Duke, Please Fail! - Chapter 95

Episode 95

Once Adelhardt realized that there was a misunderstanding, he wondered if it was necessary to hurt Leonel further. 

It was the moment when Adelhardt decided to filter his words.

“Just tell me everything. I don’t want to go through this again.”

Leonel cut off his thoughts. Adelhardt refilled his glass and emptied it.

“Tatiasun was in a brainwashed state.”

He said in one sentence and observed Leonel’s expression. He had a poker face, with crossed legs and clasped hands. He was silently encouraging Adelhardt to continue.

Adelhardt explained in more detail to Leonel what he had told Nelly.

“A reply came?”

“Yeah, it had the Altwood family’s seal on it. The handwriting and tone matched yours.”

“Seal, handwriting, and tone… it must be someone from the Altwood family.”

“Most likely.”

Naturally, his uncle’s face came to mind.

While Leonel was on the battlefield, he would have had all the authority to intercept letters; it wouldn’t have been a difficult task.

Adelhardt, having the same thought as Leonel, asked.

“What is this letter you speak of?”

“The message was about Tatiasun leaking information to the enemy regarding the location, tactics, and the size of our forces.”

Adelhardt nodded since he was also aware of the content. 

“At first, I couldn’t believe it, but the fort was attacked. Information available from the battlefield is limited, so I sent you the letter.”

“To confirm if Tatiasun was a traitor?”

“No, I wanted you to find a way to save him. I knew it was unlikely, but if there was a chance, I wanted to save him.”

But the letter never reached Adelhardt. 

When Leonel returned after the war and learned what Adelhardt had been doing at the time he had sent the letter, he discovered that Adelhardt had been focusing on building his influence in the social circles.

“I waited for your response for two weeks. During that time, there were frequent attacks, and we suffered a defeat in battle. I had to decide as a quarter of our troops had died.”

On the day Leonel made his decision, Tatiasun came to him. He tried to stab Leonel but had tears in his eyes as if he was doing something he had no choice but to do, a person in agony but trying to uphold his beliefs.

“I thought it was strange, but I never imagined he had been brainwashed.”

When Leonel had to recover Tatiasun’s body with his own hands, he had to erase his emotions. 

He couldn’t afford to feel sadness or grief. If he let in the tangled emotions, it was certain he would go mad. 

But he still had people to lead, wounded subordinates, and families to send off as the prolonged war had taken its toll, from Faust, who had to leave because he couldn’t take care of his family, to Levance and Arette, who followed him into the battlefield.

He wanted to end his life right away, but he had too many responsibilities to fulfill. Upon receiving the news of the betrayal, he received orders to return to the capital.

Throughout the journey back, he couldn’t even lie down. His subordinates’ bodies formed a mountain range that pressed against his spine. The war wasn’t over, but he left the battlefield.

Now, two years later, Leonel finally disclosed his situation to his childhood friend in a calm voice.

“If I had told you sooner, it might not have come to this. But back then, I wasn’t in my right mind.”

“I understand.”

Adelhardt remembered the past when he had only pushed Leonel too hard.

“I thought everything you did, including going to the front lines and suddenly retreating, was all for your glory.”

“That rumor did circulate.”

It was a rumor born from the queen’s public statement that Leonel, as a candidate for the crown prince, had voluntarily gone to the battlefield to earn merit to become the crown prince.

“Why would someone who has no interest in the throne go to war?”

“To live.”

“Isn’t it usually the opposite?”

Adelhardt chuckled lightly. It was a dry, humorless laugh.

Leonel, while joining in with a wry smile, revealed his circumstances, explaining why he had to go to the battlefield to risk his life.

The more betrayal resounded in his words, the more Adelhardt’s face hardened.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I couldn’t believe it, especially when it’s someone close.”

Adelhardt resisted the urge to down the harsh liquor in one go. 

He had escaped betrayal by going to the battlefield, only to find betrayal waiting there as well. Yet Leonel had tried to save Tatiasun.

The state of Leonel’s heart during that time was beyond imagination. Adelhardt couldn’t even begin to fathom it. He couldn’t bear the agony and buried his face in his hands.

“You should have made an excuse or something. You should have at least hit me when I resented you, maybe punched me when I blamed you.”

“I don’t remember that day very well.” 

Leonel said indifferently as he poured himself another drink. It was not a lie. Even if he tried to recall, the memory was hazy.

He knew he had seen Adelhardt screaming like a banshee in front of him, but it was as if his hearing was blocked out, and he couldn’t hear a sound. However, the look in his eyes, the fiery blue flames of hatred that burned in his pupils, haunted him even in his dreams.

“So, when the assassin mentioned Adelhardt, your name, I accepted it. I thought you wanted to kill me.”

“I thought the same. If the throne was so tempting that it made you kill Tatiasun, then I could have killed you too… It was all a misunderstanding.”

After Leonel descended to the estate, they had never met in person. Two years were enough for suspicion to turn into certainty. 

They weren’t enemies, but they had become enemies.

