The Duke’s Companion

About the third morning in a strange place. I discovered that ‘Aryl’ was a nickname for me.

And the name of the girl who took me and fed me is Mamela.

Mamela gave me a delicious meal every day and patted my back slowly as I fell asleep.

‘This warm feeling is so unfamiliar…’

All of a sudden, my guards were breaking down against the warmth I felt for the first time.

After a long nap on the sofa, a buzz woke me up. Mamela was standing in front of me, holding something.

She sighed and sat down next to me and mumbled, “Can I? I guess I shouldn’t come forward and do it…”

Mamela stared at me with a look of regret. She said as she shook her head in wonder.

“Aryl, you have to tell me if you’re sick, okay?”

Mamela began to untie the band around my stomach.

‘Come to think of it, why was she covering me up so tightly?’

As the old bandages piled up next to me, I lifted my head out of curiosity and looked down at the place where a cloth had been tightly wrapped around me.

My eyes widened without realizing it. There was a bad injury wound in the place that was hidden by a bandage.

‘I don’t remember being hurt, so why is there such a thing?’

Looking at Mamella in shock, she looked as surprised as I did.

“A stab wound…”

Mamela’s hand trembled. She looked terrified, but her expression softened immediately when our eyes met.

Mamela said slowly, in a trembling voice, as she treated the wound, “Aryl, the doctor who treated you last time said it would take at least a few months for you to fully recover.”

She continued calmly, “It would be nice if I could call the doctor again, but it’s a bit difficult. My brother can’t know that you’re here.”

A shadow fell on Mamela’s face. Even with the slightest change, I was able to notice it quickly.

“My brother hates animals. I don’t know why, but he gets scared when animals come too close. I’m sure we raised dogs together in the old days…”

Mamela sighed and looked into my eyes and said, “So I’m going to hide you for a while. At least until you get better.”

‘Oh, is that so?’

“Aryl, I brought you here, so I’m sure you’ll like it when I introduce you later.”

Looking at her smiling face, I pondered what she was saying.

‘If her expression changes in such a variety of ways, she must be talking about something delicious.’

As my eyes glimmered, Mamela touched my nose. I was frightened by her sudden movements.

Mamela smiled as she rubbed both of my cheeks tightly with her two hands.

“Get well soon, Aryl.”

“Miss.”

A voice was heard outside the door along with a knock. Mamela blinked and answered the door.

“Yes?”

“Mr Arbel is here. You must go see him.”

Mamela, who glanced at me, hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Okay, I’ll go now.”

Mamela patted my back lightly and stood up then whispered, “Aryl, I have to go.”

It was one of the patterns of Mamela that I memorized while staying here. Mamela would always leave the room at this time and come back a few hours later.

‘I don’t want to be separated from Mamela…’

In my heart, I wanted to follow Mella, but I couldn’t because of my condition. I was left alone in her room, waiting for Mamela to return quickly.

“I’ll be back.”

With the sound of the door closing, the air in the room suddenly became heavy. It was like being left alone in the dark.

“Aww…”

After staying here for a few days, I seemed to get used to it, but it was still strange every time Mamela leaves.

I buried my head in a fish doll.

‘I guess I have to sleep today as well.’

When I woke up after falling asleep, Mamela was always by my side.

I fell asleep quickly. I closed my eyes, hugging a fish doll. Hoping that Mamela will be here when I wake up again.

ꕥ

Duke Cadellarot, the colossus who took control of the Empire’s Commerce.

‘Ejyullaroteu’, one of the businesses he has reached out to, is a place that sells only the highest quality furniture by dealing with the finest solid wood.

(‘Ejyullaroteu’ — This is literally from the raws as the author wrote.)

Jingle~

With the sound of the bell, the door of the store opened and a handsome man came out.

Shining shoes without blemishes, a suit without any wrinkles or stain, and neatly trimmed gold hair, it was a look that pursued neatness to the extent that not a single dust floating in the air settled on him.

“Wait a minute, Duke of Cadellarot.”

A voice from behind called out to him, following his footsteps.

Duke Cadellarot sighed in annoyance and turned around. Someone from afar approached him with heavy steps.

He was the Marquis of Serpent, who had just made a deal with ‘Ejyullaroteu’. A handsome young man was also with the Marquis, who had a shaggy brown beard.

Duke of Cadellarot, Idylos asked in a businesslike voice, “What business do you have left?”

There was a little irritation and tiredness in Idylos’ eyes. Anyone could tell that he had not slept enough for a week, so the Marquis of Serpent, who often met him, was also surprised.

The Marquis snuggled his tongue inside,

‘The young man acted as if he had bought everything on his own because he was hurt by his parents…’

From one to ten, there was no part that the Marquis liked about him, but the Marquis smiled nicely and pretended to act as if they were close acquaintances.

“Why are we so hard on each other? It’s not like that I’m only here when I have a business to do between us?”

‘Between us?’ Idylos resisted the sneer from coming out.

He’s just one of the people who signed a contract with a business he’s reached out to, but what a shame. People would think we’re very close friends.

Duke Cadellarot hated that kind of person. He’s like a hypocrite who treats him well when he needs him and ignores him inwardly.

However, the corners of his lips lifted. First of all, he was a business-related person, so it was a very business-like smile.

“The Marquis Serpent’s words make sense.”

Fortunately, the Duke of Cadellarot was a man who made a difference when he smiled. 

As the pressure from earlier disappeared, Marquis Serpent was able to step forward more naturally.

“Hmm, yes. I’m glad you listened to your elders. But, Duke, before you go down to the capital, there’s someone I want to introduce to you.”

Idylos quickly glanced at him, and the Marquis Serpent pointed to the young girl who was sitting next to him and said, “This is my daughter, Lebonnet.”

Idylos’ gaze shifted naturally towards the girl.