CH 16

If Theodor Vanice was embarrassed, he didn’t show it at all.

“I think she’s the person who saved Elodie.”

“……Well, that would be it.”

Mrs. Holson didn’t seem very happy with the conclusion but seemed to agree with it nonetheless.

It was fortunate.

Rumors of an affair between me and the Duke of Vanice were such a terrible thing to hear that even just imagining it gave me goosebumps.

If the Duke’s family finds out, they will misunderstand me.

“Haha, Mrs. Holson, it can’t be…….Mr.Theodor is only Elodie’s father.”

I shook my head wildly.

“That’s too bad! Too bad! I thought you two look good together!”

“It’s probably because of Elodie, it must be a good fit. Both myself and Mr.Theodor value Elodie very much so.”

“Yes, Ms. Bertin has gotten a lot brighter since Elodie came.”

Fortunately, Mrs. Holson didn’t pry anymore maybe having been convinced by what I said.

Time passed naturally after that. The Duke intently watched Elodie, now frantically starting to gather maple leaves.

While talking with other wives, I searched for children of the same age who could meet with Elodie often.

Meanwhile, it was finally time to eat the prepared lunch box.

“Elodie!”

I called out to her.

“Come eat lunch!”

I could see Elodie popping up like a spring. I smiled and unpacked the lunch box.

‘I’m glad I made a lot.’

Fortunately, it was enough for the three of us to share. As a matter of fact, I bought a little more with the intention of giving it to other children, so it wasn’t short on anything.

“Elodie, sit here.”

I deliberately tried to put Elodie between the Duke and me, but Elodie shook her head and sat behind me.

Suddenly being caught between Elodie and the Duke, I sighed.

‘Well, it’s more convenient for sharing food….’

It was time for me to give up and deliver lunch to the Duke. Obviously, the Duke didn’t have time to go to the store to buy a slice of bread, let alone get his lunch packed.

“It’s all right. I brought my own food.”

That’s what he said as he took something out of his pockets.

‘……?’

I frowned.

What the Duke took out of his pocket was something that seemed to be very far from luxurious food.

It’s like……

‘Isn’t that a protein bar?’

It was even a dry-gray, long and solid one that looked even less appetizing than the protein bars I had eaten before.

“Are you okay with that?”

“I’ve been eating it all the time, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

Oh, look at this stereotype of the cold city guy…….

After a moment’s thought, I half-forced took the thing that looked like a protein bar from his hand. In the meantime, my hand and his hand touched lightly, but I didn’t mind the slight touch because I hated the look of the protein bar even more.

“……!”

The Duke looked at me with wide-eyed eyes.

“Do not eat this in front of children.”

I sniffed and smelled it. There was no sweet or savory smell that should come from food, it was unscented. It was obvious that this would taste like nothing. I mean, it doesn’t even look like food for humans to begin with.

“People with a lot of money eating such things…….”

“I can eat because I have a lot of money.”

The Duke firmly corrected my words.

“Anyway, the taste is of no concern to me. As long as I can eat quickly and fill my stomach, that’s enough.”

“Oh, really?”

I responded reflexively. Apparently, it is really some kind of protein bar, but this isn’t the problem.

“I don’t care what you eat, but you can’t do it in front of Elodie. Do you understand?”

“……I see.”

The Duke nodded his head reluctantly. I was relieved that Elodie didn’t have to see more of her biological dad’s self-destructive behavior.

As expected, Elodie had to live with me.

Tears came to my eyes at the thought of this cute little kid chasing that heartless and emotionless human and eating a protein bar at every meal.

‘Cancel, that’s never going to happen.’

And no matter how much he was the original villain, instead of such a protein bar, he should at least eat food-like food.

‘Things like that should disappear from the world!’

I handed the Duke an egg mayo sandwich.

“I am thinking of a new menu for the cafe. Try it.”

The Duke looked at the sandwich with eyes that seemed to have no expectations and reluctantly took the sandwich from my hand.

Again, the Duke’s hard, callused hand, touched mine. Well, my hands weren’t very soft due to long labor, but they were still better than the Duke’s.

‘I’m sure he’s going to take a bite with a face that he hates to eat again this time.’

I decided not to care if the Duke nibbled on the sandwich or not, and started eating lunch with Elodie.

The food I made myself was very tasty. Enough for me and Elodie to just eat hard without saying a word. At least until a word came out of the Duke’s mouth.

“It’s delicious.”

It was the same dry answer as last time, but this time something was different. Contrary to the usual plain tone, it was a voice that seemed to really think it was delicious.

I looked at the Duke in bewilderment and was even more surprised. He was looking at the sandwich in disbelief.

I hope the Duke is not allergic to eggs or mayonnaise.

Of course, he won’t die as much as he is capable of becoming the ultimate villain of the original. But there’s nothing good about poking his temper.

Duke Vanice continued to speak.

“I can feel the taste…….”

I frowned.

What the hell are you talking about? Of course, it will taste delicious.

I carefully asked the Duke of Vanice.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“…….”

The Duke of Vanice didn’t say anything. Instead, he took another bite of the sandwich.

“……!”

His eyes widened, and the hand holding the sandwich trembled.

“Did it go bad? If that’s the case, you don’t need to eat anymore, you can give it to me….”

The unusual energy I could feel from the Duke stopped me from wiggling the end of my words.

When the Duke slowly raised his head and looked at me. I held my breath.

Red eyes stared intensely at me.

“…….”

I swallowed dry saliva.

I wanted to ask why he was doing that, but I couldn’t open my mouth properly. It was because there was something dangerous in the Duke’s eyes.

It’s not like the eyes of a madman like before, it was more like….

‘He looks like a beast.’

He had a fierce gaze of a wild beast that just discovered prey while being unaware of it until now……

‘No, let’s ignore it.’

I tried to shake off my anxious feelings. Anyway, as long as Elodie is attached to me, the Duke cannot harm me.

Because he would never want to do the unforgivable to his daughter whom he loved with all his heart.

Slip.

I involuntarily lowered my head at the sound of something passing by.

The leaves seem to be moving…?

“Ahhhhh!”

As soon as I looked down, a shrill scream disgracefully erupted from my mouth.

It was because a giant centipede caught my eye.

It’s not like I’m a wimp, I have a lot to say about this. Isn’t it said that autumn centipedes are the most poisonous?

Fall was almost over and yet, a centipede the length of Elodie’s forearm was fastly crawling with its shaggy legs on my skirt!

“Aria!”

Elodie heard me freaking out from behind.

“Don’t come!”

I trembled and restrained Elodie. It would be a big deal if she was bitten.

I thought.

No, I tried to think.

But my head, frozen in surprise, could not come up with any thoughts. Then, a large shadow fell over my head.

It was the Duke of Vanice.

I was frozen out of instinct. In less than a few seconds, the Duke had simply dealt with the centipede, in a very primitive way to boot.

You’re going to grab that crawling thing with your hands and throw it away like that?

“…….”

I gasped for breath.

Should I be terrified that he caught a poisonous centipede with his hands? Or should I thank him for fixing the problem while I was terrified and unable to do anything?

I didn’t have a clue how to react between the two options. Of course, since the opponent was the Duke of Darkness, I chose to greet him politely.

“Thank you, Duke.”

“Why react like that for this little thing?”

The Duke’s eyebrows furrowed.

“You’re more cowardly than you look.”