Duke, Please Fail! - Chapter 40

Episode 40

Anyway, to avoid repeating the same mistakes as the first day, I cleaned myself up, both in terms of clothing and appearance. Then, I waited for Leonel’s room light to go out before heading upstairs.

This time, I was determined to get the timing right when he fell asleep, but I failed again. Moreover, the door opened before I could even knock!

“You’ve come.”

Yes, I’ve come. Your Grace looks radiant as always today. I greeted Leonel with a silent bow, feeling somewhat powerless.

As I entered the room, Leonel was standing by the door, seemingly lost in thought. Why is he just standing there? He stared at me with a faint smile.

“You don’t look well. Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?”

Leonel’s face, as he spoke those words, seemed somewhat pallid. It appeared as though he might have a headache, judging by the furrowed brows.

“Your Grace, you don’t look well either.”

“True. If we keep this up, we might die. Let’s take a few days off from these early morning visits.”

Leonel also acknowledges that pushing too hard might lead to death! I felt not just satisfaction but an exhilaration that was difficult to contain.

Although I wanted to cheer and shout “Hooray,” I managed to keep my excitement hidden. However, I couldn’t stop myself from smiling.

When I turned my head and tried to wipe away the smile on my face, Leonel let out a sigh.

“…You should go back. It’s best to get some rest.”

Yes, that’s right. We should do that. Now that even Leonel has become pale, this revenge is a success!

Leonel let out a small chuckle when he saw me smile. Wait a moment, if he’s laughing, maybe he’s not as sick as I thought…

I narrowed my eyes and looked more closely, but he sighed and gently pushed me towards the door.

“It’s time for you to leave. Or should I carry you back to your room myself?”

“No, thank you!”

When I shouted and flung open the door, the butler’s face appeared. He looked at me and then Leonel with a mix of astonishment and confusion.

“I came here because of the commotion… but why is the estate manager here?”

There was a faint hint of hope in his voice, which could be a misunderstanding.

However, considering the circumstances, it was probably just that—a misunderstanding. The butler’s face brightened inexplicably for a moment before he adopted a more composed expression.

Leonel’s voice came from behind me. 

“We’ve been having a deep discussion about the direction of estate management for the past few days.”

“Ah, I see.”

The butler suddenly became much more composed. He responded with a seemingly unimpressed “Ah” and a formal, dry acknowledgment. He glanced at me briefly before giving a slight bow in Leonel’s direction.

“I’ll prepare the carriage.”

“No, it’s alright! I was just about to leave.”

I waved my hand, but instead of acknowledging my understanding, the butler looked at Leonel. Leonel nodded briefly.

“Forget the carriage; just escort Miss Nelly Pepper to her room. We can’t have her falling asleep in the garden or anywhere else like that.”

It’s not like I’m falling asleep just anywhere. Definitely not. A yawn escaped me. I turned my head and covered my mouth awkwardly when my gaze met the butler’s.

I tried to suppress the yawn by biting my lip, and in the process, our eyes locked. I smiled awkwardly with my mouth half-covered, and the butler kindly stepped aside with a gentle expression.

“I’ll escort you.”

“No, really, I’m fine.”

“I cannot refuse a direct order from His Grace.”

Well, that’s true. Maybe it’s better to pretend to leave together and part ways in the middle.

“Alright, then. Goodnight, Your Grace.”

I gave a casual farewell to Leonel and followed the butler. While descending the stairs, I was about to mention that I could go to the west tower by myself, but the steward suddenly spoke up.

“I hope you don’t mind me asking, but…”

“Yes?”

“Did you only talk about work with the Duke?”

“Yes.”

“Do you intend to talk about other things in the future?”

“Yes?”

“I guess I’ve grown older. I just think it would be nice to have a partner, considering how you’re always together with the master.”

The word “partner” made my heart flutter for no reason. It was confusing to suddenly have such emotions.

Even before I died, I hadn’t realized Leonel was such a workaholic.

I had briefly entertained thoughts of Leonel.

No, when you think about it, it’s only natural.

Who wouldn’t dream of romance when they are so close to the handsome Duke who looks like a romance novel hero, especially after being betrayed in love?

“But not me.”

That’s right. It wasn’t me.

I forgot everything in a whirlwind of exhaustion before any emotions could arise.

And I would never let myself feel such emotions again. Absolutely!

But the butler smiled strangely and said meaningfully.

“You’ll find out if you watch.”

“That’s true.”

If you watch, you’ll find out too, butler. Because Leonel will never have any feelings for me in the end.

I remember when he rebuffed me with cold words when I begged him for a vacation. My heart stung and then suddenly felt as heavy as wet cotton.

I tapped my chest for no reason, and a random remark reached my ears.

“Thank you anyway.”

“Yes?”

Did I do something worthy of thanks?

I tilted my head, and the butler continued.

