If You Wish For A Married Couple’s Duties - Chapter 79

The Duke’s lieutenant, Sir Baron? Daniel, who was unconscious due to mana depletion?

Neither of them were the right answer.

“As soon as the duke fell off the cliff, Count Jive instigated the knights and soldiers.”

The count pointed out the fact that now that the duke has disappeared, he was the supreme commander, and that no one has the right to threaten his personal safety.

A small threat that those that rebelled against him now will regret it after returning to the ducal castle was added.

“In fact, they didn’t know what happened between the Duke and the Count, so they had to listen to him.”

Baron was the only one that opposed the Count and tried to persuade the knights and soldiers, but it was to no avail.

Count Jive, who had a lot of experience in the senior council, was a noble that’s rather proficient in incitement.

“Sir Baron being detained instead of Count Jive happened instantly.”

After the count returned to Tochern Castle with his party, he locked Baron in the underground prison.

Daniel, who regained consciousness belatedly, tried to fix the lost situation, but it was practically impossible.

“The Count has already bought over the Lord of Tochern Castle, and the Count insisted on returning to Esbaden Castle to announce the Duke’s death.”

In the end, all Daniel could do was wait in Tochern Castle under the pretext of feeling ill instead of following him back.

The return of the two that may or may not be alive.

“…All I could do was wait here for the both of you.”

Daniel gripped his already dishevelled hair with a hand and lowered his head.

“I recovered too slowly because my mana was exhausted to its limits. If it weren’t for that, I would have gone to find you two immediately…”

He covered his tear-streaked face, regulated his breathing for a while, and raised his gaze.

“Fortunately, I managed to recover enough mana to bring the both of you here through the necklace. I’m glad that Madam just happened to call out my name.”

Daniel tried his best to lift the trembling corners of his mouth.

The way he tried to display his usual cheerful and lively appearance was as plaintive.

Dooha approached him with the necklace in hand.

This time, even Leonhart didn’t stop her.

“Daniel, I’d told you before, didn’t I?”

She returned the necklace back to Daniel.

“Don’t blame yourself. The both of us were able to come back safely thanks to Daniel.”

Dooha turned towards the duke.

“Right, Leonhart?”

Leonhart didn’t answer.

He just kept staring at Daniel.

However, there wasn’t just hatred or resentment contained within his fierce gaze, but also something more complex.

For example, something close to love and hate.

Leonhart, who remained silent for a long time, spoke shortly.

“…you weren’t exactly useless.”

Daniel’s head perked up at his cousin’s only sentence.

His transparent emerald eyes shone brightly as he looked at Leonhart.

“That’s all, though.”

But Leonhart ignored him like usual and turned away.

Dooha sighed as she looked at the leaving duke’s disappearing back.

Normally, she would have followed him and nagged him about his attitude, but now she couldn’t.

As she knew the things that happened between Leonhart and Daniel.

“…Name.”

Dooha looked at Daniel, who was muttering to himself.

“What did you say, Daniel?”

“So you call him by his name.”

“Since I call you by your name, obviously…”

Dooha tried to reply playfully, but she stopped halfway.

This is because Daniel was looking at her with a gaze that was akin to shards of glass.

“I guess you both became close enough that you can call the Duke by his name.”

“…Is that how it appears to you?”

Dooha replied nonchalantly, but internally, she was embarrassed.

Since when did she begin to call him by his name? She couldn’t even remember.

Every person had a name, and names were made to be called.

What’s the big deal about calling him by his name?

If she had to look into it, it was true that they became closer.

They became very close, at that.

“You don’t look very well, so lie down. I think it’ll take more time to fix the situation.”

In order to forget the suddenly surfacing memories of the night in the cave, Dooha hurriedly got up from her seat.

“Madam.”

Daniel turned around and grabbed her wrist.

He was sitting on the bed and looking up at Dooha.

“Do you have something to say, Daniel?”

“Well…”

Daniel’s lips trembled again and again, but he couldn’t say anything.

Perhaps that was a good thing.

Even if he managed to open his mouth, he would probably ask useless questions like why was she calling the Duke by his name.

Daniel bit his lower lip.

It was natural for a wife to call her husband by his name.

At least, it wasn’t as unnatural as ‘Excuse me’ or ‘Hey’.

But why does such trivial things keep getting on his nerves?

Anyway, Dooha is…

“Daniel, what’s wrong?”

