Duke, Please Fail! - Chapter 89

Episode 89

The frequency of his headaches seemed to be increasing.

‘I should go to Frer and get some headache medicine.’

After confirming that Leonel had entered his study, I went back downstairs.

“Miss Nelly, where are you going?” 

“I’m going to Frer to get some headache medicine.”

“Please return as soon as possible.”

“I will, thank you!”

I informed the butler of my destination and went outside.

I arrived at the pasture on Guadang. After opening the gate and sending Guadang off to be with his friends, I headed to the cabin.

There was a small bird perched by the window. It looked like a sparrow, and even when I approached, it didn’t fly away. It was within arm’s reach, but the bird hopped around the windowsill, unperturbed by my presence.

‘It’s quite unusual for it not to be afraid of humans.’

I watched it for a moment before knocking on the door.

“Frer, it’s Nelly!”

In an instant, the bird suddenly fluttered its wings and flew away.

“Ah!”

I was startled and crouched down. The flapping sound quickly faded into the distance.

‘I thought it was flying towards me!’

After regaining my composure, I knocked on the door again.

“Frer, are you in there?”

Through the closed window and drawn curtains, light seeped out. 

It could be dangerous to leave the lamp on and go out, so where had Frer gone? In any case, it seemed that he wasn’t in the house, but judging by the lit lamp, he probably hadn’t gone far.

I sat down beside the door, intending to wait. Leaning my cheek against my knee in the darkness, I absently watched the road. Before long, something was approaching rapidly.

It was Frer.

‘He’s incredibly fast.’

He raced towards me at a speed that rivaled that of a horse, effortlessly leaping over the fence with agile, precise movements.

His breathing hardly seemed disrupted, and he wiped off the sweat, regulating his breath with one deep exhale.

‘Come to think of it, he was just like that when he confronted the wolf.’

Even after running from the village to the farmland, he didn’t seem fatigued. On that day when I had fled on a donkey, he had effortlessly caught up to me and held me lightly.

Why did it only now occur to me that his appearance resembled Arette’s?

On the day when Arette had pursued me as I fled on the donkey, I had expressed my hopes that he could run like that with training.

‘Weaks die.’

But Frer was still alive. It meant he had survived the training.

Now that I thought about it, Frer was quite different from other keepers. He had exceptional knowledge of the ancient scriptures, specialized knowledge about herbs, and an understanding of the nobility that was uncommon for a keeper.

‘Could Frer also be a spy?’

I had never suspected it because Roman was already a spy. Who would have expected two spies to join in succession? 

Moreover, Frer didn’t appear to be malicious in any way. He had departed without causing trouble in the previous life.

‘Is this due to my heightened sensitivity because of Devondus? Or did Leonel infect me with paranoia?’

My unease didn’t dissipate. It was as if an instinctual alarm were ringing, urging me to flee. 

While I couldn’t determine whether Frer was a spy, it was prudent to be cautious. To shield my face from the myriad of complex thoughts, I buried it between my knees for a moment.

“Nelly?”

I raised my head, and Frer was suddenly standing in front of me.

He stared at me without saying anything, scratching the back of his head, before finally asking.

“What are you doing?”

“I was waiting for you because I wanted to get some headache medicine. I knocked, but you didn’t respond.”

“I see.”

“You left the lamp on and thought you’d be back soon, so I was waiting. When did you arrive, Frer?”

“Just now. Didn’t you see me?”

“Yeah, I must have dozed off. Where did you go?”

“I went for a short walk.”

It was a lie. Who returns from a casual walk with such haste? There was no doubt he rushed back upon learning that a visitor had arrived. 

But how did he know? Could it be that the small, unassuming bird by the window had informed him? Since the bird had flown in the same direction as Frer had run, there was a good chance of that.

“I need to find where the medicine is. Please wait inside.”

Frer gestured for me to enter first as he opened the door.

“No, I’ll just go. The headache has improved while I was waiting for you.”

I needed to get back to my room. It would be safer to look for headache remedies in my books than to ingest something made by the suspicious Frer.

“See you later, Frer!”

I deliberately greeted him cheerfully and turned away. As I left, I anxiously looked around for Guadang.

‘It’s okay. Stay calm and act as usual.’

A small bird flew over my head. I continued to walk without looking back.

Approaching the fence, I spotted Guadang munching on his friend’s carrot. I opened the fence gate and called out to him. I hopped on and turned towards the castle without looking back.

I could feel my mouth going dry. I slowly exhaled and reached for the gate when suddenly, my chin and wrist were grabbed.

