Duke, Please Fail! - Chapter 114

Episode 114

Adelhardt smiled awkwardly as he observed the people approaching him. 

In just one night, the rumors had spread uncontrollably.

“Your Highness, is it true that Baroness Nelly Pepper embezzled Archduke Landers’ money and fled?”

“Then, was everything Viscountess Morgane said true?”

“It’s strange. These days, Baroness Pepper hasn’t been seen. Do you know where she is, Your Highness?”

“You two were close.”

Adelhardt noticed the silent stares mingling with the commotion. When he turned his head, he saw Gardner. He nodded to Gardner as a greeting and responded to the nobles.

“Well, I wish I knew where Nelly is. She’s not a greedy person, so she must be wrongly accused in this situation.”

“Defending Baroness Pepper even in these circumstances…”

The nobles pitied Adelhardt’s unrequited love. He didn’t correct them, wearing a wistful smile.

A group of nobles a little further away murmured.

“There are rumors of her committing suicide. If that’s true, what will Your Highness do?”

“Now is not the time for Your Highness to worry. Duke Leonel…”

The noble who was speaking halted. The faces of those around him paled, leading him to close his mouth.

He turned his head toward where people’s gazes were directed. In the center of the hall, Leonel stood, his eyes piercing like drops of blood frozen in winter.

The hall fell silent in an instant.

Leonel, shrouded in the sharp coldness of winter like a cloak, slowly approached Adelhardt. His eyes were bloodshot, and his hair was disheveled as if he had rushed here without a moment’s rest, bearing a grim atmosphere as if he had just returned from the battlefield.

If anyone provoked him, it seemed like he would snap their neck without hesitation. The nobles were rendered speechless, clearing a path for him without saying a word.

“Adelhardt.”

Leonel called his friend’s name in a suppressed voice. His composure was on the brink of breaking, and his mind felt numb. 

Before Gardner or Devondus could be identified, Leonel wanted to wipe them all out, weary of blood and murder, despite having left the battlefield. It was a ludicrous situation.

He purposely avoided looking in Gardner’s direction because he couldn’t get his mind off it. 

“Where is Nelly?”

His eyes were so intense that he almost revealed Nelly’s whereabouts, who she was with, and what she was doing in a crowded place. 

‘If he saw Nelly’s hand, he’d try to kill me.’

As the image of her bloodied hands came to mind, Adelhardt’s smile disappeared from his face.

Thanks to that, the atmosphere between the two became even colder. Adelhardt forced a formal smile, choosing not to refresh the atmosphere.

“Why don’t you tidy up your appearance first and then come back, Duke Altwood? If Nelly sees you in that state, she might run away.”

Somewhere, there was the sound of suppressed laughter at this clear provocation. Someone was sending intrigued glances, and even Gardner’s eyes held a hint of amusement. Everyone seemed eager for a fight to break out.

Adelhardt added with a smug tone.

“Would it be to my advantage if she ran away? I might even offer Nelly a ‘doorless room.’ She’ll never return to the Duke.”

For a moment, Leonel’s gaze turned fierce once again. The surrounding nobles also tensed up, but Leonel turned and left the hall.

Adelhardt sighed with relief, seemingly satisfied that his message had been delivered as intended. 

He had feared that Leonel might not understand his message and might resort to violence, even in a joking manner.

However, the concerned glances from those around him didn’t disappear.

“Your Highness, are you sure you’re okay? Duke Altwood’s gaze was quite unsettling. Please, don’t be alone.”

“Haha. I’ll keep that in mind. If I disappear without a trace, then Duke Altwood would indeed be the culprit, right?”

“Don’t even joke about such a frightening thing.”

Adelhardt casually addressed the nobles, then looked at Gardner. 

With a meaningful smile, Gardner nodded to Adelhardt and left the hall.

* * *

Devondus arrived at his estate near the capital one day after Leonel. All the servants lined up, bowing as he passed through.

The butler who had been waiting in front of the entrance approached Devondus and informed him of important matters. 

“My Lord, there have been reports that Her Majesty wishes to see you. Marquis Gardner is also waiting.”

“Tell them I’ll speak to them on my way to the palace if it’s not urgent.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

Devondus returned to his room to prepare for his visit to the palace. 

Upon leaving the house, the butler summoned Gardner from the reception room to the entrance. Devondus boarded his carriage, and Gardner took a seat opposite him.

As the carriage departed, Gardner carefully explained the situation.

“Things have taken an unexpected turn.”

The original plan was to kidnap Nelly when she left the palace. While holding her captive, Viscountess Morgane would take a forged ledger, pretending to be Nelly, to the business and deposit the money into Nelly’s public treasury. 

Gardner intended to inform Archduke Landers of these actions, start an investigation, and then have Nelly, who was held captive, killed to stage it as a suicide, leaving no room for suspicion.

However, it didn’t go as planned. Nelly didn’t leave the palace, so Gardner attempted to kidnap her within the palace.

Devondus’ expression soured when he heard that the kidnapping failed. It crumpled completely when he learned that instead of Nelly, a maid had been brought.

The plan had gone completely awry.

“So, where are Nelly Pepper and the maid now?”

Gardner hesitated before finally managing to speak.

“They escaped.”

Devondus slammed his fist against the carriage wall. 

“Didn’t I tell you not to let your guard down? Is this your excuse now?”

