Chapter 15

Alicia was suddenly pulled by a strong force and nearly fell.

Unable to keep her balance, she stumbled forward, only to be caught by someone.

She found herself in the arms of a large man.

Startled, she quickly looked up to see his face.

As expected, Alicia had to tilt her head back to see his face due to his tall stature and broad build.  

The first thing she noticed was his alluring blue eyes, deep gaze, and the black hair partly hidden by his cloak.  

Then, the sharp nose that looked like it could cut, the well-shaped lips, and the defined jawline.  

Above all, his overwhelming presence felt threatening.  

The owner of this face was none other than Cedric.  

Alicia was so startled, her heart felt like it dropped.  

“Y-Your Grace…”  

“Shh!”  

Cedric quickly pressed his index finger to Alicia’s lips.  

…!  

His sudden action made Alicia tense up, and she held her breath, freezing in place.  

She felt the warmth of his finger on her lips.  

Every time her breath touched his finger, her heart raced.  

‘Too close….’  

She had never been this close to a man before.  

Just being embraced by a strange man was embarrassing enough, but the fact that it was Cedric made it even more so.  

Her face felt hot, and she worried he’d notice her blushing, so she glanced at him.  

Even then, Cedric’s hand on her lips felt rough.  

Perhaps because it was a hand hardened by many battles, it seemed rugged.  

Up close, his hand looked even bigger.  

If they compared hand sizes, his would be at least a joint longer than hers.  

While Alicia was lost in thought, footsteps echoed from somewhere.  

“Hey! Where did that woman go?”  

“Tch, she disappeared already. Blonde would’ve fetched a good price.”  

Strange men’s voices.  

A middle-aged man spoke blatantly.  

“D*mn. She’d have been perfect for selling at the slave market in the neighboring country. She’s quite enticing, too.”  

The others grumbled in agreement.  

“You’re right, Boss.”  

“Her fair skin means her body’s probably pale and firm, too, right?”  

Hearing their crude conversation made Alicia tremble all over.  

She was shocked to realize they planned to kidnap her and sell her illegally at the slave market.  

Marzena had said this alley was commonly used by locals, and safe unless it was night…  

But it turned out to be a breeding ground for crime.  

And the way those bastards were rating her appearance was infuriating.  

More than that, the fact that Cedric was hearing those vulgar words about her was even more humiliating.  

Her employer was hearing s*xual comments about her, and they were together…  

It was mortifying and embarrassing.  

It felt like her heart was collapsing.  

Unable to escape the situation, forced to listen to those words, she felt a deep sense of shame.  

Disgust rose up, and Alicia bit her lip.  

Unable to face Cedric, she hid in his arms instead.  

Perhaps sensing her feelings, Cedric tightened his embrace around her.  

As if to tell her to lean on him, not to be afraid.  

They were pressed even closer together.  

His arms around her buried her face completely in his chest.  

The two of them waited like this for the kidnappers to leave.  

They looked around for a while, then left.  

“Let’s just go.”  

“Tch! What rotten luck.”  

Cursing, they left the alley, and as their footsteps faded, Cedric peeked out to check the situation.  

His sharp gaze scanning the surroundings made him look like a wolf.  

Once he confirmed the kidnappers were gone, Cedric finally released Alicia and asked,  

“Are you all right?”  

“… Yes.”  

Alicia tried to calm her startled mind as she answered.  

The fear hadn’t fully disappeared, so she pressed her hand to her chest and waited for her pounding heart to settle.  

Cedric, knowing she was shaken, didn’t speak to her.  

He just waited.  

His cold face, arms crossed as he watched her, felt a little like being monitored, but perhaps he was showing his own kind of concern.  

Once Alicia was calm, she straightened her posture and spoke to him.  

“Thank you for saving me.”  

She bowed her head, expressing sincere gratitude.  

If not for Cedric, she would have been captured and sold as a slave.  

He was her benefactor, saving her from terrible danger.  

He was arrogant, but gratitude was gratitude.  

Yet, Cedric just crossed his arms and looked at her indifferently, as if it was nothing.  

He looked down at Alicia and spoke in a low voice.  

“I just happened to see you while passing by.”  

Cold, emotionless tone.  

That was the real Cedric.  

