The Slave Is Too Handsome - Chapter 42

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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!
042.
The tense atmosphere dissolved in an instant at the arrival of the brown-haired man of unusual bearing.
Clang.
The sword in Camilo’s hand fell to the marble steps with a sharp ring.
“Simon?”
“It has been a long time, Your Highness. I’m a day late, aren’t I?”
“You said you weren’t coming!”
“I wanted to give you all a surprise with a dramatic entrance.”
Camilo’s delighted face brightened as he gave Simon a light punch to the chest. The two appeared quite close.
In the meantime, the Head Maid escorted the weeping maid away, bringing the situation to a close.
‘Simon?’
As Lucian turned over the name of this man he’d never seen before, a ringing voice cut through the air.
“My goodness, Prince Simon has arrived!”
The First Princess and her circle of Young Ladies, having finished their tea party, approached.
Lucian’s gaze naturally sought out Elowise. She too wore a forced smile, just as he did.
“It has been some time, Prince Simon.”
The First Princess, leading the group of Young Ladies, smoothly extended her hand to Simon. At that, Simon pressed a light kiss to the back of her hand.
“You’ve grown even more beautiful in the time I’ve been away, Your Highness.”
“Your flattery remains unchanged, I see. How delightful.”
The center of attention had already shifted to Simon without anyone noticing. Even the Young Nobles who had kept their distance during Camilo’s outburst now came forward to greet Simon.
‘A prince?’
While Lucian’s eyes widened, Elowise approached his side. Her gaze remained fixed on Prince Simon.
“Nothing unusual happened?”
“Eh? Oh, no.”
“Simon Jubert. Third prince of the Montserrat Kingdom. It wouldn’t hurt to maintain good relations.”
Before Elowise had even finished speaking, the foreign prince came directly toward the two of them.
“Elowise!”
The moment Simon called Elowise’s name with a broad grin, veins rose on Lucian’s forehead.
Elowise? Using her name just like that?
“I trust you have been well, Your Highness.”
“What’s with the formality between us?”
“What sort of relationship do we have? We’ve always spoken formally to each other.”
At the sight of these two who seemed quite familiar with one another, Lucian’s expression hardened.
It had only been one day, but in that time Lucian had observed Elowise in high society maintaining clear boundaries with Camilo and nearly every other Young Noble. Yet Simon appeared to be an exception.
“Who is this person? I don’t believe we’ve met.”
Simon finally turned his attention to Lucian. Elowise tugged at Lucian’s arm.
Thanks to her pull, the two men met each other’s gaze properly for the first time. A strange tension passed between them.
“I am Lord Lucian Astner. I am greatly in your debt.”
“In my debt?”
Simon looked at Lucian with surprised eyes before grasping his hand and shaking it firmly.
“I don’t know the details, but thank you for helping Elowise.”
“I beg your pardon?”
At this unexpected handshake, Lucian let out a low scoff.
Though Simon’s expression remained composed, his tone carried an unmistakable wariness. The way he emphasized his familiarity with Elowise rubbed Lucian the wrong way.
“I merely did what was natural.”
Lucian withdrew his hand with polite restraint, his face emptied of all expression. Just as Simon was about to respond,
“Simon, what are you doing? We’re about to go hunting. Come along.”
Camilo tapped Simon on the shoulder. Behind him stood a line of Young Nobles and servants.
Elowise too urged him to hurry back, giving Lucian a subtle push at the back.
Simon shrugged at Camilo.
“You know I’m not fond of hunt—”
“But it’s my birthday.”
“Have a good time. I’ll be stuck to your side all afternoon, so you’ll have enough of me.”
Camilo frowned slightly at Simon’s irreverence.
“I also wanted to hear about the Young Lady of La Croix.”
At Simon’s mention of Elowise, the Second Prince’s expression became subtle. He spoke reluctantly, as if against his will.
“Very well.”
After all, he was only the Third Prince, not even the eldest. There was no need to check him. Camilo’s expression cleared as he set off toward the hunting grounds with Simon. Lucian, unwilling as he was, followed in their wake.
Simon waved toward Camilo’s group. The sight of him positioned directly beside Elowise grated on Lucian more than he cared to admit.
***
“Elowise. You’ve been up to something amusing in my absence, haven’t you?”
“Hmm?”
Simon, his gaze fixed forward, whispered low enough for only Elowise to hear.
They sat in the Salon within the Imperial Palace, listening to a small orchestra summoned by the First Princess.
Unlike the other Young Ladies entranced by the music, Elowise sat at the very back, recounting to Simon everything from George’s misdeeds to yesterday’s ball.
“That man didn’t come along for no reason.”
His perception was sharp. Elowise decided to cut off his suspicion.
“I brought him to expand my network of connections, since a Merchant Guild Leader has various useful contacts.”
“I don’t think that’s all.”
