The Grand Duke’s Little Lady - Episode 119
* * *
Amid the ruins filled with collapsed stone buildings, a certain structure stood.
The inside of the building, with not a ray of light penetrating, was barely discernible by the few candles flickering weakly in the cold air.
The corridors of this desolate building, devoid of any human presence, echoed the footsteps of a man.
He reached his destination, opened the creaking door, and entered the dark, unlit room.
The air inside was even colder, biting to the bone, and the smell was musty and unpleasant.
In the room sat a figure cloaked in black.
“Master.”
The man bowed his head respectfully to the cloaked figure and spoke.
“It failed. The host went berserk…”
A chilling, creaking voice emanated from the figure cloaked in black.
“Of course, that greedy fool couldn’t follow simple instructions. I said not to kill…”
The master’s voice was filled with disapproval, causing the man to flinch and stammer.
“But there’s something new we’ve learned.”
“Something new?”
“Yes. The target… she’s a mage. They say she deflected the curse with magic.”
“A mage…”
The cloaked figure didn’t seem surprised.
The grating voice muttered.
“I see. Just as I suspected…”
He turned to his subordinate.
“You know the next target, don’t you?”
“Yes, Master.”
The man’s bloodshot eyes glinted.
“I will secure the information guild, Night Walker.”
* * *
Lucian, who had annihilated an entire kingdom, appeared in the dining room around noon with a nonchalant expression. On his way back, he had stopped by the Imperial Palace to pick up the Emperor’s decree transferring the Kingdom of Siena’s territory to Lacartiel, and had pocketed it.
With Allen’s assistance, he washed his hands and picked up a neatly sliced piece of orange from the table. He showed no signs of fatigue.
However, his eyes carried a languid, predatory satisfaction, exuding a seductive aura despite the bright daylight.
“Where’s the little one?”
Allen quickly responded to his question.
“The young mistress is in her bedroom, conversing with her friends.”
“Then call Hector and Ralph.”
“Yes, sir.”
Soon, Hector and Ralph, who were in charge of Ariel’s security, appeared before Lucian. Ralph spoke nervously.
“You called for us?”
Lucian, silently eating the blood-red ruby orange, crossed his legs with elegant precision.
“From today, Ariel’s security level is to be raised to the highest.”
The murderous intent in Lucian’s voice sent chills down the knights’ spines. Hector, gripping the hilt of his greatsword tightly, asked a question.
He was the only knight who dared to ask Lucian anything.
“Is the young mistress in danger?”
“…”
Lucian didn’t respond, instead recalling the final day of the ball. The platinum-haired insect who had dared to point a knife at Ariel.
His demeanor grew sharper.
Lucian had clearly sensed the foul energy emanating from the princess’s blackened hand. With his dragon blood, he could see the curse vividly.
He knew someone had exploited the princess’s hatred.
He frowned, staring at the red juice dripping from the ruby orange.
Whatever the case, it was clear someone intended to harm Ariel.
‘There are some suspects.’
There were certainly enemies of Lacartiel in this world.
Still, annihilating not just the princess but the entire kingdom served as a warning.
It was a demonstration to all potential threats that Ariel’s safety would be fiercely protected.
Lucian had ensured through Dalton that the Empire knew he was responsible for Siena’s downfall.
It was to show just how far Lacartiel would go if anyone dared to touch her.
Lucian turned his cold gaze to the tense faces of Hector and Ralph.
“Put your lives on the line. Don’t let her out of your sight for a second.”
Both knights stiffened at the command, understanding the gravity of their new orders. Lucian’s resolve and the raw power he exuded left no room for doubt.
The room’s oppressive silence hung heavily as the knights nodded solemnly, fully aware of the deadly seriousness of Lucian’s decree. They would protect Ariel at all costs.
* * *
Ariel, who had sent her friends away, headed to the restaurant upon hearing the news that Lucian had returned.
As she peeked inside the restaurant door, she met Lucian’s eyes, who was sitting at the head seat.
His eyes narrowed and shone a deep blue when he spotted Ariel.
Before she could react, he swiftly approached and lifted her inside, hugging her tightly.
“Oh, Lucian.”
Ariel, surprised by the sudden height change, grabbed onto Lucian’s collar.
“You startled me…”
Placing her leisurely on the restaurant table, Lucian responded.
“Knowing I was here, hesitating at the door meant you wanted me to bring you in, didn’t it?”
Hearing this, Ariel slightly opened her mouth in disbelief.
No way. How does he come to such a conclusion?
As he observed her bewildered expression, Lucian chuckled.
For a moment, his enchanting smile spread a sense of euphoria through her veins.
“Here, take it. It’s yours.”
He took something out from his chest and placed it on Ariel’s lap.
It was a scroll of parchment, rolled up and tied with a red ribbon.
