Duke, Please Fail! - Chapter 125

Episode 125

I tried to dodge to the side, but Leonel didn’t let go of my arm.

“You’ll get used to being greeted a lot when you become a Duchess.”

So why does he keep talking about being a Duchess? My face turned red, and as I was about to fan myself with my hand, people looked up in unison.

I came down, unable to hide my face.

Normally, parties are lively, but in the hall, only quiet background music flows.

“Leonel, don’t you have something to say?”

I whispered in his ear. It wasn’t a particularly amusing story, but he smiled at me as if to show off.

And in an instant, he turned back with a cold face and said to the guests,

“Please enjoy.”

The atmosphere relaxed a bit.

Voices were audible now. But still, no one approached Leonel.

‘I should start looking for suitable candidates and make a list.’

As I looked around, Leonel lightly pulled my arm, making me look at him.

“Nelly, dance the first song with me.”

“Sure!” 

I nodded eagerly, but he didn’t ask me to dance.

Curious, I tilted my head, and a man approached. Judging by the red eyes, he seemed to be from the Altwood family.

“Lady Pepper, would you grant me the honor of dancing together?”

“I’m sorry. I’ve agreed to dance the first song with Leonel.”

The man looked surprised, quickly bowed to Leonel, and retreated.

I tilted my head again, and another man approached.

Once again, he quickly ran away when he heard that Leonel and I had a prior arrangement.

“Why do they act like that? Does Leonel know something?”

“Well.”

“It’s a knowing expression.”

“It’s not your fault, you know.”

“Of course not. I haven’t done anything.”

Leonel nodded. I watched people dance freely.

Until the start of the third song, Leonel still hadn’t asked me to dance. He just let the person right next to him, even holding a prior commitment, be ignored.

“But when are we going to dance?”

“I’m not planning to.”

“Then what about the prior commitment?”

Ah! So everyone ran away.

Refusing to dance is impolite, but having a prior commitment changes things.

So Leonel just made arrangements but didn’t dance with me. To prevent me from dancing with others!

As I pouted, he rested his cheek against my head.

“You don’t like dancing anyway.”

“That’s true.”

I nodded, and he kissed my head before standing upright.

Immediately, a group of nobles approached.

“Oh, it’s true!”

Yes, I am the rumored manager. Now, not a manager but an aide!

Awkwardly smiling and shaking internally, a lady stared at me in awe.

“You came wearing the heirloom.”

What did she say?

I turned my head slowly to look at Leonel. 

His indifferent expression seemed to convey, 

‘Well, I did say you’d be wearing it frequently.’

He never mentioned anything about it being a heirloom!

What should I do with this? Should I quietly undo it and hang it around Leonel’s neck when no one is looking?

As I contemplated, I discreetly raised my hand towards his neck but was stopped. Leonel wrapped his arm around my shoulder, smoothly sliding his hand down my partially raised arm.

Keeping my lips as still as possible, I whispered to him.

“You should have told me in advance.”

“I thought you might run away.”

True. I probably would have without looking back.

It wasn’t just a regular ball; it was a gathering of close friends and relatives. Coming to such an event with a heirloom was practically advertising that you were getting married.

Doing something like this without consultation or discussion.

‘Especially when I haven’t even received a proposal yet!’

Though embarrassed, I walked resolutely, and the nobles parted like waves, making way for us to reach the terrace. It seemed like Leonel’s presence made things smoother.

Feeling a bit awkward, I opened the terrace door and entered. I closed the curtains behind me and turned around.

“Leonel…!”

My words were swallowed as they entered his mouth. His soft lips enveloped mine. 

Instinctively, I closed my eyes and started to wrap my arms around Leonel, but a sudden realization struck me.

I pulled away from his large hand that had encircled my cheek. Although the sensation against my lips felt pleasant, I gathered my courage and pushed Leonel’s chest away.

“Leonel!”

He came closer.

Beneath his thick and neatly arched eyebrows, jewel-like eyes sparkled. From his indifferent eyes, affection overflowed and trickled down like dewdrops.

‘No, I can’t. Pull yourself together. I need to speak firmly!’

I tightly closed my eyes and opened them. Behind him, a large full moon shone brightly.

Seeing the subtly emerging smile, as soft as moonlight, it seemed like even a sworn enemy could forgive him. 

‘His beauty is working too hard.’

How could a face so composed and ascetic still emanate such warmth? If his beauty were a person, it might have died of overwork. 

No, even so, I must speak firmly. This is not proper behavior for lovers.

“Pl-please don’t do that next time.”

A voice weaker than expected flowed out. Even my words were trembling. Embarrassed, I covered my face, but Leonel embraced me.

“Nelly, if Devondus hadn’t touched you, I would have left you alone until you gained recognition from Her Majesty.”

“I understand.”

In reality, Devondus came to harass me every year until his death.

“So, I wanted to show those who haven’t come to their senses yet.”

He did it to protect me, in case there were people like Devondus.

“Tell me in advance. It’ll save me from embarrassment!”

Leonel nodded. As a sign of reconciliation, I hugged him and we walked out onto the terrace together.

After that, the ball was surprisingly peaceful.

No one approached me, perhaps because my dragging the duke onto the terrace was so powerful. Before anyone could figure out who the potential candidates were, the ball came to an end.

Nevertheless, except for me, everyone seemed to have done well, as the list was quite long.

“Your Grace, I have brought the list after removing duplicate names.”

Leonel quickly scanned the document Levance handed over. Then he nodded.

“Keep only those on the list and send the rest away.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Gather the remaining people, explain the situation, and if they wish, let them take the administrative official exam.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Levance returned to his place. Leonel, after a brief moment of contemplation, looked at Lizzy.

“Lizzy.”

A surprised gasp was heard from beside me. It was the first time Leonel had called Lizzy by name instead of referring to her as his assistant.

With bewildered eyes, I looked back and forth between Leonel and Lizzy as he spoke.

“You should become an administrative official too. It’s a waste to have you as an assistant.”

“Me?”

Leonel nodded.

“But mistakes must be reduced. Can you do that?”

“Yes!”

Lizzy clenched both hands. Simultaneously, the pen she was holding snapped with a sharp sound.

Instinctively, I turned my head to see Lizzy, who had accidentally jabbed the broken pen into the already chaotic wall.

Fortunately, Levance had replaced Lizzy’s pen with a non-metallic one a long time ago, so there was no damage to the wall, and no one became a target.