Duke, Please Fail! - Chapter 97

Episode 97

In the end, I couldn’t help but smile and buried myself in his embrace, wrapping my arms tightly around his waist.

“That was Leonel’s doing.” 

I wondered what expression he would have now. Would he be relieved? Would he be ashamed of feeling jealous of himself?

After a while in his embrace, I looked up, but his face still seemed displeased.

Why is he still jealous?

As I tilted my head, he nuzzled his face against my neck.

“I’m jealous.?”

“But it’s Leonel.”

“I don’t have that memory. It’s the same as being jealous of another man.”

“Oh…”

I hadn’t thought about it that way. Come to think of it, it felt different.

The Leonel before hardly expressed any emotions compared to the current Leonel. He didn’t even laugh out loud and had a much sharper demeanor.

Of course, his paranoia was five times worse than it is now, and he took on ten times more work.

“Who are you thinking of right now?”

“Leonel.”

“Which Leonel?”

Awkwardly, I smiled and blinked my eyes as he leaned against my head.

“You said you weren’t close to me.”

“Are you jealous of yourself now?”

“Yes, I am. Is that strange?”

“Not at all. It’s cute.”

Leonel tilted his upper body backward and looked down at me with a strange expression, then burst into laughter.

I got out of his embrace and picked up a cuff button.

“Leonel can do it too, so don’t be jealous of the other Leonel.”

I said, and it made me laugh.

He seemed to feel the same way, and he chuckled softly. Meanwhile, he took the cuff button in my hand.

“I’m fine. You don’t have to do it.”

“You said you’re jealous.”

“It’s okay. I’m not that Leonel.”

As I tilted my head and looked at him, he smiled slightly and gently cupped my cheek.

“I won’t be stupid enough to lose you. I can’t be that Leonel.”

He whispered like a promise and lightly kissed me.

“I’ll protect you, Nelly.”

My heart was full, and my words were choked. Instead of speaking, I hugged his neck and kissed him.

* * *

“Late?” 

Adelhardt, talking with Frer, spotted us and asked.

Leonel pulled out my chair and sat down next to me, casually greeting him.

“Relax.”

… They’ve figured it all out, right?

I looked at Adelhardt with a trembling gaze. He was smiling as if nothing had happened.

“What about Nelly? Did you sleep well?”

“Yes. Did the prince sleep well?”

“No, I had a hangover. Call me Adel, okay?”

“I’ll pass, Your Highness.”

Come to think of it, the prince’s face looked a little pale. 

Is Leonel okay? I glanced at his face absentmindedly.

‘Yeah, he’s fine.’

He nodded satisfactorily and began to eat the food.

As they chatted with Frer, who seemed even more robust than usual, Leonel and Adelhardt discussed how to catch the troublemaker who had interfered with them.

“It’s better if we continue to appear distant publicly so that we can move more freely.”

“What about communication?”

Adelhardt looked at Frer. 

Frer, who had been absentmindedly moving his jaw while staring into space, swallowed what was in his mouth.

“Why are you looking at me?”

“It’s easier for him, isn’t it?”

In response to Adelhardt’s question, Leonel nodded. Frer scratched his neck.

“What about me? I said my farewells to Nelly yesterday.”

“Take it back.”

“It’s confusing to bid farewell and then go back.”

“Just accept it. You always enjoyed playing with the animals.”

“…”

“When you come back, I’ll have the paperwork sorted out.”

“Being a ranch keeper is nice. It’s peaceful.”

Frer casually changed the subject and chewed on some fruit. He glanced at me and grinned when I looked at him.

“Let’s consider yesterday’s farewell as non-existent. We’re friends, after all.”

“That’s somewhat comforting.”

Frer grumbled softly as he made his way over to us at the end of the meal. 

Leonel scanned the waiting knights and stood in front of Adelhardt.

It seemed like they wanted to say their farewells since they wouldn’t be seeing each other for a while.

“If you have a carriage, give it to me.”

“Looks like you haven’t changed.”

“None?”

“I’m wondering why I suddenly made up with you.”

Adelhardt ordered his attendants to bring the carriage. 

Leonel naturally escorted me and got on himself. Then, he opened the window and said a word to Adelhardt.

“We’re going.”

“Yeah, go.”

That was the end of it.

* * *

“Your Majesty, Devondus Altwood has requested your presence.”

The courtier quietly informed as he entered the garden.

Lady Etkin, sipping her tea and eating macarons, gazed at Queen Alexandra. 

