When Pride Fell At My Toes - Chapter 51



Only Krnovel

#51. The scent of the thick spring breeze
2024.02.20.

The unchanging daily routine continued. The scent of the spring breeze carried by the wind became thicker, and Emilia’s expression on her way to the Duke Michele’s residence after ballet practice seemed a bit lighter, but everything else was the same.

The Duke’s residence, which she had previously thought she would not want to go to at least once, now had a new goal of seeing the things her parents had left behind, so her face was a little flushed.

Enrico also looked the same. Maybe he had really lost his mind because of the poison, but his last night in Barcorta had been a bit strange, but now he seemed to be interested only in his own dancing like before. He only looked at her after the ballet started, and as soon as the dance was over, he left without any regrets.

Emilia stared at the empty chair for a moment, catching her breath. She felt strange for some reason.

At best, it was a work of art, but it was normal for them to treat each other like objects, but it seems they had been together for too long at Barcota. If his poison hadn’t spread to her even a little, she wouldn’t have felt empty for a moment.

‘Is it because I’m tired?’

She should wash up quickly and go back to rest. Oh, but she also has to check the box she brought from Barcota. Emilia finished preparing to go back and approached the butler who was waiting in the hallway.

“The master is waiting in the dining room.”

“Ah… ….”

When she heard those words, her empty stomach felt a little better. Was it because she was hungry? Just thinking about eating filled her stomach a little. Emilia nodded and followed the butler to the dining room.

Enrico didn’t even glance at Emilia as she came in. She didn’t have time to talk to him because the food that came in as soon as she sat down. Was she just going to eat and go home? Her stomach was getting fuller, but for some reason, she only felt bloated.

‘But I still have to ask what I have to ask. I was going to ask about the box in the first place.’

After the meal, Emilia cautiously opened her mouth as she saw Enrico, who was holding a glass of wine as usual.

“Your Majesty, where can I see the box from Barcorta?”

“Ask the butler on your way out.”

“Ah… … Yes.”

It was an answer that felt somehow cold. Was it my mood that made the atmosphere change a bit? Emilia answered quietly and looked down at the dessert plate in front of her. She felt really suffocated. Was it because she had a cold stomach?

Could she go and see the box today? She was thinking of other things alone.

“Instead, you can see the box tomorrow after work,”

Enrico said as he put down his wine glass. She blinked her eyes quickly at his words that seemed to pierce her heart.

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes. If you plan on sleeping here, you can go and see it.”

“… … No! I’ll come and see it tomorrow.”

His tone was still indifferent, but somehow the cold air seemed to have disappeared. Even though he was a self-centered person, was it to this extent? But… … .

‘Why am I checking his mood like this?’

The whole time I was at the duke’s residence, I felt even stranger to myself for caring about him. From the beginning, my purpose was to just get information no matter what he said, but since when did I know Enrico so well? Her eyebrows furrowed slightly in belated realization.

“Do you hate him that much?”

“Huh?”

“Your expression is not good.”

“Ah… … . That’s not it.”

Even he who spoke looked bad. The atmosphere that seemed to quickly become cold again made her think that she was really unpredictable today.

Emilia had already realized that he would get tired once he started nitpicking, so she quickly thought about it.

“I thought of the masked man who attacked me in Barcorta. I wondered if I could ask what happened… … .”

Now that she had said it, she was genuinely curious. It was the first time she had seen so many masked men, and it was also the first time she had seen a fight in real life, which she had only seen in plays.

Emilia unconsciously looked at Enrico’s injured arm. If the sword had been poisoned, it wouldn’t have healed quickly, but he was using his arm so perfectly.

“Oh, no. Now that I think about it, he was holding the wine glass with his left hand.”

She could tell that he was right-handed, perhaps because he ate his meals. Whether it was wine or cigarettes, he mostly used that hand.

“They brought him a healthy guy, but he drank poison and killed himself.”

“Poison? Oh my… …”

Emilia covered her mouth with both hands and opened her eyes wide. It was creepy because it was like the behavior of assassins you only see in novels. He even committed suicide. Was he hiding something? She was speechless at the unrealistic situation.

