How the Useless Me Became the Beloved of the Devilish Duke Knight - Chapter 20
Chapter 20 : Because you saved me.
‘I… I ended up finishing it all…!’
Elma only realized it the moment she had finished eating all the dishes and wiped her mouth with a napkin.
Although there were many dishes, each was a bite-sized portion, and above all, they were so tasty that she couldn’t stop eating.
She had completely lost herself, and it seemed like all sense of manners and consideration had disappeared as she focused solely on the next dish.
‘What a shameless thing to do…!’?
“I’m glad, it’s not that you can’t eat it all.”
“Eugreek-sama… T-thank you for the meal. Um…!”
He also ate everything and refilled his own tea from the pot.
“Elma, would you like some more?”
“Uh, I’ll… I’ll do it myself…! Ah, actually, I should be the one to…!”
“Haha, it’s fine. It’s not something to show to others, but I can do this much. What about milk and sugar?”?
“D-don’t trouble yourself… Really…!”
“No. I want to pamper you.”
“Huh…!?”
It looks like steam might start coming out of her face.
While Elma was still in a flustered state, her cup was taken and refilled.
Unlike the herbal tea from earlier, this time it was the familiar brown tea. However, even just from the aroma, it was clear that it was of a much higher quality than the usual tea she knew.
‘…Come to think of it’
Elma suddenly turned her attention to Eugreek.
He was clearly a high-ranking noble who lived in a different world than Elma. However, the way he handled the pot earlier was flawless, it even looked like he was used to it.
Though she doesn’t know much about the heavenly world, but normally, high-ranking nobles would have others handle all their needs—meaning, it seems unlikely for them to refill a pot on their own.
“Are you surprised that I can refill the tea?”
“Did I just say that out loud…!?”
“No, It was written all over your face.”
As Elma’s face turned even redder, Eugreek chuckled. However, when he looked at the cup, there was a hint of sadness in his eyes.
“I mentioned this before, didn’t I? It seems my face takes away the sanity of those who see it. I can’t really show it to anyone other than my parents. So, it’s more convenient if I can handle things like changing clothes and eating by myself to some extent.”
Now that she thinks about it, the chubby maid mentioned earlier that “The young master handles everything himself.”, and the fact that the servants she saw around the house seemed to be of an older age might be related to his situation.
“However, it’s a good reason to decline a meal with someone I don’t know that well.”
Maybe because Elma looked a bit dejected, Eugreek added that with a joking tone.
‘Aren’t I also someone he doesn’t know that well either..?’
Elma was about to tilt her head when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Eugreek put down his cup and straighten up. She quickly turned to face him, and his silver eyes locked onto her.
“So… let’s talk about you. Is it alright if I ask what happened?”
Her body was warm, her stomach was full, and she was completely at ease. However, as soon as the topic turned to this, she felt a sudden weight fall on her body. Elma lowered her head.
“…Eugreek-sama, you’re exaggerating. It’s just… something that happens all the time.”
“So, do you always end up crying like that?”
“That was… the first time it happened. I was just a little surprised. It’s okay. I’ll return to normal soon. I’ve always done it like that…”
“Elma, I told you, didn’t I? I don’t want to cause you any trouble. I just want to help you.”
“But…”
“What’s bothering you? Is there something you’re lacking? What are you worried about? What are you afraid of? Is there something I can do for you?”
The deep, husky voice echoed with a tickling sensation, as if it were resonating deeply within her body. Elma clenched her skirt tightly on her lap.
“Eugreek-sama, why?”
“…Keep going.”
“I… I am an unwanted child. I am a bad daughter who caused my mother’s death. Moreover, compared to my younger sister, I am inferior in every way…So it’s only natural that I get punished.”
As soon as Elma finished speaking, silence took over.
When Elma looked up at the sound of something scraping, she saw Eugreek with a grim expression.
“Eugreek-sama….”
“It’s not you. I’m angry at whatever made you speak like that….Including myself.”
A sense of apology grew stronger. At the same time, doubts began to swell.
“?Why?”
“…What do you mean?”
“Why is it that Eugreek-sama is always so kind to me? You just said that you don’t want to eat with someone you don’t know. We are certainly… complete strangers.”
“It’s because… we have already become friends.”
“No. It’s been like this all along… ever since we first met.””
Letting out a whisper, Elma intertwined the fingers of her hands.
“You asked me what I was worried about. We…are we really friends? I don’t match up to you at all. You are such a wonderful person. You’ve given me the lathy, the bath, lent me clothes, and provided meals?even after all this kindness, I’m useless and incompetent and can’t give anything in return. I can’t do anything! All I can do is clean, do the laundry, cook, and do chores… nothing else.”
“Even if what you’re saying is true?”
Elma was fidgeting and rubbing her hands together while looking down when Eugreek interrupted her.
“I’ve already received enough from you. That’s why I’m the one repaying you.”
“…..”
“Just having you beside me and watching over me like that—I was truly saved by it, and it still saves me even now. So… so this time, it’s my turn to help you. That’s all.”
She couldn’t understand it. It felt so unreal. Yet, the man before me spoke each word with seriousness and sincerity. So she couldn’t deny his words.
The man, who had been gazing intently at Elma’s wide-open eyes, lowered his gaze to his hands and seemed to think deeply.
“But that’s just for my convenience. You might think, ‘What does that have to do with me?’ and that I still haven’t done anything. In that case… how about we try something like this?”
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Translated by : Cutae30