The Slave Is Too Handsome - Chapter 24

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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 too handsome!
024.
“Eloïse…!”
Lucian burst into the Garden in a panic, his words trailing away. He caught himself before speaking her name aloud—no use giving George’s knights a head start.
So he ran on. It seemed George had summoned half the city; the sprawling Garden was choked with people in every direction.
“My lord…ah, forgive me.”
Not her. Not this time. Not the next.
Each blonde woman of similar build drew him forward, only to disappoint him again and again.
“Haah.”
Lucian stopped in the center of the Garden, catching his breath. The Main Building had already receded some distance behind him.
‘Has she been caught already? If so, I need to get to that cursed Barn right now…’
As darker thoughts crept in, he clenched his teeth. His mind was a mess. She was troublesome—far too troublesome in every way.
Right, let’s go to the Barn. Stay calm. It’ll be fine.
The pep talk worked; his ragged breathing gradually steadied.
He was about to yank off the suffocating Cat Mask before sprinting again when—
“Who are you looking for?”
The world seemed to stop.
“……”
Lucian’s head turned toward the voice with agonizing slowness. A familiar silhouette emerged from between the trees opposite him.
“Ah……”
“Answer me. Who exactly are you searching for like that?”
His heart seized. Without thinking, his hand flew to his left chest. Even her sharp tone made him glad.
“But first—how did you get out? And what’s with that mask?”
A woman in an ornate Butterfly Mask walked toward him. It was Eloïse, the very one he’d been frantically seeking.
“Eloïse.”
The name caught in Lucian’s throat. She’d drawn close enough to study his face, tilting her head to examine him.
“My, calling your master by his first name now, are we?”
“Master……”
“Are you crying?”
Eloïse reached for his face. His hand caught hers before it arrived.
“We shouldn’t do this here. We need to move somewhere safer.”
Not far off, George’s knights were moving between the flowerbeds. Lucian grabbed Eloïse’s hand and pulled her away.
“Lucian? Wait…!”
He dragged her into a nearby Hut and shut the door behind them.
“Shh.”
Lucian pressed a finger to his lips. Eloïse watched him with bewilderment.
‘What…?’
Lucian circled the interior, listening intently for sounds from outside.
But for all his searching, there were no windows to see through—only a small opening in the ceiling. He pressed his ear against the wall instead.
Only when the footsteps faded did he turn around, his voice hoarse and fractured.
“They’ve gone now.”
“So who—”
Eloïse stood with her arms crossed, her expression demanding explanation.
At some point she’d removed her mask; in the moonlight, her bare face was visible.
“…Lucian?”
She called his name again into his silence. Behind the cumbersome mask, his eyes glistened.
“Why are you……”
Why are you crying? The words died in his throat. Eloïse slowly peeled away the Cat Mask. In the bright moonlight streaming through the small window, Lucian’s pale face was laid bare.
“I was worried about you.”
His features were a wreck, raw with suppressed emotion. Seeing this side of Lucian for the first time, Eloïse’s expression hardened.
“About me?”
Lucian cleared his throat. He tasted copper. He told her everything about George’s scheme.
“That damned bastard…!”
As she listened to the full account, Eloïse’s shoulders trembled. She clenched her fists, fury pouring out of her. A killer’s gleam flickered in her green eyes.
‘I should beat him half to death just to knock some sense into him.’
Watching her, Lucian smiled softly. In any other moment, he might have flinched—but not now. The fury he knew so well in her was endearing.
Hearing his laugh, Eloïse shot him a glare.
“Still, I’m grateful you’re safe.”
“……”
“When I realized you weren’t in your Bedroom, I nearly lost my mind.”
Eloïse studied his face carefully. It was transparent—no trace of deception. He had genuinely feared for her.
An odd feeling stirred in Eloïse. She deliberately changed the subject.
“But how did you even manage to leave your room in the first place……”
Bang! Boom! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Eloïse’s words were swallowed by the tremendous roar of Fireworks. Both of them looked up at once toward the small window in the ceiling.
