The Slave Is Too Handsome!
005
From earlier, only irreverent words kept spilling from Lucian’s mouth.
‘What is this guy—he can actually speak properly.’
Ironically, the more disrespectful his words became, the more Eloise’s eyes sparkled.
That arrogant attitude, that mildly irritating but practiced way of speaking—it all suited her taste perfectly.
‘As expected, my judgment is impeccable.’
Praising herself inwardly, Eloise looked directly at Lucian and asked,
“What do you want?”
The answer came clean and immediate.
“Money.”
He shook a small leather pouch.
Eloise turned her head toward the dressing table. Several drawers were left open. It didn’t look like he had just arrived—Lucian had apparently already helped himself to some jewelry and expensive accessories.
‘That’s all?’
Hmm. Maybe his ambition is smaller than expected.
The corners of Eloise’s lips, which had been lifted in satisfaction, subtly dropped. At that moment, Lucian unknowingly lost a few points in her evaluation.
“And freedom.”
Lucian added this while tying the leather pouch to his waist. Then he slowly walked toward the window, clearly intending to escape.
“You think that’s enough? From the looks of it, you’ll probably get beaten up in some back alley again, have whatever jewelry you’ve got stolen, and end up dragged right back to a slave trader.”
“……”
Lucian stopped walking.
From beneath her pillow, Eloise slipped a hand inside and continued speaking calmly.
“Are you stupid? No matter how I think about it, staying by my side is far more profitable. I’ll feed you, house you, clothe you. I’ll even give you plenty of money.”
“……”
“Of course, as long as you listen to me.”
With one corner of her lips raised, Eloise crossed her arms and continued to provoke him.
“To me, freedom is still the most important thing no matter what you offer…”
Lucian’s words trailed off.
Two sharply honed daggers sliced past his cheeks in succession.
For a moment, he froze, tightening his gaze to assess the situation.
When he turned, Eloise—who had been sitting on the bed like a doll—was holding the pose of having just thrown them.
“I missed on purpose. I can’t afford to ruin such a pretty face.”
Insane.
Lucian’s expression turned weary.
Eloise had already stood up and now drew a bow. The arrowhead was aimed directly at him.
Where the hell did she even get a bow?
A noble lady carrying as many weapons as accessories—he let out a dry laugh, goosebumps rising on his skin.
“My late grandfather had a hobby of hunting deer, wolves, and foxes and taxidermying them. They’re still down in the basement. I used to think it was barbaric.”
“W-wait.”
“But now that I think about it, building my own collection might not be so bad. Naturally, the first piece would be…”
Her eyes flashed ominously.
“—you.”
In the next instant, she dropped the bow and moved right in front of him, grabbing his collar effortlessly.
Time seemed to freeze as Lucian’s expression stiffened. A cool night breeze slipped through the half-open window, wrapping around them.
“What kind of master do you think I am? Pretty, young, and kind-hearted. Honestly, if it weren’t for me, you’d have been sold off to some perverted noble and suffered far worse. Don’t you think?”
“Let go!”
Lucian slapped her hand away. Eloise released him surprisingly easily.
“See? I’m the kind of master who even overlooks theft.”
Smiling brightly, she quickly retrieved her dagger from Lucian’s hand.
“Hah.”
Lucian let out a hollow laugh at her movements, which could hardly be called noble.
Who was this woman? She moved like someone from the back alleys—fast hands, violent instincts.
“So? Changed your mind yet?”
A tense standoff formed between them.
Just as Lucian, eyes cold, was about to respond—
BANG!
The bedroom door flew open with a force that seemed like it would shatter it.
It was Georges.
He was so drunk his entire face and body were red—almost burning. In his left hand he still held a bottle, liquid sloshing inside.
He had apparently returned from a tavern after the banquet.
The drunken man shouted so loudly it echoed through the annex.
“ELOISE!!!”
Startled, Lucian flinched—but Eloise only glanced at him calmly. As if this were routine, a look of utter annoyance appeared on her face.
“You, you, you little bitch!!!”
Georges staggered forward, pointing a trembling finger at her.
“You humiliated me back there?!”
He lurched forward and smashed a vase on the table with his bottle.
Crash.
The unpleasant sound rang through the room. It was one of Mary’s favorite vases.
Unlucky flowers scattered across the floor. Georges began stomping on them with his shoes.
I’ll charge him for all of this tomorrow.
Eloise thought indifferently. In fact, the more this idiot rampaged, the better—it gave her justification to discipline him.
“You act all high and mighty about being a great ducal house, but you’re no different from some thug in a back alley.”
Lucian seemed to think differently. He stepped in front of Eloise without realizing it.
Seeing his broad back block her view, Eloise tilted her head.
What—he’s protecting me?
Before she could fully process this unexpected behavior, Georges bent down and picked up a shard of the broken vase. It was sharp.
“Move, you bastard!”
He charged forward with the shard like a weapon.
Lucian showed no intention of stepping aside.
Instead, he grabbed a gilded candlestick from the table and blocked the attack with sharp reflexes. Then, before Georges could strike again, he shoved him back with it.
“Ughhh!”
Unable to resist the force, Georges fell backward in an embarrassing heap.
Unluckily for him, he landed directly on the spilled water from the vase.
So, to anyone unaware of the situation, it looked exactly like he had soiled himself.
“Pfft.”
Eloise actually laughed. He was usually annoying, but this was the most ridiculous sight she had ever seen.
“You—what the hell are you?!”
Georges, scrambling back to his feet, shifted his target to Lucian. Lucian casually nudged the broken shard away with his foot to prevent further danger.
Georges approached him, looking up at the much taller man.
The size difference made him hesitate for a moment—but then he gathered himself and reached out—
Eloise stepped between them again.
“Don’t touch my knight.”
Lucian’s eyes widened at her words.
A much smaller, slender girl stood in front of him, blocking the attack.
It was ridiculous—but interesting. He decided to watch. What would she do?
“A knight? A mere knight dares block the young lord of House La Croix?”
“This is your warning. Leave now. Or I’ll stab you.”
She raised her dagger.
Her eyes were as sharp as the blade itself.
Lucian clicked his tongue internally.
What a savage little noble family this was.
Georges hesitated. In the reflection of the polished blade, he saw his own frightened face.
A brief internal struggle followed.
Finally—
“…I won’t forget this.”
He chose retreat. Acting like a victim after being the one who started it all.
He turned and walked toward the door.
Eloise finally relaxed her grip.
And then—
“Hah!”
Georges suddenly picked up a small shard and threw it.
Eloise didn’t have time to react.
Lucian stepped in front of her, shielding her with the leather pouch.
“Ah—!”
But it was too late.
The shard grazed Eloise’s cheek before falling away.
Georges had already fled.
“Let me see.”
Lucian immediately checked her face in alarm.
Eloise blinked blankly at him.
In a situation where escaping would have been easy amid the chaos, Lucian had stayed by her side instead.
And not only that—he looked genuinely concerned. It didn’t seem like an act.
Why? Why the sudden change?
Ignoring Georges entirely, Eloise’s mind worked quickly.
If she wanted to shape Lucian into what she needed, she first had to understand him completely.
“Ah.”
She winced slightly as his fingers brushed the cut.
A thin line of blood slid down her pale cheek.
Lucian flinched as well.
Then Eloise spoke calmly.
“Now do you understand? Why a noble lady carries dangerous weapons?”
“……”
“And so, will you leave me?”
