Episode 95. Do you like me?
“I’ve been with you from the beginning.”
“...So you’re saying you were crouching down the whole time?”
“Yes.”
Neruan looked at him with a bewildered expression.
“Even if it’s a foreign country, you have to maintain your dignity.”
“Oh, you talk too much.”
Julius twitched his ear, as if he didn’t want to hear Neruan’s words.
“I was originally going to come out after you left, but...”
He glared at Neruan and said,
“You wouldn’t move at all. My legs almost hurt.”
“Don’t joke around. How long have you been sitting for your legs to hurt?”
“It was really hard? Do you know what position I took to hide this voluminous dress?”
He presented Neruan with an odd pose, unlike his commanding tone.
Neruan was startled and pulled him to his feet.
“Stop it. People find it strange.”
Julius and Neruan's bodies naturally pressed together. Playfully, Julius thrust his head toward Neruan.
"You'll probably find it even stranger that you're stuck with me like this."
Julius said, almost snuggling into his arms. Then, seductively, he blew air into Neruan's ear.
"Ugh! What are you doing?"
Suddenly, goosebumps appeared all over Neruan's body.
It was already disgusting to be stuck with a grown man like this, and now you're blowing air into my ear!
"Go away!"
Neruan thought for a moment and then turned away from Julius.
While not as close as the Grand Duke, Neruan and Julius were quite close.
They had a childhood connection, and working under the Grand Duke, Neruan had encountered Julius quite often.
"Go away! It hurts me."
As Julius twisted his body, Neruan's expression became even more dispirited.
Julius stared at Neruan, shivering, with bleary eyes.
Unlike his initial stiffness, Neruan had returned to his usual self.
Julius opened his mouth, his lips trembling.
“Neruan, there’s something I need to make clear.”
Neruan flinched and took a step back at Julius’s words.
His body moved involuntarily, thinking about what he might do next.
“It’s best to apologize properly.”
“What’s that all of a sudden...?”
Neruan trailed off, then his expression hardened.
He understood what Julius meant.
“Are you saying I should apologize to Lady Serviat?”
“Yes. I understand.”
Julius patted Neruan’s shoulder and continued.
“Your actions were rash. Moreover, they were undignified, mean, and downright wicked.”
Every word of Julius’s pierced Neruan’s heart.
He added a word to Neruan, who couldn't refute him.
"If Lucas finds out about your actions, he won't stay still."
"..."
"Even if it's you."
The man who had been playful until just a moment ago now took on a serious tone.
"That guy is quite sincere to Lady Serviat. So you need to apologize to Lady Serviat properly. If not..."
Julius removed his hand from Neruan's shoulder and said,
"I won't let you go."
Julius stared at Neruan with a mysterious smile.
With that, Julius turned away.
"Oh, and..."
But as if he had something else to say, he quickly turned away again.
"You seem to have been slacking off on your training lately, Neruan. To think you didn't sense my presence when I was hidden."
Neruan's expression hardened at those words.
"I'm disappointed, Neruan. Is this how you're going to properly protect Lucas?"
Julius's words almost made him lash out.
But his words were true. It was true that he had let his guard down inside the mansion.
"Why don't you spend more time training instead of worrying about Lady Serviat?"
Julius touched Neruan's pride and left.
As he was leaving after finishing his conversation with Neruan, he saw Rose.
"Lady!"
Julius called out to Rose with a bright expression, different from when he had spoken to Neruan.
"Huh, princess?"
"Did you enjoy your meal?"
"Yes. Thanks to you. By the way, are you okay?"
"Huh? What is it?"
“It looks like you fell...”
Rose trailed off, looking at Julius, who seemed to have rolled around on fallen leaves.
“Ah, this? It’s okay. I was just playing because I was bored.”
Rose studied him with a mysterious expression at Julius’s words.
‘How can you play to end up like that...?’
Julius simply maintained a bright expression, whether he knew or not that Rose was looking at him strangely.
“Where were you going, Young Lady?”
“I was going to the Grand Duke.”
Julius’s eyes sparkled at Rose’s words.
‘I see you’re finally planning to clear up the misunderstanding with Lucas.’
“I see. I held Young Lady back for too long. Go to Lucas quickly.”
