TEWRIT 33

Chapter 33

“I do not fear anything but the Supreme Sun, Lady Eliano.”

Eliano pressed him once again.

“Your Highness, I want a clear answer.”

Silver-grey eyes and deep green eyes met each other. Flint spoke again, in a slightly clearer voice.

“When our feelings are not clear to one another, I cannot flatter a lady just to escape the moment.”

Eliano’s face was about to harden, thinking he was being so stubborn. But then, the next words he spoke touched her heart.

“However, no one can force Duchess Howard.”

“…”

“Not even the Supreme Sun.”

His final words were filled with clear, strong emotions in each syllable.

Under the veil, a beautiful curve formed on Eliano’s lips. Flint realized he had given her the answer she wanted. His chest swelled with unfamiliar emotions. Something colorful began to bloom within him.

While Eliano gave a request to the Asta Guild and met with Flint, Lavender and Jane were completely absorbed in flower viewing. A handsome male employee, who had received Eliano’s order, enchanted them completely. Surrounded by flowers and treated by a handsome man, it felt like heaven.

“But hey, Lavender, what about Pamela? Is she really going to stay at the Rosana Duchy like this?”

“She probably will. Honestly, what use is a mute old woman without a right hand?”

Pamela had lost her title as a nanny. The angelic first young lady couldn’t let go of her feelings and ordered her treatment. The Duchess took her in stubbornly, but it wouldn’t be surprising if she got kicked out at any moment. She was useless now.

“If it weren’t for the madam, Pamela would’ve been killed by the young master.”

Lavender spoke sharply. The handsome male employee placed a flower crown on Jane’s head with a smile as bright as the blossoms. Jane blushed from his attention.

“She claimed to know the lady’s and young master’s secret? That old hag should be thankful the Duke didn’t hear of it.”

“What? The Duke doesn’t know all that mess?”

“He knows something happened, but the madam ordered everyone to keep quiet about the details. Even if he’s the young master, he can’t do much. All he can do is nag the madam to kick Pamela out.”

“Well, the lady did order her treatment in the end. I heard the nanny raised her since she was a baby… That kind of bond must be deep.”

Lavender scoffed and said to Jane,

“Jane, didn’t you see the lady’s expression? That wasn’t the face of someone who has deep affection.”

Lavender had unintentionally seen the look in Eliano’s eyes when she was about to strangle Pamela. It was murderous. Clearly, her lady wanted to kill Pamela—and had almost done it. In that moment, Lavender realized she had forgotten one of her duties.

“Oh right! I’m supposed to follow the lady!”

“Huh?”

“The Duke said never to take our eyes off her! Jane, did you forget already?”

Not long after becoming Eliano’s personal maids, they were summoned by the Duke. At first, they thought it showed his deep love for his daughter. But then, they received strange instructions.

The lady must not have a single scar. On days she went out, they were to strip her entirely to check if she behaved like a proper lady… Jane tilted her head as she recalled the rest of the orders.

In fact, right after they left the Duke’s office, Jane had asked Lavender,

—How are we supposed to check the lady’s body in private? Strip her? That’s ridiculous.

—You fool. Just check when she bathes. That’s why we have to attend her baths at all times. Got it?

Jane had wanted to ask more, but Lavender’s serious face stopped her. Since then, they took care of all Eliano’s baths. Especially Lavender, who always encouraged her to bathe after going out and followed her everywhere like a shadow. Even Jane found it a bit much.

“Let’s go find the lady, Jane.”

Thinking she had to watch Eliano’s every move, Lavender stood up, grabbing her skirt. The handsome employee spoke to her sweetly.

“Miss Lavender, Miss Jane. The noble lady is alone with the female staff from earlier, so you needn’t worry. Aren’t you curious about the flower ring I’m making? I think it will suit you very well, Miss Lavender.”

Hearing that, Lavender sat back down with a dreamy look. Since Eliano was with a female employee, there didn’t seem to be any need to follow.

Jane whispered to Lavender,

“What exactly does the Duke mean by ‘the dignity of a true lady’? I don’t understand what he’s saying at all. The lady already behaves perfectly. She’s more graceful than the young master I served before.”

Lavender gave her a “You idiot” look. She opened her mouth, then glanced at the handsome man nearby. Just then, he got up to fetch scissors. Lavender quickly leaned in and whispered into Jane’s ear. He wants us to check whether the lady got involved with a man.

Jane’s mouth fell open.

“Shouldn’t we warn the lady just a little? She’s so pitiful… And we’re supposed to report every single thing, even if a man just brushes her clothes? Shouldn’t we tell her to be careful?”

Jane, who had grown up under conservative parents, felt sympathy for Eliano, who had no freedom in romance. The other things the Duke ordered them to report… were all way too private.

“Are you crazy? Do you want to die? The Duke said to watch her without her knowing!”

Lavender shouted.

“Listen carefully, Jane. Noble ladies and lords all belong to the head of the family.”

“Yeah… I know…”

“If you tell the lady anything, I’ll kill you.”

Jane blinked at Lavender’s cold tone and nodded quickly.

Soon, Eliano appeared with the female employee. Lavender and Jane couldn’t hide their delight when they each received a bouquet from her.

Eliano left the greenhouse. A husky voice reached Flint as he watched her go.

“No wonder Adel has high expectations.”

Astin pulled down the hood of her purple robe. Her short-cropped hair and sharp features were revealed. She had the aura of a finely sharpened sword.

“Astin.”

“It’s been a while, Lord Flint. Seeing you in Bianteca feels strange.”

Astin, a member of the Asta Guild headquartered in Zacador, was someone Flint had lost touch with after leaving Lynxgen. Their connection had resumed when the Asta Guild expanded to Bianteca.

“You seem much better than when you were in Lynxgen. My mother sends her regards.”

“Tell her I’m doing well.”

“She already hears about you. Asta is not just any guild.”

“The color of your belt has changed. It used to be green, didn’t it?”

Asta’s uniform was a full-body purple robe. The rank within the guild was shown by the color of the belt: purple, red, blue, green, orange, yellow—from highest to lowest. Purple was for the guild master. Red was for the vice guild master or potential successor.

“I’ll be wearing purple soon.”

Flint nodded casually.

When he lost his palace allowance in Lynxgen, Flint had worked as a mercenary to survive. That’s when he first became involved with the Asta Guild. Since he fought as a mercenary, his swordsmanship had become more practical than the traditional knightly style.

“That precious lady—she figured out I was from Zacador. Even though she’s never stepped outside the capital.”

Interest lit up in Flint’s eyes as he and Astin moved to the office.

“What kind of request did she make?”

“Even for you, Lord Flint, I can’t reveal a client’s secrets.”

“I once wore a blue belt, remember?”

“But you’re not part of Asta anymore, Your Grace.”

Astin took off her robe after entering the office. As Flint sat on the sofa, she tossed the pouch of money and contract Eliano had given her onto the desk without much care. But she had to get up when a handsome man burst in, clearly panicked.

“It’s urgent! Really urgent! A total freak showed up!”

Annoyed at being interrupted, Astin yelled,

“Use your charm! That’s what I placed you here for!”

“It’s not working! Damn it!”

The handsome man who had smiled sweetly at Lavender and Jane now cursed like a thug. His harsh language was completely out of place with his face. In the end, Astin had no choice but to leave the office with him.

Once their footsteps faded, Flint stood up from the sofa. He quickly approached the desk and picked up the contract to check its contents. Though it was written briefly, he could guess the general idea of the request. But when he lowered the contract, he paused at the signature line.