"Come here."
It was a small dog found inside the underworld.
It's a rare small pomeranian close to black.
Being a cute dog like a cotton candy, Charlize bent down and stretched out her hands.
The dog wagged its tail and rubbed itself against Charlize.
"Good boy."
Charlize stroked the dog's head.
She has been dealing with all the monsters and getting into quite a bit deeply.
As the underworld is famous for its mazes and traps, it was not easy to find the traitor nobles.
Kahu stopped thinking that Charlize would take a break for a while.
Charlize's expression looking at the dog was soft.
"…Do you like dogs?"
"I don't hate it."
The dog keeps wagging its tail.
Charlize's touch was pleasant and the dog didn't even run away.
'I heard that animals recognize people with good intentions.'
The dog seemed to like Charlize very much.
Charlize looked up at Kahu and asked.
"Young duke. Isn't it difficult?"
It's already been five hours since they entered the underworld.
It must have been pretty hard, as he couldn't relax for a moment.
Charlize, who was looking at Kahu, who was quiet for a while, said gently.
"Let's take a break, us."
"…Would that be okay?"
"All the monsters are cut off over there, so they'll be in chaos anyway. We'll have about a day."
Indeed.
What Charlize said convinced Kahu.
Taking a break was a good choice.
Because working continuously doesn't increase efficiency.
Kahu saw Charlize standing up.
'…Lavender scent.'
The wind blows. Charlize's hair shook and the fresh scent tickled the tip of Kahu's nose.
Kahu hardened for a while. He struggled to think rationally.
Both Charlize and Kahu were official partners who were knights, and in this relationship, the superior was Charlize.
In fact, even if Charlize suggests it, it is a gentle order.
Kahu had to obey Charlize's words entirely.
Kahu lowered his gaze when he made eye contact with Charlize.
Luckily, the Duke of Delmon's mansion was not far from the entrance to the underworld.
"…Then."
Kahu recommended it carefully.
"Do you mind if I take you to my mansion?"
Charlize, who was about to refuse, suddenly thought about her returning.
'Kahu must have returned too.'
It wouldn't be bad to follow and take a look at it at least once.
However, it was questionable why Kahu said he was taking her to his mansion.
"Let's do that."
Charlize's eyelashes drooped coolly and elegantly.
Only then did Kahu come to his senses.
It was an impulsive suggestion, so Kahu couldn't even understand it himself.
'Why…'
You invite Charlize, what are you going to do? But now that he said it out of his mouth. His words could not be retracted.
It was hard to get inside the underworld, but it was easy to get outside.
They soon arrived at the Duke of Delmon.
***
The Duke's people who saw Charlize Ronan were in a state of chaos.
Charlize and Kahu were meant to hunt altogether. The employees paid keen attention to the lady that Kahu brought for the first time, as well as to Charlize, who was supposed to be his fiancee.
"Oh my gosh."
"Finally, his fiancee is here!"
"She's not exactly his fiancee, but they were almost engaged."
"But who knows what's going to happen to people?"
The maids gossiped. It was a whisper as quietly as possible to other people.
Both Charlize and Kahu are masters. Of course, they heard it.
Kahu apologized to Charlize with an embarrassed face.
"I'm sorry."
"It's all right."
Neither Charlize nor Kahu thinks deeply. Both are high-ranking nobles who are unmarried at the age of marriage.
There was a strangely tickling atmosphere between them. At least the employees thought so.
"Have a seat, grandmaster."
"Yes."
Since it was dinner time soon. Kahu led Charlize to the dining room.
As Charlize sat in her chair, she saw a finely folded napkin on the table. The mood is. It was very strange.
"The chef will bring the food soon. Please wait a moment."
Charlize often used the Imperial Palace dining room. But hardly ever been to the noble family's dining room.
In Ronan. Because there were always white chrysanthemums flowers placed in memory of the Grand Duchess.
Whenever Charlize tried to eat with her family, she ran into contempt every time.
As if she didn't deserve to be here. The frigid and cold eyes of the Grand Duke.
But now.
With Kahu's warm and caring eyes. The feelings of the employees who were dying with joy were clearly conveyed to the atmosphere.
"Thank you, young duke."
Charlize soon admired.
"Wow…"
Soon all the dishes that the chef hurriedly served were luxurious.
Sweet bread topped with the finest caviar. Grilled snails with basil. Lemon on top of the grilled lobster. Even the most basic soup was sprinkled with gold powder.
"It looks like the chef has sharpened his teeth to prepare it, grandmaster."
Charlize felt welcoming and took a spoonful.
As expected, delicious food was the best.
The texture of caviar that melts sourly was luxurious. The lobster baked with butter was delicious to the point of ecstasy.
The cooking continued to be served.
It was then.
Pyang!
Captivated by Charlize's surreal appearance, one of the maids accidentally dropped the bowl.
Charlize looked at the maid with surprised eyes.
Pieces of porcelain were scattered on the floor with food. The maid's face turned pale, she kept apologizing.
"I'm sorry! I dare to interrupt you while you're eating comfortably…!"
Charlize kindly asked, grabbing the maid who was in a hurry to kneel down and pick up the pieces.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt somewhere?"
"Yes, yes, …Yes?"
"I'm okay. I was just getting full. But if you get hurt while cleaning the bowl, it'll hurt my feelings."
The maid's face turned red at the friendly whisper.
