Duke, Please Fail! - Chapter 24

Episode 24

“Yes?”

“How much time is left in the contract?”

“About a month.”

“So, what will happen to Guadang?”

“All the livestock here belong to Duke Altwood, except for the dogs. If I leave, someone else will come to take care of them.”

This is a problem. The ranch keepers who came after Frer were all strange. So, I can’t entrust Guadang to them!

“Can’t the contract be extended? I’ll try my best.”

Frer scratched his head with the end of his staff. In truth, he wouldn’t receive better treatment anywhere else than under Duke Altwood’s rule.

Moreover, it seemed like Guadang had developed an affection for Frer…

“Or is there a special reason you have to leave?”

“It’s not like that…”

As he trailed off, he looked up. Frer rolled his eyes in various directions before answering in a hesitant voice.

“I’ve grown attached.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Ranch keepers have to leave when their contracts end. It’s hard to leave when you’re attached.”

I tilted my head and slowly recalled past events.

The ranch keeper who came after Frer was a believer in strange folk remedies. He jeopardized the people’s lives with these remedies, and as a result, he left before completing the original three-year contract, departing after just six months.

The next ranch keeper had a one-year contract, but as it turned out, he was a heretic from the neighboring country of Carter. He got banished for trying to kidnap a settler as a sacrifice to their leader. I think the person after that was also banished…

Why are all the ranch keepers in such strange states?

“By any chance, Frer…”

Frer turned to me with his characteristic blank expression.

“Do you happen to be a kleptomaniac, a curse-caster, a practitioner of some strange religion, or a believer in folk remedies?”

Frer frowned at my words, then looked at me with a very hurt expression.

“Do you think that way too, Manager? That wanderers are all lunatics?”

“No, it’s not that. I asked just to be sure, as I’ve witnessed it several times.”

Glancing at Frer, who seemed quite dejected, I continued.

“I’m sorry. It’s not something I said because I thought you were like that.”

“Well, it’s true that there are many strange people among the ranch keepers.”

Frer scratched his head with the end of his staff.

“Some of them rely on places because they’ve been wandering around without a home for so long.”

Right. That’s why they don’t get recognized. Moreover, they leave quickly, so the villagers also consider them outsiders and keep their distance.

Suddenly, I’m being considerate. I also received a lot of stares when I first arrived. Of course, it’s my second time here, so I’ve become close to people quickly.

“Well, then let’s extend the contract!”

“Huh?”

Frer, who had been staring blankly, sniffled softly in surprise.

“Actually, I received a contract extension offer, but I turned it down.”

“Huh? Why?”

Frer opened his mouth but didn’t say anything, then closed it again.

“If I extend it and then get dismissed next time, it would be sad, wouldn’t it?”

“Why would you think of getting dismissed?”

“It’s usually like that. So, I just don’t extend it at all.”

I felt a deep sense of identification.

Having been chased away from my uncle’s house and lived as a wanderer for several years, I understood. It’s painful to have no sense of belonging. At first, you want to settle somewhere, but after continuous failures and loneliness, you eventually resign yourself to it.

‘Poor thing…’

I couldn’t help but think about my younger self. And Guadang is my friend!

‘That’s right, Guadang, isn’t it?’

Guadang, who was just wiping his face a moment ago, was no longer there. When I turned my head, I saw him running around with the other donkeys.

“I’ll try to convince Duke Altwood somehow!”

“It doesn’t seem like an easy task.”

“Well, it’s not! But I’ll give it a try!”

“No, you don’t have to. There’s no reason for me to stay longer…”

“Just trust me!”

“I don’t need…”

“Trust me!”

Frer scratched his head awkwardly, looking uncomfortable.

I know why you’re refusing! You’re afraid of getting your hopes up for nothing. Anyway, I should make you friends with the people here.

“Hehehe.”

After laughing for a while, I raised my head. Frer was standing some distance away, holding his staff like a sword. I smiled significantly and approached him.

“Let’s go to the tavern!”

“It’s daytime.”

“Then to the square!”

I greeted Guadang and pulled him to the square without hesitation.

As our eyes met, the villagers greeted us.

“Who’s this? Not the manager, is it?”

“Manager! The barn fees are too high.”

“Right. And the oven fees too!”

Greetings and complaints mixed and flooded in.