Dooha looked down at him with round eyes.

“Are you not feeling well?”

She scanned his face worriedly and placed her hand on his forehead unhesitatingly.

As soon as her small hand touched his face, Daniel became thirsty.

“I don’t think you have a fever.”

Daniel was well aware.

This was just consideration that she gave to those that were close to her.

It doesn’t contain a single drop of emotion that he looked forward to.

In the first place, she wasn’t someone that he could have.

She was the Duchess of Esbaden, his cousin’s wife.

But he couldn’t get Dooha out of his head.

She was different from the other women that he’d met before.

Yes, he found that difference intriguing and approached her.

Obviously, he wasn’t serious in the beginning.

Daniel frowned painfully.

Why wouldn’t his desire disappear when he was clearly aware that he can’t have her.

Why did he want to hold on the farther it was?

Was it, as Leonhart had mentioned, because he didn’t have a decent personality?

Was that why he’s attracted to a woman whose neighbouring seat wasn’t empty?

No, that wasn’t the case.

He just wanted Dooha.

He wanted Dooha, who looked at him with bright eyes that didn’t contain any prejudice, who extended her warm hands unhesitatingly, who’d had a bold personality that would respond to crooked jokes in an even more crooked manner.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t remain confused about his own feelings any longer.

When he heard the news that Dooha fell from the cliff, it felt as though his heart was torn into a thousand pieces.

During the two days where it was uncertain whether she was living, he prayed to the God that he didn’t even believe in.

Daniel realised mournfully.

The unfortunate fact that the feelings that have already formed wouldn’t disappear just because he wants them to.

But he couldn’t even voice them out.

As someone that has watched Dooha for a long time, he could guarantee this.

If he conveyed his feelings now, he might never see Dooha again.

Presumably, certainty has also risen within Dooha about her feelings, during the time when he fell off the cliff and was isolated from the Duke.

Certainty in her feelings for the duke.

“…It’s nothing, Madam.”

Daniel slowly raised his head.

His eyes were still damp with tears, but his expression was bright.

It was Daniel’s usual appearance that Dooha recognised.

“I’m so glad you came back safely. Sincerely.”

“It’s all thanks to Daniel. Obviously.”

Dooha only smiled with relief when she saw his normal face.

She turned around again and left the bedroom.

His hand released Dooha’s wrist weakly and fell down.

His lingering feelings dripped from his fingertips.

* * *

“D—duke, how did you—!”

Arnold, Lord of Tochern fief, was horrified to see the Duke of Esbaden’s sudden appearance.

The count had clearly said that the Duke of Esbaden had died, and that he didn’t have to worry, but why is the Duke here?

He prostrated himself on the floor like he had seen a ghost.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I thought the Duke was dead, and that’s what the Count said! The Duke has died! So I just followed the Count’s requests!”

“You insect-like b*stard.”

“That’s right! I’m an insect! Please spare me! Duke! What does an insect know? I don’t know anything, so please spare my life…….”

The Duke, Leonhart, looked at the fief lord that was banging his head on the floor and begging for his life icily.

“You’re a pest.”

“D—duke…!”

“Pests should be exterminated.”

Arnold tried to escape from the duke, who’s approaching him with his sword drawn.

But the duke’s sword was faster than his legs.

In the blink of an eye, the head of Tochern’s fief lord separated from his neck.

It was quite a grand death for a small fief lord that only cared about his safety.

As he was directly beheaded by the Duke of Esbaden’s sword.

“Tell them to hang his head at the castle gate.”

After leaving the dungeon, Baron casually picked up the fief lord’s severed head.

He raised his head after giving a slight bow.

“My lord, when will you head back to Esbaden?”

Leonhart blinked at his lieutenant’s question.

His eyes were burned brighter than ever.

“Right now.”

Leonhart tried his best to calm his seething mind, which was akin to a volcano moments before eruption.

There should be a limit to letting things slide.

It seemed like it was time to mend that muddled old man’s ways.

Leonhart recalled the face of his sworn enemy.

They only shared blood relations, but his enemy was no better than a stranger.

“Let the knights get ready. We’re leaving immediately.”

“Yes, my lord!”

Leonhart led his lieutenant and strode forward without hesitation.

And just three days after the sad news arrived that the Duke had passed in Esbaden Castle.

News of the dead Duke of Esbaden’s return spread throughout the castle.

* * *