His voice resonated loudly throughout the hall.
“...”
“...”
“...Ahem.”
There were well over a hundred servants of the Iels Castle in the hall waiting to greet him, and naturally, their numerous eyes were fixed on me.
Oh, please, save me!
I tried to avoid their gaze, but there was nowhere to run.
The back of my neck felt as if it had been burned, but Rudnine continued speaking without paying any attention.
"It's no use believing you're strong. You've already collapsed before me. Yvonne is too fragile for me."
I'm weak!
If the servants of our Argenthoz mansion, including Barden, heard this, they would foam at the mouth and collapse!
"Yvonne... weak? Where on earth did the Duke buy those thick bean pods and glue them to his eyeballs?"
Pembe, who was following from a distance, could be heard muttering to himself in astonishment.
I was terrified.
“I told you it’s not true!”
"No... Then I'll accept it if Yvonne never collapses again. The deadline is roughly 50 years? That should give me some peace of mind."
He answered seriously, stroking his chin, and then smiled at me.
I glanced around.
Although no one dared to open their mouths, the servants' pupils were clearly visible, shaking wildly in bewilderment at the Duke's crazy plotting.
Terrified, I wanted to rush over and cover his mouth with my hand, but I couldn't bring myself to do it, fearing that it would tarnish his dignity in front of the servants.
“Why did it have to be 50 years...?”
Instead, when I muttered about the ridiculously long time he had taken, Rudnaine quickly replied.
“I wanted to make it longer, but I held back. Can I make it a little longer if I want?”
"Yes? No? I never agreed to it, not even a little bit. I'm embarrassed."
"Hmm..."
He furrowed his eyebrows and looked visibly disappointed.
I could hear the servants' ears pricking up with excitement, but he paid no attention.
“That’s too much, Yvonne.”
"Rudd, are you kidding? You're so serious, I almost believed you."
“...”
Rudnine, with her long eyes folded, chewed on my words...
This can't be happening!
Shocked, I wanted to quickly talk to him somewhere private, but the lobby hall of the Iels Castle was so large that I couldn't even get halfway out.
When will this vast lobby end?
But then Rudnine suddenly stopped walking, and we ended up standing right in the middle of the hall.
“Rudd?”
I felt like I was an actor on stage.
Unlike me, who looked around awkwardly, Rudnine seemed completely unconcerned and very calm.
When I met Duke Iels on his home ground, I felt so unfamiliar and even burdened.
“Yvonne.”
He called out to me, who was nervous, with his eyes lowered politely and with an elegant and refined demeanor.
Is it an illusion that my image in Rudnine's eyes flickers like flames?
His lips parted again as he stared at me, blinking.
"Even though you avoided me in the capital, abandoned me, and went all the way north alone, I was only worried about Yvonne. I was worried that you might suffer even the slightest wounds, both physical and mental."
Ah.
Suddenly, the words struck me so hard that I bit my lower lip, my conscience prickling.
He continued to speak, looking at me persistently.
"Honestly, I'm still shaking and scared. Yvonne could abandon me at any moment, kick that door down the hall, and leave. What on earth am I supposed to do?"
I gulped as a low voice echoed through the hall.
Of course, I swear I had no intention of doing so, but in an instant, I became a very bad woman who played around with Duke Rudnine Iels...!
I took a step back without realizing it, but Rudnine, as if he had expected it, quickly grabbed my arm tightly.
"Yes?"
“Rudd!”
“Go ahead, Yvonne.”
Ha, don't do that.
Please stop!
I winked at him, crying out inwardly.
The air flow in this hall changed because the startled servants gasped for air simultaneously because of you.
Because the master is openly clinging to a woman in front of his servants.
Rudnine was calm, but I, who was not very shy in such matters, felt very embarrassed.
I let out a short sigh as I watched him still waiting for an answer.
"Rudd. I promise. I won't just leave without telling you. Trust me."
His eyes narrowed, as if he didn't like my awkward smile.
“Ahem.”
His gaze, which seemed to pierce through my soul, was excessively harmful to my heart.
Thump thump thump.
But Rudnine glanced down at the arm he had offered, and then grabbed my hand.
Even I, who had become gloomy, kept my mouth shut from then on.
I know you're hurt, but I have my reasons!
A heavy, uncomfortable silence followed, but he held my hand tightly and continued walking.
Where on earth did he hide the Thiels magic stone?
As the long gallery ended, a large staircase came into view.
Rudnine led me up the stairs slowly.
Ugh.
I decided to overcome this stifling atmosphere by thinking about something else.