Brilliant, multicolored Fireworks bloomed across the dark night sky—a spectacle finer than any festival the town had ever seen. Lucian gasped in wonder.
“That fool George, squandering the Duchy’s resources like this.”
Eloïse’s cold remark dampened the moment—
“But isn’t it beautiful?”
Lucian turned to look at her, childlike wonder playing across his face. His anxiety melted away now that he’d confirmed she was safe.
“You have an unexpectedly romantic side to you.”
Eloïse watched him grin broadly, and slowly her stern expression softened as she spoke.
“Well, seeing something beautiful just puts you in a good mood, doesn’t it?”
Lucian felt suddenly embarrassed and scratched the back of his head. True enough—he’d always shown a keen interest in works of art.
“We should go. It’s already Midnight.”
“Midnight? Already?”
Lucian’s eyes went wide. Then it hit him—a name he’d forgotten.
‘Brick!’
His face went pale again. Everything had gone wrong; his plan had been to find Eloïse and get back.
“Yes. Midnight—that’s why the Fireworks are so loud.”
“Ah, I see. Should we head back to the Annex right away?”
Lucian forced the panic from his expression and spoke in an unnatural voice.
After getting Eloïse back, he could slip out through the Back Gate soon enough. Brick wouldn’t leave at the stroke of Midnight—not like clockwork. Yes, that would work.
Lucian grabbed the door handle urgently. His heart was racing.
“Huh?”
Click. Click.
“Why?”
“The door…won’t open.”
“What?”
Click. Click. Click.
No matter how many times he tried, the result was the same. The door was completely locked—either broken or deliberately jammed.
Thud! Thud!
Even throwing his full weight against it didn’t help. Eloïse stepped back, watching the situation, and sighed.
“It seems to be stuck.”
“Of all the—”
Lucian continued his battle with the unyielding door.
Meanwhile, Eloïse surveyed the dark interior.
Unfortunately, there were no tools within reach that might help. Nothing came to mind that could reach the small window stuck to the ceiling.
“Stop it and come here.”
“But—”
“Don’t waste your energy. Just sit down.”
Lucian, who’d been throwing himself against the door, finally stopped. Eloïse sat on the straw, gesturing for him to join her.
Lucian dragged himself over, his body heavy with despair. Even so, he was acutely aware of how thinly Eloïse was dressed in just her evening gown.
Without a word, he removed his Cloak and spread it across the straw.
“Please, sit here.”
“I’m fine. It’s not cold.”
“I’m not fine with it.”
Eloïse gave him a puzzled look but relented, moving onto the Cloak.
Lucian dropped onto the spot where she’d been sitting. His insides were churning. He’d squandered what might have been his only chance.
Not squandered—he’d kicked it away with his own two feet.
‘Has Brick left by now? Or is he still looking for me?’
Lucian’s face twisted. He hunched over, burying his head between his knees, fingers tangling through his hair until finally, his eyes squeezed shut.
His vision darkened. Just like his future—a pitch-black path he couldn’t see one step ahead on.
“Don’t worry too much. Frederick will come looking for us.”
Eloïse, watching him spiral, offered what comfort she could. At her words, the head buried between his legs slowly rose.
“Really?”
“Yes. Trust Frederick for once. At least by dawn, he’ll show up.”
Eloïse spoke gently, her chin resting on her hand as she met his eyes.
Lucian blinked, startled. Looking at Eloïse, something in his turbulent chest found unexpected stillness.
Never mind. Surrender to fate. At least Eloïse was safe—that alone was mercy enough. Lucian steeled himself with the thought.
‘Perhaps being trapped here is actually for the best….’
In an instant, his expression went rigid.
‘What in hell am I thinking?!’
Had the chaos driven him mad, even for a moment? Lucian stared at his trembling hands.
“Should we finish the conversation from before?”
“What conversation……”
Lucian flinched at Eloïse’s clear gaze.
Here it comes. Before she could press him on how he’d slipped past the watch to get outside, he decided to strike first.
“I have something I’d like to ask you as well.”

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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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