Duke, Please Fail! - Side Story 1 (Part 11)

Side Story 1: Part 11

He who returned to his home office put the ear-warmers back into the drawer. 

In the afternoon, he asked the butler how the beer situation was.

“The manager bought a large quantity from Dames and said it was resolved.”

“I see.”

People looking for alcohol since morning are probably at most at the level of a party. It seemed that the problem caused by the mistake was handled immediately without delay.

Leonel quite liked that. 

After hesitating for a moment, he thought of the ear-warmers and spoke up.

“Let me know when Nelly Pepper returns.”

“Yes, Your Grace.” 

Roger replied, a beat late and seemingly unintentionally.

It wasn’t a request to bring her to the office, but rather to inform him when she returns. Moreover, Nelly was the first manager whom the Duke called by name. As he pondered on what change in attitude this might imply, the thought of ear-warmers passed through Roger’s mind.

‘Maybe Miss Nelly will be by the master’s side much longer than I thought.’

Roger nodded contentedly and left the room.

Leonel focused on his work again. 

However, occasionally when he raised his head, he found himself unconsciously checking the direction of the garden where Nelly used to pass by.

Levance, while loosening his stiff shoulders, asked Leonel.

“Are you waiting for someone?”

“What?”

“You keep looking out the window.”

Leonel frowned slightly. 

“That’s… I’m waiting for Nelly Pepper. I need to return her ear-warmers.”

He felt a bit odd saying that, even to himself. He rarely spoke without thinking and decided to keep his mouth shut.

He had already informed the butler to let him know when Nelly arrived. Besides, he had a rough idea of when Nelly Pepper would return. She wouldn’t come until dusk, so there was still plenty of time.

‘But why was I constantly checking outside?’

Leonel couldn’t even understand his actions. Therefore, it was natural that he couldn’t explain it to Levance.

As Leonel remained silent, Levance, with a teasing smile, nudged him playfully. 

“Is it because of the ear warmer?”

“….”

“If you want to return them, you could just leave it to Mary, couldn’t you?”

It was quicker and more convenient to instruct someone rather than waiting for Nelly to come. Mary was the maid closest to Nelly, and even if it wasn’t her, there were plenty of maids or servants around to convey messages. 

If there was concern about loss or rumors, it could easily be delegated to the butler, Roger. Why didn’t he think of that? Why insist on meeting and delivering it in person?

For a moment, Leonel’s thoughts stumbled like a cogwheel spinning in vain. However, his expression remained stern. 

He stared coldly at Levance, flicking his left eyebrow.

“It seems like you have the leisure to worry about trivial things.” 

Saying so, he detached a document from his pile and slammed it onto Levance’s desk.

Levance’s face gradually turned pale. 

“Your Grace, it’s not that…”

“I’ll take a stroll and come back. Review it by then.” 

Leonel walked out, hearing the sound of Levance collapsing onto the desk.

As he walked, he noticed a small carriage coming in. Leonel sat on a bench, wondering who would come at this hour.

Soon, the door opened, and a petite figure emerged. 

It was Nelly Pepper. 

Hurrying towards the west tower, she spotted Leonel and widened her eyes.

“Your Grace?”

“Why are you back at this hour?”

“I had something to take care of.”

Nelly quickly answered and, without hesitation, ran away. Her brown hair lightly fluttered. 

Although he thought it would disappear in an instant, Nelly stopped not far away, gasping for breath.

‘An absurd amount of energy.’

Watching, Leonel burst into a bitter laugh. 

Nelly turned her head at the sound of laughter, and when their eyes met, she looked away without any apparent resentment. It was not an attitude a mere manager would show to a duke. 

Strangely, Leonel felt a tickle of joy in his chest, akin to the sense of liberation or joy he felt running across vast fields or climbing trees when he was young—emotions that had been absent from him for so long that they felt unfamiliar.

Startled, he consciously hardened his expression. 

“Nelly Pepper.”

Nelly widened her eyes. Since it was the first time Leonel addressed her by her name, she turned around, curious about what might be happening.

Seeing Leonel’s expression, she took a sharp breath.

‘He seems a bit more at ease; it’s disrespectful to look at the duke like that.’

The duke had nothing to say about her behavior. As Nelly wondered if she regretted her actions, Leonel approached. Nelly stumbled back, fumbling with her words.

Leonel’s left eyebrow twitched. 

‘Yesterday, she reached out without fear. Today, she retreats as if scared again. Her eyes are full of caution.’

As Leonel approached, the bewildered emerald eyes rolled around in various directions. It was an unconscious action born out of worry about what trouble she might have caused.

However, Leonel was oblivious to her unconscious actions. In his eyes, Nelly looked like a tense squirrel. It seemed like she would dash away, her bushy brown tail held high, at the slightest movement.

Leonel stopped a few steps away. 

“Follow me.”

Hearing the footsteps behind him, Leonel asked.

“What did you leave behind?”

