CH 120
“You always exceed my expectations… In a good sense.”
Annette made a slightly surprised face, then smiled like an adult.
“Thank you for looking after me.”
It was a face that was so radiant yet she was completely unaware of it, as if she didn’t care at all.
Looking at that bright smile again as if possessed, Kyle immediately came to his senses and kissed the back of her hand.
“I’ll be sure to come.”
The final conclusion of a decade-long mission of escorting her.
—Finding the identity of the snitch.
As a courtesy to her, who worked hard every day, Kyle decided to do his best, as always.
“Yes, Kyle!”
Annette bravely replied.
As he looked at her like that, his emerald eyes shone tenderly.
“…And, nevertheless, when unbearable sadness comes rushing in, please find me.”
“…….”
“Owner.”
The voice deepened.
“I want to be your comfort.”
‘The first person that comes to mind when you’re sad. Someone you want to lean on.’
Maybe because it was another word for love.
“…….”
Annette looked at Kyle for a moment, then slowly raised her lips.
“Thank you so much as always. I mean it.”
Truly, her face was full of sincerity.
Kyle felt that his heart was pounding and his ears were burning for some reason, so he immediately got up and bowed silently.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
With that, he left the residence of the Duchy of Valienne, seen off by her attendants.
Annette then took a sip of tea from the untouched tea set (which Victoria had prepared while waiting for Kyle).
The tea was a little cold, but the taste was great.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
“Marquis Winston, who just left, has a unique way of looking at the Duchess.”
“……!”
Ah, hawk eyes.
Could she see everything?
I marveled at Victoria’s sharpness once again.
‘As expected, first impressions don’t go anywhere.’
As I was organizing my mother’s belongings with her in the study, I inadvertently put the books upside down and said, flustered,
“That, well…”
‘Victoria, I don’t want you to find out about my entire relationship history just yet.’
But the butler said with all-knowing eyes.
“When I was young, I met many men.”
…Yes? A lot?
“Victoria must have been popular because she’s beautiful and confident!”
Somehow, I happened to use formal speech. I thought I succeeded in speaking informally last time.
It was hard to talk casually to the butler, who exuded a strong aura, heuk-heuk.
‘And strangely, there’s a feeling of a teacher.’
The ‘teacher’ smiled and said unconventionally.
“Of course, when I was young, I took hold of the men of El Dorado and rubbed them.”
“…….”
‘Wow, that’s a line that fits her image.’
“It was the same with the previous duchess.”
“……!!!”
My mother?
‘Please don’t talk about my mother’s career with men.’
“Women of the Duchy of Valienne tend to be like that.”
At this point, I had no choice but to think of the three rings I had seriously hidden in my drawer.
‘What do you mean it runs in the family?!’
I felt like I had heard the secret of a great bloodline. I was more shocked than when I inherited the signet ring.
“Please tell me, Duchess.”
“Yes?”
“Aren’t you old enough to start your own family? It’s time to consider a husband. There are three men around you, right?”
“……!”
‘Are you a total ghost?’
Apparently, this duchy, which was neatly and sensibly managed with no errors, was Victoria’s work. From what I had experienced so far, she has good reactivity and observation skills.
It would be generally rude for the butler to ask the owner of the house about her relationships, but she took great care of me and treated me very affectionately.
So it didn’t feel insulting at all. For the first time, however, a worry that I could not tell anyone tickled my throat.
Victoria handed me my mother’s trinkets and said,
“One would be the Crown Prince. He has been calling the Duchess very often these days.”
“…….”
After all, Sislin was about to go to war because of me, plus it was published in newspapers.
…She couldn’t not know.
“One must be Grand Duke Heinrich Hyacinth.”
It’s the same as above.
In addition, Heinrich always confidently used the front door when going home despite suddenly appearing on my bed.
Ummm, I don’t know why this is happening (it’s like watching a domestic cat play well and then suddenly go ‘Nya!!!’ then hit the vase on the table with a cotton-like paw, dropping it).
‘Well, originally, my baby does a lot of things that are difficult to understand.’
Victoria continued, her usually strict eyes shining.
“Finally, Marquis Winston’s eyes light up whenever he looks at the Duchess. Full of affection.”
