If You Wish For A Married Couple’s Duties - Chapter 91

Leonhart asked back in a natural tone, as though he knew that Daniel wouldn’t attend.

“Yes.”

He murmured softly at Dooha’s reply.

“It was a great opportunity, but that’s too bad.”

“What?”

“It’s nothing.”

Leonhart placed an arm on the back of the chair that Margaret was sitting on.

“Daniel isn’t able to come, Margaret.”

“Oh, why?”

“He’s not feeling well.”

“Again?”

“Daniel has always been weak. Please be understanding, Margaret.”

He soothed the gloomy Margaret with a gentle voice.

“Instead, let’s all go on a picnic when Daniel recovers and comes back.”

“Picnic? Really?”

“Yes, when have you ever seen me lying, Margaret?”

Just as the excited Margaret was about to rebut him, a bright red flash of light appeared in the sky.

Swoosh, Boom!

Along with a loud firecracker sound that seemed to bless the last day of the carnival, a bright light lit up the dark night.

“Wow!”

Margaret clapped as she let out a child-like cheer. The maidservants, along with Layla and the head maid, also let out small exclamations at the spectacular view that would only appear once a year.

“Madam.”

While everyone was enchanted by the beauty of the fireworks that adorned the night sky, the duke called her over.

“There are things in the world that can never be redeemed, no matter what.”

Although his voice was soft enough to be drowned out by the sound of the fireworks, it was still clear to Dooha.

“For example, the relationship between that punk and I.”

Leonhart looked at the remnants of the fireworks that were shot up into the sky. The light gleamed and faded against his perfect, sculpture-like side profile.

“You’ve done your best. So don’t worry about it anymore.”

“But…”

“He isn’t the kind of guy that will come here in the first place.”

He sounded like he’d expected Daniel’s absence.

“Thanks to that, I don’t have to see a face that I don’t want to see, so I can watch the display comfortably.”

Dooha stared at him blankly with closed lips.

The duke’s expression wasn’t bright for a person that wanted to watch comfortably.

“Rather than the fireworks, my wife seems to be more interested in looking at my face.”

Leonhart put his hand on her shoulder and pulled her towards him.

“Or are you openly thinking about another guy in front of your husband?”

“…I’m not.”

Dooha looked up at the sky quietly, leaning against the large hands that were wrapped around her shoulders.

The fireworks shone brilliantly for a second, before turning into smoke and disappearing without a trace.

Just like a certain someone that she knows of.

* * *

“…it isn’t delicious.”

Daniel gulped down the bottle of wine he was holding.

The cheap wine that he’d purposely bought from a street vendor was too bitter and too strong.

However, it didn’t seem like he could shake off his crappy mood, unless it was a strong alcohol that made his throat burn.

Boom, boom. 

Fireworks exploded in the sky with a loud noise.

Daniel sat on the roof of the library building and watched the colourful scenery of the night sky.

Although he hadn’t seen this scenery during the three years he spent in the East Empire, it wasn’t as impressive as he’d imagined.

No, he found it futile instead. What’s the use of soaring up splendidly when it will all vanish into smoke anyways?

Nevertheless, it’s hard to understand why humans just had to shoot fireworks into the sky.

Daniel murmured as he watched the fireworks gradually come to an end.

“…I should have gone.”

Honestly, he was happy when he received a letter from Dooha asking him to watch the fireworks together.

So much so that he’d forgotten the guilt of not being of any assistance to her during that crucial moment in Tochern.

“What, with who I am right now?”

Daniel gulped down another mouthful of wine.

Perhaps if the duke and Margaret weren’t present, he might have rushed over immediately.

It’s because he was well aware that if he ran over casually, she’d also nonchalantly welcome him.

While he knew that Dooha’s heart had already completely turned towards his cousin, the fact that he still wanted to rely on her insignificant kindness was disappointing himself.

“It’s not like I’ve got no pride.”

“Were you absent because of your pride?”

Daniel’s grip around the bottle tightened.

He slowly turned his head around and faced the familiar voice that came from the side.

“…Madam?”

Daniel looked at Dooha, who appeared before him like a lie, and looked at her with a surprised gaze.

“What are you doing here…”

“Margaret told me. You’ve been hanging around the library these days.”

Dooha shrugged and continued.

“But you weren’t in the library. So I was just going to return, but I came up because I thought there was someone on the roof.”

Just as Dooha was lifting herself onto the roof nimbly.

Her body lost its balance and tilted as the hem of her full dress caught on her shoe.

“Madam, it’s dangerous…”

Startled, Daniel reached for the duchess reflexively. When the smell of grass flowers wafted to his nose, his body stiffened.

The itchy sensation from touching the hair on the back of a neck, a small body that entered his arms, and soft skin that exudes warmth.

