The Slave Is Too Handsome - Chapter 27

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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!
027.
“Mmph!”
Lucian quickly covered Eloise’s mouth with his hand. He couldn’t afford to reignite a fire he’d just extinguished.
“Eloise, please.”
His pleading tone settled softly against her ears, and she quieted at once.
Fortunately, Brick hadn’t heard her outburst—he was already gone.
“Phew.”
Lucian exhaled deeply before finally releasing her. Then he began untying the rope that bound her small frame so tightly.
“What on earth happened? Why are you here?”
“That’s what I should be asking you——”
“No, let’s move first.”
The moment the thick rope fell away entirely, Lucian drew her forward.
Thump!
He pushed Eloise into the cabin and shut the door behind them.
The interior was so dark that she could see nothing but the night sea through a single circular porthole.
Scratch.
When Lucian lit a lamp hanging on the wall, the cabin filled with warm light.
Eloise glanced around. She could make out a narrow bed, a desk, chests, and a safe.
A large Navigation Map hung on the wall, its colors faded from age. On the desk below it, documents, a Compass, and various objects lay in disarray.
‘He really was a captain.’
This was Lucian’s quarters—the Captain’s Cabin itself.
Lucian guided her to the bed and sat her down, then pulled out a chair from the desk to face her.
A breathless silence hung between them. She’d expected him to pour out words like arrows, but Eloise remained silent.
“How’s your body? Any pain?”
After much deliberation, Lucian finally spoke. His gaze lingered on her arm, where the rope marks from her bonds stood in stark relief below her sleeve. The skin was raw and tender.
The image of her being dragged out like a criminal still burned in his mind. Even now, the shock of it was visceral. Lucian wiped his face absently.
“Where is this ship headed?”
Eloise ignored his question and asked something else entirely.
“Our destination is Kallaum.”
Kallaum was a cold country at the far north. Even from the Finestra Empire, it took more than a fortnight at sea to reach it—and that was only if the weather cooperated.
“……”
Which meant Kallaum was difficult to access, with few inhabitants.
But the land was rich in resources, making it worth braving any danger to reach.
“Don’t worry too much. We’ll make an Intermediate Port and get you safely back to the Duke’s Residence.”
“And who said you could decide that?”
Eloise cut him off sharply, rejecting his patronizing tone.
“I’m coming with you.”
“That won’t happen.”
“I won’t go without you.”
“Stop this—no more. Go to sleep.”
Lucian rose from his chair first, making it clear he wouldn’t discuss it further. Eloise realized that pushing would only lead to more futile argument, so she closed her mouth.
“It’s smaller and shabbier than the bedroom in the Annex, but bear with it. This is the best room on the ship.”
He moved closer and began arranging the bedding with practiced efficiency.
“Are you hungry?”
Now that he mentioned it, Eloise realized she hadn’t eaten all day.
She shook her head immediately. She’d had no time to feel hunger. Ever since learning he was gone, she’d chased after him like a madwoman, her thoughts consumed by nothing but him.
Lucian turned and left.
“Lucian!”
Alone, Eloise gripped the blanket anxiously. All she could do was wait for him in silence.
He returned moments later carrying a small Tray.
“Eat this anyway. There wasn’t much available at this hour.”
Lucian sat on the edge of the bed and placed the Tray on his firm thigh, offering her a cup of water first. On it sat only dry bread and dried fruit.
“I’m not hungry.”
“Eat it anyway, before you collapse.”
His protective manner felt strangely unfamiliar. At the firm set of his eyes, Eloise reluctantly accepted the cup and drank. Then came the bread.
“Surely you don’t expect me to feed you? If you want, I can.”
“I’m fine.”
When Lucian twisted his mouth wryly, Eloise slowly ate the remaining bread and fruit. She tasted nothing.
“You should have shown yourself sooner. Then you could have eaten a proper meal.”
His tone had softened somewhat. Eloise silently scoffed to herself.
If she had, she’d have been sent straight back to the Duke’s Residence.
“What about Frederick? Did you come alone?”
“I think he followed me, but we must have gotten separated somewhere. My mind was on you, nothing else.”