This time, I finally meet the Thiels Magic Stone.
I never thought the owner of the Thiels Mine would be Rudnine. The answer was so close, I couldn't help but wonder how I managed to get lost.
In fact, the Thiels Magic Stone Bracelet is not an ordinary gift.
If Rudnine gave you a gift like that, you should have at least asked where he got it, you idiot.
I sighed lightly, then walked up one floor with him down the long hallway that appeared, looking at his profile.
His handsome nose and mouth were perfectly defined today as well, but his expression was stiff as if he were serious.
An uncomfortable feeling.
-Yvonne. You don't trust me, do you?
Was it hurt?
Of course, I know he wouldn't lie.
The pressure to quickly cure magical amnesia was intense, but there was another reason.
“...”
“...”
“...Ahem.”
There were well over a hundred servants of the Iels Castle in the hall waiting to greet him, and naturally, their numerous eyes were fixed on me.
Oh, please, save me!
I tried to avoid their gaze, but there was nowhere to run.
The back of my neck felt as if it had been burned, but Rudnine continued speaking without paying any attention.
"It's no use believing you're strong. You've already collapsed before me. Yvonne is too fragile for me."
I'm weak!
If the servants of our Argenthoz mansion, including Barden, heard this, they would foam at the mouth and collapse!
"Yvonne... weak? Where on earth did the Duke buy those thick bean pods and glue them to his eyeballs?"
Pembe, who was following from a distance, could be heard muttering to himself in astonishment.
I was terrified.
“I told you it’s not true!”
"No... Then I'll accept it if Yvonne never collapses again. The deadline is roughly 50 years? That should give me some peace of mind."
He answered seriously, stroking his chin, and then smiled at me.
I glanced around.
Although no one dared to open their mouths, the servants' pupils were clearly visible, shaking wildly in bewilderment at the Duke's crazy plotting.
Terrified, I wanted to rush over and cover his mouth with my hand, but I couldn't bring myself to do it, fearing that it would tarnish his dignity in front of the servants.
“Why did it have to be 50 years...?”
Instead, when I muttered about the ridiculously long time he had taken, Rudnaine quickly replied.
“I wanted to make it longer, but I held back. Can I make it a little longer if I want?”
"Yes? No? I never agreed to it, not even a little bit. I'm embarrassed."
"Hmm..."
He furrowed his eyebrows and looked visibly disappointed.
I could hear the servants' ears pricking up with excitement, but he paid no attention.
“That’s too much, Yvonne.”
"Rudd, are you kidding? You're so serious, I almost believed you."
“...”
Rudnine, with her long eyes folded, chewed on my words...
This can't be happening!
Shocked, I wanted to quickly talk to him somewhere private, but the lobby hall of the Iels Castle was so large that I couldn't even get halfway out.
When will this vast lobby end?
But then Rudnine suddenly stopped walking, and we ended up standing right in the middle of the hall.
“Rudd?”
I felt like I was an actor on stage.
Unlike me, who looked around awkwardly, Rudnine seemed completely unconcerned and very calm.
When I met Duke Iels on his home ground, I felt so unfamiliar and even burdened.
“Yvonne.”
He called out to me, who was nervous, with his eyes lowered politely and with an elegant and refined demeanor.
Is it an illusion that my image in Rudnine's eyes flickers like flames?
His lips parted again as he stared at me, blinking.
"Even though you avoided me in the capital, abandoned me, and went all the way north alone, I was only worried about Yvonne. I was worried that you might suffer even the slightest wounds, both physical and mental."
Ah.
Suddenly, the words struck me so hard that I bit my lower lip, my conscience prickling.
He continued to speak, looking at me persistently.
"Honestly, I'm still shaking and scared. Yvonne could abandon me at any moment, kick that door down the hall, and leave. What on earth am I supposed to do?"
I gulped as a low voice echoed through the hall.
Of course, I swear I had no intention of doing so, but in an instant, I became a very bad woman who played around with Duke Rudnine Iels...!
I took a step back without realizing it, but Rudnine, as if he had expected it, quickly grabbed my arm tightly.
"Yes?"
“Rudd!”
“Go ahead, Yvonne.”
Ha, don't do that.
Please stop!
I winked at him, crying out inwardly.
The air flow in this hall changed because the startled servants gasped for air simultaneously because of you.
Because the master is openly clinging to a woman in front of his servants.
Rudnine was calm, but I, who was not very shy in such matters, felt very embarrassed.
I let out a short sigh as I watched him still waiting for an answer.
"Rudd. I promise. I won't just leave without telling you. Trust me."
