"Where do you keep looking at it, Duke?"
"Your Highness."
"I wanted the Duke to change your mood, so I paid a little attention to it."
Bellona stood beside Deccarno in a very kind voice. Although she was a little embarrassed, if she didn't keep it like this, he might be taken away by someone else at any time. Even so, women who wanted to talk to him were still pacing around.
"It's not a problem."
She quickly pointed to the animals in the garden to catch the Duke's attention.
"Duke, look over there. Isn't it really cute?"
"..."
Bellona clasped her hands and let out an exclamation. Not only her, but also people were crowded around the animals she had never seen before.
"These are the animals sent by the governor of Addis before returning to their home country. Isn't it really mysterious that they are animals from the East Continent?"
"...Did you say that he was the governor of Addis?"
"Yes. Count Lebel has been there for a very long time. It seems that he is returning to his home country this time, and his eldest son, who is his successor, brought gifts on his behalf."
Deccarno's unexpected interest made her voice even more excited. It was the first time he had paid so much attention to her story.
"I didn't know that the Duke was so interested in animals. What animals do you like or dislike..."
"Dog."
"..."
"I hate dogs."
There was not even a hint of laughter in Deccarno's nonchalant eyes. A bewildered Bellona nodded with an awkward smile.
"That's right. Still, there is a very precious lion dog in the Duke's residence that the previous Duchess brought from the north."
"I hate it the most."
"Oh... Yes."
Bellona pressed her lips at his strong will, who had no time to talk anymore. From a distance, it seemed that it would not work like this, but the Emperor finally approached them. Since the Duke of Theses was stabbed by him, he shouted at his sister first.
"Bellona, what the hell did you do to make the Prince of Theses' face so bloody?"
"Brother, I'm just..."
"Don't do that, the Prince will say hello. The spirits of Count Lebel from Addis have come to greet you. This is Lord Andy, the eldest son, and this is Lord Killion. It's all first-time, right?"
"It is a great honor to meet you. My name is Andy of the Lebel family. Your Excellency, Duke of Theses."
"..."
Deccarno silently looked down at the man who suddenly bowed his head in front of him. His excessive politeness and nervous smile were no different from those who met him for the first time. But the Duke's attitude towards such a man was not as usual.
"Yes."
His cold answer was too short.
"The Duke's reputation was also heard in Addis. I don't know how much my father praised you."
"Your father seems to be doing very well there."
"Oh, of course! I don't know how eagerly he is waiting for the day you return to Roark!"
"Hmm... He will."
Andy's excited voice made Deccarno feel a new sense of loss. The two brothers were surprised by his rude attitude, but fortunately, the Emperor was busy looking into the pet snake he had received as a gift.
"Where the hell is this guy going to climb? Would you like to touch the ball?"
"I refuse."
"Really? Anyway, thanks to Sir Andy, I get to see rare animals. So, I think I'll give Sir Andy a position this time."
The Emperor, who ordered his attendants to lift the yellow snake, was not interested in the subtle air currents flowing here. He doesn't know if he did it on purpose, but he was busy gesturing to quickly place the snake on his neck.
"Well, I heard that Sir Andy has been in charge of the port of Addis and has been in charge. One day he will succeed Count Lebel, so it would be better to gain some experience before then."
"..."
"My idea is that the Inspection work of this time is to inspect the West Coast. It's a remote place and it's small, so I didn't pay much attention to it. Philos or Tenar, ah, that's right. There was also Marais!"
The Emperor, who was reciting the cities on the western coast, raised his eyebrows. Although he brought up a story that sounded plausible, it was actually not a very Important task. He just received something as a gift, and it was customary to give a position to a family member of a meritorious official who came from afar, so he only said that.
However, Duke Theses' expression was unusual.
"What's good for you? If you think about it, the management and supervision of cities and oceans are also included in the work of the Senate, so it should be said that you have been relieved of your work. Do you have any complaints?"
"...No way."
Deccarno nodded with a cold smile.
"It looks very good on you. If you sneak in and watch and use your hands."
"Oh, is that so? That's what all inspection work is."
The answer was somewhat unclear, but as the days were ticking, the Emperor also responded appropriately. Instead of doing so, he tried to ask for another drink, but the Duke had already turned around.
"Then I'll go first."
His greeting as he withdrew without a chance to hold on to it was neat. Bellona tried to chase after him as if she felt sorry, but the Emperor quickly stopped her sister. He doesn't know what it is, but if he had touched the Duke incorrectly today, there was a high possibility that the relationship would break down altogether.
"I think it's better not to go."
"Brother!"
"This is all for you."
No matter how annoying and annoying real siblings are, they don't want each other to be hurt that much. The Emperor carefully placed the snake's body on the hem of his sister's dress, which might follow the Duke.
"Aaaaaah."
With a scream from behind, Deccarno leisurely crossed the banquet hall.
Animals were not the only ones who knew how to save their bodies to survive. Some of the nobles who had been waiting to talk to the Duke immediately withdrew on their own as soon as they saw his expression. Still, it was one of the two things that he didn't dare to sacrifice his body for.
Either they are fearless or immature.
"Your Excellency!"
"..."
Killion, who was striding behind. called out to him loudly. Deccarno, who was handing him the coat from Michael, smiled and turned his head. It was a relaxed attitude, as if he had been waiting.
"Yes. Does the captain have anything to say to me?"
"I know that Your Excellency has bad feelings for me. But how can you treat my brother and father like that?"
"Oh, that's it."
Deccarno released his cloaked hands. Then, when he waved his hand at the curious snooping eyes here and there, the middle of the banquet hall became unnaturally empty. They are truly natural predators. Normally, Killion would have panicked, but he didn't back down as easily as he did today.
"...My father has ruled Addis for a long time, and my brother has been loyal to him. They are not the ones who will be ignored by Your Excellency."
"Really?"
"I can endure any insult to me, but not about my family. Please apologize."
"..."
It was a fearless demand. Deccarno, who was staring at Killion's clenched fist tightly in his uniform, suddenly laughed out loud.
"Your Excellency!"
"That's not me, you should ask him first."
"...What is that?"
"I don't know about your father, but it seems like you're doing quite a lot of things, but I don't think he's very respectable."
Deccarno, who had taken over from Michael, approached Killion with one or two feet relaxed. Everyone said he had stepped back, but there were still quite a few people who were paying attention to this place.
"Are you sure that your good brother did not insult others?"
"Your Excellency!"
"If you dare to ask me such a thing in the future, find out why your brother went to Evangeline first."
Tuk-tuk, Deccarno's hand was full of selfishness as he shook Killion's shoulder. Along with the red epaulettes, Killion's eyes shook loudly. Even if he tried to pretend not, there seemed to be something pointing out.
"Well, then, when I met Eva at the hotel..."
"I don't know. He's your brother, so don't you know better than I do?"
With a mischievous smile, Deccarno lowered his hand. He didn't know who he was, who was called Killion's older brother, said to her when he came to the hotel, but when he saw his ambitious eyes today, he knew even if he didn't see it.
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