CH 66

“This, I’m really going to miss at this rate.”

Noel started running after her, who was far away from him before he knew it. Even in the middle of it, he was thinking about relieving her anger and staying with her a little longer.

At that time, a mischievous smile appeared on Noel’s face as if he had a good idea. He, who soon caught up with Elusiana, called her.

“Lusi.”

“Stop while I still warn you nicely.”

“Hu, then I can’t help it.”

“What?”

Noel suddenly knelt before her. Elusiana, surprised by the unexpected behavior that seemed endless, stopped without realizing it and opened her mouth.

“W-what are you doing now? Won’t you get up right away?”

Elusiana, with a clear expression of bewilderment, looked around and put on a tired face. What is this crazy young master doing now?  

The high-ranking noble offered the best example of kneeling down to a commoner. If other nobles saw this, they might have beaten him to death. But Noel went even further.

“Lady. Would you give me the honor to serve you?”

Just then, the door of a nearby restaurant opened, and a person came out. Elusiana hurriedly put her hand on his outstretched hand and whispered as if chewing.  

“I undersand… so, plis get up now!” (I understand so please get up now.)

Noel looked closely at their intertwined hands and stood up with a sly smile. He felt that the hand that was touching him was somehow very hot.

As Noel stood up from his seat, Eluciana glared at him, releasing her hands. “Lord is too much. You don’t care about other people’s positions at all.”

“I know that too. But I’m genuinely worried about Lusi. That rumor, it’s actually true.”

Elusiana frowned and said with a straight face, “Excessive favors are just burdensome, Lord.”

“I know that too. Making Lusi uncomfortable makes me feel comfortable. Still, I really need to take you home today.”

What nonsense is that?”

Noel’s eyes, smiling bitterly, turned to one place. A weak intent to kill had flowed from there before. He didn’t know if it was for him or the young lady here, but he couldn’t ignore the danger.

Noel met Elusiana’s scarlet eyes straight and lowered his voice. “I don’t want to lose someone again.”

“…”

“Well, then.”

Noel’s expression as he turned around was so vague that Elusiana could not answer back. She just stared at his wide back, which looked stubborn. Then she saw someone running from afar. She kept her eyes on it because it was a familiar figure. For a moment, Elusiana raised her hand in delight.

“Father?”

“Oh my God! Here you are.”

Simon, who ran unsteadily as if he was about to collapse, grabbed Elusiana’s hand. “This kid. Shouldn’t you contact me in advance saying you will be late coming home? Do you know how worried this father is because you didn’t come after I waited for a long time?”

Only then did Elusiana, who realized that time had passed faster than usual, smile awkwardly. “I’m sorry, Father. I didn’t know how much time had passed since I stopped by the store. Were you very worried?”

Simon gave Elusiana a gentle hug and a nice smile. “You were unharmed. As long as there’s nothing wrong with you, I will be fine. God protected you, so that’s what happened.”

At Simon’s concern, holding her hand tightly and caressing the back of her hand, Elusiana forgot how sorry she was, and one side of her heart was moved.“What about your meal? Father hasn’t eaten anything yet, have you?”

“I ate… roughly.”

Seeing Simon evade her question, Elusiana let out a low sigh. “Father, are you really hurting yourself? You have to eat well to live a long and healthy life.”

In recent days, Simon’s body had deteriorated considerably. Although Viscount Milan’s betrayal was the starting point, he seemed to return with a bigger wound when he went to his old acquaintances to ask for money and was barred from the door. Who would want to help the leaking boat? However, each of them had been greatly favored by Simon in the past. Since everyone turned away from him and rejected him, no matter how kind Simon was, he couldn’t help but get hurt.

Simon, who seemed to have aged for ten years, gently swept Elusiana’s hair down and said., “Hoho, it doesn’t matter. By the way, who is this young man next to you?”

Only then did Simon’s eyes turn to the young man standing next to his daughter. He still smiled, but somehow, was it an illusion that Simon’s smile looked familiar? Elusiana, who gently blocked Noel, who was about to step forward, spoke first.

“He is a customer, Father.”

“Customer?”

“He helped me close the store.”

