Young Master, Please Put Some Pants On! - Chapter 49

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 49

“Grand Duke, I’ll go get some fresh air for a moment.”

“If you’re not feeling well, let’s go together.”

“No. I just feel a bit stuffy. I’ll be back soon, so you don’t need to worry!”

Mellis, maintaining her usual appearance as much as possible, quietly headed to the balcony, avoiding people.

“Haah…”

Mellis, who had entered the inner part of the balcony, let out a deep sigh while resting her elbows on the railing. Whenever she tried to adapt to peaceful daily life, something like this would always happen to stir up her heart. Even though she knew it was inevitable as long as she was hiding her identity, her heart couldn’t accept it.

The shock of directly witnessing his attitude toward humans hit her harder than she had expected.

“I know it can’t be helped…”

Was it wrong to keep having such desires? The deeper her feelings grew for the people at the Ducal Residence, the more a selfish wish slowly bloomed within her—to remain by their side without any anxiety or fear.

Unlike the stars brightening the night sky, her heart was nothing but gloomy. Just as Mellis, resting her chin on both hands, was about to let out another sigh.

“What can’t be helped?”

“Aah!”

An unfamiliar presence appearing from behind startled Mellis. Barely catching her heart that almost fell out, she asked back in disbelief.

“Wh-why are you here?”

It was that very man she had encountered in the library last night. Why did this man like startling people so much? However, his response was utterly absurd.

“What are you talking about? I was here first. If anything, that’s what I should be asking. Why are you here, Mellis?”

“To get some fresh air for a moment… No, that’s not the point.”

Mellis, who had almost unconsciously gotten swept up in the man’s flow again, widened her eyes. She had let it slide last night because she was flustered, but today she had to uncover the identity of this suspicious person.

“How did you recognize me?”

Since he already knew her bare face, the mask’s effect wouldn’t work, but still, wasn’t her appearance clearly different from last night? It was strange that someone who had only briefly conversed with her in the dark library could recognize her instantly. And with such a confident tone without even a hint of doubt.

This was the moment when her suspicion that this man had known her from before became certainty.

“Ah, right, Mellis wouldn’t know. Actually, I saw Mellis at Count Benito’s exhibition before. You were introduced as Garulus’s nanny, right?”

“It’s Garulus though…”

Mellis furrowed her brows and muttered timidly.

Anyway, Count Benito’s exhibition. That was completely unexpected.

“Then how do you know my name? I don’t remember seeing you that day.”

“Because I saw Mellis with the Count and personally asked him about you.”

“Why?”

Even under Mellis’s interrogation, he didn’t lose his composure and gently curved up the corners of his mouth. He was still suspicious, but she couldn’t deny the fact that his smile was captivating.

“Well, why do you think? Usually when a man is curious about a woman he’s seeing for the first time, there’s only one reason, isn’t there?”

“…”

Mellis’s face flushed red as she understood his words a beat late. So, if she wasn’t misunderstanding, that man was hitting on her right now. And quite blatantly at that.

Though Mellis was usually known for being dense, she wasn’t foolish enough to miss such an aggressive expression of interest.

“The meeting in the library was coincidental, but it’s true that I came here hoping I might be able to meet Mellis at this banquet.”

“Ah…”

“Of course, I didn’t know Mellis was the Grand Duke’s lover.”

Flustered by his words, Mellis quickly shook her head.

“No, well. To call it a romantic relationship, there are circumstances involved…”

For a moment she worried whether it was okay to confide this fact to a strange man, but her claiming to be Kermanomon’s lover was entirely as Merien, wasn’t it? There was no need to lie in front of a man who knew she was Mellis.

At her words that they weren’t lovers, he showed a fresh smile.

“Then that’s fortunate. I’m Arsian Ferzen. As you can see, I’m a lion half-blood.”

“I’m Mellis Portier.”

Arsian Ferzen – somehow it was a familiar name. As she was repeating his name in her mind, a voice calling for him could be heard from outside. Arsian furrowed his brows and spoke with a voice full of regret.

“Unfortunately, I’ll have to leave first today. It would be troublesome if I’m away from my position too long.”

“Ah, yes. Please go in.”

“Let’s meet again soon. Mellis. And next time we meet, would you call me Arsian casually?”

Asking me to call him by his name. At this trivial request, she unconsciously nodded her head slightly. After confirming her answer, Arsian left with those words.

As Mellis watched his retreating figure for a long time, his different attire from yesterday caught her eye. She noticed a ruffle shirt with a high collar under his neat navy blue jacket. Mellis overlapped Vivian’s image with his.

Yesterday and today, he had suddenly appeared, confused Mellis, and disappeared. And saying let’s meet again soon – what exactly did that mean?

But what was strange was that despite all this, she didn’t find him uncomfortable. No, rather, she even felt at ease with him. Was it because he was someone who already knew her identity? Or perhaps.

‘Let’s consider that we each hold one of the other’s weaknesses.’

Was it because they held each other’s weaknesses as he had said? He was truly a man full of suspicions in many ways.

After hesitating on the balcony for a while, Mellis stepped back into the banquet hall. As soon as she entered the banquet hall, she could see Kermanomon in the distance, surrounded by numerous people.

“…”

The splendid banquet, expensive clothing, high-ranking nobles. Watching him from afar, Mellis once again realized the distance between them.

A man who knew her identity, and a man who must never discover her identity.

Just as Mellis unconsciously let out a deep sigh with her mind becoming complicated in an instant, their gazes met as if enchanted across the crowd of many people.

Spotting Mellis, he furrowed his brows and slightly moved his lips.

‘Are you okay?’

Reading his lips, Mellis unconsciously felt her face flush hot and averted her gaze.

It felt like it would be a very long night.

* * *

The long three-day banquet ended, and finally the day of the hunting festival dawned. It was an event with the meaning of praying for the Empire’s military fortune and peace for the year, where many people of all ages and genders participated.

“Hiyah! Hiyap!”

Hadn’t Garulus also practiced swordsmanship for a long time for this day? Gripping his wooden sword firmly, Garulus swung his sword at Noel across from him, showing off his skills.

‘Poor Noel…’

Mellis, who was organizing clothes, felt sorry watching Noel. Due to the height difference between the two, Garulus’s sword kept grazing Noel’s important areas. This was also the biggest reason why the ducal knights wanted to avoid sparring with Garulus.

“…”

Unaware that Noel’s complexion was growing paler, Garulus was busy swinging his sword with all his might.

“Hiyaaaap!”

“Noel, are you ready?”

Just as Garulus was about to deliver his final strike, Kermanomon’s voice stopped the sword. Noel let out a small sigh looking at the wooden sword that had stopped precariously close.

“Let’s depart soon.”

“Huh? Noel is coming along too? Then what about the Young Master’s guard?”

Hearing for the first time that Noel would accompany him, Mellis tilted her head.

“Why would you need guards for a hunting festival?”

“Huh? Oh, I was just asking out of curiosity.”

When Kermanomon asked back in confusion, a flustered Mellis hastily changed the subject. She had been so sensitive about Garulus’s safety, hadn’t she? Even if it was a children’s hunting festival, wouldn’t there at least be small herbivorous animals? However, it seemed like asking anything more would arouse suspicion.

“Garulus, absolutely don’t go outside the designated area. Don’t do anything dangerous. You understand?”

“Yeah. I got it!”

“Then I’ll head out first for the opening ceremony. Take your time coming out with Mellis.”

Kermanomon patted Garulus’s head and left with Noel. Left alone with Garulus, Mellis let out a sigh of relief.

“I almost made another mistake.”

In any case, she always had to be careful with her words around Kermanomon, again and again.

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