Duke, Please Fail! - Side Story 1 (Part 12)

Side Story 1: Part 12

After that, the two of them often drank tea together. There were moments of silence, but it wasn’t awkward. 

Around the time they had their third tea time, the season changed. The quiet and chilly winter melted away, and spring arrived. 

As the warm breeze blew, Leonel’s peace began to wane.

He was haunted by vivid nightmares after a long time. Even when he tried to catch his breath, the sensation of the blade cutting through his muscles felt vivid.

He clenched his fists and hunched over. He needed something to erase the nightmare.

Without even changing out of his robe, Leonel left his bed and called the butler.

“I need Nelly Pepper brought to the study; I have to receive a report.”

“At this hour?”

Even though it was a bit early, Nelly would likely be awake. Leonel nodded, changing into his clothes.

In the study, he held documents, but they didn’t register in his eyes. No matter how he rubbed his face harshly, the nightmare clung to his skin.

Unintentionally, the image of a blood-stained ribbon fluttering in the spring breeze came to mind. When he had his hands on his face, a knock echoed.

Leonel took a deep breath and straightened up. 

“Come in.”

The door opened, and Nelly, who wore weariness all over her, walked in.

“You’ve come.”

“Yes.”

“Report.”

“What report?”

“Anything.”

Seeing Leonel with a strange expression, Nelly sensed something was off. She began recounting what was scheduled for the evening in a hesitant voice.

Feeling sorry for her occasional stifled yawns, he couldn’t help but be reassured.

Nelly knew nothing about Leonel’s past. 

She didn’t know who betrayed him, how terrible the war was, or how cowardly he escaped from that hell. Her ignorance oddly eased Leonel’s burden. 

So, being together with her gave him a sense of stability. Thus, he didn’t want to burden her by talking about his past and asking for understanding.

As a result, he unintentionally displayed a displeased attitude.

As spring deepened, Leonel sought Nelly more often. Every time, she reminded him that the place he belonged to wasn’t a nightmare but a reality.

He wanted to spend more time with Nelly, driven by that desire. Because of that, he delved even deeper into what he already knew.

As this repeated, Nelly began to think that she might be suspected.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You keep asking about things you already know, and it seems like you’ve been seeing Mr. Arette often.”

Having worked as the estate manager for a year, Nelly was aware that Arette was Leonel’s eyes and ears. Generally, suspicions of espionage were attached to those close to the target.

“Are you spying on me?”

It wasn’t an incorrect statement. 

The nightmares that tormented him were always vivid like illusions. He had been betrayed by those he trusted most before starting each day. To ease his anxiety, he kept a close watch on those closest to him.

But those who knew Leonel’s past understood him, so they remained silent. However, Nelly was different.

“If you have a reason to suspect, please tell me, and I’ll explain.”

There was no reason. Like a mouse trapped in a small space, he habitually performed actions just to dispel unease. However, if he said it as it was, the kind-hearted Nelly would empathize with him.

Perhaps, like others, she might feign understanding and keep quiet, but that wasn’t the relationship Leonel wanted.

He took off his glasses, pressed his eyebrow bone, and raised his head. 

“I’m not doubting you.”

If she had been suspicious, Nelly wouldn’t have even noticed that Arette was watching her. However, with a single word, he couldn’t erase Nelly’s hurt feelings and sense of injustice.

“Then what is it?”

Leonel remained silent, and Nelly didn’t press further. Nevertheless, she left the study with a still displeased face.

Just a month ago, they had a good relationship, laughing and talking together. However, a chilly atmosphere had crept in between them. 

For the past few days, they exchanged almost no words other than those related to work.

“Care for a cup of tea?”

“No.”

“Dinner?”

“I’ve already eaten.”

Even when Leonel tried to start a conversation, he received only short responses. He was certain that he had never taken the initiative to break such an atmosphere.

His only friends were Adelhardt and Tatiasun. Even after a light disagreement, they would play and hang out as usual after a few days, without any need for apologies. 

Apart from these two, Leonel had no worthy opponents.

Though he had many close subordinates, he was the commander and held a dominant position. They were in a position where they had to follow Leonel’s decisions, so no one, like Nelly, had ever ticked him off like this.

‘What should I do?’

Thinking wouldn’t provide an answer. 

Leonel knew only to wait when conflicts arose. Being patient would either solve things on its own or make them collapse miserably. 

Leonel sighed deeply, recalling Adelhardt and Faust.

Leaning back, he closed his eyes. No matter how much he thought, a solution to improve their relationship didn’t come to mind. Yet, he didn’t want to drift apart like this.

He gazed outside for a while. 

‘It’s time to go home.’

Sometimes, when they worked late or stopped by a tavern, Nelly would come in a little later than usual. However, she had never been this late before.

Leonel couldn’t concentrate on his work; he just stared outside. As more time passed, Nelly still didn’t appear. Leonel became increasingly anxious. He went to the balcony and watched for a carriage coming into the garden.

Occasionally, he heard the rustling of leaves in the wind, but time generally passed in silence. 

‘Could something have happened?’

He thought about recent powerful crimes in the estate. Going over the trial details, most were disputes among nobles. Since his return, there had been little crime, let alone serious ones.

‘Is she not planning to come in today? Or did she run away like some other managers?’

Too many thoughts flooded his mind, making it dizzying. Instead of pondering, it might be better to check the estate office.

“Roger. I’ll be out for a moment.”

Leonel commanded, draping the sword and a light cloak Roger brought over his shoulders.

“Keep the garden lamps on until Nelly Pepper returns.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

As Leonel was about to step outside to go down, he heard hoofbeats from the garden side. Without turning around, he headed straight for the garden. 

Nelly was getting off a carriage.

Despite waiting for her, he stopped walking the moment he spotted her. 

Leonel stood still, looking at Nelly. He expected her to head straight to the west tower, but she walked with unsteady steps and sat on a garden bench.

‘Is something wrong?’

Worried, Leonel took steps closer. He stood silently in front of Nelly. 

When she looked up, her face changed abruptly as she recognized Leonel.

“Why?”

She mumbled, her tone slurred, and her eyes were half-closed.

“You’re drunk.”

Nelly tried to get up but hesitated, sitting back down and grabbing Leonel. 

Though he could resist, Leonel feigned defeat and sat beside Nelly.

“Why did you drink?”

It was Nelly’s job to inquire about rumors and public sentiment, so she visited taverns periodically. However, she had never been seen drinking.

Leonel wondered what sudden change had occurred in Nelly’s emotions, or if something had happened. So, he asked, and Nelly’s hazy eyes suddenly sharpened.

“Why? Because of you, Leonel.”

Leonel. Normally, if a manager casually used his name, he should feel uncomfortable, but oddly, he didn’t mind. Even to himself, it seemed absurd, and he couldn’t help but laugh.

Hearing the faint laughter, Nelly straightened up with determination.

“Suspicions, surveillance, not even letting me explain! You make people’s lives difficult, and you expect me not to drink?”

A lot had built up in Nelly, and she poured out her grievances.

There was nothing Leonel could explain among her complaints.

“Did I make your life difficult?”

“Yes.”

“What was difficult?”

“I couldn’t eat because you kept calling me since the morning.”

“Other than that?”

“Just seeing you in the evening would have been enough. Constantly being called in the morning, it’s annoying. If you called in the morning, you should at least let me be in the evening. You call again in the evening.”

Nelly grumbled like a discontented cat for a while. Suddenly, her body leaned forward.

Leonel, facing her, grabbed her arms as she seemed to be falling towards him.