# 15
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“Not so...”
Matthias muttered, running a hand through his fallen hair.
“I can smoke without Elinor knowing, right?”
It was a bit of a cunning idea, but to Matthias, who was suffering from quitting symptoms, it seemed like a genius solution.
It has been said that the traveling merchant will come today.
All he has to do is buy a pack, smoke it quickly, and get rid of all the evidence before returning.
If he removes the odor and comes back as if nothing happened, how will you know?
Matthias made up his mind and left the inn to follow Elinor immediately.
There was only one red-roofed building in the village.
As he walked quickly towards his destination, he saw a cart loaded with goods.
His face brightened, but suddenly stopped.
“…It’s still there.”
Elinor, who had gone out before him, was still there.
The moment he saw her, he came to his senses.
He looked at his empty hands.
What if she found out that he couldn't resist his desire and secretly came to buy cigarettes?
“Oh my God… move back at least 10 metres, Your Highness.”
She would say it with a very calm attitude, and make fun of him fiercely.
That would have destroyed the Duke's dignity and everything.
“…Huh.”
Matthias' high dignity cracked.
Elinor had already confirmed that he would not succeed in quitting smoking.
If he bought cigarettes now, it would be his defeat.
“Will he beat Matthias Hilliard?”
Matthias' eyes lit up.
“That can't happen.”
He was someone who achieved what he set his mind to.
His dignity did not allow him to give up so easily.
The spirit of competition that had been briefly extinguished was reignited.
“Let's go back.”
When he turned around after steadying his fluctuating heart, he heard a loud sound.
“Kyak!”
“Eleanor!”
Matthias turned involuntarily.
At that moment, he saw a man trying to hit Elinor, who was holding the baby.
When he regained consciousness, he was already running towards her.
* * *
Elinor opened her mouth in shock.
'The Duke...no.'
“Who is this man?”
“Ugh! Ugh!”
“How dare you raise your hand on someone holding a child?”
Matthias growled, veins prominent in his neck.
Elinor could not regain her composure.
'How did the Duke get here?'
It is true that they are in the same village.
But the distance between the inn and here was not close enough for him to suddenly appear like this.
Unless he had followed it from the beginning.
'So, he never let down his guard.'
He assumed she might run away with the child.
But, ironically, thanks to his caution, she was able to avoid a dangerous situation.
Elinor and Matthias's gazes crossed.
“Are you hurt?”
For a moment, Elinor felt as if she was captivated by his gaze.
She shook her head and muttered.
“No…there isn’t.”
“Fire me, you idiot!”
James' screams were heard from behind Matthias.
"Fire me! Are you playing with me?"
“It seems he hasn't learned yet.”
Matthias clicked his tongue and twisted James' arm.
The volatile man was calmed down in an instant.
to hit!
The man knelt down, and a muffled sound came out.
"brother!"
Finally, James closed his mouth.
Mathias raised the corner of his mouth sarcastically.
“You won't forgive me for dealing with such a worthless man, my dear?”
Elinor's face flushed.
He continues to act even in such situations.
But his timing was perfect.
Thanks to him, he now looked like a stupid ex-husband running to protect his wife and child.
“Oh my God, oh my God.”
“He is a trustworthy man.”
The people, who had been surprised by James' behaviour, were now complaining for a different reason.
“Dear, I...”
"Ugh! My arm!"
“Even if you don’t forgive me, I guess I have no choice. I couldn’t protect you, and the decision to accept me again is up to you.”
Matthias repeated softly over the man's screaming.
Elinor, who knew he was the villain of the original story, felt a shiver run down her back.
What is he trying to say with such a setting?
“But, even if that is the case, I cannot bear to see you and our child in danger.”
“Even though I am a disappointing husband, please give me a chance to prove that I can protect you.”
He whispered very gently and glanced at the man kneeling at his feet.
His look was terrifying.
Like a predator facing its prey.
The acting felt strangely sincere.
As if he was very angry and just waiting for someone to provoke him.
'Could it be…'
Elinor's eyes widened.
'Is he trying to relieve stress from quitting smoking?'
“Get up.”
Before Elinor could answer, Matthias forced James to stand.
He stood straight in front of Elinor and the people, ignoring her trembling shoulders, and said to the crowd.
“Please take care of my wife and child from now on.”
“Ah… of course, of course.”
“I will leave now to resolve a matter with this man.”
Matthias bowed politely and pulled James, who looked pale.
Elinor could only stare at his distant back.
Until people, full of curiosity, started asking her questions.
* * *
Matthias showed up at the inn just as the sun was beginning to set.
Elinor, who had been waiting for him all day, got up.
The expression on his face, which she saw through the window, was very bright.
He was smiling happily, and even looked refreshed.
'What did he do to come back like this?'
I felt anxious.
Elinor bit her lips hard, and when he went up to the second floor, she snatched him to her room.
“Oh my God, baby’s mother, what’s happening all of a sudden?”
“What did you do to James?”
Elinor cornered Matthias between her and the door and interrogated him forcefully.
She didn't know yet how long she would stay in this village, and she didn't want to cause unnecessary trouble.
Mathias raised the corner of his mouth sarcastically.
“He dared to raise his hand against the mother and child. He received his appropriate punishment.”
“Did you kill him?”
“Why are you so extreme?”
The extremist is you, not me.
You are the cruel villain of this world, the villain of the original story.
Elinor's eyes widened, and Matthias laughed for a moment, then gave her the answer she wanted.
“I just warned him. He won't bother you anymore.”
“Did you really just warn him?”
“Yes. Are my words unreliable? Or is that man very important to you? Did you like me more than I expected, and I stepped in without thinking?”
“How could that be?”
Elinor sighed.
“That man, no matter how imperfect he may seem, is one of the local rich people. His father was the village chief.”
“What next?”
“So what? If James holds a grudge and tries to hurt us, what do we do? Even the villagers can’t deal with James.”
“Listen, mother of the child. Are you forgetting something?”
"What?"
“Who am I?”
"What?"
“Who am I, I asked.”
“You are the Duke of Hilliard...”
Elinor closed her mouth like a shell.
Matthias laughed sarcastically.
“That's right. I'm the only duke in the empire.”
Right, that's right.
Because she was used to seeing him suffer from quitting symptoms, she forgot about it for a moment.
After a moment, Matthias's eyes narrowed as he looked at Elinor's expression.
"Have you really forgotten? And you call me Duke all the time?"