Duke, Please Fail! - Side Story 1 (Part 6)

Side Story 1: Part 6

It’s been several weeks. 

Meals were filled with alcohol, and he didn’t take a step outside the room.

Faust, who lost his wife, came in and caused a disturbance, but Levance and Arette barely managed to stop him.

Leonel didn’t even flinch during the incident.

After experiencing a long war and facing nutritional shortages, he finally couldn’t hold on and collapsed.

When he came to his senses, Arette was by his bedside.

Cleaned up, with a fresh set of clothes, Leonel looked down at his own body with a vacant expression. The sense of reality still hadn’t set in.

Arette reported to him as he sat there, expressionless like a dead person.

“Tom and Sophie received a judgment that they cannot return to the battlefield due to injuries. Gerald fell in the last battle, with his whole body broken, and he’s still recovering.”

Leonel turned his head to look at Arette, and he continued.

“Faust lost his wife. He is now under discipline for causing a disturbance.”

“…”

“We have also found the families of the soldiers who lost their lives in the war.”

Leonel didn’t offer any response, but Arette seemed to have finished speaking and left.

Levance came in quietly and set down a simple meal. He looked at Leonel with a solemn face, then handed him a spoon. Leonel remained silent, and when he took a spoonful of soup, he spoke.

“While you were on the battlefield, the territory fell into chaos. The lives of the residents have become very difficult.”

Leonel let go of the spoon, feeling suffocated. Levance handed him the spoon again and left.

Although not stated directly, the message from the two was clear.

Take responsibility for many things.

Live. Take care of yourself to survive. 

Leonel, leaning against the head of the bed, took another sip of soup. A deep sigh escaped as the warmth filled him.

Since then, Leonel’s life has not changed significantly. He quit drinking and occasionally ate soup, but he didn’t leave the room.

Around a month later, Leonel received an order to go to the front.

Leonel, with a face that seemed unrecognizable, went to see the queen.

“I won’t go to the front.”

Leonel thought the queen’s angry sword would behead him.

However, the queen looked at him with eyes no different from when he requested protection.

“The war will be over in a few months. Are you throwing a tantrum now after enduring it all this time?”

“No.”

“You are a knight. Do you not understand what it means for a knight to disobey orders during a war?”

He knew. He was prepared. No, is it right to say he was prepared?

Since the death of Tatiasun, he had never had a proper night’s sleep. When he lay down to sleep, it felt like the corpses of his fallen comrades and subordinates were trampling over his body.

The body and mind had become numb.

He thought it would be better if someone could just end his life.

He didn’t answer and just knelt there, bowing his head. It was a movement devoid of any survival instinct.

Instead of drawing her sword, the queen opened her mouth.

“Last time, you asked for your life to be protected, and now you want it to be taken away.”

The door to the room that led to the queen’s chambers opened and Lady Etkin stepped into the silence.

“Your Majesty, Lord Levance Danio, and Arette Dexter would like to meet Your Majesty. Shall I let them in?”

The queen turned her head without saying a word, a clear indication of refusal. After Lady Etkin left, the queen stood up from her seat and drew her sword.

“There is only death awaiting as a refuge. If you do, they will soon follow, so their deaths won’t be lonely. Whether their deaths are intentional or not, we cannot know.”

Leonel’s gaze reached the door where Lady Etkin had left. It was the first time since the death of Tatiasun that he thought about the people waiting for him on the other side of the door.

The sons of two families followed him to the battlefield, even when everyone turned their backs on Leonel. Faust, who lost his wife and became a cripple.

Tom and Gerald with injuries, and Sophie. And the families of the fallen comrades. If he dies, it’s the end for him, but what about them?

Leonel closed his eyes tightly. He wanted to escape, but a sense of responsibility once again blocked his way.

“What should I do?”

“Go to the battlefield.”

“…I can’t do just that.”

“You don’t like this, you don’t like that. How much more leniency do I have to show you?”

Leonel lowered his gaze with a tired expression. Returning to the battlefield was not an option. He had exhausted all his strength. If he were thrown back into that hellish place, not even a sense of responsibility would be able to stop him.

