Chapter 37
｡･:*:･ﾟ★ Translated by Sid ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆
Luciel gently lifted his lips.
As someone who once was a prince, the incident felt strangely familiar for some reason.
“We must quickly send that wicked thing to the temple! Why can’t you believe your mother’s words?!”
The voice that pierced like evil still echoed vividly in his ears.
However, despite the confusion in his memories, Luciel’s face remained incredibly calm.
Because the memories of that time no longer inflicted any pain on him.
After reminiscing, Luciel set the newspaper aside.
In fact, Luciel didn’t know who killed whom or how they were killed.
But if a reinvestigation could clear Lady Peregrine of false accusations, it wouldn’t be a bad thing.
If her name was cleared, Daphne could roam outside more freely, and maybe they could meet by chance like before.
Not about the secret of the medicine or its recipe, but when he received his first taste of candy.
For the first time, Luciel felt flustered.
He even thought that maybe she was doing this on purpose after knowing everything.
If it were the usual Luciel, he would have caught Daphne and questioned her about the medicine. Using any means necessary, always sweetly smiling and urging like an angel. Even if it made someone frightened.
But he couldn’t do it this time. On that day, the smiling face Daphne showed him was tinged with terror… for some reason, he didn’t want to see it.
Why? What’s wrong with that face?
He pondered over it several times but couldn’t come up with an answer.
So, as Luciel always defined his whims as light caprices, he thought, ‘…Anyway, I needed the potion she made.’
Luciel, who had strayed from his thoughts after reaching a conclusion, checked his watch.
A few days ago, Luciel had contacted Daphne using his shop, ‘Rose Bakery.’
He had selected a suitable seller list and asked Daphne to visit.
And today was the day of that visit.
Of course, claiming to have found a seller was a lie. The person she would meet today was him, not the ‘Underworld store owner’ but the ‘Grand Duke Luciel,’ she met by chance.
Using his position as the Magic Tower Owner , he could avoid falling into the illegal category that Daphne mentioned, and he could also escape the surveillance of the temple and the restrictions on the potion.
‘And above all…’
He couldn’t let the medicine pass to anyone else but him.
‘Absolutely not.’
Luciel, unknowingly clenching his fist, stood up from his seat. He smiled kindly and said,
“Then, Gael, I’m counting on you.”
“Excuse me? Me, really?”
Gael was shocked, his eyes widening. The reason for his tension throughout became clear once again.
It was because…
“Why do I have to pretend to be the master and face that young lady…!”
Gael had to act as if he were the owner of the shop. Even if he manage to hide the physical differences and voice with some magic, it’s impossible to conceal his innate way of speaking and personality.
It was certain that he would be found out.
Gael, with a worried expression, said,
“Wouldn’t it be better if you just told her directly? That would be more certain, wouldn’t it?”
“Well, that’s true too.”
Luciel, who had been thinking for a moment, said,
“But praising myself in my own words… feels a bit embarrassing, you know?”
“….”
“The words coming from that person wouldn’t be much different anyway.”
Luciel shyly smiled as if embarrassed by the thought.
There seemed to be no doubt that good words would come from her mouth.
He wanted to mock Luciel for being too presumptuous, but…
‘……he’s too perfect to say that.’
It was when Gael was trying to calm her anger…
With a jingle, someone entered.
In the mirror reflecting the visitor, Daphne’s face was captured.
Gael, unable to contain his surprise, widened his eyes.
“Wha-what should I do, Master… What?”
Confused, Gael looked at Luciel, then abruptly stopped as he saw what he was holding.
It was the black robe that Luciel wore every time he greeted guests.
“M-Masterrr! When did…!”
Gael looked at Luciel with a perplexed expression, but…
“Thank you, Gael.”
Luciel kindly smiled and said,
“…Don’t forget to succeed.”
Snap!
With a somewhat ominous last word, Luciel disappeared.
“I really should quit or something!”
Left alone, Gael, muttering the same words every time, quickly wrapped himself in the robe.
Honestly, he wasn’t confident. However, to prevent his master from running wild, he had to get through this contract no matter what.
‘He’ll be listening to the conversation anyway; if something happens, he’ll handle it.’
I can do it. I can do it.
With that determination, as soon as Gael sat on the sofa,
Knock, knock.
The door opened, and Daphne revealed herself.
“…Long time no see.”
