I Stole The Duke - Chapter 56

Gulp.
The man, who had instinctively lifted the video recording device, swallowed dryly. Just selling that single staff—embellished with gleaming gold reliefs and encrusted diamonds—might be enough to buy the entire newspaper building.

“I’ll begin recording now.”

Joel sat with his legs crossed, holding the staff in one hand while casually adjusting the brim of his hat with the other. It was a pose designed to draw attention to the wristwatch that would soon become the highlight of the upcoming season.

What on earth…

Bathed in golden sunlight streaming through the window, the strikingly handsome man confidently struck a pose. The scene looked like a work of art. Even the old, cheap wooden chair beneath him somehow looked refined.

“Please feature the best shot from this session—right on the front page of your first section.”

After changing poses multiple times, Joel, now finished being the subject of the shoot, finally rose to his feet ten minutes later.

“Pardon?”

“I’ve just bought a page of your paper.”

Joel pulled a check from his wallet and laid it on the nearest desk.

“Y-Yes, sir!”

“If you want your next exclusive, come to the Mayflower at 1 p.m. this afternoon.”

“Understood!”

Still dazed, the man who had set down the recording device nodded, as if mesmerized by Joel’s words.

“Well then, have a wonderful day.”

The break lasted only one day—his schedule was packed. Leaving behind only a polite farewell, Joel promptly exited the newspaper office.

“……”

That famed “J” had left without causing a scene. No threats, no trouble—just a video, a check, and a lead for the next big story. And then he was gone.

“Seriously…”

The staff, still standing frozen in place, stared blankly at the doorway where Joel had disappeared.

“He’s definitely not from Wespera, is he?”

A handsome face, impeccable fashion sense, and natural grace in how he treated even commoners with courtesy. The nickname “remarkable” that had spread through whispers felt like it had been invented just for him.

“He’s a real noble.”

From head to toe, J embodied everything they had only ever imagined a true noble would be.

“How much is it?”

Only several seconds after Joel’s departure did the staff finally snap out of it and look at the check sitting on the desk.

“One hundred million rium…”

Because of that astronomical amount, Joel’s photoshoot ran on the front page of the Wespera Daily Sports every single day for an entire month. Each day featured a different pose—versions with dimples and versions without.

“Michal…”

Eliana, wearing a soft lavender dress and a matching bonnet trimmed with white lace, paused at the edge of the first-floor lobby. Her steps faltered as she spotted Michalis waiting for her.

“Um… wasn’t this outing supposed to be a date?”

“It is a date.”

Eliana’s eyes lingered on Michalis, dressed—just as always—in a crisp white shirt and black trousers. The fabric was undoubtedly fine, enough that he didn’t look like a commoner, but even so… she hadn’t come all the way to Wespera to have her husband mistaken for an escort knight.

“Wait—don’t tell me all your clothes look like this?”

“There are a few other options…”

With the heart of a warrior heading into battle, Eliana descended the last few steps and boldly grabbed Michalis by the arm.

“Come on! To your dressing room, Michal.”

“This is where I’ve kept the clothes.”

Before departing for Wespera, he’d given his butler instructions to pack a few outfits as needed. So yes, there was a room with clothes, even if he hadn’t paid it much attention.

Oh my god…

Eliana’s jaw dropped the moment she laid eyes on the duke’s private dressing room for the first time.

“Sigh… I’ve really been a careless wife, haven’t I?”

To think he had all these clothes and still wore the same outfit every day! While more than half were slight variations of white shirts and black trousers—differing only in embroidery or tailoring—there were also plenty of pieces in various colors and patterns.

I’m sorry.

Yes, things had been hectic since they arrived in Wespera just a week after the wedding. But Eliana knew she’d been so preoccupied with running away that she hadn’t paid enough attention to her husband. The guilt stung her heart.

“Hmm… Since it’s hot today, let’s skip the jacket but keep things formal with a suit vest. These trousers will work, and this shirt will match nicely. This cravat pattern goes well, and we’ll need a hat too—it’s sunny outside.”

Shaking off her guilt, Eliana began briskly selecting the best pieces for Michalis. It was hard to believe that such a well-built, model-like frame had been stuck in near-identical clothes all this time. His wardrobe had been tragically underutilized.

“Uh… alright.”

Michalis awkwardly accepted the pile of clothes Eliana handed him. Ever since he had become old enough to understand propriety, he had refused the help of maids for things like bathing or dressing. Having someone choose his clothes now felt oddly unfamiliar.

“Do I… look strange?”

The cream-colored shirt, accented only with dark brown embroidery along the collar and cuffs, fit Michalis as if it had been custom-tailored.

“As I thought—it looks perfect on you.”

