Duke, Please Fail! - Chapter 14

Episode 14

The sound of snoring echoed in the quiet garden. Leonel, who had come out to take a stroll in the garden and maybe wake up in the process, was bewildered. He stood there, gazing down at Nelly, who had fallen asleep in that spot.

“Estate manager.”

No matter how many times he called, only the sound of snoring returned.

Leonel sighed deeply and rubbed his forehead. He couldn’t understand how he ended up appointing such a troublesome person as the estate manager.

‘Should I fire her?’

He briefly considered the idea but then gave up. The new estate manager had already gained the explosive trust of the residents. Moreover, given Levance’s favorable impression, cutting ties would likely lead to strong resistance.

Leonel looked down at Nelly, who was sleeping on the bench. Because she was hunched over, there was a space next to her head.

“She falls asleep as soon as she rests her head.”

Nelly murmured as if complaining and tossed her body. Leonel sat down by Nelly’s head, resting his arm on the backrest, lost in thought.

‘Was she kicked out of her relative’s house, as Arette said?’

He recalled the things Arette had reported. Suddenly, he looked at his fingertips.

The sensation from when he touched the palm of her hand seemed to linger. Perhaps that callused skin was a trace of her struggle to survive.

Having wandered and struggled all over the place before settling down, it wasn’t unreasonable for her to work hard.

‘But there are still many uncertainties.’

He had received reports that she hadn’t contacted anyone or shown any suspicious behavior. However, when he thought about what had happened in Braushtete, there were still suspicious aspects.

He hadn’t explicitly commented on Levance’s report, but Leonel hadn’t hesitated when making decisions.

Moreover, no matter how drunk she was, the way she casually called him by his name, her oddly informal attitude, and occasionally revealing impolite yet not unpleasant glances—all of these aspects were still unclear.

“We’ve met before, right?”

“Ugh…”

Nelly groaned at the perfect timing, tossing around.

He knew it wasn’t an answer, but Leonel combed through his memories. Naturally, her face didn’t come to mind.

‘But why does she feel so familiar? Is it because she’s not afraid of me?’

It might be possible. Leonel had gained a notorious reputation on the battlefield at a young age.

Except for a few individuals who had fought alongside him, most people he encountered feared him. Or they avoided him or were excessively tense around him.

But Nelly Pepper treated him quite familiarly.

No, it wasn’t just at that level. To be precise, Nelly Pepper was adept at handling Leonel. She was somewhat independent but didn’t cross any boundaries. She didn’t engage in unpleasant actions.

Thanks to her, they were comfortable together as if they had been companions for years, but that made him even more cautious.

‘She must have investigated about me before taking the position of the estate manager. Otherwise, there’s no way to explain this.’

Yet, he felt himself getting swept up in Nelly’s atmosphere repeatedly. To the point that he should consciously stand his ground more.

‘But then again, she’s worked so hard that it’s almost like she came with some ulterior motive. There are no demands, and I don’t sense any malice.’

It would have been better if Nelly Pepper were perceptive and sociable. Reports had often come in that she felt awkward engaging in private conversations with the residents, which made Leonel even more uneasy.

‘I just don’t get it.’

Strange. There was no other way to express it but strange. Leonel swept his hand through his hair and stood up from his seat.

He had been considering what to do about the estate manager who fell asleep every time they met, but he soon bent over.

His sturdy arm delved under Nelly’s back and just above her hips. With a forceful motion, he straightened her spine, causing Nelly, who had slouched, to jerk up.

“That’s the third time.”

Nelly’s eyes blurred as she heard Leonel’s warning. She looked at his face, then gave a small smile and comfortably leaned against him.

Leonel halted his steps. He glanced at Nelly and frowned slightly, then resumed walking toward the western tower. As he walked slowly, he heard a murmuring voice.

“I’m getting too shaken.”

“If you’re awake, why don’t you walk yourself?”

“I don’t want to. The ground feels wobbly. Just walk properly, Leonel.”

“Seems like a little break from your boat.”

“Then chop it off.”

“Do you want to be chopped off?”

“You can chop it if you can! There’s no one else to do the work anyway!”

Nelly grumbled, showing her defiance. What followed was too mumbled to understand properly.

“When the harvest festival’s over, I’m going on vacation. I’ll go even if you don’t send me. Or I’ll die. I’ll die painfully. Then I’ll take revenge. I’ll at least take back half of it.”

“I have no idea what you’re saying. Your sleep-talking might be easier to understand.”

But she didn’t repeat her words. Instead, she murmured and then comfortably leaned her bony head against Leonel again.

He couldn’t help but chuckle at her audacity. In response, a faint smile appeared on the corner of Nelly’s mouth too.

Looking down at her face, which seemed overly at ease, Leonel thought.

‘As expected, it’s strange.’

* * *

Why do I wake up in bed again? I rubbed my head and tried to recall. I vaguely remembered that Leonel appeared in my dream. Given my request for a vacation, it was probably about something that happened before overworking.

