The Slave Is Too Handsome - Chapter 63

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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!
063.
“From the Imperial Palace?”
The Duke looked up from the letter he’d been reading at his desk. His sister and nephew Klaus sat at the nearby table, tea in hand, watching the situation unfold with evident curiosity.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Show them in.”
At the Duke’s command, the butler ushered the Imperial official into the study. After offering proper courtesies to the Duke, the man presented a letter, announcing it was from the Emperor himself.
…….
The Emperor’s letter began with a preamble stating that soon, at the Harvest Festival, he would be celebrating the return of Prince Valensio, and requested the Duke’s attendance.
The real matter came next. His eyes, skimming quickly through the text, paused for a moment.
The gist was that Princess Danae, who had been confined within the palace walls, wished to make her debutante appearance at the upcoming Harvest Festival, and the Emperor hoped that the accomplished and refined La Croix noblewoman might teach her proper etiquette and bearing.
If he judged correctly, Eloïse must have forged a connection with Princess Danae during her last visit to the palace.
“Her Highness the Princess wishes for the young lady to enter the palace at once, even today if possible.”
The official drove the point home once more. Klaus and his mother exchanged glances, neither knowing the letter’s contents.
Klaus’s complexion darkened noticeably. Even the mere whisper of “Imperial” made his hands tremble.
“How shall we proceed, Your Grace?”
The butler, gauging the official’s intent, posed the question. The Duke carefully folded the letter again.
“Let it be done.”
The Duke’s answer was swift and clear. He harbored hopes that Eloïse would become the Crown Princess, and such a request from the Emperor was something to welcome.
Once the official and butler had left, the Duke’s gaze turned toward Klaus and his mother.
“Klaus, now then—you and your mother should return home.”
“Pardon?”
“You’ve had ample time to enjoy yourselves. That should be enough.”
As the Duke made a shooing gesture, urging them to go, his sister rose abruptly from her chair.
“Brother, regardless of what happens to me, shouldn’t Klaus remain? He has much more to learn if he’s to smoothly assume the position of family head. And perhaps you might also introduce him to a suitable match?”
“What?”
The Duke crumpled the letter he’d been holding. Klaus, quicker to read the mood than his mother, attempted to mediate, but the Duke was faster.
“What in the world do you take the La Croix Family for? We have two perfectly sound sons—how dare you presume otherwise!”
“Brother!”
“Mother, please. That’s enough.”
Klaus gently restrained his mother, who was sending resentful glances toward the Duke. Only now did he realize that the Duke had been favoring them both as a means to diminish Eloïse’s standing.
“A single position in the Knight Order. That is all I have to offer.”
The Duke’s sharp gaze fixed upon Klaus.
“If you find that displeasing, leave at once!”
Mother and son fell silent.
***
“Do take care on your journey, Miss.”
Before the Annex, the butler Arthur and the other servants stood to see Eloïse off.
“Mary, look after Miss carefully.”
“Yes!”
Mary, who would be accompanying her into the palace, cried out cheerfully while hoisting her small travel bag. For Mary, the Imperial Palace was a first visit, and she could not hide her excitement.
“I’ll be back soon.”
Eloïse committed each servant’s face to memory before offering a simple farewell and boarding the carriage.
The carriage rolled slowly through the garden. Unlike Eloïse, who sat composed inside, Mary pressed her nose against the window and spoke up.
“Oh my, Miss. Look there! Isn’t that young Master Klaus?”
Klaus was standing before a carriage at the main residence, lifting a modest travel bag aboard.
“So he’s finally leaving!”
So he’s being sent away at last, Eloïse thought with a soft click of her tongue, turning her head away.
***
“His Highness, the First Prince, has arrived.”
It was the appointed day. Lucian had been summoned to the Empress Palace early in the morning.
The moment Lucian took his seat, questions poured forth from the Empress. As expected, there was not a single easy question among them, yet he answered each with remarkable composure.
The Empress regarded him with an appraising look.
“Since this is your first day, let us conclude here.”
“As you wish.”
“The teachers were not exaggerating when they spoke of your aptitude.”
Unexpected. He’d thought she would seize upon some fault to rebuke him regardless.
The Empress was maintaining her dignity while subtly erecting a wall between herself and Lucian.
“Should Camilo ascend to the throne, I do hope you will prove to be a source of strength.”
Lucian’s brow furrowed slightly. That remark, which sounded like praise on the surface, was in fact a warning. The Empress was drawing a line—he was to be content as a prince and desire nothing more.
