Duke, Please Fail! - Chapter 115

Episode 115

‘A little prodding and he’ll join me.’

Of course, Devondus had no intention of being on Adelhardt’s side until the end.

‘After dealing with Leonel, I should get rid of the prince too.’

He spoke as if soothing a child while concealing his true intentions.

“I understand what the prince desires.”

Adelhardt gestured with his eyes as if saying for him to speak.

“Gaining favor with Her Majesty, seeking revenge on Leonel, and acquiring Nelly Pepper.”

Adelhardt didn’t hide his surprised expression.

Among the three things Devondus mentioned, there was something that Adelhardt wanted.

He sincerely wanted to gain Her Majesty’s favor. When this desire showed on his face, Devondus leaned back comfortably with a smug smile on his face.

“I can give all three of those to Your Highness.”

“How will you accomplish that?”

“It’s simple. Your Highness, all you need to do is get rid of Leonel and get Nelly Pepper in your hands.”

“But even if Leonel is gone, Nelly won’t come to me.”

“Originally, a person’s heart tends to lean towards the one who is there in their difficult times.”

Adelhardt leaned towards Devondus, resting his elbow on the table. Showing a clear interest, Devondus elaborated on his thoughts.

“What if we say that Leonel is responsible for everything that happened to Nelly Pepper?”

Then, it would be Leonel who tried to frame Nelly and kill her. Nelly would be tormented by betrayal, and at that moment, Adelhardt could console her. But there was one problem.

Adelhardt pointed out a flaw in the plan.

“There’s not enough motive to pin the crime on Leonel. I doubt he would kill Nelly.”

As if making an innocent remark, Devondus slyly smirked.

“I’ve heard that Your Highness’ closest confidant was successful with the crop harvest. Leonel’s territory was in chaos with the arrival of the spies.”

“And Nelly Pepper is the one who knows the most about crop cultivation.”

“Exactly. If it were Leonel, he would have suspected Nelly Pepper as the spy. It became a certainty and driven by betrayal and anger, he plotted this.”

“It would make a perfect motive.”

Devondus nodded approvingly with a satisfied look on his face.

“I will create the evidence. Your Highness, please detonate it at the appropriate time.”

Adelhardt didn’t respond immediately but raised his arm to support his chin.

“You won’t help without any gain, and what is it that Lord Devondus wants?”

“I want to have Altwood completely under my control.”

“If that’s the reason, then I suppose you’ll need me.”

Adelhardt stood up from his seat and extended his hand. Devondus shook his hand.

“Then, please take good care of my nephew.”

Instead of answering, Adelhardt left behind a sly smile.

* * *

Mary briefly regained consciousness. Frer brought a light soup. 

He asked Mary various questions while she ate the soup. And as soon as Mary finished the soup and fell asleep, he informed us of her condition.

“She lost a lot of blood, combined with sleep deprivation, dehydration, and malnutrition. She might not be able to get up for a while.”

“No harm to her life, right?”

“No. It will just take a while to recover.”

Thank goodness. I sighed with relief as I looked after Mary. She had hardly been awake all day.

The next day was the same.

I stayed by Mary’s side until late, then returned to my room.

I climbed onto the bed, curled up my body, and lay down. My body was tired, and my eyelids felt heavy, but sleep wouldn’t come easily.

I briefly dozed off, only to wake up like someone who had been burned. Then, the worries and questions would inevitably follow.

Has Leonel not returned to the capital yet? Did he manage the territory well? Is he uninjured?

“Leonel.”

I called his name absentmindedly, and my nose tingled.

I miss him. It hadn’t even been a week since he left, but it felt like a year. 

I buried my face in the pillow and quietly sobbed, and the bed sank deep next to me as if someone had sat down.

A chill ran down my spine, and I clutched the blanket. I wanted to scream or call for Faust, but a large hand brushed through my hair.

“Nelly.”

It was a familiar voice. The fear that had been creeping back receded.

I sat up in bed and looked in the direction of the voice. I wondered if it was an auditory hallucination, but there he was, sitting, the real Leonel.

I reached out to touch his face. I could feel his warmth.

“Is it really you, Leonel?”

“Yes.”

“How did you know I was here? Did Adelhardt tell you?”

Leonel nodded and held my hand. He stared at my fingers for a moment and then kissed them.

I couldn’t feel Leonel’s lips because of the bandages. He looked down at the bandages with a dissatisfied expression, and then he pulled me into an embrace.

A soft sigh brushed against my hair.

“I didn’t expect Gardner to move this aggressively.”

“It’s just a minor injury at best. Are you okay, Leonel?”

“I’m perfectly fine.”

Leonel’s arms tightened around me. He buried his face in my neck and let out an annoyed breath.

He seemed perfectly fine, but he must have had some difficulties during his absence. I couldn’t bring myself to complain, so I just held him.

