If You Wish For A Married Couple’s Duties - Chapter 67

“Madam, this is a conjecture of mine.”

Daniel opened his mouth carefully.

“For better or worse, Count Jive seems to have noticed that I’m trying to help the Duke.”

“…What?”

“Before we headed over here, the count spoke to me,”

Daniel recalled the words that the count had spoken to him while moving towards the duke’s party.

“Lord Daniel, there’s no need for you to go to such lengths.”

He whispered as he forced down the shoulder of Daniel, who was breathing roughly.

“A letter from Sir Nate had just arrived. He was worried that Daniel would be harmed as he cared too much for his cousin, and asked me to stop him beforehand.”

Daniel tried his best to put on a nonchalant smile.

“What does that mean, Count? I’m just doing my utmost to assist the Duke in protecting the territories of Esbaden…”

“Haven’t you already given you all, Lord Daniel? You have already taken out dozens of monsters by yourself.” 

The count bared his teeth as he grinned.

“That’s why you ought to take a good rest now.” 

“But…”

“You don’t have much mana left anyways.”

The count remained silent afterwards.

However, Daniel had definitely felt it.

The wicked intent within the count’s eyes, which was directed at him.

“I think the monster’s sudden attack earlier was part of the Count’s plan.”

“Part of the plan?”

“When the monster attacked. I was the only one that used large-scale magic. The wizards that came with the count had only pretended to be killing the monsters that approached.”

‘Why didn’t I notice then? Just like a fool.’

Daniel held his forehead and continued.

“If my mana is completely depleted while dealing with the monsters, I’d no longer be able to assist the Duke.”

It was quite easy for them to make the monsters, which were already under the brainwashing spell, move in the direction they desired.

“And now it seems like he’s purposely following the Duke around to prevent me from approaching.”

At his words, Dooha turned her head around slowly.

The count was still following Leonhart’s side and spouting useless words.

“In that case, the count caused the deaths of that many people in order to stop you.”

“…Yes.”

Dooha quietly tightened her grip on her bow.

After staring at the count for a long moment, she opened her mouth again.

“Truthfully, I was about to tell the Duke about the matters concerning Count Jive before Daniel’s arrival.”

“What?”

At the unexpected confession, Daniel’s eyes widened and he glanced at their surroundings.

He lowered his voice and continued.

“What if you’re caught…?”

“I didn’t get caught. I didn’t even manage to say it.”

Dooha looked at the duke, and the count that’s next to him, with a worried gaze.

“Daniel.”

“Yes, Madam.”

“Is there a way for us to stop the Count?”

“The Count?”

“Yes, while we don’t know what the Count’s plan is, the one that’s executing the plan is that wizard in green anyways.”

Dooha looked at the wizard in the dark green cape that stood a distance away, and continued

“Wouldn’t it be alright if the wizard was rendered incapable of functioning properly before something happens?”

“While it isn’t a bad idea.”

Daniel glanced at the wizard and shook his head.

“It won’t work.”

“Why not?”

“Right now, that wizard is a fake. An illusion, to be exact.”

“Illusion?”

Dooha’s eyes widened and examined the wizard again.

Although he was concealed by the cape, no matter how she examined him, he looked like a living human being.

“It has a shadow though?”

“Sophisticated illusionary magic can even render its shadow. It’s hard, but it isn’t impossible.”

“Then, can’t you break that illusionary magic?”

“Although I can get rid of the illusion before us, it will continue to appear unless his main body isn’t eliminated.”

As Daniel held his chin, he mumbled to himself.

“From the looks of the flow of mana, his main body seems to be quite a distance away from here. That’s quite surprising. I can’t believe he found such a skillful wizard.”

He laughed scornfully at his father’s meticulousness.

“My father must be serious this time.”

“Is this the time to be laughing?”

Dooha gritted her teeth and struck him on his forearm.

Daniel grabbed his arm and cried like he was being wronged.

“You’re being too much, Madam. How can you hit a weak wizard’s forearm with all your might? I almost thought that my arm was going to fall off.”

“Stop acting. I didn’t even use a lot of strength.”

“…You weren’t using your full strength just now?”

Dooha ignored Daniel’s blank gaze that was directed at her and changed the subject.

“What about removing the brainwashing spell that the monsters are under?”

“Brainwashing magic is placed on a monster by planting mana stones into the body of the head that leads the monsters. On the contrary, in order to lift the brainwashing magic, the mana stone has to be removed.”

In order to lift the brainwashing magic, they had to find and kill the head of the werewolves.

However, due to the habits of werewolves, their head only protects the nest and doesn’t leave it frequently.

With that, they had no choice but to deal with wildly swarming monsters until they reached the nest.

‘How troublesome.’

There was also a limit to how much Daniel and Dooha could look out for the duke in a situation where the monsters would constantly attack.

If only they could lift the brainwashing magic that was placed on the monsters, but that was also impossible.

“Since that’s impossible, let’s go with what Daniel is skilled at.”

