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Chapter 99. I Like You (1)
What? Did something really happen? Surprised by the sudden change, Elusiana leaned forward and called Eirin.
“Eirin?”
“Hu, hub. Sob.”
Eirin, who wrapped her body in her arms with her lips closed, suddenly shed tears. And she sobbed without even giving Elusiana time to touch her.
“I
 I
 almost died
 that person
 help
 me
 Sob
 If
 didn’t 
 get help
 Huhuhu.”
“
!”
Elusiana looked at Eirin with her hand outstretched to comfort her. While it was understandable that she might sob, being just moments away from speaking, it seemed a bit excessive to burst into tears right in front of the person she had just started talking to. Nevertheless, she was a little relieved.
If I see this and still think she’s acting, I must be a person with emotional problems. She could tell how terrified Eirin was.
“Calm down, Eirin.”
Elusiana rose from her seat and gently hugged Eirin. Her shaking little body somehow reminded her of young Astein, who was frightened on a rainy day.
“It’s okay now. It’s okay, Eirin.”
“I-it was scary
 really
 I was so scared
 Huhu.”
Elusiana gently stroked Eirin’s head, pushing away the lingering uneasiness. At least at this moment, it seemed necessary to do so.
Eirin barely stopped crying until she was exhausted. It was meaningless to continue the conversation anymore, so Elusiana helped her to accompany her to the public carriage rental.
“T-thank you, Elusiana.”
“
Yes. Go home safely.”
“Will you see me again?”
Elusiana paused for a moment. However, she reluctantly replied when she saw Eirin’s eyes as if she was about to burst into tears again. “Do as you please.”
“I’ll be sure to contact you next time.”
Elusiana smiled awkwardly and closed the carriage door. Soon, the shabby carriage crossed the streets.
“Sigh.”
Wiping the beads of sweat on her forehead, Elusiana smiled in vain. She felt a sense of exhaustion all over her body, as if a storm had swept her away once.
I don’t know if I did a good job. Elusiana shook her head.
It was her past life where she had lived without having anything. Having only herself to protect, she could instinctively sense what would be harmful to her. But even that was useless in this world. After all, she had never felt threatened by anything until now.
“Well, it will work out somehow. Anyway
 she doesn’t sound like a bad person.”
Elusiana trudged back to the mansion. However, when she reached the mansion entrance, she somehow saw a familiar figure of a man.
“
Is this mansion in bad shape? Why are there so many people looking for it these days?” She grumbled with a clear expression of annoyance. There was no way that a visitor, who looked like a guest to my mansion in anyone’s eyes, could be an ordinary passerby.
Meanwhile, the blue moonlight, veiled by clouds, gradually emerged. Only then did the vague figure that had been partially visible become fully revealed.
“Huh
?”
Elusiana’s eyes, which confirmed the unexpected existence, bent in joy as if she had never been tired.
* * *
Noel frowned slightly when he looked up at the darkened night sky. The sun was setting until he left the mansion, but when did time pass like this?
“Sigh
 I’m very pathetic.”
It wasn’t a lie that initial visits were due to the previous Grand Duke’s consideration, but since then, the door to the Grand Duchy remained closed. Even when he went at Elusiana’s time to leave work, he couldn’t meet her either, as if the Grand Duke had taken measures to avoid her meeting him.
“I even declared war that I wouldn’t give up.”
It was a bitter ending since he didn’t even have a chance to meet her. Noel smiled helplessly and wiped his face with one hand.
“I wish I could see her face. Now, I think I can tell her that even the pointedly raised corners of her eyes are cute.”
Before leaving the mansion, Noel recalled what the Marquis of Klaus had said.
“You know, the current Grand Duke went missing 10 years ago, right? Perhaps because of his low birth, they even pretended to be looking for him. Coincidentally, rumors circulated that the Waieos family was raising a boy the same age as the current Grand Duke. At that time, I thought having a child of the same age as your child as your child’s servant was a trend, so I passed it on. But that child suddenly disappeared two years ago.”
“Two years ago
”
“Right. It was the exact time when the current Grand Duke appeared in the Sestein family.”
Could this be a coincidence? There was no connection if you separated Grand Duke Sestein and Viscount Waieos. Above all, there was no similarity between the appearance of the Grand Duke mentioned at the time and the appearance of the child raised by the Waieos. Because their hair color and eyes were completely different.
However, considering Grand Duke Sestein is from a wizard family, faking his appearance would be possible. Especially if that person was the current Grand Duke with the qualities to become a great wizard.
