Chapter 18
…Explain what’s going on here.”
The only sound in the room was the nervous gulp of saliva.
Perhaps because the room reflected its owner, everything was filled with muted tones, and a tense, ominous aura hung in the air.
Marquis Leighton Zains silently gazed down at Luca, who was kneeling before him with his head bowed low.
Luca fidgeted uncomfortably, unsure of what to do.
“Th-That is…”
“I told you to tail her quietly. Did I tell you to get caught?”
It had been Leighton who rescued Luca, who had been captured and dragged by the Bennett family knights.
Luca had gone pale when he unexpectedly ran into Leighton in the hallway.
When Leighton told the knights he wanted to speak with this audacious follower himself, they readily handed Luca over.
After all, it was easy to get permission from the marquis whom Selena trusted.
And now, having brought Luca to this room, Leighton was visibly angry.
“I apologize. I truly didn’t realize you possessed such abilities…”
“Such abilities?”
Leighton’s eyes were as cold as if they could summon a demon and steal a soul at any moment. The question surfaced in them naturally.
Luca, knowing it was an opportunity when his merciless master was curious, nodded.
“Yes. You do have abilities.”
“You could tell what they were?”
“…I’m sorry. I didn’t notice that far. But clearly, I was unable to move after the Grand Duchess cried out, even though you couldn’t keep up with my running speed.”
“An invisible power…”
“Yes. I was completely immobilized by it. Grand Duchess Selena is not an ordinary person.”
Luca was certain.
Selena Bennett was not just an ordinary high-ranking noble girl.
Everyone working under Leighton was thoroughly skilled.
Their ability to execute commands flawlessly was unparalleled.
Luca was no exception.
Being one of the subordinates Leighton trusted, he was even slightly surprised when he was brought to the Grand Duchess’s residence.
That Luca’s tailing had been noticed…
“You realized I was following you immediately. You know no one has ever caught on before, right?”
“….”
Leighton’s blue eyes glimmered calmly. If Luca’s words were true, then Selena indeed possessed mysterious abilities.
And if that power was somehow connected to breaking his curse…
“She’s certainly an intriguing duchess.”
It couldn’t be anything but interesting.
Even trembling with unease and fear, her purple eyes shone with a determined clarity, staring straight ahead.
Without a doubt, those eyes would shine brighter than any in the Empire.
When he met them, an inexplicable feeling churned within him.
He was suffocated by the infinite, blind trust she gave him for reasons he could not fathom.
“…I should feel bad for lying…”
Leighton bit his lips tightly as he thought this.
“…I’m insane. Why should I feel guilty? This was my original purpose all along.”
Though the situation was interesting, there was no need for guilt.
Leighton deliberately ignored the subtle discomfort growing in him.
“I need to investigate that ability. Learn everything you can about the power you encountered.”
“Yes, understood. But… I cannot leave this room until Grand Duchess Selena arrives. She will question me herself. I’m sorry!”
Luca pressed himself flat against the floor, red hair brushing the ground, and continued apologizing.
Leighton looked down at him indifferently.
“Enough. I’ll handle the rest when the Grand Duchess arrives.”
“…Yes, thank you.”
Overwhelmed by such merciful forgiveness, Luca slowly stood up.
After kneeling for so long, his legs were numb.
He wanted nothing more than to return to the hamster teahouse’s second floor and sink into the soft sofa to rest.
Dragging his heavy body, he grasped the doorknob.
“Wait.”
But Leighton’s voice stopped him.
Luca turned slowly. Leighton was staring out the wide-open window, lost in thought.
“So… where did Grand Duchess Selena go?”
Though restrained, Luca had just been tracking Selena’s movements.
Realizing he hadn’t reported her destination, he quickly opened his mouth in surprise.
“Ah, yes. Grand Duchess Selena intended to go to the theater operated by the Duke Richard family. Perhaps…”
Trailing off for a moment, he then lightly thumped his fist into his palm and said cheerfully:
“Maybe to watch a performance?”
