Chapter 5
“Duke.”
The moment the butler opened the door and entered, Ellie disappeared in an instant.
Raymond’s eyes widened at the sound of a thick book falling to the floor. The chair she was sitting on was empty.
“Looks like you’re awake now.”
“Yes?”
When the butler asked back, Raymond shook his head slowly.
“Nevermind.”
After he fell asleep again, miraculously, he had no nightmares. Every night, nightmares relentlessly tormented him.
Is it all thanks to that woman?
“You must have slept well.”
“Yeah. I slept very well after a long time.”
He thought she was just annoying. The woman was more useful than he thought. Somehow, he felt like he was looking forward to the night from today on.
*
Ellie hurriedly looked at the clock. Looking at the clock hand pointing to 08:30, she rushed down the bed.
As expected, I am late.
Perhaps because of the aftermath of not sleeping properly for two days, she woke up past her usual wake-up time. Unlike her awake mind, her body must have slept soundly.
After taking a shower in a hurry, Ellie dressed in a gray suit and left her house. No matter how fast the horseman was, she wouldn’t be able to arrive until nine o’clock.
It was her first time being late in her life. Along the way, Ellie looked at the watch on her wrist with an anxious face.
She arrived in front of the Duke’s mansion after being twenty minutes late and started running around frantically. She had never hated the Duke’s excessively large garden as it was now.
It was only after she ran fifteen minutes without a break that she was able to get to the front of the aide’s office. As she opened the aide’s office door with a hasty hand, she hardened like a stone.
She could see Duke Rufus standing in front of her desk.
“You are late.”
Said the Duke, slightly narrowing his forehead.
At his words, Ellie let out a rough sigh with a bewildered face.
“Sorry, I am sorry.”
“Ellie must have been very tired. She hasn’t been feeling well the past few days.”
Arthur stood up for her.
“You defend her too much.”
Duke Rufus said in a blunt voice. He valued time and hated being late. Knowing that well, Ellie became even more nervous.
“It’s okay to be late.”
Ellie was even more nervous by Duke Rufus’ generous reaction.
“Aren’t you being overly generous? The last time I was late, you were nagging me all day.”
This time, Arthur complained.
“That’s because you were late so many times. Ellie Miller couldn’t have been late because of drink and play like you.”
Avoiding his gaze, Ellie hurriedly bowed her head.
“Thank you. I will make sure this does not happen next time.”
“Okay. I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to do the work I entrusted to you yesterday.”
It was nice to hear that she didn’t have to do what he had entrusted. He seemed to believe to some extent what she said last night.
“What did you entrust to Ellie without me knowing?
Arthur asked Duke Rufus curiously.
“Arthur Winston. Are you interested in me or your secretary?”
Arthur’s face turned slightly red when Duke Rufus asked in a sharp voice.
“Oh, that…… I was just curious what was going on, so I asked.”
Duke Rufus held back a smirk as he watched Arthur hurriedly utter an excuse.
“Just do your work. Dating inside the mansion is prohibited.”
After uttering such an absurd remark, Duke Rufus walked out of the aide’s office.
“He is very mean today.”
Arthur looked at Ellie and spoke to her awkwardly.
“I know, right. I think the Duke misunderstood because you took good care of me.”
Ellie answered with an indifferent face, went to her seat, and sat down.
“Misunderstanding…… that, yes that’s right. A misunderstanding. It’s a misunderstanding.”
Arthur muttered to himself.
Anyway, it was fortunate that Duke Rufus was not angry by her lateness. From tomorrow onwards, I must pay more attention to prevent this from happening again, Ellie thought.
*
Maybe because I slept a lot yesterday, I couldn’t sleep easily today.
Ellie lay on the bed with scented candles on to help her sleep well.
I shouldn’t be late again because sleeping late.
The scented candle she made herself was quite effective. The gentle scent of lavender slowly made her fall asleep.
Ellie, who opened her eyes in the Duke of Rufus’ bedroom again this time, looked up at the empty seat next to her and stood up. Then she saw Duke Rufus sitting on the sofa and reading a book.
Seeing him reading a book reminded her of the past.
She had first seen him in the library of the academy.
