Chapter 13

“So should I submit it under my name?”

I blinked as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

But Baron Conte looked absolutely not convinced.

“You were the one who exposed Patrick’s corruption, Madam…”

“No one will know as long as you keep your mouth shut. The only ones who can enter the administrative office are you and Patrick. Oh my, and Patrick happens to be a criminal now.”

If I submitted the report under my own name the aftermath would be obvious.

Why is Madam suddenly smart? She is not the Madam I knew so maybe she is possessed by a demon? We should summon an inquisitor right away, that kind of nonsense.

‘Of course that will not happen.’

Because I already knew how to sway the baron.

“You want a promotion?”

“Uh, what?”

“You want a performance bonus?”

“What?”

“You want a big mansion? Fancy whiskey you can pour proudly?”

Baron Conte hesitated, but the corners of his mouth soon began to rise.

He had already realized this case would definitely affect his promotion in a very positive way.

He had been frustrated lately because he could not advance further.

I pressed while the momentum was mine.

“Then go report it.”

“Yes!”

“Hurry and go report it.”

“Yes!!”

If this failed I was prepared to shoot a poisonous dart into the back of his neck and knock him out, but fortunately things worked out easily.

Thomson stared at the excitedly wiggling baron as if looking at a lunatic.

“One more thing, as Duchess I authorize the seizure and search, so collect every single document from that bastard’s office without leaving anything behind.”

“Yes!”

“And investigate the surviving miners at the accident site and gather every detail of the situation…”

Right now I had the status and the power to make the things I once only imagined actually happen.

I issued orders as if venting years of frustration when a furious shout erupted behind me.

“You damn woman, I will not die alone!!”

“…!”

Patrick drew a dagger from his coat and charged at me.

It was too late to dodge.

I shut my eyes on instinct when suddenly a large shadow loomed over me.

“My my.”

I thought I was done for, but instead of pain I heard a familiar voice.

Cautiously opening my eyes, I saw the duke holding Patrick’s wrist.

When our eyes met he greeted me casually.

“Good evening, my lady.”

“Ah, yes.”

“But what is this commotion on such a pleasant evening?”

“…”

I acted calm on the outside, but inside I was thoroughly shocked.

What I really wanted to ask was why the duke was here and how much of our conversation he overheard.

But my long trained survival instincts screamed that asking would be a terrible idea.

So I quietly lowered my gaze.

“I just… I went out to inspect the outer wall and got lost. And then some unfortunate trouble found me.”

“…”

A long silence followed.

I could feel the duke’s unreadable gaze on the top of my bowed head. I did not need to look up to know he was staring holes through me.

‘What. Why is he staring like that.’

Does he not believe me?

Honestly, if I were the duke I would not believe me either, but that did not mean I intended to summon the inquisitor with the honest explanation of I came here to finish unresolved business from my previous life.

When I hesitated awkwardly, his eyebrow rose slightly.

“Well, if my lady says so, I suppose that is what happened.”

Then without warning he released Patrick’s wrist. Right above my head.

“W, wait…!”

It was unbelievable.

In shock, I reached out on reflex.

In the blink of an eye, the duke snatched the dagger away and kicked the attacker in the chest. Patrick literally flew across the room and slammed into the wall.

After dealing with him, the duke tilted his head in confusion.

“What is wrong?”

“N, nothing. Ahem.”

Flustered, I quickly hid my outstretched hand behind my back.

I wanted to scream from embarrassment, but the duke’s gleaming eyes as he stared at the unconscious Patrick were too terrifying.

In the brief instant our gazes met I sensed some emotion churning inside him.

No one else would notice, but I did.

‘Why is he so angry…’

At that moment, I heard knights rushing in from outside.

The duke threw the unconscious Patrick out through the wide open door.

“Take him.”

“Uh, yes!”

The knights receiving Patrick answered with dazed expressions.

Meanwhile, I tried to slip out of the administrative office as naturally as possible.

But something blocked me and I found myself stuck in place. I looked up sharply.

“Um, Your Grace?”

“…”

I had been too distracted earlier to notice, but the duke’s arm was firmly wrapped around my waist.

He must have grabbed me when I nearly fell from shock.

It was just a little embarrassing to stand this close in front of others, so I hit his forearm repeatedly until I finally managed to wriggle free.

‘Ahem, still, he saved me so I guess I should thank him.’

I glanced at the dagger in his hand.

It was short, but the blade gleamed sharply.

If I had been stabbed by that… it would have been a much better death than my previous life, but I still did not want to die.

I wanted to live a long peaceful life with soft little furballs and my beloved companion gold coins.

“Thank you for saving me. Truly, you saved my life.”

“In the future, you should have a proper guard instead of someone incompetent. There is no guarantee that I will always arrive at the perfect moment. If needed, I can assign you a knight.”