“I thought we might need more budget for buying beer, so I prepared the documents for a supplementary budget early yesterday morning. I wrote them to attach to the accounts.”

It was meticulous and diligent, unnecessarily so for something that could be addressed tomorrow.

“Where are the documents?”

“On the desk.”

Leonel ordered Roger to fetch it and then went into his office.

Levance, who had been left alone and returned with two people, looked at Leonel for a moment with some confusion. 

Knowing that unnecessary trouble could arise if he spoke out of turn, he just nodded and turned his head away.

Meanwhile, Leonel went behind the desk and sat down. Nelly, fidgeting, stood in front of him. Leonel observed her small, wriggling hands for a moment before opening a drawer. Soon, a white-furred ear-warmer dangled from his fingertip.

Without saying anything, Leonel extended the ear-warmers toward Nelly. She looked at Leonel with a puzzled expression and then, with a small admiration, took the ear-warmers.

“Did you call me for this?”

“Is there anything else to be called for?”

Whether she shrugged, squinted, or stuck her tongue out, Leonel didn’t pay it any mind. As soon as Nelly realized she wouldn’t get scolded, her face lit up.

“No! It’s nothing. Absolutely nothing!”

True words. Leonel had seen Nelly going to and from work outside the window, but that was it. Except for reporting days, they hadn’t crossed paths accidentally.

It should be fine to be indifferent about it, but strangely, Leonel’s mood sank. Impulsively, he said something he hadn’t planned.

“How about a drink?”

Nelly’s eyes widened. 

“…with me?”

“Yeah.”

“Now?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

Leonel was at a loss for words. There was no reason.

“Just because I feel like it.”

His sincerity popped out without hesitation. Leonel pretended to be indifferent, but deep down, he was surprised at his own impulsive words.

But even more surprised was Nelly Pepper. She was so shocked that she turned to Levance, not someone she was particularly close to, for help. However, Levance stood there, his jaw dropped like a broken nutcracker.

And in the doorway was the butler who hadn’t been there long, pushing a tray with tea and refreshments and dabbing at his tears with a handkerchief.

Neither of them seemed to be able to take care of themselves, let alone help Nelly.

Still, she didn’t feel comfortable having tea with the Duke.

‘Alright. Let’s use work as an excuse and decline!’

With that decision in mind, Nelly turned her body again. 

The moment the wind from outside rustled Leonel’s hair, he slightly furrowed his brow, swept his hair aside, and looked at Nelly.

At the same time, Nelly spoke.

“I’ll drink.”

This is not what she meant! Even though she gave an affirmative answer, her thoughts were going in a different direction.

Even so, it was fine. With Levance around, if the three of them drank tea together, it wouldn’t be that awkward. She looked back with hopeful eyes.

Levance smiled and put on his coat. 

“Your Grace, I’ll go get some fresh air. Hahaha.” 

And he left just like that, leaving Nelly feeling betrayed.

Before she could feel betrayed, Roger approached. 

“Your Grace, Miss Nelly. Tea is ready.”

On the coffee table, there were numerous desserts, enough to resemble a tea party. Seeing Nelly’s brightened expression again, Leonel took the initiative to sit down. Nelly approached with brisk steps and sat diagonally across from Leonel.

Although they could hear each other, they didn’t have to face each other. 

‘Sitting in an ambiguous position.’ 

Leonel didn’t like that either. Seeing Nelly picking up a dessert, he stood up, moving to the opposite side.

Nelly flinched for a moment but then continued eating the dessert. Leonel, intentionally avoiding eye contact, sipped his tea while looking at the desserts.

Eating dessert and choosing the next victim, Nelly noticed Leonel’s clean fork and raised her head. 

“Don’t you like sweet things, Your Grace?”

Leonel opened his mouth and then closed it again. He almost spoke without thinking. 

To answer the question, he didn’t dislike sweet things; in fact, he quite liked them. However, stating preferences was still a risky business.

Leonel gave an evasive answer. 

“Well.”

While saying that, his gaze was fixed on the milk pudding topped with strawberry compote. Nelly stared at his face for a moment, then pushed the pudding in front of her toward Leonel.

When Leonel unexpectedly received his favorite, suspicion crept into his eyes. 

“How did you know my preference?”

“N-nothing… You’ve been staring at the pudding since earlier.”

With that response, not answering would have been in vain. 

Being human, he felt a bit embarrassed. However, his expression remained as unaffected as sipping tea.

Nelly continued to push the pudding toward Leonel, pretending not to notice and smiled. 

“You like it, don’t you?”

Emerald eyes sparkled like morning dew on a sprout. It was an unassuming color that brought thoughts of spring and, though not sweet, felt comforting when looked at. 

A faint smile appeared on Leonel’s lips.

“It seems that way.”

Merely confessing that he liked what he liked made his mouth feel sweet. 

Awkwardly touching the corner of his mouth, Leonel picked up his fork.