I Will Seduce The Northern Duke

"Problems with men?"

"You don’t have any clue?"

"I don't…… I don’t know anything."

She hit her forehead with her clenched fist.

Right, she only crossed her arms at the men at the party and didn't even know who she was talking to. They wouldn't have been attracted to Selena if they had known about her.

"But luckily, Mrs. Janet, and the girl in charge of me, Juna, left me a clue. Mrs. Janet said ‘she was determined to do anything for Renbird's honor', and Juna learned about gossip that said Irelle had too many men. Have you ever heard of it, Duke?"

"I've never heard such a thing," he shook his head.

"All of these words seem to be from people who never really liked Irelle, so I only trust half of them. About those who did…… Oh, what did you talk about with Baron Zion?"

At least he wouldn't have said anything bad about Irelle because she was his family.

"We talked about money."

"……What?"

Selena asked back, doubting her ears.

"No, what did he say when he approached you with such resolution? He said that without saying anything about his daughter’s unfair judgment?"

"Ah, he did."

"Oh, what did he say?"

"Because the Zion family is a low aristocratic family, disturbing rumors were spread about how Irelle became close to certain people to soothe her loneliness. He said his daughter could never do such unpleasant things."

"Ah…… Yes. That's something a father would say. But did he talk about money after saying that?"

"Since Irelle's passing did not tarnish Renbird's reputation, he asked me to hand over the furniture that Irelle bought for use."

"Ah……"

She was speechless.

She took a deep breath, organizing her thoughts to get rid of the curses that were haunting to leave her lips.

"They had already taken all the clothes and accessories she bought earlier, right?"

"They did."

"Yet now they're asking for all the furniture, I wonder how it was difficult to take it back then."

It would have been uncomfortable to let anyone use the furniture and things that were left unattended, and too new to be discarded. Giving them up wasn't a problem, but she was disgusted at the Baron's desire to pick and eat from his daughter until the end.

"So, you told him you would?"

"I did. I have no reason to refuse."

Selena clicked her tongue. Kalcion may be indifferent because it didn't bother him, but he was too soft in the eyes of those who wanted the taste of every little penny.

"When is he coming back?"

"He said he would visit tomorrow."

"Um, then I shouldn't go out tomorrow."

She thought the Baron's family was bereaved, so she left her position today, but not anymore. If he was going to do business over his daughter, he had to make a proper deal.

"People think so differently from what they seem."

Suddenly, Kalcion asked her when she shook her head.

"Yes. So you should be more wary of the Crown Prince."

"……? What does it have to do with this?"

"It's because you're too biased and friendly to the Prince," he said unpleasantly.

Selena laughed because she was amazed.

"What? Haha! What was that, Duke? Me? Did you think I fell in love with the Prince at first glance? Didn't I say that the Duke is more handsome?"

"You didn't really heed my warning, did you?"

"Why wouldn't I? It's only helpful if I get closer to the Crown Prince when something is involved."

"It's my strategy."

Only then did his face soften. She laughed even more astonishingly.

"Hold on, haha. What kind of reaction is that? As if you're jealous. There are only two of us now, so you don't have to try that hard yet, Duke. Haha, acting like it's real? Sigh, that was a good one."

Despite her giggles, Kalcion silently turned his head out of the window.

"Wow……, you really are on bad terms with the Crown Prince. Don't be upset, Duke."

Selena purred, leaning her head on his shoulder. No answer came back, but when her head touched his shoulder, he became stiff.

"Well, in the midst of all this, I found that he's someone who's going to annoy you again."

"What else?"

"The Crown Prince impelled me while we danced earlier. Is this how he's supposed to act?"

Kalcion shook his head in confusion, "I don't know, but I can't seem to imagine him like that at all. Is he crazy?"

"I think he is crazy."

"Isn't he, though?"

"If he is crazy about women, you might not be able to see it, isn't that right, Duke?"

"Hmm. That's a possibility."

Selena was joking, but Kalcion was serious. It was too late to reveal it was a joke now.

"I'll have to find out, including this. Whether he does this to all women or only to the Duke's woman."