As if the cogs fell perfectly into place, the fitting together like gears meshing.
I wonder where his great confidence came from. Maybe it’s because they’ve been close for a long time. If so, the Grand Duke’s hostility toward him might also be the result of his selfishness that wouldn’t allow the third party to intervene in his relationship with her.
That’s probably why he kicked out the successor and took over the Grand Duchy. Maybe it was to seduce the ignorant lady and lock her up in the strong castle. Just by looking at the Grand Duke’s treatment towards her, Noel was able to guess that his thoughts weren’t completely wrong.
Well, if he’s lucky—
“Is it that Lusi still doesn’t know the identity of the Grand Duke?”
Noel let out either a sigh or laugh and suddenly stopped walking.
“
Turning around here and there, but my feet eventually arrived here.”
He tried to turn his steps toward the Fragrant Garden, but the only place he came to was Waieos Mansion. With his eyes on the shabby main gate of Waieos Mansion, Noel sighed and leaned against the wall. It was a shadowy spot under a tall tree, bathed in blue moonlight. Noel’s gaze turned to the front door. The crest, which barely remained in shape, was blurry as if it showed the presence of the Waieos family.
For now, I have to pretend I don’t know. It wouldn’t be strange if she found out at any time. There must be a reason why she was working in the Fragrant Garden, even to the extent of hiding her true identity. But still—
Instead of an excuse that it was late at night, could he say he came here because he missed her? Could he say that he missed her so much that he finally arrived here after wandering around?
I miss you, Lusi. He missed her. A painful sigh escaped Noel’s mouth as he lowered his head. It was just then.
“Noel?”
Surprised by the voice that came from close by, Noel’s shoulders stiffened. Is this hallucination? He looked up in disbelief and identified the owner of the voice. But, really, she was right in front of him.
“Lusi
” Noel’s voice, which seemed suppressed, trembled slightly. He wanted to see her face, even for a moment, but he didn’t expect that wish to come true right away.
Nevertheless, the reality of facing her at an unexpected moment was beyond pleasing. Noel came to his senses quickly as her long, brown hair fluttered in the wind. Ah! What should I do?
Glad to meet her, he forgot for a while, but this was in front of her mansion. Since he appeared in front of the mansion she hadn’t told him about, it wasn’t strange if she had any misunderstanding. No, rather, it could only increase her vigilance.
Noel, who couldn’t find an excuse, closed his mouth tightly. Did he look weird? A concern could be found on Elusiana’s face.
“What’s wrong? What’s going on?”
Elusiana narrowed the distance because he couldn’t see his face hidden in the shadows. Normally, Noel would say, ‘How are you? Didn’t you miss me?’ but he was too quiet.
He has been quiet these past few days. Wasn’t it odd that he suddenly stopped visiting the Grand Duchy, which he always did, like punching a timecard for work. It seemed like a good idea to find out the reason behind it at this moment.  His Excellency was also curious about Noel’s current condition.
Elusiana brought the distance of two steps closer by one step. Surprised by her sudden presence, Noel unknowingly stepped back. But the only thing that touched him was the cold wall. Unable to escape or retreat, he hurriedly averted his gaze.
Surprised by the sudden appearance, Noel unwittingly moved back. But the only thing that touched him was the cold wall. Unable to avoid her or retreat, he hurriedly turned his eyes.
“Noel?”
“Are you on your way
 from the store?”
Elusiana, who was about to grab Noel’s arm, answered with a smile. “Today is a holiday, so I didn’t go to the store.”
“Then are you going out? Ah, I was taking a break while passing by. I did a lot of walking today, haha. Still, it’s nice to meet Lusi by chance like this.”
“Then go out? Oh, I was taking a break while passing by. I walked a lot today. Haha. Still, it’s nice to meet Lusi by chance like this.”
Noel, who scratched his head awkwardly, hesitated and continued. “Didn’t you miss me? It just feels good to think you were worried about me.”
Elusiana, who was speechless for a moment, sighed quickly. She still couldn’t see his face because of the shadow of the tree, but somehow she thought he might be smiling. I’ve been worried about you for a long time, but you tease me even now?
Elusiana’s tone, who felt the unfairness for no reason, came out in an awkward way. “I’m glad you seem to be fine, Lord. I can’t disturb your precious time, so I’ll go now.”
Elusiana bowed politely and turned around quickly. At that moment, Noel snatched her hand lightly.