“He couldn’t sleep well until you came.”

I blinked in surprise and then exhaled softly. It seemed that Faust’s words were shocking after all, even he stopped the surveillance he liked.

I walked with my head down, and the butler stopped and looked back.

“I am just grateful that Miss Nelly is at least a companion.”

I didn’t go there with that intention, and the more I visited, the more Leonel’s face seemed pale.

I awkwardly smiled and changed the subject. We engaged in small talk before returning to my room, taking a shower, and falling asleep immediately.

But not long after, I woke up again. I was so tired from the accumulated fatigue of the past few days that my eyes hurt.

Today is my day off, so I’ll just make a wooden channel and bury it, then come back and rest.

‘Is Frer back?’

He had an iron hand drill and chisel.

We had collected some logs, so it seemed like I could make a water pipe to bury in the ground if I borrowed his tools.

Rubbing my drowsy eyes, I headed to Frer’s house.

“Frer! Are you back?”

As soon as I knocked on the door, it opened shortly after. I wanted to greet him warmly, but I heard a scream.

“Oh! Miss Nelly. What happened while I was away?”

I’ve stayed up several nights, but I’m having a fulfilling day!

“Nothing happened at all. Why?”

“But you look so pale… No, never mind.”

“Yeah, that’s right. More importantly, can I borrow a hand drill?”

“A hand drill? What do you need it for?”

Frer asked slowly with a puzzled voice.

Should I tell him? Well, Frer isn’t one of Leonel’s people, so it should be fine, right? Besides, he turned a blind eye when I secretly brought Guadang there to use.

“I’m making a conduit, and I want to bury it underground, close to the field.”

“A conduit?”

Frer scratched his head with his staff and then exclaimed softly.

“Is it the conduit connected to the field near the river?”

“How do you know about that, Frer? Well, I haven’t connected it yet.”

“Well, when I came back in the morning, people were just gathering there, so I looked and they were building the conduit… Miss Nelly, where are you going!”

What kind of nonsense is this?

I heard Frer shouting something from behind, but I just ran. Gasping for breath, I grabbed a carriage and went to where it was.

‘Seriously? The conduit is connected to the field!’

I pinched my arm, thinking this might be a dream. It hurt so much that it made tears well up.

But it wasn’t a dream. Who on earth completed the conduit? Even the conduit I started making for the irrigation yesterday was already finished.

And soon, water began to flow through the conduit.

“Estate manager!”

This doesn’t look good. Mr. Carlson’s voice sounded so ominous. As I turned my head slowly, three gentlemen were approaching.

Don’t walk so elegantly! Don’t shake your head! Don’t smile politely! None of this is impressive or appreciated, yet everything around me seemed to shimmer, and the gentlemen’s steps and swaying hair appeared to be in slow motion. Why is this happening?

Oh, I get it.

It must be because my pupils have relaxed. When I focused my eyes, the gentlemen’s movements returned to their normal speed.

“What… What happened here?”

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice that the estate manager was making all of this alone?”

I had no idea.

I rubbed my stiff eyes, and another gentleman burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! It turns out these guys were secretly helping too.”

“Our schedules just happened to overlap yesterday.”

“We met, so we finished it!”

Is this my future? As I watched the gentlemen, who seemed unable to contain their laughter, I felt a chill down my spine.

No wonder. The conduit had such intricate details in between. I thought it was because my skills had improved.

“No need to thank us, estate manager.”

I’m not thankful at all!

“But is it okay that water accumulates in the field?”

It’s not okay!

The irrigation conduit was a little smaller than the one I made. That’s why water was accumulating in the field.

Of course, I was overjoyed with the outcome, but the problem would arise if Leonel discovered it.

‘What should I do? Should I go now and confess? And then come up with a quick excuse.’

I lowered my head.

‘No, that won’t work. I flooded the field. What excuse could cover that up?’

Isn’t this going too far?

In reality, this level of revenge was somewhat successful, but I didn’t have nearly enough money to establish myself in another region.

Should I go to Roman if I’m fired? He said he has a great job for me, with room and board!

Yes, I have a place to go.

Be confident, Nelly Pepper!

“Perhaps the Duke will be surprised when he sees this.”

“Still, there must be a reason for what the estate manager has done.”

I heard the gentlemen muttering.

It’s a bit resentful, but the gentlemen played a big role in quickly completing the conduit.

“Don’t worry. If anything goes wrong, I’ll take full responsibility.”

The gentlemen were already struggling to make ends meet under Leonel’s rule.

I took a deep breath and turned my body.

I have to pretend not to know until the crops rot. That’s what I need to do…

But why is Leonel riding a horse and approaching slowly?

And it looks like he’s moving in slow motion.

“Nelly Pepper.”

As soon as I heard his voice, my vision went blurry.

Huh? That’s strange. Why is this happening?