Duke, Is This Your First Time?

Chapter 49

***

Fragments of emotion were embedded over Har’s insensitive face.

His gray eyes staring directly at Iker dimmed for a moment as he went over the past.

The duke’s question to Har was something he had asked himself one day in the faraway past.

When he became conscious of the opposite gender for the first time, and it was when Elysia began to look like a woman.

His heart fluttered when they spent time together closely, and he was just happy to be with her, and he dreamed of a distant future with her.

It was the first love of a boy and a puppy love.

But the time that was imbued with those feelings didn’t last long.

He realized it on his own after watching the actions of Elysia’s mother, the late Marquis of Camellia.

The duties and responsibilities of the successor for the Camellia Family. That she was infinitely lacking to stand on her own.

The first love of a boy was broken by his own hand without being given the chance to deliver to the other person.

The heart that liked her belonged to him, so erasing it was also a task that had to be done on his own. Even if it brought pain and suffering for a long time.

Even so, Har didn’t regret his choice.

He couldn’t be Elysia’s man, but he could still be with her. That way, he could continue to keep his oath to God he made in his younger days when she reached out to him.

The oath he had made was still engraved deeply in his heart, so he could open his mouth without hesitation.

“Elly is my family and a close friend that I have to protect even if it means risking my life. It’s the same now and it will remain like that.”

His gray eyes were unwavering as he answered with firm determination.

***

‘As long as Sir Teske is beside her, Elly’s safety won’t be a problem.’

Iker gently stretched his mouth while looking at the back of Elysia and Har as they walked away.

He was the one who told the head servant to bring Har and Elysia.

He needed to check Har’s skills properly.

If Lutheson, who was known to be stingy for giving compliments, was bragging about him so openly, those weren’t just empty words and he must be a real genius. He already knew that his (Har) skills would be outstanding.

But he wasn’t satisfied with that.

Sir Teske was a precious person to Elly and would occupy an insignificant role in the future.

Therefore, it was possible to lessen unexpected problems in the future situations as much as possible only after he knew clearly how much power she had.

That’s why he took shooting lessons from Elysia.

He wanted to be with her a little longer, and it was pleasing, although it was all incidental.

The main purpose was to create an excuse so it would seem natural to ask Har for sparring.

Wouldn’t it be better to provide a small reason to return the favor by giving him shooting lessons rather than asking suddenly without apparent reason?
 

Of course, he was immediately faced with refusal and had to use a slightly cheap method oftenly called provocation, but since he had confirmed what he wanted to know, he had nothing to regret.

More than that, he didn’t have a hobby of fighting against someone he didn’t sincerely see as an opponent.

“Sir Teske only shows his sword when Elly is in danger.”

Iker suddenly remembered the question he asked at the end while smiling softly.

He said that love was an absurd thing, but he seemed like someone who just didn’t have a choice.

He was recklessly trying to find out if their relationship was heading that way, and that he was relieved upon finding out his (Har) answer.

Iker’s gaze slowly turned to his wrist as he was lost in thought for a moment.

Elysia held his wrist to stop the slight shaking he deliberately created today.

Did she find out? It was the most reasonable contact they had since the night of the banquet.

Until now, the only part of his body she had touched was the collar and that.

That’s not bad, but as Iker turned around, he was hoping she would hold his hand first like she did earlier one day as.

***

Elysia turned her head and looked at Har, who was looking out the window and sat across her in the carriage on their way back to the marquisate.

Leaning his back on the chair, he closed his eyes with folded arms.

The expression on his face was telling her not to call him, but it wasn’t her if she didn’t do that.

“Har.”

“Har Teske.”

“I know you’re not sleeping.”

When Elysia glared at him with a threatening gaze that she would do something if he didn’t open his eyes quickly, he eventually opened his eyes with annoyed expression.

“What?”

Elysia opened her mouth after thinking it was the right time.

“What you did with His Excellency….”

But her first attempt was quickly declared a failure. His brusque voice cut her off almost immediately.

“Don’t ask.”

“I mean, I have to know what His Excellency knows….”

“Don’t mind that.”

When the second attempt failed, Elysia was already upset.

Seeing Har acting that way, he definitely had given up something important or great due to her.

‘Is he thinking I shouldn’t know and let it slide? Is that a joke?’

Elysia sighed as she stared at Har, and recalled Iker’s words again seeing him (Har) didn’t even budge.

[I don’t think you told Elly that. She doesn’t even know about it. Sir Teske even messed with King Haberlin…….]

She would have been able to guess it if she heard more and he didn’t stop talking.

‘What was it? Doom? The King wouldn’t have told him to go to his own doom? Ludicrous statement? That doesn’t make sense, what is it?’

Elysia eventually sticks to Har again after thinking for a while.

“Are you really going to do this? I’m going to leave you if you don’t tell me.”

“……”

Elysia became grump when Har didn’t even open his eyes, let alone giving an answer even after she threatened him.

