Chapter 04
At the word “physical relationship,” Asher finally dropped the teacup he was holding.
Fortunately, the thick carpet softened the fall, so the cup didn’t shatter.
Though the hem of Asher’s trousers was slightly soaked with tea.
“Y-you have no shame…!”
“Yes.”
Daphne lifted her chin proudly.
“Not even a little. Even if I happen to see the duke’s naked body a few times, it won’t make me develop romantic feelings. I can promise you that.”
“Miss Daphne Sutton!”
Asher’s face turned so pale it was almost pitiful.
He didn’t even seem to notice the tea soaking into his trousers.
“And having the same gender doesn’t mean romantic feelings or physical relationships can’t happen either.”
“Good heavens, please just stop talking! It’s a relief the gentlemanly duke isn’t here to hear such indecent words from you…!”
A gentlemanly duke?
Daphne thought that if the new Duke of Sloane truly had a polite and refined personality, that would actually be perfect.
He would grow tired of her shameless behavior and stop thinking about Samuel.
By then, Samuel would already be on a train far away.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
It was the same footman as before.
“The duke’s carriage has arrived. Mr. Maple, you should go to greet him.”
Asher looked back and forth between Daphne and the window with a pale expression.
Standing up, he gave Daphne a stern warning.
“If you say anything uncivilized to His Grace, I will not forgive you, Miss Sutton.”
Seeing how desperately he was trying to remain calm made him look almost pitiable, so Daphne nodded graciously.
“I only say what needs to be said.”
Daphne followed him outside the mansion.
Turning along the white walls, they soon reached the central entrance, where the servants had lined up in formation.
Asher stood at the very front, and Daphne stood beside him.
Soon, a dark crimson automobile approached and stopped in front of them.
Following proper etiquette, Daphne bowed.
Now I just have to make this man like me.
He was the ruler of this enormous estate and the king of Clotmore.
If he declared that he would form the oath with Daphne, no one would be able to object.
“How were the funeral arrangements?”
The duke’s voice sounded right in front of her.
He seemed to be asking Asher about the funeral of the previous duke.
Unlike her father, whose funeral had been held immediately in the cathedral, a duke’s funeral required far more preparation.
“I’ve spoken with the archpriest. It will proceed without issue, as you instructed.”
“Good work. I suppose my arriving earlier than expected caused trouble.”
Daphne thought the man’s voice sounded strangely familiar.
How odd.
There was no connection between her and the duke.
Yet it sounded like a voice she had heard recently…
“Not at all. You are now the master of this land. We are simply always waiting for your return.”
“I thought I should at least show my face briefly at Sutton’s funeral. Well… rushing here meant I had the chance to experience third-class seats on a slow train, which wasn’t so bad.”
Daphne’s back twitched.
A bad feeling crept over her.
But there were many slow trains traveling from the capital to Clotmore.
And countless people rode in third class.
No. That can’t be it.
She desperately denied the thought and suppressed the urge to raise her head.
“More importantly, my lord—what about that hat?”
“Oh, this? A friend I met on the train gave it to me. A young man handsome enough to fall in love with at first sight. Ah… if only his interfering sister hadn’t been there, I might have tried something. What a shame.”
“…!”
In the end, Daphne couldn’t stop herself and slowly raised her head.
Their eyes met.
The moment she saw those smiling eyes curved in amusement—
Daphne froze completely.
It was him.
The very man who had lifted her suitcase on the train and sat across from her all the way to Clotmore.
He was Duke Liam Sloane.
“Are you two a couple?”
Daphne immediately remembered what she had replied on the train.
“Of course not! He’s my one and only younger brother. Handsome, isn’t he?”
I’m doomed!
Of course it’s natural to want to brag about handsome Samuel—but I should’ve kept quiet then, you idiot!
Daphne cursed herself while silently praying to God.
Please turn back time again!
Right now!
But no matter how desperately she wished for time to reverse, the heavens gave no answer.
Time continued moving forward faithfully.
And Daphne soon found herself back in the yellow-walled sitting room, this time with the duke himself.
