Chapter 6. Training the Villain

“How great could it be……”

Suharto, who reluctantly looked at the Grand Duke due to his complaints, closed his mouth.

He could no longer spread rumors about how he always appears in black clothes at every ball, as if he were a crow. He was undoubtedly the most eye-catching swan at today’s ball.

“Everyone is looking at His Grace.”

Count Ephraim’s words were true.

His white skin matching the tailcoat and cool eyes emitted an unapproachable aura. The restrained atmosphere emanating from his beautiful appearance captivated the audience.

“Did His Grace choose those clothes himself? Or was there someone’s intervention?”

As Count Ephraim whispered with interest, Suharto’s eyes turned to Elena following behind him.

He wondered if she might be the one who changed Grand Duke Rudfelix.

Seeing Elena’s clothes, Suharto let out a short “Ha” laugh.

“So that’s why she rejected the gift I sent.”

Wearing black clothes to make Rudfelix stand out, she was every inch an aide from head to toe.

Rudfelix walked expressionlessly amid the focused attention on him. Though he could have worn a polite smile, Quiet thought it was enough for him to just remain still, knowing his nature.

“Everyone is only looking at Your Highness.”

Quiet rubbed his shoulder as if the intense gazes were stinging. Though he knew it would happen, the impact was considerable.

‘Restrained sensuality.’

Elena laughed wickedly inside. The beautiful flower born from her hands had been deeply imprinted in people’s minds.

Now they would praise his beauty and fall even deeper.

She had made him this way.

‘How should I express this fulfilling feeling?’

Like when others admire your child after dressing them up nicely?

‘No. That’s not quite the right feeling.’

Not my child but my man… perhaps?

“Ah!”

Elena let out a sound as her imagination went in a strange direction.

When Rudfelix looked at her, the gazes of the ball attendees naturally swept over like a wave.

“It’s nothing.”

Elena waved her hand saying not to mind it. However, Rudfelix changed his direction and closed the distance with Elena.

Elena shrunk back under his gaze that swept from head to toe.

“I just had a stray thought.”

When she was about to say it really was nothing, Rudfelix lowered his head. Now at a completely close distance.

“Did someone step on your foot?”

‘Why are you saying that so close.’

Though it wasn’t even kind words, when he whispered softly, a strange atmosphere flowed.

Elena stepped back while checking others’ reactions. Not knowing how his expression had changed while she was observing others’ responses, she shook her head.

“It really is nothing.”

He looked at her for a moment, seemingly displeased, before turning around sharply.

Walking with bigger strides than before, Elena couldn’t follow and could only stare blankly.

“He’s especially hard to understand today.”

She found him more incomprehensible than usual.

“Count Ephraim?”

Elena discovered a familiar face where Rudfelix had stopped and approached him again.

* * *

“I’ve been waiting.”

Count Ephraim greeted cheerfully with a deep bow. In response to his smile, Rudfelix nodded and made eye contact. He didn’t forget to greet Crown Prince Suharto standing beside him as well. Then Suharto spoke as if he had been waiting.

“What wind has blown?”

The Crown Prince asked why the Grand Duke had dressed so differently. Count Ephraim seemed curious about this too as he watched Rudfelix’s lips.

“A small breeze came to visit.”

At Rudfelix’s metaphorical expression, Elena covered her mouth with both hands.

The small breeze meant her. She had to forcefully hold back her urge to hop around excitedly.

Suharto’s eyes briefly turned to Elena before returning to their original position. Afterward, he pressed his lips tightly.

“Teacher is waiting for an answer, it would be better to respond quickly. He might die waiting.”

Count Ephraim laughed saying it wasn’t that serious, but he didn’t deny that he was waiting.

“A quick rejection also gives time to prepare other options.”

“I’ll answer here.”

As Rudfelix’s gaze turned, Suharto’s eyes unconsciously followed.

Seeing the two men’s gazes moving in sequence, Elena’s eyes narrowed.

‘He can’t take control from the Grand Duke.’

Though he wanted to control the atmosphere as he pleased, he was unknowingly being led by the Grand Duke.

