Duke, Please Fail! - Chapter 13

Episode 13

The guy who never uses proper methods is using proper methods, and I felt my breath being choked. Of course, the real culprit choking my breath was the potato!

I coughed to clear my throat, and Levance still had that half-smile, half-smirk on his face, not flinching at all.

“What do you mean?”

“I heard that you accurately guessed His Grace’s preferences in Braushtete.”

Preferences? What preferences is he talking about? Before my pondering could stretch too far, something fleeting brushed past my mind.

“Ah, I see. Strawberries?”

“As expected, you know. How did you figure it out?”

Gosh, this is scary! He isn’t usually this straightforward with his words. I was so taken aback that I couldn’t manage any words. Just standing there, Levance took a step closer.

“The fact that His Grace likes sweet and salty flavors was only known by me, Arette, and the butler.”

So, that bizarre sugared-salt steak was Leonel’s preference.

No wonder he enjoyed it so much.

“…Why on earth does he like something like that?”

“You’re beating around the bush.”

“No, it’s not that I’m avoiding the topic; it’s just really strange.”

“So, how did you know about that strange preference?”

“That was a mistake.”

“Unlike everything else, that wasn’t a mistake.”

In any case, he’s quite the skilled talker. But really, why go to such lengths just to know someone’s food preferences?

Even though I tried to brush it off, Levance didn’t bat an eye. His smirk was irritating. I almost wanted to pinch his cheek!

“Where did you get that information?”

We weren’t strangers, but we’d only known each other for about three years. I naturally found out because whenever Leonel liked something, he couldn’t keep his eyes off it. It was obvious.

But even though I wanted to be honest, I couldn’t. I had returned to the past, and it had been just over two weeks since I came to this estate.

Before going to Braushtete, I hadn’t even had a proper meal, let alone tea, with him. 

‘What if I vaguely dance around the topic?’

But what would I do if he became suspicious again? It’s not like I’m not already under suspicion by Leonel. Will adding Levance to the mix make that big of a difference?

“I guess I just picked up on it as I went along. Is that so important?”

As I muttered to myself, Levance’s expression suddenly turned serious.

“It’s important. Knowing His Grace’s food preferences could increase the success rate of poisoning him.”

“Poisoning?”

The unexpected word sank into my heart. Who could be trying to poison Leonel, and why? 

Of course, Leonel had his shortcomings, could be a bit tyrannical, got involved too much in people’s lives, and sometimes worked people to the bone. But he wasn’t bad enough for someone to want him dead.

He took good care of those around him. Even in my death due to overworking, I didn’t harbor enough ill will to want to kill him.

“Who would want to kill the Duke? Why?”

Mixing worry and astonishment, I asked.

“So, were there any attempted poisonings?”

Levance remained silent for a while, just looking at my face without saying a word. Then, after a brief pause, his usual half-smile appeared.

“It was just a hypothetical example. It could have been like that… well, something like that.”

“So, there wasn’t an attempted poisoning?”

Levance hesitated for a moment and then nodded. A wave of relief washed over me, releasing the heavy weight of worry that had been pressing on my chest.

“Are you feeling a bit relieved now?”

The question pricked at me. Why should I feel relieved? After all, revenge is what I’m after, so why would I feel relieved?

…Right. It’s just that.

For my revenge to happen, Leonel has to be alive! If Leonel were to suddenly die, I wouldn’t be able to exact my revenge. This is all about revenge. I’m worrying for the sake of revenge.

With that self-reassurance, I felt a bit calmer.

“No need to feel relieved. I wasn’t worried in the first place.”

I muttered to myself, feeling slightly embarrassed.

Levance’s smile deepened at my words as if he found my self-assurance amusing.

Then, without letting me take a breath, he responded with a smiling face. It was a look that urged me to answer the question he was silently asking.

“The Duke had the word ‘strawberry’ written on his forehead, didn’t you see?”

Levance’s shoulders twitched slightly as if he was imagining the word ‘strawberry’ written on Leonel’s forehead.

“Ha, got it.”

He tried to suppress his laughter, but his composure returned quickly. Levance then continued pressing me for the truth.

“I’d like to hear the truth, not jokes.”

“Okay then… remember when he was at the menu board and he was only focused on the milk pudding with strawberry compote and the strawberry whipped cream cake? That’s how I knew.”

Nice. That was a good one. Leonel has a habit of fixating on his favorites, so this makes sense.

Like with Faust, I seem to be getting better at lying at Levance. I flashed a proud smile, and Levance nodded in agreement.

“Your observational skills are better than I thought.”

“Well, I guess…”

I replied somewhat sheepishly, and Levance’s smile grew wider.

“You seem to have quite the keen observational skills after all.”

“Yeah, well…”

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I gave my response, and Levance chuckled.

“I’ve seen quite a bit of the territory during my stay here, so I should be heading back.”

Please do. Hurry and leave.

