# 29
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Episode 29
Did Ruelia misunderstand Ayla’s words?
Or had Ayla, as she feared, misunderstood?
‘She seems to think that the Duke brought me in as a partner because he loves me…’
“He's a little shy, but he's always nice to those close to him.”
There was no lie.
But Ayla trembled as if she had heard something ridiculous, and then laughed as if she thought Ruelia was cute.
“Didn’t the knights of the Duke’s family tell you about the Duke?”
“Of course, he is strict with knights. Handling swords requires that.”
“What about the other servants?”
"Everyone knows the Duke well. If they don't make mistakes, he doesn't get angry. If the work is done well, he rewards them generously."
Suddenly, Ayla raised her hand, then placed her soft hand on Ruelia's elegantly decorated head.
She was caressing it tenderly, as if she were caring for a small pet.
“It seems that Duke Abert has a long way to go.”
Ruelia blinked her eyes for a long time.
Then, suddenly, a strange idea occurred to her, and she asked directly:
“Miss Emil, what is your favorite color?”
Sky blue.
“Light green.”
I made a mistake.
“So, what's your favorite dessert?”
“Lemon…”
Lemon madeleine!
“Lemon candy.”
How can not even one thing match?
“And what do you like, Miss Ruelia?”
Ayla and Ruelia exchanged questions about their tastes. But Ayla's answers rarely matched the information Belen provided.
Instead, there was a realization becoming increasingly clear.
'What is this? 'I was the subject of the investigation?'
Did Belén do this because he didn't want to work, or did he make a mistake in guessing who the Duke admired? Ruelia was puzzled for a moment.
But it seems that Belén will not misunderstand her relationship with the Duke like Ayla.
Basically, Belin knows that Ruelia cannot be a candidate to be a duchess.
“Our tastes are very different.”
Ayla said regretfully.
"actually."
“And yet, there is a man who remembers such things. I envy you, Miss Ruelia.”
Ayla continued to associate Ruelia with Cails.
That was so embarrassing.
‘Is it possible that Ayla chose the Crown Prince not because of tastes, but because of me?’
If Ayla was this good, she might give up Cales to Ruelia even if she loved him.
“We just know each other so well because we've worked together for a long time.”
“That's why you're so cute, Miss Ruelia!”
"What?"
“Ask the Duke later, when you get back. Does he know what the knights who work for him like?”
Ayla winked, then stood up.
“I must secure the silk merchant before Countess Bellona hinders me again. I will ask permission first.”
Even when Ayla left the balcony, Ruelia couldn't stop her.
Her words suddenly made her head hurt.
“I failed.”
Instead of bringing the Duke and Ayla closer together, she closed her heart completely.
What would happen if the Duke found out?
Ruelia felt desperate, so she emptied the remaining glass of champagne in one go, then took the glass that Ayla had left behind as well.
However, her chest remained uneasy.
“This doesn’t make sense. Why does the Duke love me?”
Although she mumbled sadly, she couldn't pronounce that word. After all, she is only a “mistress” of her status.
The Duke's favorite mistress. Her life may be comfortable, but will she be happy?
Even without Melissa's testimony, Ruelia knows very well how miserable this life is. Isn't the atmosphere at the start of the concert today enough to prove that?
Therefore, Ruelia had nothing but respect for the Duke, without any other feelings.
'Let's start by clearing things up.'
She didn't understand why Ayla thought this way, but she decided that the misunderstanding must be cleared up first.
Ruelia suddenly got up and followed Ayla into the banquet hall.
Ayla was already talking to someone in the distance. Neither Caelus nor Galeon were visible at all.
“So, since she's not just an ordinary assistant, that's why the Duke publicly insulted the priest?”
“Do you think the Upper Ducal Family would appoint a woman as an assistant for no reason?”
Suddenly, I heard strangely loud whispers near the balcony.
Ruelia quietly approached from behind them.
‘To clear up Ayla’s misunderstanding, I must silence these mouths first.’
With a serious face, Ruelia prepared to announce her retirement from high society on the day of her first appearance.
* * *
Kyles went out into the garden.
Suddenly, Belen approached him.
“Location has been determined.”
“Have you communicated with the Royal Guard?”
“Yes, they said they would arrive soon.”
“Good, move as quietly as possible.”
Kyles looked at the balcony connected to the noisy concert hall. Ruelia, who had been visible there a moment ago, was no longer there.
“Won’t Countess Bellona object?”
“If you don't want to get involved, you'll cooperate quietly.”
Belin carefully followed his master's gaze and asked:
“Didn’t the Countess try to get close to Mademoile?”
“His Highness said he tried to explore the matter, but she doesn’t seem interested in getting Ruelia back. Of course, it’s too early to be sure.”
Contrary to rumours, the Bellona Guild was still thriving recently.
It was said that the Countess receives the temple's advice on trade matters, so there is no need for her to retrieve Ruelia.
However, if Caelus sets up a private business, the Countess may change her mind.
More importantly, the Countess's interest seems to be focused on something else.
– ‘Don’t know the details of a prediction?’
– ‘No. But what is certain is that she has been searching for someone ever since.'
-'Not Ruelia?'
“It doesn't look like it.” It was said that she was looking for a pregnant woman, or rather, the child she was going to give birth to.'
Similar information was provided by Miss Emil of the Count's family.
However, something suspicious remained.
‘Why did you summon her if she was going to attribute Ruelia’s achievements to the temple?’
Someone who had never looked for Ruelia before.
'So, he's not planning on taking it back from me…'
Kyles leaned his chin in thought. It seems that he needs a deeper investigation to find out the Countess's intentions.
Suddenly, Belin called out to him cautiously.
“By the way, did I choose the champagne for Miss Assistant?”
“She said her feet hurt, so she went out onto the balcony to rest, and asked me to tell Miss Emil instead.”
“I will rest barefoot, so don’t come in at all, and stay with Their Highnesses the Crown Prince and Miss Emile for a while.”
Because of Ruelia's insistence, Caelce had no choice.
"It would have been better if you had told her yourf. She said she had longed for this champagne when she was working for the Count's family, but it was expensive so she only drank the cheap ones."
“How do you know such things?”
“Everything has its own way.”
Belin laughed, but closed his mouth when he saw Caelis's expression.
“Well, since you did a good job, I should reward you.”
"What?"
“Isn’t sparring with me a reward in the Knight Squad?”
Belin's face turned yellow.
* * *
The ladies were so immersed in their conversation that they did not notice Ruelia who approached behind them and continued talking.
Ruelia stood naturally behind them, placing her hands behind her back, waiting for the opportunity to intervene.
“Even talented noble aides didn't last more than a year before being fired. It's amazing that an unknown slang can last for two years!”
“Did you see the embellishments of her dress? The duke’s family crest was embroidered on it.”
“Oh my God, to give Amiyya something like this, then surely...”
Everyone nodded together.
At this point, it was clear that the conversation would turn to “the duke’s mistress” or something similar.
'Now!'
As soon as that word was said, Ruelia was ready to create chaos in the name of the honor of the Abier Duchy family.
Even if it was just help, the Duke would allow it.
Trusting the Duke, Ruelia turned around.
“Not there, but here, right?”
“The woman who is said to be the cause of the Duke’s dispute with the Crown Prince?”
“Yes, didn't you see the way he looked at that assistant? He was definitely a man in love!”
Ruelia turned around again.
'What is this? Why does everyone misunderstand?'
She knew better than anyone that what they said was not true, but her heart began to beat rapidly, and her face turned strangely red.