Duke, Please Fail! - Chapter 73

Episode 73

The rough voice tickled his ears. Leonel bit his lip, feeling like laughter might escape again.

The urge to spill everything subsided, entangled with reason. It felt just like when he had allowed the use of his name.

“Tatiasun….”

He had never told anyone about Tatiasun’s story, given that they had mostly experienced betrayal together.

But on late nights when he woke up from nightmares alone, he wanted to confess to anyone.

His parent’s death, the servant’s betrayal, his uncle’s treachery, his friend’s secret whom he considered closer than family, and even the cowardice of fleeing from the battlefield bargaining his life with the queen—all of it.

“He sought asylum in Attenu from Desatell when he was young. But it seems he has never been a true citizen of Attenu.”

“…”

“Even when he knew that thousands of lives depended on my decision. Even when we entrusted our backs to each other on the battlefield… He was, to the core, a citizen of Desatell, our enemy.”

Leonel turned his head at the gaze he felt beside him. She seemed unaccustomed to listening to the personal stories of others.

Her perplexity was written on her face.

Since he didn’t bring up these words seeking comfort, he wasn’t hurt. He didn’t even hope for understanding.

Just bringing out the heavy past he had kept to himself was enough. It was the moment when he thought he didn’t need to say anything.

“You must have felt lonely.”

The murmuring voice penetrated to the core.

Leonel’s life was being consumed by a specter. He believed that this specter stemmed from betrayal, death, loss, and secrets.

However, those were all just events. The essence lay in emotions—the loneliness of being forever separated from family, the loneliness of ultimately being betrayed and left alone, the loneliness of having no one to confide in, and no one to share secrets with.

What was gnawing at his life was loneliness.

Leonel intuitively realized that Nelly, who understood the reasons for his anguish that even he had not noticed, was also tormented by the same thing.

“You too. You must have felt lonely.”

Her brown hair fluttered in the wind, a few strands reflecting the sunlight, shimmering like gold. An awkward smile played on her lips.

Could an unnatural expression be so radiant and beautiful? Leonel wanted to kiss her smile right away.

The sensation that had tickled his chest spread throughout his body. Joy surged like an electric current, tingling his fingertips.

Only after surrendering his entire body to the sensation he had always felt whenever he saw Nelly could Leonel finally put a name to that emotion.

It was love.

* * *

“Is that you, Nelly Pepper?”

The lady asked with a kindly smile.

“Yes.”

I replied as politely as I could and looked over at Leonel, who was sitting across from her, sipping his tea nonchalantly, his face expressionless, as if he had no idea what he was thinking.

I came because the Duke was looking for me, but what’s going on here?

I tried to ask Leonel what was going on with my eyes. However, Leonel only gestured for me to come closer, looking uncomfortable.

As I approached slowly, Leonel introduced me to the lady.

“Nelly. This is Duchess Annabella Etkin, the Queen’s handmaiden.”

Then he proceeded to introduce me to the lady. I reflexively bent my knees to show respect, but my mind was preoccupied with different thoughts.

About a week ago, when Leonel and I awkwardly finished our conversation, I explored the estate.

It was around the time I returned after walking in silence.

‘Her Majesty’s handmaiden will come soon.’

I nodded and brushed it off. It was only natural for a maid or an aide to check for any potential danger or issues in the place where the Queen would visit.

Moreover, the Queen’s handmaiden would be a princess or duchess; as a mere estate manager, there was no reason for me to be near such high-ranking individuals!

It shouldn’t have happened, but it did.

After the introductions, Leonel gestured to the butler. The butler approached and pulled out a chair.

Feeling awkward internally, I sat down in the chair. As the maid served the tea and stepped back, the lady started to speak.

“I’m pleased to meet the rumor.”

“I am truly honored to meet you in person, Duchess.”

Silence ensued. In the stifling atmosphere, I turned my head slightly. Leonel and I met eyes as if he had been looking at me.

After a few blinks, he tried to smile but stopped. Then, he urged the lady in a cold voice.

“You seem not to be busy. You already know about the estate.”

The listener’s spine could almost freeze at the tone. However, the lady, the main person involved, seemed unfazed and drew an elegant curve with her lips.

“Don’t be so guarded, Duke Altwood.”

“I will consider your words if you take your leave.”

Seeing Leonel’s reaction, it seemed like she was a dangerous person. Well, if you’re the Queen’s handmaiden, you must be quite formidable.

I purposefully averted my gaze and looked at the dark tea. I shouldn’t make eye contact!

“Miss Pepper.”

My determination faded as I found myself directly meeting the eyes of the lady.