“……”
Lucian startled, momentarily at a loss for words. But Eloise gazed at him steadily, her expression utterly composed and sincere.
Even knowing she meant nothing improper by it, Lucian’s ears burned hot.
‘Eloise really……’
It was extraordinary when you thought about it. A noble lady, attended by countless servants, had fled her estate in her nightclothes and boarded a ship with no connections—all because of him.
‘And she didn’t even flinch in front of Brick.’
Reckless. Headlong. She was certainly not an ordinary woman.
Suddenly exhausted, Lucian changed the subject.
“We’ll be on the ship for several more days. So listen—try not to provoke Brick. He’s the one with brick-colored hair I was fighting earlier.”
“I know. The Vice Captain, isn’t he?”
“Yes, that one. He’s not a bad man normally, but he despises nobility.”
“……”
“What he said earlier, he didn’t mean it. He has a blindspot when it comes to my affairs. I really should fix that about him.”
“Do you?”
“Do I what?”
“Despise nobles?”
Eloise’s eyes were calm, even cold.
“……If I did, I wouldn’t indulge a noble lady’s whims so thoroughly.”
Lucian cleared away the Tray and stood abruptly. He lay Eloise down in the bed with practiced care, drew the blanket up to her neck, and brushed off his hands with satisfaction.
“Where will you sleep?”
Eloise found herself clutching his sleeve. Behind her calm words, her eyes betrayed a flicker of unease.
“Don’t worry. I’ll stand watch just outside. I need to keep an eye on someone anyway.”
The irony of their reversed positions struck her, and Eloise let out a hollow laugh.
“Call if you need anything.”
The hand holding his sleeve relaxed and fell away. Lucian blew out the candle in the lamp. Darkness closed in at once.
“Sleep well.”
Perhaps because he was near. The unfamiliar bed felt far more comfortable than it should have.
‘I planned to interrogate him harshly when I found him again.’
I was going to hold him accountable for breaking his promise and abandoning her, for every lie he’d told.
But the moment she saw his face, all that resentment melted away. Strangely enough.
***
Morning came. Her eyes opened naturally. Despite the change in surroundings, she’d slept deeply for the first time in ages.
“You’re awake?”
She turned her head to find Lucian sitting in the chair, watching her. Eloise sat up.
“It’s not ideal, but wash with this. As for clothes—there are no women’s garments, so I brought what seemed closest to your size. Even if it’s loose, make do. We’ll dock briefly and I’ll buy you proper clothes right away.”
With that, Lucian left the cabin.
Alone again, Eloise got out of bed. Beyond the porthole, the sea sparkled with the light of dawn.
‘Mary must be worried.’
Eloise dampened a cloth in the water basin and washed herself. She longed for a proper bath, but this would have to suffice.
‘Frederick must be furious.’
He’d be awake all night searching everywhere for her, unable to sleep. Thinking of her beloved knight’s anguish, Eloise felt a pang of guilt.
‘But George must be pleased. Perhaps even Father……’
She pushed away the bitter thought and checked the clothes hanging on the chair. A white Tunic, a Belt, and Pants—that was all.
She pulled on the loose Tunic over the Pants and cinched the Belt tight. Finally, she slipped on a pair of oversized slippers.
Mary would have gasped in shock, but Eloise didn’t mind.
‘First, I need to gather some information.’
The moment she stepped out of the Captain’s Cabin, the ship lurched violently.
“!”
The empty corridor was deserted. She barely caught her balance, steadied herself against the wall, and looked around cautiously.
Several circular portholes lined the corridor.
Beyond them lay a terrifying sight. Angry waves surged as if ready to swallow the ship whole, and a tempest poured from a sky as dark as night. The clear sky from moments ago seemed like a dream.
“Ah!”
The ship pitched, and her unbalanced body slammed against the wall.
“Damn.”
When she turned, Brick stood at the end of the corridor. He quickly moved away, unwilling to be entangled with her.
“Wait!”
Eloise chased after him. He was the mountain she had to cross to reach Lucian—her first objective.
The chase began, and when she came to her senses, Eloise was standing at the bow.
As a monstrous wave surged up behind her, Lucian’s voice cut through the chaos.
“Eloise!”

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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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