Chapter 2
The slave who had been acting threatening just moments ago now looked at Eloise’s face—her mask removed—with strangely gentle eyes.
Eloise did not avoid his gaze either. She stared right back.
“Why are you looking down?”
Only after the slave trader hit the back of the slave’s head did the awkward exchange of stares end.
Eloise took back her mask from the knight, dusted it off, and put it on again.
“I’ll take this one.”
“A brilliant choice, my lady.”
Unlike the slave trader who smiled brightly, the man’s face twisted in annoyance.
Is she insane?
Even after his threat, she didn’t even flinch—instead, she smiled like she liked it.
He had no idea which noble house she came from, but she was clearly missing a screw in her head—or she had some strange taste.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have come to a place like this on her own.
“One more thing.”
“Yes, anything you wish.”
“Prepare about three more men who look similar to this one.”
Eloise spoke as casually as if she were picking out hats.
Frederick’s expression darkened further.
“Similar ones? Of course! Understood!”
The slave trader answered excitedly.
Eloise smiled at the man.
“See you soon.”
The man answered with only a glare.
Dragged away by the leash, he disappeared into the darkness with the slave trader.
“Move faster! Bring me A-grade—no, S-grade ones!”
The trader clapped his hands and shouted.
Soon, several fairly well-built, decent-looking men were lined up.
“Hmm.”
This one has an ugly jaw. That one’s eyes are dull. This one is not good enough.
The slave trader silently evaluated them and selected three of the best.
The first chosen, a platinum-blond man, put his arm around a golden-haired man and whispered:
“So I heard you’re being sold to a noble lady? You hit the jackpot!”
Unlike the smiling platinum blond man, the golden-haired man looked stiff.
“Why the long face?”
“……”
“Hey, it’s way better than being sold to some old woman or a man with weird tastes. You’re lucky.”
The man turned his head away as if he didn’t want to listen.
“Move! All of you, follow me!”
Back at the Duke’s Mansion
Two carriages sped through the dirty streets.
After a while, one stopped at the back gate of the ducal mansion.
“Lady, you’re back already?”
“Everyone’s saying they fell for you again today!”
The maids rushed out to greet Eloise as soon as they heard she had returned.
Some tilted their heads in confusion. The ball was still going on—why was she back so early?
“I’m tired. Prepare my bath.”
Eloise handed her mask to a nearby maid.
The maid gasped and dropped it.
“W-what is this?!”
Behind Eloise, Frederick entered with four strong-looking men.
Everyone stepped back in shock.
“Lady, what is this?!”
“Put them in the knights’ quarters. Give them baths, then feed them. And keep this a secret from my father.”
“Weren’t you supposed to be at the ball?”
Mary, her personal maid, approached her quickly.
Sensing what was coming, Eloise sighed and headed upstairs.
Ah… finally.
She collapsed face-down onto her soft bed.
Her eyes slowly closed.
The tension from completing her task finally left her body.
Just as she thought she might fall asleep, Mary’s voice struck again.
“Lady! Please get up and explain!”
“I’m tired. Later.”
“Where did you even go instead of the ball?! If the master finds out—”
“That’s why I told you to keep it from my father.”
Eloise turned her head with annoyance.
But Mary didn’t stop.
“You skipped all your invitations these days! Tea parties, dinners—everything!”
“Those are a waste of time.”
“A waste?! Do you know what rumors are going around?!”
Mary clutched her apron in frustration.
“What rumor?”
“I can’t believe it… People are saying you’re going to marry Baron Graham!”
Eloise showed almost no reaction.
“That’s ridiculous!”
“Do you know that baron is old, fat, bald, and stupid?!”
“I know.”
She had seen him at parties before.
A drunk old man with a red face, known for gambling in back alleys. He wasn’t wealthy either.
So it made sense he hadn’t married even in his forties.
“Aren’t you angry? People are saying nonsense about you!”
“It’s not true. Why waste energy on lies?”
“Lady!”
Mary was furious.
“If you knew who started the rumor, you wouldn’t stay so calm.”
“Who was it?”
“Brace yourself.”
Mary leaned in dramatically and whispered:
“Lord Georges.”
Eloise’s eyes wavered slightly.
Georges?
Georges La Croix—her stepbrother.
He was the illegitimate son of her father, the Duke, born from a common woman before his marriage.
Even after marrying Eloise’s mother, the Duke openly continued seeing his mistress.
Her mother had even seen the mistress on their wedding day.
Both women gave birth in the same year.
Georges was born a few months earlier, so he was considered the older brother—but Eloise never accepted him as family.
After her weak mother died when Eloise was four, her father brought the mistress and her son into the mansion.
From that day on, Eloise and Georges had been rivals for the heir position.
Unlike Eloise—beautiful, elegant, and intelligent—Georges had nothing going for him.
He was short, unimpressive, and stupid. Not even skilled in martial arts.
Yet because he was favored by their father, others believed he would become the next duke.
Worse, Georges even called himself the “young duke.”
I will never let that happen.
It was clear Georges was trying to ruin her reputation.
Eloise suddenly stood up.
“Lady?”
“I’m going to the ball.”
Mary’s face lit up.
Finally, the right decision!
“Wait, I’ll redo your makeup—”
“No need.”
Eloise was already walking out.
“You’re going like that?”
“I’m fine. Even messy, I’m still beautiful.”
Mary puffed her cheeks in frustration.
But Eloise was already gone.
At the Count Miller’s Ball
The hall was crowded with nobles.
“The Lady La Croix still hasn’t arrived.”
A young noble glanced at Prince Camilo beside him.
The Second Prince sat bored, resting his chin on his hand.
Despite his elegant appearance, he looked completely uninterested.
What is she even doing?
Prince Camilo had already decided he wanted Eloise as his partner.
Everyone knew of his interest in her, even if he never said it directly.
So he ignored the rumors circulating these days.
He noticed Baron Graham holding a wine glass near the balcony.
Pathetic.
The music ended. Ladies gathered at their tables to rest.
Their favorite topic was still Eloise.
“Is the rumor true?”
“That she’s marrying Baron Graham?”
They smiled, though their words sounded sympathetic.
They all secretly wanted Eloise, who attracted every man’s attention, to be removed from competition.
At that moment, the servant at the door shouted loudly:
“Lady Eloise La Croix of House La Croix has arrived!”
As if coordinated, everyone turned their heads toward the entrance.
