I Grabbed The Leash Of The Blind Beast

「“I think you should attend a funeral. Your Highness.”」

「“Funeral? Which family is it?”」

Bernard sighed when Eleon asked nonchalantly.

「“Duke of Yuter.”」

「“Duke of Yuter? Isn’t the Duke still young?”」

「“I don’t think it’s the Duke, but the young lady from that family who died suddenly.”」

「“Mmmm. I see.”」

Bernard looked into his eyes, who was busy concentrating on his work.

「“Isn’t he the only duke in the Empire? Even if you’re busy, it would be nice if Your Highness went there.”」

「“Is His Majesty the Emperor going to attend as well?”」

The competent butler quickly responded.

「“It’s the young lady. There are rumors that she died due to the Crown Prince’s schemes”」

「“What?”」

「“It seems that both the Emperor and Empress will attend the funeral of the Duke’s only daughter, who is not even from the Royal Family.”」

「“However?”」

「“The Duke and Duchess of Yuter were so heartbroken that they offered to sell their estate and the residence that is located  in the capital before their daughter’s funeral.”」

At that moment, Eleon, who seemed to be listening intently as he perused the documents, raised his head. 

It was as if the family of the Duke, one of the main contributors to the founding of the Empire, was protesting against the Imperial Family by renouncing their title. 

At that point, he became interested.

「“Really? Sooner or later, the duke of the empire will be reduced to one.”」

Grand Duke Clevent and the Duke of Yuter did not have much interaction with each other. 

The days when the former Duke of Yuter was at the center of the aristocracy had clearly faded over the years. 

Now, the head of the state of Yuter, Sir Gillian Yuter, who is not interested in politics, has a scholarly appearance and is an eccentric and reclusive person, so he is often confined to his mansion and does not usually attend social gatherings. 

It’s been a while since the center of power started shifting to new aristocrats who are more knowledgeable about science and technology, investment, and the economy.

But, that wasn’t a big concern for Eleon, whose mother is a princess.

「“It’s so noisy in the capital. I can’t wait to get back to the front line.”」

「“I can’t believe you said that! Didn’t you just get your sight back?”」

Eleon lifted the corners of his lips mischievously as the butler was in shock.

「“…… How worried would the miss be if she knew? You know how much effort Your Highness made to get your sight back.”」

「“I know.”」

After replying naturally, Eleon felt strange. 

     How did I get my sight back? Who healed my eyes? 

The part was blurry as if it had been erased with something.

「“I will prepare a carriage. Please change your clothes immediately.”」

The butler hurriedly left after he finished speaking. 

Eleon felt a subtle sensation and scribbled his signature on the paperwork.

The funeral was held at Hadunsha in the northern part of the Imperial Palace. 

Eleon looked around at the strange place when he first entered.

The garden was decorated with perennial trees with green leaves and white stone everywhere, so it was a pleasant atmosphere even in the cold winter. 

However, since it was the funeral of a young lady, a heavy atmosphere surrounded Hadunsha. 

It was the weight of death. 

Funerals were a new thing for him, though he saw countless lives lost on the battlefield. 

Looking at the funeral decorated with luxurious flowers, he recalled his subordinates being buried on a sandy beach in the scorching sun, and others under the frozen ground. 

He remembered his people’s funerals at someone else’s funeral.

「“Your Highness.”」

The butler handed him a golden rose. 

It was his turn to pay tribute. 

Wearing a black uniform, Eleon sneered for a moment as he approached the coffin at the altar. 

Because of his outfit, he wondered if he would be seen as a blood-crazed beast, a reaper of the battlefield. 

Countless nobles had already visited, and golden flowers protruded from the young lady’s coffin. 

Eleon tried to find a space to add another golden rose. 

When he got up, he saw the young lady lying inside. 

She was a very pretty woman. 

However, there were strange traces between the black lace up to the neck and the sleeves down to the wrist.

It was as if someone had strangled her neck and tied a rope around her wrist. 

Her pale face looked more relaxed, more like a sleeping person than a dead person. 

Eleon’s eyes widened as he looked at her…..

     ……Dead? Elysia? No way.

「“I’m not going anywhere.”」

Elysia had promised not to leave him.

「“I will do anything for you. Eleon.”」

「“I will do anything you want.”」

She promised over and over again that she would do whatever he wanted. 

But she is no longer in this world. 

* * * * *

“Hu hu.”

Eleon’s eyes scanned the bed. 

     Not here. No. Elysia is not here again.

“Elysia!”

It was when he was about to get up, screaming and kicking his bed. 

CLICK

“Sir Eleon.”

The bedroom door opened and Elysia, with her eyes wide open, hurriedly approached him.

“Are you all right?”

He desperately hugged Elysia. It felt so terrible that he couldn’t bear it. 

Elysia looked at him in surprise, immediately patting his head and shoulders.

“Why are you so frightened? Look at the sweat.”

Elysia took a handkerchief from the maid’s apron pocket and wiped his forehead. 

But Eleon didn’t know if he would fall, so he wrapped his arms around her waist.

“I had a bad dream.”

“What did you dream about?”

“I don’t know. I don’t remember. It was scary.”

Eleon wanted to forget the last scene of the dream.

“I woke up and you weren’t here. Where have you been?”

