I Stole The Duke - Chapter 53

“Sir Joel!”

Eliana’s arms wrapped tightly around Joel’s neck. Of all things—rats?!
The creatures she feared most were, in order: insects with more than ten legs, legless reptiles like snakes, and then… rats. At this point, clinging to Joel was the only way she could survive.

You’ve lost it, Freya. What’s next—plague after food poisoning?

Eliana had always known Freya’s methods leaned toward subtlety—poison, maybe, at most. But rats? This was on a whole new level of shockingly vile.

“Kyaaaa!”

Freya was screaming, but inwardly, she was thrilled.

Perfect. Just the scene I wanted.

As the noble ladies leapt from their chairs, shrieking at the chaos, their gazes inevitably landed on Joel and Eliana—locked in a dramatic embrace.

“Ahhh!”

Oh my! Are they more than just knight and lady?!

I need a knight too! Kyaa!

She now had plenty of witnesses to support the scandal she was trying to seed.

“Kyaaaa!”

“Rats! Please! Someone do something—ugh…”

The rats continued scurrying about the tea garden, and screams turned into sobbing wails. Many of the ladies were at their limit, trying desperately not to flee, knowing it would be seen as an insult to the host.

“Eek!”

Just then, amidst her mechanical shrieks, Freya’s eyes locked with Joel’s.

Her eyes are… smiling. Could it be—?

Still carrying Eliana, Joel moved instinctively to avoid the rats, but something clicked.

“My lady, there are too many eyes on us. I’ll place you on the table for now… please hold on.”

“A-All right.”

The stares were intense. Eliana, sensing the atmosphere herself, nodded lightly.

Thud.

In one smooth motion, Joel lifted and seated Eliana on the table.

“I’ll handle the rats. Everyone, please stand on your chairs or the tables.”

“Y-Yes!”

Joel’s calm and firm voice helped restore order. One by one, the ladies scrambled onto their chairs.

“……”

But even as everyone found higher ground, Riela—the host of the tea party—remained frozen in her chair as if nailed there.

It’s over. This party is ruined…

Hosting a tea party only to be overrun by rats? For the esteemed Lady Rancelloti, a noble of long lineage and a crown princess candidate, this was nothing short of a social death sentence.

And in front of him, of all people…

Her body wouldn’t move. Only sheer pride held back her tears.

“Excuse me, Lady Rancelloti.”

Joel approached her, bowing politely.

“Kyaa!”

“Oh my!”

I should’ve just endured it like her…

Just as he had with Eliana, Joel bowed with composed grace, then effortlessly swept Riela into his arms, drawing another round of gasps and envious squeals.

“My lady.”

He set her gently onto the table and gave her a faint smile.

“……”

Their eyes met, slowly, and Riela felt like she was falling into the depths of his dimples, where her fears had briefly surfaced.

“Yes?”

“Do not worry. I’ll make sure this becomes the most memorable tea party ever.”

Oddly enough… his voice brought real comfort.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

A sword would’ve been cumbersome for rat-catching. Instead, Joel grabbed a handful of forks from the table and headed for the tea room door, flinging it open wide.

Squeak! Squeak, scurry!

Some of the rats, finding an escape route, bolted out of the room.

Thud!

One rat, scrambling up the curtains, was struck midair by a fork and fell lifeless to the floor.

Squeak! Squeak!

The scent of blood from their fallen comrade sent a few more scurrying out the window in a panic.

Thwack, thwack!

Cornered with no way out, the remaining rats were quickly dispatched by Joel’s precision throws.

“It seems the interior has been cleared.”

Joel reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a handkerchief, gently covering the rat’s body. Even his cleanup showed concern—for the ladies’ eyes and their nerves.

“……”

It should’ve been disgusting… and yet, it was breathtaking.

“……”

Oh my… was that my heart just now?!

The young ladies, still standing on their chairs, watched in stunned silence, their mouths slightly agape.

“My lady, there are shards from the broken teacup on the floor. Please allow me.”

“Of course, Sir Joel.”

With the entire party hushed, Joel stepped forward and carefully lifted Eliana from the table, setting her down in a safe spot clear of debris.

“Lady Rancelloti, I apologize for failing to catch a few of them. I believe we’ll need to bring in cats to finish the job properly.”

Joel approached Riela next, gently taking her hand to help her down from the table.

“Ah… y-yes.”

“And also—about the cutlery that was damaged during the incident. I’ll make sure to have new replacements sent to you by tomorrow.”

“Oh, that’s really not necessary.”

Riela, caught off guard, flushed slightly as she stepped down with Joel’s assistance.

Step, step.

As Joel walked away from her side, his footsteps echoed softly through the room.

“My, your lovely face has gone pale. Were you terribly frightened?”

“Oh, I… I’m all right.”

Then, he moved clockwise around the table.

