I Stole The Duke - Chapter 92
“Your Grace, congratulations on your victory in the territory war.”
As always, Michalis was surrounded by a crowd, endlessly harassed by nobles eager to offer their regards.
“Your Grace! Congratulations on defeating the criminal organization and winning the territory war!”
Now that the noble faction’s influence had sharply waned due to recent events, most of them were keeping their distance. Meanwhile, members of the Emperor’s faction eagerly approached to express their delight.
“Ha ha, Duke Ascher, I was thinking of purchasing a few hunting aquabuses this time… Could you recommend a model?”
“For aquabus recommendations, please consult my adjutant.”
There were simply too many people trying to approach for business. Michalis had no choice but to divide the work between himself and Iadis.
“Sir Iadis.”
Michalis gave a subtle signal to his close aide.
“Between the P4 and P3 hunting aquabus models, I will first brief you on the P3. This model addresses the issue of weight from previous designs. Unlike older models, it doesn’t require a launching platform and can even be used on horseback after some training. As for maintenance…”
When it came to business, Iadis was impressively competent.
Oh my, is that Duke Ascher’s adjutant?
The Marchioness of Ibisergun, who had been combing the banquet hall in search of a suitable son-in-law, suddenly lit up.
Looks? Check. Height? Check. Voice? Perfect! Let’s see… wedding ring? None!
A man focused on his work was always attractive—and if he happened to be handsome, the effect doubled.
“Excuse me, which family are you from? Are you the eldest son? And how old are you?”
She barged into the group of men listening to the briefing, her eyes gleaming.
“Apologies, but I won’t be answering personal questions.”
And just like that, lifelong bachelor Iadis kicked away his final shot at marrying this year—completely unaware.
“What are the specifications for the P3 model?”
“Hoho, do you have a sweetheart or a fiancée?”
“The length from muzzle to stock is 980mm, and the weight is 4.5kg.”
Yes… this year really wasn’t looking hopeful for him.
Damn it. At this rate, I won’t even get a chance to say hello.
Olive was growing anxious. He had been waiting for a chance to approach the silver-haired “fairy,” but noblewomen kept flocking around her.
Maybe I should just ignore the crowd and go in?
He set down his empty juice glass and focused his gaze firmly on Eliana.
“You there. What do you think you’re doing?”
Just as he took a single step forward, a large, shadowy figure loomed over him.
“Uh…?”
“You’ve been staring at the Lady for a while now. Care to explain?”
Who the hell is this gorilla?
A towering man with a brutish face was glaring down at him.
“S-sorry…!”
Olive took a step back, feigning fear as his eyes welled up with tears.
“Hey, now. No need to cry.”
Sheesh, maybe I was too harsh. He’s still a kid. Do I really look that scary?
The boy looked like he might burst into tears, and Speaker suddenly felt guilty.
“It’s just… she’s the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen. I thought a forest fairy had come to life. I didn’t mean to stare. I’m really sorry.”
“Well, I won’t argue with that. Lady Eliana is stunning. But don’t you think ‘snowflower fairy’ suits her better than forest fairy? Ha ha ha!”
The praise melted Speaker’s scowl like spring sun on snow.
“Right? I just wanted to see her up close…”
“Oh, no. That’s not allowed!”
As Olive tried to sneak past, the large man blocked him again.
“I don’t know which house you’re from, but kid—you’ve got a suspicious glint in your eye.”
His emotions were so transparent, they might as well have been written across his forehead.
Well… he’s probably around 14 or 15. This age is full of wild thoughts.
But no matter how young, Speaker couldn’t let anyone with impure intentions near the Lady.
“Go over there and hang out with kids your own age.”
Speaker clapped both hands on Olive’s shoulders and turned him around. That was as close as he would get.
Ugh—what strength!
His slender body spun like a pinwheel in a storm.
“Go on.”
The low grumble followed him from behind.
“Fine. I’m going…”
Damn it. What do I do now?
Gritting his teeth, Olive rolled his eyes—and then, inspiration struck.
Right. The Duke isn’t the only one with allies.
He hadn’t wanted to involve the other mages, but this humiliation couldn’t go unanswered.
[Hey. Intern!]
Using a messaging spell, Olive contacted one of the mages stationed at the banquet.
“Pffft!”
One of the three mages enjoying the event suddenly spat out his champagne.
“What’s wrong?”
“Cough! The—The Master just contacted me…”
The mage hacked and coughed, eyes wide as he scanned the room for the source of the voice that had thundered into his mind.
“The Master?!”
The other two stiffened.
Where?
The voice had sounded young—like a child’s.
[Not there. Left. A bit more. Yeah. The green bob-cut.]
[Master…?]
Only after several seconds did the intern mage identify Olive. Message spells only worked with precise targets.