‘Well, that’s beside the point.’

Yesterday, I remember settling the tab and then getting on the carriage. And then what happened? Did I walk to the room on my own?

That can’t be right. I had a habit of falling asleep anywhere when I got too drunk to remember. So it would be more credible to think I crawled in here on all fours rather than with my feet.

‘What on earth is this? Could this bed have some kind of magic that summons you when the owner falls asleep?’

I poked the bed. There was no change, of course.

Let’s just go out and experiment! I’ll go to the bench and fall asleep. If I wake up in the room, then the bed must be enchanted.

Well, in that case, I’ll have to sell it for a good price.

“Hehehe.”

Since I woke up early due to the lingering effects of alcohol, I hadn’t fully shaken off drowsiness. It wasn’t enough to keep me completely awake, leaving me in a half-asleep state.

Maybe I’ll just sleep for about 30 more minutes and then go to work.

It was still a bit chilly, so I put on warm clothes and went outside. I found a suitable bench and took a seat. I didn’t have to worry about not being able to wake up. Soon, the knights would start their training, and the noise would keep me awake outdoors.

As I was about to drift off to sleep,

“Is homelessness your hobby?”

An unwelcome voice made my drowsiness disappear.

“Your Grace.”

Why was the confrontation so early in the morning? I quickly sat up, biting back my retort.

Whatever he doesn’t like, that rascal Leonel raised his left eyebrow slightly.

“Today, it’s Your Grace.”

So, should I call him Your Grace? Or maybe “Your Graceful Highness”? I grumbled internally, but Leonel made his unique scoffing noise and sat down beside me.

What’s this? Why is he sitting down? “This is my bench, so beat it.” Is that what this is about?

Quietly putting some distance between us, Leonel struck up a conversation.

“If you don’t like your room, just say so. I’ll have it changed for you.”

“I like my room!”

“Then, is homelessness your hobby?”

What’s with this slyness? What is he trying to imply? Or maybe he’s genuinely curious if my hobby is being homeless.

I narrowed my eyes and looked at him.

Leonel turned toward me and rested his arm on the backrest.

“I put you in a comfortable place, but you keep sleeping in strange spots.”

…It seems like Leonel is the one who brought drunk me back to my room last night.

Of course, there were quite a few incidents like that before I died. Still, he didn’t treat me this well from the beginning. It’s suspicious. Could it be a hangover joke, or did he move me for some kind of interrogation?

I retreated with a hip-swiveling gait, putting a bit more distance between us, and Leonel made a displeased expression again.

“Your attire hasn’t changed.”

“I have to shed my skin to take off the clothes.”

“Is it your habit to take jokes to heart?”

“Yes. I take them to the grave.”

Leonel burst into laughter and then immediately sobered up.

Why is he acting this way?

…I should know! Just leave it. I need to go have breakfast.

I greeted Leonel with a vague nod and stood up from my seat. As I turned to leave, a deep voice grabbed my ankle.

“Nelly Pepper.”

Startled by the fact that he rarely called my name, I turned around. Leonel, resting his chin on his hand, looked at me with a tired expression.

“Have we met somewhere before?”

“……Are you hitting on me?”

I asked in astonishment, and his face crumpled. He’s probably trying to provoke me again. He was fishing for something, but I pretended not to see it.

“You’re well-versed in worn-out tactics, aren’t you?”

Of course, with that kind of face, body, and voice, who wouldn’t fall for it? While I wanted to retort with that thought in mind, I refrained from saying it.

Purposely turning my head and heading towards the dining area, I walked away. When I glanced back, Leonel was looking at me with an expression like he was about to go crazy.

‘Hmph. Serves him right.’

The pent-up frustration was dissipating, leaving me feeling relieved.

I’ll show Leonel up this morning! Having a spat with him from the morning seems like a stroke of luck! I hummed a tune to myself as I had breakfast and then headed to the administration office.

“Good morning!”

“Ms. Nelly!”

“You seem to be in a good mood today.”

“Good morning.”

As if three-mole hills were sticking their heads out of the ground, three heads bobbed up and down.

Seeing Leonel’s exasperated face, I couldn’t say it was thrilling, so I just smiled broadly.

“Speaking of which, did you put up a notice for hiring a supervisor?”

“Yes, and the applicants are supposed to come today.”

Great. As long as they know how to read and do basic math, I’ll hire them whether they’re a mole or a turtle! If a hundred people come, I’ll hire all hundred. Just pay them a salary and let them have fun!

…No. It’s better to make a schedule and have them work only one day a week!

I’ll make being the supervisor of Altwood Manor the most well-paid job where you work the least!

“Hehehe.”

Startled by my muffled laughter, three pairs of eyes turned toward me.

Well, why, what? It’s the first time they’ve seen someone laugh. Feeling embarrassed for no reason, I cleared my throat and walked into the room.

I sang a tune as I dealt with paperwork and checked the farmland. After confirming that no one was missing, I came back, and the morning had already passed.