Etienne, too, was well aware of Raul's name. He was said to be an illegitimate son born to the Marquis Calix and a dancer. Naturally, the Marquis did not acknowledge his son, and it was said that Raul also did not recognize his father.
"...Raul Calix."
He didn't understand what was so great about a pirate-like man like that that it was causing such a fuss. The thought of Shioana, who had been with him, made Etienne feel extremely unpleasant. Cedric, who had been staring into the Duke's grim face, spoke in a very displeased tone.
"Anyway, how long do we have to keep her under surveillance like this?"
Cedric, who had not been particularly fond of Shioana from the start, continued speaking.
"Your Excellency, if it's going to be like this, why don't you just put shackles on her feet instead?"
"...That’s not a bad idea."
For the first time, Etienne seemed to quite like Cedric's nagging.
As the Duke smiled with satisfaction, Cedric was startled.
It seemed like he wasn't the Duke he knew.
Cedric cleared his throat.
"As a friend, I must say a few words."
The foreign woman from District 8 who was nearly hit by a carriage—that was Cedric's entire assessment of Shioana.
Of course, it was acknowledged that she faithfully supported her family and lived a hardworking life. Her melancholic blue eyes, slender waist, and abundant brown hair were also attractive. However, it was difficult to explain the Duke's obsession with that alone.
"It is simply difficult to understand Your Excellency's current state."
All the minor cleanup surrounding Shioana had to go through his hands.
As Cedric spoke in a tone of exhaustion, the Duke rubbed his eyes as if weary. It was not that he couldn't understand his secretary's feelings.
He could not carelessly reveal Regbell's matter even to his childhood friend and the only person he could trust.
'...Cedric, I'm sorry.'
The pain was still too great to confide in anyone about Shioana and his situation. As he pictured Shioana turning away and abandoning him, his eyes instantly became bloodshot.
"...she is."
Cedric looked worried as he saw the Duke's pained face.
"You don't have to say anything if it's difficult for you. However, I simply cannot understand why you are going to such lengths."
"Cedric, I need her.
"...ah."
Cedric felt a chilling sensation at the Duke's resolute face. His worry that the Duke might fall for the woman and ruin a major undertaking quickly vanished.
What burns in the Duke's red eyes is not romantic, but terrifying murderous intent.
For the first time, Cedric felt sorry for the woman with blue eyes.
Because it seems her wish to leave this place soon will never come true.
***
When it was time to leave work, a carriage bearing the crest of the Duke Bernhard family was standing in front of the office. That’s enough. Murphy and Thompson also squirmed, as if they couldn't wait any longer.
"Secretary. Surely you aren't the Duke's hidden daughter, are you?"
It was exactly the kind of thing that could easily be misunderstood by others.
Because they visit every time and send a carriage.
Shioana, standing with her bag in her hand, let out a brief sigh.
"It's not that..."
As expected, she simply couldn't bring herself to speak.
The relationship between her and Duke Bernhard went beyond that of fake lovers and was nothing more than that of a creditor and a debtor.
'He says he is coming to pick me up like that because he doesn't trust me.'
As Shioana hesitated, Raul, who had followed her out, put his arm around her shoulder.
"They say the roof will collapse if you sigh like that."
"... Yes?"
When Shioana looked puzzled, Raul shrugged his shoulders.
"Stop the nonsense and get ready to leave work. We're having a company dinner tonight!"
At Raul's words, Murphy jumped up and danced with joy.
"Secretary, we can finally hold the welcome party now."
It had already been two months since Shioana came to the office, so it felt a bit late to call it a welcome party.
Apart from that, when she hesitated because of the carriage that seemed to be watching her, Raul grinned.
"What are you doing just standing there? Let's hurry!"
Murphy and Thompson stuck close to Shioana's sides as she passed the carriage in an instant.
"Boss, I can't believe it's been so long since we've had a company dinner."
Murphy, who was in the midst of his excitement, chattered loudly the whole time, and in the meantime, they arrived at the dinner venue.
"...ah."
It happened to be the pub they had visited with Duke Bernhard the other day. The four people sitting at a large table ordered beer first.
"Whoever came up with the 'buy two, get one free' promotion must be really smart. Thanks to that, it instantly established itself as the most popular bar in District 8."
"I told you, you really need to be smart."
Thompson, who tends to be quiet, chimed in with Murphy's words.
'What am I doing here right now?'
Shioana sat blankly with the drink she had been given in front of her. She had absolutely no interest in the welcome party or the dinner gathering. She wanted to see Martha and Harriet, whom she had left without even being able to greet that morning.
