The Ruthless Circumstances of the Monstrous Duke - Chapter 30

The helpless maids encouraged the princess, idealizing Nigel to near-idol status.

It was frustrating, but there was nothing he could do. The bastard was so great that even his cunning father couldn’t touch him.

His reputation grew year by year as he quelled not only Heath’s invasions but also rebellions in vassal states and civil wars with his mighty military power.

Naturally, the knights pledged their loyalty to the Duke, the Commander-in-Chief and head of the Imperial Knights, rather than to the Emperor.

Whether that would benefit or harm the Grencian Empire remained to be seen.

Lester looked at the man in the painting with his deep blue eyes.

In his childhood, he used to hang out with him every summer at the palace.

With his generous yet kind personality, handsome appearance, and excellent family background, not only the noble children of his age but even the princess became his followers.

They would all flock like moths to a flame if even Nigel Bernac’s shadow appeared.

But at some point, he stopped coming to the palace.

When he reappeared years later as a Duke with a cruel nickname, it was impossible not to be shocked.

Because he had the eyes of a ruthless war maniac, a murderer.

A portrait of such a bastard… the stench of blood seems to emanate from the painting.

“It puts me in a bad mood.”

Lester got up from the sofa and approached the princess, limping on his left foot that had been broken while trying to save her as a child.

But the princess, absorbed in the man in the painting, didn’t even look at him.

Damn that rotten Bernac.

Lester bent over behind the sofa and bared his teeth at the princess’s nape.

“Lester!”

The maids covered their mouths and laughed as the princess glared at him prettily. He put his lips to his lover’s ear and poured out vulgar and embarrassing jokes about Bernac.

The princess’s cheeks quickly flushed as she covered her face with a fan.

As the Countess and maids gathered around, the princess reluctantly whispered Lester’s obscene jokes.

Her bella had already disappeared from the princess’s mind.

Lester limped across the hall and left.

Stopping due to his aching foot, he leaned against a colonnade in the princess’s annex. In the courtyard, a statue of a goddess holding a water jug was pouring a cool stream from the installed fountain.

“Lester, were you with the princess last night?”

Lester smirked at the stern voice of his father, Count Godwin, who had approached without a sound.

Knowing that his carelessly draped outer garment and sloppily unbuttoned shirt would provoke his father, he greeted him with an exaggeratedly comical bow.

“It’s been a while, Father.”

“What’s with that appearance in the palace? You pathetic fool! Put on proper clothes before others see you.”

Count Godwin, speaking in a lowered voice, glanced around nervously, worried someone might see.

Lester grinned and brushed back his long blonde hair.

“With that long, flowing hair! How long do you intend to go around like this! Do you truly mean to bring shame to our family? I heard you’re still doing that damned sculpting or whatever. The future heir of our family neglecting his succession training and wasting time carving stones. Have you lost your mind?”

“What’s so great about our family anyway?”

“You damned brat, watch your mouth!”

“We’re already ruined, aren’t we?”

Lester chuckled and tapped his left foot with the cane he was holding.

“You… you insolent brat!”

Unable to contain his anger, the Count kicked Lester’s shin.

“Ugh!”

Caught off guard, Lester staggered and leaned against a pillar.

The Count rushed at his son.

“How long do you think the princess will stay by your side! Will you live carving stones after losing even the princess, the one thing you had, to Bernac who has everything? You foolish, dim-witted bastard!”

Unable to suppress his anger, Godwin gritted his teeth and entered the annex.

A shadow fell over Lester’s beautiful white face. He rubbed his thin shin, dispelling the pain with a hollow laugh.

“Heh… heartless old man. Even if you’re angry, to think you kicked your child’s injured leg.”

Family this, heir that, to hell with Bernac and all that. What does it matter?

He shook his leg a couple of times and straightened his back.

His eyes were once again drawn to the fountain of memories where he had wiped away the young princess’s tears. The goddess statue he had sculpted and gifted to the princess resembled her.

Lester pondered which noblewoman’s arms to throw himself into to soothe his sore feelings.

