I Snatched The Duke - Chapter 13. Date(4)

“The mage tower’s a jerk.”

 

They won’t sell a refrigerator so they can keep selling ice.

 

“Doesn’t the mage tower also have to eat to live?”

 

Eliana’s words made Mihalis’ expression slightly bitter.

 

“We have to continue to cooperate with the mage tower, so we should close our eyes on the small things.”

 

In order to maintain the support magic applied to the warship, it was essential to maintain an amicable relationship with the mage tower. The duke knew that they were the ones who would suffer.

 

“They’re still bad.”

 

No matter how wealthy the duke’s family was, 10,000 Riums per piece of ice. The mage tower didn’t look good to Eliana, as they were openly trying to eat off of the Duchy.

 

‘Mage tower jerks, you don’t even know how to do it moderately.’

 

Gulp. Gulp.

 

The beer just got better. As expected, the best snack for a drinking party was ‘badmouthing’ people.

 

“I didn’t know you enjoyed drinking so much.”

 

Mihalis had a curious expression as he watched Eliana chugging her beer as she held the beer mug that was as big as her face. The angle at which she lifted the glass and the expression on her face was of someone who drank quite a bit.

 

“Thanks to the rotten mage tower, the taste of alcohol has improved.”

 

“Hahaha.”

 

Mihalis laughed out loud at Eliana’s surprising words. She was a woman who had endless interesting ideas.

 

“……”

 

Puellini’s expression changed strangely as he ate a chicken leg at a table about two squares away.

 

It was something he had never seen or imagined in over ten years.

 

‘Your Grace….’

 

He started as a knight apprentice at the age of 14 and at the age of 20 became a top-level knight. Two years ago he was strong enough to subdue the military by force. His lord, who only knew how to whip himself, was laughing out loud.

 

“Mihal, are a magic circle and magic stones all you need to do magic?”

 

Eliana, who was looking at Mihalis, suddenly said, as if she had come up with another idea.

 

“And you need a spell.”

 

“Well, then magic is easier than we think?”

 

“That’s true, but magicians are so eccentric…. They are reluctant to share their world by not disclosing the shape of a magic circle, or sharing the spell when the magic circle is open.”

 

Mihalis, who continued to answer Eliana’s questions, quenched his throat with a sip of his beer.

 

“Even grimoires that have been revealed to the outside world are in an ancient language, so it is difficult to decipher them unless you spend your entire life researching them.”

 

“I know at least one magic that can be used.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

Mihalis, who continued his explanation, questioned Eliana.

 

“This one.”

 

Eliana showed Mihalis her locket necklace, which she was wearing around her neck.

 

“We know the form of the magic circle and the spell for one pink lightning magic.”

 

“I see.”

 

Looking at Eliana’s necklace, Mihalis answered indifferently.

 

It was enough to knock out an ordinary adult man for a moment with lightning magic. However, it does not work for people above the sword expert level or higher. Considering the price of magic stones, it wasn’t very efficient.

 

“Maybe I can do something useful.”

 

With sparkling eyes, Eliana rubbed her hand over the patterns on her locket necklace.

 

‘If I do well, I think I’ll be able to pay for the ice.’

 

“I look forward to it.”

 

Mihalis was just looking forward to what kind of novel idea his little bride-to-be would come up with this time.

 

“By the way, the beer is really good.”

 

“If you like it, I will put in an order for the castle.”

 

“Wow, that’s a good idea.”

 

She would be able to drink cold beer in the castle. Eliana, who was in high spirits, drank half of her beer and put the bottle down with a ‘Thump!’.

 

“Hic!”

 

Hiccups suddenly broke out out of nowhere.

 

“Hic!”

 

Eliana had a tearful face as she clamped her hands over her unstoppable hiccups.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“It’s n-nothing, hic!”

 

Thanks to her hiccups that kept coming out, Eliana was so embarrassed that she could cry.

 

“So I, hic!”

 

This kind of reaction to half a beer. She made a mistake thinking of Eun-chae’s body as a standard without much thought.

 

“I’m not drunk yet, hic!”

 

It was then that she felt her head pound and dizzy.

 

“Not, hic! Drunk, hic! See?”

 

Eliana’s body was infinitely weakened by alcohol.

 

“Liana.”

 

Mihalis also looked taken aback.

 

He was sure she was fine until a minute ago. She drank well as if she was used to it, so he didn’t worry about her having a light drink.

 

“Hic! The wind, hic! It’ll get better when I get exposed to it, hic! Hic! I think.”

 

“Let’s go.”

 

Mihalis, who managed to understand Eliana’s strangely interrupted words, raised her up. Puellini, who had already eaten a whole chicken, silently headed to the checkout counter.

 

* * *

 

“Are you all right now?”

 

“Ha, yes. It’s gotten a little better.”

 

Fortunately, the beach wasn’t too far away. The heat that had risen gradually cooled down in the cool sea breeze.

 

“I think I’ll live now.”

 

How long was it, Eliana sighed as she sat on a bench overlooking the sea. Fortunately, the drunkenness went away quickly.

