Chapter 21

Chapter 21

“Are you okay? Can you get up?”

Calix approached Erin and reached out a tender hand. It was an incredibly polite and gentleman attitude that came from someone who had just murder a man.

Erin ignored his hand and tried to stand up.

“It’s okay. I can get up by myself.”

But it wasn’t as easy as it sounds.

I ran for a long time. I was shocked by a sudden event, and my legs wouldn’t cooperate.

The moment Erin was trying to get up with her staggering legs, Calix who looked still, stepped forward and reached out again.

“Hold my hand.”

“……”

Erin was forced to take Calix’s hand. Calix held Erin’s hand and supported her.

‘Ah    !’

As soon as I got up, my knees were weak. My body leaned without notice.

Erin was taken forcelessly inside Calix’s arms.

The scent of a mature man flashed through her mind as soon as soon as she touched his chest.

Musk scent resembling a cool forest. And the body odor of a strong adult man mixed in it.

It was a mature and seductive scent that went well with the adult Calix. Erin was amazed and stepped back.

“Ah… thank you.”

While trying to step back, the man’s body touched the heels of her shoes.

I looked around in surprise and found blood on the dirty stone floor.

The man, who fell over creating pool of blood, had become a cold body. His eyes are completely empty.

Looking down at the body. Calix asked.

“Do you know him?”

“No. I was trying to buy something in the store and he suddenly attacked me.”

It was similar in size, so Calix thought the man was one of the customer so Calix tends to injured and ignore him, but he wasn’t.

Callix replied as it was nothing.

“Then it must have been just a robber.”

“……”

Erin didn’t answer, but in her heart she denied Calix’s words.

‘He’s not an ordinary robber.’ She thought as looking at the man’s body.

She was wearing very ordinary clothes. By all means, it doesn’t seem like she has a lot of money.

In fact, I spent all of my money to buy chocolate at the store, so I didn’t have a lot of money in my wallet right now.

If he was a robber, he wouldn’t have followed her back. When she ran away after hitting him with a basket, he should’ve go and target others.

If that man’s purpose was not Erin’s money.

‘Then, it must be…’

No one could ever try to harm the former duchess who had been accused of having an affair and is divorced.

Except for one person,

“You must have been very shocked. Is there any injuries?” Asked Calix anxiously.

Standing in the dark inside dark alley way, Calix was strangely not match to the place.

It felt like she put a statue  of him a dirty alley.

In the dark alley, his dark blue eyes shined gently.

When I first met him, he was a 13-year-old boy, but when did he grow up to be such a handsome and cool man?

Erin thought the time was so fast. Since he wasn’t related to Raymond by blood, Calix had no resemblance to Raymond.

Raymond was a nice handsome man and this one was a beautiful young man.

The delicate appearance with the dignity of the Grand Duke was beautiful like a picture.

But the first thing that caught my eyes was Calix’s dark blue eyes.

There was a heartfelt warmth inside those blue eyes looking at Erin. Erin looked in the eyes and asked.

“Why did you follow this far? Did you followed me?”

I asked him if he was following me in this situation. I asked him, but then Carlix responded softly.

“You disappeared all of a sudden, and I was arround, so I followed you here and saw you being chased.”

Oh, that’s how it happened.

“Thank you. I am alive thanks to you, Calix.” Erin honestly said thank you.

In fact, if Calix had not followed her, she would have died. Calix laughed as if it were fun.

“Then, can I come to the store every day to eat cake?”

“That’s fine by me, do whatever you want.”

He was a life saver, but I wanted to say that.

“Now, you can let go of my hand.”

Erin said, pointing to the hand still held inside Calix’s palm. Then Calix slowly released his hand.

“I’ll guide you. It’s dangerous to go alone.”

I wanted to refuse, but my legs hurt and my shoes couldn’t cooperate because I ran madly just now.

It would take a while to get to the store from here. Actually, I don’t even know where this is.

“Yes, thank you.”

You don’t have to refuse. Erin left the alley with him.

The streets at night were immersed in a silent darkness. The visible distance is hazy with a faint fog.

“Don’t go alone in this place in the future.”

While walking down the street, Calix suddenly spoke.

“It’s dangerous. You should hire a maid or a servant to do errands like this.”

Melly was no longer a maid but a hired clerk, and Erin couldn’t afford to have a servant yet. But Erin didn’t dare deny it.

“I have to be careful about going back after sunset.” I found out I can’t get around safely anymore.

Erin smiled as she looked back at Calix who was walking with her.

I always thought that he was a little boy, but I was grateful for him on worrying about my own well-being.

“Thank you for your concern, Sir. Calix.”

“……”

Calix didn’t answer. He only saw Erin’s smile attentively.

Her lips that look soft like cherry blossoms are faintly curved upside. A charming smile like petals bloomed on her elegant face.

Even the white and slim cheeks were oozing with light red blush.

He composure was much paler because of what happened just before, but it was a fascinating smile that caught his eye.

I know it from the first time I saw it, but Erin was beautiful.

When he first met Erin at the age of 13, Calix thought his sister-in-law was very beautiful.

So even with a young heart, he didn’t understand why Raymond hated Erin so much.

As he walked in thought, they finally stood in front of the Erin’s shop.

It was midnight, but the inside of the store was brightly lit. Calix opened the door for Erin to enter.

Erin went into the store and stopped in surprise. Calix also went inside and stopped.

A familiar silver-haired man stood inside the store. Erin was surprised and called his name.

“Your highness Raymond?”

* * *

“You must have been amazed    ! How are you feel? Do you feel like passing out?”

When Melly heard his words, she was amazed and was in a fuss. “I’m okay. Don’t worry. I’m fine.”

“I’m glad you met the Grand Duke. Thanks to him, you came back safely.”

“That’s right.”

Erin asked while taking off her dirty dress.

“Melly, can you prepare tea? I’ll change my clothes quickly and go to the shop.”

It’s better to go as quickly as possible.

There are two bad brothers sitting in the shop right now.

Fortunately, nothing happened until I changed my clothes and went downstairs to the store.

When I opened the door and went inside, there’s a strange silence surrounding the shop.

Raymond and Calix, sitting at the chair, and they seemed haven’t exchange any conversation. Erin sat down facing Raymond.

Melly’s timing was good, and she served a cup of hot tea. The steaming teacup was placed in front of three people.

“……”

Although they sat facing each other, Raymond and Erin said nothing for a while.

Only Calix started drinking tea without worries.

I didn’t know we’d meet again this way, but we had nothing to say even when we sat face to face.

What word’s would you say after you’re divorced?

“You said you’re attacked? Are you okay?” It was Raymond who broke the silence first.

“Yes. I’m fine now.”

Raymond looked inside the store silently. He frowned.

“Do you had no place to stay?”

“There is a house behind the cafe. I live there.”

“…….A house attached to a store. Why do you live in such a place?”

“It’s a very beautiful two-story building. It’s much better than the Imperial Palace. It’s much more comfortable.”

I said a word that emphasized the imperial palace was very uncomfortable, but Erin did not care.

The Imperial Palace was really uncomfortable. Raymond also understood what Erin meant.

But even if I understood what it meant, it seemed that I couldn’t understand. He laughed and said.

“I’ve never seen anyone who likes a cafe more than the Imperial Palace in my whole life.”

Erin also smiled without losing.

“It’s a pity that you haven’t been to a place better than the Imperial Palace. There are many good places in the world other than the Imperial Palace.”

For Erin, the Imperial Palace was a terrible place, even if no one else knew it.

The nine years I lived in the imperial palace, that was suffocating and terrible.

I only just get out of that place and now live by myself.

“Why did you come to see me?”