Duke, Please Fail! - Chapter 108

Episode 108

Leonel has left. 

The seat next to him felt unusually empty as if he’d been there every day except when Archduke Landers needed him to do something. 

I sagged, then shook my head.

“Nevertheless, I have work to do!”

As I stood up from my seat, Mary, who had been cleaning, turned her head.

“Are you going to the fatigue recovery business?”

“Yes, I’m not sure if Adelhardt will have any free time.”

“I’ll go and check.”

Mary left the room and returned with Adelhardt. 

I was about to put on my cloak over my dress when Mary grabbed my shawl.

“It’s been cold lately.”

“Thank you, Mary.”

After thanking her, I followed Adelhardt, along with his escorts, headed to the fatigue recovery center.

Upon entering the office, Adelhardt, who was beside me, muttered upon seeing someone.

“It’s His Higness’ aide.”

He was the one who had guided Leonel to his room during the masquerade. 

I approached him, feigning recognition, and he greeted me in person.

“It’s been a while, Miss Nelly.”

“That’s true. What’s in your hand?”

“It’s the ledger. His Highness wanted to check something.”

I felt uneasy, as I wondered if it was the ledger from the time I worked. I didn’t want to be embarrassed if I had made any mistakes.

With a glance, Archduke Lander’s aide handed the ledger to one of the servants.

“Moreover, I had something to tell you today. His Highness said you no longer need to come to the business premises.”

Without giving me a chance to ask what it was about, he quickly greeted me and left the office.

I stood there in confusion, then asked the steward who worked with me if what he said was true. The steward nodded.

“It seems you no longer need to work here.”

Suddenly, they told me not to come out. It does seem strange, but it’s safer to stay inside the palace. Well, it worked out, didn’t it?

I nodded my head and returned to the palace with Adelhardt. 

As soon as we crossed the palace gates, he was summoned by someone else.

I shook hands with him and headed to my room.

As I walked through the quiet corridor, it felt like cautious footsteps were following me.

I suddenly turned around, feeling a chill down my spine.

However, in the corridor, I couldn’t see anyone’s presence.

* * *

Viscountess Morgane was left alone in a shabby inn room, trembling.

On the day Leonel returned to his estate, Gardner issued an order. She drove the family carriage out of the capital with a flourish, pretending to return to the Morgane manor.

She was told to stay hidden until she was contacted. She had been waiting for three days now.

‘Do they have any idea what to do with Nelly?’

Viscountess Morgane paced around the small room, covering her face, and ventured near the palace. She discreetly handed a note and money to a soldier.

“Give this to Marquis Gardner.”

The soldier, recognizing the outfit and the tone of voice through his hood, bowed grimly.

Viscountess Morgane returned to the inn and waited. 

As the sun set and evening fell, someone finally knocked on the door of her room. Viscountess Morgane abruptly stood up and opened the door.

“Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting?”

Gardner swallowed a sigh as he looked at her without entering. He pushed her aside and entered. Viscountess Morgane followed him with an annoyed expression.

“What are you fretting about as if you’re going to confront me when the Duke returns?”

“I’m looking for an opportunity too.”

Gardner was also on the verge of death. He had thought it would be easier to lure Nelly Pepper away without Leonel. Everything went wrong.

Nelly Pepper had gained more weight without Leonel around. She dined with the Queen and Lady Etkin. Gardner wasn’t bold enough to poison someone in a position of power in the kingdom and the palace.

Kidnapping or attacking was also impossible. She stayed inside her room like a mouse that had hidden a piece of cheese and refused to come out.

‘It’s going to take some time.’

One time, they tried to lure her out under the excuse of being summoned by the Queen, but it failed. 

She followed obediently, but as soon as she saw what they were planning, she transformed into a rabbit that suddenly spotted a fox and escaped.

Since she was already a fearful person, bordering on paranoia, there was no way to catch her.

“I’ve tried several approaches, but they all failed.”

“She won’t come to the fatigue recovery center?”

“No, she won’t.”

Gardner sighed. 

Initially, he had thought to push Nelly further into a corner by stimulating her fears. Some days he would follow her all day, while on other days, he would keep his distance. 

By repeating this pattern, he hoped she would let her guard down on the days when she didn’t encounter him.

However, since the day Leonel left, Nelly hadn’t come to the recovery center. Her intention was clear: she wouldn’t even give him a chance.

“So, what’s the plan then?” 

Viscountess Morgane asked sharply. Her tone conveyed that if she didn’t get a satisfactory answer, she would return to the mansion immediately.

“If she doesn’t leave her room, we’ll have to make her realize that her room is not a safe place.”

* * *

I rushed into the room as if escaping, then collapsed onto the couch. 

My legs wouldn’t hold me up, and I clutched the note tightly in my hand, taking deep breaths. 

Mary brought me a warm cup of tea.

“Miss Nelly, what’s wrong?”

“I almost followed a strange person. Mary, don’t follow anyone if they call you either!”

Mary chuckled and nodded her head, but I still felt uneasy.

A maid had come a while ago, saying that the Queen had summoned me. I didn’t doubt her words since I had seen her a few times during meal times. 

I was just checking for a note from the manor, so I grabbed it and followed the maid.

I opened the note in my hand and read it.

[Nelly is in danger. Don’t come down. R.D.]

It was a note from Levance. 

My senses sharpened, and I looked around. It was an unfamiliar corridor, with not many people around. 

I left the maid behind and ran back immediately.

The maid who had been chasing me disappeared when I entered a crowded area.

Although I returned to the room without any further incident, my heart was still pounding, and my room felt chilly. I took a deep breath and unfolded the crumpled note. 

I was curious about its contents, and Mary approached me.

