Duke, Please Fail! - Chapter 84

Episode 84

When the queen was presented with the wine I had bought as a gift, she was very pleased and left. More than half the guests left. Most of them had come just to see her face.

The castle had quieted down, but Devondus Altwood was still there. He quietly revealed himself at the dining table. Perhaps it was because Leonel was by his side, he didn’t act as arrogantly as he did yesterday, but his gaze was still unpleasant. 

Leonel asked as he carved the lamb with a knife.

“Did you see it like that yesterday?”

I didn’t want to see whatever expression he was talking about, but I had to look to answer, so I turned my head slightly. When our eyes met, Devondus smiled as if he could smell something foul.

It had to be mixed with a sinister quality, but it was close enough, so I nodded.

“Uh-huh. Lost my appetite.”

“For that, your plate is surprisingly clean.”

Leonel said with a voice that still contained laughter, but I didn’t feel embarrassed at all. Even if I lost my appetite, the taste of Braushtete cuisine was ecstatic. I could only eat it cleanly! But I didn’t enjoy it as much as usual.

“I couldn’t savor it.”

“Too bad.”

Leonel still had a voice with traces of laughter and stood up from his seat. He lightly put his hand on my shoulder, bent his waist, and whispered.

“Nelly. Get ready to go out and come down.”

I nodded while looking at the empty plate. I don’t understand why he’s so excited when he just said we’re going to the festival. Is it because he drank wine? I wondered as I listened to the sound of Leonel leaving the dining room. Then I glanced at the wine glass that had not diminished by a third.

“I’ll go ahead.”

I greeted Arette and Levance, who were sitting nearby, and went to my room. 

I knocked on the door of the maids’ room, as they couldn’t be seen in the corridor. I heard an invitation to come in from the inside. When I opened the door and peeked inside, Mary, who was talking with the other maids, was visible.

“Mary!”

“Miss Nelly?”

“I’m sorry for interrupting your rest. Can you spare some time?”

Mary, who was talking with a pained expression, suddenly looked surprised.

“Are you going out with the Duke by any chance?”

Before I could respond, a loud outburst came from behind Mary.

“What? The Duke?”

“At last!”

“Is this a date? It’s a date, right?”

“I’m going to inform the butler and Mr. Faust!”

Huh? Why is she informing the butler and Faust…? Before I could even finish my thought, I was pushed forward.

Behind Mary, the other maids poured out like a stream of acorns from a sack. I rushed back to my room, feeling like I was swept away by a wave.

“Where’s the perfume?”

“What should I do with the hair?”

“If you find any accessories, bring them to the dressing table!”

The maids quickly took over the room and moved with great speed. Watching them made my head spin.

I just wanted some light makeup, but what on earth had happened? I couldn’t quite grasp it.

As I stood there, dazed, Mary clapped her hands loudly in front of me.

“It’s done.”

“Oh, thank you all! I’ll bring you something delicious when I come back.”

“We’re going out too, so don’t worry about us.”

“That’s right. Just have a great time.”

“Stay strong!”

“Seize the moment!”

Let’s not dwell on what they meant by “seize the moment.” I awkwardly replied to their enthusiastic farewells and left the room.

My ears felt oddly exposed, probably due to the half-updo I had styled. I ran my fingers through my long, loose hair and descended the stairs, ready for whatever awaited me.

* * *

Upon hearing the news from the maid, Faust immediately stood at a table at the tavern. Tom, who was drinking with him, was startled and tried to pull Faust down. Gerald sighed, and Sophie picked up her chair and moved to another table, not bothering to look at Faust.

However, whether their companions felt embarrassed or not, Faust was in the best mood.

“It’s a success!”

“Okay, please come down. I’m so embarrassed.”

Faust didn’t even acknowledge Tom’s plea.

“Today, the estate manager and the Duke are coming out for a date!”

Sophie returned to the table, looking as if she had run away. The surrounding area quickly buzzed with excitement. Tom, who found it romantic, and others were delighted, thinking Nelly wouldn’t leave.

After looking around the tavern, Gerald muttered in a low voice.

“This plan worked.”

Sophie happily sipped her beer and replied.

“Yes, it worked. But how much effort you’ve put into it.”

“Just took her for a walk, that’s all.”

“And induced physical contact through Lizzy.”

“And remember His Grace’s face. If that doesn’t scare you off, you’re not human.”

Gerald was about to make his case, recalling Leonel, but he bit his tongue to avoid ruining the atmosphere.