Most people would be offended by such words, but Alicia was used to it.  

The way he had just saved her felt more awkward than his usual demeanor.  

“Then, I’ll be going.”  

Alicia politely excused herself to go to the candy shop, but just then, Cedric spoke.  

“Wait. I’ll go with you.”  

Suddenly?  

Alicia was a bit nervous at his unexpected words.  

She wanted to go alone and didn’t want to get involved with him any further.  

Besides, if people at the ducal residence saw them together, it would be troublesome.  

So Alicia calmly and politely declined.  

“Thank you for offering, Your Grace, but I’ll be fine on my own.”  

“No. We’ll go together.”  

His firm words made it impossible for Alicia to refuse.  

His tone made it clear he wouldn’t give up.  

And how could a servant reject the Duke’s words?  

Alicia smiled bitterly and replied in a weak voice.  

“Yes. Understood.”  

Feeling awkward, she headed to the candy shop with him.  

* * *

The walk to the candy shop together was awkward.  

He matched her pace as they walked.  

He seemed conscious of her, constantly checking the surroundings for danger.  

Everything felt awkward.  

Alicia glanced at him, careful not to be caught staring.  

Thankfully, nothing happened and they arrived at the candy shop.  

Alicia picked strawberry and green grape candies and paid.  

Receiving the wrapped candies from the clerk, she smiled happily.  

‘How much will Mikael like these?’  

Imagining Mikael’s face when he got the candy made Alicia feel good.  

He’d surely smile brightly and say he’d enjoy them.  

Humming to herself, Alicia was about to head back to the mansion when—  

“What’s got you so happy?”  

Startled by his sudden voice, Alicia tried to hide her surprise and replied,  

“…I think Young Master will be happy to get them.”  

Blushing and glancing at him, Cedric snorted with a faint smile.  

“You went through all this trouble just to buy candy for Mikael? How amusing.”  

He let out a barely audible “hmph,” then waited with a prim expression.  

‘What is this? Is he jealous? He’s not a child…’  

Alicia was convinced again of his arrogance.  

Feeling annoyed, she spoke a bit stiffly,  

“I think I can go alone now. Thank you for coming with me.”  

She bowed deeply in gratitude and tried to leave.  

But…  

“What are you talking about? I plan to walk you all the way to the carriage.”  

What?  

Walk her all the way?  

That couldn’t happen.  

Alicia quickly composed herself and calmly refused again.  

“Thank you, but I really can go alone now.”  

“No. We’ll go together.”  

Cedric insisted on accompanying her, ignoring her refusal.  

‘Why? Why is he so persistent…?!’  

His imposing build drew attention.  

Even with his face hidden by a cloak, his mountain-like body couldn’t be concealed.  

He walked so close to her, people might mistake them for lovers.  

If Alicia slowed, he slowed; if she sped up, he sped up.  

Why?  

Alicia didn’t want to walk with this arrogant man.  

Carefully watching for others, she returned to the shop where the girls waited.  

They had bought many things, their hands full.  

When Nina spotted Alicia, she smiled widely and approached.  

“Alici—”  

Then she saw Cedric beside her and froze.  

Probably because she saw a strange man, and if she realized who he was, she’d be even more shocked.  

Cedric stroked his chin and looked at the girls with ease.  

Then he spoke,  

“So you’re all here.”  

The girls were startled, anxious as if wondering how he knew them.  

Watching, Alicia said to him,  

“Your Grace, you don’t have to hide here.”  

Cedric removed the hood from his cloak.  

“Y-Your Grace…!”  

Nina, shocked, trembled and bowed her head.  

“There’s a ducal carriage, so you don’t need to take a hired one. Let the maids ride with you and return together.”  

“Yes, understood.”  

Alicia answered formally, and Cedric, perhaps displeased, raised an eyebrow and stared at her.  

Then, as if he was about to leave, he put the hood back on his cloak.  

Alicia asked him,  

“Your Grace, aren’t you returning to the ducal residence?”  

Cedric replied,  

“I have somewhere else to be. Go ahead.”  

He spoke with a mix of indifference and kindness, gently opening the carriage door for her.  

Alicia, flustered by his gesture, blurted out,  

“…I’ll open it.”  

“Get in.”  

She had no choice but to accept his escort and board the carriage.