Eliana, who had naturally helped him dress, clapped once with delight. The usual rigid air about him seemed to have softened noticeably.

“Now, try these trousers next.”

“Ah… um… Eliana.”

Caught off guard by her sudden and eager presentation of a pair of beige trousers, Michalis found himself flustered.

“Yes?”

“I’ll put the trousers on myself, so… c-could you turn around, please?”

He had taken off his shirt in front of her before, but aside from their more intimate moments as husband and wife, he had never actually removed his pants in her presence. With her wide, curious eyes fixed on him, undressing any further now felt incredibly difficult.

“……”

She had thought she understood this man completely by now.

Seriously, Your Grace…?

Eliana blinked in confusion at the sight of the Duke’s suddenly flushed face, falling once more into bewilderment.

After everything we’ve already done… and now he’s shy?

The Duke truly remained a mystery.

But if he keeps staring at me like that…

In truth, Michalis didn’t want to awaken the sleeping dog. If he let the seal break, the precious date time they had managed to carve out would be lost in an instant.

“……”

There was a short rustling sound behind her as Eliana turned around, momentarily thrown off by the strange tension.

Ahem.
“You can turn around now.”

When she did, she found Michalis standing somewhat stiffly. Her lips parted at the sight.

“You look amazing.”

The cream shirt, the beige trousers, and a matching vest—it was an ensemble lighter in tone and richer in detail than his usual attire. While it would be a stretch to say Michalis, twenty-seven, looked twenty, the outfit made him appear easily twenty-four.

“Now, the finishing touch.”

Regaining her focus, Eliana stood on her toes and placed a bowler hat gently on his head. Then she wrapped a cravat around his neck—a deep brown one with subtle cream vine patterns, perfectly matching the embroidery on his shirt.

Swish.
Her small fingers moved deftly, tying the knot at his collar.

I think I did it right… maybe it looks a little awkward?

“……”

As she lifted her head to check the overall look, her gaze met his—and collided with the fierce cobalt-blue eyes burning with restrained desire.

Damn it… I was trying to hold back.

A spark ignited between them—and in the next moment, the cravat she had just tied came undone in a single rough tug.

With one arm, Michalis pulled Eliana tightly against him. He reached beneath her chin to untie the ribbon of her bonnet, letting it fall to the floor as he captured her lips in a searing kiss.

Haa… haa…

Their mouths met with aching urgency, hands roaming instinctively.

Click. Click. Click.
Eliana’s fingers undid three buttons on his shirt, her palms resting against the solid warmth of his chest.

Ah… we were supposed to go on a date…

But with the black puppy howling in protest, it looked like the date would have to wait.

Just as Michalis was about to unfasten the buttons running down Eliana’s back—

Knock. Knock. Knock.

A sharp rap broke through the heavy breaths that filled the dressing room.

“Your Grace, are you in there? A visitor has arrived.”

Should I kill him?

Michalis clenched his jaw, irritation surging. Things had just been getting good.

“Who is it?”

His voice was rough, far from pleasant. No one was scheduled to visit today. This could only be an unwelcome guest.

“It is Marquess Rancelloti, sir.”

And just like that, the entire mood came crashing down.

“Understood. Tell him I’ll be down shortly.”

Michalis stooped to pick up the cravat and bonnet from the floor, replying coolly.

“It seems we have an uninvited guest.”

He gently dusted off the bonnet and placed it back atop Eliana’s head, then turned her around to button her dress again.

“May I join you?”

Riela’s father had arrived. Eliana felt a flicker of curiosity. What had brought him all the way here? What was he after?

“I don’t mind.”

Michalis already had a fair idea of the Marquess’s intentions. And this wasn’t something he needed to hide from Eliana.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Duke Ascher.”

As Eliana and Michalis entered the drawing room, Marquess Rancelloti rose quickly from the sofa, a nervous look on his face.

“I must apologize for the sudden visit. The matter was urgent—I hope you’ll forgive the lack of notice.”

He appeared to be in his mid-forties, a gentleman with well-groomed ash-brown hair and an air of practiced dignity.

“My schedule is tight. Please get straight to the point, Marquess Rancelloti.”

Duke Ascher did indeed look busy. He still wore his outing hat and had dressed with enough formality that it seemed he was preparing to leave—along with the Duchess, judging by her presence.

“Ah, yes. Then I’ll speak plainly. Please allow me a private meeting with the man known as ‘J,’ the Duchess’s bodyguard.”

My bodyguard? J? Joel? Why is Marquess Rancelloti asking about him?

Eliana, who had not yet seen the newspaper, was completely baffled.

“If you’re referring to Sir Joel Terius, I must inform you he is currently on leave and not at the estate.”

Already escaped.

The Marquess, who had come hoping for a confrontation, was visibly deflated.

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