The Slave Is Too Handsome - Chapter 46

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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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A slave who’s far too handsome!
046.
“You called for me, miss?”
Frederick bowed deeply to Eloïse, with two knights standing behind him.
“Sorry for the late hour.”
“It’s no trouble at all.”
Lucian watched Eloïse with a troubled expression.
Of course, private soldiers were strictly forbidden from entering the Imperial Palace. That’s why he and Frederick had parted ways at the palace gates, even though they’d arrived in the same carriage.
He hadn’t expected to reunite quite like this.
‘Well, if I’m going to deceive the imperial family itself, what’s a little shadow guard in comparison?’
Eloïse turned to him with a bright smile while he was lost in thought.
“Lucian, these are people watching over you from places you can’t see. I thought you should know.”
“I’m grateful for your service.”
A stoic-looking woman with short hair and a platinum-blonde man with striking freckles—the two knights offered him a respectful bow.
“Ned?”
“Long time no see, friend.”
One of the knights twitched his nose at Lucian. It was Ned, who had entered the Duke’s Residence with him from the Slave Merchant Guild all that time ago. The knight’s uniform suited him as though it had been tailored for him.
Eloïse coughed, and the two knights quickly averted their eyes.
“As Frederick probably told you, we’re dealing with the Second Prince. There’ve been rumors for years that bodies tend to turn up in the Second Prince’s chambers. Everyone needs to be especially careful.”
“Understood, miss.”
Just as they’d appeared, they vanished in an instant.
Lucian pressed his brow with his finger. It had truly been an exhausting night in every way.
***
The next morning.
The entrance of the Imperial Palace was clogged with an unending procession of carriages—nobles departing for their homes and territories now that the banquet had concluded.
Lucian stood by the window watching the procession. Unlike those who had left, he still faced tedious procedures ahead before he could depart the palace.
“Are you ready?”
Eloïse appeared at the door, having finished her preparations.
Fortunately, Eloïse would also be staying at the Imperial Palace. She’d taken it upon herself to act as his guardian, unfamiliar as he was with palace life, and the Emperor had graciously accepted her offer.
“Yes, I’m ready.”
Lucian nodded with a determined expression.
The first procedure took place in the receiving hall of the Main Palace.
Inside the receiving hall, several officials—including the Emperor’s closest advisors—waited for Lucian with grave expressions.
They were a Special Commission hastily assembled to oversee the Prince Verification that would span a week.
‘The first stage is purely procedural, really. They’ll just do a Physical Examination and ask how much I know about the imperial family—basically a test to verify that I qualify to proceed.’
He could almost hear the Crown Princess’s voice from somewhere through Dana. She’d been right.
“First, we’ll conduct a simple Physical Examination. We ask that you change into the prepared gown.”
With a servant’s assistance, Lucian changed into the gown. What followed was, quite literally, a physical examination.
They checked his hair color, eye color, and whether he bore any of the distinctive physical features associated with Prince Valencio—and nearly everything matched.
“There’s a scar here?”
The physician reviewing the record spoke with evident curiosity. Lucian, who had just dressed again after the examination, tilted his head in confusion.
“Where would that be, sir?”
The physician tapped his own left ear with a finger.
“You have an unusually distinctive X-shaped scar here. It looks as though someone deliberately inflicted it.”
The physician’s eyes gleamed with curiosity about how he’d gotten such a mark, but Lucian merely shrugged.
“I’m not certain. The person who took me in said I had it when I was abandoned.”
“I see.”
Upon hearing this answer, the physician’s eyes lit up and he hurriedly scribbled notes onto the record.
Damn. Had he said too much? He’d never heard anything about Valencio having such a scar…
While a panicked Lucian tried to think of how to salvage the situation, the physician had already left his post.
‘There’s nothing I can do. I’ll leave it to fate.’
In the afternoon came a simple examination and interview regarding the imperial genealogy and imperial history.
Since he and Eloïse had prepared thoroughly for this part as well, Lucian answered the questions smoothly.
The real problem lay elsewhere. After the imperial matters were finished, the Special Commission relentlessly probed into Lucian’s childhood.
