# 33
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“Face?”
"Yes !"
Allen, who was rubbing his chin, was startled by Leia's question.
“I was surprised!”
"I apologize ."
When Leah backed away in embarrassment, Allen stopped.
Jack's expression hardened as well.
“Don't yell at Nona!”
Diana in particular couldn't stay still.
“Oh, I see! You ugly woman, please stop, Diana.”
Allen, terrified of Diana biting his hand, hurriedly found Leia.
Because only Leia could stop Diana, who was like a raging colt.
“I'm not saying I'm not good at it!”
However, Diana's attacks seemed to intensify her anger.
Leah, who had gone out with great excitement to show off her maid's uniform, felt a headache.
This situation did not end until the Duke and Duchess of Elad left after completing their preparations.
* * *
“Wow, you look even more handsome today.”
I clicked my tongue when I saw the Duke wearing a dark blue knight's uniform.
I was wearing light clothes because I was doing business in the castle, but today I was planning to go directly to the Imperial Palace after boarding the capital, so I felt more perfect because I was wearing a formal uniform.
In fact, I saw the Duke wearing clothes similar to what you are wearing today when I first came to the orphanage, but at that time, it was quite scary.
But now, its sculptural appearance caught my attention more.
'certainly … . They really do look quite similar.'
It would be normal if it was his blood, but it would be normal.
Allen, who had the same silver hair but the golden eyes of the Duchess, looked like a cheerful boy, while Diana, who had peacock-blue eyes, looked soft and charming rather than harsh.
This cold and bitter feeling could only be felt with the Duke….
"Oh my God, Leia! The maid uniform suits you so well, you're so cute."
At that moment, the voice of the Duchess, who had been repulsed by the Duke's distinguished presence, was heard.
Based on the Duchess's words, Diana must have finally seen my clothes and escaped from Allen, who had been harassing me for a long time.
“Noona is so cute!”
My cheeks turned red without realizing it because of the compliment I wanted to hear all along.
Strangely enough, the Duke furrowed his eyebrows and looked uncomfortable.
"enough."
Hearing the Duke's announcement-like words, the staff quickly lined up and prepared to bid farewell.
When I saw the knights riding their horses and the driver getting into the carriage, I quickly chased after Jack and headed towards the country carriage that was standing behind the luxury carriage.
"What do you do ?"
At that time, the Duke, who was about to mount his horse, looked at me and asked.
"Yes?"
“Why are you walking like this?”
I tilted my head at the unintelligible words.
“Excuse me...shall I not ride in the carriage in the back?”
Young knights and council members who were not yet accustomed to riding horses, like Jack, rode in the large carriage at the back.
Then the Duke frowned and said.
“You are coming with us.”
“Yes...? Me!”
I was so surprised by the Duke's words that I felt a hiccup.
The Duchy of Elad and the capital are very far away, so it takes several days to reach them even by cart or horse.
I know this well because I have been walking with orphanage children for months.
However, there is an innovative way to shorten this time: using teleportation.
The problem was that because the cost was enormous, no matter how rich the client was, he couldn't use teleportation to transport all the people currently heading to the capital.
‘Moreover, it is not an exhibition at the moment and there is no need to rush.’
Only the Duke's direct line and the elite knights in charge of nearby escort would use teleportation, and the remaining individuals were scheduled to use horses and carriages to go to the capital. So I thought that would be the case too.
But now the Duke told me to get into the carriage to use the teleportation.
‘No matter how rich I am, I have no intention of spending such a large amount of money suddenly….’
“What on earth are you thinking, that little head?”
The Duke must have sensed my hesitation and clicked his tongue.
“Diana will cry without you.”
“She's been crying for a few days, hasn't she, Diana?”
"Yes !"
I don't know exactly what it was, but Diana, with tears in her eyes just because I was trying to get into a different carriage than her, grabbed my arm and looked up.
"Yes."
When I see Diana's eyes like that, I can't say anything.
I thought the Duke would let me use Diana's transportation, but it was surprising how much love he had for his daughter to even take care of a maid like me.
However, I seemed to have some sense and glanced at Allen.
Even if our relationship is better than before, it's a different story to ride on the same bandwagon.
“I just got angry.”
Fortunately, Allen calmly turned his head and spoke.
"Hehe! I can't do that because my sister likes it."
