The Slave Is Too Handsome!
003.
Eloise appeared in a pure white dress, her elegant figure drawing everyone’s attention.
Her glossy blonde hair was adorned with countless dazzling ornaments, yet somehow, it did not look excessive at all.
She looked far more beautiful than usual, and everyone attending the ball was left speechless, frozen in place.
The nobles, the servants, even the orchestra specially hired for tonight’s event.
As if time itself had stopped, the ballroom fell completely silent as Eloise slowly walked through it.
Her gaze remained fixed straight ahead, but she was carefully observing everyone around her.
From the daughters of counts to Georges, who wore an unpleasant expression in the distance, and even Baron Graham, the man at the center of the rumors.
“Long time no see, Lady Eloise.”
Prince Camillo confidently walked forward to greet her.
As if he believed he was the only one worthy enough to stand before the duke’s daughter.
Eloise politely bowed with an emotionless expression.
“I greet the little sun of the Empire.”
Camillo smiled faintly.
That proud posture and those sharp, aloof eyes.
‘She never fails to catch my interest.’
Camillo was also pleased by the fact that everyone present was watching the two of them.
Him and the duke’s daughter.
“Would you grant me a dance, Lady Eloise?”
Camillo extended his hand toward her.
Eloise stared at his hand for a moment before gently placing her own on top of it.
“Very well.”
The moment she answered, Camillo tightly grasped her hand.
It felt unpleasant, as if he was revealing his filthy desire to possess her.
Eloise’s eyebrow twitched slightly.
As soon as the two held hands, the orchestra immediately began playing the next song.
A lively melody filled the ballroom.
Under normal circumstances, Eloise would never have entertained him.
But she had something she needed to confirm from Camillo.
The two danced right in the center of the ballroom.
The surrounding nobles also began dancing along with the music.
“I haven’t seen you around lately. Did something happen?”
“I wasn’t feeling well.”
“Oh dear, if I had known, I would have personally visited you during your recovery…”
“Is His Majesty doing well?”
Eloise gracefully spun and interrupted Camillo’s words with her question.
The person Eloise was interested in was not Camillo, who was already twenty years old yet still remained only a prince instead of becoming crown prince.
“What? Well, he was a little ill recently, but it wasn’t anything serious.”
“……”
“Though, it’s honestly exhausting. He still keeps talking about the First Prince. It’s like he’s living alone in the past.”
Camillo pouted.
“But no matter what he says, I’ll be the one taking the crown prince position.”
When Camillo erased his displeased expression and spoke casually, Eloise unexpectedly smiled brightly.
It was exactly what she wanted to hear.
Her steps became noticeably lighter as they continued dancing.
“I hate to admit it, but they do look good together.”
One of the young ladies sitting around a table watched the dancing pair and spoke.
The other ladies nodded as if they agreed.
The duke’s daughter and the prince were, in their own way, a fitting pair.
After all, for someone like Eloise, who had everything, the second prince was probably the only man suitable enough.
“I can’t believe the song has already ended. Lady Eloise, perhaps another—”
As soon as the song ended, Eloise released Camillo’s hand without hesitation and walked away.
Camillo’s expression darkened.
He had wanted to continue talking with her.
Eloise sat down on a moderately empty sofa.
It had been a long day.
The exhaustion from everything she had experienced finally began to catch up with her, but she forced herself to maintain her upright posture.
Then a group of young ladies from the Viscount Rose family approached her.
“Is the rumor true, Lady Eloise?”
Lady Rose asked with one corner of her lips raised.
It was not a particularly friendly smile.
The expressions of the ladies around her were no different.
They quickly took seats around Eloise.
“What rumor are you referring to? I usually don’t pay attention to meaningless gossip.”
Eloise, seated in the center, took a sip of tea before asking.
Lady Rose’s expression stiffened slightly before quickly returning to normal.
Meanwhile, some of the other young ladies had sparkling eyes.
They were the ones who admired Eloise’s confidence.
“Oh my, it seems like quite a big issue to simply dismiss as meaningless gossip. I’m talking about the rumor that you’re going to marry Baron Graham.”
“Come on, Lady Rose. Does that even make sense? Baron Graham is practically old enough to be our father.”
“Oh my, are you insulting Baron Graham right now?”
The ladies burst into laughter.
It was an obvious mockery.
Eloise crossed her arms and watched them.
How far are they planning to take this?
She stared directly at Lady Rose, the center of the rumor.
Eventually, the noisy laughter slowly faded away.
“Allow me to correct something.”
Eloise slowly stood up.