Rudfelix stared at Count Ephraim with his complicated gaze before slowly opening his mouth.

“I will accept the people from your territory.”

“Thank you.”

Count Ephraim was genuinely delighted.

“I wonder how you’ll manage to move so many people.”

Suharto raised his voice, apparently for others to hear. Nobles who were drawn to the Crown Prince’s open personality approached and found themselves witnessing an unexpected scene.

“I’ve prepared alternatives for that as well, let’s meet tomorrow morning in that conference room.”

Rudfelix casually made a separate appointment with Count Ephraim as if it were nothing.

“You’re saying you have a method?”

Suharto asked in surprise.

“My aide has prepared a report.”

“I question whether an idea from the aide’s head will work.”

At Suharto’s words, whispers about Elena and Quiet intensified.

Rudfelix stared at Suharto with displeased eyes.

“You must be able to take responsibility for those words.”

“There’s nothing I can’t take responsibility for.”

Suharto shrugged while spreading both arms.

“If Count Ephraim is testing it on his territory’s people, I’d say it’s a good idea.”

“That’s not…”

As Rudfelix was about to say “You should know better,” he stopped speaking at the small force pulling his arm.

Elena, half-hanging on his arm, shook her head while keeping her lips tightly closed.

“This isn’t something to stop.”

“There’s no need to argue right and wrong here.”

Rudfelix disliked how Suharto was dismissing the method Elena had devised. He tried to argue back, but when Elena stopped him, he pulled at his collar in frustration.

“Teacher Ephraim.”

Suharto, who had regained his composure after Rudfelix’s appearance, leisurely looked around the crowd.

“My offer won’t come twice.”

It was a declaration that regardless of how impressive the Grand Duke’s aide’s method might be, his help would no longer be available. While strongly emphasizing that his consideration for the teacher was only this once, he completely stirred up Rudfelix’s mood.

‘Ah, really.’

Elena barely suppressed her boiling feelings due to Suharto’s annoying behavior.

There was no need to convince him now anyway.

‘We just need to show him.’

What mattered was keeping Rudfelix from getting excited. From the arm she held to stop him, she could clearly feel how displeased he was.

“Your Highness.”

Elena pulled on his arm as he was about to step forward. She whispered in his ear as he looked down at her, telling her not to stop him.

“Please endure it. We just need to show them anyway.”

“If I endure this, it would be sullying my honor.”

Elena pulled his arm again.

‘It’s my plan, why is he bringing up his honor.’

Though frustrated, she felt reassured feeling like she was his person. She was grateful to feel his trust in her. Anyway, stopping him was the priority now.

“Your Highness, other people are watching for a chance to approach you.”

“Honor comes first for me.”

Though she knew honor was like life itself to nobles, Suharto’s smile was suspicious.

He clearly knew people were shaken by Rudfelix’s changed appearance and was trying to turn the tide back in his favor.

‘This way we can’t twist the ball at all.’

Though she didn’t want to use this method, there was no choice.

Elena spoke to his ear, enunciating each word:

“I’ll dry your hair.”

Feeling Rudfelix’s fighting spirit instantly subside, Elena knew her words had worked on him properly.

“What?”

“I’ll dry your hair, so just let this one go.”

As Elena gently coaxed him, Rudfelix’s eyes softened slightly.

“If you fail, the people will have nowhere to go.”

At Suharto’s provocative words, Count Ephraim nodded heavily.

“Can you take responsibility for all that?”

“I believe in His Grace.”

Count Ephraim had scratched Suharto’s pride.

“But it wasn’t the Grand Duke’s plan. He said it was the aide’s report, so why do you trust him?”

“Your Highness, may I ask whose idea it was?”

At Count Ephraim’s question, Suharto immediately looked at Quiet. He had implicitly assumed it was him, and while looking, Quiet was still in his place.

“Aide Elena.”

At Rudfelix’s call, Elena stepped forward. Unlike Count Ephraim who was surprised but quickly regained his composure, Suharto couldn’t hide his predicament.

“So it was Aide Elena. I look forward to working with you.”

“I’ll do my best.”