Duke, Please Fail! - Chapter 87

Episode 87

Leonel looked down at his still unclenched hand and listened to Nelly’s explanation. 

In summary, it went like this: She wanted to end her life as a vagabond, so she became an estate manager, worked herself to death for three years, and then died. And when she woke up, she was back to her first day as a manager.

“Now, you expect me to believe that?”

Leonel asked Nelly with a bitter laugh. Her gaze was serious. 

It was an unbelievable story, but it didn’t sound like a lie. However, Leonel’s rationality screamed that this was an impossible thing.

Leonel ran his hands over his face. 

“It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. I’m sorry I kept it a secret. I did it for revenge.”

With a heavy voice, Leonel pondered Nelly’s actions. 

From the very first day, she had found Faust, Leonel’s injured finger, and took on the work. She even knew his favorite dessert. It hadn’t even been a week, and she had accurately grasped everything needed for the estate.

She warned him that the ranch keeper after Frer would be strange, and it turned out that Roman was a spy.

‘At first, I was suspicious because Nelly knew too much.’

 If she had indeed traveled back in time, everything made sense, from the hostile glances without reason to the familiar way she treated him, even when claiming to dislike him. Everything.

But there was one thing he couldn’t accept. 

‘Smiling on the surface while sharpening the knives for revenge behind my back.’

What bothered him more than the fact that she intended to seek revenge was the thought of how much pain she must have endured when she experienced death. 

He couldn’t help but imagine how agonizing it must have been for her, even though she had betrayed him. He wanted to hold her in his arms and say it was okay, but he couldn’t bring himself to betray the person who had opened her heart to him.

‘Why are you revealing this now?’

The lanterns that had adorned the sky dispersed like a dream, and darkness settled around them.

Leonel felt a sense of despair he hadn’t experienced in a long time. He sighed deeply as if the ground was giving way beneath him, and he turned his body. He leaned against the railing and rested his face in his palms.

He tried to understand Nelly. She had applied for leave, claiming she felt like she was going to die from exhaustion, and she had been refused with words full of doubt. It would have been reasonable for her to hold a grudge and seek revenge. 

But what kind of revenge did she exact?

‘Exactly what revenge did she seek?’

 Since her arrival, the morale of the estate’s residents had improved, and the reputation of Altwood Estate had soared. Harvests had increased by 30% compared to the previous year.

As he comprehended the situation, the feeling of despair that had been choking him evaporated like smoke. 

He smiled weakly and straightened his back, facing Nelly.

“Nelly, if you want to reject my confession, you can be honest about it.”

“It’s not like that! I know it’s hard to believe what I’m saying. About going back in time. It sounds so fantastical…”

“I believe in going back in time.”

“…What?”

“It’s unrealistic, and it doesn’t quite register in the heart, but I’ve understood it with my head.”

Nelly, who had been holding back tears, looked bewildered. 

“But I can’t believe you sought revenge. It’s a little painful lie, but it’s not something I can take lightly.”

Due to the unexpected turn of the conversation, Nelly couldn’t immediately understand what Leonel was saying. She tilted her head and, after a while, spoke. 

“It’s not a lie.”

“Then tell me. What kind of revenge did you seek after going back in time?”

“That’s… “

Nelly couldn’t answer and fell silent. The atmosphere was too serious, and she couldn’t bring herself to reveal her pitiful failed revenge plots.

But as the silence dragged on, Leonel’s expression grew more serious. He bent down, meeting Nelly’s gaze. 

“Could it be that you haven’t succeeded in your revenge yet?”

“…That’s right.”

For a long time, Leonel stared into Nelly’s eyes. There was no sign that she was still lying. 

‘You wanted to seek revenge?’

His face rarely contorted. The despair he had concealed began to weigh down on his shoulders again.

“Seems impossible to ambush with your strength, so did you attempt poisoning? Or are you intentionally trying to win my heart and then crush it?” 

His voice was cold and composed, but his eyes seemed like they might spill blood-red tears. Nelly felt like her heart was being torn apart.

“I’ve never thought of killing you or crushing your heart!”

“…”

“At first, I just thought of spending a lot of money changing farming tools and setting up tents. But it failed…”

“Did you plan for poisoning?”

“No, I didn’t!”

Nelly shouted, but Leonel couldn’t believe her; she had died of overwork in the past.

‘Did you plan on spending money extravagantly as revenge for death?’

The astronomical cost that would have bankrupted a dynasty was, in Leonel’s perspective, merely loose change. Moreover, Nelly hadn’t even embezzled any of it. The items she had bought with the money were still the property of the duke.

Leonel let out a sigh, or perhaps it was a laugh, as he wiped his face. Nelly, choking back tears, recounted her past failed revenge attempts as if confessing.

