I Stole The Duke - Chapter 51

“What’s your next outside engagement?”

Michalis asked as he gently tugged at the ribbon tied beneath Eliana’s chin, loosening her bonnet.

“I’m attending Lady Rancelloti’s tea party in three days.”

“Oh dear, is it not a couples’ event?”

He pulled off her bonnet, which had been covering part of her face, and carelessly tossed it onto the sofa table before drawing her into his arms.

Flick.
As his hand moved, a button on her dress came undone.

“Ah… Michalis. I… it’s the middle of the day…”

Sensing the atmosphere take a turn, Eliana squirmed awkwardly.

“I need comfort. Right now.”

After riding waves of heaven and hell all day, Michalis was emotionally exhausted. And truly, he needed comfort.

“I haven’t even washed yet…”

Eliana, growing flustered, tried to find an escape route.

“Shall I draw a bath for us? Or shall I use magic?”

No way out.

“M-Magic.”

Cornered by his bold advance, Eliana could only surrender.

“Imperial Clear.”

Sighing, she finally moved over to a nearby box, pulled out a magic card, and activated it with the spell.

“You know… it might be wise to write activation phrases on the back of these cards in some sort of cipher.”

Michalis, flipping the blue spell card over in his hand, studied both sides thoughtfully.

“Ah, I’ve been meaning to do that too. It’s been bothering me.”

Should I teach Michalis to read Hangul…?

“It would be more efficient if I gave you a unique encryption pattern we could both share. What do you think?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Instead of teaching him Hangul, it seemed far more reasonable for someone with a magical auto-translator like Eliana to memorize ciphered patterns.

“Imperial Clear. Alright then—since we’re ready.”

With a subtle smirk, Michalis lifted her effortlessly into his arms and carried her toward the bed.

The windows were wide open, and the midday sun of June streamed into the room. Sitting together on the bed in such bright daylight, Eliana found herself even more self-conscious.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Her heart pounded wildly. To avoid his smoldering gaze, Eliana quickly dropped her eyes.

“Michalis… What if someone walks in?”

Shhhk.

Before she even finished her sentence, Michalis moved to pull the bed’s canopy closed. The white lace curtains created a hazy veil around them.

“No one would dare disturb us.”

With the knots of the canopy untied, enclosing them fully, Michalis began undoing the buttons on his shirt—one by one—as he approached.

“Ah… Michalis, wait…”

Eliana suddenly felt a bit afraid of him. That look in his eyes—it was the kind of look that said I’m going to devour you.

I’m sorry, okay?

She felt as if she were being scolded somehow, and an apology echoed in her mind without meaning to.

I promise I won’t fake pregnancy ever again…

“Eek!”

Michalis, now shirtless, took her hand.

“Eliana, why are you so tense?”

She was clearly rigid with anxiety. Michalis noticed it right away and instinctively softened.

“I… I’m just really embarrassed.”

It wasn’t Michalis’s fault that he had such a fierce-looking face. She couldn’t say it was his gaze that scared her. Not wanting to hurt his feelings, Eliana chose her words carefully.

“I would never treat you roughly.”

“I know…”

Even when his eyes were intense, his touch was always gentle—just like now.

Tap. Tap.

Taking a step forward, Michalis drew her close and playfully bumped the tip of his nose against hers.

“Heh.”

As he nudged and rubbed noses with her in a light, silly gesture, the tension dissolved. Both of them smiled.

Smooch.

After that brief nose kiss, Michalis gave her lower lip a soft peck… then, without hesitation, deepened the kiss, drawing her into him completely.

“Haa…”

The kiss deepened in an instant.

That same day—while the ten knights were drenched in sweat running 200 laps around the estate—Eliana was also worked to exhaustion… though in a rather different way.

Imperial Year 321, June 12.

“Please, my lady. Allow me.”

“Thank you, Sir Joel.”

With Joel’s steady hand escorting her, Eliana stepped down from the carriage and straightened her posture. The Rancelloti estate, with its beige exterior and blue-tiled roof, stood before her like a grand old painting—elegant and dignified.

“It is an honor to welcome you, Duchess of Ascher. Please, allow me to show you the way.”

The Rancelloti steward, waiting at the foot of the central stairway, bowed deeply to greet his guest.

“Shall we, my lady?”

“Yes.”

Eliana lightly placed her hand on Joel’s offered arm, her eyes following the steward leading the way.

