How the Useless Me Became the Beloved of the Devilish Duke Knight - Chapter 23
Chapter 23 : Appreciation and Introduction
Eugreek had kept his cold eyes fixed on the window until the guests left, but once the carriage was out of sight, he reflected a little on himself.
Although he was generally unfriendly towards others, being in front of that father and daughter only made him feel uncomfortable, so he ended up keeping a greater distance from them than usual.
However, the butler defended his master.
All the servants in the mansion probably felt the same way.
The timid-looking girl that the master brought home seemed like someone the master wanted to protect, so it was understandable why he couldn’t leave her alone.
On the other hand, her family was the kind of people you would hate the first day you met them.
Even though they are said to have noble blood, they likely see the inability to use magic as equivalent to having no magical power.
It reflected the shallow mindset of someone who has risen through the ranks without much consideration.
“Anyway… I wonder if this will prevent Elma from getting hurt again. She wanted to be present, but it’s for the best that she was kept out. I find it hard to believe that being with them would bring anything good to Elma. …Is it still indecent to think this way?”
“I feel the same way, Your Excellency. But… Well, let’s leave the gossiping here. Besides, that young lady was certainly a very beautiful woman. It’s understandable that constant comparison might lead to the young lady losing her confidence.”
The woman who seemed to be Elma’s younger sister was a striking beauty with a vibrant aura of confidence.
She would likely attract attention in high society and didn’t seem to have any trouble finding dance partners. However, Eugreek tilted his head.
“Is that so? I didn’t pay much attention because I sensed a troublesome vibe.”
“…Are you saying, you’re used to seeing things like that, young master?”
“What are you talking about? I don’t pay much attention to people’s faces in the first place. Even with this mask, I don’t want to accidentally attract someone, and I’m sick of getting tangled up with someone in a strange way afterward.”
“On that point, it’s a relief to be able to look at the young lady without worry.”
“Hmm? Well, that’s… true, but…”
“You find the young lady’s face is exactly to your preference.”
“Preference? What do you mean by ‘preference’? There’s nothing about Elma that I dislike, so if I had to choose between like or dislike, I’d say… I like her…”
“….”
“Why are you smiling, Georgie? What’s so funny?”
“No, it’s nothing. Well, the young lady must be waiting for you. Why don’t you go and see her?”
The butler, who had sent his master off with a questioning look on his face, gazed at his back and deepened his smile at the signs of late spring.
“Did my father really say that it’s alright for me to work here…!?”
“Do you think I would lie to you?”
Elma, who had spoken without thinking, blushed at Eugreek’s words.
“I’m so sorry, I…!”
“You were surprised, weren’t you? Don’t worry about it.”
Elma was about to apologize once more when she realized that it might not be the right thing to do.
“Thank you. As promised, I will repay this kindness with my utmost sincerity and hard work.”
After Elma straightened her back and bowed, Eugreek sighed. For him, it was enough that Elma was happy and stayed by his side. But it’s still not enough.
So, he made a suggestion about her working here.
Elma first tried to decline, saying she wasn’t suitable.
After persistent persuasion, she then claimed that she couldn’t because she didn’t have her family’s permission. That’s why he went so far as to call in the Tarcoza family to obtain a formal agreement.
“…Well, maybe we should start from there.”
“But… um, is it really okay if I only do embroidery? I can clean, do the laundry, cook, go shopping, and run errands—oh, but, if I do as I please, it might end up being a nuisance for the household, wouldn’t it…”
“Well…”
Eugreek was at a loss for words.
As for embroidery, he already knew Elma’s skill and it was also one of the accomplishments expected of a lady.
Since it didn’t overlap much with the work of the servant, she could freely do as much as she liked.
But cooking and washing dishes are clearly the work of a servant.
After all, Elma is a guest of Eugreek. Still, asking her to do nothing but needlework all day does seem a bit off.
“If you have any questions or need anything, feel free to ask Georgie and Niisa. They know more about this house than I do and should be able to help you.”
“Understood. I will follow their instructions.”
Eugreek let out a sigh.
Although he really wanted to stay with Elma, he knew it was about time the people involved started showing signs of frustration. In fact, they might already be showing it. If his intuition was correct, they would likely arrive at the castle tomorrow.
‘Putting aside the guards, as for the person being protected… Given their history of causing trouble, I feel like they have no right to complain…’
“I’ll come back as soon as possible.”
“It’s fine…it’s an important work, right? I’m sorry for being a nuisance. Please, don’t worry about me and feel free to take care of it.”
“….”
“Umm…?”
“Well, work is important, isn’t it? Yeah…”
At this moment, Eugreek felt a bit bitter about Elma’s understanding and his own position.
“Well then… It’s already this late. I should get ready for bed.”
“Um…!”
“Is something wrong?”
“No….”
Eugreek stared at Elma and then relaxed his lips into a smile.
“Feel free to say whatever is on your mind. That will be your first task.”
“…! U-um…are you going to rest now, Eugreek-sama ?”
“No, I’ll stay up for a little while longer.”
“In that case, would it be alright if we… well, how should I put this…”
“Do you think you won’t be able to sleep if you go to bed now?”
“Yes, it’s a bit embarrassing, but…If it’s not too much trouble, would it be alright if we talked a little longer like this?”
For Elma, it was a stranger’s house, and it was probably her first time spending the night outside of her parents’ home. It was only natural that she would be nervous. After thinking for a moment, Eugreek stood up from his chair.
“Then how about we go and check on Fortra together?”
“…Um, are you talking about the white Pegasus?”
“Yes. While the stable workers do look after him, but I prefer to take care of him myself when I’m around. Fortra sometimes can be a bit temperamental. It’s also time for the evening check.”
“But… I’ve heard that Pegasus are very rare and proud creatures. Is it really alright for someone like me to accompany you?”
“I’m asking you because it’s you, after all.”
Elma didn’t know how to respond and was so embarrassed that she remained silent. However, Eugreek didn’t blame her.
“As you said, we just met and don’t know much about each other. I want to get to know you, and I want you to get to know me too. Is that not okay?”
“I-it’s not that…. it’s not okay…”
“Well then, please extend your hand, my lady. Let me introduce you to my proud horse.”
He extended one hand towards Elma. She was flustered and anxious, but realizing that he wouldn’t withdraw his hand unless she took it, she hesitantly placed her own hand on his.
“…Your hand is really big, Eugreek-sama”
“Elma is the one who is small.”
The sound of laughter echoed from both sides, drifting softly through the night. Elma had no way of knowing, but it was actually very rare for Eugleek to laugh out loud like this.
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Translated by : Cutae30