Chapter 21

Today’s meal wasn’t as good as usual, but I still gave Erhan a glass of nutrient-rich milk.

“Master Erhan, do you like Master Frederick that much?” I asked him earnestly.

“Yes, he is my only friend and my blood relative.”

“Then can you personally introduce him to me? We’ll probably get along.”

I want to see with my own eyes the trick that Frederick devised to get Erhan to fall into his manipulation.

“No.”

“May I ask why?” I asked, curious about his firm refusal.

“Frederick said that you are pretty.”

“Then he must have very good eyes for women. But what’s the problem?”

“You like people who are older than you.”

“It’s just that I don’t really like children……”

Erhan’s eyes narrowed.

“That’s not what’s important now. You seem to be getting closer to Diel lately.”

I tilted my head, confused.

Am I close to Diel?

We do talk casually to each other since we’re both commoners, but I don’t really think that we’re close enough to be called friends.

To my knowledge, Perelman sent Diel to me because he wanted him to help me.

In my honest opinion, Diel is an obedient servant. He is full of determination in his work even though he complains about everything.

“Do you really want to meet Frederick…?” Erhan muttered under his breath. “He’s a womanizer.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Master Erhan, tell me, who taught you that word?”

“Zikel did.”

Zikel is a swordsman who teaches him well but has the worst personality among knights.

I grumbled when I completely forgot about this detail.

“I told them I wanted to be an adult soon so they started teaching me everything.”

“So what did they teach you?”

“Adult stories.”

I didn’t bother asking for details as they came from Zikel. With that, I immediately laid him down and covered his body with the blanket.

“Sleep.”

Erhan reached out his hand toward me. 

I held his small desperate hand while stroking his soft black hair.

“Master Erhan.”

Tomorrow, Frederick is still in the mansion. No matter how well I am treated here, I am still a commoner with no power to prevent their meeting.

“Who do you like more, Frederick or me?”

“Huh…..?”

“Nevermind. Do you trust Frederick or me?”

“……”

I said with a frustrated sigh. “I think we have a unique bond with each other. Have you forgotten that I care about you the most?”

Then Erhan replied with a frown. “Doctors shouldn’t lie, so I trust Lise.”

“You have to be with someone you trust around you. Even if it’s a Baron or no matter how old they are.”

I looked into Erhan’s eyes and said firmly. “You are the owner of this Duchy. Your decision is the most important than anyone else’s. Don’t be fooled by others, because you are the right one here. Do what you want, what you desire the most.”

“……Zikel said the same thing.”

“Of course, Little Duke.”

I patted him on the chest. After a while, his eyes closed.

 

***

 

‘Where am I now?’

It was a beautiful sight with an awesome wide hall. The orchestra was playing a wonderful Waltz. Nobles gathered with their partners while dancing gracefully.

‘A ball?’

My clothes feel different. As I looked down, I found myself wearing a beautiful and elegant dress.

‘I’m just a commoner, but why am I dressed like this?’

More than that, my physique doesn’t seem to be thirteen years old.

My feet took me to the balcony.

When I opened the window, I saw a tall, muscular young man with black hair and his crescent moon eyes smiling.

“You’re late, Lise. Did you enjoy dancing with that damn Prince?”

The man smiled despite grinding his teeth.

He was still handsome even though his dark brows were slightly furrowed as if he was annoyed with something.

“……”

I didn’t respond. But strangely, I couldn’t hear my own voice answering this man.

He slowly made his way to the balcony door and closed it, turned to me, and slowly trapped me in his dangerous gaze.

Not long after, he wrapped his big arms around my waist.

“Did that wolf have fun touching your waist?”

He whispers in my ear softly as I back away from him.

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“Tell me, where did his hand touch you?”

I felt his hot breath as my legs suddenly felt weak.

“I knew you were such a player since you were young, but you know….., this is too much.”

Our height difference is huge, my body is smaller than his though I feel that I grew taller than before.

I shuddered as he gently stroked my hair.

“But it’s fine even if you choose to be a player……”

It was a playful statement, but I gasped, feeling my breath shorten as his strong hand caressed my waist.

“All you have to do is stay with me.”

Those dangerous sharp black eyes were clearly visible in my hazy vision.

“You said that my decision was the most important thing.”

I focused my vision just to get a proper look at his face. His chiseled face and charming red lips……

I tried to retaliate because of this sensual tension and suddenly, the hall inside became noisy.

I turned naturally……

 

“Lise! Lise!”

I opened my eyes and realized I was in my own room.

“Lise! Are you up already? Open the door now!”

I shook my head at the tense but realistic dream. Diel’s voice was urgent.

Before I knew it, the morning sunlight penetrated into my room.

I put on my cardigan to cover my pajamas and opened the door.

Diel looked at me with trembling eyes.

“It happened as you said.”

I still felt sleepy, and the uncomfortable dream drifted away from my head.

“The key to the greenhouse is missing.”

I got you now, you punk!

 

***

 

The greenhouse, where my laboratory is located, is near the Casseus garden.

Although not very large considering the size of the garden, the greenhouse is the perfect place to grow a variety of herbs.

All the doctors on the continent have their own private greenhouse to grow some rare herbs.

Thinking about it now, Perelman could have achieved success because he had a good eye for hiring amazing people like Diel and me.

After all, Diel and I are the only ones who have the key to the greenhouse.

A few days ago, I told Diel to lock the greenhouse door with a padlock and keep the fake key on his office desk.

As he said, the fake key was stolen. In other words, the culprit will show himself in the greenhouse.

Diel has worked hard to garden Cipuz herbs day and night. Cipuz scent is strong even if you just pass through the greenhouse.

“Diel.”

I called him sternly, looking at the Cipuz that had started to bloom.

“Think back about your career. Farming could be the right job for you. Look, who knew that you would be quite good at this.”

“This doesn’t suit me,” he grumbled. “I only did my best because you asked me.”

I could see why Perelman asked Diel to assist me.

“You really……” 

I looked at Diel with emotional feelings.

“You are quite capable, befitting the title of a slave.”

“What do you mean slave? I’m just helping my friend.”

“Diel, there’s nothing wrong with listening to a clever woman.”

“That’s my last pride.” 

I held back my laughter as I glanced at his fluttering light pink hair.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

Still watering the herbs in front of him, Diel shook his head, unable to bear the pressure from my intense gaze.

“This feels like Sir Perelman’s gaze.”

I shrugged my shoulders, shuddering in fear. Then I pointed to the fertilizer bag behind the bushes.

“Now all you have to do is……”

“Sure, what is it?” 

When I heard Diel respond instantly, I almost thought that he had really become my slave.

“Hide in there.”

“There?”

“I’m sure the person who stole the key will come later…… After all, there’s no point in the two of us catching them openly. We have to make it look like a coincidence.”

“So, when are you going to catch them?”

“The smell of Cipuz diminishes a little in the evening……”

I put a one-time magic communication ring on Diel’s hand and said, “So you have to hide.”

“There?”

“Yes. And call me as soon as someone comes. I’ll be around here all evening.”

I will have dinner and offer the beloved Duchess a walk in the evening.