“Yes, I’ll review everything! Please take care of Mr. Frer while I’m away.”

“Who? Oh, isn’t he the ranch keeper?”

“The ranch keeper?”

People exchanged glances. I pushed Frer into the crowd.

“He’s a good person.”

“No, I…”

Frer awkwardly reached out his hand, but the crowd overwhelmed him, and he couldn’t speak.

“If the manager says he’s a good person, he must be a good person.”

“Sorry for keeping my distance all this time.”

“Come here! Let’s go eat something over there. Do you know how to drink?”

“Oh, um…”

Swept up by the sudden crowd, Frer reached out to me. With such great momentum, I unintentionally took a step back.

“Manager! Save me! Manager!”

So that’s why Frer ran away. I waved my hand while stepping back.

“I can’t save you!”

“Not saving me, ahh!”

Frer disappeared from my side, just like a leaf floating away in a stream. I wiped away unshed tears, waved my hand, and then turned around.

Then, it hit me too late.

‘But aren’t I doing Leonel a good thing by holding on to someone who wanted to extend his contract?’

I pondered for a moment while looking at Frer surrounded by people.

‘Well, I’ve already made a promise. Whenever I try to ruin something, it goes well, so if I try to do well, will it turn out bad?’

Screw it up or make it work, I’ll still get either Frer or revenge, so I have to make the best of it.

Since Leonel also advocated for a contract extension, it shouldn’t be too difficult to extend the period and settle down.

I nodded my head and headed straight to Leonel.

But…

“No.”

Leonel refused.

“Why not?”

“What’s your reason then?”

“Huh?”

“Why are you asking to extend the contract of a ranch keeper you’ve only seen a few times?”

Thoughts of my childhood came to mind, but I didn’t want to share personal stories with Leonel, who didn’t even trust me.

“Because he’s Guadang’s friend.”

“Guadang?”

Leonel looked at me with a questioning look as if to say, “Who’s that?”

…He’d get angry if I mentioned it was a donkey, right?

“I’ll introduce you later. It’s not important right now!”

I sent a meaningful look to Levance and Lizzy, who were working behind me. In response, Levance cleared his throat.

“Your Grace, the ranch…”

“Leave.”

And before he could say anything more, he was dismissed. Without stopping there, Leonel turned to Lizzy with a stern look.

“I haven’t said anything yet…”

“Leave.”

Lizzy, who had been quietly protesting, reluctantly glanced at me with a helpless look and then left the office.

It’s okay, Lizzy. I understand everything.

I nodded my head, and Lizzy rushed back to me, hugging me tightly.

“Ms. Nelly always has a reason for what she does!”

Then, after shouting at Leonel, she quickly turned around and ran toward the door.

Of course, she didn’t forget to trip over her own feet and accidentally knock over some documents.

Spill the ink, too, Lizzy! Throw the pen like a dart!

I silently cheered her on, but unfortunately, Leonel opened his mouth and stopped her actions.

“That’s enough. Leave them and go out.”

“Yes…”

Leonel swiped at his face, looking at the papers scattered on the floor.

“Haah…”

He must be burning up inside!

I cleared my throat, barely holding back the corner of my mouth that was about to rise.

“Well! I haven’t seen him many times, but I can tell. There’s no bad person among those who like animals.”

“They might not be bad, but they could be crazy.”

“Frer isn’t crazy.”

“Quietly crazy people are even scarier.”

“Frer is fine. And you already said you wanted to extend the contract.”

“Yes. Just for a year, not for ten years like you demanded.”

“Sign the contract first, and if he turns out to be weird, you can kick him out.”

“Do you not know that canceling a contract without a significant reason can lead to a lawsuit?”

What should I do? Should I lie down? Roll around? As I hesitated, Leonel’s voice reached me.

“Manager.”

“What?”

“Bring me an answer from the ranch keeper that he’ll extend his contract for another year. Don’t talk to me if it’s not that.”

“But what if you regret letting go of Frer? Even the next person, and the person after that, will likely be weird.”

“Nonsense.”

“Now it’s time to trust me.”

“Trust?”

Leonel’s crimson pupils were locked onto me. His perfectly shaped lips twisted slightly, forming a faint curve.

Once again, anger welled up inside me.

“Didn’t the tents, the replacement of agricultural equipment, hiring more supervisors, and everything else eventually help with estate management?”