Chapter 47
｡･:*:･ﾟ★ Translated by Gon ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆
Daphne’s pink hair fluttered lightly. Then, as if by magic, a sweet smell that was not artificially created filled the air.
Again. It’s this scent again.
It was a scent that was fragrant like a flower, but also infinitely sweet.
Is that why? His heart tickled. It made him wonder if flower petals flying in the wind had hidden in the hem of his clothes.
Luciel unconsciously raised his hand and tried to touch his chest, but immediately stopped when he realized what he was doing.
“…Thank you, milady.”
Luciel quickly took a step back from his emotions.
This was because he had an instinctive feeling that he shouldn’t go any further here.
‘…I guess I’ll have to call Gael and read that book quickly. Then the reason for this feeling will become clear.’
Finishing his thoughts, Luciel opened Daphne’s carriage door.
“Then, I will see you on the appointed day, milady.”
Luciel said with a smile.
Daphne nodded and got into the carriage with Luciel’s help.
“…….”
Luciel watched as the carriage moved away, then slowly lowered his gaze.
It was only a moment, but Daphne’s body temperature seemed to remain.
It was already the fourth time he’s held hands with Daphne.
But it wasn’t unpleasant.
Rather, it seemed as if his confused thoughts became clear in an instant.
“…”
Luciel, who was quietly staring at his hands, clenched his fists as if trying to capture the remaining body heat.
Luciel clenched his fist and took out a magic stone from his clothes.
[Master. What’s going on?]
Gael’s voice was heard through the magic stone capable of communication.
Just as Luciel licked his lips, the voices of young ladies were heard. His name was occasionally mixed in their conversation.
People around showed a look of concern the moment he furrowed his brow.
Crack!
He began to feel a familiar headache accompanied by a small cracking sound.
The feeling of plucking strings on an instrument with a bow resonated in his head. The familiar pain grinded away at his reason.
“There’s something I want you to prepare.”
Luciel wrapped his cloak tightly again and hid on a side street.
He then subconsciously searched his pockets for a cigarette but stopped.
The hand that had taken off its glove to hold Daphne’s hand came into view.
Daphne’s body temperature was faintly present. The sweet smell, fluttering pink hair, and a face that bloomed brightly.
“…”
When he thought of her, his head instantly cleared.
Despite not smoking.
However, this was only temporary. To prevent further pain, he had to periodically smoke cigarettes made from an anesthetic herb.
But he didn’t want to hold the strong cigarette with the hand that held Daphne’s hand.
While Luciel hesitated for a moment, a troubled voice came out from the magic stone.
[That may a bit difficult right now… It will take some time to go back and forth from the black market…]
“No, you don’t have to go to the black market.”
Luciel said, lowering his hand completely.
[What? Uh… then what do you need?]
Luciel glanced around for a moment and headed to the back of the bakery.
It was a place where only the owner of the building could enter.
Luciel took a step forward and spoke in an indifferent voice.
“Romance novel.”
[Ah, I see. Okay… huh? W-What?]
“Also prepare the bestsellers. Oh, and I want you to carefully select works that have a strong emotional connection, as you always say.”
[Wait a minute, romance novels? Master? Ah, no way!]
As if he was quite surprised, there was the sound of something falling beyond the magic stone.
“That’s right.”
Contrary to the noise, Luciel affirmed with a calm expression.
He was done talking. Luciel, who was about to disconnect, grabbed the doorknob.
Then, as if remembering something, an “ah” slipped out.
“And one more thing, Gael.”
[Please speak.]
“Get ready to change jobs.”
[…Huh?]
“Prepare for a job change. I will send you to a good boss like you wanted.”
It was punishment for making him a social misfit.
With those last words, Luciel disconnected.
“What is this…?”
Gael, who was embroidering a handkerchief while his master was away, could not help but stare blankly at the news that poured in all at once.
＊＊＊
-Midnight-
There had been a clear look of irritation on Roderick’s face since a few days ago.
The employees of the Evans family tried their best to please their master, but the irritation on his face did not disappear.
He also didn’t understand why he was so nervous.
No, he actually knew.
After meeting Daphne and Luciel, he began to feel irritated for an unknown reason.
‘Does Daphne really want to break off the engagement with me?’
That was all Roderick had in mind. He wouldn’t have worried if it was before.
“Well then, I hope we never have to see each other again, my lord.”
But the moment he saw Daphne, who seemed to have no regrets at all, he wanted to hold onto her and ask:
‘Are you really saying you don’t love me anymore?’
But he didn’t. She was humiliated by the fact she had received a letter of annulment and was acting unreasonably.
‘She will come back to me in a few days. It’s clear.’
But even after one day, two days, Daphne did not come to see him.
It was natural to become more anxious as the days passed.
“Daphne fought with Lady Caparoel?”
“Yes.”
So when he received news of the conflict between Daphne and Lize, he was secretly relieved.
Daphne hated Lize to death. She even went so far as to poison her, thinking she was a love rival.
‘But Lady Caparoel and Daphne fought.’
Needless to say, the subject was me.
But…
“…Say it again. The reason for the fight… what?”
“It is said that Lady Caparoel mentioned Peregrine’s list. According to the testimony of people who were at the scene, Lady Peregrine was quiet in the beginning. She only started lashing back when the words became harsh…”
“…What about me?”
“Huh?”
“My name… Was it mentioned in their fight?”
The servant who brought the news tilted his head in response to Roderick’s question.
Then he came to a realization.
“I think Lady Caparoel said that you were the one who gave the temple’s holy water.”
“What?”
Roderick’s face contorted as if wondering what he was talking about.
‘I went to visit her in the hospital because she was involved with me, but I never once gave her holy water from the temple as a gift.’
“The problem is that Lady Caparoel keeps claiming to be unwell. Lady Peregrine pointed this out, and it seems like Master was scammed with holy water…”
“What are you talking about!”
Bang!
Roderick struck his fist with such force that the desk collapsed.
Then the servant cowered with a frightened look on his face.
Certainly, it was natural for Roderick to be angry since he almost caused a misunderstanding with the temple for no reason.
But that wasn’t why Roderick was angry.
He couldn’t believe he was not the cause of the fight.
‘Are you really saying that Daphne’s heart has cooled?’
The certainty that he had never thought would waver began to crumble little by little.
Roderick clenched his fists. The reason he sent the letter of annulment was simply because he wanted Daphne to come to her senses a little.
Every time he did that, Daphne would calm down and notice what he was thinking.
It was the same now. He didn’t really want the engagement to be broken off.
‘But the engagement was broken off.’
There was a belated realization in Roderick’s eyes.
‘I have to change Daphne’s mind.’
However, not only was there no way to meet her, it was clear that even if he persuaded her verbally like before, it wouldn’t work.
Roderick, who had been tapping nervously on the table, stopped.
In a few days, a black market will open in the underworld.
‘And the holy relics will be put up for auction.’
Roderick, who valued authority, had never set foot in things like the black market.
But what if he personally retrieved a sacred object from the black market for her? The implications of that action would be very significant.
Daphne was obsessed with being a saint. But no one thought she was worthy of it.
If he handed her a sacred object like that, even if it was fake, she would be deeply moved.
He didn’t like the idea of having to go to the black market, but it was worth the effort if he could change Daphne’s mind.
“Get all the so-called holy items from the black market that opens in a few days.”
Roderick quietly gave instructions with a dark, sunken face.