His eyes narrowed, as if he didn't like my awkward smile.
“Ahem.”
His gaze, which seemed to pierce through my soul, was excessively harmful to my heart.
Thump thump thump.
But Rudnine glanced down at the arm he had offered, and then grabbed my hand.
Ugh.
I was startled by his blatant behavior in front of everyone, but he was so natural.
“Rudd!”
"I'm sorry for my lack of faith. I've lost trust in Yvonne, so please understand this level of restraint."
Even though I called him with my voice low, Rudnine held my hand a little tighter, smiled brightly, and waved.
With an innocent smile, he slipped his thick, long fingers between mine and intertwined them!
As if I were really being restrained, just like he said.
“What credit have I lost again?”
I asked rudely, trying to hide my trembling voice.
“You clearly decided not to bring in any other fish besides me.”
“I didn’t hear it?”
"As I said before, I'm incredibly jealous, even of Yvonne's pets. And without realizing it, you've brought in a lot of new pets?"
He glanced back, and the corners of his mouth turned up.
"Ah."
Ten steps behind us, Carol, Pembe the hamster, Jan the one-eyed bird, and Gorten the lizard followed in a line.
Rudnine must have already noticed that Gorten and Jan are familiars.
I looked at him quizzically, but he still had that dissatisfied look in his eyes and continued speaking.
“Of course, it’s not a fish... but why is it always so noisy around Yvonne? Is it because you’re so pretty?”
“Ah, Rudd.”
I've decided to give up now.
Remembering that he was the man who bulldozed the Thiels mine just because I hated him (which was a misunderstanding, of course).
“Why are you looking at Yvonne so longingly?”
He was obviously jealous.
No, because he already had a history of mistaking Eudela for my lover.
Carol is a bit enthusiastic towards me, too.
And I think our familiars' eyes are filled with a mixture of pleading and threatening, asking for some sweet food right now.
Because I had three familiars, the chocolate and cookies I was carrying around quickly ran out.
Why on earth do familiars like sweet food so much?
Apparently, after eating the 'sweet kind' of food, the wild familiars became docile.
Pembe also turned into a hamster after eating the dessert on the dome plate, and Jan and Gorten also changed into their respective forms after eating the salt chocolate.
If this rule applies equally to all familiars, it will be a sure weapon against the familiars that attack me in the future.
The black magician who sent Jan and Gorten must be one of Empress Giselle's subordinates.
Oh, come to think of it, aren't they chasing me now? To the Duke of Iels's castle?
At that moment, the white-haired general butler approached us and bowed deeply.
“Master, I have finished preparing dinner as instructed.”
Rudnine nodded slightly and turned to me.
"Shall we talk over a meal? I learned from our last date that I need to make sure Yvonne eats well."
His eyes sparkled like a child eager to be praised. But I couldn't just praise him and eat right away.
'What if the black magicians invade Iels Castle right now!'
I grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the dining room.
“I want to check out the Thiels Magic Stone first.”
My voice came out a bit quickly, perhaps because I was impatient.
“Yvonne. You don’t trust me, do you?”
“No, it’s not that. I’m in a hurry...”
As I mumbled and trailed off, his lips tightened slightly.
"...All right."
He spun around, tightened his grip on my hand, and walked briskly. Then, without even looking back, he issued a chilling warning to those around him.
“No one should follow me.”
"Uh..."
I glanced back and saw Carol and my familiars looking at me with concern as I walked away.
Soon, a maid was seen approaching to guide them separately.
Pembe's voice was heard from afar.
"Are you okay, Yvonne?"
I raised my hand to indicate that I was okay and motioned for them to follow the maid to my room and rest.
As we walked along, led by him, we came across an old-fashioned long gallery with portraits of members of the Duke Iels family.
Although all those depicted in the portrait were beautiful, none surpassed Rudnine Iels.
"Handsome."
When I discovered his portrait, I smiled brightly without realizing it, delighted.
But Rudnine glanced at the portrait without replying and then hurried on.
What the heck, tsk.
I guess his pride was hurt.
I even refused dinner... Is it because I suddenly asked to see the Thiels Magic Stone?
I was startled by his blatant behavior in front of everyone, but he was so natural.
“Rudd!”
"I'm sorry for my lack of faith. I've lost trust in Yvonne, so please understand this level of restraint."
Even though I called him with my voice low, Rudnine held my hand a little tighter, smiled brightly, and waved.
With an innocent smile, he slipped his thick, long fingers between mine and intertwined them!
As if I were really being restrained, just like he said.
“What credit have I lost again?”