“Devondus Altwood is here, that’s unusual.”

Archduke Landers, who was sipping his tea on the opposite side of Alexandra, nodded in agreement. 

“He wasn’t someone Your Majesty favored.”

“That’s true. When he served as the acting Duke, he caused a lot of trouble for the local lords due to his ambition.”

Queen Alexandra did not dislike ambitious individuals. She held them in high regard. Keeping ambitious people close was a delightful endeavor. However, causing the suffering of the common people for personal ambitions was unacceptable. 

Devondus Altwood was one such individual.

Alexandra spoke quietly as she sipped her tea. 

“Bring him to the meeting chamber.”

Etkin and Landers exchanged surprised glances with the Queen. She did not say anything more, simply rose from her seat.

Archduke Landers greeted the Queen briefly, and Lady Etkin held up a fan and rose from her seat. 

Alexandra paused, giving a brief look to Etkin, signaling that she could accompany her.

It was tacit permission to follow.

“Why have you allowed Devondus for a meeting?” 

Etkin inquired as they made their way.

“He has promised to yield all of this year’s harvest to me. I intend to hold him to it.”

Alexandra entered the audience chamber and took her seat on the throne. Etkin stood to the right of the throne. She exchanged a nod with the Queen’s knight standing next to her and glanced at the door.

It wasn’t long before Devondus Altwood entered.

“Your Majesty, I am grateful for the meeting you have granted. For assisting in the search for Marquis Gardner’s territory…”

“That’s enough.” 

Alexandra cut him off. Devondus closed his mouth abruptly, his eyes inadvertently darting around under the Queen’s oppressive gaze.

“Devondus, have you come to waste my time with unnecessary gratitude?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

Devondus swallowed hard before raising his head, his eyes filled with insatiable greed that even fear couldn’t hide.

“Your Majesty, I wish to become the Duke of Altwood.”

“And?” 

Alexandra rose from her throne. Her slow and majestic steps led toward her escorting knights. Devondus followed her with his eyes and spoke.

“I need Your Majesty’s help.”

When Alexandra didn’t react, Devondus grew more anxious.

“I’ve heard you desire Nelly Pepper. If I become the Duke, I will offer Nelly Pepper to you.”

Queen Alexandra drew a sword from her knight’s waist. Devondus involuntarily closed his mouth.

As their eyes met, cold sweat ran down his body. Alexandra extended her sword over Devondus’ shoulder.

“It seems you consider yourself a man who cannot secure an appointment without the aid of others.” 

The blade drew closer to Devondus’ neck.

“That, that’s not…” 

“Or perhaps you believe I should involve myself in the petty disputes of mere nobles?” 

Alexandra stared at Devondus with a cold expression. To quench his thirst, he forced down dry saliva several times.

“Would I dare to insult Your Majesty with such an intention?”

Alexandra gave a contemptuous snort.

“I’ve heard you consider Leonel Altwood as the heir.”

It was customary for the queen not to meddle in the affairs of noble houses. However, if the person handling the matter pleased the queen, then things could change.

Queen Alexandra was someone who didn’t care about conventions, whether it was her duty or not if she had made up her mind to dispose of someone. Not informing her in advance and acting rashly could lead to a severed head.

“That’s why I thought I should ask Your Majesty’s permission before I became a duke.”

“Do you dare to presume you are more useful than Leonel?”

“If I become the Duke, I will ensure that Your Majesty can freely utilize the Altwood Duchy’s knights.”

These knights, led by Arette, were different from the ones who swore loyalty solely to Leonel.

An order of knights belonging to a venerable ducal family like Altwood’s is huge. But it needed the consent of the others to move.

Granting them to the queen meant offering the queen a way to control them. It also implied that they will be on Devondus’ side.

“Leonel doesn’t fear Your Majesty. But I do, and you’ll find it much easier to use me.”

“That makes sense.” 

Alexandra said as she tossed her sword aside, the hilt clattering on the marble floor.

“What is it that you desire?” 

“Just close your eyes to what I intend to do.”

“Speak.”

“I plan to move the soldiers. I’ll create a suitable pretext, so don’t worry.”

This was a thinly veiled threat to cut Leonel’s throat in public.

Alexandra didn’t believe Devondus would succeed. Bringing such an overt proposal meant that all of his previous schemes had failed. However, she granted his request.

“I won’t take issue with it.”

“Thank you…”

“But wait for fifty months.”

“May I ask for the reason?”