I Became a Slave to the Man I Abandoned Novel (Completed) - Chapter 123

Meanwhile, Nox was spending his morning hours, as usual, reviewing documents from various territories.

With a knock-knock, his aide, Esterion Launder, entered, carrying another stack of documents. Instead of sighing, Nox simply nodded, indicating he should leave them.

Launder placed the documents on the desk and asked, “It’s almost mealtime, Your Grace.”

“Tell them I’m not interested.”

“…You really should eat.”

“I don’t recall often starving myself.”

“You always just grab something quick in your office, don’t you?”

Nox, who had been looking at the documents, lifted his gaze to meet Launder’s. “Is it an aide’s job to ensure I eat?”

“Isn’t it?”

“…I can’t exactly say no.”

“Please, eat.”

“I said I’m not interested…”

“You need to eat well if you want to regain your old physique.”

At that, Nox’s hand paused. It was true, his body had weakened compared to before, and he needed to recover quickly. Losing muscle had been easy, but building it back was proving difficult. Nox sighed.

“…Alright. Tell them to prepare. I’ll go down.”

“Yes.”

Launder left the office and told a servant to prepare lunch. The servants, delighted that Nox would finally come down to the dining room for a meal, quickly began preparations. Nox finished organizing the documents with Launder, then slowly headed to the dining room.

“Since you’re here, eat with me.”

“Me, Your Grace?”

“Of course. Isn’t it natural for a consort to dine with their master?”

“…I suppose so.”

“I’m merely going down for a meal under the nagging of my consort, you see.”

Launder frowned at that. Nox let out a short laugh and rubbed his forehead with a finger. “Smooth that frown out. What kind of duke’s consort walks around with such a frown?”

The two walked side by side and arrived at the dining room. Seeing Nox appear with Launder, the servants busily began setting cutlery for two.

Seated opposite each other, the two waited for the food to arrive.

“Is your work going well?”

“I can’t exactly idle all the time, can I?”

Nox smiled at that. Now that Esterion Launder was officially branded as Nox Rainerio’s consort, he could speak so freely.

Nox replied smoothly to the implied question of whether he thought consorts just idled around, “You can just idle if you want. Though it would only be in my bed, of course.”

“…I’d prefer to have work to do.”

Nox chuckled, a slight frown creasing his brow. He agreed. A plaything that does nothing easily breaks.

“I think so too. That’s why I’m letting you.”

“Thank you.”

“So diligent.”

“…”

Launder looked as if he couldn’t quite adapt to this. Nox paid him no mind and looked at the food that was beginning to arrive. The maids carefully placed the dishes before them. Nox looked at the white soup, then slowly took a spoonful and brought it to his mouth. A strangely sweet taste spread through his mouth. Nox instinctively frowned.

“Does it not suit your taste?”

“No.”

Nox’s resolute “No” made the servants flinch. Nox pushed the soup away, and a maid hastily cleared it. Nox set his spoon down, crossed his legs, and looked at Launder.

“You finish eating.”

“…I’ll speak to the chef.”

“You should. I dislike the sweetness in my food.”

“You heard him, right?” the maid said nervously.

“Yes…!”

Losing his appetite, Nox decided to focus on his conversation with Launder instead of the food. Meanwhile, Launder, who had taken a spoonful of soup and found nothing amiss, tilted his head in confusion. Nox propped his chin on his hand, resting his elbow on the table, and said, “Everyone out. I’ll call if I need anything.”

Believing the displeased Duke wanted to spend time with his consort, the servants bowed and quickly filed out, closing the door. As soon as the thud sounded, Nox asked Launder, “What about the informant?”

“He said there are definite external movements from the Via ducal house.”

“In what way?”

“He reports movements to strengthen their knight order.”

“Are they trying to increase the number of knights?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Nox chuckled, as if it were obvious. “It’s good that he’s moving as expected, isn’t it?”

“Is it? What on earth could he be planning?”

“Well,” Nox drew out his words, not giving a precise answer. Launder, thinking it wasn’t his place to interfere further, remained silent and finished his soup. Nox commented, “I like that you know your place.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“I like that you say that too.”

“If you say things like that, it’ll lead to misunderstandings.”

“Misunderstandings are fine.”

Launder immediately closed his mouth. His gaze, which had been on the soup bowl, slowly shifted to Nox’s eyes. Nox was staring directly back at him. His green eyes felt as if they were piercing him, and Launder instinctively lowered his gaze again. Nox watched him impassively for a moment, then smiled faintly.

