The Devilish Duke Can't Sleep

“I am truly sorry. I will not pretend to ignore my past, nor will I shirk responsibility. The way I can repay Her Majesty’s favor is to help make Logos prosperous, and I think this judge position will be one of those things.”

“That’s right!”

“So…… Even if I look shameless to Sir Luahalla, I cannot back down.”

Luahalla admired Liddell, who did not shed a single tear in the end even though she was shocked by the sudden attack.

In fact, Liddell lived a life as a puppet due to the curse of her ancestors. She could have complained that it was unfair, but she had never said such a thing before. And after she apologized to Lena and Duke Luave, she locked herself in the mansion and remained faithful only to the role of Lian’s adviser.

The reason she wanted to go back to the social world was because of Lian’s concern for her. Fortunately, many rumors about Duchy Santella have subsided over the past three years. Officially, it was known that Liddell was confronted with the hordes of monsters that had attacked the capital and was attacked by the monsters, and she was still recovering from that.

It must have been something she didn’t want anyway, but there was no sign of self-pity on her face. Rather, she was just beautiful, dignified, and dazzling, so he thought that maybe she too was a being who inherited God’s will.

However, Luahalla did not completely break his barriers towards Liddell. But it was right to apologize.

“Miss Liddell may say it’s too much, but I can’t let Miss Liddell go like this. Earlier, I made a mistake. It would be a grave sin for me to have dared offend what the Queen has sent me, but I ask for your forgiveness as a colleague on the same boat.”

Liddell smiled again at his polite but walled apology and nodded her head.

For now, this was just fine. Because she didn’t want him to have sympathy for her.

The Fashion Contest was welcomed with more interest than ever before. No one would be intrigued by the return of the Madonna, who once dominated the social world.

Thanks to this, it was said that getting tickets for the event this time even without any further publicity was like picking stars in the sky, and that the auction price of the costumes would be even higher as the level of the entries would be able to catch Liddell’s eyes, who dominated the fashion world of Logos in the past. It was quite a successful result.

However, Luahalla and Liddell quarreled throughout the event.

“If you can’t appreciate the beauty of this elegant curve itself, why don’t you stop judging?”

“It seems that Sir Luahalla is tired and your eyes have become very low. Why don’t you go and wash your face with cold water? More than that, this one deserves the grand prize!”

It was only in the early days of the business that they shared an apology to each other when they approached each other with a respectful attitude. After that, they quarreled and sometimes even raised their voices to exchange opinions. For Luahalla, fighting Liddell was the most difficult thing to do.

But Luahalla realized today that it was a very selfish idea.

“Even after three years, you still have that beauty, Miss Liddell.”

It was time to celebrate the success of the event at the award presentation. While most people were preoccupied with the models in each dressing room wearing their award-winning pieces, a few men approached and spoke to Liddell, who was standing next to Luahalla.

“You were beautiful three years ago, but now you are like a ripe fruit that is ready to be eaten. I think the juice will be very sweet.”

“Or will it be like a flower in full bloom? It has a sweet scent that attracts bees and butterflies. How sweet is that honey?”

Luahalla, who was by her side, doubted his ears. It was completely sexually harassment. If it had been Liddell three years ago, she would never have heard of it. How dare they say such low-key nonsense to the heir of Duchy Santella.

However, while Liddell didn’t appear in the social world, her status sank much lower than before. That is why the men, who had never dared to speak to her before, were now chattering and clinging to Liddell.

They were even more rude to Liddell, who had been moderately ignoring them, as if their self-esteem had been hurt.

“No one is going to bid a higher price, so please lower the price a little, Lady.”

“The older you get, the more difficult it is to have children. You’re twenty-four now, but when you are ready to get married and have a child, you’ll be around twenty-six, right? You will have three or more children, so you have to hurry.”

“Even when you think of Duke Santella, who has suffered so far, you should think about leaving the Duke’s residence. Even Duke Santella would like to enjoy his honeymoon without noticing his sister.”

They even mentioned Lian, who got married last year, and were disgusting with believing that they were giving her all-great advice. It was even more absurd that all the rudeness had taken place in front of Luahalla. The men seemed to think that any man would agree with them.

“Is this the only level of the nobles of Logos?”

It was the moment when Luahalla, unable to bear it any longer, shouted. Liddell folded the fan that she was holding in her hand with a clapping sound, and she lightly stopped Luahalla from stepping forward. In Liddell’s eyes as she looked at him, it was clear that it was her job, so he shouldn’t come forward.

Then, she immediately smiled at the men who were mocking her.