“Do you have ambitions?” 

It was an unexpected question. 

I reflexively looked at Leonel. A month ago, I might have immediately thought of revenge, but now… I’m not sure.

“No, I don’t.”

“Oh dear. A talented young person without ambitions.”

It was an oddly provocative tone. If Leonel had said something like that, I might have retorted, ‘Well, some people might not have ambitions!’. But since it was coming from her, I just let it slide and smiled.

“Even if you don’t have ambitions, you must have desires, right? You wouldn’t work without goals, I presume.”

I wondered why she kept asking such questions. I looked at her. Her rosy face only showed a refined smile.

Thinking of her as an inscrutable person, I answered willingly.

“My goal is to earn money.”

The lady’s smile deepened.

“No, money is only a means, not a purpose.”

People whose goal is just money might feel offended to hear that. I was about to pout but held back and asked as is.

Leonel’s lips twitched. It was clear he was trying to hold back laughter. I tried not to look at him and recalled what I had planned to do after my revenge was over.

“I plan to buy a small house in the countryside.”

“In the countryside?”

“Yes. A place where I can smell freshly baked bread in the morning. If I can put a rocking chair on the terrace, that would be perfect. My dream is to play and eat without worrying about money.”

Just thinking about it made me happy. I knew how to mix liquid fertilizer, so maybe I should try growing plants too?

As I contemplated which flowers to plant in the garden, I heard a stifled laugh beside me. Leonel was desperately trying to maintain a straight face. 

I tried not to look at him, fearing he might be mocking my dream. I averted my eyes, trying to keep my pupils in place.

“This has become quite difficult, hasn’t it?”

The Duchess’ smile turned ambiguously changed.

“I thought you’d be similar to Prince Adelhardt, competent and good at socializing….”

Similar to Prince Adelhardt? The person who, like a lunatic, laughed and babbled about socializing with me, someone he barely knew?

I couldn’t hide my contorted expression, and the Duchess laughed out loud.

“You’re quite a charming young lady.”

Earlier, she was mocking, and now she was praising. She was truly an unpredictable person. I raised my head and thanked her, but her expression was not as kind as I had thought.

As I tilted my head, I stopped trying to figure it out. Trying to understand would only give me a headache. Anyway, I wouldn’t have to see her again!

At that moment, it seemed the Duchess’ interest in me had waned. She turned to Leonel and spoke.

“Oh! By the way, have you heard the news, Duke Altwood?”

“Please tell me.”

“I remembered it because of the Prince Adelhardt story. It’s said that soon, even his closest aide will harvest exotic crops in the territory he owns.”

Leonel’s face contorted. The Duchess looked at me and continued.

“And it seems that even Duke Altwood’s uncle has succeeded in cultivating exotic crops.”

The atmosphere that was warm just a while ago sank.

Both places succeeded in cultivating crops. I hadn’t succeeded in a single place before I died.

Could there still be spies on the estate?

But during that time, no unknown person entered. Then who…?

“Miss Pepper, what are you thinking?”

The Duchess’ voice interrupted my thoughts.

I snapped my head up, and I saw red eyes. I looked at Leonel with an anxious gaze. He turned his head with an inscrutable expression.

It felt like my heart had fallen and was rolling around in my stomach.

Even to myself, I seemed to be the most suspicious person. After all, I tampered with the crops in secret. Moreover, I admitted that the method wasn’t validated through my mouth.

If it were Leonel, he might suspect that I, driven by curiosity, experimented with the crops and handed over the results to someone else.

No, it wasn’t possible, but considering his personality, he would undoubtedly think so.

“Your Grace…”

“Have you finished speaking, Lady Etkin?”

Leonel interrupted me with a cold voice and set down his teacup. The Duchess, with a smiling face, looked at me intently, then stood up.

“You didn’t have to chase me out like this, Duke Altwood.”

“Farewell will be handled by the butler.”

“It’s not necessary.”

With a stiff and creaking movement, I forced myself to stand. The Duchess, still smiling, approached and placed her delicate hand on my shoulder.

“Miss Pepper, I hope to see you more often.”

“It’s an honor.”

I don’t even know what state of mind I was in when I greeted her. When I somewhat organized my complicated thoughts, the Duchess was already gone.

Leonel leaned against the backrest of his chair, eyes closed. Frustration and weariness were mixed in the furrowed brow.

I have to tell him before the suspicion deepens. I clenched my fists and turned towards him.

“Leonel.”

His eyes rolled like marbles and met mine.

“It wasn’t me.”

Leonel frowned. Then he slowly stood up. 

I couldn’t muster the courage to look at his expression.