Duke, Is This Your First Time? -R15 - Chapter 54

“Don’t talk to my friends thoughtlessly! You wicked old lady!”

 

Lulien seemed puzzled at the sight of fuming Elysia as she kept her head between her hands.

 

‘She really did that?’

 

It was Har’s tactic that Elysia hit the opponent’s stomach with her head.

 

When he was asked by Elysia about what to do if they come upon the opponent who is bigger than them and has longer arms and legs, Har answered to hit the stomach with their head and run away.

 

She didn’t expect her to use it at this moment.

 

Lulien looked at Har who was standing right next to Elysia.

 

Har’s eyes were also wide open, as if he didn’t expect Elysia to use the tactic he taught her.

 

But for what reason does Elysia think about it?

 

While Lulien was holding back her laughter, the Marquess came back to her senses and gave command to the puzzled Imperial Guards.

 

“Get her out by dragging her away.”

 

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

 

The Imperial Guards commanded by the marquess dragged the director from both sides and left the room.

 

From the appearance of the director who hadn’t recovered from the blow until he disappeared with the guards, it seemed that she was hit hard in the stomach by Elysia’s head.

 

After the director disappeared, the marquess looked around the children in the room and spoke to them. Elysia’s beautiful purple eyes curved upward gently.

 

“I’m sorry to surprise all of you. Everybody stand up. Put down everything in your hands.”

 

Upon the marquess said so, the children hesitated but they put down the doll in their hands and stood up from their seats.

 

When everyone stood up, the marquess clapped her hands as loud as she could to get the children’s attention.

 

“Alright, now let’s go out and have fun. What you have to do now isn’t work anymore, but play as much as you all want.”

 

The children, who were looking at each other, began to leave the room with bright expressions after realizing that they could really go out.

 

There were only Marquess Camellia, Elysia, Lulien and Har left in the room.

 

“How’s your head, Elly?”

 

When the marquess asked concernedly, Elysia smiled and put down the hands that had been wrapped around her head.

 

“I’m alright, Mother. It doesn’t hurt at all.”

 

“How can you be alright when you hit her so hard earlier? Let me take a look.”

 

The marquess was wondering if there was a bump on Elysia’s head, and after taking a look, she confirmed that her daughter was fine.

 

After taking a look, she breathed a sigh of relief and flicked her daughter’s forehead.

 

“I was shocked. Where did you learn such a dangerous action?”

 

At that moment, Har, who was proposing such tactic, flinched in fear along with Lulien who also knew about it.

 

While they were looking at each other, wondering if they should tell the truth, Elysia replied with a smile.

 

“Just because. I was so angry for my friends that I did it without realizing. I will make sure not to do it next time.”

 

“If you do that again next time, you’ll be in real trouble.”

 

“Yes, more than that, you promised me something. Hurry.”

 

Upon Elly’s urging, the marquess turned to Lulien and Har.

 

There was a gentle smile on her lips, the same as when she looked at her daughter.

 

Sitting on one knee and maintaining eye contact with the two, she showed the scroll that was written with the law and spoke softly.

 

“I’m sorry for coming in late. I needed some time to get this processed. That way, I could keep you all safe.”

 

“…..Did you know it from the beginning? How’s the situation at our orphanage?”

 

The marquess nodded at Lulien’s question.

 

“Yes, I found out while finding out about Har upon Elly’s request. To be honest, I was very surprised when I received it. I didn’t expect it to be so poorly managed. As an adult, all I can say is that I’m very sorry to have been letting you live in such an environment.”

 

Looking at the marquess who was apologizing to them, Lulien realized that her assumption about Elysia’s behavior was correct.

 

There was a reason why Elysia kept visiting the orphanage and didn’t come all of a sudden.

 

“That’s why Elly kept coming to the orphanage. To not let the director abuse us while the law is being processed. The reason why Your Excellency didn’t come for five days was to catch evidence that the director has been, in fact, abusing us.”

 

Marquess Camellia was inwardly surprised to see Lulien, who accurately told the plan that had been planned by Elysia and her. Is this really the insight of a seven-year-old kid?

 

Realizing that Elysia’s praise was not an exaggeration, she looked at Lulien in admiration.

 

“Did you notice that? Lulien is as smart as Elly says. You’re all right.”

 

When Lulien’s cheeks turned red at the first proper compliment she had ever received, Elly put her hands on her waist and said.

 

“You see, Mother. Lulien is very smart. Har is very brave.”

 

After looking at her daughter who was proud with an excited expression as if she had been the one who’s praised, the marquess laughed lowly.