Earlier she had been smugly arguing with Asher here.
Now she couldn’t even straighten her shoulders properly.
“So,” Liam asked, sitting across from her,
“why has Daphne of Sutton come here?”
He asked Asher, who stood behind him, to explain the situation.
“Well…”
Asher adjusted his glasses and began explaining, looking somewhat pleased.
With the duke backing him up, he seemed delighted at the chance to humble Daphne.
“Miss Sutton has come claiming she wishes to become Your Grace’s attendant.”
“Oh?”
“Of course that’s absurd, so I was just asking her to tell me where her brother is.”
“I see.”
“But she absolutely refuses to say where he is!”
Asher raised his voice.
Liam slowly smiled at Daphne.
“Ah… that handsome young man.”
Daphne nearly shouted “He’s a boy!” out loud.
Liam gently stroked the fur hat he was holding.
Daphne’s back stiffened.
It was Samuel’s favorite winter hat.
She had no idea how it ended up in Liam’s hands.
“Let’s talk about the hat.”
Perhaps noticing Daphne’s reaction, Liam lazily rested his chin on his hand.
“The hat?”
Asher looked confused, but Liam didn’t bother explaining further.
“Actually, I just came back from Clotmore Central Station. I still had some lingering attachment to that man…”
Liam put on an exaggerated expression of emotion.
“I wanted to see him again. A handsome man like that is rare.”
“…!”
“Fortunately, he was still on the platform. With such a pretty face, he wasn’t hard to find.”
He paused and slowly narrowed his eyes.
A flash of amusement glimmered in his dark violet eyes.
He was clearly enjoying this.
Daphne’s clenched hands began trembling.
Seeing her reaction, the corners of his lips lifted slightly.
“He said he was boarding the express train to Orinshire. Apparently it’s the hometown of the housekeeper who raised him. He said he’ll stay there for a while and smiled bravely while telling me that.”
Liam nodded slowly, looking deeply moved.
“Even thinking about it again… he was very handsome.”
Don’t you dare set your sights on my brother!
Daphne desperately suppressed the scream rising in her throat.
“Fortunately, he seemed to like me too. As proof, we exchanged hats.”
Daphne shook her head vigorously.
There was no way that was true!
That wicked man must have bullied innocent Samuel into giving him the hat.
She worried whether her gentle brother might even be crying somewhere right now.
Watching her carefully, Liam pulled out a small piece of paper from his pocket.
“Of course, hats weren’t the only thing we exchanged.”
“…!”
He handed the paper to Daphne.
On it was neatly written the address of Mrs. Paige’s hometown, where Samuel would be staying.
Oh my God, even my brother’s handwriting is handsome!
Daphne momentarily admired it before realizing this was absolutely not the time.
That smiling man had now discovered Samuel’s destination.
W-what should I do?
While Daphne struggled to think, Asher cleared his throat and stepped closer to Liam.
“My lord, I understand you made a fine friend today.”
“A friend? That sounds a bit cold. I’d prefer to call it a deep connection. We left quite an impression on each other.”
“Ha—!”
Daphne almost said “Don’t be ridiculous! You obviously threatened him!” but stopped herself.
She couldn’t let oblivious Asher realize that “that man” was Samuel Sutton.
“Ha?”
Liam deliberately asked her to finish the word she had started, smiling mischievously.
Daphne could bet all the shoes she owned that he was doing this on purpose.
You villain. May you step in fresh horse manure every time you wear new shoes for the rest of your life.
Even while cursing him inwardly, she forced a polite smile.
“Ha… tch.”
She lifted her teacup.
“Oh, the sound of the teacup,” Liam said with a nod of understanding.
Only then did Asher seem to notice something strange.
He looked back and forth between the two before clearing his throat.
“Anyway, the important thing now is to find Mr. Sutton’s whereabouts as soon as possible.”
“Indeed. Mr. Sutton’s whereabouts. Very important.”
Liam nodded while lightly fluttering the piece of paper in his hand.