His lover’s heart was wider than the sea, completely devoid of jealousy, and tonight she would be captivated by the war maniac and wouldn’t call for him anyway.

It was a sickening heat.

Lester slipped out of the annex, slinking like a gloomy cat.

* * *

“Don’t think of dancing as difficult. Remember just two things: the steps and maintaining a dignified posture. Women at balls wear bulky and heavy dresses, so the steps have to be simple. Now, shall we practice again?”

For several days now, Chloe Ballock had been teaching Marienne the court dance ‘volta’.

Despite her swollen belly, her voice was full of energy.

“Left foot, right foot, jump and turn in place, extend your hand like a queen with grace. When jumping onto your partner’s shoulder, be as light as a fairy.”

Grateful for the enthusiastic teaching of the baroness, Marienne didn’t mind the lessons that continued from noon until dusk.

Chloe was secretly impressed by Marienne’s perseverance, holding up even as two servant partners were replaced.

With that kind of tenacity, she won’t be torn apart even if thrown into high society.

The baroness nodded with satisfaction.

However, for a while now, the rhythm of the mandolin and lute playing in one corner of the ballroom had been dragging.

“Can’t the musicians even keep the beat properly?”

When Chloe snapped, Aaron appeared with a good-natured smile and embraced her.

“Darling, my love. Everyone except you is exhausted. Let’s call it a day.”

“She needs to master it perfectly. Otherwise, Miss Rose will be torn apart by those wolf-like women.”

“It’s a social gathering of cultured and formal nobles. Besides, who would dare touch His Grace’s bella?”

“You naive man, you know nothing. By the way, where is the Duke?”

“He said he’d stop by the weapons workshop this afternoon, so he should be here soon.”

“They need to practice together.”

“Honey, you need to rest. Everyone in the band, your performance was excellent today. Miss Rose, you’ve worked hard too. See you tomorrow.”

Aaron put his arm around Chloe’s shoulders as she resisted and led her to the door.

The baroness reluctantly allowed herself to be pulled along and bid farewell to Marienne.

“Miss Rose, good work. See you at this time tomorrow.”

“You’ve worked hard too, Baroness. Thank you.”

With even the servant dance partner leaving, only Marienne remained in the hall.

Finally able to catch her breath, she wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief.

It had been an exhausting day.

The Duke, who had thrown her onto the bed in her room that morning after returning from the forest, glaring at her terrifyingly before leaving, hadn’t appeared since.

She ate most meals alone and spent the day busily learning various things.

She was left with no time to recall either Adam’s request or the Duke’s harsh words.

But when night fell, things changed. Unlike her brother, who was fading, he became increasingly vivid.

Her eyes kept drifting to the corridor, and her ears perked up at the slightest noise.

She tried not to be conscious of it, doing needlework or reading thick history books.

Sometimes she practiced the volta alone, wearing only her chemise, turning until she broke a sweat. But when she came to her senses, she found herself staring blankly at the corridor.

Once, Rahta scolded her, clicking her tongue.

‘Stop acting so restless every night. If you miss him, just go.’

‘It’s not like that.’

‘Not like that, while you’re craning your neck looking at that room?’

‘I’m worried about the Duke’s insomnia. I wonder if he’s sleeping well tonight. As one of his subjects, I can be concerned, can’t I?’

‘Yes, yes.’

‘By the way, Rahta, you have the talent to make people sleep soundly, so why don’t you help the Duke?’

‘I tried. But my magic didn’t work on him.’

‘……I see. That’s really unfortunate.’

After hearing those words, I found myself looking at the corridor more frequently.

In any case, I’m in his care, and with his help, I’m saving money for the future, plus we have a formal contract, so it should be fine to have some minor concerns.

I spent several days without seeing him like that.

This morning too, three silver coins were placed on the dressing table. It was the only trace of him.

While touching the hard round edges, Marienne ended up muttering words she shouldn’t have.

‘I miss you.’

To be like this even after being treated roughly… I must be either a fool or an idiot. Or a pseudo-intellectual who failed to kill her feelings.

It was frustrating. Whether I liked him or not, that man always existed in my mind for some reason.