“But, the moment you said you believed me, Leonel, my resentment disappeared, and I couldn’t seek revenge anymore. As we talked, I understood more and felt sorry, and so, that’s why…”

As Nelly continued, Leonel felt deflated. His anger and despair seemed pointless.

Unlike Leonel, who had sought vengeance and killed a close friend out of betrayal and revenge, Nelly was the kind of person who would scheme and play tricks to seek vengeance, even if someone tried to kill her. She was the type to feel guilt even for scheming.

Leonel’s enemies always carried knives. They believed that if the opportunity arose, they could kill him at any time. His beliefs were much the same.

Without a doubt, Nelly was the first person who harbored ill will toward him yet was so harmless.

“Nelly.”

Leonel’s voice took on a tender tone again.

Nelly felt a wave of relief wash over her, and it seemed tears were about to fall. She had been holding back all this time, not knowing if she should leave the place she had barely settled into. 

Above all, she couldn’t bear it if Leonel looked at her with disdain.

“Are you… forgiving me?”

“There’s no need to forgive or say anything. I’m at fault for what you’ve gone through.”

Leonel said as he held Nelly, who had started to cry, in his arms. 

Leonel comforted her with a somewhat awkward touch until her sobbing subsided. After a few minutes, Nelly had completely stopped crying. But she couldn’t lift her head; she felt embarrassed for crying like a child.

With her face covered, she tried to pull away from Leonel’s embrace, but he held her tighter.

“I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Why did you choose to reveal the secret now?”

“Because if I hide it and accept your feelings, it would be deceitful, wouldn’t it?”

“Does that mean…?”

“I like you too.”

Nelly, still in Leonel’s arms, looked up at him. 

“I don’t know if it’s a recent feeling or if I’ve liked you for a very long time, but either way, I like you, Leonel.”

Her confession, with her face all flushed, was incredibly endearing, so he couldn’t resist. 

Leonel kissed her once more.

* * *

I couldn’t help but laugh as memories of yesterday kept coming back. I pinched my cheek to test the reality, then laughed again. 

The touch of the hand that had brushed my back came to mind, and my cheeks turned red.

Changing my expression constantly as I walked alone in the garden, I felt a bit awkward. When my energy ran out, I plopped down on a bench.

‘I must look crazy to anyone who sees me.’

As I was cooling my flushed cheeks with my palm, someone sat down beside me.

‘Is it Leonel?’

When I turned my head with a big smile, it was Levance.

“Ah…”

“Nelly, aren’t you openly disappointed?”

“Oh, I’m sorry!”

Get a grip, seriously! I lowered both my cheeks with a slap and turned my head in the direction I felt a sharp gaze from.

Levance asked with a bewildered expression.

“You were with His Grace yesterday. How was it?”

“What, what’s the matter?”

“It’s the festival. It seems like something special happened from the way you’re reacting.”

Can I say we’re dating? 

It’s my first time in a relationship, and I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to make a fuss. 

Levance doesn’t usually talk much about Leonel, but this is an outside setting, so there might be listeners who aren’t visible.

I have to catch Levance first before discussing Leonel.

“Nothing special happened.”

“Really? I can’t believe that there was nothing…”

Levance, with a puzzled expression, stroked his chin and mumbled to himself. Then he turned his body with a determined look.

“I usually don’t get involved in this kind of thing, but it’s been such a mess around here, and it’s frustrating to just watch.”

Why is he starting with such a long introduction?

“Nelly, you knew exactly what His Grace liked to eat in Braushtete. “

“Yes, I know what Leonel likes.”

I used the same excuse I used when he questioned me earlier, and Levance’s face immediately brightened.

“Have you noticed what His Grace seems to be particularly fond of these days?”

I did look like a pudding with strawberry compote on top lately. It seemed like other people had noticed it as well.

I blushed in embarrassment.

Levance smiled proudly, like Cupid who had just shot an arrow. 

“Well, I have some business to attend to.”

It was clear that he was making way for me to think about it alone. My conscience stung.

‘Why don’t I just tell him?’

After some contemplation, I finished my walk and returned to the castle. 

Leonel, who had been absent from the morning to fulfill a guest’s request, was standing in front of my room. 

I hadn’t seen him in a few hours, and I couldn’t contain my excitement.

“Leonel!”

I rushed towards him, and he warmly embraced me. Startled, I pushed him away.

“Are you okay?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Our relationship getting known.”

“Did you want to keep it a secret?”

Leonel looked a bit hurt. I knew I should be apologizing, but for some reason, I felt good.

“No, it’s just that I was being cautious…”

“There’s no need for that.”

He nodded and took my hand, planting a kiss on the back of it. Then he opened the door. We both sat down on the sofa where we usually faced each other.

It’s incredible how just a few months ago, I was so focused on seeking revenge.

“Maybe I came back for this.”

Leonel, who had been playing with my hair, met my gaze.

“To get to know Leonel better.”

“Didn’t you know me well before?”