TRHLV | CH 13

Chapter 13: Misunderstanding and Promise

It was during the time when I had lost everything to Elika and wandered around.

In a small countryside village I happened to pass through, there was a man being beaten by angry villagers.

Even as dull thudding sounds hit his body and he was nearly dead, he shouted boldly.

“Even if I die, my love for her will never waver. She is the light, the truth, and my goddess. Long live Empress Elika!”

As soon as he finished speaking, he bit his tongue and took his own life.

It was the creepiest moment out of all the years I had spent fighting to bring her down.

* * *

Watching over the maids’ behavior was the job of the lady of the house. It wasn’t something the duke needed to care about.

Yet, he couldn’t sleep at night because of that “small issue,” thinking the girl might use a man to do something wicked.

‘This isn’t just about a maid’s behavior. It’s about stopping that girl.’

But only he knew this reason. If he got involved in Elika’s relationship with men, it would look strange and might cause misunderstandings.

Like people thinking he was jealous.

He blamed Haillar’s pointless words—“Are you jealous?”—as he got up from bed.

He couldn’t sleep anyway, so he decided to go on a night walk—but somehow, his feet were heading toward the storage near the back gate.

* * *

“Sorry, Herbert. You can’t even rest because of me…”

Elika said while carrying a flowerpot to the storage under the moonlit sky.

“It’s fine, I have patrol duty anyway.”

Elika thought she had “stolen” the flowerpot and asked Herbert for help.

Herbert told her it wasn’t stealing and that she was free to use it, but he still went and got her a new pot from outside.

When Elika said she would return the original flowerpot to the storage, Herbert offered to go with her.

Even though it was the duke’s mansion, it was dangerous for a girl to go to a dark, quiet place at night—at least, that was his excuse. In truth, he just wanted to spend more time with her.

“Thanks so much, Herbert. I’ll pay you back for the pot.”

“Do you even have money?”

“…”

Most maids get paid, but Elika thought asking for money when she already got food, shelter, and education for free was being too greedy.

She didn’t know Jacqueline had already arranged her wages.

“I’m joking. Just accept it as a gift—it didn’t cost much anyway.”

‘She must think flowerpots are super expensive. So cute.’

He looked down at her with a silly smile, but quickly looked away when she turned to face him.

 * * *

Unfortunately, Charon saw it all.

Herbert carefully opening the storage door, Elika’s platinum hair slipping inside, Herbert following behind, and the door closing.

‘Hmph.’

Instead of returning to his room, Charon wandered around the mansion.

What business would those two have in a storage room at that hour?

“Are you jealous?” Haillar’s words suddenly echoed in his head.

He almost wanted to sew that guy’s mouth shut.

Jealous? That was ridiculous. He was thirty-three in mind—how could he be jealous over a thirteen-year-old?

Even if she kept reminding him of the twenty-eight-year-old woman he had seen before returning to the past.

She was the same woman he hated so much, the one he wanted to tear apart with his bare hands.

This wasn’t jealousy. He had more than enough reasons to be furious.

She hadn’t changed. Still seducing men even at thirteen. Flirting with that title of “patron of Blancet.”

He had given her a chance to behave with dignity—and she betrayed it so easily.

He had given her enough chances.

Now, it was time for her to face the consequences.

* * *

“Elika, the Duke said you should bring your diary to him yourself today.”

Jacqueline said this near the end of Elika’s lesson.

“Why would the Duke want to see me?”

“Good question.”

Elika looked a little nervous at the idea of seeing the Duke directly. Miss Izantine patted her shoulder and smiled.

“This is great. Go and show him yourself. Show him how much you’ve learned.”

“Do you think he’ll be pleased? What if he scolds me for not doing enough?”

“You’re doing great, don’t worry. And if the Duke bothers you over something silly, just tell me. I’ll scold him for you!”

Miss Izantine whispered by her ear and grinned like a mischievous boy.

“Head Maid, do you know why the Duke wants to see me?”

Elika asked Jacqueline, holding her diary and following closely behind.

“Maybe it’s because he’s leaving soon and wants to see you before he goes.”

“He’s leaving? The Duke? Where and why?”

“To the Military Academy, of course.”

“??”

Jacqueline then realized Elika knew nothing and began to explain.

“It’s like a school for nobles. You don’t have to go to earn a title, but most noble heirs attend for the connections and reputation.”

“So the Duke goes to school too!”

“Normally, people go before getting a title. But since the Duke became one so young… Anyway, the spring break is ending, so he has to leave soon.”