I nodded vigorously, and Levance gave a light farewell before turning away.

* * *

The atmosphere inside the tavern was lively. I recognized a fair number of familiar faces around. They would probably come over and shower me with endless praise. Then I would start thinking about my failed revenge attempts and feel bitter all over again.

Because I value my disguise, I pulled my hood down even further. The tavern owner cast a suspicious glance my way, but I pretended not to notice and beckoned a waiter over.

“Another glass of beer, please.”

Before I even finished speaking, the waiter set down another glass of beer in front of me. I lifted the frothy glass and took a sip, listening to the chatter around me.

There were whispers about how even the king gets cursed in certain places, but I hadn’t heard anything about Leonel. Levance probably didn’t bring up the poisoning for no reason. He mentioned it as a hypothetical example, but he was quite serious in questioning me. So I had hoped that some rumors might have circulated, but hours had passed, and there was nothing.

‘Should I just leave?’

I downed the remaining beer in one gulp and started to move discreetly. However, I overheard a conversation behind me.

“This time, about the estate manager.”

…That’s all I needed to hear.

I settled back into my seat and ordered another drink.

“Something seems different this time. She seems to care about the people in the estate more.”

“She’s going to be here for a while.”

“She won’t quit after just two months, will she?”

“She might. The Duke is quite unusual.”

Right. Unusual indeed. How controlling can he be? Surveillance is so intense! He needs to know everything and make everything go his way for his conscience to be appeased.

My rear end was itching to move. I wanted to sit beside them and join in the bashing!

But that’s not possible. I’m the estate manager, and estate managers are at the Duke’s beck and call. I would have to bite my tongue if I saw him right now.

“But why is the Duke so attached to the estate?”

“I heard it’s because of his fiancée.”

“The Duke had a fiancée?”

Did he? I don’t remember that being the case.

“Didn’t you know? His childhood friend, who was also his fiancée, had an affair with the Duke’s cousin and got her engagement broken off.”

Hmm… I think I heard something like that before I died. But what does his former fiancée’s affair have to do with the estate?

The person in front of me seemed to be thinking the same thing and asked the same question.

A moment of silence followed.

What is this? Why do they start a conversation and then stop? Just as I was about to sneak a look back, the conversation resumed.

“It’s about the Duke’s situation.”

…Okay, I’m leaving.

I gulped down the remaining beer and stood up from my seat. Maybe I drank it too quickly because the room was spinning a little. I grabbed onto the table and lowered my head, and then a waiter approached.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

Great. My pronunciation is still intact. I nodded and paid the bill before stepping outside. The more I walked, the more the alcohol should have been wearing off, but strangely, the intoxication seemed to be increasing. As I rode in the carriage, the sensation in my stomach flipped, and as soon as I crossed the castle gate, I had to hurriedly disembark.

‘The ground feels wobbly!’

Dizzy and strangely giddy, I felt like laughing uncontrollably.

I still had enough coordination to climb the western tower staircase. However, before reaching the second floor, I felt like I might tumble down like a rolling beetle.

In the end, to both clear my head from the alcohol and to steady myself, I sat in the garden.

Once I sat down, I wanted to lie down. So I did. And now that I was lying down, I wanted to sleep. The knights patrolled the area frequently, so I should be safe sleeping out here. I closed my eyes, and just as I was about to drift off, I heard footsteps.

I lifted my heavy eyelids and was met with an incredibly handsome face that could make one swoon.

“Leonel.”

“Leonel?”

Leonel imitated me, raising his left eyebrow.

Well, what’s it to him if I show that I’m not pleased? I narrowed my eyes at him, but his face brightened with excitement.

“Are you drunk?”

“Yeah! I’m drunk!”

“Completely wasted, huh?”

“Yeah! Wasted!”

Either he was taken aback by my audacious attitude, or he was at a loss for words. Leonel fell silent.

As the surroundings grew quieter, my eyes began to droop more. As I was slipping into a daze, a deep voice resonated in my ears.

“So, where were you with that suspicious getup?”

“At a tavern.”

“Why did you go to a tavern?”

“He’s suspicious again. It’s so annoying! What am I, some fickle fiancée? Why is he prying like that?”

Oops. My internal monologue slipped out of my mouth.

Whoops. Oh well, what can I do about it now? With blurred vision, I glared at him for a moment and then closed my eyes again.

I heard a deep, almost eerie, exhale. Even though I was supposed to be stopping myself from talking, words escaped my lips of their own accord.

“You said you wanted to hear about anything unusual happening where there were a lot of people. You’re suspecting your orders. You pile on the work too. Snaps at me at the slightest thing. You’re insufferable, really.”

“I don’t remember ever snapping at you.”

“Well, of course not. You haven’t done it yet.”

“You must not be in your right mind.”

As if being drunk isn’t enough to not be in my right mind!

I wanted to shout, but my lips wouldn’t move. In the same state, Leonel’s face also disappeared behind my eyelids.