The Slave Is Too Handsome - Chapter 35

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

The slave is too good-looking!
035.
Camillo held Eloïse close, savoring her sweet fragrance, and whispered against her ear.
“You have no idea how much I’ve worried.”
Despite the tremor in his voice, Eloïse’s heart remained cold.
‘Why should I care?’
The moment the Second Prince buried his face in her shoulder, gooseflesh prickled across her back. He was already intoxicated by his own feelings.
“Still, I’m relieved you’ve returned safely. Truly relieved.”
Of course you are.
Unable to push the Second Prince away first, Eloïse merely hoped his reunion would end quickly.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
Camillo released her from his embrace and swept his gaze over her form. His tender eyes made her stomach turn, but Eloïse worked to hide it.
“…Yes, thanks to you, I’m fine.”
“Sigh. What is this state you’re in? These filthy clothes, and you’ve grown even thinner.”
He clicked his tongue in displeasure. It was meant to sound concerned for her, yet somehow it grated on her nerves all the more.
‘What does he want from me?’
Still, thinking of the Second Prince’s reputation, Eloïse held her tongue several more times, remembering what Frederick had told her from behind.
‘After you disappeared, Your Highness the Second Prince released his personal guard and had them ransack the entire Capital.’
It seemed no exaggeration—Camillo’s face too appeared more gaunt than usual.
The prince continued muttering his worries about Eloïse, showing no sense of moderation. It was time to cut him off.
“Your Highness.”
The moment Eloïse met his gaze directly after avoiding it so long, heat crept into the man’s cheeks. He even cleared his throat awkwardly, embarrassed.
“Ahem. Even so… you remain beautiful, my lady.”
‘You’re stating the obvious.’
Eloïse spoke with careful courtesy.
“I heard from Frederick that you’ve worked very hard on my behalf.”
“Of course I must take action for you!”
“I’m grateful beyond measure, but there are many eyes watching here. If you don’t mind, let’s go home for today and save the long conversation for later.”
Please, just leave.
Eloïse conveyed her true feelings through her eyes, but Camillo remained oblivious.
“Ah, yes. You’re right. I’ve kept you far too long. Go on, get some rest.”
“Pardon?”
“Take my carriage home. Besides, I have things to discuss with the… no, with the Duke.”
“Wait, hold on!”
Camillo was unyielding. Unable to refuse properly even once, Eloïse found herself dragged into the Second Prince’s carriage.
Frederick then climbed into the La Croix carriage and closed the door. The carriage began to move slowly.
“Who is that man?”
Lucian, who had been watching Eloïse’s entire situation from the carriage, asked while suppressing his emotions.
‘Who is he to embrace Eloïse like that? And why is she just being dragged around…?’
His mind swam with questions. Lucian etched the man’s face into his memory—a face one could never forget, even if glimpsed only once.
‘Wearing the uniform of the La Croix lady’s knight order, being chased by fellow knights. Did he commit a crime?’
This man was the arrogant one who’d seized him without warning in an alley during his first attempted escape, refusing to let go.
‘I thought he was a nobleman.’
Lucian could not fathom how someone could be important enough to manhandle the lady of La Croix so freely. Fury boiled in his blue eyes.
“The Second Prince Camillo. Now you know who he is.”
Frederick, observing Lucian’s conflicted expression, provided the answer.
‘The Second Prince?’
Lucian’s eyes wavered. If he were to follow Eloïse’s fate, the Second Prince would be an enemy he must oppose.
‘The Second Prince wants to marry me. Father desires it too.’
He recalled Eloïse’s loathing of the Second Prince—a loathing that made her shudder. Now Lucian himself bristled with disgust at the very name.
***
“My lady?”
The great doors of the La Croix mansion swung wide open. All the servants within turned their eyes to the same spot.
Eloïse and Camillo stood side by side in the entrance hall.
“Your Highness?”
Before they could even react to Eloïse’s return, those who recognized the Second Prince bowed in unison.
Ignoring them entirely, Eloïse made straight for the Duke’s study.