Selena quickly turned the joke into something serious. It worked wonders! At her words, Kalcion's anger was slowly fading.

"If it's the latter, it could be related to Irelle."

"I believe so?"

Silence filled inside the carriage. However, the commotion on entering the city was even greater.

The carriage gradually slowed down as it encountered crowds of people moving around.

"Your Grace. There are many people, I think we have to go back," Dion reported through the window.

The carriage was almost standing now. The carriage was too high for the passers-by to peer inside. If it didn't matter to go slow, they could go around the streets like this, or they could go back to get to the road that wasn't blocked.

"How far is it from the mansion?"

"It's not that far. This road leads directly to the mansion if you get out of this central zone."

"Since we're here, can we just take a look around? Or is it still dangerous?"

Kalcion put back his sword, which was placed against the wall of the carriage, at his waist.

"You better not do anything dangerous."

You don't have to remind me that the most dangerous person in this area is Kalcion.

Grabbing Selena's hand, he stood and immediately opened the carriage door. Selena hurriedly grabbed his hand with her other hand.

"Are you going like this?"

She looked through the window at the People's appearance and looked down at Kalcion's and her clothes.

Her attire was too luxurious to blend in with the crowd. Not to mention, his sword. They were going to see the festival.

"This is too noticeable."

Selena asked for the cape of Kalcion's, covered it over her head, and tightened it in front of her neck.

The cape tailored to his height came down to her ankle when she was totally covered.

"I think this is enough, and wouldn't it be better for you to take off your jacket?"

Kalcion followed her suggestion calmly. He was wearing a black shirt underneath his jacket. Since the shirt also had a delicate embroidery, it could be recognized as a not so ordinary wear, but it was simpler than an outerwear with all kinds of brilliant handiwork and jewelry.

Selena chuckled as she looked at Kalcion and her appearance.

"But it still stands out."

She wondered how he could have a plain look. His face was already surreal.

"What else should I do here?"

"This much is enough for the clothes……, but if we find masks on the way, we should buy one each and use it."

As she got off the carriage, the heat of the festival poured onto her skin.

No matter how shiny the palace was, its splendid atmosphere was suffocating, but the festival in the streets was filled with excitement.

Taking a firm grip on Kalcion's arm, Selena took off into the crowd.

"No, rather than this," he loosened his arm held by her and hugged her shoulder instead. The passers-by bumped into his arm instead of her shoulder.

"This way you'll have a low risk of falling in the middle."

It looked as if she was buried in Kalcion's side, similar to when they left the palace earlier.

In the beginning, she felt uncomfortable hugging him with both arms. But later, she smiled to herself as she grabbed the side of his clothes tightly with both hands.

The streets were crowded and hot, but her arms were cozy and comfortable like they were in another world.

"The festival is not so different here either," she murmured leisurely as she looked around the street.

People dressed in colorful clothes, street stalls lined up along the road, people performing tricks, playing musical instruments, and dancing in the middle of the road. Even some of the visitors were dancing on the street to the songs of the street musicians.

The fact that each of them had something to eat was not much different from those flashy delicacies earlier.

Kalcion nodded dryly as he looked around the street. For him, this exciting and thrilling scenery seemed just like before.

"Look. They also sell things like this here."

The girl who was selling wreaths raised her head, welcoming her guests.

"Welcome! I made them all by myself!"

Selena put her hood behind her neck and placed a fresh wreath on her head. However, there was no mirror to check her look.

But the girl's reaction replaced the mirror.

"Oh….. Wow…… Uh….. Ah!"

Selena burst into giggles as she watched the girl's eyes, nose, and mouth expand at the same time.

"Is it pretty?"

"Yes! Yes! Wow! You look like a Goddess!"

Selena looked back at Kalcion, pouring out a peal of cheerful laughter once again at the admiration of the fussy girl.

"Oh my, you're so good at this business. I'll have to buy one–"

However, Kalcion's gaze was not much different from the girl's.

His eyes, nose, and mouth did not expand, but his eyes were blank.