“…….”
Was it that kind of look? I guess everyone can see it.
I didn’t know because I had been looking at those eyes all this while.
“That’s right, Victoria. Those three.”
When I affirmed, she smiled quietly.
“What does the Duke think of them?”
Heinrich, Sislin, and Kyle.
It was the first time I was asked what I thought of the three of them.
“Are you sure about anyone?”
“…….”
Victoria was secretly inquiring.
About my heart.
As I fiddled with the old books I had touched, I sorted out the emotions I had been holding on to for a long time.
And confessed for the first time.
“There’s one I’m instinctively attracted to, but I don’t know if it’s serious or not.”
Victoria listened quietly.
“Do I love him, or do I want to pick up pretty flowers by the roadside and put it in my pocket?”
“Is there any reason why you don’t feel the former?”
“…I know the other side of him.”
The original Sislin. The setting of Sislin itself.
“And the other one is familiar and comfortable, but I also get butterflies in my stomach.”
I couldn’t let go of my heart for Heinrich.
He was my favorite, he was a boy I loved so much, and I still sincerely hoped for his happy ending.
Victoria nodded her head.
“And the other one…”
I remembered the last man who smiled charmingly. When I think of Kyle, I always feel the same way.
My heart was always warm.
“I’m very grateful to him.”
“I think we can seek asylum in the western Helatan Empire.”
“……?”
What? Asylum, all of a sudden?
I thought it was a joke I didn’t know, but Victoria didn’t smile at all and maintained a serious face.
She deliberately raised her monocle and explained.
“A woman in the Helatan Empire doesn’t only have one husband. It’s not uncommon for a wife to have three men as her husbands.”
“……?!”
“In my opinion, if you defect, all three of them will be happy to follow.”
She pointed out sternly.
“Because you are a duchess, you cannot get married three times in El Dorado. You can’t do anything that goes against good morals. Never.”
Very conservative, yet very open-minded!
‘…Butler, you’re like a cheokhwabi which is soaked in a lot of western water?’
(TL/N: cheokhwabi/척화비 are anti-appeasement steles, 19th century monuments built in Korea to ostracize Westerners. Basically, as said earlier, very conservative, yet very open-minded.)
It’s a difficult concept.
I replied, my pupils shaking.
“I… I never thought of that. I wish to have only one husband.”
She responded as though it was truly unfortunate.
“That’s too bad. You have 24 hours a day, but you want to have only one husband.”
“Ahaha.”
Why, with that logic, since the earth was round and wide, was it okay to have husbands on each continent?
I smiled awkwardly and told her that I could clean the remaining on my own, and Victoria just took her leave.
“—Whew.”
I sighed quietly and continued cleaning my mother’s study.
That was then.
Sparkle.
“……?”
There was a shiny object in the corner. It was an old book, but it was twinkling as if it was alive.
‘Open me up.’
‘Right now.’
It felt like the thick, red-covered book was seducing and guiding me.
I took the book out.
A large palm was drawn on the cover.
“What is this?”
When I tried to open the book…
Strangely, the book did not open like a clam with a tight mouth.
Dubious, I placed my palm against the large, inconsistent palm print.
Maybe this?
And, at that very moment.
Swoosh–!
The large palm has shrunk to fit the shape of my palm.
Then, a bright light filled the room and the book opened.
“……!”
My eyes widened.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
Kyle, alone, pondered the conversations he had with Annette.
“Revenge, as I have decided to do to Gerard.”
This afternoon.
One-eye, who went out to identify Duncan and Owin’s alibi, contacted Kyle. And found the snitch.
It wouldn’t take him even an hour to gather the perfect evidence.
For Kyle, it was the perfect time to think deeply.
“It was Gerard who took my mother’s life, but it was the snitch who created the situation.”
“…….”
“I will hold him accountable.”
Which one would be better?
For Annette.
Whether the culprit was Sislin or Heinrich, the situation would be impossible to grasp.
Kyle, immersed in his thoughts and tapping the table with his hand, finally heard a knock and One-eye came in.
“Master, I finally found it.”
“Who is it?”
When asked without delay, One-eye immediately answered clearly.
“The snitch was Duncan.”