…….
How was he to refuse this gracefully? As Lucian turned the matter over in his mind, seeking a way to politely decline, the Empress rose from her seat and departed.
‘She doesn’t seem like a bad person, but she is truly difficult.’
Though he harbored no such inclination, it seemed unlikely that Lucian would ever earn her recognition as her son. For his part, the Empress likewise did not feel like a mother to him.
At that same moment, Eloïse, who had arrived at the Imperial Palace, was being guided toward the Main Palace to meet with the Emperor.
“Eloïse, it’s been far too long.”
Simone blocked her path. He must have heard the news and been waiting.
“You haven’t left yet?”
“That’s a cruel way to put it—you’re hurting my feelings.”
Simone flashed a disarming smile and winked, and the servants and Mary quickly withdrew, understanding the hint.
“You’ve agreed to educate Princess Danae, I hear?”
“Word travels fast. Did Prince Camilo tell you?”
“I know that Camilo made you a proposal.”
“And that you already know I refused it.”
Eloïse resumed walking, her patience for idle conversation exhausted. Yet Simone matched her pace with persistent determination.
“What about me?”
“What about you?”
“As a husband candidate.”
“If you have time for jokes, go console Prince Camilo instead.”
Simone once again positioned himself before her. While Eloïse seemed puzzled at why the conversation had taken this turn, his expression was quite serious.
“I’m not one for grand romantic gestures—nothing as gauche as a proposal. Rather, I would say… yes, let’s call it a transaction or negotiation.”
“What?”
“Unlike Camilo, I won’t whine asking you to marry me. I’m simply asking that you place me among your candidates as a potential husband.”
True to his word in invoking the language of commerce, Simone skillfully drew Eloïse into the negotiation.
“You know well enough that I have considerable wealth and the noble status of royalty. If you marry me, trade with Monserrat will become far more advantageous.”
“Hmm.”
“What do you think? Isn’t that a reasonably attractive proposition?”
There was something oddly persuasive about it. Her expression shifted subtly in response to his compelling words.
‘But marriage is still… not yet.’
Just as Simone, catching that shift, was about to add something more—
“El… Miss!”
A voice rang out from a distance, and both Eloïse and Simone turned toward the sound.
Lucian emerged from the Empress Palace, walking toward them. The brightness in his eyes at the sight of Eloïse quickly turned cold as he noticed Simone.
With his upper body bowed, Simone leaned close to Eloïse’s ear and whispered.
“Think it over, Eloïse. We both find trivial things like love and romance tedious, don’t we? In that respect, we’d make a fine pair.”
The moment Lucian drew near, Simone straightened at once.
Their eyes met, and Lucian offered Simone a proper bow. Though his demeanor was courteous, his gaze was distinctly cold.
“If you’ll excuse me.”
Sensing the wariness, Simone withdrew hastily, as if the ground itself had caught fire beneath him.
His philosophy was never to deliberately provoke without cause. Especially not someone like Lucian, who might one day become Emperor—that would be nothing but foolish.
Without taking his eyes off the retreating Simone, Lucian asked.
“What were you talking about?”
Eloïse briefly considered whether she should warn him to be wary of Simone, but decided against it. The thought that she might find use for Simone one day swayed her judgment.
“Nothing important, really.”
“Is that so?”
Lucian’s keen eye caught the evasion, but Eloïse pretended not to notice and smoothly changed the subject.
“But what brings you here, Your Highness?”
“…I was on my way to see His Majesty. I heard you were to come along.”
Thus, the two of them made their way together toward the Main Palace. As Eloïse entered the ornate and grand interior for the first time, she let out a murmur of appreciation.
“The Main Palace truly is different.”
When Lucian deftly guided her toward the Audience Chamber, a smile bloomed across Eloïse’s face. The reality that he had been acknowledged as the First Prince struck her anew.
“You seem to be faring well in that place.”
Is that so? Lucian murmured to himself. In truth, he was far from comfortable, but he didn’t wish to worry her needlessly, so he simply nodded.
“This way.”
Lucian opened the door to the Audience Chamber and ushered Eloïse inside. A pleasant breeze drifted in through the open windows.
Then it happened.
“El…!”
An urgent cry tore from Lucian’s throat. He grabbed Eloïse’s arm and yanked her toward him, and she tumbled into his embrace.
A thick arrow had lodged itself in the exact spot where she had been standing.

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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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