 

“All right, all right. During the five days when Elly couldn’t visit the orphanage, she was also very anxious. She insisted on getting the law to be processed quickly, worrying that something might have happened to you. As soon as she got here, she didn’t even look back and ran away.”

 

“Oh, that’s why……”

 

Tears seemed to warm up in my eyes. When the appearance of Elysia, who ran in with short breaths came to her mind, Lulien was touched as her body unknowingly drooped.

 

Has anyone ever been so genuinely concerned about them?

 

Lulien, who thought Har would feel the same, looked up in surprise when the marquess called their names.

 

“Then, Lulien and Har.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Lulien and Har were anxious about what the marquess was about to say.

 

However, the words coming out of the marquess’ mouth were something they never thought about.

 

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to ask if you both want to stay at our home. Elly gets lonely easily because she’s usually alone. She thought it would be nice if you two could keep her company.”

 

“……!”

 

Lulien and Har were stunned by the sudden suggestion of the marquess.

 

The marquess added in a soft and gentle tone when seeing the two children’s pupils shook frantically.

 

“You’ll need time to think about it. Talk to Elysia and think about it slowly. I’m going to get this place cleaned up for a while.”

 

Marquess Camellia, who got up, reached out and gently stroked their heads, and turned to leave the room.

 

Lulien and Har, who were standing dazedly, came back to their senses at Elysia’s voice.

 

“Why are you so absent-minded?”

 

Elysia was looking at the two children alternately with her hands on her back in front of her nose with a mischievous expression.

 

“……Elly.”

 

“You promised me. Let’s continue to be together. You didn’t forget it, did you?”

 

Elysia said with narrowed eyes, wondering if they didn’t remember, released her hands and held them out to Lulien and Har respectively.

 

Her hands were small and white like a fern. Pure white and clean hands, untainted by dirt.

 

“Come on, take it.”

 

Lulien recalled Elysia’s remark again when staring at the small hands in front of her.

 

[Let’s continue to be together. You two are going to do it for me, right?]

 

From the moment she heard it, she unknowingly engraved it in her heart, because she believed it. She wanted to have faith in it.

 

But how could she not hold her hand?

 

Lulien and Har reached out their hands as if bewitched and held the hands in front of them. As the two held her hands at the same time as if they had been planning it together, Elysia smiled brightly.

 

“I won’t let you regret taking my hand. I promise in the name of Camellia’s family.”

 

Lulien thought as she looked at merrily-looking Elysia.

 

She thought they could be happy with this girl as long as they don’t let go of her hand.

 

***

 

‘I swore to God back then. I will do my best to stay with Elly.’

 

Lulien unconsciously smiled.

 

Since they moved to the marquisate, Elysia has faithfully kept her promise.

 

Not only did she assign Lulien and Har rooms next to her own room, but they also did everything together.

 

Marquess Camellia also treated them like her own son and daughter, not merely friends of Elysia. It was like that when she was praised, but they didn’t get any different treatment from Elysia when they were scolded.

 

Home, and family.

 

It was only when Lulien came to the marquisate that she could realize it. It must have been the same for Har.

 

At the age of fourteen, Marquess Camellia called them. What she discussed with them was something they didn’t even expect.

 

[Lulien, Har, I think you two have been old enough to decide. Well, why don’t you two become our real family? Elly is hoping for that as well.]

 

They were happy. How could they not be happy. It meant that the marquess family really thought of them as a family of their own.

 

Nevertheless, Lulien refused without second thought. The same response was given by Har.

 

Even without going through the formal procedure, they were already members of the Camellia Family and also part of Elysia’s family. They thought that Elysia should remain as the only one heir in the Camellia Family register.

 

Lulien’s eyes, which had become blurry when recalling the past memories, slowly return to their normal appearance.

 

She looked at Nocturne and said unwaveringly.

 

“Even now, I don’t regret my choice. Even if I turn back time, I’m going to make the same choice.”

 

That remark might have been delivered harshly to him. Even so, Lulien thought that’s what she had to say,

 

That would be a common decency for someone whom she shared time as well as feelings once in the past.

 

When she finished speaking, Nocturne smiled gently. Instead of being heartbroken, he only looked at her as if he had seen it coming.

 

“That’s the Lulien Spencer I know. This is why I can’t give up,”

 

“Pardon?”

 

Nocturne slightly raised the corners of his mouth as he faced Lulien, who looked at him bewilderingly.

 

He intended to untangle the knot that had been entangled two years ago.

 

Their breakup wasn’t because of the problem between each other, but because of where they were.

 

‘You’ll come back to me, Lulien.’

 

Nocturne’s face, full of anticipation and hope, shone brighter than ever. Nocturne’s face was shining brighter than ever as it filled with anticipation and ambition.