They soon arrived at the Duke’s study.

“Next time, maybe even in summer, you might not see him. So now’s your chance to show your best side.”

‘Show him my best before he leaves…’

She gripped the paper in her hand a little tighter.

Jacqueline knocked and announced.

“Duke, Elika is here.”

* * * 

Now Elika and the Duke were alone in the study, and silence filled the room.

Rustle, rustle. Elika nervously watched his long pale fingers flip through the pages of her diary.

She wanted to see his reaction—good or bad—but his face was as still as a statue.

After a long while, a faint wrinkle appeared between his brows.

“Elika.”

Her body tensed at his low voice.

“Y-Yes?”

Her voice came out louder than needed because of her nerves. Then those cold blue eyes turned to her.

“I told you to write your diary honestly.”

“…?”

Elika’s small lips moved slowly.

“…I-I wrote it honestly… I didn’t lie.”

“Leaving out the truth on purpose is the same as lying.”

She swallowed hard.

This time, she couldn’t pretend to be innocent.

‘Does he know about the flowerpot?’

After his warning in the hallway, Elika tried to write everything truthfully in her diary.

But she just couldn’t bring herself to include the incident about ‘stealing’ the flowerpot.

If it was only her mistake, she would’ve confessed. But it might also get Herbert in trouble, so she stayed quiet.

‘Should I just tell him now and ask for forgiveness? Say it was all my fault, not Herbert’s?’

Elika closed her eyes tight and began to speak.

“Umm, Duke, actually…”

“You’re seeing someone, aren’t you?”

“Huh?”

She blinked wide in confusion.

Charon stared at her sharply, as if trying to figure her out.

That look made her sweat, but she still didn’t understand what he meant by “seeing someone.”

“Seeing… someone?”

She’d barely spoken to any men besides her drunk father. At the mansion, she had no interest in gossip or romance. All she read were educational books.

So she didn’t understand what “seeing someone” even meant.

“…There is someone I got close to…”

Even though she didn’t get what the Duke was implying, she answered honestly, thinking it was her duty as someone under his care.

“Sir Leverot?”

Charon asked in a flat tone.

“Sir Herbert… yes.”

“Herbert’s last name is Leverot.”

“Oh.”

She felt a little embarrassed not knowing her friend’s last name.

“Elika.”

The Duke stared at her.

He said nothing, but she felt it—she was being judged. Watched. Trapped.

It felt terrible.

Then he spoke again.

“Servants aren’t allowed to date without the owner’s permission. It’s a rule.”

She didn’t understand why he was telling her this.

“I-I know… but Herbert is just a friend.”

Friend, huh? He knew better. That look Herbert gave her outside the storage—that wasn’t just friendship.

“Elika.”

He called her name for the third time that night, and she began to feel afraid.

“Why do you keep lying?”

“…What?”

His eyes were full of contempt.

Even someone like Elika, not good at reading emotions, could clearly feel it.

‘The Duke… hates me.’

He was her savior, her protector, her everything—and now he hated her.

A burning feeling rose from her chest to her throat.

“Lying…? What do you mean?”

She forced her voice out, but it trembled.

“I didn’t lie…”

Then she realized that claiming she didn’t lie was a lie.

She had taken the flowerpot without permission and pretended nothing happened.

“Why did you stop talking?”

Charon asked.

“I wanted to hear what kind of excuse you’d make. Go on, keep talking.”

Her tightly shut lips trembled, and tears formed in her big purple eyes.

She didn’t understand what was so wrong about being with Herbert.

Yes, taking the flowerpot was wrong, but she put it back.

And more importantly, that flowerpot—that freesia seed…

“…I wanted to give it to you…”

“?”

“I did it to give it to you…”

The words burst out in confusion and emotion.

“What are you talking about?”

Elika wiped her eyes and explained.

“Herbert brought freesia seeds… but we had nowhere to plant them… so we took a flowerpot from the storage. …I’m sorry for using it without asking…”

“You only went to the storage for a flowerpot?”

She nodded.

“You want me to believe that?”

She finally told the truth, but his voice only grew colder.

“I heard something else.”

“…What did you hear?”

Charon let out a small laugh.

That laugh stabbed Elika in the chest.

“What did I hear? Do you really want me to say it out loud?”

“Duke, I really don’t understand…”

“Enough.”

Still pretending you know nothing. Acting innocent until the end.

“Get out. I don’t want to see your face.”