I Choose The Villain Duke

Someone was following them.

Hansel didn't know who but he could feel the presence of someone lingering in the shadows and watching their movements.

Who could it be?

Someone who had a grudge towards Lucien? Perhaps a former servant or maybe a common thief who was attracted to their wealth and didn't know who they were.

Nevertheless, he would deal with him secretly so that his master would not be disturbed.

"Your Grace, Lady Euphemia, I have some things to take care of this evening. May I take my leave?" Hansel asked.

"Oh, sure! We've already settled in here anyway," Euphemia said.

"Just be back in the morning," Lucien said.

Lucien seemed to sense Hansel's intentions but chose not to mention it so as to not worry Euphemia.

"Yes, Your Grace," Hansel said.

He bowed quickly and left.

There's that shadow again.

Strange.

It was following him instead of Lucien and Euphemia.

Hansel smirked.

Fine. Let him follow me.

I'll show you just how strong the butler of Duke Ashburn is.

*

*

*

The three of them were at White Edge. It was the village that would come before White Peaks. It wasn't a big one. It was more of a traveler's village which had more inns than houses and supplies stores than jewelry stores.

Euphemia rubbed her arms. It was a little cold in the village. She knew that it would be colder after this but this was for Lucien's sake and she did promise him. He agreed to be engaged to her because of this promise when they first met.

"Euphee, wear this," Lucien said and put on his black fur cape around her shoulders.

"Thank you," Euphee said, smiling at him.

Lucien smiled back.

"Won't you be cold? Do you have another cape you can use?", Euphemia asked.

"I won't. I think it's the power of the Gold Dragon. I'm not feeling cold. I'm actually feeling a bit warm," Lucien said.

"Oh, that's nice," Euphemia said.

They were at the inn's pub. No one paid them any attention. No one probably knew who they were here. They had been traveling for days already before they arrived at White Edge. It was a long way from Aderlan and most residents of Aderlan never visited White Edge because there was nothing to see there anyway.

Euphemia and Lucien were both dressed simpler than usual to avoid getting unwanted attention from thieves.

Lucien was wearing a long black trench coat with black fur sewed from the neck part to the chest. It had silver buttons that were grouped by two and were sewed from the chest part down to his thighs. It was the simplest coat that he had.

Euphemia was wearing a blue skirt and a white blouse underneath a turquoise colored trench coat dress with buttons engraved with snowflake symbols, turquoise colored gloves, and now, Lucien's black fur cape too. It was the simplest attire that she had.

Actually, both of them had an air of nobility and even if they were wearing clothes that a normal commoner would wear, they would still stand out like a sore thumb. Their elegance was innate to them and it would just look like they're cosplaying as commoners instead of being real commoners.

"Luci, is meeting Sylvia again very important to you?" Euphemia asked.

"Well . . ." Lucien looked like he was feeling nostalgic. "She's very important to me and even if there was no particular reason, I would love to see her again."

*

*

*

Meanwhile, in a dark alley . . .

"Agh!"

Hansel pushed a hooded man on the brick wall roughly and held him by the shoulders.

"Why are you following us?" Hansel asked threateningly.

"I-I'm not a bad person," the hooded man said.

"That's what bad people always say," Hansel said.

Hansel took off the hood from the man's head. He was a bit taken by surprise. The man's hair was that of the same color as him which was light brown.

Light brown hair wasn't especially rare but it was the exact same shade that his hair was.

Perhaps it was just a coincidence.

He was older than Hansel. He looked like he was in his late forties. He had a bushy mustache, a wrinkled forehead, lines around his eyes, and there was a scar under his left eye.

"Who are you?" Hansel asked, not loosening his grip on the stranger.

"I could say the same to you. Is there a chance we can talk about this like proper gentlemen?" The man asked.

He didn't give off a dangerous aura. He didn't feel like a criminal. Hansel released him from his grip. The man sighed in relief.

"You're strong," the man praised.

Hansel frowned at him.

"Talk. Who are you? Why were you following us?" Hansel asked.

The man gave an embarrassed smile which brought out the lines of his face.

"No, I wasn't following your companions. I was following you although that does make me sound suspicious too. Sorry, can I ask you a question before I waste your time more?" The man asked.