. …Despite having been bitten and even having his head pulled off by his younger brother just a moment ago.
Anyway, I shook my head at myf, said that the love between Duke and Duchess Ellard and his wife, Diana, was truly amazing, and then carefully got into the carriage.
* * *
“Leah, why are you looking at me like that?”
I must have been staring at it for a long time without realizing it.
When the Duchess asked, touching her face, I said shyly.
“You look prettier today.”
“Oh.”
The Duchess burst into laughter, like a flower bud bursting.
“I was worried, but I'm happy.”
The Duchess doesn't seem to be in a bad mood.
No, on the contrary, she seemed a little excited and happy.
Today, the Duchess wore a beanie with faux flowers and a brighter-than-usual dress.
Unlike the still cold Duchy of Elad, he was wearing a light outfit that suited the capital's spring weather.
She even hummed lightly, as if it would be nice to go to a warm capital that matched her orange hair and golden eyes.
Looking at her bright appearance, I thought about the decision she had made last night.
'I will protect the Duchess.'
I don't know where her illness arose from or the exact cause, but if someone's malice was involved in her death, I wouldn't let her die in vain.
'Even though I'm small and weak now...'
Thanks to my time in the Information Guild, I know a lot about the secrets of nobles active in social circles.
If someone messed with the Duchess, she planned to protect her even if it meant doing something vile and cowardly to take advantage of her weakness.
“Noona, what about Diana?”
"Yes?"
“Isn’t Diana beautiful?”
At that time, asked Diana, who was looking out the window while hanging on the Duchess's arm, her eyes bright and sparkling.
“Of course you, young lady, are beautiful.”
“Hehehe, Noona is beautiful! She's the best!”
The way his cheeks turn red is so cute I want to bite him.
Clutching my heart, I suddenly felt so accustomed to hearing Diana say she was beautiful.
When I first heard it, it made me cry, but now I can laugh at it.
“Ha!”
Of course, I still feel embarrassed in front of Allen and others like him.
“You are really handsome too, young master.”
To improve the mood, I talked to Allen, who was sitting next to me.
"I know! It's obvious." I could see the corner of Allen's mouth twitching as he turned his head.
As expected, Allen seems to really enjoy being handsome.
'Lupi is never wrong.'
Lupe, the Trinium guild official who taught me letters and numbers, was a really smart woman.
She was always sitting at her desk with her gray hair pulled back in a bun and her glasses perched on the bridge of her nose, giving me lots of advice.
‘For example, there is absolutely no one in the world who hates praise.’
Deep down, I felt like I was hoping to get closer to Jade and the other classmates by complimenting them, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't talk to those who rejected me.
However, it was a very good method to use when convincing executives, masters, and people on missions.
'I guess it didn't really get to the master, though.'
This person is different from the average person in many ways, so let's leave that out of the discussion.
“Oh ugly.”
At that time, Allen whispered again secretly so that Diana, who was absorbed in the scene outside the window, would not hear him.
“There was something I wanted to say for a long time.”
“Yes, please tell me.”
“The human face is not everything.”
". … Yes?"
I was speechless at the strange words.
I thought he was joking, but Allen's face was more serious than usual.
“That's right, remember that face is not everything.”
At the end of Allen's speech, the phrase "Cheer up!" It has been deleted, perhaps because of his mood.
Why do you have to call me ugly and say something like that?
'. …Are you pretending to console me and make me cry?'
I frowned.
* * *
“Everyone can stand here.”
Among the teleportation management areas spread throughout the Rakshtin Empire, we entered the Duchy of Elad and walked to the Golden Magic Circle under the supervision of the Imperial Palace Mages.
I was a little nervous.
During my career as an intelligence officer, I heard many times that my colleagues used teleportation on missions.
However, I had never done a mission to leave the capital before, so this was my first time using teleportation.
What stands out in this space is the huge and elaborate magic circle on the floor.
The intricately interwoven shapes were so stunning and beautiful that I couldn't take my eyes off them.
I don't know if it was because I had never studied a magic circle like this before, or because I had a question recently, but the spirit of exploration that I didn't even know I had inside of me came to me.
'To teleport such a long distance using mana instead of magic stones, you would have to consume a huge amount of magic power, right?'
If you lose focus, your limbs may fall off.
But somehow, I had a strong desire to try it.
then.
[End of the first volume]