“Ah... Yes. See you later then.”
Rose, who had been nervous that Julius would ask her to play with him again, breathed a sigh of relief at the way he easily let her go.
Rose turned away from Julius.
He watched Rose's back with a satisfied expression.
"Lucas, this older brother is rooting for you."
Rose quickened her pace, receiving Julius's silent encouragement. Without hesitation, she headed to the Grand Duke's office.
A knight stood guard at the door.
"Your Highness, Lady Serviat has come to see you."
The Grand Duke, who had been reading papers, immediately answered the knight's words.
"Ask her to come in."
He rose to greet Rose.
"You looked quite unwell this morning. How much have you recovered?"
Rose, who had been standing there with a stern expression, had been worried.
The door opened.
Rose's figure appeared through the crack.
Rose's face, once shadowed, had suddenly brightened considerably.
Seeing her face, he felt a sense of relief.
"I see you're all right now."
The Grand Duke's soft voice echoed quietly.
Rose unconsciously averted her gaze as soon as her eyes met the Grand Duke's.
"Yes. Thanks to you."
The answering voice sounded quite small.
The Grand Duke looked no different than usual, but perhaps because she was aware of her own feelings, she found it difficult to control her pounding heart.
Rose glanced at the Grand Duke. He drew closer to Rose, who stood at the door.
The closer he came, the more her heart pounded, as if it were about to jump out.
Why was his shirt so low-cut today?
Rose unconsciously felt nervous at the Grand Duke's attire, which revealed his cleavage.
The Grand Duke, having come closer, reached out to Rose's face.
A warm hand touched Rose's cheek.
Rose's already flushed face flushed.
"I think you still have a fever."
It's all because of you, Grand Duke...!
Rose blinked wide eyes and looked at the Grand Duke.
She enjoyed the way his hands gently caressed her face.
And for some reason, she felt her mind becoming confused.
"...It's okay."
Embarrassed, she no longer avoided the Grand Duke's touch.
Rose quietly nodded, her face flushed with peach-colored cheeks.
"That's fortunate."
The Grand Duke slowly lowered his hand with a faint smile.
Rose glanced at the Grand Duke and said,
"Thank you for preparing the food for me."
"I just did what I had to do."
“I’ve been with you from the beginning.”
“...So you’re saying you were crouching down the whole time?”
“Yes.”
Neruan looked at him with a bewildered expression.
“Even if it’s a foreign country, you have to maintain your dignity.”
“Oh, you talk too much.”
Julius twitched his ear, as if he didn’t want to hear Neruan’s words.
“I was originally going to come out after you left, but...”
He glared at Neruan and said,
“You wouldn’t move at all. My legs almost hurt.”
“Don’t joke around. How long have you been sitting for your legs to hurt?”
“It was really hard? Do you know what position I took to hide this voluminous dress?”
He presented Neruan with an odd pose, unlike his commanding tone.
Neruan was startled and pulled him to his feet.
“Stop it. People find it strange.”
Julius and Neruan's bodies naturally pressed together. Playfully, Julius thrust his head toward Neruan.
"You'll probably find it even stranger that you're stuck with me like this."
Julius said, almost snuggling into his arms. Then, seductively, he blew air into Neruan's ear.
"Ugh! What are you doing?"
Suddenly, goosebumps appeared all over Neruan's body.
It was already disgusting to be stuck with a grown man like this, and now you're blowing air into my ear!
"Go away!"
Neruan thought for a moment and then turned away from Julius.
While not as close as the Grand Duke, Neruan and Julius were quite close.
They had a childhood connection, and working under the Grand Duke, Neruan had encountered Julius quite often.
"Go away! It hurts me."
As Julius twisted his body, Neruan's expression became even more dispirited.
Julius stared at Neruan, shivering, with bleary eyes.
Unlike his initial stiffness, Neruan had returned to his usual self.
Julius opened his mouth, his lips trembling.
“Neruan, there’s something I need to make clear.”
Neruan flinched and took a step back at Julius’s words.
His body moved involuntarily, thinking about what he might do next.
“It’s best to apologize properly.”
“What’s that all of a sudden...?”
Neruan trailed off, then his expression hardened.
