Duke, Please Fail! - Chapter 111

Episode 111

If the ruler is indecisive, it leads to resentment. 

Ignoring what needs to be addressed due to his troubled heart will result in neglecting what should be taken care of.

In the end, Leonel lost Nelly. Leonel had no intention of following the same path.

“It’s my fault.”

Levance was taken aback and approached Leonel as if he were about to kneel.

“It’s not Your Grace’s fault. I was not good enough. If you wish to apologize, I would rather you discipline me.”

“No, it’s my fault. You cannot decide what I hesitated to do.”

Leonel still felt guilt and responsibility for those who suffered or died as his subordinates on the battlefield. He let those feelings get the better of him and forgave those who had sinned too easily.

If he, the lord, continued to behave that way, how could Levance, the deputy, be expected to be sober in his judgment?

“Don’t banish those who caused the problem; let them receive proper punishment within the territory. Those who killed people through arson or assault should be executed.”

“Does this apply to existing residents of the territory as well?”

Leonel nodded. It was the right thing to do unless they were simply caught up in the dispute.

There was no need to feel guilty about those who associated with troublemakers and engaged in violence or theft.

“I’ll personally carry out the first execution.”

The lord had the power of immediate execution, but he had never directly administered punishment due to his dignity.

However, the situation was different now. Those who entered disrespectfully should be shown authority and fear.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I have to be.”

Leonel stood up from his seat. As he walked, he asked Levance a worried question.

“Is Faust behaving well?”

“He hasn’t caused any major trouble. He hasn’t been seen at all for the past few days.”

“Is he at home? That’s a relief.”

He ordered Arette to bring the worst offenders to the square.

They were the ones who had robbed the refugees. It was the first incident since Leonel became the lord.

According to the law, those who robbed people were subject to the death penalty. However, among the culprits, there was the younger sibling of a man who had served as Leonel’s soldier and died.

Perhaps Leonel’s weakness had spread, as there was no fear on their faces.

Leonel asked Levance with a cold voice.

“Have the trials already concluded?”

“Yes.”

Leonel drew his sword and swung it forcefully, causing the criminals’ bodies to crumble. Hot and red liquid splattered his clothes, and the blood that had splashed on his face quickly dried.

It was a terrible feeling, but he didn’t wipe his stained face.

“From now on, those who intentionally cause unrest or commit crimes will be severely punished. Take this as an example and remember it.”

He swung the sword to shake off the blood and wiped the blade clean with his sleeve. The well-forged sword disappeared into its scabbard as if being sucked in.

However, the eyes of the terrified onlookers were still fixed on Leonel. Hundreds of eyes seemed like hundreds of pairs of corpses, and he felt like he was back on the battlefield and wanted to run away.

And he missed Nelly especially.

* * *

After Adelhardt had bitten all the people, he went through a secret passage to a room with no door. He spotted the sofa Nelly had moved for her peace of mind. 

He pushed the wall behind the sofa with force, revealing a narrow passage. Going up and opening a door in the same way, he came out into the portrait gallery.

Adelhardt slowly recited the words Nelly had emphasized.

‘Leonel, Guadang, relationship, back.’

The origin of the name Leonel meant “lion,” and there happened to be a lion statue on his right. Guadang meant “donkey,” and a donkey statue stood on his left.

‘What about ‘back’?’

He closed the door behind him and took a few steps back, revealing a massive portrait.

‘Is this it?’

As he gently moved the portrait, a piece of paper fell from behind. Adelhardt picked up the paper and crossed over to the other side of the room with no door.

He entered his room and unfolded the paper. It was written in hurried and messy handwriting, explaining the situation concisely.

“So, it turned out like this.” 

He muttered as he read the note that Nelly had added below the explanation.

[If we go together, they might suspect something. It would be better to act separately to save Mary. I’ll make contact first, and then follow with an appropriate time gap.]

She had set herself up as bait.

“It’s too dangerous.” 

He let out a long sigh and stood up from his seat. He had to go to the private residence he had arranged outside the palace because there were too many constraints inside the palace.

As he changed into different clothes, he heard a knock at the door.

“Your Highness, Her Majesty is looking for you.”

Adelhardt checked the time. He was supposed to meet the kidnappers at dawn, so he had plenty of time. And perhaps he could get the Queen’s help.

He took the note Nelly had written and left the room. 

A maid led him to the entrance of the queen’s chamber. A knight standing in front of the door spotted Adelhardt and informed the queen of his arrival.

When permission was granted from inside, the knight opened the door.

“I heard you were looking for me.”

“Sit down.”

Adelhardt sat opposite the queen and greeted Lady Etkin with a polite nod. She responded with a graceful smile.

After the brief greetings, the queen spoke directly.

“I’ve discovered something interesting.”

