I Stole The Duke - Chapter 139
“Ugh! My ankle…”
Evelyn lifted the hem of her dress slightly, revealing a badly swollen ankle, her eyes welling up with tears. Jitujeon had done her job a little too well—her ankle genuinely hurt.
“Oh no, Evelyn! I’m so sorry! I slipped—really, I didn’t mean to!”
Jitujeon—well, Alessina—was equally shocked by how serious the injury looked. She had only meant for Evelyn to take a light tumble, not actually get hurt.
“This isn’t good. If we don’t treat it quickly, the swelling could get worse.”
Any knight with a sense of honor would know it’s their duty to help a lady in distress. And when it came to ankle injuries, this was something Iadis was more than capable of handling.
“Are you her friend? Please, bring some ice and follow me.”
Iadis glanced toward the drink bar, where wine and cold refreshments were piled high. Fortunately, the venue had an abundance of ice.
“Yes! Got it!”
Alessina hurried toward the bar without hesitation.
“Please try not to walk on it until treatment is complete. I’ll take you to the lounge for first aid.”
Iadis hesitated for a moment, then gently lifted Evelyn into his arms.
“Ah… okay.”
Her arms naturally wrapped around his neck. That faint, soothing scent of parchment she’d noticed earlier drifted once again to her nose.
“Thank you…”
Despite the pain making her tear up, a smile kept creeping onto Evelyn’s lips.
“I’m just doing what any knight ought to.”
“What any knight ought to…?”
Again, Evelyn felt like she’d run into a massive, invisible wall—some kind of natural barrier she couldn’t see but couldn’t break through either. Like a fortress built from steel.
“Oh no! I’m so sensitive—I can’t bear to see someone in pain!”
“Ah! Please don’t close the door—ah… too late.”
When they reached the lounge, Iadis found himself in an unexpectedly awkward situation. Alessina, who had dutifully followed them up to the second-floor lounge with a bucket of ice, simply left it at the door… and ran off.
“I… I’ll leave the door open, just in case.”
A young man and woman, alone in a closed room? That could lead to unnecessary rumors. Things might be more relaxed in the South, but this young lady was from the East. One careless moment could end up ruining her prospects.
“I’m fine! If the door’s open and someone passes by, they might get the wrong idea anyway…”
“Ah… in that case, let me start the treatment.”
“Yes, please.”
Glancing once more at the firmly shut door, Iadis set Evelyn gently onto the sofa.
“We’ll need to apply an ice compress first. I’ll remove your shoe.”
He knelt and gently took hold of her foot.
“Yes… go ahead.”
Go ahead and… take it off?
He stiffened like he’d been pricked by a needle.
You idiot!
She was injured—she needed help. Iadis silently berated himself for letting his mind wander, steeling his nerves again.
“Thankfully, there doesn’t seem to be any bone damage.”
He narrowed his eyes, focusing entirely on her ankle. That brief, inappropriate thought had to be blamed on being trapped alone in a room with a young lady. He needed to fix this and leave, fast.
“So… it’s not broken?”
“After icing the area and wrapping it, you’ll just need to rest for a while.”
“Ice compress…?”
“Yes. Your friend was supposed to help with that.”
Iadis quickly rose to avoid Evelyn’s intent gaze, which had been locked on his face.
“…Huh?”
When he strode over and opened the lounge door, he was immediately taken aback.
“……”
Not even a mouse in sight. The friend he assumed would be waiting outside had completely vanished.
“Is something wrong?”
“N-no, it’s nothing.”
She’d been abandoned. Iadis didn’t want to add emotional betrayal to Evelyn’s already unlucky day.
“I’ll handle the compress as well.”
“That’s okay with me.”
He walked over to the console in the lounge, grabbed a clean towel, and expertly made an ice pack.
“Keep this on the swelling for about 30 minutes. Once the inflammation goes down, I’ll apply a bandage.”
Iadis was miserable. That meant 30 full minutes—alone with her in this room.
“……”
“……”
An awkward silence filled the air.
“Thank you… I really don’t know how I can repay you.”
“As I said before, I’m simply doing what any knight should.”
How can someone be so warm and so impossible at the same time?
“…Still, you’ve helped me so much. I’d feel terrible not offering some kind of reward.”
“No need. I’m fine.”
Evelyn looked defeated, her expression nearly in tears. Nothing she said could pierce this man’s iron wall of propriety.
“Um… may I ask what your actual job is?”
She couldn’t back down here—this was her moment. After a deep breath, she knocked once more on the wall around his heart.
Are you… the Tower Master?
Had the Tower Master disguised himself as a knight using a magic scroll? Or was it the other way around—a knight disguising himself as the Tower Master?
Is she… asking if I’m in administration or field service?
“I-It hurts… my ankle…”
Evelyn gently lifted the hem of her gown, revealing her swollen ankle, tears welling up in her eyes. Alessina—Jitujeon—had done such a good job that it actually hurt.
“Oh no, Evelyn! I’m so sorry—I didn’t think you’d actually get hurt. I just slipped!”
Alessina was clearly shaken, dancing nervously in place. She had only intended a gentle trip—she hadn’t expected a real injury.
“This needs to be treated right away, or the swelling will get worse.”
Any knight who valued his honor would help a lady in distress. And treating a sprained ankle was something Iadis could handle easily.
“Are you, her friend? Please bring ice and follow me.”