The lady opened the door without knocking. The Duke was pacing anxiously by the window. At the sight of his daughter, he cried out urgently.
“Eloïse! Please, save Jorjé!”
The Duke approached his daughter with an urgency unlike his usual bearing. Eloïse quickly shut the door to prevent anyone from witnessing this.
Though father and daughter were reunited after so long, and after such turmoil as a Kidnapping had swept through, their reunion felt strangely awkward.
The Duke, already lean, looked even more wasted as he examined his daughter.
For family was family—her father’s weakened state softened Eloïse’s resolve.
She wanted to believe she’d misheard his plea to save Jorjé.
“Father.”
“Eloïse, my child. Our Jorjé needs your help.”
The warmth that had crept into Eloïse’s eyes grew cold again. She had misheard, surely?
“Jorjé faces the threat of being exiled far away. Shouldn’t you speak for him?”
She had not misheard. This man—this father—was worrying not about her, whose fate he didn’t even know, but about the bastard who’d lived comfortably all his days.
“Is this truly what you have to say to me, having just escaped with my life?”
Eloïse held back her anger with difficulty, unwilling to let her emotions spill forth.
Even Camillo, with all his fawning concern, seemed preferable to this.
‘So his health did worsen from all this worry over Jorjé.’
At his daughter’s cold response, the Duke’s face went ashen, as if the world had collapsed. He could barely stand, leaning heavily on his cane.
“You returned safely, did you not? You don’t yet understand—the Second Prince threatens to exile Jorjé from Finestra.”
Contrary to the Duke’s expectation, Eloïse already knew. Both Frederick and Camillo had each told her what had transpired during her absence.
***
An hour before arriving at the mansion.
In the carriage, Camillo’s expression twisted in disgust.
“Frederick told me—that your brother, though I hate even calling him that, hatched some terrible conspiracy with Baron Graham.”
Eloïse nodded. The situation was unfolding exactly as she intended.
“How could he do such a thing…?”
Camillo muttered to himself in disbelief, then continued in a measured tone.
“The Capital was in turmoil over your Kidnapping. His Majesty, my father, commanded me to settle this matter.”
At Camillo’s explanation, Eloïse deliberately made an expression of horror. He gazed at her with pity.
“Don’t worry yourself too much, my lady.”
“Yes?”
“The Baron—I’ve already dealt with him. He was exiled overseas days ago, so you won’t see him again.”
He suddenly seized both her hands, crowing with pride. His eyes gleamed like a child seeking praise.
‘Camillo took action so aggressively.’
Eloïse’s eyes widened. She could have handled Jorjé herself, but the Baron was beyond her authority. A smile formed unbidden on her lips.
“Thank you so much, Your Highness.”
At her smile, Camillo squeezed her hand even tighter. Her attempt to slip free went nowhere.
“As for Jorjé’s matter, don’t worry. I’ll find some way to handle it!”
Proud laughter filled the carriage.
***
Remembering Camillo’s boastful words, Eloïse let out a sigh.
‘Right. Even as the Second Prince, he can’t simply dominate the La Croix house at will. Besides, Camillo wouldn’t want to fall out with Father either.’
As the weakened Duke collapsed onto the sofa, she took her seat at a distance. The conversation seemed far from over.
“Do you know what Jorjé has done?”
“…I know. I know all too well. The boy was reckless, wasn’t he? How could he do such a thing!”
The Duke’s head dropped to his chest. The more emotionally he spoke, the colder Eloïse became.
‘Just a mistake?’
“If you don’t wish to make enemies of the Imperial Palace, follow the Second Prince’s will, Father.”
The Duke’s head snapped up before she’d finished speaking. His gaze was savage—the look one gives a traitor.
“So you would have me cast that child from his homeland?”
“When one commits a wrong, one must pay the price. That is only just.”
Eloïse spoke without backing down. The Duke fell silent for a moment. It seemed he had come to accept her words.
Or so she thought.
“Jorjé did nothing wrong.”
His bold tone, defying all expectation, left Eloïse momentarily speechless.

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