Kidnapped By The Crazy Duke

Chapter 14

Did he also ask the Princess of Medea to marry him? Were the two of them in a relationship? Surely, this beautiful man must have been in love. Besides, the words "let's get married" are often thrown out as lightly as a feather between lovers.

"There's so much I want to say to you."

The Princess glanced towards the terrace. Follow me, she meant. She smiled and left the room. I decided to listen to her more, who seemed to have something to say.

"Noah. I'm going to get some air on the terrace.

"Its cold so hurry up and come back.

Noah, who was dealing with the aristocratic men who had gathered around us with troubled eyes, looked at me and replied softly. I walked out onto the terrace and met Princess Erica who was waiting for me. I felt a chill and my lips started to tremble, probably because of the cold or because my heart was upset.

"I'm afraid you might get hurt too." (Erica)

Princess Erica let out a long sigh as she looked at me. It was a stark contrast to the bleak look she gave me earlier.

"What was the problem?" (Diana)

I asked, and the princess crossed her arms and turned her head towards the garden outside the terrace.

He tried to trick me into giving up my throne for fun." (Erica)

"What? (Diana)

"Medea royalty with the right of succession cannot marry anyone who is not of Medea blood. He asked me to give up my throne in order to marry him." (Erica)

"Did you give it up?" (Diana)

"No, my mother, the Queen, would not allow it. I tried to marry him and give up my royalty. (Erica)

Yes

"But he soon abandoned me without mercy. There is no sincerity in that man. He can't love anyone and plays with people's hearts by pretending to be kind and showing vague kindness. (Erica)

It was understandable. I nodded my head a little and spoke, running my hands down the icy railing of the terrace.

"Princess, I lost my parents when I was twelve." (Diana)

"Oh, no. That must have been hard." (Erica)

"The insurance money, property, lands and buildings all went to me." (Diana)

Princess Erica stared at me, not saying a word. I just remembered the day I was left behind in the world.

On the last day of the funeral, I was completely alone. My relatives, who pretended to be nice to become my guardians in order to get the inheritance, were in an uproar when they heard that the guardian had been chosen as my paternal grandfather. 

So they came and made trouble. This was the day I felt true misanthropy. My relatives threw and broke the photo of my parents, grabbed me by the chest and shook me.

The lawyer who came to take the place of my grandfather, who was in the hospital after collapsing from the impact, tried to stop them and his glasses broke. His eyes were torn and bleeding. However, it was just the starting point of the future chaos and hell.

My relatives and even the people around me tried to take advantage of me, threatening and tormenting me.

After I reached adulthood at the age of twenty and my grandfather passed away, I became more and more blatant. The men who approached me as if they were serious eventually became greedy for what I had and demanded marriage, and then quit their jobs. This was why I was disillusioned and exhausted from human relationships.

"All of them tried to torment me for the property I inherited. They sneaked into my home and even tried to kill me by faking my death as an accident." (Diana)

"I feel sorry for you. But, what's your reason for telling me this story?" (Erica)

"It's easy to fool people when you tell a sad story." (Diana)

Originally this world was a lie. Because now I was Diana, who was a maid. The Princess had also told me a distorted lie. The Princess turned to me with a disgruntled look on her face.

"Excuse me?" (Erica)

Celine had done something similar to Noah in the original story, so I couldnt believe her words. However, I had my own discernment because I had lived in a formidable world. If Noah really wanted to marry her, she couldn't still be a princess. 

Princess Ericas eyes, as she looked at Noah, were not filled with hatred or animosity. Rather, what was contained in her eyes was love and hate. It was me who received hate and resentment. Even twisted jealousy.

I knew that look all too well. The look of jealousy, covetousness, envy and hatred for someone who has something that he or she doesnt.

"I have survived alone among tens of thousands of desires for what I have under the guise of kindness. This is the truth." (Diana)

Like a mask being removed, the Princess's expression and eyes changed instantaneously. It was like the moment in the funeral home when the relatives faces momentarily transformed into that of demons.

