Duke, Please Fail! - Chapter 12

Episode 12

I responded to Levance’s words as nonchalantly as possible and looked around, hoping to find someone to strike up a conversation with. Just then, I spotted a group of people coming towards the estate office from a distance. Thinking it was a good opportunity, I started to approach them, but they noticed me first.

“It’s the manager!”

“What? Where?”

“Oh my, the manager!”

What’s happening? Why are they suddenly rushing towards me? Is there a riot going on? I haven’t done anything yet!

“Run!”

Feeling overwhelmed by their approach, I instinctively grabbed Levance and started running aimlessly. However, my stamina was terrible, and I was soon caught.

The people who had rushed towards me suddenly grabbed me and burst into tears.

“Thank you, manager!”

“Uh, what, where, what is this?”

Trying to catch my breath, I was surrounded by the crowd.

“Thanks to you, my son, my son!”

“How can we ever repay you for our son?”

Please don’t repay me with your son.

“My son quit drinking! He used to drink like a madman all the time, but this morning, he, hmph, said he would start working!”

It seems like these are the parents of the four rag doll companions brought by Faust. I stood there awkwardly, not knowing how to react, and then I looked at Levance.

Levance was standing far away, observing the situation with an amused expression.

‘I hope they’re not mistaking me for the Duke! I even prepared breakfast for him….’

Feeling betrayed, I shot a glare at Levance, but suddenly, a bag of produce was thrust in front of me.

“Please accept this, manager. I’m so grateful that I brought some corn for you.”

I was startled and stepped back, clapping my hands together.

“What? Oh, no, it’s not necessary.”

“Don’t say that! Please accept it! And we brought pumpkins as well.”

“I brought potatoes.”

I barely managed to avoid the bags being thrust at me and looked up with a bewildered expression.

“All of this is thanks to Mr. Faust! So how about showing your appreciation to him?”

It wasn’t a good deed I started with, and now, feeling their gratitude, I was overwhelmed by a sense of guilt.

“I eat the food from the Duke’s mansion, so it’s fine! Let’s all go to Faust’s place together. Faust has a son at home, he’s strong, and he’s got a lot of work to do, so he’ll need food!”

I brought up every possible reason. As a result, the bags of produce that were about to be thrust at me stopped in their tracks. However, the expressions of the parents of the rag doll companions seemed even more moved than before.

‘A bit uneasy, aren’t they?’

Before I could finish my thoughts, the middle-aged women and men wiped their tears.

“Oh, my, this is touching.”

“Faust is right. This manager is something else.”

“Indeed. Faust went to great lengths to take care of the manager as well.”

Why did it turn out like this? I just wanted to carry out my wicked revenge in peace!

I felt a pang of injustice. But no one understood that. Instead, they gathered around with worried expressions.

“Is something hurting, manager?”

“Hurry, go get some herbs!”

“Seeing you clutching your chest, are you sick?”

Their eyes were full of concern. They were expressing their gratitude through kindness, a kindness that resulted from the problems I had caused! So please don’t look at me with those eyes. I’m innocent, my conscience is hurting!

“Y-yes, it’s a shame. But when I pressed on my chest, the pain went away. Haha.”

I awkwardly laughed and averted my gaze. However, the parents of the rag doll companions nodded with relief.

Then, they suggested we all go to Faust’s place together.

“How happy would the manager make Faust if we went together?”

“Yeah, yeah, they’d be so grateful.”

“Perhaps even more grateful than now?”

Could it be? That’s why I can’t go with them! Shaking my head in distaste, I found the parents of the rag doll companions nodding eagerly.

Guilt was making me so uncomfortable. I needed to find a way out of this situation somehow.

I reached out and firmly grabbed Levance’s wrist, who was standing a little apart, smiling to himself.

“I’ve decided to go around the estate with Levance. So, I can’t go with you to Faust’s place. Haha, what a shame.”

Even I could tell that my last sentence sounded far from sincere. Just as I was about to try again with a more convincing tone, I heard Levance’s voice from beside me.

“That’s right. We need to look around and report back to the Duke as well.”