“Since Lian became the head, a lot of people have been mistaken. That Duchy Santella would be as docile as Lian’s playful and friendly personality. But do you know what?”

Liddell paused for a moment and looked carefully at the faces of the men who looked down at her in a funny way.

“We have never been merciful. To anything that slanders the name Santella.”

Her gaze lingered on the second son of Count Redewitt, who seemed to be the head of this gang.

“If you dare challenge Santella, I will gladly accept it. Did County Redewitt have a sapphire mine? I don’t know if they’ll be able to repay the crime of harassing Lady Santella with that little sapphire mine. Maria!”

Maria, who had followed and supported her throughout her life, took a step forward and answered her call, glaring at the men with a face colder and more venomous than Liddell’s.

“County Redewitt, Viscounty Marvell, Viscounty Whitwood…… And I don’t know who those two are. In any case, arrest them all for contempt of the Duchy.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Then, the men’s faces turned white.

“Wa, wait a minute, Miss Liddell!”

“Miss Liddell? Did the Miss give you her name?”

Maria let out a ferocious energy. And behind the men, Liddell’s escort knights, whom they did not know when they appeared, stood around and blocked the men’s escape.

“For, forgive me, Lady Santella! I’m just trying to be funny! Ha, haha!”

“Yes, right! It was never meant to be anything weird. It was nice to see you after a long time……!”

But Liddell did not take back the order, and the men were immediately dragged out of the party with their mouths shut. Luahalla, who had no choice but to watch it from the side, thought that Liddell, who was calm and cold-hearted even in such a situation, was great, but somehow felt uncomfortable.

“It’s kind of bitter to be around someone who is good at doing everything alone.”

“What…… ? Oh, I must have offended Sir Luahalla because of me. Sorry…….”

“Do you really think I was offended by that?”

Liddell tilted her head with an expression of genuine confusion. It was rare that Liddell did not understand something.

Of course, even Luahalla didn’t fully understand his heart. However, he trembled at his indifference over the thought that Liddell had met such rude people in a place he had never known before.

He only thought about the success of the event, and he thought that arguing with Liddell was the most difficult thing. But after three years away from people, Liddell couldn’t just devour them and had to gracefully fend off and beat them. He hadn’t noticed her lonely fight until now, and he thought that she might be no different from those people. He wished Liddell would have spoken to him, but…….

Liddell, however, spoke out of the blue, interpreting Luahalla’s silence.

“Even if the rumors about me and Duchy Santella have subsided, there are still people who have doubts, and the rumors will only grow louder when I appear in the social world. Sir Luahalla must not have expected that.”

“What are you saying now…….”

“I understand you don’t like me. You must be worried that sparks are scattering because you are next to me. But for the time being, there will be many attempts to harm me. I will try my best not to let it harm Sir Luahalla as much as possible, but there are certain areas that need time to be resolved. So please wait a little bit.”

Luahalla realized then. He was upset that Liddell didn’t expect anything from him. And Liddell was hiding her wounded and frightened inside. He exclaimed as if vomiting a surge of heat,

“I don’t hate you!”

“Yes?”

“I don’t hate Miss Liddell. Actually, it’s not easy to make friends with whom I can talk like this. Besides, it’s harder to hate someone this beautiful. Oh, of course, I believe there’s more to Miss Liddell’s than appearance.”

“Sir, Luahalla…… ?”

“Isn’t your taste really good? The point of view towards the entries was a little different, but it is understandable enough, and I think your dessert taste is also very good. I mostly agree with Miss Liddell’s opinion on the international situation. I have a lot to learn from Miss Liddell. You know more than I do, and you have insight…… I thought that time flies so quickly when we are together.”

Luahalla was able to confirm his own feelings as he spoke.

“…… I seem to like you. Don’t you think so?”

Liddell’s eyes widened. Luahalla, who had spoken so, was belatedly surprised.

“Yes, that’s right. I…… I don’t hate Miss Liddell…… I like Miss Liddell.”

“Me…… me too…… That…… I do not hate Sir Luahalla.”

“Yes.”

Liddell added after a while,

“I think…… I quite like you.”

And she added another word after a while,

“Would you like to start…… as a friend?”

While everyone was preoccupied with the glamorous stage, Luahalla Rognac, once the most popular foreigner in the Logos social world, and Liddell Santella, once dominator of the Logos social world, looked at each other for a long time. The hearts that had never been moved despite the interest and affection of many others were shaken for the first time.

“It is an honor, Miss Liddell.”

“So is mine, Sir Luahalla.”

“Call me Lua.”

It was the beginning of another love story.