Chapter 1.10

In front of the gate of Duke Adantie’s residence, there was a man pacing nervously. It was Jespa. He was in a situation where he couldn’t bear not knowing how the practically first date of his old bachelor (?) superior had ended today.

Our Duke! Though he looks a bit intimidating, if you examine him closely, he’s actually quite handsome. His blue eyes are clear and beautiful like a deep lake, and his tall, sturdy body exudes masculine charm.

Our Duke! A warrior with incredible skill who can slaughter terrifying monsters with a single stroke, yet he never treats others carelessly, is gentlemanly, and even polite to subordinates, making him a truly good superior and a very respectable person!

Our Duke! Though he’s right-handed, even after his right arm was severed, he never despaired and took up the sword again with his left hand, showing a strong will and unyielding vitality—a true warrior and a true hero!

Such a Duke! Why! Why! What is lacking that he hasn’t had even a casual meeting until now! Ughhh…!

Jespa, who was internally chanting ‘Our Duke Praise’ that would have made Ragaen shudder and flee if he heard it, saw his respected Duke Ragaen approaching.

“Duke!”

Jespa’s eyes gleamed brightly.

Feeling somehow very ominous, Ragaen approached him.

“Is there something wrong, Jespa?”

“Of course, Duke! About today. How did it go?”

“Ah, what do you mean ‘how did it go’?”

“No, I cannot accept you dismissing this important event so lightly. Please tell me everything from the beginning.”

For Ragaen, who was not eloquent, Jespa’s persistent demand was quite burdensome. Due to Jespa’s persistence, which was more relentless and tenacious than a leech, Ragaen had no choice but to start reporting on today’s meeting.

“Sir Richard left the place immediately?”

“Yes. It seems he wasn’t feeling well.”

Not feeling well? Nonsense. Tsk tsk tsk.

The naive Ragaen didn’t seem to notice, but Jespa instantly recognized Richard’s schemes. 

What a remarkable subordinate he was. 

Jespa resolved to make sure to accommodate him in the future.

“For the upcoming expedition training, we should pay more attention to meals. It wouldn’t do to get an upset stomach during training.”

Oh, such a thoughtful and considerate gentleman! But, Duke, there’s no need for that.

Jespa swallowed his words.

Ragaen, who rarely showed much interest in others, wouldn’t know, but Richard was famously known within the knight order for being able to eat anything and digest it well. Everyone, except Ragaen, knew the story of how Richard once grilled and ate the meat of a poisonous monster during last year’s summer expedition training and remained healthy.

“Anyway, so, what happened next?”

“The young lady thanked me.”

“And then?”

“I told her it was fine, but she kept thanking me.”

“……”

“And then she asked about the bear.”

“And then?”

“I told her it was taxidermied.”

“……”

“She seemed a little nervous.”

Oh dear…. 

Jespa could easily imagine the situation at the café. Ragaen, who was shy and not very talkative, probably only answered questions, while the nervous young lady likely babbled whatever came to mind.

Was our Duke’s romance going to end before it even began?

Just as sadness started to well up, Ragaen spoke.

“The young lady seemed to have prepared a handkerchief as a token of gratitude but forgot to bring it.”

“Oh dear, she must have been quite upset.”

“So I told her to give it to me next time.”

“Gasp!”

“What is it?”

“Gaaaaasp!”

Jespa was overwhelmed by waves of shock and emotion.

“Our, sniff, Duke, sniff, you did well.”

To naturally lead to the next meeting—how incredible. It seemed even his clueless superior had some romantic cells after all.

“Did I do well?”

“Yes. It was a brilliant response.”

“I see.”

Ragaen felt oddly proud. He had been so drained from talking to the impressive woman who roared at a bear and from making what felt like countless mistakes in their tense conversation. Yet, hearing praise from Jespa, who usually only nagged about his social skills, made him feel quite good.

Nodding, Ragaen opened his mouth.

“It seems the young lady…”

“Yes, yes!”

“…has become my fan.”

“…What?”

“His Highness the Crown Prince once told me about young noblewomen fans. Lady Lievo met all the conditions His Highness described for a young noblewoman fan.”

No, that’s not it! It can’t be!

“It felt very different from knights challenging me to spar, claiming to be fans.”

Jespa couldn’t decide whether to be pleased or despair as he looked at Ragaen’s slightly excited face, which was uncharacteristic of him. Swallowing his tears, Jespa silently cursed the Crown Prince for planting such a skewed perception of women in his innocent superior.

* * *

Back at the Lievo Count’s residence.

When Greta, who couldn’t stop crying, was on the verge of dehydration, Eurika finally stepped in.

“You said he asked you to personally deliver the handkerchief later, didn’t he? Greta, if you keep crying like this, you won’t be able to go outside for a month and might end up bedridden.”

