# 45
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Episode 45
'Remove it immediately, right?'
Belin, the Duke of Aber's loyal knight, fiddled with his sword.
Killing is the cleanest way. But this will widen the gap between the Crown Prince and the Duke.
So, Belen, the smartest and most competent in the Duke family, must get rid of this man wiy.
‘If I make a noise from the other side, I will force him to leave.’
Once the Guard Captain leaves, the Duke will take care of the rest.
Belen nodded seriously and extended his foot outside the wall.
"Yes?"
But Caelus grabbed his shoulder, preventing him from moving.
His grip was very strong.
Belin looked at the Duke as he suppressed his pain.
“Mr. Duke?”
“Stay still.”
His face bore a threat of intolerance if discovered.
Belin felt a little wronged, but he quietly returned to the shadows.
His master's feelings should not be guessed at.
"…funny."
Caelus muttered to himf.
He thought about his appearance, out on a cold spring night in a light shirt, his hair still wet.
Even more humiliating, for the Duke of Aber to hide in such a dark place, unable to emerge.
It's funny and despicable.
All because of one woman.
"Funny? It's definitely a must."
Belen spoke, as if he had read Cales' thoughts.
"duty?"
“Yes, the Crown Prince supports you now, but who knows when he might change? This is how the imperial family has always been.”
“What next?”
“It is natural to carefully monitor the prince’s closest followers, to ascertain whether you are on the same path.”
Belin made a rationale on Caelis's behalf.
This was Belin's survival instinct, which he had honed after years of serving Caelis. He may be wrong sometimes, but he is often right.
But today he made a mistake.
Caelce's turmoil was not due to a disagreement with his friend and future master.
Cales looked at Ruelia.
Her face turned red as soon as she saw Viscount Levenel. Until now, she was just staring at him.
'Did you fall in love with him at first sight?'
'Didn't you say you would do anything you wanted?'
That wasn't a lie.
What Caelus wants is Ruelia as she is now.
Bright, energetic, loyal, and excellent at her work.
So, if she falls in love with another person, and that person respects her work and is worthy of her, he will strongly support her love.
She's his most valuable assistant, isn't she?
But this is a rational decision from his mind.
“He seems to be leaving now. He is kissing the sisters’ hands.”
“Ugh!”
But his instinct was different.
When he saw Ruelia smiling at that damned knight, he clenched his teeth.
But he couldn't jump to separate them.
Believe it or not, but Caelus, except for beating Gallion in the stomach, has always lived by principle and conscience.
He thought this would bring him his mother's love and attention.
He was not called “Fair Ice” for nothing.
At that moment, his closest followers discovered the reason for his master's hesitation.
“If the Guard Commander was using his charisma at the order of the Imperial Family to approach for help, wouldn’t that be a disaster? Perhaps he is trying to explore the secrets of the Duke’s family.”
"attractiveness?"
“Yes! I think our help should be protected from such things.”
Kyle's eyebrows rose gently.
Yes, this is not an aberration.
It is to protect the duke's family, the duty of the family master.
“Look, my lord Duke! There, a suspicious person is approaching.”
Were Belin's guesses correct?
There was a stranger approaching from behind the sisters' house.
“That bastard...”
Kyles' eyes narrowed and his gaze froze.
“Do you know him?”
“I know him well. Two years ago, he was the one who made Ruelia pour hot tea on me.”
It seemed that he sent an invitation to Ruelia this time as well.
"What?"
Before Belen could ask again, Caelce started to move.
* * *
Ruelia confirmed some information with the butler.
“Yes, he currently holds a position in that family.”
The butler nodded as he looked at the invitation that Ruelia had given.
It was an invitation from someone who was planning to use it as firewood.
That fraudster who tried to trick innocent Melissa into obtaining a loan in Ruelia's name from the bank.
-'What is this? Why is it in my name?'
-'Why?' What's the problem with the debtor's real name appearing?'
-'You bastard! How dare you deceive Nabil? Do you think my uncle will keep quiet?'
Ruelia frowned for a moment as she remembered the past.
He was an ambitious, incompetent person.
“Why are you asking about him?”
"Ah, because I owe him a big favor. It's time to return the favor."
Favor is known.
-'Take this and get out!'
Finally, she poured hot tea on him. He skillfully dodged it, but the Duke behind him took it all in.
‘Thanks to him, I got a job in the Duke’s family, so he is indeed helpful.’
Ruelia laughed secretly as she folded the invitation.
Suddenly, the Crown Prince's letter fell to the ground.
“Oh.”
While she was picking it up, the butler asked with curious eyes:
“What did the prince say?”
“Ah, he wrote about how reliable the Guard Captain was. He said he trusted him after the Duke.”
Unlike the Countess Bellona, she spoke frankly and without embellishment.
“He told me not to refuse his invitation too much.”
Ruelia shrugged.
Meanwhile, the servants finished transporting the prince's gifts into the house.
Most of them were precious herbs, along with luxurious fabrics and fruits from the palace garden.
“The Duke won't scold me for the Prince's gifts, will he?”
“Haha, you know that the Duke is not that narrow-minded.”
This is true, but…
Ruelia remembered Caelus leaving without looking at her.
'He started getting angry...'
“It's all over, shall we go out now?”
“Ah, yes.”
Ruelia and the butler went outside.
The guard captain had finished his work, and stood next to Melissa at the entrance, waiting for them.
Ruelia smiled warmly when he saw him again.
Her initial caution was greatly tempered.
“Everything has been moved.”
“Thank you, Sir Viscount Levenel. Tell the Prince thanks as well.”
She thought he might be her future brother-in-law, and he started to look different.
At first, she worried that the prince had sent him to monitor the duke's family. Fortunately, that was not his intention.
“Yes, I will. But...”
Levinel hesitated and did not leave easily. He looked at Melissa stealthily.
“Do you have something you want to say?”
“About the invitation you sent earlier.”
“Ah, yes.”
“As I mentioned in the invitation, it is a gathering of common people like me. We aim to support the progress of the common people.”
Ruelia did not read the invitation, so she sweated internally as she opened her eyes.
“What next?”
“Could you reconsider? It would be an honor if you came with Ms. Melissa.”
Levinell also invited Melissa.
Ruelia looked at her sister. She didn't speak, but her eyes were full of expectation.
‘If Melissa wants to be with this knight, they should meet often…’
The position of Guard Commander is not full-time, so it will be difficult to make time for meetings.
“Yes, I will check my schedule. If I am busy and cannot come, I will send Melissa alone. But you must be sure to accompany her well, Sir Viscount.”
Ruelia replied with glowing eyes.
Levinel laughed with wide eyes. It was the same look he had given her on the training ground, as if he had found a savior.
“Yes, I promise.”
“Then, come back with caution.”
"Thanks."
The guard captain gently kissed Melissa and Ruelia's hands, treating them like two ladies, and then left.
Ruelia looked at the blushing Melissa with satisfaction, then turned to the servant.
“Butler, we don’t have much to offer, but would you like to have dinner with us? In response to the information you gave me.”
“It would be an honor. But, regarding your previous question, it seems that the person you are looking for is there.”
"What?"
Ruelia looked at the direction the servant pointed to.
She saw him.
'My trump card to secure my future!'
He came with his own feet, for which you deserve thanks from him.