~Chapter 08~
At his words, Eloise scoffed.
If you’re going to lie, at least make it believable.
Dyslexia?
Then who on earth was managing the vast Elias estate?
Why not just say you can’t read love letters?
As if he could read her thoughts, Kalen continued calmly.
“I intended to read the letters sent by the young ladies to choose the one most compatible with me. But I simply couldn’t understand them.”
“That’s impossible. The letters must be written in our language, and there are rumours that you’re a genius… Are those rumours false?”
“They might be a bit exaggerated, but I am a genius.”
Eloise blushed at his unabashed self-praise.
Whether or not he was truly a genius, one thing was certain: Duke Kalen was shamelessly bold.
“But the problem is, the letters often contain words I don’t know. Words like ‘Neungra’ or ‘Dragon’s Claw of Lar Gorge,’ from that popular novel.”
Those were the very words he had asked her about recently.
“The words the ladies use differ greatly from the ones I’m used to. So I need someone who can interpret their language for me.”
Eloise bit her lip thoughtfully before asking,
“Why me, of all people?”
“You’re a woman, so you understand a woman’s heart. You’re well-versed in social circles, and above all, this needs to be kept strictly confidential.”
It was the same reasoning the Duchess had given.
Not only did they share honey-coloured eyes, but their thoughts seemed aligned as well.
He nodded, as if understanding Eloise’s isolation—no close friends to confide in.
“I will pay well. One gold coin per letter.”
“One gold coin!”
Unconsciously raising her voice, Eloise quickly covered her mouth.
It was impossible to suppress the survival instinct bubbling up inside the prim noble girl.
She clasped her hands together and slowly spoke.
“Honestly, it’s tempting… but still…”
“It’s also because of my mother.”
“You mean the duchess?”
“She only has me, and she’s worried to no end because I don’t want to get married.”
Eloise’s eyes trembled.
She sympathised completely—she too was prepared to do anything for Laura’s sake.
Kalen continued calmly.
“There’s always the option to marry someone chosen by my parents, but I think that would be unfair to the other person. I don’t want to marry a partner like that—someone I’m forced to be with for life.”
His words moved Eloise a little.
In a world full of men who saw their wives merely as bearers of heirs, his attitude felt refreshingly genuine.
“I just want to marry someone whose thoughts and heart match mine.”
His honey-colored eyes gleamed with genuine sincerity.
Eloise licked her dry lips.
“Please give me a little time to think.”
“Of course. So, after our conversation, would you like some tea?
“Oh, I…”
“I’ll have it brought to you.”
Kalen gestured toward the tea and cookies set out before them.
That morning, Eloise had only had bread and soup, and she had skipped lunch.
Her stomach was grumbling.
The cookies studded with dried plums looked irresistible.
Her head urged her to leave quickly, but her hand betrayed her, reaching out for a cookie.
“Then I’ll have just one.”
“As you wish.”
Kalen politely pulled back his chair to help Eloise sit comfortably.
She hesitated for a moment—this was her first time receiving such a courteous escort.
“Thank you.”
And she felt her heart flutter faintly.
It had been a long, long time since anyone had shown her even the smallest kindness.
For the daughter of a fallen noble house, the world was anything but gentle.
If she didn’t take matters into her own hands, there was nothing she could hold onto.
It was just a slight gesture—pulling out a chair—but after seven long years, Eloise’s heart fluttered for a moment.
She stole a glance at Kalen’s profile.
She believed that there was always a grain of exaggeration in rumours.
But half of what was said about Kalen seemed true enough.
He was incredibly attractive, and he didn’t care for romance.
“Well, he looks more like a statue standing in the garden, in my opinion.”
Eloise was more and more enthralled with Kalen’s enigmatic face.
He’d simply lifted a delicate white teacup to his rosy lips, yet the feeling was strangely intense.
Another rumour that was circulating was also obviously accurate:
That he was a duke blessed with an almost hypnotic, dangerous kind of sexiness.
But that had nothing to do with her.
Eloise muttered inwardly,
“He’s just a statue. A ridiculously handsome statue.”
Silently repeating that to herself, she glanced at his profile again.
Sharing tea with such a breathtaking man was like slipping into a dream.
Basking in the cool breeze that drifted through the room, Eloise gently closed her eyes.
Savouring the uncommon tranquillity.
It had been so long since she’d felt this kind of calm.
It might not last, but while it did, she would let herself enjoy it.