“Ah! He did? I’m truly grateful.”

Simon expressed his sincere gratitude as if he hadn’t been on edge.

“Thank you for helping my daughter.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Father, this Customer has to go soon. He said he had something to do.”

“Ah, I was holding on to you without shame. I apologize.”

“..It’s not like that.”

“Thank you so much for today, Customer. Next time you visit, I will give you good service.”

“…”

When Elusiana politely bowed down to her waist, Noel laughed coldly. Isn’t it funny that she’s even more stubborn about drawing the line this far?

Noel replied reluctantly. “Don’t mention it. We have to help each other.”

“Well, then, Customer. Go back carefully. Father, we’re leaving now too.”

“Yes. Customer should also get back too.”

“…Yes.”

Noel swallowed a despondent laugh. The back of the two of them, who were worried about each other while leaving him alone, was good to see. Then Noel’s eyes moved quickly. The presence he had felt until a while ago had disappeared. It was the same with the murderous intent.

Tsk. Is it gone? Noel kicked his tongue low and stroked his twisted lips. Who the hell are they targeting?

His gaze, which was looking around, turned to the back of the two. They were busy talking endlessly about what they had to say. Did she know she could make that kind of expression? Every time she sees me, she just frowns. Noel somehow felt disappointed at the sight of her innocent laughter.

“But that face. Hmm. Somehow it looks familiar.”

Noel narrowed his eyes. At the end of his gaze, there was Simon. He remembered seeing a gentle and graceful face somewhere.

“…Am I mistaken?”

Noel, who had been thinking hard, soon shook his head.

“There’s no way I can’t remember someone important.”

Noel smiled and slowly turned away.

* * *

It was in a dark alley not far from the fragrant garden.

Drip—

Drip—

A fair hand gripped something tightly. Red blood was constantly dripping from the thing hanging from his hand.

“Is he dead?”

When the man smiled faintly and tightened his hand, he heard a bone-breaking sound.

“He’s dead.”

The man threw his limp body on the floor.

Thud.

Blood from the puddle of blood splattered in all directions. But strangely, it didn’t touch the man’s body at all. Soon, a blue flame rose from the man’s hand. It swallowed the dead man’s body in an instant.

Fwoosh. Nothing was left, let alone a trace of murder, as it was completely burned down.

“Logan.”

“…Yes, my Lord.”

Drowsy red eyes slowly scanned Logan’s whole body. Logan shuddered without realizing it because his eyes were mad, as if he were going to peel off his flesh.

“Why are you still leaving that rubbish?”

Logan’s gaze followed Aster’s gaze to one place. There, the eldest son of Marquis Klaus was on his knees in front of the lady and begged.

Crazy! Why is that guy suddenly like that again! If you want to do that, go somewhere else!  Logan answered, swearing inwardly at Noel’s eccentricity.

“…He is the eldest son of Marquis Klaus. His purpose was mainly to buy flowers, so we didn’t take care of him.”

At that time, Elusiana put her hand on Noel’s hand with a reddened face and began to whisper.

“…!”

“I guess that’s not all. Don’t you think so, Logan?”

“…There seems to be a misunderstanding. The lady hates the eldest son of Klaus… family. Why is she… Haha. I-it’s not like she was threatened… right?”

Logan’s pale face hardened. Just in time, Noel gazed over this place as if he felt something on there.  

“He has a good relationship with her on the topic that you’ve put on.”

The one who died a while ago was a knight of Count Eragost, who was watching over Noel.

Aster, who twisted his lips, flashed his eyes fiercely. “Only innocent Lusi will suffer from this. I think I’ll be relieved if I make him realize at least what he did wrong.”

“…!”

Logan tightly closed his eyes, imagining the disaster that would soon come. However, Aster, who seemed ready to sprinkle the blood of the slaughter at any moment, stood still. Only then did Simon come into Logan’s sight. Logan was relieved by this, so he shed tears for a moment.

“Return first.”

“…Yes?”

Aster, who left those words behind, disappeared without a trace.

“Huhuu! I-I thought I was going to die.”

Holding his trembling hands tightly, Logan gave strength to his trembling legs.