It was not an interesting tone at all. Adelhardt cleared his throat and looked up.

“I’m curious about what it is.”

As Adelhardt smiled, the queen signaled to the servant, and the door soon opened, revealing a man covered in blood being dragged in.

“He used to ghostwrite for criminals in the back alleys, and they say he sometimes joined in some crimes when he got bored, but he’s alive and well.”

Lady Etkin explained on behalf of the queen.

Adelhardt couldn’t understand why these two people had summoned him to show a criminal forger. When he expressed his confusion, the queen gestured to the man.

“Speak for yourself. What is the most recent thing you forged?”

The forger recounted the information Adelhardt was familiar with, just as it was written in the note he held. He tried not to show his confusion, but he couldn’t escape the queen’s scrutiny.

“It seems you already know.”

“I heard it from Nelly.”

Lady Etkin, who had been quietly sipping her tea by the queen’s side, smiled faintly.

“How fascinating. He claims to have heard it from Miss Pepper as well.”

As Lady Etkin’s gaze fell on him, the forger trembled in fear and crouched down.

“Yes, that’s right! She came in person and asked me to write that, saying it was for a prank.”

Adelhardt had no idea how the situation was unfolding, but the forger continued.

“The lower part of her eyes were covered, but the part that was exposed looked exactly like the portrait of Baroness Nelly Pepper you showed me earlier.”

One of Lady Etkin’s maids brought out a paper with a drawing of Nelly’s portrait and placed it on the table.

It was a simple yet accurate representation of Nelly’s features.

Adelhardt, who had been silently contemplating the portrait, raised his head.

“So, are you suggesting that all of this is Nelly’s little drama?”

* * *

The cloth covering my vision was ripped away.

There was an unpleasant face in front of me, but that didn’t matter. I quickly turned my head and glanced around.

Mary, in a situation similar to mine, was tied up and lying in a corner of the room.

“Ugh!”

I wanted to call out to Mary, but I couldn’t speak properly because of the gag. I tried to move my bound body to reach her, but Viscountess Morgane put her foot on my shoulder.

I attempted to resist and twist my body, but being tied up, I had little strength. Viscountess Morgane pushed my shoulder down with her foot, and then she crouched in front of me, her eyes the same color as mine, looking at me with pity.

“So, would it have been too much trouble to be polite when I came to visit?”

“Ugh, ugh!”

“I can’t tell anyone, but I’m supposed to be the mother-in-law of the Duke Altwood. You should have let me meet him. I’m your mother.”

Who’s a mother-in-law, and what kind of mother participates in kidnapping her daughter?

I wanted to glare at her, but I held back. Right now, being bound, it wouldn’t do any good to provoke her.

Just endure a little longer. Just a little. 

I heard a slight, mocking laugh.

“Well, come on, what’s the point.”

I opened my eyes at the sound of movement. She got up and looked down at me.

“You’re going to die soon.”

What is she talking about? I looked at her in surprise.

The stern woman’s gaze was directed towards the door. As I struggled and made noise, she leaned towards me and whispered.

“I was told that when I finish my work, I will drop you from the clock tower. It’s better to disguise it as a suicide.”

I wished she would elaborate, but Viscountess Morgane simply left the room.

There was no time to ponder the kidnappers’ intentions. What’s the point in thinking about it now when the result is death? 

If I want to live, I have to move.

I wiggled my bound feet and took off my shoes. A small eyebrow knife fell out from inside.

I grabbed the knife and approached Mary first.

“Ugh, ugh!”

Calling out to Mary with my mouth blocked, I shook her legs with my feet.

After a while, Mary woke up with a groan, and her eyes opened. She looked at me with a surprised expression.

I signaled for her to turn around. Mary quickly understood and showed me her back.

I faced Mary and used the knife in my hand. 

Sssn, sssn. I heard the sound of the rope being cut.

After a while, Mary untied the rope herself. She removed the gag and took the eyebrow knife.

“Miss Nelly, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault…”

A voice filled with tears whispered. I desperately shook my head, wanting to say something.

Mary sobbed as she released my wrist. I untied my legs and removed the gag.

“Don’t say that. I’m very sorry. You went through this because of me.”

Mary cried as she huddled up. I comforted her and glanced towards the door.

“Don’t worry too much. Adelhardt will come to find us soon.”

He only knew the initial meeting place, but I believed in him. 

Even though we were taken somewhere else, I couldn’t be sure if he could find us. Still, I believed he would search for us, even if he had to use his soldiers.

I scanned the room to calm my mind. The room was empty, except for the door. The only possible escape route, the window, was blocked by boards.

I looked out through a crack in the window. It seemed to be about three stories high, and the exact location was difficult to determine.

“Mary, do you know where we are?”

Mary shook her head.