My Boss is the Villainous Grand Duke - Chapter 9

“It’s amazing that you’ve endured this difficult position.”

“Haha. I wasn’t able to endure from the beginning either. It’s just that I’ve known the Grand Duke since childhood, so I couldn’t ignore that bond. If it weren’t for that, I would have just…”

“You would have just what?”

Quiet, who had been chattering excitedly, turned to stone. Rudfelix had been standing there with his arms crossed, looking at him with uncomfortable eyes, who knows since when.

“I was going to say you’re an amazing person. I’ve been surprised by Your Highness’s abilities more than once or twice while serving you.”

Quiet subtly changed his words.

“You always have a problem with that mouth of yours. Are you so happy with one word of praise that you’d even offer to rip out your liver for me?”

“I’ll be careful.”

Quiet lowered his gaze dejectedly again and moved to stand beside Rudfelix.

As Quiet, who had been between them, moved away, Rudfelix and Elena faced each other.

Grand Duke Rudfelix was about to say something to Elena but stopped and covered his mouth with his hand. Then he glanced at Elena and stepped back.

“This is how far our distance should be from now on. Be careful not to get any closer.”

Only Quiet, who knew nothing, looked alternately at Rudfelix and Elena, surprised by the strange atmosphere.

From Quiet’s perspective, it seemed like 7-8 people could stand side by side between the Grand Duke and Elena. He couldn’t understand how any conversation could go well like this.

“Your Grace, the distance to Aide Elena is too far. I’m worried about how the conversation will go, how about calling her a little closer?”

“No. We can talk just fine.”

“But it still seems a bit far.”

Quiet tried to somehow reduce the distance to Elena.

“I understand. I will maintain this distance from now on.”

Instead of coming closer as asked, she was answering with a raised voice. Quiet, caught in between, made a tearful face.

At this rate, it seemed like the precious colleague he had worked hard to get might disappear.

“Grand Duke, Aide Elena is a chick who’s only on her second day of work today.”

“A chick…”

Rudfelix’s eyebrows twitched and he smiled strangely.

“Be careful. She’s not just any chick.”

“Well, she’s a chick as an aide, but she’s a grown 18-year-old lady.”

The oblivious Quiet mentioned Elena’s age as if it were obvious.

“At 18, she’s old enough for her coming-of-age ceremony, of course… Ah, have you had your coming-of-age ceremony?”

The coming-of-age ceremony was traditionally held on one’s 18th birthday.

When Quiet asked, Elena held up two fingers.

“I’ll have it in two months.”

“This is trouble.”

“What do you mean?”

‘No, Quiet! Please don’t ask.’

Elena just wanted this conversation to pass, but Quiet persisted.

“It’s trouble because she might become a lewd chick.”

“Grand Duke, what are you…”

When the Grand Duke described Elena as lewd, Quiet looked at Elena’s expression with troubled eyes.

But Elena accepted it calmly.

“I apologize for yesterday. I won’t say such things again.”

She just needed to express that she wasn’t a child, but she had gone on about the Grand Duke’s appearance.

While Elena bowed her head in apology, Rudfelix watched silently.

‘I need our relationship to cleanly become just a superior and subordinate.’

That was Elena’s conclusion after thinking all night.

Perhaps understanding Elena’s sincerity, Rudfelix unfolded his arms. He seemed to think he had gone too far as well, fidgeting with his collar for no reason.

“I don’t know what to say.”

“No, I didn’t say that expecting a response from Your Grace…”

Elena waved both hands. She was about to say that she just wanted him not to treat her like a child and to recognize that she wasn’t a child.

“I mean, in case something seductive wafts from me.”

This time, she was completely caught off guard.

* * *

It had been a while since Rudfelix left for the Imperial Palace for his morning meeting with the Emperor, but Elena’s reddened face had yet to return to normal.

“Usually, he doesn’t stop by here when going to His Majesty the Emperor. I wonder what happened?”

While Quiet wondered aloud, saying he had expected to see him in the afternoon, Elena remained silent.

“Could it be that he’s concerned because a new aide has joined?”

As Quiet turned to ask for her opinion, Elena was startled.

“Did something happen?”

‘I can’t believe he’s asking so directly.’

If only he had pretended not to know until the end! Seeing his expression full of curiosity, Elena wanted to hide again.

