One Hundred Nights with the Devil - Chapter 35

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Admittedly, Elena’s heart was shaken by the Duke’s emotional appeal. Because he was a kinder and more gentle person than she had imagined, she found herself wanting to be considerate of him in spite of herself.

Of course, that did not mean she had any intention of quietly leaving the castle as the Duke desired.

‘He seems to expect the Devil to stay locked up quietly, but if it can give him even a moment of peace, it is better to leave him be.’

In Elena’s eyes, the Duke was by no means a stupid man. He was simply a person whose nature prioritized his convictions even while knowing it was a foolish choice. Therefore, he would soon realize that pushing away the exorcist, whom the Devil had willingly invited in while dealing with said Devil, was a waste of time.

She continued the sluggish conversation, claiming she would persuade the Duke, before choosing an appropriate moment to pretend to wave the white flag.

“Thank you, Miss Elena.”

The Duke was genuinely delighted when Elena said she would cooperate, and he treated her with a noticeably softened demeanor.

Truly, it was an innocence too fatal for her conscience to withstand.

“Miss Elena, I would like you to stay in the annex until I can find a way to send you out safely.”

“If you mean the annex…… are you talking about the manor to the south?”

“Yes. It is a place for hosting distinguished guests, so it will not be uncomfortable for you to stay there.”

As the Duke said, the annex to the south was not a bad place to live. Furthermore, it was a sufficiently beautiful place despite being in an unmaintained state.

“If you go down through the stairs to the left of the first-floor reception room, there is a kitchen. The structure is the same as the main castle, so it will not be difficult to find your way. There should be enough food to last for about three months. I do not need to eat, so there is no need to account for my portion.”

He personally guided Elena through the interior of the manor, his attitude like a butler serving a precious guest. He pointed out and explained the dining room, the kitchen, and the water supply facilities one by one, and even gave her the best bedroom in the annex.

“Including the main castle, this is the place where you can enjoy the most light. You will not feel stifled while staying here.”

“It’s a beautiful place.”

“……I am glad you like it. If you grow bored, please use another room. As long as it is within the annex, there is no need to seek my permission for any room or item.”

Perhaps out of consideration for Elena, who had revealed herself to be a commoner, he even explained the uses of the luxury goods placed in every corner of the room.

A Deposed Crown Prince fiddling with a piece of incense not even the size of a finger joint, claiming he would show her how to use it. It was such a peaceful and unrealistic sight that she couldn’t take her eyes off it.

‘Items like that must be hard to handle with those large hands, yet he seems to be quite dexterous. Although he didn’t seem to have much talent for embroidery…… It can’t be helped, as embroidering a name on white cloth is not an easy task even for an experienced monk.’

Without even knowing that Elena was pouring more interest into him than the luxury goods of the castle, the Duke worked very hard to explain and show her everything. He seemed a little surprised when she said she knew how to read, and even took her to the library himself to show her the books.

That was what confused Elena.

‘……Even though he said he resented me.’

She wanted to show him a mirror. she wanted to ask if he was even aware that he was acting like a child who had just received a gift.

And Elena wanted to ask herself as well. Was she charmed by that face? Was she actually fluttered by the hollow promise that he would protect her from the Devil? Because otherwise, she could not understand her own behavior of staying quietly by the Duke’s side.

‘It’s because I thought I’d do as he wanted for the time being. That must be why.’

Evening came without her being able to resolve the unknown stuffiness. The burning red sky announced that it was time to part.

Duke Conrad finally took Elena to the passage connecting the main castle and the annex. He pointed to a large door and told her it was the ‘last door’ of the annex.

“I have blocked all other passages.”

“I see you intend to keep me confined so that I cannot go looking for the Devil.”

Was the reason he enthusiastically guided her through the annex because of the guilt of locking her up? As Elena’s expression stiffened slightly, the Duke added an excuse.

“I am the same when it comes to being confined. I intend to lock all doors that lead out of the main castle, including this one. So, as soon as the door closes, lock it immediately with this padlock.”

“…….”

“You have a look in your eyes that says I am making you do something useless.”

“I apologize.”

“If you are truly sorry to me, please yield on this. It seems you will not listen to my request not to come to the main castle regardless.”

Elena had no choice but to take the padlock from the Duke. It didn’t look that heavy on the outside, but when she made a surprised face at the unexpectedly heavy weight, he laughed a little and held the end for her.