“…?”
Ariel looked at him in confusion.
Parchment is usually used for important or long-term documents.
What is this?
Instead of telling her to open it, Lucian spoke in a pleasant, low voice.
“It’s an imperial decree transferring the Kingdom of Siena to you.”
What?!
“Wasn’t that granted to the Lacatiel family?”
Why is it mine now?
Ariel’s eyes were full of unjust tears, feeling as if she had been deceived.
Lucian tilted his head slightly, meeting her eyes.
“I got it for you. Why else would I go to the imperial palace to get it?”
As he spoke, his hand gently stroked her hair around her ear.
His arrogant voice echoed seductively in her ear.
“You’re the only one I would offer my spoils to.”
Ariel shivered slightly at the ticklish sensation from where his hand moved.
Was it because she was tired from a night of destruction?
Lucian now felt strangely languid and kind.
He drew his sword and untied the red ribbon.
As the scroll unrolled in the opposite direction, an object fell out from inside.
It was a signet ring embedded with emerald gemstones.
The ring was so large that it would be loose even on Ariel’s thumb.
It was as good as the national seal of the Kingdom of Siena.
Below it, on the decree written in the emperor’s own hand, was the name “Ariella Lacatiel.”
As he traced her name with his finger, Lucian spoke.
“It’ll be useful. It might take some time to rebuild since I destroyed everything.”
His tone was as casual as if he were tidying up a few scattered toys.
Ariel struggled to regain her composure.
Wow, does he think a kingdom is some kind of dollhouse?
To rebuild an entire country.
‘How grand is his scale…’
Lucian continued speaking in a satisfied voice.
“I left the hot spring castles on the outskirts. They surrendered just in time. They say they’re quite good. All yours.”
At the end of his words, he lifted the corners of his lips seductively.
His red lips drew a sensual curve.
“….”
Ariel had much to say, but seeing Lucian’s proud smile, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.
‘Lucian is really out of his mind.’
Who destroys a kingdom in one night?
And this decree and ring…
They’re so overwhelming that I don’t even know what to do.
Of course, it would be useless to refuse them now.
‘Ugh…’
In the end, Ariel sighed, quietly letting Lucian’s hand stroke her hair.
* * *
“Do this, do that, wrap the entire body in several layers…”
Matthias’s cold, blunt voice mixed with Bruno’s voice echoed through the room.
Sitting between them, Ariel propped her chin up with both hands and sighed softly.
“Ah…”
Matthias, now looking impeccably clean as if he hadn’t contributed to the kingdom’s downfall last night, summoned Bruno straight away to tackle the task.
The mission was to create ‘special magic protection for Ariel.’
Matthias, having brought Bruno in, was demanding unreasonable things while Ariel sat in the middle.
“Put an 11-layer protective barrier.”
“Make earrings with unlimited protection uses.”
“Enchant them with an invisibility spell to Perun’s eyes so they can always be worn.”
‘To Perun’s eyes?’
The great mage Bruno answered, sweating nervously before the duke.
“Perun’s eyes are a very intricate type of ancient artifact, so I’m not sure if an invisibility spell can be used.”
“Even if it’s forbidden magic, make it. Or I’ll do it myself.”
Bruno sweated even more.
Are you really going to pour that destructive and enormous power into an ancient artifact?
If Matthias did it himself, the precious ancient artifact would surely be shattered.
“It will take some time, but I’ll find a way to do it…”
Somehow, with this and that, by undoing this and applying that, he could manage…
Bruno swallowed his tears.
“Sir. Matthias, Sir. Matthias.”
Unable to bear it, Ariel called out to Matthias.
“We don’t need that many. Really, it’s okay. I can fight well.”
Matthias looked at her as if she were a chick claiming to be a good fighter.
In the end, the chick’s persuasion didn’t work.
Susan, claiming Ariel needed more food because she was in pain, raided the pantry and brought back delicious food.
Even Dalton, buried under countless tasks, took a moment to visit Ariel with a mountain of snacks and quickly disappeared.
“I’m swamped with work. Thanks to the duke bringing a kingdom…”
Allen, too, left to get back to work after seeing that Ariel looked better.
“Rest well today, little madam.”
Hearing this, Matthias coldly interjected.
“Not just today. You must stay in bed until you fully recover, Ariella.”
In the end, Ariel, judged not fully recovered, had to remain wrapped up like a roll cake in her blanket, unable to move until she was deemed completely healed.
Susan and the maids were accomplices in turning Ariel into a roll cake, so Ariel couldn’t set foot outside the bed for a while.
“I’m really fully recovered now!”
Actually, Lucian had calmed her mana, so she was almost better.
Despite the doctor and Bruno saying Ariel was indeed fine, Matthias reluctantly allowed her to get out of bed, still looking displeased.