CH 82

9-11 minutes

It was the next morning. Aster, who entered his office, froze on the spot. A man was sitting on the sofa and smiling at him. That man was Noel, he put the teapot down leisurely, and said, “You’re a little late, Your Excellency.”

“…This is crazy. Why on earth did you come here?”

Aster frowned and looked back at Louis, who had followed him. “Was this the guy, the one who has been waiting for me since early in the morning?”

“This guy… Your Excellency’s words are a bit hard to hear. Is this how the Sestein family treats their guests?”

Still, Noel was the heir to  Marquis Klaus. Noel muttered something as if to think carefully, smiled, and swallowed his tea. His beautiful eye smile was a bonus.

Aster glanced down at him and folded his arms. “Yes, fine. What’s your business for coming to my house?”

Noel put down the teacup in his hand and stood up from the sofa. Although their age was similar, this man was clearly Grand Duke Sestein. Neither his status nor his strength could win against this man.

Noel bowed his head politely. “It’s late, but I’d like to formally greet you. My name is Noel Marcia Klaus. Forgive me for the unannounced visit.”

“I don’t think it’s coming from the bottom of your heart.”

As if he had never greeted him before, Noel stood up and sat down on the sofa again. “You’re sharp. Actually, I didn’t think I would be able to meet you alone if I don’t do this.”

Aster smiled at his honest answer that followed immediately. Where on earth did that confidence come from? Don’t tell me he was under the illusion that he couldn’t even reach her?

“I’ve been thinking about it all night. No, I didn’t even realize I had been thinking about this since I first met Your Excellency.”

Aster’s mouth twisted slightly. “Just say what you have to say, get  to the point and get out.”

“Before that, I want to ask Your Excellency something.”

“They say that if you give them one, they will ask for two.”

“Since when has Your Excellency known Lusi?”

A slight crease formed between Aster’s brows. Noel, who captured the short change in his eyes, narrowed his eyes.

“It’s not worth answering.”

“Lusi and I have been very close for the past two years. It was enough time to share each other’s feelings.”

“That must be just your imagination.”

Noel smiled and shook his head as he looked at the grand duke, who pretended to be calm. “You’re right. Until now.”

Noel continued with a smile around his mouth. “But it will be different in the future. I’ll make it happen.”

Aster’s eyes sank as if they contained an unknown abyss. He just thought Noel was annoying from the beginning. So he tried to get rid of him, but it was already late as she had already made a good acquaintance with him.

Fortunately, Noel just had one-sided feelings. Elusiana didn’t seem to be interested in him. Besides, contrary to the rumors that he was a playboy, he was rather polite and seemed friendly at first glance, but he never crossed the line. Above all, he wanted to protect her.

…That’s why Aster warned him before.

Aster finally moved his heavy mouth after a long time. “I guess my warning was funny to you.”

“Your Excellency, aren’t you taking it for granted?”

“What does it mean?”

“I’m just a little curious. Why do I have to follow Your Excellency’s words?”

Noel’s eyes brightened while smiled slyly. As if it could cut  flesh, his gaze met Aster’s eyes.

“Not yet. We still don’t know. Who will stay by Lusi’s side.”

“I wonder if you are dreaming in vain.”

Aster stood up, exuding a murderous aura, and strode in front of Noel. He squeezed Noel’s collar tightly. “The woman you want to have is a woman who already belongs to me.”

“Pfft… What kind of nonsense is that?”

“It means that there is no room for you to intervene.”

Because Lusi and I are family. Aster’s face, which swallowed the latter words, sank in a deep obsession. His will was firm, just like a truth that would never change.

“Then I’ll have to work harder.”

Noel tightly gripped the grand duke’s hand around his neck and slowly pulled it down. “I intend to go all the way. Unless I check with my own eyes and ears… I won’t believe it.”

“What a nuisance.”

It was just then. Without warning, the door burst open, and Elusiana came in. “Good morning! Your Excellency, how are you feeling?”

With her brown hair tied up fresh, she paused while saying hello. “Ah! T-there was a guest… Uh? Noel?!”