Hansel sighed in frustration. The man didn't want to tell him who he was unless Hansel answers his question.

"Ask. After I answer, you have to answer my questions," Hansel said.

The man smiled again and nodded.

"Do you know of someone called Lady Cathryn? I do not know of her last name but she's said to have beautiful green eyes like emeralds and she has black hair," the man said.

Hansel knew of only one woman with the name of Cathryn who had green eyes and black hair. It could only be Lucien's mother. He saw a painting of her in the mansion they were living in. Lady Cathryn used to have black hair before the unknown incident that turned her hair to white.

"What if I say yes?" Hansel asked.

The stranger's eyes lit up.

"How do you know of her?" The man asked.

"She's my employer's mother. What is your business with her?" Hansel asked.

The man looked like he was in deep thought for a while.

"You are older than your employer, aren't you? He's the black haired young man that you were with earlier, isn't he?" The man asked.

Hansel exhaled impatiently.

"Yes. I'm older than him for only a year but I don't see how this is relevant. Why are you asking these intrusive questions?" Hansel asked.

"And your father? Do you know who your father is?" The man asked.

Hansel was getting irritated now.

"I don't. What? Do you want my life story? I'm an orphan. I do not know who my parents are. I do not know why I was abandoned in the orphanage. Why? Does my father have a debt he cannot pay to you? Is this why you're asking me? Are you a lender?!" Hansel asked angrily.

"No, nothing of that sort. If anyone has a debt, it would be me," the man said.

"I don't see why I'm wasting my time talking to you. Find someone else to bother," Hansel said and turned to leave.

"I suppose there's only one way to find out," the man murmured.

The man suddenly grabbed Hansel's wrist.

"Come with me," the man said.

*

*

*

Hansel ended up coming with the mysterious man. He was irritated but curiously got the better of him.

They passed by several dark narrow alleys. Wet cobble stones, boarded up windows, a cat or maybe a large rat scurrying past them, deeper and deeper into the alleys, colder and colder until Hansel could see a bit of snow on the ground.

They must have gotten nearer to the mountains thus the colder temperature.

What the hell had he gotten himself into?

They reached an old building made of gray bricks. It didn't have any sign outside so Hansel didn't know what kind of establishment it was or if it was even an establishment at all.

"If you plan to steal from me, hold me for ransom, or murder me, I advise against it. You will lose," Hansel said firmly.

The man smiled warmly.

"Yes, I know. Do not worry. You are in good company," the man said.

Hansel entered the building following the mysterious man. It was dark inside and full of dust and cobwebs. They ascended an old wooden staircase. There were people sitting by the floor with a lantern in the center.

Someone from the group turned.

"Claude! You're late! Sheila here just cooked stew! Don't blame us for eating all the meat. Huh? Who's that with you?"

Hansel finished ascending the stairs. There was a gap in the wooden roof which let in the moonlight. Hansel stepped forward and his features were illuminated by the moonlight.

The people gasped.

Then they all stood up straight, placed their right fist on their chest, and bowed.

"Your Highness!" They shouted in unison.

*

*

*

Hansel turned to the mysterious man.

"What's this? I'm not Your Highness! Why did you bring me here?!" Hansel asked.

The man simply smiled. He walked towards the group. Someone handed him a lantern. He went towards the end ot the room and pulled on the cloth covering a huge painting on the wall. The man lifted his arm to shine the lantern on the painting. He was only able to pull off half of the cloth on the painting but Hansel could see why he was called "Your Highness."

The painting revealed a man with long light brown hair wearing a white coat with gold embellishments. He was obviously royalty. He had gray eyes, an elegant poise, and a warm smile.

He looked like Hansel.

"I . . . don't have gray eyes. These eyeglasses are just hiding the real color," Hansel said and removed the eyeglasses revealing his emerald green eyes.

The people gasped again. The mysterious man looked even more satisfied. He tugged on the cloth again and the cloth finally fell off, revealing the whole painting.

It was Hansel's turn to be shocked.

On the painting, the man who looked like Hansel was with a woman who Hansel would not mistake for anyone else.

Lady Cathryn.