“……”

Since today’s event was taking place entirely inside the Rancelloti estate, only one escort had been assigned—Joel. To Eliana, who often felt overwhelmed by traveling with a whole entourage, it was a welcome change.

Why is she even here?

What’s a noble faction heiress doing at this tea party?

Look at that smug face of hers.

At that very moment, Freya sat at one of the tables, surrounded by tea and delicacies—drawing suspicious and openly hostile gazes from the young noblewomen around her.

“The weather is just perfect. I’m sure today’s tea party will be remembered as one of the finest, Lady Rancelloti.”

To Freya, the hostility of these newly debuted debutantes was laughable. She wouldn’t be shaken by amateurs who couldn’t even manage a neutral expression.

“Thank you for your kind words, Lady Espensen.”

As the host, Riela responded with a calm smile befitting her role.

“……”

Outwardly composed, Riela was actually feeling a bit tense in Freya’s presence. From the moment she received the belated reply to the invitation she had sent out of courtesy, she’d felt something was off.

That poised smile, unmoved even under so many hostile stares… Though she hadn’t spoken much with her before, it was clear to Riela now that the noble faction’s candidate for crown princess wasn’t just an ordinary lady.

She must have a reason for attending my tea party…

With no prior relationship between them, Riela couldn’t guess why Freya had chosen to come—and that uncertainty made her uneasy.

“My lady, the Duchess of Ascher has arrived.”

As the final guest entered the tea garden, the atmosphere brightened instantly.

She’s here!

Oh my, she looks incredible today too.

That uniform suits her so well!

Everyone had been waiting for this moment—not just for the Duchess of Ascher, but for the Southern noble who shone like a star: the Terius star had arrived.

Yes, officially the event was about forming connections among young noblewomen. But once it was revealed that the Duchess would be attending, the purpose had quietly shifted: it was all about catching a glimpse of that star.

“It’s an honor to see you again, Duchess of Ascher.”

Riela hurried over, lifting her skirt to curtsy respectfully at the entrance.

“It’s good to see you too, Lady Rancelloti.”

“Please forgive me for not greeting you properly at the entrance.”

“It’s quite all right. I’m not the only guest, after all.”

They really do make a perfect picture…

Watching Eliana and Joel walk in together, Freya couldn’t help but smile mischievously.

Oh dear… they look far too good together.

The pairing of the beautiful Duchess and her far-too-handsome knight looked so perfect, it practically screamed scandal material.

Here we go again.

Joel met Freya’s gaze and immediately stiffened. She was undeniably beautiful, but for some reason, the more he saw her, the more uneasy he felt.

What are you staring at, you fox-faced knight?

I’ll be watching you closely today. If you cross the line, I’ll be sure to inform Her Grace myself.

Their silent standoff stretched… three seconds.

Lady Espensen really is quite beautiful…

Please look over here too, Sir Terius…

As the staring match dragged into its fifth second, the debutantes at the table began to fidget, holding their breath.

“Sir Terius. It’s lovely to see you again.”

It was Riela who finally ended the tension, stepping forward to greet him politely.

“It’s an honor, Lady Rancelloti. However, today I’m here in an official capacity. I’d appreciate it if you regarded me not as a member of House Terius, but simply as a knight escorting Her Grace.”

“O-Of course, Sir Terius…”

Oh my!

Why aren’t there men like that in Wespera?!

The debutantes’ eyes—previously locked on Joel—glazed over dreamily. A man focused on his duty was attractive enough… but a handsome one? Irresistible.

What is this mood…?

Eliana, sensing the collective longing aimed at Joel, gave an awkward smile and took a seat beside Freya.

“It’s even nicer to see you in a setting like this, Freya.”

Seeing Eliana approach her so openly and without hesitation, Freya’s heart lifted. A soft, blooming smile spread across her face.

“I feel the same, Duchess.”

“……”

She… she called her by name?!

The noblewomen nearby stirred subtly. Now it all made sense—the reason Lady Espensen had been acting so high and mighty. She was on familiar terms with the Duchess of Ascher, the very woman who had become the storm center of Wespera’s high society.

“Lady Rancelloti, ladies—please excuse me briefly. I’ll be standing by on escort duty.”

Joel bowed slightly to Riela and the others seated at the table, asking for their understanding, before walking over to stand behind Eliana.

Normally, a knight would have waited outside for a women-only tea party. But today, Joel found himself too wary of Freya’s oddly intense gaze to leave the scene.

Oh, even better!

For the debutantes, who had come to admire their shining star, this unexpected development was a delightful surprise.

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