And she was constantly worried about the Duke, who might get furious.
"Hey, Secretary. Why aren't you drinking the alcohol you accepted?"
"It's because I'm not feeling well."
The aftermath of drinking last time wasn't very good. She hated having a stomachache from the hangover, but the worst part was that she couldn't remember parts of it.
It was a truly despairing situation that she couldn't even remember all the atrocities she had committed against Duke Bernhard.
'I guess I shouldn't drink alcohol from now on.'
The only thing she remembered was the Duke's voice threatening to kill her.
Since she's indebted to the Duke's family, if she drinks alcohol as well, Duke Bernhard will certainly not sit idly by.
"Then I guess I should order something different for my secretary."
Raul raised his hand to order something, and the waiter immediately brought him juice.
“What is this?”
"Try it. It's called Selbour, and it'll be sweet."
In a tall glass, fruit pieces were scattered on top of the pink drink and white foam. When Shioana smelled it, only a really sweet fruit scent wafted out.
As Shioana cautiously took a sip, Murphy grumbled.
"Boss, that item isn't included in the buy-two-get-one-free offer."
"Murphy, sometimes you're really smart, but often you feel like a fool."
"...Is that a compliment? Or is it a compliment?
Shioana giggled at Murphy's question as he scratched the back of his head. There were times when looking at Murphy felt like seeing her from her carefree days.
She jumped up and down with joy wearing the hat Count Noah bought for her, and she believed without a doubt that a hopeful future would unfold.
Feeling bitter, Shioana drank a little of a beverage called selburo and felt as if her body was floating up. She didn't know it at the time, but selburo was a type of alcohol made by mixing liquor and juice.
"Secretary, you need to go home."
When Shioana opened her eyes, she saw a familiar alley, not knowing when the welcome party had ended.
Only then did Shioana come to her senses, and she shook her head while stroking her flushed cheeks.
"Boss. I moved yesterday."
"...Where to?"
"Uh, well, the place is..."
Shioana hesitated, but a carriage waiting for her at the end of the alley came into view.
"I'll go in for now."
After bowing to Raul, Shioana walked toward the carriage, and the servant quickly opened the door. Standing in the empty alleyway where the carriage had departed, Raul wore a dejected expression.
***
Fortunately, perhaps because the alcohol wasn't as strong as last time, the heat in her face subsided a little during the ride in the carriage. Shioana leaned back in the carriage seat and let out a sigh. There were times when she, too, wanted to join in the conversation between Murphy and Thompson. She also wanted to burst into laughter at the ridiculous boasts Raul casually tossed out.
"But none of that suits me."
Had Martha ever said that such an ordinary and uneventful life was hard to come by? Even when Martha said that, Shioana didn't know what meaning it held.
"I was too young and ignorant."
As she ran her hand across her face, she saw a bright light in the distance signaling Zone 1. It was as if they were trying to create a city without night; this place was exceptionally bright, so there were times when even the moon and stars felt incredibly far away.
"When I climbed Mt. Regbell, the stars were so vivid they felt like I could touch them..."
While she was muttering to herself, the carriage arrived at the mansion, and she hurriedly headed to the annex first.
She intended to see Harriet and Martha before being caught by the Duke and hearing the sound of him.
As she crossed the garden, her legs trembled a little. She couldn't tell if the alcohol really didn't suit her constitution or if her body had become too weak lately.
It was when Shioana, who was crossing the well-tended garden, came near the maze made of Leylandi trees. She heard human voices from somewhere.
'There is no benefit in standing out for no reason.'
She slyly hid herself at the entrance of the maze when the sound of footsteps grew closer.
"Your Excellency, our engagement is just around the corner, so why did you take such a lowly woman?"
The beautifully dressed Diana Vale grabbed the Duke's horse and angrily glared.
"...Hmmm."
As the Duke only groaned and said nothing else, Diana clung to him.
"Your Excellency, why won't you accept me, whom even the Grand Madam acknowledges?"
Shioana covered her mouth at the voice that kept begging the Duke for affection. After all, what the Lady Vale was saying now was of her own business.
'So, the fact that I slept in the same bedroom as the Duke has already reached the ears of the Godmother and the Lady of the Vale.'
The Duke was using her with the intention of angering them. As Shioana, seized by a strange sense of sorrow, lowered her head, she heard the Duke's passionate words.
"What are you worried about? That lowly girl doesn't think she can even be a match for a noble woman like you."
"Oh, Your Excellency, really."
She thought it was Diana Vale's unrequited love, but it turns out that wasn't the case.
A cold wind brushed against Shioana's lowered face.
Comments
Post a Comment