“Come here.”

Launder rose and approached Nox. Nox quickly untied and tossed aside his neck ribbon, then unbuttoned his shirt.

“Endure it.”

“Yes.”

Launder bent forward. Nox looked at the nape of his neck, then pulled back his shirt. He could see his firm trapezius muscles tensed. Nox lightly parted his lips and bit down on it. Crunch, Launder trembled at the sensation of teeth leaving marks.

But Nox didn’t stop there; he sucked on the skin. Red bruises bloomed on his neck. Nox repeated the action three or four times. Launder’s earlobes flushed red.

A hint of playfulness ignited in Nox at his reaction. He pulled his lips from Launder’s neck and blew a puff of air into his ear.

“…!”

“Haha.”

Launder recoiled, covering his ear. Nox let out a short laugh. Launder, still rubbing his distinctly reddened ear, spoke in a composed tone, “…I was surprised.”

“You don’t show much on your face.”

“It’s a strong point, I suppose.”

“But…” Nox narrowed his eyes. Launder bit his lip, subtly pulling his waist back.

“…Don’t, don’t say it.”

“Well, it’s unavoidable, isn’t it?”

“…I’ll be out for a moment.”

“Go ahead.”

Launder quickly exited the dining room. Thud, the door closed, and Launder exhaled deeply.

“Damn it, why…”

He ran a hand through his hair. His reddened ears showed no sign of cooling down, and the swelling in his front couldn’t be hidden by his well-fitted trousers.

He cursed himself, briefly wiping his face dry in that spot. The servants waiting outside glanced at Launder, feigning disinterest. And soon after, a rumor spread among them: the Duke of Rainerio’s consort had been shamelessly teased by the Duke in the dining room.

“I heard the meal was unsatisfactory today,” the butler said, entering the dining room once Nox had finished.

“You’re well-informed,” Nox replied flatly.

“I will be more careful. My apologies, Your Grace.”

Nox replied decisively to the bowing, apologizing to the butler, “Fire the chef.”

“Pardon?”

“Didn’t you hear me? Fire him.”

“Ha…”

“Surely you’re not about to say ‘but,’ are you?”

“…No, Your Grace.”

“Good.”

He wanted to remove all servants tainted by their influence from this place as soon as possible. Even if the new servants would also be under their sway. Nox irritably adjusted his cravat as he returned to his office.

“How brazen…”

The butler, who was following him, flinched at his mumbled comment. Nox feigned ignorance of his reaction and returned to his office. As soon as he arrived, Nox began sorting through the documents from his aides, his pen never stopping, trying to forget his unpleasant mood.

An hour, two hours. After some time, he had reviewed all the documents for the day. Nox quickly checked the clock, then ordered a servant, “Prepare my bath.”

It was for the banquet at Marquis Demitri Andelass’s mansion. The servants quickly began to move. Nox hadn’t even chosen his attire for the evening’s banquet yet. They busily started bringing out various formal wear from the dressing room.

While Nox bathed, the servants meticulously prepared his attire, shoes, and accessories, waiting for him with hands clasped politely. When he emerged, having finished his bath alone as usual, they naturally offered him a dry towel and said, “We have prepared your formal wear. Please choose the one you prefer, and we’ll finish your preparations immediately.”

“Where’s Launder?” Nox asked.

“Pardon?”

“From now on, when choosing clothes, call Launder.”

“Understood.”

“I won’t wear anything he hasn’t chosen.”

The servants exchanged glances. It seems His Grace cherishes his consort greatly. Nox, of course, didn’t miss their knowing looks. He stared at them with a cold gaze for a moment, then slowly surveyed the laid-out clothes.

There were several garments: deep wine-colored, indigo, dark green, and dark grey. Nox thought, These are all clothes chosen by Khalid and the Emperor anyway, aren’t they?

Disgusting clothes they picked while thinking of me. Nox, still in his shower gown, sat on the sofa and waited for Launder to arrive. He waited for about ten minutes.

Launder, who had briefly disappeared after their meal, entered the room with an ambiguous expression.

“I heard you asked me to choose your clothes.”

“That’s right.”

Launder then spoke in a serious tone. “Let me be clear about something first.”

“What is it?”

“I’m a person who buys several identical outfits and rotates them.”