The Slave Is So Handsome!
006
“Hmm? You’re asking if I’m going to leave you?”
Eloise, unfazed even by the sight of blood, casually shook the leather pouch in her hand.
“…Ah.”
Lucian let out a short exhale and immediately reached into his trouser pocket. Of course, there was nothing there.
He only stared at Eloise in silence.
“Don’t go. I need you.”
Eloise said this as she returned the leather pouch to Lucian. Lucian, who had instinctively taken it back, asked,
“Why?”
For the first time, Lucian was genuinely curious. Setting aside the troublesome—no, explosive—young duke, why would a perfectly privileged duchess’s daughter need a slave like him?
“That’s…”
Eloise, suddenly serious, hesitated.
“I’ll tell you tomorrow morning after the sun rises.”
“What?”
Eloise smiled faintly.
Lucian let out a scoff. The noble lady in front of him was remarkably skilled at toying with people’s emotions.
Meanwhile, Eloise yawned and added in a slightly lazy voice,
“So go back to your quarters quickly. Before Arthur wakes up. Ah—do you know Arthur? Our butler.”
An image of the old man who had nagged him throughout dinner flashed through Lucian’s mind.
“He cares about me very much. So if he sees you coming out of my room, he’ll probably try to kill you.”
“Are you threatening me right now?”
“Just advice. Let’s sleep and talk when we’re both thinking clearly tomorrow.”
Having said all she wanted, Eloise walked toward the bed.
Whether her persuasion had worked or not, Lucian quietly picked up the leather pouch and headed for the door. Before leaving, he glanced back at Eloise once, then silently closed the door behind him.
Soon the sun would rise, but at least Eloise would be able to sleep peacefully.
Why do I need you? Because I have to make you emperor.
Even with her eyes closed, Lucian’s figure from earlier—standing in front of her—remained vivid in her mind. A faint smile curved her lips.
But first, I’ll have to test whether you’re even qualified.
The next morning, Mary entered Eloise’s bedroom at the usual time. Normally, Eloise would already be awake by now.
“…My lady?”
Unusually, Eloise was still in bed.
Mary walked over with her hands on her hips. It was Wednesday—the day the ducal family had breakfast together.
Is she pretending to be ill because she doesn’t want to eat with them?
Her scolding expression softened the moment she saw Eloise’s face. She was sleeping so peacefully.
Eloise wore a gentle, harmless smile, as though she were having a pleasant dream. Mary couldn’t help but mirror it.
The young lady rarely slept deeply. She was naturally sensitive and often troubled by family matters.
Maybe I should let her sleep a little longer…
Just as Mary thought this, Eloise slowly opened her eyes.
“…Mary?”
“Good morning, my lady.”
“It’s Wednesday already.”
Eloise got up, stretched, and sat in front of the vanity. As Mary approached to comb her hair, she suddenly gasped.
“My lady, what happened last night?”
A small scratch marked Eloise’s porcelain-like cheek.
Mary quickly scanned the room and noticed shattered vase fragments scattered around.
“Oh. It’s nothing serious.”
Eloise’s casual reply only irritated Mary further.
“Nothing serious? Nothing serious?! Who dared to hurt your face?! Something must have happened at the ball last night, right? Was it Lady Rose?”
Instead of answering, Eloise gave a faint smile. Mary, who was scolding like a grown adult despite her youthful face, looked adorable—and also completely off the mark.
“Don’t worry. I was planning to deal with the person who did this anyway.”
Eloise’s eyes reflected in the mirror gleamed coldly with killing intent. Mary flinched.
Even though she served her, sometimes her lady could be terrifying.
Mary quickly changed her tone and silently pitied whoever had marked Eloise’s face.
“Good morning.”
Dressed neatly, Eloise greeted them with a bright smile.
At the long dining table sat her father, Duke La Croix, and beside him her stepmother, the Duchess La Croix.
“Good morning,” the Duke replied.
The seat opposite the Duchess was empty. Georges, the owner of that seat, had not arrived yet.
Or maybe he’s avoiding breakfast.
Normally, Eloise would sit at the far end of the table, away from the family. But today was different.