He’d stabbed me in the back when Leonel asked him to bring me along. Was he sorry for that?

Regardless of my suspicions, it seemed his explanation worked. The parents of the rag doll companions stepped back.

“We shouldn’t disturb your work.”

“Don’t worry, manager. We’ll explain everything to Faust.”

Their departing words felt ominous. What are they going to say? Hopefully, not that I asked for food.

“Just a moment!”

Everyone turned around at once. Their twinkling eyes were overwhelming. Despite that, I had to make sure they understood my true intentions.

“Please don’t tell Faust that I offered food! It might make him uncomfortable!”

“Aw, if the manager wishes it, then fine!”

“You’re quite considerate.”

“Don’t worry! Hahaha! We won’t say a word!”

The parents of the rag doll companions left in a hurry, and a cloud of dust rose like smoke. The hazy air cleared up, and the people disappeared from my view. They were as determined as when they were chasing after me.

‘They’re completely clueless.’

I shook my head to clear my uneasiness and started walking.

I had thought that if it was just the two of us, Levance would ask me various questions, but surprisingly, he remained quiet. Of course, he was staring at my face intensely, but he wasn’t saying anything.

I squinted my eyes and looked at Levance. Despite his glare, his smile didn’t waver.

‘What’s his real intention?’

I was about to ask, but I decided to keep my mouth shut.

“Manager!”

At the calling voice, I turned my head to see Daisy, an elderly woman who worked in the fields near the estate office.

We had exchanged greetings quite frequently as she passed by. 

“Hello, Daisy! What’s that next to you?”

I pointed to the wooden pillars rolling beside her. In response, her face brightened up.

“It’s a tent. I heard the manager went out of her way to put it up, but Faust already told me all about it.”

Why does Faust keep mentioning unnecessary things? In embarrassment, I awkwardly laughed and nodded vaguely.

“We need to set up the tents, right? Levance said he’ll help.”

“Me?”

Yes, you. I nodded firmly.

I thought he would be taken aback, but Levance surprisingly just rolled up his sleeves obediently. It was Daisy who waved her hands in a gesture of protest.

“Oh no, that’s not necessary! My husband and son will be here soon to help.”

Daisy turned Levance around and pushed him away as if to say, “Go quickly.” Levance pretended not to notice me watching him, and Daisy turned her attention to me.

“I can’t trouble important people like you. You must be busy, so go on, go on!”

Without even being able to properly respond to her greetings, I was pushed away again. As I walked, I could already see the tilled field where the tent was set up.

From various directions, I heard greetings and exchanged a few light conversations. In the midst of it all, Levance remained quiet.

‘Did he just come to look around without any ulterior motives?’

As my suspicions began to fade, someone spoke to me.

“Manager.”

It was the woman who had asked me to replace the pickaxe before. I saw her approaching and speaking as I was walking towards the fields.

“Have you been well?”

As soon as I greeted her, she came closer and held my hand.

“I went to the blacksmith’s today, and he was making farming tools. I thought you were just making empty promises, but thank you so much for keeping your word.”

“Oh, no need to thank me. I’m the more grateful one.”

She had helped me by emptying Leonel’s purse! When I thought about the budget diverted to making tents and farming tools, my smile widened.

Thinking that Daisy probably considered my intentions to be sincere, she handed me some boiled potatoes.

And just when I was feeling hungry from all the walking!

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy this!” 

The pleased elderly woman smiled and bid farewell before walking ahead.

I paused for a moment, then broke off half of the potato and extended it to Levance. He accepted the warm potato and devoured it in an instant, breaking into a broad smile.

“Nelly, it’s been a little over two weeks since you became the manager.”

“Today marks the 16th day.”

“You’ve accomplished a lot in a short time.”

Among those accomplishments, there was no trace of vindictive revenge. The fact left a bitter taste and discomfort in my heart.

I bit my lip and roughly replied, “Yes, well…” before taking a bite of the potato. As my hunger was satisfied, a naturally contented smile formed on my face.

I was about to chew and swallow another bite of the potato when Levance’s question reached me.

“How did you find His Grace’s preferences?”

“Well, ahem! Hufgh, hufpmh!”