Duke, Please Fail! - Chapter 100

Episode 100

“I heard that Nelly Pepper called the homeowner of the place where she used to live, her uncle.”

The words she had blurted out at the tea party when she met Nelly were now coming back to haunt her. 

She regretted showing an interest in Nelly, who had connections to the well-known Altwood.

‘If only I had acted as if I didn’t know her, like when we met by chance… It would have been better…’

She had been overambitious, wanting to appear close to Altwood, who was famous for not giving people the time of day. Now, that ambition had backfired.

Viscountess Morgane was nervously chewing her nails, but then clenched her fist, thinking that the answer lay in her hand.

Gardner picked up her fallen fan and handed it back to her. Her hand was trembling slightly as she accepted it, and Gardner gave her a reassuring smile.

“Don’t be too scared. I came to help.”

“Help me?” 

Viscountess Morgane found it difficult to believe his words. She had only exchanged greetings with Marquis Gardner a few times at social events.

“Why are you…?”

“If you think about who I belong to, the answer should come easily.”

Viscountess Morgane still seemed puzzled.

Gardner seemed to wonder if he had to use a woman like her. However, he couldn’t defy Devondus’ intentions.

“When Leonel Altwood falls, who do you think will benefit the most?”

“Oh!”

If he disappeared, the title of Duke would naturally return to Devondus

Viscountess Morgane finally understood and nodded her head as if she got it, then unfolded her fan to cover her face.

“But what does that have to do with helping me?”

Gardner was at a loss for words. 

Nelly Pepper, who had finally opened the heart of the suspicious Leonel Altwood after years of suffering, was the woman. If a problem arose with her, the estate would be pushed aside.

Even if the effect was not that dramatic, it was still acceptable. If the estate were neglected for even a short while, Devondus would have a good chance to achieve their goals.

In that sense, Viscountess Morgane was a useful tool. Regardless of their relationship, blood ties were hard to sever. Despite some shortcomings, she would serve her purpose.

‘Nevertheless, I must not reveal too much.’

If she’s not going to raise it as a subject, it might be better to be stupid. She doesn’t even have the head to plan for betrayal.

“I’ll get off at Dames.”

“Yes.”

Viscountess Morgane, who hesitated for a moment, asked cautiously.

“So… am I now a person of Devondus?”

“Well, that depends on how things end, doesn’t it?”

“I need his help. What should I do specifically?”

“I’ll tell you as we go along.”

As soon as the carriage arrived at its destination, Gardner got up. He smiled kindly.

“I see I’m indebted to you.”

“No. We’re in this together now.”

At her words, Gardner’s face quickly turned cold.

“Madam, you should be careful with your words in the future.”

Viscountess Morgane, who felt the atmosphere had suddenly changed, swallowed hard.

“Yes, yes. I won’t tell anyone, I promise.”

“I trust you.”

Gardner got off the carriage, smiled again, and greeted her.

“Then, please have a look.”

* * *

Sitting on the couch, reading a book, my vision kept getting blurry. 

I rubbed my eyes and checked the clock. It was already past 1 AM.

“Hmph.”

I yawned and covered my mouth, then glanced behind me. Leonel, who had been sitting at the home office desk, planning the expansion of the estate, looked up. 

I awkwardly smiled, and he smiled back.

“Nelly, if you’re tired, you should go rest.”

“I should, shouldn’t I? What about you, Leonel?”

“Not yet. I have some things to think about.”

“Are you going to sleep?”

He nodded, but his tired expression gave away the lie. I got up and approached him.

“Is there anything I can help with?”

“You’ve already been a great help.”

That was true; I knew all the plans Leonel had been working on before I returned. 

I recounted them to him without omitting anything. 

At first, Leonel listened with interest, but later, his expression became complex. Then, he uttered a single word.

‘Sloppy.’

It seems like Leonel back then was in a hurry, and he made many ambitious plans. 

Well, with only two years left until the execution, it wasn’t unreasonable for him to push himself to the limit. Thanks to that, I also suffered immensely.

“Are you making new plans?”

“The framework is similar.”

“Is it not going to be challenging for Leonel and Levance to handle this together?”

Leonel nodded.

“We have some things to discuss regarding that.”

“What is it?”

I pulled a chair over and sat next to him. He put down his pen and crossed his legs. I sat up straight, ready to listen, indicating that I was prepared to engage in a serious conversation.

With a confident nod, he laughed and kissed my cheek.

“I’m going to be busy.”

“Yes, I’m prepared for that.”

I was determined to hire more people. 

Leonel was still wary of having too many unfamiliar faces around, so proposing to bring in more staff wouldn’t be an easy sell. However, if I gave up, I was certain that the estate would turn into a shared graveyard within a year.

‘Even if I hadn’t taken poison back then, I wouldn’t have lived much longer due to exhaustion.’