He understood what Julius meant.
“Are you saying I should apologize to Lady Serviat?”
“Yes. I understand.”
Julius patted Neruan’s shoulder and continued.
“Your actions were rash. Moreover, they were undignified, mean, and downright wicked.”
Every word of Julius’s pierced Neruan’s heart.
He added a word to Neruan, who couldn't refute him.
"If Lucas finds out about your actions, he won't stay still."
"..."
"Even if it's you."
The man who had been playful until just a moment ago now took on a serious tone.
"That guy is quite sincere to Lady Serviat. So you need to apologize to Lady Serviat properly. If not..."
Julius removed his hand from Neruan's shoulder and said,
"I won't let you go."
Julius stared at Neruan with a mysterious smile.
With that, Julius turned away.
"Oh, and..."
But as if he had something else to say, he quickly turned away again.
"You seem to have been slacking off on your training lately, Neruan. To think you didn't sense my presence when I was hidden."
Neruan's expression hardened at those words.
"I'm disappointed, Neruan. Is this how you're going to properly protect Lucas?"
Julius's words almost made him lash out.
But his words were true. It was true that he had let his guard down inside the mansion.
"Why don't you spend more time training instead of worrying about Lady Serviat?"
Julius touched Neruan's pride and left.
As he was leaving after finishing his conversation with Neruan, he saw Rose.
"Lady!"
Julius called out to Rose with a bright expression, different from when he had spoken to Neruan.
"Huh, princess?"
"Did you enjoy your meal?"
"Yes. Thanks to you. By the way, are you okay?"
"Huh? What is it?"
“It looks like you fell...”
Rose trailed off, looking at Julius, who seemed to have rolled around on fallen leaves.
“Ah, this? It’s okay. I was just playing because I was bored.”
Rose studied him with a mysterious expression at Julius’s words.
‘How can you play to end up like that...?’
Julius simply maintained a bright expression, whether he knew or not that Rose was looking at him strangely.
“Where were you going, Young Lady?”
“I was going to the Grand Duke.”
Julius’s eyes sparkled at Rose’s words.
‘I see you’re finally planning to clear up the misunderstanding with Lucas.’
“I see. I held Young Lady back for too long. Go to Lucas quickly.”
“Ah... Yes. See you later then.”
Rose, who had been nervous that Julius would ask her to play with him again, breathed a sigh of relief at the way he easily let her go.
Rose turned away from Julius.
He watched Rose's back with a satisfied expression.
"Lucas, this older brother is rooting for you."
Rose quickened her pace, receiving Julius's silent encouragement. Without hesitation, she headed to the Grand Duke's office.
A knight stood guard at the door.
"Your Highness, Lady Serviat has come to see you."
The Grand Duke, who had been reading papers, immediately answered the knight's words.
"Ask her to come in."
He rose to greet Rose.
"You looked quite unwell this morning. How much have you recovered?"
Rose, who had been standing there with a stern expression, had been worried.
The door opened.
Rose's figure appeared through the crack.
Rose's face, once shadowed, had suddenly brightened considerably.
Seeing her face, he felt a sense of relief.
"I see you're all right now."
The Grand Duke's soft voice echoed quietly.
Rose unconsciously averted her gaze as soon as her eyes met the Grand Duke's.
"Yes. Thanks to you."
The answering voice sounded quite small.
The Grand Duke looked no different than usual, but perhaps because she was aware of her own feelings, she found it difficult to control her pounding heart.
Rose glanced at the Grand Duke. He drew closer to Rose, who stood at the door.
The closer he came, the more her heart pounded, as if it were about to jump out.
Why was his shirt so low-cut today?
Rose unconsciously felt nervous at the Grand Duke's attire, which revealed his cleavage.
The Grand Duke, having come closer, reached out to Rose's face.
A warm hand touched Rose's cheek.
Rose's already flushed face flushed.
"I think you still have a fever."
It's all because of you, Grand Duke...!
Rose blinked wide eyes and looked at the Grand Duke.
She enjoyed the way his hands gently caressed her face.
And for some reason, she felt her mind becoming confused.
"...It's okay."
Embarrassed, she no longer avoided the Grand Duke's touch.