Iadis gestured toward the refreshment table stacked with wine bottles and, conveniently, plenty of ice.
“Right away!”
Alessina rushed off quickly.
“Please avoid putting weight on your foot until we treat it. I’ll take you to the lounge for first aid.”
Iadis hesitated for only a moment before gently lifting Evelyn into his arms.
“Ah… okay.”
Her arms wrapped around his neck instinctively. That familiar scent of parchment he carried brushed past her nose again.
“…Thank you.”
Even as tears threatened to fall from the pain, Evelyn couldn’t stop smiling.
“I’m just doing what any knight should.”
“What any knight should…”
Again, Evelyn felt the weight of an invisible wall pressing down on her. It was like a natural barrier she couldn’t break through—stronger than steel.
“Oh no! I can’t stand seeing people in pain, I’m far too sensitive!”
“Ah—please don’t shut the—ah… too late.”
By the time they reached the lounge, Iadis was flustered. Alessina, who had followed them with a small bucket of ice, left it by the door… and promptly ran off.
“…I’ll just leave the door open.”
A man and woman alone in a closed room could stir up unwanted rumors—especially for an eastern noblewoman. While free romance was common in the South, it could ruin her reputation here.
“I’m fine! If the door’s open and someone walks by, they might get the wrong idea too…”
“…Then I’ll begin the treatment.”
“Yes, please.”
After a short glance at the tightly shut door, Iadis gently set Evelyn down on the sofa.
“We’ll start with an ice compress. I’ll need to remove your shoe.”
He dropped to one knee and reached for her foot.
“Yes… go ahead.”
“G-Go ahead?”
A shock ran through him like he’d been pricked with a pin.
What the hell’s wrong with you?!
She’s injured. She needs help. Iadis cursed his wandering thoughts and forced himself to focus.
“Fortunately, it’s not a serious injury.”
His gaze locked onto her ankle. Whatever strange thought had passed through his head, it had to be blamed on the situation—a man and woman alone in a closed room. He had to finish this and get out of here.
“So… it’s not broken?”
“Correct. If you ice it and rest for a couple of days, it should heal well.”
“Alright, I’ll do that.”
“Wait here for a moment—I’ll go find your brother.”
Having finished wrapping the ankle, Iadis stood up. He didn’t know what her brother looked like, but asking around downstairs should work.
“W-Wait! Please!”
Evelyn reached out, stopping him before he turned away.
“…Yes?”
“I don’t know how long it’ll take to find him. I don’t want to stay here alone. I’m sorry, but… could you take me back to the ballroom instead?”
What a high-maintenance lady.
“…Of course.”
Still, it wasn’t an unreasonable request. Iadis leaned forward, preparing to lift her again—
“Huh?!”
Evelyn suddenly pulled on his collar and stole a kiss. If nothing else worked, she had to go for a direct assault.
“L-Lady Evelyn!”
Iadis jerked away like he’d been burned.
“……”
He dodged it?!
To be rejected in less than a second—Evelyn was stunned. Her lips trembled.
“I’m sorry… if that upset you. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable…”
Her defenses had shattered; tears welled up again.
“I-I… didn’t mean…”
Even though he was technically the one ambushed, Iadis was now the one feeling guilty, watching her cry like that.
“I really am the worst, aren’t I?”
“…Kisses should be shared with someone you truly love.”
“I do love you!”
“How can you say that!?”
He couldn’t believe it. What had they even shared to justify such a declaration?
“It’s true!”
Well—her face alone was convincing enough. And his kindness was certainly drawing her in.
“How can you talk about love so easily?”
Just like a story needs time to build its plot, love needs time too—at least ten dates, in his opinion. That’s what Iadis believed.
“That’s just how I am! Falling fast doesn’t mean it’s not real.”
“I never said it wasn’t.”
“Is it a crime to fall in love easily?”
“It’s not a crime…”
Then it was all or nothing. Evelyn rammed herself against that impenetrable wall again.
“How can someone be so cruel?”
“Cruel? What do you—?”
“You made me fall for you, so why won’t you accept it?!”
“W-What are you even—!”
He was about to argue the logic—then stopped. This wasn’t about logic. He’d always claimed to want love, yet here he was, running from it.
“…It seems I misunderstood your feelings. I thought… the kiss was just your way of thanking me.”
“It wasn’t.”
Evelyn was shocked. How could he possibly interpret it that way?
“……”
Silence fell between them again.
“I…”
“You…”
“Please, go ahead.”
“I confessed. Will you accept my feelings?”
Her sincere gaze met his overwhelmed one.
“Um… I’ll answer not with words… but action.”
Iadis removed his glasses and set them gently on the side table. Then he leaned in.
“Huh?”
Before Evelyn could even close her eyes, his lips found hers. A gentle press at first—then a soft bite on her lower lip.
‘…W-What? … Wait… Whoa…’
Her eyes slowly fluttered shut. Her slender arms wrapped around his firm neck, drawing him in closer.
You’ve lost it, Iadis Concerto.
Kissing someone he wasn’t even officially dating? He must’ve completely lost his mind. But this young lady was surprisingly—no, incredibly—adorable. And after all,… who said the kiss had to come after the relationship?
Just this once. Three minutes. That’s it…
Despite the chaos in his mind, his lips were totally absorbed in the kiss.
…Wait, were kisses always this sweet?
And in that moment, Iadis finally began to understand why Joel always looked at his partner like he’d struck honey gold.
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