I'm skeptical, you don't have to worry about me. (Diana)

I bowed to the princess, and was about to leave with courtesy, but her chilling voice stopped me.

"Diana, wait."

"I'm cold, so I'll go in now."

"I was serious. Hes a man who plays with people's hearts for fun, but for him, I was willing to give up everything. (Erica)

I thought about it and ended up not doing it.  I swallowed the laughter that lingered in my mouth.

And you, where are you from?" (Erica)

Princess Ericas blue eyes stared at me as if she was interrogating me. The color of her eyes was similar to that of the Admiral's, and even the emotions reflected in them were exactly the same, which was unpleasant.

"Im a Progen citizen. (Diana)

"Noah can make you a citizen easily. And your appearance is far from a Progen citizen. (Erica)

The Princess, who was staring at my face, chuckled as if she realized something.

"You're Admiral Belford's daughter, the hostage. The new toy should be fun. Is that your real family in the first place? Your dark hair, your looks, it's hard to say you're a Belford. I can't believe you're a woman that even your family abandoned. Hahaha, it would be interesting when he made you rely on him and then abandon you mercilessly. (Erica)

How did she know that? I remembered that people had asked me if I was from Medea. I tried to hide my expression.

She smiled happily with a kind of triumphant look on her face. I silently looked at the beautiful and disgusting expression on the Princess's face. It was a possibility I was fully aware of, and Noah's look was even scarier because I couldn't read it. Princess Erica, who had a difficult temperament, had been trying to trample me the whole time.

"Hes not serious. You're not an advantage to him, you're not special. (Erica)

Special. Neither was she, and neither was I.

I suddenly felt a warmth in my hand that had been cold for a while. Someone wrapped my hand warmly.

Noah, who held my hand in his warm bare hand, was looking down at me with his gloves in his mouth.

"How long are you going to stay out in the wind? Your hands are frozen." (Noah)

Noah, who put his gloves on my hand, glanced at the Princess and turned away again. Princess Erica, who was looking at me, raised her eyebrows as if her feelings were warped in a different way.

"Noah, will you throw her away someday? Like me." (Erica)

"I've never had one, and I've never thrown one away." (Noah)

It was very rude what Noah said to the Princess, perhaps because there was no one around. Does he have two lives? He looked at me and smiled happily,  his dimples shown prominently.

Princess. (Noah called Diana)

Noah's voice was charmingly different than when he spoke to Princess Erica.

"Shes a princess? In my presence. " (Erica)

Ericas face twisted bleakly as she realized that it wasn't a word Noah called her. Noah lifted his hands, which were folded with mine, in a showy manner.

"I'm cold, let's go in, honey." (Noah)

My mouth dropped open at the unexpected statement.

"Honey?"

I stammered.

Whats wrong? Arent we about to get married? Dont you like it? (Noah)

No.just call me Princess. I cant stand it. (Diana)

I shuddered at the word honey. Noah waved his hand in an exaggerated manner and looked very happy.

"Well, then, let's leave this woman and go. (Noah)

"Who do you call woman? (Erica)

Princess Ericas voice became a little raspy at the vague name, which was at odds with mine. Noah was still looking at me with the same pleasant look in his eyes.

"I don't even remember your name. What was it?" (Noah)

"You've got to be kidding me! You playboy! (Erica)

Princess Erica, whose face turned red, eventually cursed in a sharp voice.

"My goodness, she's a liar and a foul-mouthed one at that." (Noah)

Noah's derisive words nearly made her agree aloud. The Princess sighed and looked away.

"I will report all of your blasphemies against me to the Queen when I return to Media." (Erica)

"Do that. I hope you leave now." (Noah)

Noah lowered his gaze to a downcast look. The Princess, who encountered the cold gaze, clenched her teeth and stepped back

Youre a lunatic." (Erica)

She cursed Noah and walked into the dance hall with a deliberate unconcerned look on her face. She seemingly has it all, from her princess status to her pretty appearance, but the world was not fair or proportionate to her difficult personality. Was it because she grew up to be a precious princess without any difficulties?