“You say you were abandoned in a small village of Ashford around the age of five?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Truly, you have no memories from before then? Of course, it was long ago, but surely there’s something you remember?”
Sharp questions came in rapid succession, each one linked to the last. The Special Commission seemed determined to find any logical inconsistency or falsehood in his account.
By the end, even Lucian could barely comprehend what he was saying.
“You’ve labored hard. We’ll conclude today’s proceedings here. All findings will be reported to His Majesty, Her Majesty, and the Council of Elders.”
By the time all the procedures were finished, the sun hung low on the horizon. It had been a long day.
‘I wonder if all this really means anything.’
Feeling an inexplicable emptiness, Lucian shuffled back to the Guest Palace.
“El, I’m home.”
There was no answer. He’d expected her to make a fuss and demand he tell her everything the moment he walked in.
“Eloïse?”
Evidently tired of waiting, Eloïse was asleep, leaning against the arm of the sofa.
As Lucian moved naturally to sit beside her, he froze. Whether she was having a nightmare or not, her closed eyes glistened with moisture.
“El, are you dreaming about… your mother again?”
About to wake her, Lucian’s hand moved to her eyes without thinking.
Just as his thumb moved to wipe away the tears, her closed eyes flew open.
“Lucian? When did you come back?”
A startled Eloïse recognized him, relief flooding her expression.
“Just now.”
Then her large eyes fixed on Lucian’s hand, which hung awkwardly in the air.
“Your eyes had tears in them, so I thought I’d wipe them away… Did you have a nightmare?”
Embarrassed, Lucian withdrew his hand and stammered an explanation. Eloïse’s expression became guarded.
“I wasn’t crying. I just got tearful while yawning, that’s all.”
A lie. She had been crying. She still suffered when she dreamed of her mother.
Lucian swallowed the urge to say as much and turned his words elsewhere instead.
“You don’t need to put on a strong front around me, El.”
At his words, one corner of Eloïse’s mouth lifted. She made no effort to hide her discomfort.
“It’s not putting on a front. I’m actually strong.”
She was stubborn. But Lucian decided not to press further, choosing instead to protect her pride.
Eloïse quickly changed the subject.
“So, how was the procedure today?”
“Today, let me tell you…”
Lucian shared every detail of what had happened with Eloïse—everything except the part about the scar behind his ear.
“It sounds like it went fine to me. You did well.”
Once he’d finished his account, Eloïse finally smiled.
After that, the two of them prepared once more for the second stage of the process scheduled for the next day.
***
A wide yawn escaped him. It was well into the night before Lucian could finally return to his own room.
“Ah, welcome, Lord Lucian.”
“Hm?”
An unfamiliar servant was tidying up the bedroom.
“By order of Her Majesty the Empress, I am Hugo, and I’ve been assigned to attend to you during your stay at the Imperial Palace.”
The servant, who introduced himself as Hugo, bowed respectfully. With dark brown hair and crimson eyes, he appeared to be about Lucian’s age.
‘The Empress?’
Lucian felt an inexplicable unease.
Unlike the Emperor, who firmly believed he was Valencio, the Empress made no effort to hide her displeasure toward him.
It was a natural reaction, but the way she looked at him felt somehow unsettling.
As if to say: I know you’re a fake. Well, that much was true.
“Ah… it’s good to meet you.”
Lucian returned the greeting a beat too late.
“I’m honored to serve you, Lord Lucian. Please feel free to call on me anytime you need anything.”
Hugo spoke with a bright smile, radiant and genuine. A deep dimple creased his left cheek.
In that moment, Lucian’s heart gave a violent lurch.
What? Why? Why…?
His vision, which had been so clear, blurred before flashing like a sudden burst of light, then returned to normal. A high-pitched ringing followed, as if his ears were whistling.
“Lord Lucian?!”
The voice calling him sounded like an echo. His head began to spin. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
I’m fine, it’s just a migraine, so why is he making that worried expression?
The last thing Lucian remembered was Hugo rushing toward him in alarm, his expression frantic.

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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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