After a while, he let go of my hand.

“I should go now.”

Leonel kissed my forehead and got up from the bed. I grabbed his hand.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to catch that wretched woman, Viscountess Morgane.”

“Let me go with you.”

“It’s safer to stay with Adelhardt. It won’t take long, so stay here.”

Leonel let go of my hand and headed towards the door. I rushed to him and hugged him tightly.

As he turned, he kissed me.

It was slower and more tender than usual. Leonel held me as if he would never let go, and then he quickly released me.

“I’ll be back soon. Wait for me.”

I forced a big smile and nodded in agreement.

* * *

The next day, Adelhardt returned to the mansion. 

He gazed at the still-sleeping Mary with an enigmatic look and suddenly asked.

“Nelly, can you act well?”

“Yes.”

Adelhardt stared at me intently, then turned his gaze towards Frer and Faust. Frer nervously nodded, and Faust discreetly averted his gaze from Adelhardt.

What’s going on? Why are their reactions like this? 

I asked, looking puzzled and squinting at the two of them. 

“But why?”

“…No, it’s probably better not to say.”

“What do you mean?” 

Instead of answering, Adelhardt grinned.

“Nelly, it’s time to return to the palace. There’s a commotion and you’re suddenly missing, and rumors are starting to circulate that it was all a stunt.”

Did he ask about my acting ability because of this rumor? 

Her Majesty was also looking for the troublemaker in the palace. I’m not sure why this rumor is circulating, but we should go back. If the word “stunt” continues to circulate and I don’t show up, it might arouse suspicion.

Nodding, I got up, and Faust stood beside me.

“I’ll come with you.”

“Is that okay?”

 I asked Adelhardt, and he shook his head.

“You’re a knight. Someone will recognize you.”

“What does it matter?”

“If it’s revealed that a former knight is in the palace, Nelly and Leonel will be in trouble, won’t they?”

“I’m not a soldier. If anyone asks, just say I’m a servant or something.”

Faust denied it brusquely, but in my opinion, he didn’t look like a servant at all.

“Faust, please stay here and watch over Mary.”

“What? Isn’t it dangerous to go in alone?”

“Former knights can be mistaken for servants who suddenly came out to prepare for a kidnap play.”

“That’s true, but…”

“I’ll be fine. Adelhardt is with me!”

Faust seemed to be uneasy but reluctantly nodded after a rough scratch on his back. 

“Well, then, we entrust our manager to you, Prince.”

Adelhardt responded with an awkward smile at his words.

* * *

I should have realized it then!

As soon as I entered the palace, I stood there in a daze, watching as the knights gathered around. 

I asked Adelhardt.

“What is this? What’s going on?”

Adelhardt glanced around, and with a hesitant look, he saw that the nobles were whispering and murmuring. He hesitated for a moment before giving an awkward smile.

“Nelly, do you trust me?”

How can I trust you?

“I have to do the tasks given to me by the Queen. I’ll explain later.”

Adelhardt waved goodbye with a calm and insincere face and disappeared. What on earth has happened? I heard there was a rumor of a play, but has it become a fact already? I was frozen with confusion when the knights surrounded me.

“Baroness Nelly Pepper is currently under suspicion of embezzlement and disrupting palace order with a staged kidnapping act. There is an order to detain her until the investigation is complete.”

“Embezzlement?”

I didn’t understand the word. I hoped someone would explain, but Adelhardt had already left, and the knights remained silent.

Fortunately, perhaps because of Adelhardt’s intimidating attitude, I wasn’t too terrified. 

“Please come inside.” 

One of the knights opened the door to the top floor. I had expected to be imprisoned in an underground dungeon, so it was a bit surprising.

However, that didn’t make me feel any better. I sat on the bed and looked out the window. I had no idea what to do and was just staring as the sky gradually turned orange.

Before the outside became completely dark, a small window in the door opened, and a plate of food was handed to me. 

I approached the door and asked.

“Could you tell me more about what I’m accused of embezzling?”

“…”

“Or perhaps Leonel, I mean Duke Altwood or Prince, could you call them for me?”

“…”

The man outside said nothing, but as I accepted my plate, he spoke up.

 “Please return the empty plate tomorrow morning.”

That was it. The small window closed, leaving me alone again. I tried pulling the door handle, hoping it might open, but of course, it didn’t. Instead, I received a warning that attempting to escape could have consequences.

‘What on earth is happening?’

I returned to the bed and sat down, feeling increasingly anxious as time passed. I recalled Leonel’s words and lay down as if collapsing.

‘It’s okay. Trust Leonel. He said he’d come for you soon. This is probably to protect me.’

However, on the day when the sound of the New Year’s ball echoed outside the window, I was still alone. Another week passed, and Leonel didn’t come.

I couldn’t find any news related to him either.