But as Gael met Daphne’s chilly gaze, the determination he had just solidified quickly wavered.
‘…Can I really do well?’
Gael gulped, swallowing the dry saliva.
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Before opening the door, Daphne took a slow breath.
Meeting the villain was already the third time today, but she couldn’t help feeling nervous.
After steadying her breathing, Daphne opened the door with a knock.
As usual, the man in black was sitting on the sofa in his black robe.
Daphne, hiding her trembling breath due to tension, greeted first.
“…Long time no see.”
“Oh, please come in.”
The mysterious figure, or rather, Gael pretending to be Luciel, responded.
“Please have a seat.”
Then, he gestured to the spot in front of him. Nodding, Daphne was about to sit on the sofa when a sudden doubt crossed her mind.
“Why, why are you doing this?”
“No, just…”
‘Why is he asking me to sit first today?’
The first time they met, she had sat on the sofa before getting permission from the villain.
Initially, it was to assert dominance, but the second time, it was to continue the image from their first encounter.
Each time, he had just watched her as if amused.
‘Is he treating me like a proper customer now?’
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
Daphne casually dismissed the emerging question with a smile.
Phew. Gael let out an imperceptible sigh of relief.
“More importantly, about the samples I mentioned earlier…”
Gael smoothly brought up the topic. Daphne had placed the vials of the requested samples on the table.
“I’ve prepared five samples as requested. And…”
Pointing to the last vial she placed, she said, “This is the same as the first medicine I brought you, the ingredients of which you investigated.”
“Why would you…?”
“You’re a person with a lot of suspicions. I thought you might suspect that I borrowed someone else’s power. I brought it in advance to prepare for any inconvenience.”
Daphne shrugged lightly, finishing her explanation.
“But judging by your reaction, it seems I over thought it.”
“…!”
Gael, unintentionally suppressing a gasp about to escape, spoke with a trembling voice.
“No, it’s not like that. Y-You’re really perceptive.”
Then, as if Daphne were about to take the potions again, Gael quickly hid the vial in his product.
He has been beside his master for a long time but pretending to be that person was an entirely different story.
Gael discreetly sighed and unconsciously took out a handkerchief from his pocket. Then, using a cute handkerchief with a drawing of a yellow chick, he wiped away the cold sweat.
Observing Gael like that, Daphne asked quietly.
“Feeling very hot?”
“Yes…?”
“You took out a handkerchief.”
“Oh, I put in a bit too much firewood. Hasn’t it been raining a lot lately? The weather is cool. Hahaha.”
Realizing her mistake, Gael quickly hid the handkerchief in his pocket and awkwardly smiled.
If he continued like this, the perceptive young lady might figure out his true identity.
To divert attention quickly, he cleared his throat once and spoke in a serious tone, “Oh, and about finding a suitable seller you mentioned earlier…”
However, before he could finish his sentence…
“Oh. Speaking of that, I have something to tell you about that. I also found a suitable person on my end.”
Unexpected words came from Daphne’s mouth.
Gael, barely holding back his gaping mouth, asked, “Who is it?”
If Daphne were to make a contract with someone other than his master, he had to stop it for the sake of that person’s future.
‘And for my safety too!’
Anxiously awaiting an answer, Daphne said, “Before that, I have a question.”
“Please ask.”
“…A few days ago, I unexpectedly met someone. His Highness the Grand Duke.”
“Ah…”
Gael recalled the first encounter between the two.
That day, under the pretense of coincidence, his master tried to seduce the lady in front of him with beauty, but failed spectacularly.
Just thinking about that situation made Gael’s mouth unconsciously curve into a mischievous smile.
Suppressing his laughter with all his might, Gael asked, “But why would you…?”
“…I have a bit of curiosity.”
Daphne spoke cautiously, as if hesitating to ask the question.
“…I heard that His Highness the Grand Duke is suffering from a rare disease.”
“Ah, that illness…”
It was clearly referring to magical reflux syndrome.
“Yes. It’s a rare disease for which a proper cure has not yet been found. Despite receiving treatment from the temple since childhood, he hasn’t fully recovered.”
“…Then, he must have lived apart from his family?”
“Well…”
Gael hesitated before responding.
He was torn about whether it was appropriate for him to talk freely about his master.
‘And why is she asking about this?’
Could it be that she’s suspecting him?
A trickle of cold sweat ran down his spine at the thought.
