Duke, Please Fail! - Chapter 80

Episode 80

Why did I come out?

Riding on Guadang, I wandered around and thought absentmindedly.

The young farmers were still in the fields that had finished harvesting. But this was something I didn’t need to examine closely.

‘Should I go back?’

I turned to the direction of the administration office and shook my head. What if Leonel comes to mind again?

I’ve already thought about it!

I shook my head vigorously, trying to shake off the haughty face.

Think about something else. Think about something else.

Right. What about the wine? I ordered a delicious wine without knowing, so I needed to think of another way to get me out of the Queen’s sight.

‘Originally, I was going to discuss with Leonel… Don’t think about Leonel!’

I tapped my head and shook my head. When I came to my senses, I was near Hadiger’s cabin. 

It was Guadang’s doing.

“Guadang, do you have any grievances against me?”

Last time, you took me to Leonel… Yeah. Do as you wish, my mind. Think of Leonel or not, do as you please.

I sighed and dismounted from Guadang.

“I’ll be around playing.”

I patted Guadang a few times and looked at Hadiger’s cabin.

The doubts about him still hadn’t been resolved. But I couldn’t rashly talk to Leonel either.

‘I should have seen something accurately like I did with Roman, rather than hesitate.’

If I spoke without thinking, Leonel would start surveilling, and if Hadiger noticed, he would surely suspect me and Frer. We were the only ones close to him.

If he’s not a spy, our relationship might sour, and if he is a spy, my life could be at risk.

I hesitated for a moment and approached Hadiger’s cabin. The window was covered with curtains.

‘Come to think of it, he never left the curtains open.’

As I went over his actions one by one, I almost forgot to knock and open the door. I thought it was locked, but it just opened.

Hadiger, sitting at the table holding a piece of paper, looked surprised and asked in a startled voice.

“Who is it?”

He asked, looking towards the door.

“It’s me. Nelly. Sorry, I forgot to knock!”

“I was startled, thinking it might be a thief. Come in, Nelly.”

He smiled as usual and fumbled for a chair next to him.

I sat in the seat he had vacated. My gaze went to the paper Hadiger was holding. Before I could read the words, Hadiger casually folded the paper and put it in his pocket.

“What were you doing?”

“A letter came, but you have to be able to read to understand it.”

He playfully tapped my forehead.

“Then let me read it for you.”

“This is something I can only show to someone closer than a friend.”

How does he know the contents if he can’t even see it? The words almost slipped out, but I held my tongue.

Before my suspicions could grow, Hadiger added.

“The person who delivered the letter said it was from my mother.”

“Your mother doesn’t know?”

“What?”

“About your eyes… um… the way they are.”

“….”

“If she knew, she probably wouldn’t send a letter.”

A heavy silence hung for a moment. My mouth felt unnaturally dry for no reason.

Oddly, Leonel’s words came to mind, emphasizing that I should be even more suspicious of friends.

Hadiger was hiding something from me. I had my secrets I couldn’t share with him, so I wasn’t in a position to say anything.

What mattered was that the secret might be dangerous enough to hurt me.

I found myself staring at the distance, lost in thought when Hadiger answered.

“She has no idea.”

Hadiger chuckled softly.

“I see.”

I replied casually and stroked my chin. Then I looked intently at Hadiger.

He got up to prepare tea. It seemed like I could sense his gaze.

“But, Nelly.”

“Yeah?”

“What brings you at this hour? You didn’t come when you were working.”

“I was going for a walk, and Guadang just came to your house on his own, didn’t he? I must have come too often.”

“You and Frer have been hoarding our food.”

He chuckled playfully.

“Hoarding? You’ve got a way with words! Should I raise the rent?”

“Then maybe I should become homeless.”

He laughed in response.

Even amidst the usual meaningless banter, my heart felt heavy. I thought I needed to leave soon and placed the teapot in front of Hadiger.

At that moment, the door opened, and Frer walked in. He spotted me and made a surprised expression before looking at Hadiger as if attempting a silent conversation with the unseen figure before him.

Watching the two of them closely, I poured another cup of tea and pushed it towards Frer.

“I should be going now.”

“You’re not drinking, Nelly?”

“I went for a walk during work.”

“I see.”

I bid the two farewell and walked outside. Returning to the management office, I worked a bit later than usual and then headed towards the castle.

After taking Guadang to the stables and entering the garden, I saw someone sitting on a bench. 

It was Leonel.

“You’re a bit late today.”

I reflexively stood facing him, but I couldn’t meet his eyes. I pretended not to see him; it was a bit too late for that. Should I just give a brief answer and head to the castle?