Blaming the nonsense, Eleon clung closer to Elysia.

“It was just a moment. Really. I just washed and changed my clothes. I talked to the butler for a moment.”

“You said you’re not going anywhere, didn’t you?”

Due to the aftermath of the nightmare, he was talking nonsense, but Elysia calmly comforted him. He was blind again and thought it was because of his sensitivity.

“I’m sorry. Sir Eleon.”

Eleon hugged Elysia for a while. 

He loved the way she stroked his hair, but shame made him see reason.

     I’m a disgrace.

He didn’t know how to look Elysia in the face. He was fortunate she didn’t know he wasn’t really blind.

“I’ll bring you some new clothes.”

She felt a shiver run down his back from his wet shirt from how much he had been sweating. 

The reason wasn’t Eleon’s body temperature, but Elysia seemed to be worried about the cold sensation she felt when caressing him.

When he loosened his arms, Elysia was able to quickly fetch a new shirt. 

Elysia put the shirt in Eleon’s hand and tried to leave the room, as she had always done before. Because he wanted him to do everything by himself as much as possible.

But, Eleon was different than usual. He was burning for a reward from the woman who always pushed him away.

“Change me.”

“What?”

Elysia opened her mouth in bewilderment.

     …… She’s cute.

“I have no strength in my hands.”

“Ah.”

Elysia agreed even though it sounded like an excuse.

“Stay like this for a second. I’ll unbutton it.”

As Elysia lowered her head, the sweet scent of cherry blossom flowers washed over him.

     What? Are you shy?

When he asked her, her cheeks turned red as soon as she responded as well as when she unbuttoned his shirt.

     I’m going crazy.

Eleon regretted his short judgment. 

It seemed like it would take Elysia five hours to undo just five buttons.

“Phew, it’s done.”

When she raised her head, their eyes met. Of course, the lenses masked the color of his eyes, so that Elysia wouldn’t know that he pretended to go blind. 

“Raise your arms.”

“Uh?”

“You have to take off your shirt to put on a new one.”

“No. It’s…it’s okay. I’ll do it myself.”

“Wi..will you?”

“I’m hungry.”

“I’ll prepare dinner right away.”

Elysia and Eleon were awkwardly nervous facing each other.

As soon as she left the room, Eleon sighed, clutching his new shirt tightly.

“Anyone who has done this before can do it.”

It was so awkward that he wondered if he could continue doing this for a few more days. 

However, his doubt soon disappeared.

“Please say ah!”

Seeing Elysia trying to blow off the hot soup, Eleon forgot to open his mouth and stared at her.

     So cute.

He wondered how many times he thought Elysia was so cute today.

It was pathetic, but Eleon thought nothing of it. 

His eyes and his mind were busy looking at Elysia.

“What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?”

When he didn’t open his mouth, Elysia tilted her head and looked at Eleon’s expression.

     It’s cute when you tilt your head.

It was as if his head had been hit by an arrow. He was fine until yesterday, but how can a person change like this in one day? 

He reflected on his condition self-sufficiently.

“No, it’s fine. I think it was a little hot before.”

“I’m sorry. It’s been a while.”

Elysia laughed bashfully.

“Oh, there’s something else. Sir Eleon.”

     Yes, I’m here.

“I want to ask you a favor.”

“Favor?”

     I will do anything for you if I can. 

Eleon felt like he had sold his soul for the seven spoons of soup Elysia had fed him.

“Please treat me like Rona for a while.”

“What?”

Her face darkened.

“I secretly left the house yesterday. My parents will be looking for me. The butler doesn’t know who I am. And also the other servants.”

Elysia was right. 

Marriage was a matter for both families. 

The head of the House of Clevent is Eleon himself, but marrying Elysia required permission from the Duke of Yuter.

“If they found out who I am, I won’t…..I won’t be able to stay by your side.”

It was good that there were no rumors that could lead to a scandal. Fortunately, this was the place where ‘Rona‘ had lived for over half a year. 

And a place where people know her as Rona. 

If she goes back to being his maid, she will be able to stay here like before. 

But that bothered Eleon.

“You don’t like it?”

Even when Elysia asked him, he seemed puzzled. 

As the Grand Duke, he seems to be dissatisfied with the etiquette of the nobles.

Instead of answering yes or no, Eleon grabbed Elysia’s hand. 

He gently kissed her hand.

“Sir…Sir Eleon.”

“Then I couldn’t do this with Rona.”

Elysia reluctantly withdrew her hand.

“No. never.”

“It’s not fair for me.”

Elysia was restless. She didn’t expect such a reaction from Eleon.

“It would be a big problem if someone sees us like this.”

“What’s the problem?”

When he replied blatantly, Elysia looked at him upset.

“I want to be by your side. That’s why I’m asking you.”

“Is it just for my own good?”

“What?”

“What about you?”

Eleon looked at Elysia and asked.

“I….. I also want to be with you…Sir Eleon.”

“All right. For the time being, I will treat you as Rona.”

Only then did Elysia’s expression brighten up.

“Thank you for understanding.”

“It’s a big deal.”

     It’s a good thing for me anyway.

Eleon was happy and excited.

“If you keep this secret well, I’ll give you a reward.”

“What reward?”

….. As soon as he asked, Elysia grabbed his face with both hands and pulled him. 

Chu~