“I’m not forcing you to answer, but I’m curious because the Grand Duke’s words were unusual.”

Quiet looked at Elena with a strange gaze.

The Grand Duke’s words about something seductive possibly wafting from him weren’t something to be taken lightly, and Aide Elena’s reaction was very different from yesterday.

Her eyes even seemed a bit red.

“Something did happen.”

Elena honestly admitted.

“Please don’t ask.”

Elena showed her determination not to tell no matter what. She showed her willingness to go wild regardless of seniority if he found out.

‘No.’

Before that, she felt like she might die of shame.

“Should I continue with yesterday’s work?”

Elena quickly changed the subject.

Quiet nodded, looking at the well-organized documents.

“Since the Grand Duke didn’t give any specific instructions, it seems like organizing these will be enough for today as well.”

“Then I’ll be here, so please call me whenever you need me.”

“Before that, take a look at this.”

Quiet brought clothes he had prepared in advance. Elena hadn’t noticed them right away because they were hanging on the wall.

“I thought it would be better to wear this uniform rather than a dress, since you’re an aide now.”

Elena looked down at her dress. Today too, she had chosen a dress with minimal accessories, thinking she might have to sit on the floor. Though she had chosen a toned-down color, she now realized that a skirt wasn’t suitable for her duties.

“Thank you.”

Elena expressed sincere gratitude for the unexpected uniform.

“I’m glad you like it. I thought you might dislike it.”

Quiet brightened up, having thought Elena would dislike taking off her dress and wearing pants. Elena immediately took the uniform and looked around for a place to change.

“If you open that door, there’s a dressing room right there.”

Quiet kindly showed her where to change and even opened the door for her.

Elena thanked him with her eyes before entering the dressing room.

“To think I’d be wearing clothes like this.”

The outfit was predominantly black with teal decorations. The gold tassels on the shoulders were pretty too.

It had been a while since she had worn straight pants, not counting undergarments, and she was touched for a moment. She immediately reached behind her back. She could undo the strings without looking, at least.

Elena, who had tied up her previously loose hair, stood in front of the mirror.

When she first opened her eyes as Elena, she felt like a doll buried in a fancy dress, but now it was a different feeling.

It made Elena smile even more because it was a style she wanted to wear but couldn’t before.

“I like this.”

This was the thing she liked most since becoming an aide.

As Elena came out of the dressing room, she met eyes with Quiet who had been waiting for her.

“Oh, did you need assistance?”

Quiet’s eyes widened, thinking she might need help even as an aide because she was a noble lady.

“I can put it on by myself. Thank you, senior.”

“No, well…”

Quiet’s words were cut off midway, and he scratched the back of his head while blushing. He seemed to turn his head away but looked at Elena again.

As he gazed at her with a strange look, Elena fiddled with the buttons on her wrist for no reason.

She had quickly adapted to it since it was the kind of clothes she used to wear, but she wondered if it didn’t suit her in the eyes of people from this world.

“Do I look okay?”

“Hmm. You look quite like an aide now.”

Quiet said, stroking his chin. Then, as if he had discovered something, his gaze turned in that direction.

“How is it?”

‘He’s really the best at moving silently without a sound.’

As Quiet’s gaze was behind her, Elena turned towards the person she could easily guess was there.

“Much better.”

Rudfelix nodded.

“It’s incomparable to yesterday when you were wearing a dress with jewels dangling all over.”

Elena agreed with that too. There had been several times when the paper almost tore, caught on the jewel decorations.

‘Would he believe me if I said that was the dress with the least decorations and the most modest one?’

Even though she had chosen a dress with even fewer decorations today, how could he say such unpleasant things?

“Thank you.”

As Elena bowed her head, Rudfelix waved his hand.

“I didn’t say anything worthy of thanks. Yesterday, I thought you were a lady who came to seduce me, so I said that. From now on, dress appropriately for the situation.”

“Yes. I understand.”

With a feeling of ‘Well, what more could I expect?’, Elena ended the conversation.

“I thought you’d come out of the Imperial Palace in the afternoon.”

“I had nothing more to say, so I just left.”

Leaving the Emperor behind?

Elena was curious whether this was just the Grand Duke’s way of speaking or if he really just left, but she kept her mouth shut.