Even if they're fellow women. She trembled with fascination.
While the maid was moved by Charlize's feelings, she was at a loss for words.
"I'm truly sorry. Thank you, grandmaster."
Tears welled up in the maid's eyes.
She made a mistake and thought she was seriously wrong. Since Charlize went beyond being generous and gave her a warm concern.
Watching it from the opposite side, Kahu swallowed his saliva.
He heard that the maids' praise for Charlize is particularly high in the Imperial Palace. He thought he knew the reason.
'Although she's not interested in others. She is a very kind person to her subordinates.'
Charlize calmed the surprised maid with her utmost sincerity.
In fact, this reaction was not the first time.
'Even in my first meeting with Dylan, the servant made a mistake.'
When he and Charlize made eye contact, the servant's hand trembled and poured the tea water overflow the cup.
What happened to the servant at that time.
'Naturally disappeared before my eyes.'
Charlize was convinced that it was Dylan's secret power.
Soon the dining room was cleared up.
After the meal, black tea was carefully placed in front of Charlize to rinse her mouth.
'She's such a nice person.'
In the eyes of the employees toward Charlize, a deeper favorable impression has been established.
They alternated looked at Kahu and Charlize more passionately with more desperation.
They wish Kahu never let Charlize go.
'It's night.'
Charlize looked out of the black window.
The sky where the sun disappeared was dark. Only the white round moon scattered the distant light.
'It's late, should I go to sleep here?'
Then will there be a reaction from Dylan?
It was a sudden idea, but it seemed like a good idea for Charlize.
It was easy to report to the imperial family. All she had to do was send a letter to Dylan through the hawk.
Charlize caught the eye.
She asked Kahu, who was drinking black tea.
"Young duke, can I sleep here tonight?"
"Of… Of course."
Kahu almost choked hearing the sudden question.
He managed to hold back and looked at Charlize, suppressing his surprise.
He doesn't know if it's for the meal. But it was enough to sound a little strange to say that she was going to stay there.
'No, let's not get ahead of yourself.'
Kahu organized his feelings while looking at Charlize.
Charlize, who was drinking black tea leisurely, was as gentle as a cat.
***
"Isn't this the place where the hostesses of all generations stayed?"
"The grandmaster might feel uncomfortable."
"We just need to know."
The maids murmured.
The best room in the mansion was swept and polished for Charlize.
It was the room where Kahu was supposed to be guided when he had a fiancee.
"Wouldn't it be nice if the grandmaster would be the hostess?"
"It feels like it will actually work."
When the young duke becomes married, he will be recognized as the true owner of the family.
They carefully cleaned up the room, hoping that the relationship between Kahu and Charlize would progress.
The maids talked like a secret. Charlize had already heard it.
'You seem quite fond of me.'
Charlize thought as she entered the room. She put down the sheath first.
First of all, the report to Dylan was the priority. So she sat down at the table in the room.
Slowly write letters on the provided paper.
[For the sake of work efficiency, I will spend one night at the Duke of Delmon before return to the palace.
May you always be at peace.
Yours sincerely, Charlize.]
Charlize opened the window and whistled.
A tame hawk flew in the distance flapping its wings.
Charlize stroked the hawk and hung the paper.
"Send it to His Majesty."
Sometimes it was called the spiritual animal. The imperial hawk was very clever.
The hawk flew up vigorously.
Charlize slowly closed the window as she watched the hawk drift away.
She slowly closes her eyes and then opens them.
'Will Dylan be jealous?'
If he shows a definite reaction. She can be sure that this is a rational feeling.
Even if she sleeps in the mansion. It wasn't a problem because she wasn't even sharing a bedroom.
Rumors will circulate that the relationship between her and Kahu is unusual.
Even this was Charlize's intention.
'I just need to know the truth about Kahu anyway.'
Charlize had already made it clear five years ago that she had no intention of marrying Kahu at the ball in commemoration of the fencing contest.
So it's gonna be okay.
Charlize finished unpacking her luggage.
'I'm going to take a night walk after a long time.'
Her eyes reached the sheath.
Charlize took the sheath and stepped outside.
***
The moment she crossed the wall of the Duke of Delmon, she met a night guest.
Hwik!
The sword swung in an instant, blood-splattered. She did not intend to hide her skills.
She didn't mean to let this person live in the first place.
There was blood on the sword. A great sword bounced off all the blood, but it wasn't a good enough sword.
'I need to take care of it before the blade contains more blood.'
Thinking of it, Charlize arrived at the mansion. The maid felt a sense of incompatibility for a moment, but Charlize gently instructed.
"Would you bring me oil to clean the sword? I like the ones used for sewing machines."
"Yes, grandmaster."
The maid laughed as if she thought it was an illusion. The maid soon brought Charlize oil and a handkerchief.
"Lord, the grandmaster is down the stairs."
Meanwhile, the butler was guiding Kahu. Kahu nodded and followed after the butler.
The reason his steps stopped.
Suddenly, walking was too hard, and it turned out that it wasn't because he went in the wrong direction.
Now that we're quite close.
Charlize tilted her head in the moonlight. It was just unrealistically beautiful.
The flowing gold and silver hair is stuck open in the ear. White cheeks exposed under the light. A long, rich dress stretched down the stairs. The navy eyes that are calm and subtle.
"…"
With her long slender fingers, Charlize was wiping off her sword.
At that moment, there was a strong smell of blood.