Rose quietly nodded, her face flushed with peach-colored cheeks.
"That's fortunate."
The Grand Duke slowly lowered his hand with a faint smile.
Rose glanced at the Grand Duke and said,
"Thank you for preparing the food for me."
"I just did what I had to do."
His tone was businesslike.
His eyes were undeniably kind. However, his expressions seemed a little awkward.
'You're really confusing me...'
His attitude, seemingly interested yet guarded, felt ambiguous.
Until now, this attitude had prevented her from fully appreciating his kindness.
However, she had no intention of letting it slide.
She needed to confirm whether he truly cared for her, whether she was truly the one he'd said he was marrying.
"Grand Duke."
Rose called out to him in a low voice.
'Do you like me...? How do I bring it up?'
Unlike the confident declaration she'd made in front of Neruan, her mouth held its own.
Rose simply opened her mouth and then sighed.
She tried to speak, but it was harder than she'd expected.
Even in her first relationship, she had been the one to express her feelings first, not Lee Do-hyun.
But it seemed she wasn't ready yet.
Seeing the words she was spitting out to him tremble, Rose gave the Grand Duke an awkward laugh.
“Are you free tonight? My business partner, as I mentioned before, has contacted me. I’d like to invite you to dinner. Is that alright?”
In the end, she ended up saying something else first.
'I’m curious about your thoughts, Grand Duke, but right now, Gwen’s matter takes priority.'
It sounded like an excuse, but Gwen’s matter was indeed urgent.
She wanted to help him, who was being chased by Cedric.
'I must speak with the Grand Duke tonight.'
I will definitely ask him today, Rose vowed to herself, clenching her fists.
The Grand Duke hesitated at Rose’s words.
'Finally, I get to see that bastard’s face.'
His eyes were undeniably kind. However, his expressions seemed a little awkward.
'You're really confusing me...'
His attitude, seemingly interested yet guarded, felt ambiguous.
Until now, this attitude had prevented her from fully appreciating his kindness.
However, she had no intention of letting it slide.
She needed to confirm whether he truly cared for her, whether she was truly the one he'd said he was marrying.
"Grand Duke."
Rose called out to him in a low voice.
'Do you like me...? How do I bring it up?'
Unlike the confident declaration she'd made in front of Neruan, her mouth held its own.
Rose simply opened her mouth and then sighed.
She tried to speak, but it was harder than she'd expected.
Even in her first relationship, she had been the one to express her feelings first, not Lee Do-hyun.
But it seemed she wasn't ready yet.
Seeing the words she was spitting out to him tremble, Rose gave the Grand Duke an awkward laugh.
“Are you free tonight? My business partner, as I mentioned before, has contacted me. I’d like to invite you to dinner. Is that alright?”
In the end, she ended up saying something else first.
'I’m curious about your thoughts, Grand Duke, but right now, Gwen’s matter takes priority.'
It sounded like an excuse, but Gwen’s matter was indeed urgent.
She wanted to help him, who was being chased by Cedric.
'I must speak with the Grand Duke tonight.'
I will definitely ask him today, Rose vowed to herself, clenching her fists.
The Grand Duke hesitated at Rose’s words.
'Finally, I get to see that bastard’s face.'
Face- to-face with the man she had been so concerned about.
'Yes. Finally, I get to see his face.'
The Grand Duke's eyes shone with a solemn glint.
“May his family be present?”
“Family?”
The Grand Duke's expression hardened slightly at Rose's words.
Rose seemed to know his family. While the idea of knowing his family felt rather unsettling, he wasn't as anxious as before.
Rose and he were engaged to be married.
The Grand Duke nodded confidently, suggesting they should come if they wanted to.
"Bring as many as you want."
He was jealous of Rose's close relationship with the man, but he couldn't jump to conclusions yet. He didn't know how close Rose was to him.
The Grand Duke decided to see everything for himself and judge for himself.
'If Rose has feelings for him... I'll get rid of her partner or whatever.'
Rose probably didn't know the Grand Duke was thinking such terrifying thoughts.
She simply felt a sense of relief at the thought of being able to bring Gwen.
It was evening.
Rose was waiting for Gwen and his party at the main gate.