Unaware that Calen’s eyes were fixed on her with a meaning far deeper than mere politeness.
***
Later, without realising it, Eloise sighed as she chopped carrots and cabbage from her garden for stew.
She had asked for time to think, but that was just an excuse to refuse.
No matter how much she considered it, this just wasn’t right.
Though his words about caring for his mother and rejecting a marriage arranged solely to produce an heir had shaken her—they were appeals to pure, human compassion—there was more at stake.
Of course, the offer of one gold coin per letter was tempting, but still—
A poor noblewoman serving a wealthy nobleman was a situation begging for misunderstanding.
Especially if that man was a young, handsome duke.
Biting her lip, Eloise muttered,
“But he said it’s just reading letters. If he has dyslexia about love letters, maybe it’s not so far-fetched. Sometimes I can’t even understand the language nobles use.”
Thinking that way, it wasn’t something she couldn’t do.
Besides, one gold coin per letter.
She didn’t know how many letters there’d be, but even one gold was enough to feed her for half a year.
The money was much needed, especially when she considered what might occur next month.
She felt her heart tremble like a reed in the wind.
“Ugh.”
Shaking her head at the endless thoughts, she returned to chopping cabbage.
That evening’s dinner was surprisingly rich—vegetable stew paired with the salted pork she’d been saving for a special occasion.
She even brought out a bottle of wine for a little treat.
Pouring two glasses, she moved to call Laura when a knock came at the door.
“Who could that be at this hour?”
Puzzled, Eloise walked over to the door.
“Who’s there?”
But when she opened it, her brow furrowed involuntarily.
Devon was grinning smugly.
His blatant eyes roamed over her from head to toe, and Eloise half-closed the door, saying,
“What do you want?”
“Did you forget what day tomorrow is?”
“I haven’t forgotten. Now, please go.”
As Eloise tried to close the door, Devon grabbed it with his large hand.
No matter how much she struggled, the door wouldn’t budge from his grip.
Leaning in close, Devon pressed his face uncomfortably close to El’s and whispered slyly,
“So you’ll remember what month it is next month, won’t you? Eloise Moora, Baron’s daughter.” Baron’s
How could she possibly forget?
After her father took out massive private loans to fund a doomed business venture, the entire debt fell squarely on the shoulders of El and her mother, Laura.
They’d sold off every last possession but still couldn’t clear the debts.
Seven long years had passed.
The interest piled up, compounding on itself until the sum was far greater than the original amount.
The real blow came when the creditor—who had once taken pity on her youth and demanded only the interest—declared that, starting from the month she turned nineteen, she would have to repay the full principal as well.
And that creditor was Devon’s father.
Devon’s blue eyes glimmered with desire as they roamed over Eloise again.
“Next month’s your nineteenth birthday, right? You’ve lasted a year. Impressive.”
Clenching her lips, Eloise glared back and swiftly kicked him in the shin with the toe of her shoe.
“Ugh!”
With a sharp cry, Devon hopped around clutching his shin. El seized the moment and quickly slammed the door shut.
Laura would surely faint if she heard about this, so it’s best to keep it quiet.
“Whether I hold out or not is none of your damn business,” she muttered under her breath in annoyance.
Suddenly—bang!
The door rattled violently.
El, who had been leaning against it, flinched and backed away.
Devon’s mocking voice rang out from the other side.
“I already told you how to settle that debt in one go. Think it over.”
“Crazy bastard.”
If Laura had heard that, she’d have fallen backwards too.
Eloise glared at the door as if Devon himself stood there, her stomach turning at his proposal to marry her off as payment for the debt.
By next month, she needed one gold coin—now.
Sighing, she stared up at the ceiling.
“Is this the will of the gods?”
At just the right moment, a job appeared that would pay exactly the amount she needed.
And, conveniently, Devon had shown up right when she was hesitating.
It seemed she had no choice but to start.
***
The next day, the sound of hooves clattering against the ground made El pause in her work.
She looked up to see who was dismounting—and though she’d expected him, her face stiffened involuntarily.
“You’re even more beautiful in the bright daylight, Miss Eloise.”
With a sly grin, Devon spoke, but Eloise said nothing, retreating inside to fetch a pouch of coins.
Devon stared silently at the pouch she held out, then smiled widely and reached for her hand.
Grasping both the pouch and her small hand, he pulled her toward him.
“Ah!”
