Chapter 25
Chapter 25. While the count was away from the mansion
She had never eaten at the Midlenato Restaurant, except on the third floor. It was before her brother’s marriage, she had attended with the elders of both families. How on earth did Heinz get guided to the 4th floor so easily? Doubts filled Hernelone’s eyes, but she was silenced by the staff who stood in front of her with an appetizer.
“…I never thought I’d come here.”
As the staff m*mber left after setting the table, Henelone lowered her voice to a whisper. Her shabby appearance made her feel uncomfortable, but Heinz didn’t seem to mind at all.
“Didn’t you want to eat?”
“That’s true, but…….”
Look at my face! She felt like she wanted to hide in a mouse hole somewhere. Doesn’t this guy even know TPO (Time, Place, Occasion)? Even if she wasn’t a flashy dress, she wanted to at least look neat.
“It doesn’t fit your taste?”
“…No. It’s delicious.”
It was only an appetizer, but it was so delicious it made her cry. Henelone, swallowing her sigh, put a small piece of foie gras into her mouth. It seemed fishy, but it actually whetted her appetite. Since it has come to this, let’s just shamelessly enjoy it. Henelone smiled as she took a sip of the wine that went amazingly well with foie gras.
Is the food not that good?
Heinz, seeing Henelone’s awkward smile, stiffened his mouth. To begin with, he didn’t really like restaurants that required such formality. However, he couldn’t think of a good restaurant, so he brought her to a place he had been to a few times. Seeing that Henelone didn’t seem to like it very much, Heinz put down the knife and opened his mouth.
“If the food isn’t good, let’s move on…”
“You are Duke Woodward!”
Heinz’s eyebrows rose slightly at the uninvited guest who suddenly interrupted him. A man with a bulging belly and a thin beard was approaching Heinz as if he was happy to see him.
“……..”
“I can’t believe I see you here! I heard you gave up your position as knight commander, so I thought you weren’t in the capital. Haha!”
“…Count Badem.”
“You recognize me! Hehe, it’s an honor.”
Count Badem? Duke Woodward? Henelone, embarrassed, slowly put down the hand holding her fork. She had heard of Count Badem and she remembered seeing him from afar. He was a prestigious nobleman of the capital who could not have been related to Henelone, who was only the daughter of a Baron. However, such a great nobleman approached Heinz first and said hello.
“But… what about the lady next to you…?”
Count Badem’s slitted eyes turned to Henelone. Henelone, who lifted her kin and wiped the corner of her mouth, nodded her head, and the Count looked her up and down in confusion. Her face hardened as his eyes looked at her thoroughly.
“I don’t think I need to answer you.”
Heinz responded coldly when he saw Henelone looking uncomfortable. He didn’t like the fact that he intruded on the two people’s meal, and that Henelone seemed uncomfortable. When Heinz glared at him with murderous intent, the Count flinched, trembled, and joked profusely.
“Gosh, I was rude.”
“How long are you going to stay?”
“…Haha… Then… Goodbye…”
The Count smiled shyly at Heinz’s cold treatment and turned and walked away. At first glance, it seemed like he heard the sound of teeth grinding, but Heinz’s attention was focused entirely on Henelone.
“I’m sorry… Was it very uncomfortable?”
“No….”
“I don’t think that’s true.”
He doesn’t know what the problem is. Is the food bad? No, was that count really the problem? He remembered the count’s slitted eyes as he glanced at Henelone with extremely unpleasant eyes. Maybe he should have torn them apart so that his eyes became one. Henelone, who had been hesitating while fiddling with the hem of her skirt, cautiously opened her mouth.
“Heinz…. Are you Duke Woodward?”
Was that the problem?
Heinz tightened his jaw and clenched his fists. His short-cut fingernails dug into his flesh, but he couldn’t afford to feel the pain. The sight of Henelone lowering her eyes with her reluctant face made him feel anxious.
‘Is it because I come from humble origins?’
A duke who was born as a lowly pirate. A person who was lucky enough to join hands with the 2nd prince, start a rebellion, and rise in status.
It was a word spoken by those who looked down on him. The words didn’t hurt, but the sight of Henelone avoiding his eyes made his heart flutter and sink coldly.
“…That’s right.”
At Heinz’s answer, Henelone’s eyes shook violently as if struck by a storm. Oh my god, he was a real duke. The unexpected difference in status made her mind go blank.
“But why are you security of the library…..?”
“Does it matter?”
“… No….”
Henelone answered hesitantly, nibbling on the appetizer and then immediately putting down her fork. She couldn’t taste anything. Warm soup was placed on the table, but her appetite, once lost, did not seem to be regained.
Now that she thought about it, she immediately called the duke by his name. She did it without knowing, but now that she knows his identity, she thought it would be a good idea to be polite. Henelone, who was only fiddling with the spoon, hesitated and looked at Heinz.
“Well, then… should I call you Duke?”
“Ha! After I’ve seen everything I can and can’t see?”