“What? The thing that I’m skilled at?”

“Isn’t Daniel good at confronting others? Don’t just flirt with women and use that special skill of yours at times like this!”

[T/N: the word used for ‘confronting’ can also mean flirt when used in conjunction with women.]

“…Madam, have you always thought of me as that kind of person?”

“What?”

“You know, the kind that flirts with women…….”

“What else do you think?”

Daniel wavered on his feet like he was greatly shocked.

“In any case, Count Jive’s aim was to prevent Daniel from helping the Duke. In other words, he doesn’t know that we’re aware of the Count’s plans. Isn’t that right?”

Daniel nodded quietly at her words.

The count had just told him not to assist the Duke, but he didn’t mention any plans that he had and never questioned Daniel if he was aware of the plan.

“Then it’ll be alright. All Daniel needs to do is inform the duke about what the count is up to. Then the Duke will take care of the following matters accordingly.”

“Madam, but I have no strength to move like this…….”

Daniel’s untimely exaggeration caused her face to turn ugly.

“If you continue to hesitate, what will we do if the other party moves first?”

Dooha looked straight at him and asked.

“Do you want the Duke to die, Daniel?”

Daniel was reflected in those golden eyes, which seem capable of seeing through his inner thoughts.

“You don’t.”

Daniel’s lips couldn’t help but twitch, and he soon laughed dryly.

He hated being forced to give an honest answer, but why was it so?

He kept wanting to express his true feelings in front of this woman.

Daniel finally gave his usual radiant smile and tilted his head.

“Yes, I don’t want that either.”

His ruby earring dangled with a sound.

“…If the Duke dies, I’m afraid of having to take over that annoying position.”

Daniel glanced at the Duke, who stood a distance away.

It was hard to believe that he had to approach his cousin, whom he had a falling out with over a decade ago, but there was nothing he could do.

Shouldn’t they only consider that after the blood-related brothers managed to live?

If he didn’t want to become like his father, whom he detested.

Daniel’s face seemed to darken for a moment, before being covered with a transparent mask instantly.

He approached the Duke straightforwardly with a smile.

* * *

“Duke.”

At the sound of a clear voice, Leonhart’s face became as distorted as a crumpled piece of paper.

He looked at Daniel with a cold gaze.

“What is it?”

“I have something that I need to tell the Duke.”

“What kind of matter requires a punk like you to inform me about?”

“The Duchess said that I must inform you.”

‘Wait a moment, why are you mentioning me at that moment?’

Embarrassed, Dooha screamed internally, but it seems like those words were rather effective for the Duke.

It’s because Leonhart’s atmosphere instantly changed at Daniel’s words.

The skin of those around him prickled, like the atmosphere around him turned thorny.

Not only did Baron and Count Jive, who were beside him, become startled, even Dooha shrank in surprise.

“…I had definitely warned you. Don’t you ever come into contact with the Duchess.”

It was hard for anyone to handle the imposing energy of a knight that has reached the peak of swordsmanship.

However, even though his hands were trembling, Daniel didn’t back down, nor did he lose his smile.

“So are you going to listen or not?”

She thought that the duke’s momentum would intensify at his cousin’s response, but it gradually became calm.

At the calm atmosphere, which felt like the eve of a storm, all those that were in the vicinity gulped.

“…I’m listening.”

“Then, please send all those around us away.”

“Leave us, all of you.”

The Duke’s order baffled Baron.

“My lord, how can you be unescorted at a place like this…….”

“There isn’t any moron that can protect me here.”

Leonhart spoke icily.

“If you don’t want to turn your lord into a fool, take your leave, Baron.”

Eventually, Baron had no choice but to back down.

Count Jive also seemed suspicious and glanced at Daniel and the duke, before withdrawing docilely.

Perhaps he was afraid of going against the duke’s mood before his plan succeeded.

“The same goes for you.”

Dooha, who was naturally following Daniel, jumped when she was suddenly scolded by the Duke.

“Leave.”

At the unexpected situation, Dooha sent Daniel a look asking for help.

But Daniel didn’t even have a chance to assist her.

“I’d told you to make yourself scarce. We’re just exchanging a few words, are you taking the Duke for a fool?”

It was because Leonhart’s momentum was extremely fierce.

Dooha ended up having to leave unwillingly.

Still, she was glad that Leonhart would be informed about the count’s sinister plot.

Meanwhile, the conversation between the two people lasted for longer than the people that were forced to leave had expected.

Dooha strained her ears hoping that she would be able to pick up a portion of their conversation, but she couldn’t hear anything.

Daniel seemed to have erected soundproofing magic.

How long has it been?

Leonhart was the first to leave.

He left without a word, Baron hot on his heels.

Dooha looked at the duke’s gradually disappearing silhouette and turned to look at Daniel, who approached her.

“How did it go? What did the duke say?”

“That’s…”

Daniel gave a vague smile at her question.

It didn’t seem to be a very good sign.

* * *