The Slave Is Too Handsome!
010
A peaceful morning at the ducal estate.
Lucian was leaning carelessly against the salon wall from early morning, arms crossed. As always, something seemed to displease him—his lips were pushed out in a sulky pout.
Soft piano music flowed through the salon.
Tall vertical windows were evenly spaced along the walls. Bright sunlight poured through them, illuminating the room even further.
At the grand piano placed in one corner of the room, Eloise sat elegantly, playing an étude with graceful movements of her hands.
At first, Lucian showed little interest, as if music meant nothing to him. But gradually, he found himself drawn into the sound.
He couldn’t tell whether he was enchanted by the sweet melody itself—or by Eloise, who seemed to be shaping the music with her slender white fingers.
One thing was certain: he had become so absorbed that he didn’t even notice the applause when the piece ended.
Clap clap clap clap clap.
As the bright notes of the performance came to an end, Mary, who stood beside Lucian, began clapping enthusiastically like she had lost her mind.
How could the young lady be so perfect at everything!
Then she glanced at Lucian. As always, he stood like a lifeless statue against the wall.
Mary nudged his arm sharply, and only then did Lucian reluctantly join in with half-hearted applause.
“How was it? Was it good?”
“It was a performance that moved the soul, my lady.”
Mary dabbed at her eyes with her apron, pretending to wipe away tears.
Eloise, who had risen from her seat and stood by the piano, turned her gaze to Lucian.
“…Well, not bad.”
Mary shot Lucian a furious look, but he ignored it completely.
Eloise let out a faint laugh. After observing him for days, she had realized that for Lucian, that level of response was practically praise.
“Not bad, right? You should be able to play this easily too.”
“Hah. Do you really think that’s possible?”
Lucian sighed deeply, and Mary finally exploded.
Her loyal maid immediately pointed at the rude man with an outstretched arm.
“My lady! Why does he speak to you so casually? It’s been bothering me for a while! Is being handsome enough to excuse everything?”
“Mary. Calm down. There’s a reason for it.”
“What possible reason could there be, my lady?!”
In the end, Eloise calmed Mary down and sent her outside after explaining the situation. Mary was one of the few people who knew about Eloise’s grand plan.
Listen carefully. Your role in this plan is very important, Mary. Gather as much information about Lucian as you can—anything is fine. Use any means necessary.
Standing outside the salon, Mary recalled Eloise’s words from a few days earlier and steadied herself.
Yes. That insolent attitude must also be part of the young lady’s plan.
Only the two of them remained in the salon.
Lucian glanced at Eloise cautiously. He had forgotten their agreement to speak informally only when they were alone, and now felt slightly uneasy about having slipped in front of Mary. Eloise, however, seemed unconcerned.
“What are you doing? Come here.”
Eloise, now seated again at the piano, tapped the empty space beside her.
Since he had caused the commotion, Lucian had no choice but to comply. He shuffled over and sat beside her.
The small seat became crowded. His body pressed closely against hers.
An odd feeling rose within him.
She has such a delicate face, but her body is surprisingly big.
Eloise glanced at him. From this close distance, she could clearly see his long eyelashes.
For a moment, he looked like a painting—an angel from a famous artist’s canvas, or a finely carved statue.
“Aren’t you going to teach me?”
Lucian turned to look at her.
Eloise, snapping out of her daze, shifted her gaze back to the piano.
“Of course. Put your right hand on the keys.”
Lucian followed her instruction and placed his hand on the keyboard.
“Good. Don’t curl your fingers like that. Just press any note.”
He pressed a key with his thumb. A single tone rang out.
Eloise began calmly explaining the scales from the beginning. Lucian listened silently.
Or rather, he pretended to listen—while his attention drifted elsewhere.
Eloise, sitting right next to him, was focused on the sheet music as she spoke.
She looks even smaller up close.
Her hands pressing the keys, her slender body, everything about her seemed small. Even her quiet voice sounded like a tiny bird whispering.
“……”
Eloise suddenly stopped speaking.
She had noticed Lucian wasn’t paying attention at all.
Without warning, she grabbed the hand he had carelessly left on the keys.
Only then did Lucian’s distant blue eyes sharpen into focus.
“Hey, isn’t grabbing someone’s hand a bit too casual?”
Startled, he tried to pull his large hand away from her small one, but Eloise didn’t let go easily. Eventually, he relaxed first.
“Why? Are you nervous?”
Eloise tilted her head with a teasing smile. Lucian’s expression hardened.
He pulled his hand away with more force this time.
Eloise added casually,
“If you fall for me, it’ll be troublesome, Lucian.”
“Who? Me? Fall for you, my lady?”
Lucian scoffed, tilting his head arrogantly as he looked down at her. Eloise did not avert her gaze.
“Need I say it? I’m the most popular young lady in high society. It wouldn’t be strange if you fell for me.”
“Just so you know, you’re completely not my type. I prefer someone more mature, kind, and—”
“I’ve changed my mind.”
They interrupted each other in turn, exchanging sharp looks.
Eloise cut him off decisively.
“During lessons, you will address me properly as ‘teacher.’”
“?”
“Otherwise, I’ll kill—”
“Alright, alright. I got it.”
Lucian answered as if calming a child.
Threatening to kill someone over something as small as that—she really behaved more like a street thug than a noble lady.
“Say it.”
He sighed inwardly.
“…Teacher.”
“What? I didn’t hear you.”
Lucian glared at her as she smiled playfully. She only leaned back, tucking her hair behind her ear as if she truly hadn’t heard him.
“Teacher.”
“Good. Let’s start again.”
Finally satisfied, Eloise smiled brightly and played a simple melody with her right hand, unaware of what Lucian was thinking.
Fine. Do whatever you want. I’m leaving anyway.
Lucian was searching for a way to contact his allies. Once he succeeded, escaping this place would be easy.
So until then, he would endure. Playing along with a noble lady’s whims was nothing.
With that thought, the simple melody he was hearing suddenly sounded lighter.
And for a moment, Lucian found himself wondering:
If he disappeared overnight, what expression would that woman make?
Late at night, Frederick wandered through the back alleys.
“First, meet that slave dealer again. Make him tell you everything he knows about Lucian.”
“Yes.”
“And if he lies, you are permitted to threaten him—or do more if necessary.”
“As you command.”
Frederick was carrying out Eloise’s secret orders.
The entrance to the slave dealer’s shop was deliberately hard to find, its walls and doors blending together. It was designed so only those who knew would ever manage to come.
Since this was his second visit, Frederick found the entrance easily.
“Please wait a moment.”
Recognizing him, an employee immediately led Frederick to the reception room.
While Frederick waited on the sofa, a piercing scream suddenly echoed through the building.
His hand immediately went to the sword at his waist.
He rushed toward the source of the scream.
At the end of a dark hallway, a door stood open. It seemed to be the office.
The employee who had greeted him earlier was sitting on the floor, face drained of color, staring at something in horror.
“What happened here!”
Even Frederick froze the moment he stepped inside.
“Wh-who would do such a thing…”
The employee’s voice trembled violently.
On the desk lay the slave dealer, mouth hanging open.
His jaw and lips were smeared with dark, vomited blood, and a long sword was embedded in his brutally mutilated abdomen.
In short—he had been murdered.
Unlike the pale employee, Frederick let out a long sigh.
The man he had come to question was dead.
And the dead tell no stories.