Like now, he was sitting by the window and reading a book. His dark blonde hair fluttered in the gentle breeze coming through the slightly open window.
It was as if the sunlight was there for him. She couldn’t take her eyes off him for a long time, looking at his unusually shiny figure.
That’s how her long one-sided love began.
“Why didn’t you tell me when you came?”
Hearing his voice, Ellie stopped thinking about the past.
“Seeing you reading a book reminds me of the old days.”
He closed the book and asked, “What are you thinking?”
“You were reading books in the library back then as you are now.”
His blue eyes turned to her. Ellie made an awkward expression as he stared intently at her.
“Why are you……”
“So you went to the same academy as me.”
Ellie’s eyes widened spontaneously.
“The only time I went to a crowded library was when I was in the academy.”
She hadn’t thought of that. But she wasn’t worried. He probably doesn’t even know that she went to the same academy as him.
“That’s right.”
“You’re not Laura Develin, are you?”
Ellie looked surprised when he asked with his eyes narrowed.
“Young Lady Develin? Does she also like you?”
Laura Develin was a classmate of Duke Rufus. As much as Duke Rufus, she was a hugely popular senior in the academy.
No, not only in the academy. If one were to ask who was the most beautiful woman in the Empire, eight out of ten would say her name.
She recalled Laura Develin who was so beautiful even in the eyes of other women. Ellie sighed.
How high are this man’s eyes? He refused even her confession, too?
“Looks like you’re not Laura Develin. So, are you Angela Bianca?”
Again, Ellie shook her head as he asked the name of a senior as beautiful as Laura.
“Then you will mention all the names of the people who attend the academy. Among all the people who attend the academy, who doesn’t like the Duke?”
Seeing that Laura even confessed to him, it seemed that everyone had a crush on him at least once.
“There is one. She’s someone I don’t think will ever like me.”
I wonder who she is.
Ellie really wanted to learn how to not like the Duke.
“I wonder who she is.”
“Someone I feel very uncomfortable with.”
But I don’t think he hates her. Duke Rufus’ face, as he spoke of the woman, looked quite relaxed. I envy the woman I don’t even know her name.
“Did you finish reading the book yesterday?”
Ellie stopped her thoughts as she heard Duke Rufus’ voice.
“Yes, it was fun. But why aren’t you sleeping yet?”
The time was already past midnight. Do you usually sleep this late?
“I slept well after a long time yesterday and I can’t sleep easily now. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t wait for you.”
At his words, Ellie smiled and nodded. He stared at her smiling face.
At that burdensome gaze, Ellie hurriedly stopped smiling.
“Do you want me to read you a book today as well?”
It was inevitable to come here while she was asleep. Instead of making him uncomfortable, she wanted to give him a little help.
“Whatever.”
“What book should I read for you?”
At her question, he pointed to the bookshelf that filled one wall.
“Just bring the book you want to read.”
Ellie really liked books, so she was happy to hear what he just said. She walked over to the large bookshelf, and she looked through the books.
Duke Rufus, who loves reading as much as she does, had a variety of books. There were also quite a few books she enjoyed reading.
A book called ‘Secrets of the Kingdom of Baronia’ caught her eyes as she slowly looked at the bookshelf.
It was a book she always wanted to read. It was a story about the lost kingdom of Baronia, a book that was not easy to come by.
Ellie reached out the book. However, it wasn’t easy to get the book out because it was stuck in a high place that she couldn’t reach.
She tiptoed with all her might. Her hand, barely holding the bottom of the book, trembled. The moment she pulled out the thick book, she lost balance and staggered.
“Be careful.”
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Duke Rufus’ strong arm reached out towards her body. Thanks to him bending over and supporting her, she was able to prevent mishaps of falling on the floor.
But now that wasn’t the problem. Ellie held her breath as she saw Duke Rufus’ face in front of her.
The distance between them was close enough to feel each other’s breath. Surprised, Ellie hastily got her body up to get out of his arms.
A more horrific accident happened after that. She hurriedly got out of his arms, but her lips slammed against his.
Ellie’s eyes trembled violently at the touch of his soft lips. At the same time, she disappeared in an instant.