In Barcorta, not only was there a surprise attack, but Enrico was also creating a strange atmosphere, so her attention was somewhat distracted, but now that she was here, the situation seemed serious. It was fortunate that he fought well, for he might have been found lying bleeding in his own mansion. For a moment, a chill ran down my spine.

“… … Ha, it’s surprising that there are people who send assassins in droves in this day and age.”

“They must have been targeting me because I was alone. This mansion is hard to approach.”

I thought he was just someone who lived a carefree life, but it seems like he wasn’t everything. I thought he was a powerful nobleman who was far superior to everyone else, so no one could mess with him, but maybe he had more enemies because he was given so much?

However, even though he had a bad personality, he was someone who lived quietly, focusing only on his art, so I really couldn’t imagine that he would end up in this situation.

“… … Are you okay where you were hurt? And don’t go out alone from now on. You have to be careful.”

Emilia slowly lowered her hand and spoke seriously. Enrico’s head tilted at her serious expression. A strange light flashed across his purple eyes that had been glowing indifferently.

“Are you worried?”

He raised his eyebrows as if he found it amusing.

“That’s unexpected. If I die, the contract will be automatically terminated, so isn’t that a good thing for you?”

Her eyes furrowed. She opened her mouth as if she was offended by her sincerity being denied, but his added words were faster.

“Ah. Are you worried that the investigation will be stopped?”

“No matter how urgent the investigation is, it is not more important than human lives!”

The words that had been paused poured out. Emilia couldn’t hide her excitement and trembled her lower lip. He was silent at her sight of her eyes turning red in an instant. No, it was right to say that he couldn’t react at all. His mouth opened slightly at her emerald eyes filled with sincerity.

“… … So don’t get hurt.”

Emilia looked at him with her eyes as if pleading, then removed the napkin she had placed on her skirt.

“It’s too late. I’ll take my leave for today.”

Before he could answer, she turned away first. He could have said something at the sight of her quickly leaving the dining room, but his gaze was fixed on the chair she had been sitting on until just now.

Silence filled the air. Enrico’s eyes were slightly open as if confused. He was interested in the emotion he felt for the first time, but he was annoyed by her constantly causing him confusion like planting an apple tree, so he tried to watch the situation for a while.

But then, out of nowhere, he suddenly felt like he had borne fruit. A fruit he didn’t particularly like or want.

Enrico stared at the empty space for a long time. Even until Emilia returned home.

***

This week somehow felt like time was passing quickly. It was already the day of the [Cinderella] audition. Or maybe it was because he hadn’t been to the duke’s house since that day.

When he went to check the box he brought from Barcorta, Enrico wasn’t at the duke’s house. I don’t know why he thought he would be there, but he felt embarrassed because he had gotten angry at her for not getting hurt, so he thought it was a good thing.

‘Miss Emilia, I’ll check the box and separate the contents, so how about you check it then?’

‘The butler?’

‘I think it’s too much to organize alone, and I’m worried that it might be bad for my health to do this late at night.’

‘Ah… ‘

‘And the Duke said you don’t have to come this week, and that you should prepare for the audition first.’

When the butler who followed quietly told Enrico what he said, at first I felt bad, but then I felt a little strange at the last words.

Still, I thought he was canceling his schedule so arbitrarily since it was a contract, but when I saw him talking about the audition, it seemed like he was encouraging me to focus.

‘… … I told you to take the lead role. That must be why.’

Emilia jumped up and down several times in place as if she was shaking off her distracting thoughts.

At first, when the butler said he would separate the items in the boxes, she thought she should do it herself, but if she did, she wouldn’t be able to properly prepare for the audition, and she would not be able to finish organizing the boxes this week and would be checking them next week.

‘You said you separated everything, but tomorrow is Sunday, so I guess I shouldn’t go. Should I go on Monday?’

Soon the judges came in and the dancers waited for their turn. The chair where the director’s seat had been disappeared and vice director Sylvia sat in the middle and calmly conducted the audition.