’s desk and lowered his gaze.

“I know you’re upset at me.”

“You might think it’s an excuse, but when I become a snake, there are times when I’m unable to take control of my body or mind.”

She could feel the sincerity from the face that was cleared from his usual smile, but it didn’t matter.

He was such a good actor.

“I was in a particularly bad mood yesterday, so I must have wanted to feel the warmth of someone, and I guess I moved on my own.”

“…….”

“I say it once again, I’m really sorry.”

Nelia’s heart was moved right at that moment hearing his desperate voice.

However, admitting mistakes didn’t make him free from guilt.

It was ridiculous of her to forgive him in less than half a day if she got rid of her anger later in the day.

“…….. All right.”

The duke showed a bright expression for a moment.

“Thank you, Nelia……”

“But please wait for me until I get rid of the remaining of my anger.”

After she passed over the conditions, the duke looked sullen again.

“You can do it, right?”

“Yes…… I understand.”

Knock knock.

“Your Grace, it’s time to go.”

There was a knock and a man belonged to the man from the other side of the door. He was an aide of Duke Hart. She had seen him a few times when she was working as a maid.

In Duke Hart’s stead, he would go to the Imperial Palace to deliver his work or pass on messages.

“Nelia, I will be back.”

The duke rose slowly from his seat.

Nelia nodded silently. The duke left with a weak smile on his face.

Nelia was quite relaxed when she was left alone.

It was because she thought she would spit out words with a comforting voice in no time if she continued watching the duke who seemed like a depressed puppy.

‘No, no.’

Nelia continued where she left off while strengthening her principles in her mind.

The work she got accustomed to felt pretty fun to do by now. The task was very simple, though.

She wondered if she has been so engrossed in her work for a while now.

There was a knock on the door again.

“Who is it?”

A low-pitched voice was heard outside the door.

“It’s Marquis Clint.”

Marquis Clint?

It’s been a while since his last visit. But the duke was not present at that moment.

Nelia got up from her seat and opened the door.

“Greetings, Marquis Clint.”

“Nelia, it’s been a while.”

The marquis gave a bright smile that she saw all the time. Nelia gripped the doorknob and spoke with an awkward look.

“You came to meet His Grace, correct? Oh, what to do…… he’s currently outside.”

“Then it’s better.”

Marquis Clint came in without hesitation. He was dressed in comfortable attire today.

“Where’s Duke Hart?”

“I think he went to the imperial palace.”

She usually asked where the duke was going whenever he went out, but she didn’t ask him today, so she had no idea where he was heading to.

She guessed that because he always went to the palace when his aide called him.

“It’s almost time for him to get back to work at the imperial palace. He can no longer use his feet as an excuse.”

“Excuse……?”

His nuance was strange. As if Duke Hart was faking a disease.

“……Oh. It’s nothing, hasn’t he been comfortable during his recovery in the mansion. That’s what I mean, haha.”

Marquis Clint smiled awkwardly. On the contrary, Nelia’s eyebrows rose fiercely.

Soon an unpleasant voice flowed out.

“The duke was not comfortable. He had a hard time walking properly. His bandage was recently removed, but he said it left an aftereffect because his nerve had been damaged.”

Nelia unknowingly spoke for Duke Hart. She was telling him the truth.

She thought she was too rude for a moment, but Marquis Clint was smiling.

“Lady Nelia really thinks a lot about Duke Hart.”

“……I only told you what I saw and felt while accompanying His Grace by his side during those times.”

Nellia said in a way that sounded like an excuse.

“Yes, it’s certainly pleasant to hear it from you.”

The servant served them tea after they were told that the duke had a guest.

Nelia poured the tea in a seemingly clumsy manner.

She thought she just had to lift the teapot and pour the content into the cup, but she felt shameful seeing Duke Hart pouring tea gracefully.

Moreover, the duke has always done it, so she didn’t get to pour tea.

Nelia handed the cup to Marquis Clint while feeling a sense of embarrassment.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you.”

The marquis smiled and received the teacup. He then slowly took a sip of the tea.

The gesture was full of sophistication. The ducal bloodline must have been different from other families.

‘Come to think of it, it’s the ducal bloodline things……’