Duke, Please Fail! - Chapter 106

Episode 106

Gardner decided to supply the ingredients for a fatigue recovery potion for whatever Archduke Landers’ had done and how. 

Instead, he came with a different approach while I was working. Of course, I had been avoiding him all day.

I endured it until it was time to leave work…

“Lady Pepper, would you mind talking with me for a moment?”

He looked like he was going to grab me and drag me anywhere if I said no. I looked around for help, just in case. But there was no one around.

I slowly stepped back and suddenly turned around. At the same time, a strong hand grabbed my wrist.

“Let go of me!”

I tried to break free, but I didn’t have enough strength. Without hesitation, I bent down and bit Gardner’s arm.

“Ouch!”

I took advantage of the moment when Gardner let go. However, it didn’t take long before I was caught again.

I thought I would be taken somewhere immediately, but Gardner didn’t move.

‘What on earth is he thinking?’

I stopped trying to escape and looked at him. When our eyes met, he smiled.

‘I guess I should still run away…’

Before the thought had even finished, Gardner was thrown back by an unexpected force that appeared out of nowhere. My body was pulled in the opposite direction.

As soon as I realized I was being held by someone, I looked up.

“Leonel.”

“Nelly. I’ve come to get you.”

I hugged him tightly around the waist and felt a hand wrap around my back.

I heard movement behind me, wondering if Gardner was getting up. I flinched involuntarily, and Leonel wrapped his arms around my head and held me close.

“Do you also need to cut off a finger to come to your senses?”

Cut off a finger? Startled, I flinched, and Leonel covered my ears.

I had already heard everything, but for now, I remained still. I could feel the dagger Leonel had concealed in his embrace through our touching bodies. If I let him go, he might pull out the dagger and sever Gardner’s fingers.

“I just wanted to have a conversation.”

Gardner spoke impudently in an almost apologetic tone.

“Other than holding onto you, I haven’t done anything else. Isn’t that right, Lady Pepper?”

It was a fair point. But that was a separate issue from being hesitant. I broke free from Leonel’s embrace and faced Gardner.

“I felt threatened.”

“In that case, I apologize.”

Gardner apologized neatly. We didn’t acknowledge the apology, but he was about to leave on his own accord.

As he was about to pass by us, Leonel said in a voice filled with restrained anger.

“This is the last warning. Don’t you ever cross our path again?”

Gardner nodded slightly and disappeared.

Leonel held me tightly, pressing his face against my neck. He breathed deeply as if trying to suppress his anger and worry. He carefully let me go.

“Are you hurt?”

“No, I’m not. He just held onto me.”

So weird. He had enough time to harm me if he wanted to.

He could have dragged me out of sight.

Why did he let me go? Because he knew Leonel was coming?

No. Then he shouldn’t have grabbed me in the first place. He doesn’t know how scared and wary I am.

“Nelly, Don’t overthink it.”

A low, soft voice broke through my thoughts.

“I’m just more anxious because I can’t understand his intentions.”

“That’s probably the intention. To psychologically pressure you and then push you in the direction he wants when he needs to.”

I lifted my head and Leonel tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

“But you don’t need to be afraid. As long as I’m here, no one can harm you.”

“Thank you.”

I held his hand tightly, and we returned to the castle. As soon as we closed the door, without saying a word, our lips met.

Leonel swiftly lifted me onto the desk. I reached out to steady myself, making a rustling sound as if I was about to fall backward. Instinctively, I turned my head, and there was a letter that wasn’t there when I left.

When I glanced at it, Leonel momentarily pulled away.

“Leonel, it seems to be a letter from the manor.”

“Hmm…”

He frowned as if he didn’t appreciate the interruption.

He took the letter and sat on the chair, opening the envelope.

“What does it say?”

“It seems there’s a problem in the estate.”

Leonel handed me the letter. When I read it, it was more than just a “problem” in the estate; it was a major crisis caused by the immigrants.

“I think I should go.”

Leonel rubbed the corners of his eyes tiredly. He nodded, his face showing his reluctance.

“There are about ten days left until January 1st, so if I go quickly, I can make it to the New Year’s celebration.”

“Shall I go with you?”

Leonel wrapped his arms around my waist and playfully chuckled.

“If you neglect your responsibilities, you’ll be in trouble.”

“Leonel will take care of it.”

I hopped off the desk and sat on his lap. Holding my cheeks, he tilted his head for a kiss, and his laughter filled the room.

“But it’s still in the capital.”

“Are you trying to stop me because it’s dangerous?”

“Of course not. If you want, going together wouldn’t be a bad idea. But you’d have to ride a horse. Will you come with me?”

“…Be careful on your trip.”

* * *

Viscountess Morgane constantly bit her fingernails. 

