The Slave Is Too Handsome - Chapter 79

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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!
079.
“Indeed.”
And so the Audience Chamber was left with only two men: Lucian and Dominic.
Lucian had been singled out and kept behind—but Dominic merely gazed out the window at the darkened night sky beyond the glass.
“It’s been a long time. I never thought we’d meet again like this.”
In the end, Lucian broke the silence first. Only then did Dominic turn his head, fixing his gaze upon Lucian, who had once been his subordinate.
“Quite right. To reunite in a place like this—how delightful.”
“Is it? I find nothing delightful about it whatsoever.”
“Even back then I thought your face was rather handsome. And now you’re an Imperial Prince, no less. Whatever scheme you’ve been running, it’s certainly entertaining.”
Dominic stepped closer and tapped Lucian’s shoulder. Lucian scowled and swatted his hand away.
“For all your pretense, Grand Duke, you dare show such disrespect to the Empire’s prince?”
“Perhaps Your Highness simply hasn’t grasped the situation yet.”
Dominic bared his teeth in a vicious smile—a grin Lucian remembered well from their mercenary days.
He seemed to have discarded his performance of a courtly nobleman and was now revealing his true self.
“I’ve already heard everything. The Crown Prince appointment looms, but now whispers of slave origins cling to you?”
……
At the mention of slavery, Lucian’s expression hardened visibly. His empty hands clenched of their own accord.
‘That bastard Camilo.’
It seemed Camilo had let slip something to Dominic.
“How will you become Crown Prince like this?”
“How kind of you to worry. I already have the Emperor’s complete backing. Once I become emperor, I’ll take care of the Grand Duchy first.”
……
“But come to think of it—what if we attacked the Grand Duchy before Novadine is fully mined?”
For the first time, Dominic’s smile faded.
“Military glory would guarantee the throne is mine.”
Lucian, his back against the wall with arms crossed, watched Dominic’s expression carefully. The sight of him visibly suppressing his rage was rather striking.
“Well, you didn’t call me here just for this trivial talk. What’s your real purpose?”
When Lucian pressed him, Dominic’s brow furrowed.
“It would be wise to stay in my good graces, Argen.”
“Stop spouting nonsense.”
“The man who ordered you sold to a slave merchant—that was me.”
With those words, the two men’s positions reversed in an instant.
……
Having caught the shift in Lucian’s expression, Dominic reclaimed the composure he’d briefly lost.
“You really didn’t know? You and Brick dared betray me like that and flee—did you truly think I’d simply let it go?”
“Ha……”
Lucian laughed bitterly. This wretched grudge was as tenacious as ever.
“There’s no need to worry just yet. I myself now hold the position of Grand Duke, so before settling personal vendettas, I must consider the nation’s interests.”
Hardly. Lucian’s mouth twisted in disdain, clearly unconvinced by the words.
“I’m still weighing whose side serves me better—yours or Camilo’s. So you’d do well to remain in my favor.”
“Pretty words. But what do you actually want?”
At his question, Dominic fell into thought, stroking his jaw as if wracking his brain. Then he let out a small laugh.
“Nothing like the classics, I always say.”
“?”
“A Marriage Alliance.”
“What?”
The moment Dominic mentioned marriage, Lucian’s thoughts turned to young Aden.
“You’d bind that child Aden to marriage already?”
At Lucian’s look of distaste, Dominic shook his head.
“No. I had two arrangements in mind.”
……
“First, make Camilo emperor and take Valensio as my Uxorilocal Husband—or more precisely, my nephew-in-law.”
“You’re mad.”
“Or second, send my niece as the Empire’s Crown Princess. In that case, the Crown Prince could be either of you.”
“……You’ve missed one.”
Lucian straightened from the wall and began walking slowly toward Dominic.
The Grand Duke, who had been relaxed mere moments before, suddenly flinched as Lucian closed the distance.
Bending his knees to meet his gaze, Lucian spoke without expression.
“Third: Make Camilo an Uxorilocal Husband to the Grand Duchy, and hand the Novadine over to us alone. As the Empire’s eldest son, that is all I permit.”
The intensity in his eyes made Dominic step back.
“Yes, this is the Argen I’ve always coveted. That audacity despite having nothing—I’ve loved that about you from the start.”
……
“As you say, time is plenty. So think carefully, Argen. For now, even with such boldness, it’s clear that you’re in the weaker position.”
Dominic tapped Lucian’s shoulder and walked past him.
“Now then, shall we go enjoy a grand imperial banquet?”
Bang! The door shut, leaving Lucian alone in the vast Audience Chamber.
Dominic was right. The Grand Duke already held two powerful cards.
If he then sided with Camilo……if his past were fully exposed……
He did not wish to think of what came after.
‘Look at this differently, Lucian.’
Perhaps this endless, vexing curse of an old grudge might finally be ended. That was what Lucian tried to believe.
And at the same time, he desperately wanted to see Eloïse.
***
Meanwhile, Eloïse had declined the evening banquet and was having a serious conversation with Danae in her palace.
“Your Highness!”
Danae’s attendant—much like her mistress—burst through the door without knocking.
“Grand Duke Dominic has finished his audience and just entered the banquet hall.”
“Is that so? What was the atmosphere?”
“The security was so strict that we couldn’t quite tell……”
Eloïse sprang to her feet. She had to see Lucian.
Danae adjusted her spectacles and asked.
“My lady?”
“I must meet with Prince Valensio.”
“Very well. Tell me what happens afterward. I’ll look into this Grand Duke myself.”
“Understood.”
After bowing respectfully, Eloïse left the princess’s receiving room faster than any servant could.
Leaving the Imperial Princess Palace, Eloïse hurried toward the Imperial Prince Palace.
Perhaps because it was late, or perhaps because of her unsettled heart, the deserted night corridors felt unusually desolate tonight.
……
Paranoia? As she walked the not-far distance, Eloïse could not shake the feeling that someone was following her.
‘Should I turn back?’
If someone were watching her, whoever they were, she’d need to lose them. No point in being caught meeting Lucian separately.
Just as she paused in her steps,
“Miss.”
Armed Ned and a short-haired bodyguard appeared before her—people who should have been at Lucian’s side.
“What are you two doing here……”
“My, my. Does the lady truly not fear the heavens?”
At that mocking voice, Eloïse spun around.
Camilo and his knights emerged from the grass. The timing was perfect—a trap.
“……Your Highness.”
“You dare bring private soldiers into the Imperial Palace?”
Camilo’s face was flushed with excitement as he spoke.
‘It was a trap.’
Eloïse struggled to maintain her composure.
“You are mistaken, Your Highness.”
“What are you waiting for? Seize them.”
At Camilo’s command, his knights quickly surrounded Ned and the short-haired bodyguard. The latter struggled, but Ned submitted rather docilely.
‘He’s betrayed us!’
Eloïse glared at Ned, but he averted his gaze, ignoring her.
Meanwhile, Camilo stepped close enough to grab Eloïse’s chin roughly.
“I think the lady needs proper education from me. Don’t you agree?”
“Private soldiers? I am innocent!”
“We’ll determine the lady’s innocence soon enough.”
Camilo flashed a look at his knight, who approached and began binding Eloïse with rope.
Horror, despair, and shock crossed Eloïse’s face. Seeing this, Camilo smiled with satisfaction.
“The lady is beautiful when she laughs, but this expression suits her too.”
Eloïse played the part of someone dismayed, but internally she ground her teeth.
‘Let’s see how long you keep smiling.’
And so Eloïse was dragged away, bound, toward Camilo’s palace.
‘This can’t be happening!’
Watching from a distance, Lucian’s aide began running toward his lord.

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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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