I asked rudely, trying to hide my trembling voice.
“You clearly decided not to bring in any other fish besides me.”
“I didn’t hear it?”
"As I said before, I'm incredibly jealous, even of Yvonne's pets. And without realizing it, you've brought in a lot of new pets?"
He glanced back, and the corners of his mouth turned up.
"Ah."
Ten steps behind us, Carol, Pembe the hamster, Jan the one-eyed bird, and Gorten the lizard followed in a line.
Rudnine must have already noticed that Gorten and Jan are familiars.
I looked at him quizzically, but he still had that dissatisfied look in his eyes and continued speaking.
“Of course, it’s not a fish... but why is it always so noisy around Yvonne? Is it because you’re so pretty?”
“Ah, Rudd.”
I've decided to give up now.
Remembering that he was the man who bulldozed the Thiels mine just because I hated him (which was a misunderstanding, of course).
“Why are you looking at Yvonne so longingly?”
He was obviously jealous.
No, because he already had a history of mistaking Eudela for my lover.
Carol is a bit enthusiastic towards me, too.
And I think our familiars' eyes are filled with a mixture of pleading and threatening, asking for some sweet food right now.
Because I had three familiars, the chocolate and cookies I was carrying around quickly ran out.
Why on earth do familiars like sweet food so much?
Apparently, after eating the 'sweet kind' of food, the wild familiars became docile.
Pembe also turned into a hamster after eating the dessert on the dome plate, and Jan and Gorten also changed into their respective forms after eating the salt chocolate.
If this rule applies equally to all familiars, it will be a sure weapon against the familiars that attack me in the future.
The black magician who sent Jan and Gorten must be one of Empress Giselle's subordinates.
Oh, come to think of it, aren't they chasing me now? To the Duke of Iels's castle?
At that moment, the white-haired general butler approached us and bowed deeply.
“Master, I have finished preparing dinner as instructed.”
Rudnine nodded slightly and turned to me.
"Shall we talk over a meal? I learned from our last date that I need to make sure Yvonne eats well."
His eyes sparkled like a child eager to be praised. But I couldn't just praise him and eat right away.
'What if the black magicians invade Iels Castle right now!'
I grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the dining room.
“I want to check out the Thiels Magic Stone first.”
My voice came out a bit quickly, perhaps because I was impatient.
“Yvonne. You don’t trust me, do you?”
“No, it’s not that. I’m in a hurry...”
As I mumbled and trailed off, his lips tightened slightly.
"...All right."
He spun around, tightened his grip on my hand, and walked briskly. Then, without even looking back, he issued a chilling warning to those around him.
“No one should follow me.”
"Uh..."
I glanced back and saw Carol and my familiars looking at me with concern as I walked away.
Soon, a maid was seen approaching to guide them separately.
Pembe's voice was heard from afar.
"Are you okay, Yvonne?"
I raised my hand to indicate that I was okay and motioned for them to follow the maid to my room and rest.
As we walked along, led by him, we came across an old-fashioned long gallery with portraits of members of the Duke Iels family.
Although all those depicted in the portrait were beautiful, none surpassed Rudnine Iels.
"Handsome."
When I discovered his portrait, I smiled brightly without realizing it, delighted.
But Rudnine glanced at the portrait without replying and then hurried on.
What the heck, tsk.
I guess his pride was hurt.
I even refused dinner... Is it because I suddenly asked to see the Thiels Magic Stone?
Even I, who had become gloomy, kept my mouth shut from then on.
I know you're hurt, but I have my reasons!
A heavy, uncomfortable silence followed, but he held my hand tightly and continued walking.
Where on earth did he hide the Thiels magic stone?
As the long gallery ended, a large staircase came into view.
Rudnine led me up the stairs slowly.
Ugh.
I decided to overcome this stifling atmosphere by thinking about something else.
This time, I finally meet the Thiels Magic Stone.
I never thought the owner of the Thiels Mine would be Rudnine. The answer was so close, I couldn't help but wonder how I managed to get lost.
In fact, the Thiels Magic Stone Bracelet is not an ordinary gift.
If Rudnine gave you a gift like that, you should have at least asked where he got it, you idiot.
I sighed lightly, then walked up one floor with him down the long hallway that appeared, looking at his profile.
His handsome nose and mouth were perfectly defined today as well, but his expression was stiff as if he were serious.
An uncomfortable feeling.
-Yvonne. You don't trust me, do you?
Was it hurt?
Of course, I know he wouldn't lie.
The pressure to quickly cure magical amnesia was intense, but there was another reason.
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