Faust, who was still standing at the table, shouted.

“So, don’t ruin the atmosphere at the festival by screaming when you see the Duke! Don’t interfere or stare like you’re going to bore holes through them!”

Words of reassurance and claims that they wouldn’t be so obvious came from the crowd.

Faust nodded contentedly and shouted again.

“Just stick close and make sure they stay side by side! Everyone got it?”

“But can we touch His Grace’s body freely?”

Someone cautiously asked upon which, Faust burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! It’s fine, it’s fine! He grew up so nicely with a noble attitude, but he’s not an authoritative figure.”

Gerald and Sophie nodded in agreement.

“He even camped in the same barracks.”

“That’s right. He doesn’t mind the food, and he’ll sit on the floor and eat with us.”

The local folks, reassured by these words, nodded to each other.

“Let’s not just talk among ourselves; go and tell the people.”

“Yes, yes. We don’t want anyone to be so frightened of the Duke that they fall to their knees.”

The people who had filled the tavern quickly dispersed.

* * *

Leonel was waiting for Nelly with his hood up when he encountered an unfamiliar figure in the corridor. The two of them stood silently, not exchanging any words or greetings. 

This awkward standoff continued for about fifteen minutes until the sound of light footsteps on the stairs broke the suffocating silence.

“Leonel!”

Nelly, who had not spotted Devondus, happily bounded down the stairs. She stood next to Leonel, and Devondus’ gaze passed over both of them without a word.

“What’s up with you? Why do you keep scowling at him?”

Nelly murmured with a low, grumbling voice. Leonel was also uncomfortable with encountering Devondus, but when he looked at Nelly, his irritation dissipated.

Brown hair and light green eyes that were piercing but never threatening. Her lips were pouty, like the beak of a hummingbird.

He’d come to terms with it, but the feeling was still new to him.

And for the past few days, he had the uncontrollable urge to kiss her.

Sensing his gaze, Nelly idly played with her hair and stepped forward.

“But why is he still here?”

They didn’t need to point fingers, but there was only one person who made both of them uncomfortable at the same time.

However, even Leonel didn’t know why Devondus Altwood was still here.

“That’s true. I thought he came to see the Queen, but it seems not.”

“It’s suspicious.”

It was a reasonable suspicion. Although Devondus occasionally visited the Duke’s residence, he never stayed for more than two days. As far as Nelly remembered, Devondus had only stayed for an extended period once, during the banquet that was held the year she was close to death.

“Can’t we kick him out?”

“Relatives who went with him are already on my father’s side. If we chase him away and he retaliates, it’ll be a hassle.”

“It’s strange to support that guy while leaving Leonel behind.”

“It’s about common interests. He understands greed because he’s as greedy as they come.”

“Did he bribe them?”

“Something like that. He increased the taxes on small landowners and miners but lowered the taxes for those who went with him. He sent the lands’ surplus to raise their offspring as squires for the royal knights.”

Squires could learn swordsmanship from knights. Moreover, obtaining a recommendation from a knight who had mastered swordsmanship made it easier to join the royal knighthood.

Given the opportunities for advancement, honor, and wealth in the capital, it was natural for Devondus to gain support.

“But that means it’s harder for the local folks. Did they just accept it?”

“Most of them did.”

That was the reason why only Arette and Levance remained by Leonel’s side.

Their parents had refused Devondus’ proposal. To avoid becoming accomplices, Devondus ordered them to pay even higher taxes.

The family finances were strained, but they still sent their sons to the battlefield, where Leonel was stationed.

“I was on the battlefield, and if I died, my uncle would be duke, so there was no reason for them to refuse.”

“So they hoped for Leonel’s death?”

“Most likely.”

“That’s so unfair. Relatives and those who went with him are people who have pledged their loyalty.”

“That doesn’t matter now.”

Ironically, when Leonel returned, they had tried to assassinate him. They were so zealous that Devondus didn’t need to do much to manipulate them. They became somewhat resentful under Leonel’s threats, but no one dared to come back to him in fear.

“They are sticking around for the money and fame.”

His gaze naturally shifted towards Nelly.

His once sharply protruding lips were now tightly sealed. His eyes remained sharp.

She seemed to be angry as if she had experienced something herself. 

“You just left it like that?”

“As soon as I returned, I reinstated the taxes to their previous levels.”

“And the punishment?”

“It’s not illegal, so not yet.”

He had the urge to sort things out, but doing that would cause problems with those who had sided with Devondus.