“Are you hurt at all?”

“Ah… no! I’m fine!”

Joel’s voice, smooth as honey, flowed gently through the space.

Eek!

One young lady, who had just stepped down from her chair, quickly scrambled back up again.

“Are you sure you’re all right?”

“Y-Yes!”

Joel began assisting each and every one of the twenty noble ladies, taking their hands, helping them safely down from the chairs—meeting their eyes, flashing that soft dimple of his.

“Bad memories fade quickly.”

“Yes…”

It was like an exclusive fan service session.

I’m so glad I came to this tea party.

Goodness, even his scent is amazing.

Eee! I’m never washing this hand again.

This really is the best tea party ever!

Splash, splash!

It was as if every lady had fallen into the same emotional pool.

Joel Terius… I’ll love you forever…

All potential witnesses—who might have testified to scandal—were now floundering helplessly in Joel’s ocean of charm.

His hands are so warm. Who knew I’d ever be thankful for rats…

Joel, a man who knew how to use his face to full advantage, had effectively converted every single young lady present to his side.

Except for one.

As expected. That guy’s a total fox.

Watching Joel draw closer with comforting words and smiles, Freya was thoroughly repulsed. The Duchess’s outstanding knight had seduction down to a terrifying science.

Well… it doesn’t matter.

After all, rumors don’t grow based on facts or witnesses. They grow from the power of imagination—messier and more dangerous by far.

But seriously… what’s going on with her?

Glancing Joel’s way again, Freya noticed something odd—Riela had stepped off the table and was now staring blankly.

Ah… is that what this is?

She tried to maintain her composure, but Freya could read her eyes.

“……”

The ever-elegant flower-on-a-cliff Lady Rancelloti was standing there like a fool—gazing, unguarded, at the Duchess’s knight.

Riela Rancelloti… You’re finished.

A rich smile bloomed across Freya’s face. This had been a truly successful performance.

The foxy knight was annoying, yes, but she had successfully taken down one crown princess candidate. That was enough.

“Has anyone been bitten or touched by the rats?”

While everyone was still enraptured by Joel, Eliana calmly stood, pulling a magic card discreetly from her clutch.

If there’s even a risk of plague… I have to stop it.

Freya’s stunt had gone too far. Eliana, for her part, knew exactly what she had to do.

“M-Me! A rat ran over my foot!”

One young lady burst out, on the verge of tears.

“May I take a look?”

“Yes, Your Grace…”

“It seems there’s no visible injury, so you should be fine. Imperial Cure Disease. And be sure to wash thoroughly with soap as soon as you leave.”

Eliana knelt beside the youngest lady present and pressed the magic card gently to the top of her foot, hiding the incantation within her words.

“Pardon? What was that spell you just said?”

“I said, wash thoroughly with soap.”

Having completed her purpose, Eliana tucked the card into the folds of her dress with a casual shrug.

“Anyone else get scratched or touched?”

“……”

Fortunately, it seemed there was no real danger of plague spreading.

“Oh my, Duchess—your dress is wet.”

Just as the room began to settle again, Freya stepped in with a sweet smile blooming across her lips.

“Ah…”

Following Freya’s gaze, Eliana looked down and blushed. When the rats appeared and the tea had spilled, her dress had become soaked and now clung to her skin—slightly transparent in areas.

“Just a moment. Let me help you dry off.”

Freya pulled a neatly folded handkerchief from her clutch and began delicately wiping Eliana’s neckline and chest. It was a gesture dripping in false kindness.

“Thank you, Freya. But I’ll take it from here.”

She’s terrifying.

Eliana took the handkerchief from Freya’s hand and quickly turned away. Freya’s attacks, always different from the original story, were deeply unsettling.

I’m already so tired of this… I need to end this fight soon.

For just a moment, Eliana and Freya shared the same thought.

“You used it well, Freya.”

I hope I never see that handkerchief again.

“Oh, it was nothing at all,” Freya replied, returning the damp handkerchief to her clutch with a dazzling smile.

“Lady Rancelloti, may I use the powder room?”

“Of course, Lady Espensen. It’s the room just to the left.”

“Thank you for your hospitality.”

Freya gave a graceful curtsy and walked off with elegance.

Click.
Once she stepped into the powder room, she closed the door behind her. The sweet expression of a teenage girl instantly disappeared, replaced by a cold, scornful scowl.

“Ugh. Filthy.”

She checked her reflection in the mirror, sneered at the state of her makeup, then tossed the soaked handkerchief straight into the trash.

“This too… disgusting.”

She eyed the small clutch still in her hand—the one that had carried the handkerchief.

Whoosh—

The clutch went sailing out the open window, vanishing into the thick greenery of the cedar hedge outside. Retrieving it would be near impossible.

Duchess… I really hope this time, you die—smothered in disgrace that I prepared myself.

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