Soon, Gwen and his family appeared, neatly dressed.
"Are you here?"
Rose waved at them cheerfully. Beside her was the butler, Neruan.
He stood beside her to greet the guests.
The situation was uncomfortable for both of them, but Rose didn't show it.
Unlike Rose, Neruan was quite self-conscious.
Perhaps it was because he had wronged her so many times.
He glanced at Rose.
'How can you treat me so casually?'
He wished she'd gotten angry instead.
Rose's calm demeanor was unsettling.
Rose appeared unfazed on the outside, but she wasn't actually unsettled.
It was natural for her to be offended.
However, she was waiting for Neruan to apologize on his own. An insincere, forced apology didn't resonate with her.
'He's still childish, perhaps because he's young.'
Rose thought, watching Neruan hesitate.
Even though he clearly knew his mistake, he didn't back down easily.
'I'm the older one, so I'll wait.'
She greeted Gwen with a leisurely expression.
“It must have been difficult to come such a long way.”
'Yes. Finally, I get to see his face.'
The Grand Duke's eyes shone with a solemn glint.
“May his family be present?”
“Family?”
The Grand Duke's expression hardened slightly at Rose's words.
Rose seemed to know his family. While the idea of knowing his family felt rather unsettling, he wasn't as anxious as before.
Rose and he were engaged to be married.
The Grand Duke nodded confidently, suggesting they should come if they wanted to.
"Bring as many as you want."
He was jealous of Rose's close relationship with the man, but he couldn't jump to conclusions yet. He didn't know how close Rose was to him.
The Grand Duke decided to see everything for himself and judge for himself.
'If Rose has feelings for him... I'll get rid of her partner or whatever.'
Rose probably didn't know the Grand Duke was thinking such terrifying thoughts.
She simply felt a sense of relief at the thought of being able to bring Gwen.
***
It was evening.
Rose was waiting for Gwen and his party at the main gate.
Soon, Gwen and his family appeared, neatly dressed.
"Are you here?"
Rose waved at them cheerfully. Beside her was the butler, Neruan.
He stood beside her to greet the guests.
The situation was uncomfortable for both of them, but Rose didn't show it.
Unlike Rose, Neruan was quite self-conscious.
Perhaps it was because he had wronged her so many times.
He glanced at Rose.
'How can you treat me so casually?'
He wished she'd gotten angry instead.
Rose's calm demeanor was unsettling.
Rose appeared unfazed on the outside, but she wasn't actually unsettled.
It was natural for her to be offended.
However, she was waiting for Neruan to apologize on his own. An insincere, forced apology didn't resonate with her.
'He's still childish, perhaps because he's young.'
Rose thought, watching Neruan hesitate.
Even though he clearly knew his mistake, he didn't back down easily.
'I'm the older one, so I'll wait.'
She greeted Gwen with a leisurely expression.
“It must have been difficult to come such a long way.”
“Thank you for inviting me.”
Rose and Gwen exchanged a brief conversation. Neruan greeted Gwen politely.
“I am Neruan, the butler of the Grand Duke of Artaeum.”
Gwen’s eyes naturally turned to Neruan.
“The butler of the Grand Duke of Artaeum, whom I only heard rumors about.”
His blazing red hair was quite impressive.
Neruan slowly raised his head, which had been bowed. Gwen examined Neruan with curious eyes.
It was the moment when Neruan’s figure, hidden behind a veil, was revealed.
“!”
Gwen froze in place upon seeing Neruan’s appearance.
“This is ridiculous.”
He stared at Neruan in disbelief.
Rose and Gwen exchanged a brief conversation. Neruan greeted Gwen politely.
“I am Neruan, the butler of the Grand Duke of Artaeum.”
Gwen’s eyes naturally turned to Neruan.
“The butler of the Grand Duke of Artaeum, whom I only heard rumors about.”
His blazing red hair was quite impressive.
Neruan slowly raised his head, which had been bowed. Gwen examined Neruan with curious eyes.
It was the moment when Neruan’s figure, hidden behind a veil, was revealed.
“!”
Gwen froze in place upon seeing Neruan’s appearance.
“This is ridiculous.”
He stared at Neruan in disbelief.
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