—The culprit is Heinrich!
Annette made a slightly surprised face, then smiled like an adult.
“Thank you for looking after me.”
It was a face that was so radiant yet she was completely unaware of it, as if she didn’t care at all.
Looking at that bright smile again as if possessed, Kyle immediately came to his senses and kissed the back of her hand.
“I’ll be sure to come.”
The final conclusion of a decade-long mission of escorting her.
—Finding the identity of the snitch.
As a courtesy to her, who worked hard every day, Kyle decided to do his best, as always.
“Yes, Kyle!”
Annette bravely replied.
As he looked at her like that, his emerald eyes shone tenderly.
“…And, nevertheless, when unbearable sadness comes rushing in, please find me.”
“…….”
“Owner.”
The voice deepened.
“I want to be your comfort.”
‘The first person that comes to mind when you’re sad. Someone you want to lean on.’
Maybe because it was another word for love.
“…….”
Annette looked at Kyle for a moment, then slowly raised her lips.
“Thank you so much as always. I mean it.”
Truly, her face was full of sincerity.
Kyle felt that his heart was pounding and his ears were burning for some reason, so he immediately got up and bowed silently.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
With that, he left the residence of the Duchy of Valienne, seen off by her attendants.
Annette then took a sip of tea from the untouched tea set (which Victoria had prepared while waiting for Kyle).
The tea was a little cold, but the taste was great.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
“Marquis Winston, who just left, has a unique way of looking at the Duchess.”
“……!”
Ah, hawk eyes.
Could she see everything?
I marveled at Victoria’s sharpness once again.
‘As expected, first impressions don’t go anywhere.’
As I was organizing my mother’s belongings with her in the study, I inadvertently put the books upside down and said, flustered,
“That, well…”
‘Victoria, I don’t want you to find out about my entire relationship history just yet.’
But the butler said with all-knowing eyes.
“When I was young, I met many men.”
…Yes? A lot?
“Victoria must have been popular because she’s beautiful and confident!”
Somehow, I happened to use formal speech. I thought I succeeded in speaking informally last time.
It was hard to talk casually to the butler, who exuded a strong aura, heuk-heuk.
‘And strangely, there’s a feeling of a teacher.’
The ‘teacher’ smiled and said unconventionally.
“Of course, when I was young, I took hold of the men of El Dorado and rubbed them.”
“…….”
‘Wow, that’s a line that fits her image.’
“It was the same with the previous duchess.”
“……!!!”
My mother?
‘Please don’t talk about my mother’s career with men.’
“Women of the Duchy of Valienne tend to be like that.”
At this point, I had no choice but to think of the three rings I had seriously hidden in my drawer.
‘What do you mean it runs in the family?!’
I felt like I had heard the secret of a great bloodline. I was more shocked than when I inherited the signet ring.
“Please tell me, Duchess.”
“Yes?”
“Aren’t you old enough to start your own family? It’s time to consider a husband. There are three men around you, right?”
“……!”
‘Are you a total ghost?’
Apparently, this duchy, which was neatly and sensibly managed with no errors, was Victoria’s work. From what I had experienced so far, she has good reactivity and observation skills.
It would be generally rude for the butler to ask the owner of the house about her relationships, but she took great care of me and treated me very affectionately.
So it didn’t feel insulting at all. For the first time, however, a worry that I could not tell anyone tickled my throat.
Victoria handed me my mother’s trinkets and said,
“One would be the Crown Prince. He has been calling the Duchess very often these days.”
“…….”
After all, Sislin was about to go to war because of me, plus it was published in newspapers.
…She couldn’t not know.
“One must be Grand Duke Heinrich Hyacinth.”
It’s the same as above.
In addition, Heinrich always confidently used the front door when going home despite suddenly appearing on my bed.
Ummm, I don’t know why this is happening (it’s like watching a domestic cat play well and then suddenly go ‘Nya!!!’ then hit the vase on the table with a cotton-like paw, dropping it).
‘Well, originally, my baby does a lot of things that are difficult to understand.’
Victoria continued, her usually strict eyes shining.
“Finally, Marquis Winston’s eyes light up whenever he looks at the Duchess. Full of affection.”
“…….”