“!?”
Eloise sat down in Georges’s seat.
She needed to clearly show her father her injury, so this position was ideal.
“I thought I’d sit a little closer to you both today. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course. It’s nice to see your face like this,” the Duchess replied awkwardly.
Servants began serving breakfast one after another.
“Eloise, what happened to your cheek?” the Duke asked.
The Duchess’s gaze followed, landing on Eloise’s injury. A red scratch marred her beautiful face.
Both of their expressions darkened at the sight. That was exactly what Eloise wanted.
Despite her intentions, she lowered her head slightly, feigning embarrassment as though she didn’t want to explain.
But the Duchess immediately understood whose doing it was. It had to be her foolish son. That was why he wasn’t even present.
“…My drunk brother accidentally did this last night.”
As expected. The Duchess’s suspicion was correct.
“Georges? Why would he do that?”
The Duke asked in shock, his knife trembling in his hand.
“It seems something unpleasant happened at Count Miller’s ball last night. Still, I’m glad it only ended with a scratch. He even smashed a vase and threatened me with it.”
“!!!”
The Duke’s face flushed with rage.
“He’s usually a kind brother, but I think he should control his drinking better, Father.”
“….”
“If word gets out that a La Croix heir is violent….”
Eloise trailed off, shaking her head as though she didn’t even want to imagine it.
The Duchess struggled to suppress her anger. Whether the food was going into her mouth or not, she couldn’t tell.
If only he behaved properly, he might have been favored… but he keeps causing trouble.
Even she knew her son was inferior to his step-sister in many ways.
Her only remaining leverage was the Duke’s affection toward her and his pity for Georges.
She shot Eloise a sideways glare. If not for the Duke’s presence, she would have put that insolent girl in her place.
For now, she would endure. She would repay this someday.
“I will speak to Georges myself,” the Duchess said.
“Please don’t. I’m sure he already regrets it.”
Eloise smiled, despite her words.
The Duke’s firm voice followed.
“That is not enough. Georges will be confined to the estate for the time being.”
“…My dear.”
The Duchess looked at him, but the Duke was unmoved.
“How could he raise his hand against his own sister? This is unacceptable.”
“It’s just because he was drunk—”
“Alcohol is no excuse. If we let this slide, his behavior will never change.”
The Duke’s voice rose steadily. The more he spoke, the more displeased he became with his son.
“I even wonder if he is properly managing his duties. Geoffrey!”
He called for the head butler of the main estate.
Eloise calmly picked at her smoked herring, watching the Duchess’s face turn pale. The cuisine of the main house, like the annex, was excellent.
“Bring me the ledgers of the lands managed by Georges!”
“Yes, understood.”
Geoffrey bowed respectfully.
The Duke lost his appetite and stood up. The Duchess followed suit, untouched food left behind.
“I have business to attend to. Enjoy your meal.”
“Yes, Father.”
Watching the couple leave, Eloise smiled faintly.
The scratch had not been serious. Mary had simply emphasized it with makeup. What she truly wanted was a temporary ban on Georges leaving the estate—or at least access to the annex.
But now it seemed even an audit of his ledgers would be conducted.
Still, Georges was foolish enough that most estate management was handled by the Duke and Eloise anyway. He only oversaw minor tasks anyone with basic sense could manage.
And even those ledgers are probably a mess.
Thinking of the additional territory that would soon fall into her hands, Eloise neatly wiped her mouth with a napkin.
I should reward Mary.
After enjoying her leisurely breakfast, Eloise walked toward the annex under the warm sunlight.
At the entrance, a familiar figure appeared.
Lucian.
Leaning against the outer wall, tossing an apple idly in his hand, he straightened when he noticed her.
“Good morning, Lucian.”
Lucian frowned slightly. He still disliked her casually calling him by name.
“Have you eaten?”
He gave a small nod. He looked rough—unlike her, he seemed not to have slept well, likely because of what she had said yesterday.
Lucian leaned closer and whispered into her ear,
“I want to finish what we didn’t finish yesterday.”
Eloise nodded.
“Let’s change locations.”