“A performance? Alone?”
Leighton frowned at Luca’s foolish suggestion.
Selena Bennett would not casually go to watch a performance alone during such a time.
The Selena he knew wouldn’t enjoy leisure while the fragile Bennett household was like a candle in the wind.
“Did anyone she might meet there come to mind?”
Luca scratched his head, thinking.
“Prince Deon Richard’s carriage passed nearby. It was some time earlier, though…”
“…Deon Richard?”
Leighton recalled the silver-haired boy he had met at the banquet.
The youngster who had confessed to falling in love with Selena at first sight and requested a dance.
And now, the prince of the Richard family had another business with Selena?
The answer to the question wasn’t difficult to deduce.
It wasn’t some twisted, complicated reasoning.
Although the Richard family was a powerful noble house leading the Holy Empire, they had never been hostile toward the Bennett family.
Before the Grand Duchy weakened, they had maintained a relatively good relationship.
‘Then the answer is clear.’
The greenhorn of the Richard family had started pursuing Selena, emboldened by his fledgling feelings.
“Hah! Unbelievable.”
“…Yes? Wh-what do you mean?”
Startled by the sudden change in tone, Luca hesitated.
He retraced his words in his mind—he hadn’t misspoken. He had only reported seeing Prince Deon’s carriage.
Leighton slammed the window shut irritably, then leaned back in a nearby chair, closing his eyes.
Luca could hardly breathe from the unpredictable shifts in his master’s mood.
“Th-That’s all I needed to report, Marquis.”
“…Leave now.”
“Yes, sir!”
Luca’s face brightened at the thought of finally escaping—but his hope was crushed by Leighton’s next words.
Leighton rested his legs on the desk, leaning back lazily, and added in a low voice:
“Oh, and I’ve changed my mind. Don’t return to the teahouse. Stay here quietly. If you go outside, the knights will guide you to a suitable place to wait.”
“….”
Luca wanted to protest but wisely remained silent.
He instinctively knew. The calm emerald eyes held an unspoken warning.
Though Leighton appeared relaxed, it was a trap—disobeying would be dangerous.
“Understood,” he whispered.
After Luca left, Leighton let out an exasperated sigh.
‘If she intended to meet Deon Richard, they’ve probably already met by now.’
Perhaps she had watched the musical?
He had never heard that Selena Bennett liked musicals.
Then again, she rarely talked about what she liked.
Her attention was always focused on Ailey; she rarely considered her own desires.
‘She seemed to like that little pet sparrow, though.’
Otherwise, he had never seen her visibly delighted.
‘Now that I think about it, I’ve never seen her behave like a typical sixteen-year-old.’
Even though she would now be the head of the Bennett household, Selena was still sixteen.
It wouldn’t be strange for her to be carefree, bright, and innocent like other young ladies.
Whenever he thought of her, Leighton’s dark past kept surfacing.
Perhaps that’s why he felt uneasy, like tripping over a stone, even when she lied or showed affection.
Or perhaps it was simply uncomfortable to see Selena’s pure, trusting, affectionate nature.
Her kindness was innate.
She would surely treat Prince Deon—whom she had barely met—with the same warmth.
Listening, empathizing, sharing his pain, conversing kindly…
“…Damn it.”
Leighton chuckled dryly at the relentless train of thoughts about Selena.
He couldn’t even understand why he felt irritated.
Opening his eyes, he looked out the window he had shut earlier.
Perhaps some time had passed; the sun was slowly setting.
The outside was quiet. Selena hadn’t arrived yet.
“I need some fresh air.”
Even stepping outside would help dispel these unpleasant feelings.
Otherwise, dark emotions—like little demons—would surely pester him.
He rose from his seat, making up a plausible excuse for himself.
Selena not having arrived at the residence didn’t matter at all.
Yes. It really didn’t matter at all.