Simon’s eyes demanded the truth, but Elowise feigned ignorance.
Simon had been one of the few people with whom Elowise maintained close relations since childhood.
‘But Simon is also very close with Camilo.’
In a situation where she couldn’t tell whether he’d become an ally or an enemy, she couldn’t afford to bare her plans.
“That blond hair of his—up close, there was something unusual about him. Surely you didn’t bring him along claiming he’s the First Prince, did you?”
“My, how your imagination has developed in my absence, Your Highness.”
Elowise, struck by his astute observation, forced a laugh as if it were a harmless joke, but Simon pressed on relentlessly.
“What are you planning? Tell me too.”
…….
“Haven’t we meant more to each other than this?”
At the prince’s unreasonable persistence, Elowise’s expression turned weary. Just as she rose to leave, Simon added quickly,
“Fine, I’ll drop it.”
Only then did Elowise sit back down, her face rigid.
“Just one last thing to say.”
Elowise’s stern gaze remained fixed forward. Though her distaste was evident, Simon proved equally difficult.
“If you ever need my help, just say the word. If it’s your affair, I won’t hesitate.”
Simon smiled as radiantly as an angel from a painting, yet Elowise did not smile back.
‘As if.’
The best she could hope for was that he wouldn’t become a hindrance to her plans.
***
The modest hunting expedition for the Second Prince’s birthday came to an end only after the sun had set.
Though it was called hunting, it was really nothing more than an occasion to lavish praise upon Camilo.
The Young Nobles never ventured ahead of Camilo. Whenever a small animal appeared, they subtly drove it toward the Second Prince, ensuring he captured the most game. Flattery and compliments followed as a matter of course.
‘This is exhausting. Is this what the noble life consists of?’
Lucian, utterly spent, declined the evening meal and retired to the Separate Palace where the distinguished guests lodged—specifically, to Elowise’s chambers.
“You seem quite close with that prince. What is your relationship?”
Lucian, sprawled across a comfortable chair, posed the question casually. His eyes remained fixed on Elowise’s back as she sat at her desk reading a letter.
“Just someone I’ve known since childhood.”
Elowise, absorbed in the letter, replied without much concern. It was not a sufficient answer, for Lucian’s brow furrowed.
That wasn’t just an acquaintance-level relationship.
The moment Lucian puckered his lips in protest, Elowise rose abruptly from her seat.
“Prepare yourself to leave.”
“What?”
“Have you forgotten? We’re meeting that person tonight.”
At the cold gleam in Elowise’s eyes, Lucian straightened at once.
“That person, you mean……”
The informant within the Imperial Palace.
Lucian’s eyes sparkled with interest as he rose from his seat.
The two made their way to the meeting place while avoiding as many eyes as possible. Fortunately, the Garden was quiet—everyone was indoors.
Their destination was the Imperial Grand Library. It was well past closing time, and the interior was dark from the outside.
“You’re absolutely certain we’re meeting here?”
Doubt flickered in his eyes toward Elowise. She ignored the main entrance and examined the building’s outer wall like someone searching for a gap in a fence.
“The letter definitely mentioned a secret entrance……. Ah, I found it.”
Elowise discovered a discrete opening between the stones and smiled. Beads of perspiration dotted her forehead.
Moved by her urgency, Lucian, who had been standing back, stirred to action.
“Let me.”
He positioned Elowise behind him and pushed hard on the wall where the opening was. With a soft scraping sound, what had seemed solid shifted and opened.
A narrow staircase descending into darkness was revealed. Lucian stepped onto the stairs first and extended his hand to Elowise.
The two descended, and the dark interior of the library opened before them. Elowise took the lead.
Though they’d found the entrance, there seemed to be another problem.
“Lucian, did you find it?”
Elowise’s voice came from not far away.
“No!”
Lucian called back. They were searching for shelf number 512, their appointed meeting spot, but no matter how hard they looked, the shelves ended at 511.
“El, you read the letter correctly, didn’t you?”
Lucian, racking his brain in front of shelf 511, called out. Elowise approached from a distance and held out the letter in question.
“It really does say 512.”
“What on earth is this nonsense?”
As Lucian stared down the letter, Elowise, who had been leaning against the shelf, furrowed her brow.
“Could ‘shelf 512’ be metaphorical? A cipher of some kind?”
Metaphorical? A cipher? Could it be……?
At Elowise’s muttering, Lucian’s body moved of its own accord.
As if possessed, he pushed several books lodged in shelf 511 backward into the shelf.
“Lucian, what are you doing?”
In that instant, with a heavy grinding sound, the floor opposite shelf 511 split open, revealing a descending stone staircase.
The number 512 was carved into the first step.
It’s impossible. Elowise turned to Lucian in shock. His expression mirrored her astonishment as he fought to steady his breathing.
“How did you know?”
“My body…… moved first.”
It was the best answer Lucian could manage.

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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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