Although it felt familiar, at this moment it was rather unfamiliar.

Was it because the opponent was Dooha? Was it just because of the alcohol’s influence?

Daniel’s pale face turned red.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

Dooha also felt embarrassed.

It’s because it unintentionally looked like she fell into Daniel’s arms.

Even if they were no different from family, she felt reluctant to be held in the arms of a man that wasn’t her husband.

Dooha quickly pulled away from Daniel while rambling out of needless guilt.

“As expected, Daniel has good manners toward women. You managed to think of pulling me back in that split second.”

Daniel turned his head away nonchalantly.

It’s a relief that the fireworks didn’t explode at that time.

If a firework had been released, Dooha would have caught sight of his red face.

“What brings you here?”

“I was looking for Daniel.”

Dooha took out an emerald brooch from her pocket and dangled it.

“It’s because you only left a gift, and refused my invitation?”

After spotting the necklace, Daniel looked away like he’d been caught doing something shameful.

“Grandmother and the duke…….”

“Leonhart left first due to work, and Margaret went to bed early because she was tired. Thanks to that, I’m the only one left.”

“…Is that so?”

The two kept their gazes forward as they continued their conversation.

Although the firework show seemed to be over, the view of the territory from beyond the walls was still as bright as day.

Merry songs were still filling the streets, and people danced while holding each other’s hands as though they never wanted the last night of the carnival to end.

They looked like a breeze blowing through a wheat field when observed from a distant and high location.

It was a scene that brought smiles to the faces of anyone that’s watching.

“So you didn’t come because you wanted to see such a good view by yourself, did you?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Daniel always apologises. What are you so apologetic about this time?”

“Madam had even personally sent me an invitation, but I didn’t go.”

Daniel propped an arm on his knee and continued.

“I intended to go, but I couldn’t.”

Did the influence of alcohol take effect belatedly? Daniel brought up something that he wouldn’t have said normally.

“I think it’s not my place to join.”

Dooha frowned at his reply and turned her head.

“What do you mean, Daniel can’t join in? Do you know how long Margaret waited for you?”

“I know.”

Daniel lowered his gaze slowly. The shadow casted under his long eyelashes looked rather mournful.

“Margaret, no, Grandmother has always waited for me.”

He smiled self-mockingly and sighed.

“That’s all the more reason that I can’t go.”

Margaret’s mental state was due to the death of the previous Duke and Duchess.

The one that made them that way was his father, Nate.

And Daniel was akin to his father’s accomplice.

“Madam, no matter how brazen I may be, I’m not shameless enough to laugh and chat casually in front of someone that has become like that because of me.”

A man should be punished if he committed a crime.

If no one punishes the sinner, the sinner has no choice but to punish himself.

“So…”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

At Dooha’s question, Daniel stopped breathing and turned his head.

She was looking straight at him. As if she knew about everything.

Daniel began speaking with a trembling voice.

“…W,what are you talking about?”

“About your father causing the death of Leonhart’s parents. Why didn’t you tell me beforehand if you knew about it?”

Dooha’s words cause his eyes to widen.

“How do you know about it, Madam?”

“I heard about it.”

“…the Duke personally told Madam about this?”

“Yes.”

Dooha trailed off when she looked at Daniel, who seemed to be far more shocked than she’d anticipated.

“Actually, I was going to pretend that I didn’t know about it till the end…”

She was unable to feign ignorance.

There were times when she couldn’t understand what he was thinking, and times when she found him disagreeable, but he wasn’t a bad person either.

Just like how Leonhart treated her.

“I haven’t known Daniel for a long time, but I’m sure that you aren’t the kind of person that’ll do that without any particular reason.”

Daniel could only stammer wordlessly in response to her reply, seemingly having a lot to say.

He only managed to utter a few words after a long while.

“…you’re certain?”

“Yes.”

“What makes you so certain?”

Daniel gritted his teeth.

He didn’t care about others, but he hoped that Dooha would never find out about this.

He pulled up the corner of his lips like he was trying to smile, but his eyes were distorted, so the expression he made was strange, and was neither a smile, nor a grimace.

“What if, contrary to your beliefs, I’m a very bad person?”

He felt extremely ashamed, as if he was standing naked in front of Dooha.

He’d even felt resentment towards the duke, who’d only told the truth.

“As you’ve mentioned, we haven’t known each other for a long time, but Madam dares to assert that you know me well?”

“Daniel.”

Dooha quietly called Daniel, who was seemingly berating her.

“A very bad person wouldn’t even feel guilt.”

She looked at Daniel’s vivid green eyes, which turned turbid, like it was submerged deeply in water.

“So, please tell me the truth. Why couldn’t you tell me at that time?”

* * *