 

“But.”

 

Mihalis said, standing beside the bench as if he was guarding Eliana until she was able to compose herself.

 

“Why didn’t you tell me about the pain in your foot?”

 

There was a note of displeasure in his voice.

 

Eliana finally confirmed where his gaze was directed. It was a place she tried to dismiss even though she felt stinging pain every time she walked.

 

As expected, the heel was peeled off and had her blood on it. Even though she had purposely worn low-heeled shoes, the problem was the inferior leather.

 

“Then you would have asked me to go back to the castle.”

 

“Ha, you really make me speechless.”

 

Was her life in the castle so cramped? He hadn’t considered the circumstances she’d been in for the past month and a half.

 

Mihalis let out a low sigh and swept his hair back that was disheveled by the wind.

 

“Please stay seated for a bit.”

 

Regardless of what Eliana wanted, she couldn’t move any further.

 

“I’ll call a carriage.”

 

Mihalis, who had been staring down at Eliana with complicated feelings, moved towards Puellini, who was keeping his distance.

 

‘As expected….’

 

The moment Mihalis turned around, Eliana lost all of her strength. It happened just as she feared.

 

“Phew.”

 

Feeling frustrated for no reason, Eliana let out a small sigh.

 

Whoosh.

 

“Ack!”

 

A sudden gust of wind blew her hat off and flew away.

 

‘No!’

 

The hat barely covered her face but she still quite liked the item.

 

‘I have to catch it.’

 

Without thinking, her body moved instinctively.

 

‘Ugh, for real!’

 

Eliana became more and more nervous because of her hat, which ran away when she touched and flew away when caught.

 

It flew about 70 meters in the wind, and the hat finally got caught by someone’s hand.

 

“Oh, I almost got into trouble.”

 

The place where the hat was caught was in front of the stairs going down to the beach.

 

“Ah, thank you.”

 

Only then did Eliana stop running, caught her breath, and checked the figure of her benefactor. It was a man with light blonde hair and purple eyes.

 

“I presume you’re from the North?”

 

Said the man who looked at Eliana’s body up and down. Translucent white skin and silver hair were characteristics of some nobles in the north.

 

“Yes.”

 

“My name is Goldmuhn Chase. A noble from the imperial capital, Wespa.”

 

“…….”

 

Eliana looked at the man who introduced himself without her asking.

 

“Did you visit the South to attend a wedding? Or are you on vacation?”

 

“To attend a wedding.”

 

“Oh, I guess you are related to the prospective duchess?”

 

After confirming Eliana’s overall appearance, Goldmuhn completed his assumption.

 

She was a woman wearing ready-made clothes without a maid. She was highly likely a poor minor noble in the North. She was probably a relative or a friend of the bride who is to be married to the Duke of Atcher.

 

“Yes. I can say I am.”

 

‘Because it’s my wedding.’

 

“I also came down to attend the wedding.”

 

“Oh, I see.”

 

“Of course, I came down quickly to take a break. Is the lady the same?”

 

Eliana didn’t like the way Goldmuhn looked at her several times.

 

But the hat was still in his hand, so she had to be as patient as she could.

 

“I’m ashamed of the third mansion over there by the seaside, but it’s my family’s villa.”

 

“…….”

 

‘Ah, let’s be patient…. He’s my wedding guest.’

 

He was also the benefactor who caught her hat.

 

Eliana struggled to listen to Goldmuhn’s words, and she only stared at the hat in his hand.

 

“This meeting is probably meant to be.”

 

Goldmuhn’s eyes were fixed on Eliana’s face.

 

He was a bit disappointed with her flat body, but she was a beauty with a mysterious aura that overpowered that flaw. Shining silver hair and silver eyelashes covering her fresh green eyes.

 

She had a dream-like charm as if she came from another world. For some reason, she seemed to remind him of a fairy in a fairy tale flying around sprinkling silver powder.

 

“Will you please return the hat?”

 

Eliana reached for her hat, impatient with his endless flirtatious comments.

 

She had left the bench for too long. Mihalis must be panicking by now.

 

“Oh. Please pardon me. Here you go.”

 

Goldmuhn, dazed with his gaze fixed on Eliana’s face, finally held out the hat he was holding in his hand.

 

“The Chase family is throwing a small party at the villa tonight.”

 

Goldmuhn’s eyes were filled with the image of Eliana as she adjusted her hat.

 

“Will you grant me the honor of inviting the lady? If you allow me, the back of your hand….”

 

That was when Goldmuhn, who bent down slightly, held out his hand.

 

“Enough of your tricks and get lost.”

 

A sudden intrusive voice shattered his fluttering excitement.

 

“What!”

 

It was the most shocking insult he had ever heard.

 

“How rude!”

 

Goldmuhn, flushed by the insulting remark, identified the owner of the voice.

 

The man who walked with long legs, stopped next to the little white fairy as if he was in his original place.

 

“Mihal.”

 

“Haa, why did you move without saying anything?”

 

He was a man tall enough to cast a shadow over Goldmuhn’s face.