For now, let’s not look at Leonel’s face. Looking at his perfect face weakens my resolve! Let’s not make eye contact and push harder to hire more people…

“It would be good to hire more people.”

Did I hear that correctly? Leonel wouldn’t be the one to propose such an idea.

“Did I accidentally blurt out what I was thinking?”

Leonel shook his head.

“I’m worried you might collapse if the workload increases.”

“That’s true.”

This time, I couldn’t deny it. I simply nodded. However, when Leonel suggested bringing in new people, I became more concerned.

“But, Leonel, are you okay?”

He smiled and gently stroked my cheek. His touch was so large and warm that it seemed to melt away my worries.

“I thought you were overworking yourself, but if I just watch and do nothing, I can’t call myself your lover.”

His tender voice and loving gaze were becoming all too familiar. Maybe I needed to numb my heart to protect it. Could it be that my heart will stay intact if I keep overthinking?

I pushed away these unnecessary thoughts, trying to calm my racing heart, and nodded.

“And it would be a good idea to keep an aide as well. I’m concerned about Leonel overworking himself as a lover…”

Leonel silenced me with a kiss. I was already feeling drowsy, and even breathing became a challenge, making my thoughts hazy.

Perhaps Leonel noticed my sluggish movements, for he continued to kiss me while smiling.

“We’re not finished talking yet.”

The sensation of my throat being tickled made me jolt awake. I opened my eyes wide, and his smile was strange and mischievous.

“You started it.”

I gave him a short kiss, then resumed my attentive posture. On the other hand, Leonel didn’t seem to be taking this seriously. He held the armrests of my chair and bent down, kissing me everywhere he could reach.

“We’ll have a new estate manager. I’ve already found a suitable candidate, so it shouldn’t take long.”

“Yes?”

I pushed Leonel away from me, grabbing both of his cheeks and pulling his face up to mine. He didn’t look like he was kidding.

He wasn’t trying to push me away, was he planning to divide the workload by having two estate managers? 

But we’ve never done anything like this before. 

If Leonel is the one hiring, the person he brings in would undoubtedly be competent. What if the new estate manager outperforms me?

“No, is there something lacking in me?”

Leonel’s face blushed slightly. Why is he blushing? Is it because he feels awkward about this? Is he planning to fire me? I glared at him for the first time in a long while, and he let out a chuckle.

“No, I plan to hire another estate manager, and I want you to take charge.”

“It’s quite sudden…”

“If it’s you, you’ll do well. You’re competent.”

“It’s like I’m a relic of past failures.”

My shoulders slumped on their own. Leonel patted them as if encouraging me.

“You tend to underestimate yourself.”

It was something I’d heard from Frer as well, but I didn’t agree. Could it be that he just wants to spend more time with me? No, that’s what I want.

“If you add up all the years since you came back, it’s almost five years, so it’s time for a promotion.”

“That’s true.”

“You know the estate situation well, you’re diligent, not hasty in decision-making, and you keep records and accounts neatly.”

Of course, Leonel wouldn’t hire someone based on personal emotions.

“Most importantly, if you become my aide I can see your face all day long.”

I see! 

“How about it? Will you become my aide?”

His voice was so sweet that someone might mistake it for a marriage proposal. I stammered, and he brushed my chin with his fingertips.

“Nelly, give me an answer now.”

I nodded my head, partially entranced.

“I will.”

With a smile on his face, Leonel kissed me briefly and then sat in his chair.

I blinked at him, wearing glasses with a dazed look, and then realized something. 

Wait a minute. 

Doesn’t being an aide entails more work? An estate manager only needs to be proficient in the internal affairs of the estate, but an aide has to be well-versed in external matters, right?

I thought of Levance. His sinister smile, as if he had been drained dry by a wicked fairy, seemed to float before my eyes.

‘Could it be… I’ve fallen into the beauty trap?’

Nah, there’s no way. He wouldn’t use beauty just to deceive his lover, right? He knows I’m weak against his looks!

Then again, it was too good to be true.

Two weeks later, after Arette’s brother became the estate manager, and I finally had my desk in the office, it hit me.

‘Leonel just needed one more slave!’

It was a simple truth, but there was no time for love games. To finish work on time and accommodate my departure, I had to work tirelessly.

However, there was no immediate end in sight.

Nobody was stopping me from leaving. But because Leonel was working late every day, I felt guilty going into my room alone when I got home.

So, on many days, even after my work was done, I stayed and helped Leonel or took naps on the couch.

What was truly frightening was that even when I fell asleep and woke up, Leonel was still working.

“Leonel, are you doing paperwork and organizing documents now?”

He glanced at me, then chuckled and returned to his paperwork.

Really, who knows who Leonel’s lover is anymore? I never thought I’d be jealous of a stack of paper!