I Refuse To Be A Character In A Novel - Chapter 16

The problem was that they didn’t know how to erase the source, so every year the duke of the territory led a party all over the north to eliminate those creatures.

It would usually be around winter when the monsters were  all in hibernation, for the purpose of eliminating them all at once.

But this year, it seemed that some Maghull creatures had reappeared even after the extermination.

The very existence of the small number of maghulls which were supposed to have been eliminated scratched the duke’s nerves.

He hated unpredictable things, more so troublesome ones.

“There’s no need. Send over Patrick’s group to keep watch on the forest.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Dylan, make sure to compensate the families involved.ring me the ledger once that’s done.”

“I understand.”

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

After Thomas left, Dylan greeted the duke and moved to exit the office as well.

“Wait”

The duke glanced over his watch and then back to the papers in his hand.

“Is there something else, Your Grace?”

“ … Erna?”

Even the short word that was uttered indifferently was enough to surprise the butler.

“The duchess is not back yet.”

Dylan somehow managed to answer his lord’s unexpected question without delay.

The duke was not usually interested in his wife’s activities as long as she was alive and didn’t interfere with his job.

“Who’s her escort?”

Zachary stood from his seat and stared out the window in his office.

The sky had already turned into a burnt orange color and it would soon be completely dark.

His wife came by his office early in the morning asking for ‘permission’ to attend a tea party.

Zachary let out a sarcastic sigh, not enough to be called a laugh.

She had already sent a reply to the invitation a few weeks ago without even letting him know, so she was only asking him out of formality.

Regardless, Zachary only nodded at her and told her to do whatever she liked.

“It’s Sir Vincent.”

“I see … that’s all.”

Even though he knew that Maghulls rarely crossed the forest borders, Zachary felt even more uneasy about their existence when his wife was spending more time here and there lately.

Annoyingly, that wasn’t the only thing that disturbed his peace today.

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Late in the afternoon, while heading towards the parlor to see Count Lavendet who came over for business, a tall man that came his way bowed in greeting.

“I greet the Duke of Argentine”

If Dylan hadn’t told him that he was the piano instructor, Zachary wouldn’t have remembered.

He simply nodded back and motioned his hand for him to raise his head.

Before he walked past him, Zachary stared silently at his face.

The black and white existence of the man he first saw when he accepted him as his son’ instructor had become strangely colored.

The words that were added by the butler ‘He is the instructor that was hired under the duchess’ order’ made the blue colors even more vivid.

Jean awkwardly bowed again under the intense gaze of the duke.

“I apologize, I must’ve stood in your way for too long.”

However this time there was no signal for him to raise his head.

A handsome, single commoner.

His wife might be naive, but he knew all too well that married women in the capital were more notorious for making lovers than unwed girls.

The only difference is that they were more discreet about it than their husbands.

Instead of openly having an affair, it would usually be a secret relation with an escort knight or an instructor.

He never thought of the possibility of his wife cheating on him in the first place, but the presence of a man that was brought under his wife’s order was strangely annoying.

At the sound of an intended cough from Dylan, Zachary finally moved past Jean with a sigh.

He’s been having too many useless thoughts lately.

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Later that night.

Upon returning home, Erna was immediately led by Mielle to have a warm bath.

When was the last time she was out for so long?

She never thought simply sitting and chatting would be so tiring.

Am I getting too old?

She never got this tired from attending parties and balls when she was younger.

No way. Charlotte’s body was healthier even though she was 4 years older.

Taking nutrients alone won’t help my body get better, I need to exercise.

As she lowered her body into the bathtub, the dried flower petals and water overflowed onto the floor.

‘But it was fun’

After finishing her bath, Erna dismissed Mielle who kept chattering over her head and only Rose remained.

She came back fully prepared with several oil bottles after she brought some strawberries for the duchess who skipped dinner.

“Which oil would you like today, madam?”

The oil massage had become a routine ever since Erna expressed her pleasure over Rose’s relaxing techniques.

After a few bites of the strawberries, Erna laid on her belly with sleepy eyes and left her body in Rose’s care.

“You can choose yourself.”

She mumbled in a drowsy voice.

“Hmm..I’ll go with sweet almond oil, and then use some Jasmine oil for the scent.”

Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Jonas since breakfast.