Noel, who was clearing his throat, greeted her. “Nice to see you again, Lusi. Did you sleep well last night?”

“Ah, yes, of course.”

Elusiana glanced at Aster sitting in his seat while sipping tea, then smiled at Noel.

“Why did you come here?”

“Why? Did I come somewhere I couldn’t come?”

“You made such a mistake yesterday, and what good to see that person again? Are you here to apologize to His Excellency?”

“I don’t know.”

“You, really. If you’re here to talk nonsense, hurry up and just go.”

Noel swallowed his laughter and opened his mouth at Elusiana’s threat, who was worried about him.

“I was going to go now anyway.”

“…!”

Noel, who got up from his seat, approached Elusiana, who was standing in a daze, and blinked one eye. “Thank you for your concern. I’ll see you later.”

Noel, who turned his eyes to where Aster was sitting, bowed his head lightly. “I will never forget Your Excellency’s advice. Then.”

Aster kicked his tongue low at Noel’s stubbornness to the end. “…You’re arrogant until the end.”

“Yes? Ah, I-I apologize. I’m afraid that Noel will offend Your Excellency again… I-it won’t be okay if Your Excellency’s illness doesn’t improve after that… Oops, I apologize.”

Elusiana, who was rambling, immediately bowed her head, probably thinking that Aster said it for her, not for Noel.

Looking at the top of her head like that, Aster sighed deeply. He was annoyed by the guy who incited useless competition and burned his will. Still, in addition to this, an invisible wall had interrupted them even if Noel didn’t join.

Ha… Lusi, what on earth am I going to do with you? He felt frustrated as if he had become a child who had carefully overcome each stepping stone and crossed the streams at once.

* * *

It was a night when the full moon was obscured by clouds, and the darkness fell. At the back of the dead silent temple, a priest greeted a man holding a cat in his arms.

“Come this way, please.”

“Thank you.”

The man who was about to follow the priest into the temple hesitated for a moment. It was because a familiar scent passed by his nose.

“Why is this scent here…

The man scanned the surroundings as if searching for where the scent came from. Just in time, an unidentified black carriage was coming in from the entrance of the patronage.

Carriage at this late night. No way, could it be that poisonous plants were on that carriage?

With escorts at the forefront, the man’s eyes naturally narrowed at the suspicious carriage. At that time, the priest who was walking ahead turned around and called out the man.

“Come on, Sir Louis. Time is running out.”

“Ah, yes…”

Louis, who was guided by the priest to the parlor of the temple, soon sat down with a white table in between.

A young priest opposite him said with a benevolent smile, “What a pretty cat.”

Stroking the fur of a gray cat sitting on his lap, Louis said, “Its name is Soda.”

“Umm, that’s a unique name.”

“Rather than that, did you confirm what I asked for?”

A slight displeasure passed by the young priest’s face at Louis’s question from the main point.

“Hmm. It was not easy to find because it was 10 years ago.”

Louis held out a thick satin pouch in front of the young priest, who shook his head.

It wasn’t easy to find. But Louis finally found what he searched for.

“…What is this?”

“It’s a top-notch mana stone.”

The young priest picked up the satin pocket and admired it. “Hoo, this costs quite a lot, right?”

“It’s just a little courtesy.”

“Meooow.”

Louis stroked Soda’s back, saying, “Apart from that, I would like to give the temple a certain amount of money as a priority every year.”

“Every… year?”

The young priest’s eyes widened at the unexpected kindness. Although the mana stone was precious, it was easily obtainable as long with money. However, mana stones shipped from Grand Duke Sestein were of the highest quality among the high-end products.

The unexpected favor opened the eyes of the young priest.

“Hmm, there’s no reason to refuse mana stones from Grand Duke Sestein, but—” The young priest asked Louis’s intention as if there was anything else to ask for.

Louis replied with a gracious smile. “I’m just helping in the name of god.”

“May god bless you.”

“May god bless you too.”

The young priest bent his glistening eyes and tucked the satin pouch inside his chest. He seemed to be in agony for a while but eventually got up from his seat and returned with a box.

“This is what you asked for. It must have been kept by the high priest.”