“I’m sorry, but there weren’t enough people to keep watch on Nelly Pepper and the maid…”

“Is that your excuse now?”

To maintain perfect control over the plan, it was necessary to move with the smallest possible group. 

However, given the complexity of the situation, Gardner allowed for more than ten elite members to be involved. Despite this consideration, everything had still gone awry.

Gardner observed Devondus’ angered expression and quickly reported the damage control.

“The current situation is still manageable. We used Viscountess Morgane to set up a farce, and we deposited the money in the public treasury under the maid’s name, making the maid an accomplice.”

“But we need to deal with it before Leonel arrives.”

“He’s already here.”

Devondus cursed under his breath. In response, Gardner urgently continued.

“But he seems to be suspicious of Prince Adelhardt rather than us.”

“Why?”

“Nelly Pepper didn’t return to Adelhardt’s estate. Duke Leonel must have heard about it since he has men in the capital.”

“He thinks Adelhardt tried to intercept Nelly Pepper in his absence, I see.”

Adelhardt had shown great interest in Nelly at the masquerade ball and, even after returning, they had spent time together. 

To others, it was clear that the two were quite close, leading to rumors that Adelhardt was infatuated with Nelly.

‘Is he blinded by jealousy and has a narrow-minded perspective now?’

Devondus chuckled. 

The situation wasn’t as bad as it might seem. Even if Archduke Landers sentenced Nelly to death, it didn’t matter. Leonel would no longer have the guilty Nelly Pepper by his side.

‘Her brilliant mind wouldn’t be of any use, and Leonel would suffer as well.’

As long as the witnesses who knew Gardner’s plan were handled properly, they were still in a favorable position.

“We should eliminate Viscountess Morgane.”

“She has already left the capital, and we need to find out where she is. With your permission, I can take care of it.”

Devondus observed Gardner’s restless state. He had already botched the job and was now a witness who needed handling. Nevertheless, Devondus gave his instructions without showing his hand.

“No, focus on preparing for Nelly Pepper’s possible return to the palace. I will arrange for someone to deal with Morgane separately.”

“Yes, Lord Devondus.”

Devondus separated from Gardner and listened to the rumors and stories as he entered the palace, paying attention to Leonel’s reactions upon his return.

He entered the stateroom and prepared to listen for reports and gather information.

“Did you see the look on Duke Altwood’s face earlier?”

“He must be furious. Viscountess Morgane was always with Prince Adelhardt when Baroness Pepper wasn’t around.”

“And now she’s accused of embezzling Archduke Landers’ money and trying to hide her tracks. Perhaps the prince is protecting Lady Pepper.”

“If Prince Adelhardt is assassinated, what will happen?”

A smile crept onto Devondus’ lips. 

It was perfect. He needed a pawn, and now he had one. If Prince Adelhardt and Leonel were entangled in a bitter rivalry, their mutual animosity could be exploited to his advantage.

‘Maybe we can bring Leonel down.’

Once that happened, Nelly Pepper would be of little concern. He could simply hand her over to the prince. As he walked away with a corrupt and sinister smile, Lady Etkin approached.

“Welcome, Lord Devondus.”

“No, I came because Her Majesty summoned me. Is she in the stateroom?”

“No, she’s too busy to meet with you, so I came instead. Her Majesty suggested that you stay in the palace for a month. Interesting events are about to unfold.”

Staying in the palace for a month would make it easier for Devondus to establish contact with the prince. This was an opportune offer, and Devondus gladly accepted it, thinking that fortune was on his side.

Upon receiving his assigned room, Devondus used a cipher to send a message to his servant.

[Eliminate Viscountess Morgane.]

After a swift response confirming that they would locate and handle her, he asked the servant.

“Where is Leonel?”

“I heard he left the palace after appearing in the hall, and he hasn’t been seen since.”

Leonel’s departure was good news. It meant he could act more freely without the prince’s interference. If Leonel knew about the possible alliance between Adelhardt and him, he would have taken precautions.

“Fortune truly favors me.”

With a light step, Devondus made his way to Adelhardt, who was seated and sipping tea. Adelhardt greeted him with a formal smile.

“It’s been a while, Lord Devondus.”

Devondus moved to the seat opposite Adelhardt. Before he could even sit down, Adelhardt brought up an unexpected topic.

“You’ve come to see me, what’s the occasion, Lord Devondus? Are you here to scold me for fighting with your nephew?”

The sudden antagonism caught Devondus by surprise, but he couldn’t hide his satisfaction.

‘The prince must be unaware of our past issues.’

Externally, Devondus and Leonel were not on particularly intimate terms, nor were they openly hostile. Nevertheless, the enmity Leonel felt toward Devondus mirrored the hostility he felt toward Adelhardt. 

After all, Devondus was a member of the Altwood family.

“Well, do you think I should reprimand Leonel just as I should be reprimanding you?”

Adelhardt laughed heartily as if he had heard an amusing joke.

“How would you propose to reprimand him?”

“He dared to speak against the prince, and I intend to take away everything he has as punishment.”

Devondus sipped the tea that had been served by a servant. 

Yet, all the while, his crimson eyes keenly scrutinized Adelhardt’s face. He could discern a hint of doubt in Adelhardt’s expression, a silent question, ‘Is this acceptable?’

‘By hesitating like this, he hasn’t killed Leonel yet.’

Devondus was well aware of the deep-seated grudge Adelhardt held against Leonel, so he didn’t have any doubts about his course of action.