Was it that kind of look? I guess everyone can see it.
I didn’t know because I had been looking at those eyes all this while.
“That’s right, Victoria. Those three.”
When I affirmed, she smiled quietly.
“What does the Duke think of them?”
Heinrich, Sislin, and Kyle.
It was the first time I was asked what I thought of the three of them.
“Are you sure about anyone?”
“…….”
Victoria was secretly inquiring.
About my heart.
As I fiddled with the old books I had touched, I sorted out the emotions I had been holding on to for a long time.
And confessed for the first time.
“There’s one I’m instinctively attracted to, but I don’t know if it’s serious or not.”
Victoria listened quietly.
“Do I love him, or do I want to pick up pretty flowers by the roadside and put it in my pocket?”
“Is there any reason why you don’t feel the former?”
“…I know the other side of him.”
The original Sislin. The setting of Sislin itself.
“And the other one is familiar and comfortable, but I also get butterflies in my stomach.”
I couldn’t let go of my heart for Heinrich.
He was my favorite, he was a boy I loved so much, and I still sincerely hoped for his happy ending.
Victoria nodded her head.
“And the other one…”
I remembered the last man who smiled charmingly. When I think of Kyle, I always feel the same way.
My heart was always warm.
“I’m very grateful to him.”
“I think we can seek asylum in the western Helatan Empire.”
“……?”
What? Asylum, all of a sudden?
I thought it was a joke I didn’t know, but Victoria didn’t smile at all and maintained a serious face.
She deliberately raised her monocle and explained.
“A woman in the Helatan Empire doesn’t only have one husband. It’s not uncommon for a wife to have three men as her husbands.”
“……?!”
“In my opinion, if you defect, all three of them will be happy to follow.”
She pointed out sternly.
“Because you are a duchess, you cannot get married three times in El Dorado. You can’t do anything that goes against good morals. Never.”
Very conservative, yet very open-minded!
‘…Butler, you’re like a cheokhwabi which is soaked in a lot of western water?’
(TL/N: cheokhwabi/척화비 are anti-appeasement steles, 19th century monuments built in Korea to ostracize Westerners. Basically, as said earlier, very conservative, yet very open-minded.)
It’s a difficult concept.
I replied, my pupils shaking.
“I… I never thought of that. I wish to have only one husband.”
She responded as though it was truly unfortunate.
“That’s too bad. You have 24 hours a day, but you want to have only one husband.”
“Ahaha.”
Why, with that logic, since the earth was round and wide, was it okay to have husbands on each continent?
I smiled awkwardly and told her that I could clean the remaining on my own, and Victoria just took her leave.
“—Whew.”
I sighed quietly and continued cleaning my mother’s study.
That was then.
Sparkle.
“……?”
There was a shiny object in the corner. It was an old book, but it was twinkling as if it was alive.
‘Open me up.’
‘Right now.’
It felt like the thick, red-covered book was seducing and guiding me.
I took the book out.
A large palm was drawn on the cover.
“What is this?”
When I tried to open the book…
Strangely, the book did not open like a clam with a tight mouth.
Dubious, I placed my palm against the large, inconsistent palm print.
Maybe this?
And, at that very moment.
Swoosh–!
The large palm has shrunk to fit the shape of my palm.
Then, a bright light filled the room and the book opened.
“……!”
My eyes widened.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
Kyle, alone, pondered the conversations he had with Annette.
“Revenge, as I have decided to do to Gerard.”
This afternoon.
One-eye, who went out to identify Duncan and Owin’s alibi, contacted Kyle. And found the snitch.
It wouldn’t take him even an hour to gather the perfect evidence.
For Kyle, it was the perfect time to think deeply.
“It was Gerard who took my mother’s life, but it was the snitch who created the situation.”
“…….”
“I will hold him accountable.”
Which one would be better?
For Annette.
Whether the culprit was Sislin or Heinrich, the situation would be impossible to grasp.
Kyle, immersed in his thoughts and tapping the table with his hand, finally heard a knock and One-eye came in.
“Master, I finally found it.”
“Who is it?”
When asked without delay, One-eye immediately answered clearly.
“The snitch was Duncan.”
—The culprit is Heinrich!
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