[Move that gorilla behind me.]
Gorilla?
What circus had he stumbled into?
…Oh. He’s real.
The mage, who had been glancing around the Master with bewildered eyes, suddenly widened them in alarm. Sure enough, a large man who looked like a gorilla was glaring at the Master’s back.
[How should I handle this?]
[Do as you please.]
“Gris.”
Fixing his gaze on Speaker, the mage unhesitatingly cast a simple spell.
Whoosh—!
“Ahh!”
A servant carrying a tray stacked with champagne glasses, who was walking behind Speaker, slipped and fell flat on the floor. The ground beneath him had suddenly become as slick as ice.
Whizz—!
The tray, holding twelve champagne glasses, flew up into the air in an instant.
Thud!
It struck Speaker squarely on the back. Caught off guard, he took the full brunt of the blow—no, of the champagne.
“Argh!”
His scream echoed through the banquet hall, accompanied by the crashing sound of shattering glass.
“I’m so sorry! Please forgive me!”
The servant, now pale as a ghost, trembled as he bowed repeatedly before Speaker, whose back was soaked.
‘Why does it feel like I’m the offender when I’m the victim here?’
It was already unfair to be drenched in alcohol, but on this particular day, Speaker found his own intimidating face especially frustrating.
“Ugh… this is just…”
His carefully chosen formal attire for the banquet was now in ruins, and the surroundings were a chaotic mess of broken glass.
“I’m sorry! I really am! I have rabbit-like children and sickly elderly parents to care for! Please, spare my life…!”
“That’s enough. I’m fine, so clean up the floor before someone gets hurt.”
If the commotion grew worse, it would only trouble his lord and lady. Speaker bit back his anger and had no choice but to head to the lounge. He needed to deal with his wet clothes immediately.
‘Pfft. Serves him right.’
The gorilla had indeed been taken care of. Watching Speaker head for the lounge, Olive smirked in satisfaction.
‘Now, time to see her.’
Just as Olive took a few confident steps forward—
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Ugh.”
As he walked straight toward the fairy, Olive frowned when someone grabbed his arm.
“Do not approach the Lady again.”
Cedric warned him in a low, cold voice.
‘What now?’
He had taken care of the gorilla, and now a bull stood in his way.
“If you grip me like that… ngh, it really hurts.”
Olive used his youthful face to strike at Cedric’s conscience.
“As you have been watching the Lady, I have also been watching you.”
Even if the boy was young, Cedric couldn’t stand back and do nothing when those eyes were so clearly filled with impure intent.
“I only looked for a moment. Isn’t that a bit harsh?”
Yet the grip on his arm didn’t loosen in the slightest. So much for appealing to his conscience—this one was as tough as he looked.
“Looking isn’t the issue… Fine. You may stand by that wall over there and gaze from afar. But don’t come within thirty meters.”
No use resisting again. Olive’s body was promptly turned toward the far wall.
‘Why is it so hard just to say hello?!’
Frustration surged through him.
[Hey, Legionty!]
“Cough!”
The mage, who had been chatting casually with his colleagues, started coughing as he choked.
[You must’ve heard from the intern—get over here, now.]
[Y-yes, Master…]
With clear reluctance, the mage set down his glass and made his way toward Olive. All he had wanted was to greet the new Master and leave the banquet quietly. Now, everything felt like it had gone completely off course.
“What do you need…”
As the uneasy mage approached Olive and opened his mouth—
“Father!”
What?!
Olive clung to his arm, eyes brimming with tears, and the mage nearly popped his eyes out of his skull.
[Master, I’m unmarried!]
Mages were notoriously more devoted to magical research than romantic pursuits, and many remained unmarried regardless of age.
[Just pretend to be my father for a moment.]
With his green hair, the mage made a convenient candidate for a fake father.
“Gasp.”
Cedric was equally stunned. He had sensed something strange about the boy—but to think he was the son of a mage from the Tower?
“Father, this man handled me roughly and made threats. I think I’ve even bruised my arm.”
While both the mage and Cedric froze in place, Olive wasted no time tattling.
“Ha… That’s…”
It was exaggerated, but not entirely false—so Cedric was at a loss for words.
[Hold that bull down.]
[Understood.]
“Sigh… You look like a knight. Is what my son said true?”
“I apologize if I have caused offense.”
“Is an apology enough? Let’s talk this over properly. Which noble house do you serve?”
“…That is…”
The relationship between the ducal house and the Mage Tower was delicate and required caution. Cedric felt as though he had just stepped into a pile of dung.
‘Damn it.’
In his moment of fluster, Cedric caught sight of the boy silently slipping away in retreat.
‘I suppose I’ll have to leave him to Sir Ista.’
The high-risk figure had broken through the outer line of defense.
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