“You don’t think I will find out just because you don’t tell me? I would be, if I ask Lulien or His Excellency……”

Elysia, who was talking with her eyes wide open as if indicating that she was about to add weight to her words, stopped speaking at the voice that called her.

“Elly.”

When she opened her eyes wider, his subdued gray eyes were staring at her.

Affected by the unusual serious atmosphere he carried, Har slowly spoke as she blinked in confusion.

“It’s my choice. You don’t have to worry about it.”

“But…….!”

Elysia tried to refute. Regardless of the fact that it was his choice, she thought she had a right to know if her name was involved.

But when Har spoke again, she was left dumbfounded.

“I had no worries or hesitation because it was the path I chose to walk on. So I hope you can let it slide this time.”

You’re weak, Elysia thought to herself.

If he had been persistent to ignore her like a moment ago, she could have continued to bug him, but she found herself unable to ask again when he spoke so seriously with such a kind gaze.

Elysia eventually sighed while pouting with a disgruntled look.

“…Alright. I won’t ask you any more. Instead!”

Crossing her arms as if indicating she was in a bad mood, and she said while glaring at Har.

“From now on, promise me you will tell me when you have to make any choice related to me.”

“……”

“Hurry up and promise to me.”

He had no choice but to say that he would promise it, after all he couldn’t resist Elysia’s threat that she would do something about it if he didn’t say it.

Har thought as he looked at Elysia when she stared out of the window in relief after approving of his promise.

Elysia Camellia is still the same as when she was young.

***

Entering the tea house, Lulien looked around slowly. Then, she spotted a handsome and tall man sitting at the table by the window with his hand raised in the air.

Her eyes were filled with a glint of delight after checking the man’s face.

As Lulien walked over to the table, the man stood up from his seat and held out his hand.

“It’s been a while, Lulien.”

“Yeah, it’s been two years.”

Lulien took the man’s outstretched hand without hesitation. The two have equally bright smiles on their lips as they shook hands.

“Let’s take a seat. I ordered your favorite raspberry tea.”

“It’s been two years and you still remember it. Thank you.”

“I just can’t forget it. How can I forget the woman who dumped me so nicely?”

Lulien smiled slightly at the playfully light joke of the man. Even though they met again after a long time, there was no strange sense of awkwardness between them.

‘Right, he was that kind of guy. Nocturne.’

Nocturne Syed was a classmate she met when she went to study at the Uvellos Academy in Cheville Kingdom.

Their hobbies and interests were similar, and they were only close to each other for having great communication, but due to their obliviousness, they were rumored to be lovers at the academy.

The dumbfounded Lulien tried to correct the rumor. Then Nocturne said.

[Since it’s like this, how about we date for real?]

Lulien thought it wasn’t a bad suggestion.

There were rumors, and she liked Nocturne as well anyway. So, that’s what she said.

[I have to return to the empire when it’s time. Promise me you won’t hold me back. That’s the condition.]

[Alright, got it.]

After that, the two became lovers. And three years later, when Lulien had to return to the empire after hearing about the passing of Marquess Camellia, Nocturne really did not hold her back.

[I have to keep my promise.]

Deep inside Nocturne’s eyes were filled with anguish and sorrow as he smiled while bidding farewell.

Lulien didn’t look back again even though she noticed it.

She thought her relationship with him was over when she returned to the empire. But he came to the empire two years later.

Nocturne had become more manly than the last time she saw him.

“What brings you to the empire? Are you on a trip?”

When Lulien asked while thinking Nocturne’s bright appearance was a pleasant thing to see, he replied in a calm voice as if it was nothing.

“An imperial noble family offered an aide job.”

“Aide? What about the court administration?”

Lulien frowned slightly.

In the Cheville Kingdom, the president and the vice-president of the Uvellos Academy was given the privilege to be hired by the Court Administration.

Therefore, Lulien, the president, and Nocturne, the vice-president, were employed by the Court Administration after they both graduated.

Lulien had to resign upon the sudden return to the empire, but there was no reason for Nocturne to quit, so he thought to keep working there.

But, he was going to serve as an aide to the noble family of the Empire. She obviously thought it was odd.

“The salary in the administration was too low, and I had nothing more to learn, so I was thinking of moving somewhere.”

Nocturne’s answer reminded Lulien of the ridiculous look on his eyes. That was the most ridiculous thing she ever heard from him.

“Your jokes have improved a lot, Nocturne Syed, saying that there was nothing to learn in the administrative office, the dream workplace of administrators.  And you said you’re not even interested in money.”

Nocturne grinned as she refuted one by one of his points. It was difficult to read what he was thinking when he had a strange smile on his face.

As soon as Lulien saw that smile, she realized that he had no intention of telling the reason. She knew every bit of his expression since they have been together for a long time.

She changed the topic after heaving a sigh.

“So where is that noble house?”

Lulien, who brought the teacup to her mouth, swore she would chase him away so that he would immediately return to the Cheville Kingdom if he had nothing to do here as well, was stiffened at Nocturne’s answer.

“The Duke of Deimos.”

****