“I appreciate the offer, but your kindness is enough.”

Did he really think I would not realize that a guard recommended by the duke would be a spy disguised as a guard.

I snorted inwardly and continued.

“I was so startled today I plan to stay inside the castle for a while.”

“I am sorry, Madam…”

“It is not your fault, so do not blame yourself. But reflect a little on how you were fooled by Patrick’s nonsense earlier.”

I comforted Thomson then suddenly froze.

The duke had been staring at me and Thomson for quite some time.

Unable to endure it any longer, I called out to him.

“Do you have something to say to me?”

“No. It is only that you look very different from the statue of the sun god Leto I remember.”

That damned eyesight of his, when will it ever return to normal.

Even though I looked utterly horrified, the duke simply scanned Thomson up and down with a troubled expression.

Unable to watch any further, I stepped in.

“How far do you plan to insult my taste. I have eyes, you know. And Thomson even has a grown son.”

“The world of preferences is vast and deep…”

“With Your Grace’s ability to hold a grudge, I am sure you could use that to jump rope too.”

I snorted softly then tried once more to escape the office.

But something felt off.

The back of my neck tingled. I looked down at the duke’s arm.

‘Oh.’

He must have brushed against Patrick’s dagger. Blood was trailing down the back of his hand.

When he noticed my stare, he wiped it roughly as if it meant nothing.

He did not even realize the wound had opened further.

‘Good grief.’

I was too softhearted for my own good.

With a deep sigh inside my mind, I grabbed the duke’s forearm firmly.

“Let me see.”

He clearly did not expect a duke with trained warrior strength to be actually pulled by someone as weak as me, but maybe my attack was sudden enough that he let himself be dragged over.

I tightened my grip so he could not escape.

The wound seemed deeper than expected because his voice lowered slightly.

“It hurts…”

“Stay still.”

I took out my handkerchief and pressed it hard over the bleeding area.

The duke kept a calm expression, but his hand trembled faintly.

If a man who had survived countless battles reacted this much, the wound must have been worse than it looked. I quickly gave orders to the baron.

“Send someone to Lombard Castle and bring the physician!”

“This is nothing. If I apply monster saliva it will heal.”

“Would you prefer monster saliva or a proper physician’s treatment.”

Regrettably he chose the latter because he shut his mouth and behaved quietly.

Meanwhile, I wrapped his hand firmly with the handkerchief.

“That should do it.”

“…”

“Even a monkey falls from a tree sometimes. Who would have thought the fearsome lord who once wiped out an entire monster legion would be taken down by a small dagger. Anyway, be careful until you recover.”

My work here was done, so it was finally time to leave.

I gave the duke a polite bow and walked out of the administrative office, ignoring the stares around us.

Unaware of whatever conversation happened behind me.

* * *

Gareth La Barken.

He was the eldest son of Baron Barken, who served the Lombard family. For many years he had assisted Edwin and earned recognition for both skill and loyalty, eventually becoming the duke’s chief aide.

Although he had reached a position everyone envied, Gareth’s heart had not changed at all.

‘My lord is unmatched. And because of that he is more lonely than anyone.’

He never questioned a single decision his lord made. He had resolved to become the most useful sword at his lord’s side.

He believed he had upheld that resolve well. But today he could not endure it.

Gareth followed his lord outside the building.

“Is your injury all right? Should you not receive proper treatment…”

“This is enough.”

Edwin waved his hand that was wrapped in a handkerchief. His tone was light.

That actually made it harder for Gareth to speak, but eventually he forced the words out.

“There is something I wish to ask.”

“Speak.”

“Why did you purposely get injured?”

“Purposely, you say. You saw it yourself. I was injured while taking the dagger away.”

“I saw clearly that you could have dodged it. Yet you did not.”

“…”

“You are not someone who would be harmed by such a crude toy. Even when we knights attacked with our full strength, you never allowed even the smallest opening.”

Edwin suddenly stopped walking.

Silence settled around them. Gareth swallowed hard.

“Ah, so you noticed.”

The duke turned and smiled faintly.

“It does not matter. As long as Elicia does not notice.”

“…”

“Watch your mouth.”

It sounded like a joke, but it was a warning that could not be taken lightly.

Gareth felt cold sweat trickle down his spine and nodded quietly.

Edwin laughed aloud and walked ahead again.

As if nothing had happened.

‘Something is definitely wrong.’

Watching his master’s back, Gareth stiffened his expression.

His lord had always been indifferent and uninterested in anyone. Yet recently he behaved very differently only toward the duchess.

If this continued, not only Gareth but the other knights would soon notice his lord’s strange behavior.

‘What is he thinking…’

He tried to deduce the answer, but could not.

Knights did not need answers.

Their purpose was to obey their lord’s orders without question.

The conclusion had been decided from the beginning.