At those words, Greta snapped out of it.

Although Greta rarely got sick, when she did, she would fall so ill that she couldn’t leave her bed.

Knowing her sister well, Eurika added, 

“And since he didn’t reject the gift but asked for it later, you did well. At the very least, it’s proof he felt some human affection.”

“Sniff, do you think so?”

Whether it was true or not, Eurika didn’t know. She was just saying what Greta wanted to hear.

“Yes. So, after about a week, get yourself looking pretty and stylish, present the gift confidently, and ask him out on a date. But keep your wits about you—if you’re not sharp, you won’t be able to put a leash on a wild animal like him!”

“Okay…. Sniff.”

As Greta headed to the bathroom, Richard glared at Eurika with resentment.

“Seriously, Eurika, you could’ve handled it yourself! Why me?!”

“Brother, now’s not the time for that.”

“What do you mean?!”

“You and I have something important to discuss.”

“Ahhh! Can’t you just leave me alone?!”

“No.”

“Aaaaaah! I want to cry!”

Dragged off by the fallen Cupid Eurika, Richard reportedly didn’t get any rest.

* * *

In hindsight, everything was strange.

Truly, everything was strange.

Ragaen’s day had started normally. He woke up at 5 a.m. as usual, completed his morning training, and had a light breakfast. The peculiarities began when he was preparing to leave for work.

“What is this?”

“What do you mean? I’m preparing you for work.”

Contrary to Jespa’s nonchalance, a line of fearsome grooming tools and servants with gleaming eyes stood before Ragaen.

“His Highness the Crown Prince suggested that it might be good for you to refine your appearance a little for the sake of your dignity and reputation, Your Grace.”

“…Did that happen?”

“Yes, it did. Have I ever lied to you, Your Grace?”

“……”

It feels like this is the first time.

Before Ragaen could say anything, a whirlwind of grooming began, leaving him looking as if he were about to compete in a beauty contest. The level of grooming even surpassed that of when he had briefly visited Lady Greta Lievo a week ago. Needless to say, the knights under his command were utterly shocked upon seeing him.

Hearing the commotion, Lucas Nindella, the commander of the Imperial Archery Unit, arrived early, rolling on the floor with laughter. Amid the chaos, Ragaen failed to notice Richard Lievo exchanging a subtle glance with his aide Jespa.

The oddities didn’t end there. After arriving at work, the Crown Prince summoned him every ten to twenty minutes for trivial reasons, making it impossible to conduct the knight order’s training. He had no choice but to delegate the day’s training to the vice-commander. The only silver lining was that it allowed him to avoid the curious stares of the muscle-bound knights.

By this point, Ragaen began to sense that something was amiss.

While he knew the Crown Prince was unusually friendly with him—treating him almost like a nephew or younger brother—it was unlike him to summon him repeatedly for trivial matters, such as admiring his new tie or confirming whether he had groomed his eyebrows.

After several such summonses, the Crown Prince even opened <Monsieur Tout’s Secret Book> and began flipping through pages filled with the faces of young noblewomen, humming strange tunes. Most notably, the Crown Prince kept casting sly glances at Jespa. Though his words and actions were directed at the cursed book, Ragaen wasn’t fooled. 

Unable to confront the Crown Prince directly, Ragaen returned to his office and questioned Jespa instead.

“What’s going on, Jespa?”

“What do you mean, Your Grace? I don’t understand.”

“This outfit, this hair, and even the Crown Prince’s repeated summons since this morning!”

“Did His Highness not seem very satisfied with your attire today, Your Grace?”

“Wait, don’t tell me…”

For a moment, a chill ran down Ragaen’s spine, as if death itself had brushed against the nape of his neck.

“Don’t tell me… that… the cursed list… by force…”

What he wanted to say was, “Don’t tell me this was all part of His Highness the Crown Prince’s dreadful scheme to force me into a blind date with some unknown person from <Monsieur Tout’s cursed list>!” But he couldn’t even bring himself to voice such a horrifying conclusion, unable to believe his own thoughts.

Jespa immediately understood what Ragaen was thinking, but he didn’t bother to correct him. After all, if it was a command from His Highness the Crown Prince, Ragaen would endure even sitting in a pile of manure.

“Say something, Jespa.”

“…You should focus on finishing your remaining tasks. There’s already a mountain of paperwork related to the summer expedition training.”

“How could you betray me like this…”

The large man, as big as a bear, slumped his shoulders dejectedly and trudged toward his office chair like a prisoner being dragged to the gallows. His pitiful figure almost brought tears to Jespa’s eyes, but he steeled his heart. 

All of this was for your sake, our beloved Duke!