But that would seem like I’m deliberately avoiding him! I’ve been avoiding him all this time!

“I had a lot of work.”

I answered softly and looked only towards the top of the castle.

Quietly, I made my way towards the entrance, but Leonel came closer with long strides as well.

As I neared the castle, Leonel got closer to me too. Eventually, he closed in on me, near the door, before I could even avoid him. I decided to change my plan and smiled at him, facing him.

“Why is Leonel here? Did you come for a walk?”

“I’ve been waiting.”

“For whom?”

Instead of answering, he matched his gaze with mine.

My heart raced like a five-year-old child’s beneath my ribs. I bit my lip tightly, and Leonel gestured towards the mansion.

He must mean going inside together, right? As we started walking, Leonel followed alongside me.

“What should we do about the wine?”

“Ah! I was planning to discuss that, but last time….”

The whispered voice that was close enough to touch my cheek came to mind, and I tightly closed my mouth.

I managed to suppress the reddening face and cleared my throat.

“Since we’ve already purchased it, shouldn’t we just use it as is? But how do we deal with the queen not liking it.”

“Just complain that it doesn’t taste good.”

“Would that work?”

“Whether you say good wine is bad or bad wine is good, it makes you look like you lack taste.”

“….”

“Even if that’s not the case, don’t worry too much. I told you it wouldn’t be taken away.”

“That’s right!”

Suddenly, my mind felt clear. I nodded, but then another worry came to mind.

“Leonel, are you keeping an eye on Hadiger?”

He stopped in his tracks and looked at me. Seeing him hesitate to answer, it seemed like he was indeed keeping an eye on him.

I felt somewhat relieved that things were going as planned.

“Was there something suspicious?”

“I haven’t explicitly mentioned that I’m watching.”

“But you are.”

“…There’s nothing suspicious. At least not yet.”

If it were Leonel, he wouldn’t sporadically keep an eye on him. If he said there was nothing suspicious, then there was nothing.

Thank goodness. It meant that his secret wasn’t harmful to Leonel or the Duke of Altwood in any way.

There must be some undisclosed reason for this.

“Why are you suddenly asking about this?”

“Just curious.”

“You’re suspicious of him, huh?”

“….”

“Despite being friends?”

Although his tone was not much different from usual, for some reason, it felt oddly annoying. When I made a puzzled expression, he chuckled softly and reached out his hand.

Contrary to his refined appearance, his rough fingertips brushed through my hair and grazed my ear. The atmosphere was peculiar.

As I tried to step back, he lowered his hand.

“Leave the surveillance to me and act as usual, even if you’re suspicious. If he is a spy and realizes his cover is blown, he’ll try to kill you.”

“That’s what I’m trying to do.”

Leonel nodded and resumed walking.

“Have you received the festival schedule?”

Caught off guard by the sudden shift in topic, I blinked and belatedly nodded.

The festival schedule was uneventful, except for the fact that the queen would be attending on the first day. There wasn’t much going on apart from the nobles staying for a few days. The guests wouldn’t be too numerous.

After four days of revelry and feasting, the festival would come to an end.

“What do you plan to do?”

During the festival period, even the staff got some rest.

Of course, they had all been busy working before they could think of taking a break. I had never participated in the festival or even heard the singing in all the years I worked as an estate manager.

But this time, there was no backlog of work. After welcoming the guests on the first day, I was free to roam as I pleased.

“I’m planning to see the festival.”

To think I worked as an estate manager for three years and never got to see the festival. How frustrating!

“Come with me.”

“You want to see the festival together?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t like crowded places, Leonel. You dislike noisy places too.”

“You know me well.”

I looked at him, feeling a bit embarrassed. There was no hint of suspicion on his face. He asked, his expression unchanged.

“What else?”

“What do you mean?”

“What you know about me.”

“You like pudding topped with strawberry compote?”

“Anything else?”

“You want me to keep going?”

Leonel nodded. His face was as expressionless as usual, yet for some reason, he looked pleased.

Is there more I know about him? Unexpectedly, several facts came flooding into my mind.

“You like sweet, salty, and spicy food. Um… if something bothers you, your left eyebrow twitches.”

“And?”

“You have a habit of crossing your legs and putting your clasped hands on your knees before starting a serious conversation. If you’ve been working for too long and your eyes are tired, you wear glasses….”

As I smoothly recited these details, something felt off.

‘Why do I know Leonel so well?’

As my thoughts veered in a different direction, my words trailed off. I hesitated to say more, but Leonel seemed oddly satisfied.

“Let’s meet in front of the castle gate at 7 p.m. the day after the festival.”

Leonel casually made plans and then went into the room, leaving me in a daze even after he disappeared.