The Slave Is Too Handsome - Chapter 14

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The slave is far too handsome!
014.
“Commander, you’ve arrived.”
Just another morning at the Duke’s Household. When Frederick appeared briefly at the morning training for the first time in a while, the Vice Commander greeted him with measured respect.
“Nothing amiss?”
Frederick asked, surveying the knights in training.
“Nothing, sir.”
“Where are those four? The recent arrivals.”
“The Main Building needed people urgently, so I sent them there.”
I see. Frederick nodded at the Vice Commander’s report.
Three of them would be at the Main Building by now. As for the remaining one—the most irritating of the lot—he was likely in the young lady’s office.
“If any trouble arises, report it to me at once.”
“Yes, sir.”
Frederick left the Training Ground after receiving the Vice Commander’s salute. Only once his superior had become a mere speck did the Vice Commander finally release a relieved breath.
The three blondes were indeed under George’s command now, as he’d reported.
On that fateful day, the wretches had denied the charges to the very end.
‘We swear on our lives we never entered the young lady’s chambers!’
Even after being beaten so severely dust rose from their bodies, the three never wavered in their story.
The Vice Commander found it infuriating. But in truth, it mattered little who was guilty—both George and he had simply needed grounds to discipline these men.
Tsk. If they’d just admitted it was their doing, the matter would have been closed by now.
‘Their attitude is hopeless. Listen, I’m thinking of taking these dogs off your hands for a few days of proper education.’
George, shifting his weight onto one leg, had gestured toward the three with a jut of his chin.
Color drained from the knights’ faces. A few of them even looked as though they wouldn’t mind never returning at all.
And so the three were dragged away by George like pigs headed to slaughter.
‘When they come back, I’ll simply make my report then.’
The Vice Commander watched the training continue with an easy mind.
***
Knock, knock.
“Entering.”
The moment Frederick stepped into Elowise’s office, his expression darkened.
“Good morning.”
Behind Elowise’s bright greeting, Lucian sat wrestling with a book at the large desk.
The two men’s eyes met. Lucian rose from his seat and nodded in acknowledgment.
“Young lady, I have an urgent report.”
Frederick ignored Lucian’s greeting, relaxing his face as he fixed his gaze on Elowise.
“Should I step out for a moment?”
“Master, perhaps I should—”
“Keep studying. We’ll use the Reception Room.”
Lucian tried to interject while he had the chance, but Elowise was already walking toward the door to the Reception Room.
A deep sigh escaped Lucian as he dropped back into his chair. Frederick cast him one more sharp look before following his mistress.
The way that wretch clung to the master from dawn to late night under the guise of education grated on Frederick terribly. Among the four stones that had rolled into the Duke’s Household, three showed proper gratitude to the young lady, but this one—his attitude was insolent and unruly.
“So, did you uncover anything else?”
Elowise, seated on the plush sofa in the Reception Room, asked the question. Frederick checked the door was fully shut before approaching his mistress.
“The slave merchant wasn’t the only one murdered.”
“What?”
“I’ve confirmed that several other slave merchants were killed around the same period.”
“The work of the same hand?”
“In my assessment…”
Frederick relayed in full detail what he’d observed and learned while persistently investigating the slave merchant killings these past days.
How the other merchants had been killed, which slaves had recently arrived and been sold—everything.
“I believe you need not worry, young lady. From what I’ve seen, it appears to be the reckless act of someone who objects to the very nature of the clandestine slave trade itself.”
Frederick spoke with conviction to reassure his mistress, but Elowise’s thoughts lay elsewhere.
“Are you truly certain?”
“Yes. Should you remain concerned, I can assign additional guards.”
Frederick’s eyes were unwavering. Elowise shook her head, as if that wasn’t her point at all.
“The killer is after Lucian.”
“Pardon?”
“Over the past month, I’ve been the only one conducting business with that merchant.”
“That’s correct.”
“The deaths of the other merchants are merely misdirection. They were poisoned, given proper burials with eyes closed.”
She was right. Frederick recalled the other slave merchants who had died peacefully.
“But look—the merchant I dealt with was murdered with such deliberate cruelty. That means the target is Lucian. Whether to reclaim him or kill him, I cannot say.”
Though it was possible the killer sought Pin, Ned, or Gabe, Elowise’s instinct pointed firmly toward Lucian. He was a rare top-tier slave, after all.
“I see.”
Frederick’s countenance darkened. His mistress had grasped the situation faster than he, who had personally investigated it. The frustration gnawed at him.
“We’ll need to be cautious for a while.”
“Rest assured, I will protect you with my life.”
