The Duke’s Daughter Trained a Wild Beast

While I was looking in the direction of the 3rd floor, the chick’s anger continued.

Its angry expression was similar to that of a mother chicken trying to protect her eggs from serpents.

‘Why are you doing this? It’s the first time I’ve seen you so angry. Besides, the air around seems getting hotter…’

A little scared because of unknown causes, I embraced the chick with both hands.

“Shh! Calm down, chick. There’s nothing dangerous there.”

Even though he was wrapped in my hand, he couldn’t calm down at all.

It’s somehow trying to stick out its pale yellow crown.

―Chirp! Chirp!!

I was thinking about what to do with the chick that runs so wildly, and then I thought of my brother Nick.

“We’re in front of Nick’s office.”

―Chirp?

“He must be tired these days because he’s busy, but if you keep making noises, brother will have a hard time”

―Chirp……

Before, it seems that my spirit liked the friendly disposition brother Nick, so when I brought him up, the chick quickly became silent.

‘Hey, calm down.’

I walked into Nick’s office with the barely silent chick on my shoulder.

“Brother? Are you sleeping?”

“Ummm…”

Brother Nick, who had been sleeping on his stomach uncomfortably, raised his head with difficulty.

During that time, I ordered the knights and maids who were with him in his office.

“Can you guys leave for a second? I want to talk to him alone.”

“Yes, miss.”

Thanks to Nick’s frequent visits to save his sister’s face, they graciously walked away.

That moment, I thought I could finally say goodbye to Nick.

“……Brother? Look out!”

Brother Nick, who had barely heard it, tilted his head backwards.

I quickly reached out my hands to support the back of his head, but this time he doze off right in front of me.

He looked at me with hazy eyes and smiled softly.

“Lena…… You’ve grown up a lot… Since I didn’t see you……?”

“I grew up?”

“Oh, I cried so much…… When did you grow up like this……”

“…… You must be lacking of sleep.”

He must have met Lena from her childhood in a dream, but it seemed that he still had not yet returned to reality.

While sleep talking, he fell on his back on the desk.

‘You look very tired. Now that I look at it, your eyes looks sunken.’

There was a lot of work piled up on his desk.

This was because he was in charge of most works since he’ll succeed the position of the Head of the House sooner or later. In addition to that, he’s also continuing his studies, so he’s usually this busy.

‘I can’t afford to wake you up…… So I’ll just leave a note.’

I came to say goodbye, but after seeing Nick soaked in exhaustion, I changed my mind.

I opened his drawer to leave a note or something.

Just then, I saw a notebook with the word ‘Sketch’ written on the cover.

It didn’t seem like a diary to I pulled it out and opened the first page to open the inner page.

“……?”

The moment I opened the notebook, I forgot my initial purpose.

‘Drawings…… Did Nick draw it himself?’

A lovely girl with plump cheeks was drawn from the first page.

The back was the same.

A series of drawings of the same model continued.

It looked like it was about twenty pages, but the further you go, the more visible the child’s growth is.

In the first picture, it was obviously a small baby. In the last picture, she was already a figure of a girl in a dress.

Only then did I know who the model in the painting was.

‘It must have been Lena in her childhood.’

It was Lena that Nick had worked so hard to draw.

Young Lena’s smiling face, crying figure, and even throwing tantrums look like a photos compiled in an album.

Even though there is no way to feel the warmth of an old notebook, I can’t believe that his paintings hold warmth.

“……”

I caressed the picture in silence, then unfolded the back.

And I was surprised again.

‘Are all these designed by brother Nick? Amazing……’

Several clothing designs were drawn on the back.

There were also a few dress designs among them, all of which were drawn a long time ago. But it didn’t feel outdated.

It was as sensual and beautiful as the dresses that have been fashionable recently.

‘Your hands were good at drawing. It’s a talent that is not worth mentioning only as a hobby, but… it seems you have to quit because you’re too busy.’

Looking at the date written under his drawing, the last entry was painted 3 years ago.

It was clear that he had given up on his hobbies because of his studies and work.

His situation is honestly pitiful.

Suddenly, brother Nick, who was lying down, mumbled on himself.

“I’m sorry, Lena. Really…… Sorry.”

“Wake up, are you awake?!”

“Mother… Take good care… You said… I do nothing…”

It was almost a mumble, so it was difficult to understand the meaning of his words.

He probably said he was sorry for not being able to do anything.

‘Are you sleep talking? That surprised me…… I thought you were awake.’

As my startled mind calmed down, my emotions flooded in.

‘I guess he’s really sorry. Come to think of it, there’s really nothing Nick should have to apologize for. The duke is the one who must make an apology.’

The cause of all problems was the duke.

Lena fled to war, suffering from lack of affection.

There, she devoted her love to a villain named Adrian…

After thinking that far, I finally came up with an initial purpose.

‘This isn’t the time for this’

If I’m late, I might break the time I promised with Ed.

My heart was heavy because I just saw the image of Nick, my brother, who is suffering.

I left my goodbyes inside the sketchbook.

—It’s all my choice so there’s no need for you to be sorry… There really isn’t any. Please stop worrying about me and focus on your own future. The day will come when we will both reminisce and laugh about this moment.