Everyone’s attention immediately turned toward her.
“I have no intention of forming a marriage connection with the Graham family, nor with any other family.”
“If, by some chance, I ever have to marry…”
Eloise looked toward Baron Graham, who was holding two glasses of wine in his hands.
The baron, who seemed strangely pleased to hear his name mentioned, smiled and raised his glass toward her.
“The person who becomes my husband will be chosen by me.”
This time, her gaze moved toward Prince Camillo.
“Because…”
Finally, Eloise glared at Georges standing in the corner.
His face was bright red as he stomped his foot and pointed angrily at her.
There was no way he could hand over such an old and prestigious family to some foolish illegitimate child.
“I, Eloise Bell La Croix, will become the next Duke of La Croix.”
“Eek!”
Near the separate residence beside the La Croix estate’s knight quarters, a maid screamed.
She had entered while carrying clothes and accidentally locked eyes with several naked men who had just finished bathing.
Three of the four slaves Eloise had brought back laughed as if they found it amusing.
“Stop laughing and put on your clothes immediately!”
The old butler Arthur, who had been watching them, ordered with an annoyed expression.
Arthur truly could not understand his young lady.
She was already busy competing for the position of the next duke.
So why did she keep choosing actions that could only cause trouble?
Because of her, Arthur felt like he was aging rapidly day by day.
“Once you’re dressed, come eat.”
Bread, meat stew, and salad were quickly placed on the wooden table.
“Wow!”
“This is so warm!”
Despite it being a simple dinner, the men’s eyes lit up.
Back in the slave market, they had always eaten spoiled food.
Compared to that, this was nothing short of a feast.
The slaves grabbed the food with both hands instead of using the utensils placed before them.
The maid pouring water was startled and stepped back.
Arthur frowned and scolded them.
“You brats! Can’t you eat properly using the utensils!?”
Even after Arthur’s words, they continued devouring the food without caring.
The only one sitting at the edge with blonde hair was the only person using a fork, quietly poking at the vegetables.
“Sigh. You should be grateful to the young lady who showed mercy and took you in.”
One of the men, who had been drinking the stew directly from the bowl, slammed it down and asked:
“Let me ask something. Who exactly is the lady who brought us here?”
At his question, the blonde-haired man, who had been struggling with the vegetables, lifted his head.
Arthur sighed deeply.
“Did you fools come here without even knowing where you are?”
“Would a slave know something like that?”
The man with cat-like narrow eyes laughed while still eating.
Arthur tapped the floor twice with the cane in his hand before speaking.
“Listen carefully. Your master is Lady Eloise Bell La Croix of the Duke of La Croix family.”
As if they had planned it, the three men except the blonde-haired one stopped eating.
Even if they were lowly slaves, anyone living in the Finistra Empire knew the name La Croix.
The La Croix family was a prestigious and powerful noble house with a history and authority comparable to the imperial family.
“She really accepted us into such an incredible family?”
“Wow… I don’t even know how we could repay such kindness.”
The men became excited, celebrating the once-in-a-lifetime fortune that had come to them.
Seeing their reaction, Arthur’s expression softened.
“You must show deep gratitude for her grace.”
“No wonder. She was so beautiful I thought my eyes were going blind.”
“Her heart is as beautiful as her face.”
While the three men continued talking about Eloise and Arthur scolded them for speaking carelessly, the blonde-haired man showed no reaction.
He simply ate slowly, occasionally looking outside the window.
The count’s ball had fallen into silence several times that day.
“……”
After finishing her long speech, Eloise cleared her throat and prepared to leave.
During that time, several young ladies approached her.
“Lady Eloise, I was deeply moved by what you said.”
“When would you be able to attend one of our tea parties?”
“Of course. Send me an invitation.”
“Really? I’ll definitely send one!”
With a business-like smile, Eloise managed her social connections before slowly heading toward the entrance.
Everyone expressed disappointment that she was leaving already.
But her business here was finished.
The moment Eloise, who had been smiling until the very end, was finally about to leave the mansion—
“Wouldn’t becoming the Empress of the Empire be better than becoming some mere duke?”
At the sarcastic voice, Eloise stopped walking.
She didn’t even need to turn around.
She already knew who spoke with such arrogance.
Prince Camillo stood leaning against the wall near the entrance, arms crossed, looking at her with a dissatisfied expression.
Unlike Camillo’s expectation of seeing her annoyed, Eloise smiled gently.
“If Your Highness hands me the position of Emperor, I will consider allowing you to take the seat of Empress.”