“You’ve come this far. Have a drink at least. Vexiadria Larelius is having fun with friends too.”

A dagger gleamed sharply at Frer’s hip. He didn’t draw the dagger as a direct threat, but it seemed he could do so at any moment.

Did he notice that I was on edge? I tried to relax my tensed shoulders, looking at Frer. He released my wrist and yawned as if nothing was amiss.

He didn’t seem to have realized that something was wrong, but if I fled from here, he might chase after me.

‘Is there a chance to escape?’

The vicinity of the pasture was sparsely populated. Knights occasionally patrolled, but it was uncertain if they were here now.

Even if I fled to Guadang, there was a high chance of being caught before encountering anyone.

“Nelly.”

“Yeah?”

“Why are you lost in thought? I told you to have a drink.”

“Oh, right.”

As soon as I replied, Frer turned and began heading back. He seemed to be lingering, waiting for me to move. 

Reluctantly, I followed him. Frer opened the door and stepped aside as if urging me to enter first.

At that moment, the little bird perched by the window fluttered away again.

“Why ?”

“Is that bird raised by Frer?”

“No, it’s the first time we’ve met.”

Frer scratched his head and shook it.

He didn’t seem to be lying, but he appeared strangely uneasy. In any case, it was too late to escape now. I would chat for a while, wait for the tension to ease, and then leave secretly or continue to wait.

I couldn’t stay out here too long, or Leonel might catch on. He might come to fetch me.

“It feels like it’s been a while since I last saw Frer.”

“That’s because we’ve been meeting at the Hadigers’ house all the time lately.”

As I sat down, I observed Frer’s movements. Suddenly, I remembered Leonel, who had appeared exhausted.

‘…Now that I think about it, something seems off.’

Leonel wasn’t someone who easily got tired. 

Besides, he had taken a nap, resting his head on my lap earlier today. But now, he appeared fatigued after escorting guests… 

He did mention having a headache. The symptoms were mild, but it was exactly how I felt when I died.

‘Could it be that I died from poisoning, and now Leonel is in a poisoned state?’

My fingers felt numb, and without realizing it, I abruptly stood up. Frer put the tea aside and sat in front of me.

“What’s going on?”

“Frer, do you happen to know of a poison that has a tingling taste?”

Frer looked at me with a puzzled expression. 

“Agathium Van is a bit tingly.”

“Is that the poison you mentioned before? It makes you tired and causes a painful death… Does it give you a headache if consumed?”

He nodded. 

‘I can’t believe I’ve been poisoned…’

I felt like I’d been hit in the back of the head. I quickly shook my head to keep my fading consciousness intact.

This was not the time to dwell on my situation. Leonel had consumed the poison that should have been meant for me. Despite having some resistance to most poisons, I was still worried.

“How do you make an antidote?”

I asked frantically, and Frer stood up.

“Do you need it right away?”

“Yes.”

“Wait. I’ll make it for you.”

Frer moved quite quickly. 

Could I trust him? What if Frer was a spy, and now he planned to poison Leonel? 

No, if he wanted to kill Leonel, he could have done it earlier. 

My mind raced through dozens of thoughts in a single second. I needed to act now. I had to go to Leonel and inform him about the situation. There might be an antidote in the Duke’s mansion. 

Frer’s concoction should be a last resort. If I were to escape, this would be my only chance.

“Frer, I need to go back to the castle. Bring me the antidote when it’s ready!”

I rushed to the door, eager to leave, but I collided with an imposing figure blocking my way. When I looked up, I saw Hadiger, of all people, in Frer’s home at this hour.

I instinctively took a step back, almost stumbling. 

Hadiger walked in confidently, shutting the door behind him. With a flourish, he removed the eyepatch that had concealed one of his eyes, which, contrary to the rumors of it being gouged out, looked perfectly normal and a shade of blue I remembered.

“Shall we have a little chat, Nelly?”

He winked, his eyes filled with a sly and inscrutable charm.

“Since when have you been suspicious of me, Nelly?”

I played it off, ignoring the thirst that was clawing at my throat.

“Suspicious?”

The voice shook miserably as if it had lost its color, pretending not to know. 

Hadiger slowly approached me, taking hesitant steps backward in line with his speed, making it hard to judge how far the back door was.

‘Just a little further…’

The moment he seemed even slightly distracted, I immediately turned around and ran. Without hesitation, Hadiger took off his wig. 

“You’re scaring me when you talk like that.”

A hand reached up over my shoulder. Frer, who had been making medicine, was suddenly standing behind me.