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Chapter 21




Nocton appeared without notice before, but at the time there was a justification for apologizing.
I thought he was actually here to make sure I didn’t know anything about him.
“So what’s going on?”
“My lady has a guest.”
“Guest?”
Aaron? Alice?
There are only two faces that come to my mind immeditealy. All of sudden, I was saddened by my narrow personal relationship.
How did I only end up with so many enemies?
It’s impossible to say that Alice is back right away, so it must be Aaron.
Come to think of it, by now was enough time for the reply I sent to arrive.
When I was about to ask if it was Aaron, Sadie casually dropped the bomb.
“His Grace, Duke Edgar, came here to send his regards.”
***
Aaron Claymore’s daily routine was usually similiar, but there was a small difference when he had a special schedule like today.
He stopped his private training and returned to his room. Aaron changed from the black top he wore for training to a neat shirt.
He put the engagement ring he had removed back in his hand and took the box he had put on the shelf. Inside the box was an orgel that was truly magical.
It has been ten days since his fiancĂŠe, Roa Valrose, visited his mansion.
He did not go to her house because she asked him to refrain from visiting, it would be fine for a day or two, but he is more worried than willing to keep his courtesy if he has not been contacted for 10 days.
Fortunately, a reply arrived from Roa a little while ago.
It started with the words that she was not feeling well and was sorry for not being able to say hello.
She thanked him for following her advice that he shouldn’t go to the tea party and be careful of his health followed, and the postscript said, “
Be careful of Nocton Edgar
.”
It was a bit awkward, but after reading the postscript, Aaron could only believe that it was Roa who wrote the letter.
The words to watch out for Nocton Edgar, the tea party of Nocton Edgar was scheduled for yesterday, and she lost consciousness after saying she would not attend the tea party.
Although it was oversuspicious in conclusion, Aaron Clay was wondering if there was any connection between the two events.
Aaron Claymore didn’t think of it without any grounds.
At first, like everyone else, he believed in rumors that Nocton Edgar and Roa Valrose were in a relationship and would soon get married.
He didn’t go to parties oftenly, but every time he showed up in society, he saw the Duke and Roa together.
Furthermore, they always looked friendly and close.
When he heard the denial of the relationship between the two, he did not fully believe it.
He thought maybe there was a misunderstanding or quarrel, and it was a short term problem.
What kind of man is there in the world that blocks other person’s marriage?
It’s not as if he was on the old days, it’s not such a big flaw to remain unmarried these days.
But lately, he has come to suspect that he was mistaken about their relationship.
This is because Roa’s expression, which used to be slightly softened everytime she talked about Nocton Edgar, suddenly changed.
These days, when she talks about Nocton Edgar…..
‘
It was like she was afraid
.’
He was a definite knight, and it was only natural to protect the weak.
Even more so if the weak is a friend who he’s quite fond of.
So even though he got a reply, Aaron Claymore decided to go to the Marquis Valrose’s residence.
He couldn’t be sure that nothing was going on until he saw her face and talked to her in person.
Aaron Claymore did not feel a romantic attraction to Roa Valrose.
Rather, he thought she was like his little sister.
For him, who grew up as an only child and had a fantasy about having a sibling, it was pleasant to meet Roa.
Roa Valrose looked less like kittens as she grew up, but so her personality is similiar.
Though she has sharp eyes and sometimes blunt, she doesn’t really say harsh things.
It seems like she’s giving back what she has suffered, but she doesn’t seem to sincerely hate people….
And he was a little inexperienced in his emotions. It was also a reason that Aaron shared Roa’s feelings toward Nocton.
Unlike the saying that she is not kind, she has more affection than others.
That was kind of cute.
To the point where he would be sad to go back as a stranger by the time they end this engagement.
No, perhaps they’ve become friends by that time.
With a light smile, Aaron tried to leave the room.
He had to leave now if he want to arrive at Valrose’s residence in time.
As he was about to leave, his cloak dragged the object from the shelf.
As soon as Aaron’s head turned to the floor, his face hardened.
It was a pocket watch that fell to the ground.
It wasn’t such a poor quality item, but it wasn’t good enough for him to use privately.
The item he received in return for saving someone from falling off the ridge was sold for a small sum in the market.
Nevertheless, the pocket watch was Aaron’s most treasured possession.
‘
Maybe I took it out the room and forgot to put it back.
‘
After a short pause, Aaron almost turned on watch.
The pocket watch was turned on quite a bit, but it looked like a toy in Aaron’s hand.
His red eyes were stained with longing.
It was Alice who presented him with a pocket watch.
Alice Momont, a person who did not reveal her last name when she met him in Ernhardt, but did not use an alias.
Maybe she thought it’s fine because Alice is a common name.
If that’s the reason, Aaron could thank someone who’s made Alice’s name so common.
He was a person he couldn’t meet now, and he couldn’t even talk to her in person.