When she used to gossip about Nelly, she always had a fair number of people around her. She relished the feeling of being at the center of social circles. However, that sweetness was short-lived.

After Adelhardt and Nelly’s rise to prominence, the rumors began to subside. Those who had approached her in search of interesting stories drifted away.

During meals like today’s luncheon, mocking remarks could be heard nearby.

“Viscountess Morgane was mocking Lady Pepper, you say?”

“Because the child that was entrusted to her brother’s house turned out well, wouldn’t she be so upset?”

“I’ve never seen jealousy this pitiful and blatantly displayed.”

“It’s possible. I heard she was a commoner before she married into nobility.”

Viscountess Morgane was a commoner before marrying into the Pepper family.

Because she abandoned Nelly and pretended she had never been married, everyone thought she was a commoner who got lucky and became a noble.

Perhaps that’s why, unlike when they gossiped about Nelly, they didn’t even make an effort to hide it. The fact made Viscountess Morgane even more miserable. She couldn’t stay at the luncheon any longer.

As she thought about leaving, a noble sitting next to her got up from her seat. She accidentally spilled the glass of wine she was holding.

“Oh dear, what should I do?”

It was a voice devoid of any apology. No one offered a handkerchief or helped her. Viscountess Morgane couldn’t take it anymore and hastily left her seat. Laughter echoed from behind.

“Lady Pepper should have seen this.”

“That’s right. If she had seen it, she would probably have been delighted. Too bad.”

“Isn’t this the epitome of petty jealousy?”

The laughter felt like nails scraping against her ears.

“Nelly, Nelly, Nelly! That damn Nelly.”

Wherever she went, that name echoed, and she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. She walked as if possessed, muttering like a mad person, and headed to a secluded area where there were few people.

Although the palace was crowded with nobles, as she approached the forest, no one was in sight. She crouched down under the well-maintained garden wall and sat there, feeling too humiliated to move until the shame subsided.

As she sat in silence, she heard distant voices engaged in conversation. They were gradually getting closer as if approaching.

‘Should I run away?’

Rather than endure further humiliation and mockery, it might be better to leave. However, she couldn’t move. When she was about to enter the forest, one name that she had grown to hate suddenly popped into her mind.

She held her breath and peeked through the bushes to see who the approaching people were.

It was Leonel and Archduke Landers.

“As if that weren’t bad enough, Lady Pepper came to talk to me, and she slipped up and said the name of Lord Devondus.”

She must have been nervous, Leonel thought.

“There’s no evidence yet.”

“That’s right. Lady Pepper also vehemently denied that Devondus did such a thing. She sowed doubt in me and withdrew, leaving only herself unaffected. There’s a weird side to it.”

Leonel remained silent, not knowing how to respond. His silence was nothing unusual, so Archduke Landers didn’t find it strange.

“Anyway, I’ll take care of the task you asked for.”

“Thank you.”

“What’s there to thank? You’re transferring all of your shares in the fatigue recovery potion business to me, aren’t you?”

“Safety for Nelly is more important than money.”

Archduke Landers paused for a moment.

“If you’re so concerned, why not bring her along?”

“I’d have to travel unescorted, and there might be assassination attempts.”

“Indeed. There are many strangers here, and the internal security is not good, so with your personality, I would not feel safe even entering the castle.”

Archduke Landers resumed his slow walk and passed by the spot where Viscountess Morgane was hiding. Once the two of them had disappeared, she slowly released her held breath. Even then, she couldn’t move for a long time.

“Duke Altwood is leaving…!”

This was an opportunity that could jeopardize Nelly Pepper. Viscountess Morgane got up from her seat cautiously.

“I have to inform Marquis Gardner.”

She was about to take a step when someone fell from the tree. Viscountess Morgane examined the person who had dropped from above in surprise.

“Wow, why is Prince here…?”

“I was curious what you were eavesdropping on.”

Viscountess Morgane reached out her trembling hand.

It was well-known that Prince Adelhardt had publicly shown an interest in Nelly at the masquerade ball. It was also famous that he had been rejected but continuously tried to approach and establish a friendship. 

There were even rumors that a serious courtship battle might occur over Nelly Pepper.

He might want to talk to her about this matter to gain her trust.

‘What do you intend to do with me?’

She shivered all over.

Meanwhile, Adelhardt hesitated for a moment while looking at her pale face filled with fear.

‘She seems to be allied with Gardner.’

He could apprehend her now and interrogate her, but Gardner would probably cut ties and run.

He smiled and took a step back.

“Don’t be so nervous, madam. I don’t intend to tell anyone what I’ve seen or heard today.”

“Nelly would be disappointed if she found out.”

“But if Lionel were to go astray, it would be easier to take Nelly. Oh, by any chance, is Marquis Gardner targeting Nelly? That would be quite troublesome.”