DCEB | CH 24

Chapter 24: I’m Angry

Cruel was confident.

He thought it would be easy to expose the true nature of an arrogant noble lady with just his words.

There was no way a noble lady from that kind of family had risked her life and reached out to her lord sincerely.

He believed revealing her hidden intentions was his duty as a loyal knight.

So he spoke as rudely as he wanted.

Of course, his hatred toward women was mixed in too.

“I don’t know what sweet words or smiles you used to win Lady Marie’s favor, but you should stop before it’s too late.”

But something was strange.

Even though his words were insulting, the woman just stared at him silently with a blank expression.

Her face, like a doll with no emotions, was creepy.

His discomfort began to rise.

“You think you’ve fooled the Duke completely, but you haven’t. I was the one who looked into your background. I don’t know what you’re after, drinking poison and all, but—”

Still, no reaction.

What is this?

Why isn’t she responding?

Cruel felt a bit nervous.

What’s with that clenched white fist? Is she going to hit me?

Fearing what she might do, he raised his voice and spoke even more aggressively.

Wait for me, my lord. I will protect you from this wicked woman!

“If you plan to ruin the Duke’s household, you better stop dreaming! Everyone knows how evil Count Grace is. You’re just like him!”

The green eyes that had been looking down slowly lifted to meet his.

“W-What is it?”

“You talk a lot.”

“What?”

“I was just seeing how far you’d go.”

She stared straight at him.

He almost bit his tongue.

What was with that cold, empty expression?

The only time he had felt this uneasy from someone’s gaze was with his lord.

That made him even more irritated.

Why was he comparing her to his master?!

“D-Do you think staying silent will get you sympathy? Wake up! Even if you have that spot now, the Duke has someone he’s meant to be with. One day, that person will come. You’re just a temporary—”

Thinking he was being ignored, anger surged through him.

Cruel pointed his finger at her, shouting.

Or at least, he tried to.

Smack!

“……!”

Her hand hit his pointing finger hard.

“Get lost.”

“W-What are you—”

“How dare you point your finger at me like that?”

Cruel was speechless.

Her glowing green eyes stared at him as if they would burn him alive.

‘What kind of look is that?’

It wasn’t the kind of expression a pampered noble lady would make. It was intense and fierce.

He looked down at his stinging fingers and slowly clenched his hand.

“You… You’re my husband’s knight, aren’t you?”

“What does that have to do with—”

“Stupid. How can that not matter?”

She stepped closer, completely unafraid.

“How does that not matter?”

“W-What?!”

He was so flustered, his face turned red.

She stepped even closer and opened her eyes wide.

“Hey, you.”

For some reason, it was scary.

“When you speak and act, you’d better think first. Don’t you know your behavior can stain my husband’s and this family’s name?”

“That…”

And the way she said it… reminded him so much of his lord.

As he blinked in confusion, the woman exploded.

She pointed outside the window furiously.

“Look, the sun is setting. A man entered the Duchess’s room without permission at this hour. What kind of manners did you learn?”

“T-That…”

“Are you saying my husband, your master, ordered you to behave this rudely?”

“Of course not!”

“Then what gave you the right to talk to me like that?”

Suddenly, Cruel felt wronged.

Why did her words hurt more than the insults he threw at her?

“Am I not allowed to be angry after seeing your rude face and behavior? Do I have to explain everything from start to finish? What’s your name? Wait—I don’t even know who you are! Everything about this is wrong!”

“Wait!”

He tried to protest.

“I don’t need to be polite to someone like you—!”

“You do!”

She cut him off.

“You absolutely do.”

And he realized—he had been completely wrong.

Her eyes were filled with rage like she was going to devour him.

* * *

At first, she had been scared of this man.

Now, she felt humiliated.

When she saw the knight who insulted her while smirking, just like Lucas had done, she lost all control.

This life was supposed to be happy.

She promised herself she wouldn’t hold back anymore.

So why was this man judging her?

‘The man who killed me—how dare he judge me?’

Facing the one responsible for her death made her feel everything even more clearly.

Everyone had forgotten the painful ten years of her past.

Starting over sounded hopeful, but it required burying all the pain and pretending it didn’t exist.

She had truly loved.

And that’s why she was still hurt, and was still angry.

“What’s my name?”

She pointed her finger right at the knight’s face.

“Don’t know? Then I’ll tell you. My name is Eleanor Shell Tathier Carniel.”

His face twisted the moment she said “Carniel.”

That precious name they all guarded, the name they used to blame her—what was so special about it?

Yes, her father was like a devil.

But she didn’t kill anyone.

Why did they only come after her and not her father directly?

“Eleanor Shell Tathier Carniel! That’s my name, and you’re a knight of House Carniel! You should call me Duchess and treat me with respect, not like this!”

After shouting everything, she was out of breath.

But it felt good.

Like when she’d told the young servant earlier that she liked her room.

Looking at the knight’s dumb expression, Eleanor tilted her chin up proudly.

“Nothing more to say?”

But before she could continue…

Bang!

The door burst open.

Both she and the knight jumped and looked at the door.

A man stood there, more furious and intense than ever before.

“…Dear?”

It was Kylus, her husband.

His hair was a mess and his brows were deeply furrowed.

Like a wolf about to strike, his cold eyes scanned the room and locked onto one person.

“What is this?”

She had heard that phrase countless times before.

He always said it when scolding her.

But this time, his anger wasn’t aimed at her.

“I asked you, Cruel. When did I give you this order?”

“B-But, My Lord! I only did it f-for you!”

Kylus sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

He looked so frustrated that Eleanor just stared at him in surprise.

‘Maybe… he didn’t mean to hurt me?’

Kylus stepped in and grabbed the knight’s shoulder tightly.

His grip was so strong it looked painful, and he dragged the knight out like a criminal.

Before leaving, Kylus glanced back at Eleanor.

His eyes looked startled, but he didn’t say anything to defend himself.

Clack! The door slammed shut.

Eleanor sank onto the soft canopy bed.

“Right now…”

Kylus wasn’t the kind of man to make excuses.

He didn’t even defend himself.

That was the only thing they had in common.

“Maybe… you…”

Her heart throbbed.

“Dear, could it be…”

Hope and doubt pricked at her.

‘Maybe you weren’t the one who tried to kill me.’

That lingering hope whispered softly in her heart.

* * *

Late at night.

After finishing dinner and washing up, Eleanor sat on the bed.

A small meal was placed nearby, but she stared at the wall where the door was.

She was very curious.

Would that door open tonight?

Or would she be left alone again, like in the past?

And then…

Creak.

The door slowly opened.