I Stole The Duke - Chapter 10

The First Knight Order, also known as the Blue Knights.

An elite group composed of individuals possessing at least Sword Expert-level swordsmanship and a certain level of navigation skills. Outside the royal family, the Ascher Ducal House commands the largest number of knights, yet even they have only twenty members in this elite unit.

While the uniforms of ordinary knights are entirely white, the First Knight Order wears white trousers paired with blue jackets embroidered in silver thread. It was a distinguished, elite force, marked by their special attire alone.

They, the pride of House Ascher, had all been mobilized for escort duty.

‘Isn’t this overkill!?’

It was a massive waste of manpower—and an absolute nuisance.

“Sir Carlisle, I don’t think there’s any need for such a large escort. Two knights will be enough.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible.”

Puelini was exactly the sort of man who looked and acted like a stiff, by-the-book soldier.

“I’m uncomfortable.”

Eliana’s face quickly turned weary. She hadn’t even set off yet, but she already felt oddly exhausted.

“Don’t you think this is a waste of resources?”

“His Grace has ordered us to prioritize your safety above all else.”

She had simply planned to get some fresh air, and now they were turning her into a galactic superstar. Surrounded by guards, the thought of being stared at from all sides sent shivers down her spine.

“This many people will only get in the way.”

“We will do our utmost not to hinder you in any way, my Lady!”

Wow—this wasn’t a conversation at all. Eliana felt like a lump of sweet potato was stuck in her throat.

“Where is His Grace?”

If she stayed here any longer, she might suffocate. She needed someone she could reason with.

“His Grace is in his office.”

“I’ll speak with him.”

Turning on her heel, Eliana headed back toward the stairs, and the knights instantly resumed their escort mission.

“We shall escort you.”

Puelini swiftly moved to her side, offering a respectful escort. She felt like she could walk down the stairs blindfolded without stumbling.

Step. Step. Step.

Behind her, the knights instinctively reformed into a column of two, marching with synchronized steps like soldiers in a parade.

‘Oh, for heaven’s sake…’

Eliana’s face flushed red. The oppressive sense of shame and pressure followed her like a shadow.

White trousers, blue jackets, and white berets—an entire legion of Smurfs. (Unintentionally, Eliana was also wearing a white hat.)

‘There’s no way I’m going out like this!’

Unlike Eliana’s dismay, the Blue Knights—disappointed at being excluded from the recent naval training—were fiercely motivated to perform this mission perfectly.

‘No outsiders within three meters!’

Their sharp eyes missed nothing, maintaining strict vigilance as if they wouldn’t allow even a fly to approach.

“My Lady….”

Amy, pushed to the very end of the group by their overwhelming presence, looked on the verge of tears.

“Please wait here.”

“Yes, understood.”

Eliana, practically fleeing, dashed up to the third floor, leaving Puelini behind as she knocked on the door of the aide’s office.

“Lady Acklera?”

Startled, Iadis widened his eyes as Eliana burst into the room the moment she knocked.

“Haa, please escort me to His Grace.”

Only after the door closed behind her did Eliana finally let out a breath. The knights’ intense presence in their stiff uniforms had made her feel completely stifled.

“Yes, of course.”

‘The future Duchess looks unusually weary today.’

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Without asking further, Iadis knocked on the inner door.

“Your Grace, Lady Acklera is here to see you.”

“Come in.”

Upon hearing Duke Ascher’s voice, Eliana entered the office without hesitation.

“Are you heading out now?”

Wearing a wide-brimmed white hat and a lemon-colored dress, Eliana’s appearance lit up the office like sunshine.

Duke Ascher paused his work, quietly pleased by her presence. Judging by her attire, it seemed she had come to express her thanks before going out.

“Relieve the escort.”

Contrary to his expectation, Eliana, visibly upset, cut straight to the point.

“What are you talking about?”

His expression hardened at the unexpected request.

“Just what I said. Relieve the escort.”

“That is not possible.”

“All I said was that I wanted to go out—not that I wanted to become the center of attention!”

Her voice rose involuntarily in frustration.

“Going out without an escort is dangerous.”

‘As if I don’t know that already?’

Once again, Eliana felt suffocated.

“Then at least reduce the number to one or two.”

In her opinion, even just Puelini, the captain of the Blue Knights, would be enough to keep anyone within a meter away.

“……”

Duke Ascher fell silent, seeming to weigh her request.

“……”

Eliana also paused, openly casting him a hopeful gaze.

“No fewer than ten.”

It was a critical time with the wedding approaching, and with many outsiders coming and going, this was the maximum concession Duke Ascher could make.