At Frederick’s resolute expression, Elowise smiled faintly. No fool would dare strike at the Duke’s Household, but caution never hurt.
“Did you notice anything peculiar about the dead merchant?”
“By his technique, he was no ordinary man. Not formally trained swordplay, so unlikely to be a knight of the order. A mercenary at best, I’d say.”
“A mercenary…”
Something flickered in Elowise’s eyes at the word. Could it be someone previously employed by whoever had held Lucian before? Sent to find him?
“Therefore, I would strongly advise you to refrain from outings for a while. I’ll increase your guard as well.”
“…”
“Young lady?”
Elowise was so lost in thought she hadn’t heard Frederick standing close beside her.
In that same moment, Lucian, left alone in Elowise’s office, was equally absorbed in thoughts far removed from the book before him.
‘How am I getting out of here?’
The day B had appointed was in two days. He had to meet him no matter what—but without Elowise’s permission, he couldn’t step a foot outside the Duke’s Residence.
‘I’ll have to make some excuse about lessons again, I suppose.’
That was when—
“Young lady, a letter’s arrived.”
After two knocks, the door opened, and Mary entered, her arms full of mail.
Mary, who had been smiling brightly, immediately frowned the moment she spotted Lucian.
‘Everyone in this household scowls the instant they see me.’
Lucian, who considered such treatment no great hardship, twirled his pen and returned his attention to the book.
“Where’s the young lady?”
Mary dumped the mail onto the desk where Lucian sat and spoke with a sharp edge to her voice.
“Reception Room. With the Commander.”
Lucian answered offhandedly, but his eyes were drawn to the mail. As he reached out and lightly sifted through the envelopes, Mary’s voice rose.
“Hey now! That’s the young lady’s!”
“So what. I’m just looking.”
The mail varied—from pristine white envelopes to ones stamped with the seals of various noble houses. Mary, seeing she couldn’t let this stand, quickly gathered the mail back together.
“Don’t you dare touch things without permission!”
“Fine, fine. I won’t look.”
The moment Lucian withdrew his hands, a pink envelope tumbled from Mary’s grasp and fell to the ground.
The front bore the words “Tea Room.”
“Tea Room?”
“Just an advertising flyer. Take it if you want.”
Mary spoke in a mocking tone, as if doing him a favor, but Lucian paid no mind.
He pulled the flyer from the envelope and scanned its contents. It was an advertisement announcing the Tea Room’s reopening after renovations. A simple map was sketched on it as well.
The pastel-colored, ornate flyer naturally conjured images of noble young ladies gracefully enjoying tea. In short, it was entirely unsuited to Lucian’s station.
What mattered was that the Tea Room sat directly across from the Art Gallery.
“Why are you staring at it like that?”
“Oh! You startled me!”
Lucian jerked his head up to find Elowise regarding him intently from above. When had she returned?
“Why so surprised?”
Elowise took the flyer from Lucian’s hand.
Embarrassed at how startled he’d been—as if he’d been caught red-handed with his rendezvous plans—Lucian coughed awkwardly.
“Tea Room?”
Elowise narrowed her eyes, studying the flyer again. So what had captured Lucian’s rapt attention was merely a teashop advertisement.
“Mary, you hadn’t forgotten tomorrow’s appointment, had you?”
Mary handed the selected mail to Elowise.
“Of course not. I remember. Oh, and I think this is where it was.”
As Elowise waved the Tea Room flyer, Lucian’s blue eyes wavered in tandem.
He had to seize this chance. He had to—
“Do tell me what it’s like when you return. I’m simply dying to know.”
“I’ll pick up some cookies while I’m there.”
“Oh, wonderful!”
Lucian clenched his fists despite himself.
“I—I’d like to accompany you too, if I may. Master.”
“You as well, Lucian?”
Both women’s gazes turned to him simultaneously.
Conscious of Mary’s piercing glare, Lucian made his plea with earnest eyes and halting formality.
“I thought… experiencing what high society is like firsthand might be… beneficial… if that’s acceptable…?”
Elowise stared at Lucian with an unreadable expression.
That look—Lucian could never tell what lay behind it. He feared her expressionless gaze most of all.
“Besides, my studies won’t suffer, I promise…”
“Very well, then.”
“Really? …Ma’am?”
The permission came easier than expected, and Lucian broke into a genuine smile.
Done! He was one step closer to escape.
“I’ve never seen Lucian desire something so openly. Refreshing.”
“…”
When Elowise laughed warmly in turn, goosebumps rose on Lucian’s skin.
Had he overplayed it?
Lucian corrected his thinking. The truly terrifying Elowise wasn’t the one with the blank expression—it was the one who smiled.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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