“In the end, it seems both of us got played. It’s a blow to our pride, isn’t it?”

Adelhardt laughed heartily and emptied his glass of alcohol. 

How many people can maintain their composure when a close friend dies? The culprit used that to sow discord between Leonel and Adelhardt, making them hate each other. 

Leonel, not pleased with being manipulated, flicked his left eyebrow. 

While estimating the remaining amount in the alcohol bottle, Adelhardt asked.

“What are we going to do?” 

“I’m going to pay him back. What about you?” 

“Me too. I’m going to start by looking for the servant who delivered the letter. He was crippled in an accident shortly after your return. I sent him back to his hometown.”

“The timing is right.” 

“Yes.” 

There was a brief silence. No apologies were exchanged, but there was no animosity in their eyes either. 

Adelhardt poured what little was left of the alcohol into his glass and pushed it towards Leonel. Leonel grinned and downed the glass. 

Watching the empty bottle with a regretful gaze, Adelhardt chuckled. 

“Want another bottle?” 

Leonel seemed to think for a moment, then nodded. 

Adelhardt got up from his seat and brought back an even stronger drink. Leonel didn’t refuse the offered alcohol. 

As the intoxication grew, it became easier to reveal the things they hadn’t said to each other when they were close. 

After a long conversation, when they were about to lapse into silence, Adelhardt suddenly spoke up. 

“Did you know I had an inferiority complex about you?” 

“What?” 

“The Queen favored you. You always played around, but you were competent and good at everything. If it weren’t for Tatiasun, I would have challenged you a long time ago.” 

“…I could have saved him.” 

Leonel sighed. The strong drink he had just swallowed seemed to burn his throat and torment his stomach. Whether it was because of the heat or the turmoil inside him, he couldn’t tell. 

“Adelhardt, you relied on Tatiasun more than me, I know. You suffered more from his death than I did.” 

Adelhardt nodded and drained the bottle in one go. He looked at his friend, who was clutching his forehead. 

“But still, Tatiasun’s death isn’t your fault, Leonel. Stop blaming yourself.” 

Leonel grimaced at the unexpected comfort.

* * *

I returned to the room on the 6th floor with the knights. 

Adelhardt’s subordinates did not treat us with hostility, despite whatever Adelhardt had said. Instead, they were exceptionally kind, as if receiving guests.

As he and Leonel chatted casually, it was somewhat expected that Adelhardt’s subordinates wouldn’t be hostile toward us. 

‘Above all, if things go well in this conversation, Leonel might be able to lighten his emotional burden.’

With that in mind, my tension eased, and any lingering fear or anxiety disappeared as if washed away.

I waited for Leonel as the knights inquired about what had happened during my abduction. 

Just then, we heard a knock at the door. When I opened it, Frer entered, holding what looked like medical supplies.

“Is it okay for you to be here?” 

“I heard you wanted treatment. Where are you injured?” 

“My hand.”

Without realizing it, I reached out my hand and then withdrew it, giving Frer a piercing look. 

I realized I was still somewhat resentful. He called himself a friend, yet when I was being carried away unconscious, he just stood there and watched. 

At the very least, he could have pretended to be concerned.

“Traitor.”

“Yes. It’s because of my profession, you know. It’s just the way it is.” 

Frer replied, his face looking apologetic.

“Are all the things you told me lies?”

“Well, they’re not all lies, but mixing some falsehoods into the truth is a way to avoid suspicion.”

“But is it true that your father is ill?”

“Oh, that was a lie.”

My mood, which had begun to lighten, suddenly darkened again. 

Was he always this sarcastic? It seemed like it to some extent. 

Trying to hide my disappointment, I reluctantly extended my hand. 

He skillfully treated my hand, and I asked.

“Where did you learn medicine?”

“I got tired of wandering around, so I worked as a servant for a while. I learned medicine from the house physician there.”

He added that the house was that of a duke, and he had met the prince there, gaining various favors. It seemed plausible that he had lived a transient life. 

At least, it meant that he hadn’t used my vulnerabilities to get close to me.

“But what were you doing in the territory? You didn’t come on an assassination mission, did you?”

“I agreed to be a spy under the condition that I wouldn’t receive orders to kill. I was just monitoring the situation.”

“I should have recognized you when I knew you better.” 

“I was really surprised then.”

“Liar. Your expression didn’t change at all.”

“I’m not very expressive by nature.”

A natural spy, I thought to myself as I fiddled with the thin bandages Frer had applied.

“Is everything else okay?”

“My knee got scraped, and my forearm has some bruises.”

He examined my leg and handed me a small ointment.

“Thanks for taking care of me. It was quite enjoyable spending time with you.”

“It’s like a farewell.”

“I can’t stay longer now that I’m exposed.”

Frer gathered his belongings and got up from his seat.

“I really thought of Nelly as a friend.”

“…Yeah.”

“Sleep well.”

He nodded to me and the knights, then left the room.

I wonder how Leonel is coping with this situation. 

Is he handling the conversation well? When will it be over? 

It might take a while, given the amount of information to discuss.