"Noah, you were in a relationship with the Princess?" (Diana)

Princess Ericas words made me feel uncomfortable, as if they were stuck like thorns in my throat, and I eventually let them out. Noah tilted his head and answered.

"Princess is Diana. (Noah)

"Its the woman. (Diana)

"No, we've never dated. I have high standards." (Noah)

Noah replied blankly as he stared at me. His usual smile was gone when he interacted with me.

"She told me that you asked her to marry you first. (Diana)

"I refused a few times, saying I would marry her if she renounced her right to inheritance. She seems to be a woman who remembers the opposite." (Noah)

Why am I asking this as if its an interrogation? Even if it was true, it has nothing to do with me. He tugged on my hand as he answered my questions without hesitation.

"It's cold, lets go in." (Noah)

Noah's hand pulled me back into the ballroom and we sipped hot tea at the dessert table. It seemed to relax my cold, frigid body.

Perhaps because Noah had already declared that he was my fianc, no man requested or approached me to dance. It was more like an unannounced marriage announcement than a ballroom debut. Noah bent down toward me and held out one hand. It was the gentleman's way of asking me to dance.

"Princess, keep dancing only with me. No one else." (Noah)

I was actually expecting that. From the moment I stepped into the dance hall, all I could think about was how he was going to ask me to dance. I even wondered what expression I should make, what words I should say.

"Yes.

It was a simple answer compared to the lengthy worries. Reminded once again of his own unsociable nature, Noah's mouth curved in satisfaction as I placed my hand on top of his. Since it was my first time dancing, my back stiffened and I got a little nervous, but Noah led the way well, probably because he was born noble.

"What if I step on your foot? Everyone will see." (Diana)

Noah gave me a kind look, as if to reassure me.

"I'll step on it, too. Then they'll think Im not good at dancing."  (Noah)

"I'll try not to step on your foot.." (Diana)

The melody of the music played by the orchestra gently enveloped the ballroom, and the noise from the surrounding area faded away.

As if there were only two people left in the world, all the senses went to the place where Noah touched.

Gently looking down, Noah's dark blue eyes made me believe that the reality of the moment was real. Noah's hands were wrapped around my waist, and even though they were on my clothes, I could feel a strange heat in them. 

Compared to the great possessiveness Noah displayed, he was thoroughly protective of goodness and didn't touch or lay his hands on anything without permission. Perhaps that was why the area around my waist where his hand touched was even more hot.

***

"I'm here to meet you because you said you were going to save my sister. 

Wearing a modest white dress and hat, Celine sat on the sofa in the parlor and looked at Lieutenant Colonel Grenendall with moist eyes. She visited Jeffrey in the office where he worked. Jeffrey, dressed in his officer's uniform, looked at her as he sat opposite her in a listening posture.

"Yes, Miss Claire. Please speak.

"It's not for me, you know. You're going to inherit the dukedom, aren't you? I don't care about your title. (Celine) (*she meant she doesnt care if he becomes a Duke or not)

Jeffrey sat with a straight, military bearing, looking at her in silence.

"I liked you, Lieutenant Colonel. Four years ago, when I visited your school, I happened to see you and fell in love at first sight. So please don't go. (Celine)

Celine's eyes, which were passionately confessing, were flaring and blurred, eventually dropping tears from her big eyes. She looked so beautiful and well-prepared that no man's heart could not be moved by her confession.

Any ordinary man would immediately give up on the mission. However, Lieutenant Colonel's strong and sharp eyes remained unshakable.

He called her in a low voice.

"Celine.

"Did you just call my name?" (Celine)

Her green eyes, shining with tears, grew wide with emotion. Jeffrey took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped away her tears.

"Don't cry."

"You're not going, right? (Celine)

Jeffrey smiled softly at Celine, who begged like a child.

Isnt Diana your precious little sister? (Jeffrey)

Jeffreys sharp eyes became somewhat gentler, while Celine's eyes became increasingly cold as she noticed his decision.

"I'll bring your sister back on Christmas, December 25th." (Jeffrey)

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