Though he was not quite capable in the past, she had not seen his face properly because he disguised himself.
That’s why Aaron was grateful just for having her real name in hand.
There were only three things Aaron knew about Alice.
Alice’s voice, her real name, and a few words of her
true heart
.
The words he heard before passed through his mind again.
‘I hate Ernhardt.’
“I know.”
Aaron shut his mouth and said again.
“I know, Alice.”
That you hate Ernhardt.
That you wanted to bury everything with that tombstone.
He doesn’t really want to paint Ernhardt’s Alice this pathetic.
It’s a shame because she doesn’t know. If she knew, she would have taken it as a mockery.
Even so, he couldn’t help but do it.
With a bitter smile, Aaron clutched desperately at his watch.
***
Actually, I wanted to refuse to meet Nocton whether he came to the mansion or not.
There was a great excuse ready.
I wasn’t feeling well that I couldn’t go to the tea party, and I’m not well enough yet, so please go back.
Nevertheless, it seemed meaningless that I had no choice but to come down to the drawing room.
I thought I might get a call from Nocton Edgar one day, but I didn’t know he’d come to the mansion in a rush.
He only came to Marquis Valrose’s mansion once.
At a time when I had a clumsy trust in Nocton, he didn’t listen no matter how desperate my invitation to visit my house.
As if something terrible would happen when he comes to the Marquis’ house, he said, ‘
I’ll think about it
.’ ‘
Fine
.’ He said fine, such as ‘
when
I have time
,’ but he never actually did it.
It was like that, but only at the point where I didn’t want him to come, he came without a call.
Sadie’s eyes, telling me of Nocton’s visit, were not as cloudy as before, and her expression was not as dictated as before, but I couldn’t help but think about what happened then.
Even if I refuse, if I use a means of not knowing whether it’s magic or brainwashing, what good will the condition be?
In self-help, I opened the door to the drawing room.
Nocton Edgar, the black-haired young man, was sitting cross-legged on the sofa in the drawing room.
Behind him stood a knight with a hazy look.
Braman Duff.
Nocton’s escort knight not only I knew by the name, but we also spoke a few times during my childhood.
Since when did his eyes become blurred?
Though he sometimes looked down upon myself clinging to Nocton, his eyes were as clear as any knight.
‘Everyone in Duke Edgar’s household is brainwashed by Nocton Edgar.’
As soon as I remembered it, I had a bitter taste in my mouth.
I had no intention of doubting Alice’s words, but only now I realized it really was.
I made a brief eye contact with Nocton, who looked at me without a word, even though the master of the mansion had entered.
The light purple eyes, which I can’t guess what they were thinking, were somewhat subdued than usual.
Maybe it was the last day I saw him when he gave me an invitation to his tea party.
But I was skeptical then, and now I’m sure.
I looked at the face I’ve always seen, but my mind was definitely different.
Unable to keep facing each other, I slowly approached Nocton, quietly avoiding his gaze.
As I approached him as if I had tied the pendulum to my feet, my steps became heavier.
I walked and sat across from him as if I was punished,
Only then did Nocton’s mouth open.
“You’re skinny.”
“Is that so? Well … I did.”
The silence is broken, but the tension does not disappear.
I tried to speak as usual, but the sound of my heart beating grew louder and louder.
Since he’s not a knight, but a wizard, I have no choice but to believe that he won’t hear it.
He looked at me with no smile.
“What’s the problem? Suddenly you’re not go out for a few days.”
“I’m sick. Are you here to check that?”
“You’ve had at drink at Marquis Claymore’s—”
His crushed gaze was quietly down, scattering the misty steam that bloomed from the black tea.
His long finger gently touched the handle of the glass.
His delicate hand touched the handle as if playing a joke, and his nails sometimes hit the cup.
“I don’t think it wasn’t because you met him.”
I held my breath and looked at the sight moving slower than usual.
He knew I had a drink with Aaron.
What this meant was obvious.
At least one family, Valrose or Claymore, had eyes planted by Nocton.
It was natural and predictable that Alice wasn’t the only one being watched.
If Nocton had the same goal as in <
He and Alice
>, he’d have to keep an eye on the trends of those in power.
But I couldn’t predict how far Nocton Edgar was looking.
Is he only monitoring the people entering and leaving the mansion, or is he planting people inside the mansion?
No, if his abilities were as I knew it, he had nothing to plant.
If brainwashing someone like Sadie was such a simple thing for Nocton.
“I didn’t spy on you again this time, Valrose.”
“…that means if it wasn’t me, you’re spying on Aaron. Is there a reason for that?”
“Well….”
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Nocton’s eyes narrowed for a moment.
His face was a little hardened, like a man who failed to laugh.
It was better to put the words down than to heavy silence, so I asked again.
Tension and anxiety ignited impatience.
“Why did you invite me to the tea party?”