"I'm sorry I couldn't go to the engagement ceremony, so I came to see your face while I was at the dock, and I didn't think you'd be so mean."
"I understand that you are here to get military supplies."
"You haven't even paid for it yet."
Despite Deccarno's cold gaze, he responded with a smirk. Whenever a naval ship docks in a port, he must visit the Senate and report to the Senate Assembly. Some are unhappy that they have to bow their heads to the Duke, who is no longer a soldier, but it was not Pylon. He knew that his friend was more daring and thorough than any professional soldier.
"By the way, are you finally seeing the face of the next Duchess?"
"...Why are you?"
Deccarno's voice became subtly sharp. He seemed to be displeased, and Pylon raised an eyebrow
"What? So was the rumor true?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You're so obsessed with Lady O'Hara that you won't let her go out of the house."
"..."
Deccarno didn't even respond to Pylon's joke with his arms crossed in front of his chest. It would be fun to tease him, but Pylon shrugged his shoulders in resignation.
"Well, you can't do that if anyone else knows. Even if people fall in love with Miss O'Hara's beauty and get married, I will never believe it. You don't have the heart to do that."
"Just get down to business."
"Just. Show me your face."
Pylon, who had brazenly pulled his chair closer, rested his chin in front of Deccarno. The Duke's frighteningly straight eyebrows cracked, but Pylon didn't give up easily.
"It's been a while since I've been here. When this vacation is over. I may not be able to come back for another few years, but I'm your friend, and I have to see the bride's face."
"She's busy with her schedule."
"Oh, if I knew this would happen, I would have just followed you to the banquet today and met her in person. How beautiful she must be on her birthday."
"...What?"
"It's Lady's birthday. Today."
Deccarno's ashen eyes swayed for the first time, and Pylon's eyes widened as well. No way... He watched his friend's reaction and immediately clicked his tongue.
"You really didn't know? Is it your wife's birthday?"
"...Get out of the way."
Deccarno ignored him as if he were annoyed, but somehow his frowning eyes didn't open easily. Michael noticed that the owner was not at ease.
"I'm sorry, Sir. I naturally thought she said it."
"..."
"It's late, but I'll prepare a worthy gift now."
Since there are so many events in the family, it is his job as an aide to prepare a suitable gift. Deccarno's silence gave him permission, and Michael walked out of the room at a brisk pace. The two men are in the seat. Pylon's attitude became even more informal.
"If you are so careless, you will get hurt someday."
"What?"
"Do you know how scary it is when women get angry? Just looking at my sister-in-law, she laughed until just before she divorced my brother, and then she threw him out in an instant. Lady O'Hara doesn't mean that... Huh?"
Whether Deccarno listened to it or not. Pylon's words slowly slowed down, as he pounded on the desk and pleaded with enthusiasm. The break wasn't over yet, but as soon as he saw someone standing through the open door, his lips opened blankly.
"Wow..."
A very instinctive sigh flowed out of his mind. Even without any introduction, he couldn't say anything in front of her absolute beauty, who would recognize her at once.
He didn't know how she had come to this place full of men, but at least the rumors that the Duke of Theses had locked his bride in his house would not be true. With the sound of cold shoes echoing through the black marble, Evangeline pulled down the hood of her silvery fox fur cloak.
"...Let's talk."
***
"How did you get here?"
Deccarno sent out Pylon and faced her. Even though the security of Loark, the imperial capital of the Belice Empire, was safe. It was too late for a woman to go alone. Remembering her daily routine, Duke Theses narrowed his eyebrows.
"I thought you were in the middle of the party by now."
"Party?"
"It's your birthday."
His words were grave, but his expression was not. Evangeline, who didn't know the subtle changes, brushed her hair with a vain laugh.
"Did you know?"
"...That's it."
"Well, that's not the point right now."
She stood with one hand on the table and bit her lip as if to calm down. Deccarno misunderstood her expression and stood up.
"If you came here because you were angry about it."
"I'm angry."
"..."
"Stop. Since when did we start taking care of such things?"
It was half true and half wrong. A few months ago, on the Duke's birthday, she held a grand banquet for him. She thought it was natural since she was nominally living in that house.
But not himself.
In the first place, he didn't attach much significance to birthdays, and he wanted to spend those days in peace. So, since it's his birthday, it's just a waste to talk to him year after year. It's a bit ridiculous, but now that she's doing this, it feels like nothing really happened.
No, she thought that would be nice.
"I came here because I have something to tell you."
"I'm busy now. The meeting will start again soon."
Descarno glanced toward the door. Most of the nobles must have returned by now.
"Go back to the mansion first. As soon as the meeting...over."
"I won't be able to come back."
"..."
"You know that when the budget meeting is held at the beginning of the month. I can't come home for days."
Evangeline forced her head to hold on. Otherwise, she might collapse violently. Whether this man would blink an eye or not was not the Important Issue now.
"Give me a moment. It's urgent."
"If that's the case, you should have contacted me in advance and made an appointment."
"Hah."
The Duke, who narrowed his eyes while checking the time, sighed spontaneously. He doesn't even mean to her on purpose. He was the man who filled all his time with a fixed appointment and had no time to breathe.
She knows that better than anyone else, but at this moment. It was hard to bear.
"Then talk about it after the meeting. If you follow Michael to the next room for a while..."
"My father is missing."
"..."
The Duke's hand stopped as he tried to pull the bell to call Michael. He turned his head as if to ask what she was talking about, but her vain laughter didn't stop there.
"Can I tell you the news that we went bankrupt first?"
"...Tell me more."
"It's just as you heard. They said that my father had disappeared in the waters of Lehman near Addis due to a storm, and all his property had sunk with the ship. I need your help."
Evangeline's eyes relaxed as she summed up the situation as much as possible. When she spat it out of her mouth, it finally felt real. Seeing a man without blood or tears who no longer pushes her to leave, she may have gone as far as she could.
"I heard the news urgently during a banquet a while ago. So I came out to find out what was going on..."
"Go back."
"...Duke."
"You said you were at a banquet."
The Duke's gray eyes were clear as he regained his composure. Evangeline's mouth parted blankly as she stared at him.
A banquet. She wondered if this man listened to her correctly.
She struggled to clear her throat, but she didn't need to ask back. He is just faithful to his role as the perfect Duke of Theses, as always.
"Since you jumped out like this, you should probably be talking about it by now: If things get bigger here, it's not good to take care of it."
"...You don't have to. I've already endured enough."
"Then hold on a little longer."
"..."
Deccarno's hand came to her with a low voice, and she instinctively bit herself. Hmm. His eyes narrowed, but he didn't care and put the hood of her cloak directly on Evangeline's head. Slowly and firmly. His hand, tightening the ribbon on the nape of her neck, was frighteningly straight.
"That's what you're going to do now."
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