“Haa… Don’t you think this is an enormous waste of manpower?”

“There is nothing more valuable than your safety.”

Eliana was left speechless by Duke Ascher’s unyielding response.

‘Ugh, this is suffocating. What is with this man? Is he a duke or a Confucian scholar?’

If she kept a low profile, no one would even recognize her as the future duchess. But the head of these obstinate soldiers was no different—a stone wall through and through.

“Why don’t you just advertise me as the future duchess?”

A woman strolling around with the impenetrable protection of the most elite knight order—it was like she was hosting a runway show for the title of future Duchess.

“Should I wear a name tag that says ‘Future Duchess’ around my neck?”

“Please don’t be sarcastic.”

“Then I won’t go out.”

“Don’t.”

As Eliana continued to push back, a hint of emotion slipped into Duke Ascher’s tone.

“Alright then, since I’m not going out, would you please relieve the escort?”

At her words, Duke Ascher rose from his desk, his expression now visibly hardened, and strode past her.

“Disband the knights.”

Throwing open the office door, he curtly ordered Iadis, who had been waiting in the aide’s room.

“Are you satisfied now?”

“Yes.”

Eliana stepped forward, locking eyes with Duke Ascher, her gaze unwavering.

“……”

His cobalt eyes were colder than ever—like water dousing a blazing fire.

“……”

A tense stare-down lasted for several seconds.

‘I’m not one to lose a staring contest either…’

“I… I think I may have overreacted.”

Eliana was the first to break the silence. Now that her temper had cooled, she began to feel guilty for making the Supreme Commander rescind his orders.

“No. I went too far myself.”

Realizing that he had uncharacteristically lost his temper, Duke Ascher replied. He didn’t even understand why he had become so agitated.

“……”

As silence returned, the air grew awkward.

“Would you like some tea?”

Regaining his composure first, Duke Ascher broke the tension.

“Yes, that sounds good.”

Eliana watched as he tugged the servant bell cord, then took a seat on the sofa.

“You seem busy. Just continue with your work. I’ll have my tea and be on my way.”

“Understood.”

At her words, Duke Ascher returned to his desk and resumed his work without further comment.

For a brief moment, her presence distracted him, but he soon regained his focus, immersing himself in documents filled with dense text.

Clink.

Rustle.

The sound of turning pages and melting ice clinking in the glass filled the room peacefully.

“……”

Eliana silently gazed at the large window behind him.

The window, taller than she was, stood wide open, its cream-colored curtains neatly tied to either side. In the distance, pristine white walls stood tall, beyond which the deep blue sea and sky met.

A pleasant breeze drifted through the window, causing the yellow ribbon on her wide-brimmed hat to flutter. The weather was too beautiful to simply sit indoors.

Scratch. Scratch.

The sound of a pen gliding across paper was oddly soothing.

“……”

Drawn by the faint scent of ink carried on the breeze, Eliana’s gaze naturally shifted to Duke Ascher.

And once her eyes landed on him, she couldn’t look away.

Before she knew it, Eliana found herself staring. A man who looked seductive just by breathing—now focused on his work—looked even more alluring.

‘Wow…’

His thick eyebrows, evenly set above his brow, accentuated his masculine features. His well-shaped nose and firmly closed lips were perfectly balanced—not too thick, not too thin. His short-sleeved shirt revealed his well-toned, sun-kissed arms, and the veins protruding along his muscles drew her gaze.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Sensing her eyes on him, Duke Ascher asked as he sorted through signed documents.

“Because you’re handsome.”

“…What?”

The remark was so sudden and unexpected that his mind momentarily froze.

“You’re handsome, Your Grace.”

Eliana’s eyes sparkled mischievously as she took in his flustered expression.

“Oh! That face just now was cute.”

He had been called “disgusting” or “ruthless” by his father on occasion—but “cute”?

Heat rushed to the back of his neck. In his 27 years, it was the first time he had ever heard such a word directed at him.

“Hah… unbelievable.”

Caught off guard by this second strike, Duke Ascher missed the chance to respond.

From the moment they met, he had sensed it—his future bride was unusually candid and unfiltered. And that made her all the more dangerous.

“Shall we go on a date?”

“W-What?”

Before he could recover, her third strike landed, leaving Duke Ascher completely flustered. All the rigorous training to maintain composure in any situation as the heir was for nothing.

“Your Grace, let’s go out together.”

He stared at her, his face still filled with confusion, and let out a soft sigh.

“Haa… I can’t get any work done because of you, my Lady.”

Resigned, he slowly rose from his seat. It was the most awkward acceptance of a date in the history of the world.

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