Then I took it to the bedroom next to the office and put it under his pillow.

Considering that he sleeps at 11 o’clock, the note will be found just by the time we left.

After I finished what I have to do, the knights who were waiting outside immediately asked me.

“Lady, have you finished your talk with the Little Duke?”

“I just left a note, since I don’t want to wake him up. He looks very tired. When you enter, be careful not to disturb his sleep.”

“Yes, we will be careful.”

The maids and knights bowed their heads lightly to me and then went back into the office.

As they disappear, the front door of his office feels lonelier than usual.

‘I’m really sorry.’

pologized inwardly and took a heavy step after staring at the front door for a while.

After that, I hurried as much as I could.

The time I agreed to meet with Ed was at 10 o’clock.

Until then, I’ll be busy to pack all my stuff.

As my direct maid, Hannah also decided to go with me, so I was fortunate enough to get her help.

While helping me pack my luggage, Hannah suddenly showed anxiety.

“Lady, are you really okay? I’m a little scared since the duke seems so angry…”

I paused for a moment to gather my emergency gold coins and reassure her.

“It’s okay, Hannah. I even left a very long letter on his bed. I know he will understand.”

“Ummm…… But……”

“And even if he don’t understand, he wouldn’t be able to act hastily, wouldn’t he?”

After convincing Hannah like that, I gently raised the corners of my mouth.

‘Because someone as influential as the duke would caught everyone’s attention just by sneezing.’

She knew it well.

The more the duke steps out, the bigger the issue will be, and more groundless scandals would be attached to the Mont family.

He had to be as considerate as possible so as not to become a snack for the leisure social aristocrats.

After hearing my words, Hannah nodded her head, still worried.

“That’s what the lady says… Then, I’ll believe it. Because I will always believe in the Young Lady.”

“Thank you for believing in me, Hannah.”

After packing all of her stuff, she finally get ready with Hannah.

“Then, as I said earlier, get out of here first. Do you know which way to go?”

“Of course, miss. I’ll go and clean up your new room. Would you come quickly?”

“Yes. Do not worry.”

As soon as she heard my answer, she summoned her own spirit.

Her spirit was a giant purple ostrich, and is she rides it, she would arrive at Ed’s place in a fairly high speed.

—Grumble! Grumble!

After touching its head twice, the ostrich set off with Hannah on its back.

From her window, she watched till Hannah and her purple ostrich make their way through the gates.

Fortunately, no one was suspicious and no one caught her yet.

‘Phew… Done. Hannah left safely with her packed belongings. Now, Ed and I only need to get out.’

In fact, it was just a simple plan, embarrassing enough to brag it as an operation.

Anyway, now that only the last stage of the operation is left, I can feel my fingertips became cold from tension.

‘I’m shaking……’

I spent hours wandering around the room with a nervous look.

Finally, it was 9:50, the long-awaited time.

I immediately went into the closet and opened the entrance to the secret passage hidden inside.

Originally, it was an escape route made in case the castle was captured by the enemy.

But I’ll use it for my escape.

‘If I go out from here, I won’t be caught. Since even servant who works here for decades don’t know about this passage.’

It’s literally an escape route known only to the direct line of the duke, I didn’t know it at first, but I came across it while talking to Nick.

So, if you go through this place, you can get out without being detected by the guards.

However, it was not easy to move because the road was so narrow and long.

‘I have to think positively. Not anyone can have the chance to experience escaping at night with their fiancé.’

It was definitely a ‘unique’ experience that will remain in my memory forever.

As for whether it’s a ‘good’ experience…… There will surely be some disagreements.

‘I’m almost there……!’

I walked hard, thinking useless thoughts, and finally saw the end of the passage.

As I accelerated to escaped quickly, the cold forest air rushed into my lungs.

I couldn’t be more happy with the full moon and snow-covered forest I saw after a long struggle.

“Phew……”

The place I just arrived at is a coniferous forest located to the north of the castle, and Ed is the only one here.

Like a thorough villain, he seemed to have come first and waited for quite a while.

“Come here, Lena.”

“Yes, are you ready to leave?”

“I finished it a long time ago.”

He smiled as he wore the same black hood he had been wearing since our first meeting.

Is it because of the magic of the full moon? Or is it because of the silence of the snow-covered forest?

His smile was far more dangerous and beautiful than usual.

While I was drenched in a dreamlike feeling for a moment, he summoned his spirit, the black Pegasus.

“Come this way.”

After hearing Ed’s words, I approached him, he lifted me up and put me on his spirit. Then he climbed behind me.

The feeling of riding a winged-horse while being escorted by a handsome man……

‘Why am I feeling excited?’

This is surprisingly more exciting than I thought. As his solid body supports my back with stability, the slightest fear that remained within me was completely cleared away.

Then, he suddenly whispered in my ear.

“It will shake a lot, so lean a little closer to me. And if you’re scared, just tell me anytime and I will slow down.”

“Yes, I’m ready.”

At that moment, his Pegasus fanned its wings and flew away.

We rode the black horse through the white forest together.