“I won’t go to the battlefield, I’ll do anything else instead.”

“…Fine. Since the time and effort I’ve invested in you would be wasted, I’ll give you one more chance.”

The queen sheathed her sword.

“You’ve served under me for seven years, enduring your life. Seven years should be enough time to prove your worth in something else.”

“Please give me your command.”

After actively participating in battles, Leonel neglected the territory. Even when he came up for a short visit, he spent all his time in the capital.

As the queen’s attention turned to the war, Duke Devondus manipulated the Altwood territory as he pleased.

Because of that, the people of the territory suffered. When crops failed, some families couldn’t pay taxes and had to marry off their children as if selling them.

“Go back to your territory.”

“…”

“While they are citizens of your territory, they are the same to me. If you rectify their lives, I will acknowledge your usefulness and spare your life.”

“I will follow your command.”

Leonel deeply bowed his head.

The next day, he stepped down from his position. Despite not being recognized for his merits, he was dismissed even from the knighthood. However, the aftermath of disobeying orders and sparing his life was significant.

Leonel still enjoyed favor, and rumors circulated that he would be the next in line for the throne. Ironically, he had no interest in the throne itself, let alone in living his life.

* * *

The atmosphere in the Altwood Duchy was quite different from usual. 

Despite the ongoing war, rumors had spread about the return of Duke Leonel Altwood, the ruler of the territory. The residents who struggled with the taxes collected by Devondus secretly held expectations.

“Will life become more bearable when the Duke returns?”

“Right. When Duke Leonel used to visit periodically, even Altwood behaved more cautiously.”

“Now everything will return to normal. Let’s prepare to welcome him.”

The residents decorated the streets with flags bearing the emblem of the Altwood Duchy. They filled baskets with flower petals to be scattered in celebration of the lord’s return, hanging them by their sides.

From the city walls to the Altwood Castle, the surroundings were suddenly filled with people. They all, as one, gazed towards the entrance of the castle, waiting for one person.

Soon enough, the gates opened with a loud noise. As soon as the head of a horse became visible, cheers erupted without anyone prompting.

“DukeLeonel has returned!”

“Hurrah for the Duke!”

The procession coming inside came to a sudden stop. At the forefront, Leonel glanced coldly over the crowd with eyes that shone like mineral-like crimson. He was not the figure the residents had anticipated.

His disheveled black hair hung messily, and his face was pale and grim. The area beneath his black eyes seemed as if the shadow of death loomed over it.

Amidst torn and blood-stained cloaks and armor, his innate beauty, if anything, added an eerie element. The cheers gradually subsided, turning as cold as if they had been doused with icy water.

Only then did Leonel move his horse again. He entered with muddy and blood-stained iron boots.

Unlike the streets, there was no decoration in the Altwood Castle. There was no crowd welcoming him. Only Devondus, sitting on an ornate chair atop a dais in the central hall, was waiting for him.

“Leonel. You’ve come.”

It was as if Leonel was addressing the king. Despite Devondus deliberately creating an imposing atmosphere, Leonel’s steps were unwavering.

He climbed the dais and stood in front of Devondus without bowing his head.

“And how long do you intend to sit in that seat, uncle?”

“Are you not even going to thank me for taking care of the territory in your absence?”

“I’ll consider expressing gratitude after I’ve had a look around the territory.”

Devondus scoffed at Leonel’s words. 

He had no intention of relinquishing his position, using the excuse of transitioning responsibilities, even after Leonel’s return. He believed he could easily handle Leonel, worn out from the prolonged war. 

Creating a reason for his death wouldn’t be difficult either. It was common for those who had spent a long time on the battlefield to suffer from madness or resort to suicide.

Devondus had also meticulously ruined Leonel’s relationship with Adelhardt to shatter his mental state.

‘But now, he wants to step back.’

Devondus clenched his fist, causing the fabric caught in his palm to contort, much like his face. Without yielding his position, Leonel casually drew the sword from his hip and threw it without ceremony.

The scabbard hit Devondus’ ankle, and the rusty blade spat out from the hilt. 

Blood-stained and corroded, the notched blade revealed Devondus’ face in all its twisted glory.