“Seems like something is happening in the estate, doesn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Is there a way to get Leonel to come back?”

“It’s been two days since he left. It’s unlikely we can catch up with him.”

I sighed. If the message was simply meant for me, that would be good, but what if there was a threat at the estate?

‘For now, I need to be more cautious.’

I had promised not to go outside except during meal times, and it had been several days since I made that commitment. 

Even when lying down, sleep eluded me. For someone like me, who usually fell asleep as soon as I rested my head, it was an uncommon experience.

‘I’m anxious.’

Someone might be after my life, or maybe they were targeting Leonel’s life. Such thoughts made me jittery. I became startled at the slightest noise, and even the tea Mary served felt suspect.

‘Did Leonel always feel this way?’

He had mentioned that there were assassination attempts even after returning from the war, so it wasn’t unreasonable for him to develop insomnia.

‘I should hold him when he returns.’

With this determination, I pulled the pillow Leonel used to sleep and closed my eyes. I dozed off briefly but woke up several times at the sound of the wind shaking the window. 

Then I heard a sound as if someone were forcibly trying to open the locked door.

Creak, creak, click.

At first, I thought I might be overreacting. I tried to calm my racing heart, but I opened my eyes cautiously.

It wasn’t a delusion. A dark figure was silently approaching the bed.

I checked the bedside, and the self-defense chair I had kept just in case was there, sitting quietly. The intruder reached for his waist, apparently attempting to draw a sword.

‘I need to stop him.’

Thought and action occurred simultaneously. I sprang up and wielded the chair with trembling hands.

The man, rather than drawing his sword, grabbed the chair and pulled it with great force.

I released my grip on the chair just in time before my body would have been pulled along. The man couldn’t overcome the recoil and fell backward.

Seizing the opportunity, I rushed toward the door.

I learned something when I was kidnapped by Adelhardt and Frer.

Never, under any circumstances, let yourself be captured. 

It’s foolish to chase after the criminal, as you’re only banking on their carelessness.

“Assassin! There’s an assassin here! Help, please!”

I shouted with a reaction I didn’t expect, and I could hear muffled sounds from behind. Without looking back, I opened the door and continued screaming as I sprinted without any plan.

Eventually, I entered the room Leonel had told me about.

‘Leonel and Guadang. Leonel and Guadang.’

Whispering the reassuring names eased my fear. Without hesitation, I threw a body slam between the lion and donkey figures. I pushed the wall sideways and entered the room, closing the door as I glanced outside.

Thankfully, there seemed to be no one following me. Only then did my legs regain their strength. I was in no state to turn on the lights. I descended to the lower floor and entered the room as if by instinct.

Partly in tears, I dragged the sofa to block the door. Then I sat huddled in a corner, burying my face in my knees.

“Leonel… Back.”

I don’t know how long I sat there sobbing, but then I heard a rumbling sound, and the wall began to move.

Startled, I raised my head. I began looking for a suitable chair to fend off any potential threat. Familiar blonde hair appeared.

“Nelly. Are you here?”

“Adelhardt!”

I jumped up, but I couldn’t bring myself to run to him. He approached slowly as I stood shakily.

“Are you hurt, Nelly? If you were hurt, I’d probably get cursed out.”

He was an ally. He had reconciled with Leonel, and he had told me he’d come to help if anything happened to me. 

So why was I so afraid?

The memory of Adelhardt rendering me unconscious came back, and I couldn’t stop my tears.

“If you betray me, I won’t let you get away with it.”

“Okay, I get it. So let’s calm down for now.”

Adelhardt approached me and gently embraced me.

“Don’t worry. You’re safe now.”

As soon as I heard those words, I burst into tears. 

I cried uncontrollably for a while until I calmed down a bit. Gently wiping my face with Adelhardt’s clothes, I stepped back.

“Thank you, hmp, thank you.”

“Between us, there’s no need for…”

I staggered over and plopped down on the couch against the wall. Adelhardt stood before me, smiling strangely.

“It’s a sliding door, so there’s no point in blocking it.”

“For my peace of mind, I thought I should do something.”

“You screamed well. It shook the palace to its core, but you handled it well.”

“I’ve already been kidnapped once.”

“Hahaha.”

Adelhardt awkwardly chuckled and stood up first.

“I’ll go to the knights and the portrait gallery. Take your time coming out. I’ll provide an escort.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

Adelhardt lightly waved his hand and left the room through the door he had come in. 

I sat on the sofa, trying to compose myself before slowly moving. I cautiously opened the door, went upstairs, and carefully opened the door. 

The portrait gallery still seemed empty.

With cat-like steps, I approached the corridor and pressed my ear to the door. After a few minutes, I heard Adelhardt’s voice.

As I gently opened the door, Adelhardt acted surprised.

“Nelly, you were hiding here. I was worried, so I came.”

I nodded and left the portrait gallery. The corridor was bustling with nobles who had woken up and knights patrolling.

“The knights will guard your room, so rest assured.”

“Thank you.”

I answered awkwardly as I stayed close to Adelhardt while making my way to the room. Along the way, I looked around.

Mary lived in the neighboring room and would have heard my screams. However, she didn’t appear to be the first to rush out.

“Adelhardt, have you seen Mary?”

“I haven’t.”

A sudden wave of anxiety washed over me. I quickly navigated through the people and opened the door to Mary’s room.

The room was eerily empty. The disheveled sheets were the only sign that she had been here. My shaky legs led me into the room.

On the desk, there was a piece of paper with a short message written in large, wobbly letters.

[If you want to save the maid, follow my instructions.]

The crooked handwriting seemed to reflect fear. 

It was Mary’s handwriting.