It Doesn’t Matter If You’re Broken - Chapter 13

Huge thanks to VIRGINIE for the kofi! (1/2)

***

Elise looked at the man with a perplexed gaze.

 

“I wanted to express my gratitude to you, Your Grace…”

 

Cardale crossed his legs and leaned against the backrest. Then, he placed his hands on his knees and tugged at the corner of his mouth.

 

It was a cold mockery directed at a foolish and naive opponent.

 

“Just to hear that gratitude? Did you really think so?”

 

Elise was left speechless for a moment.

 

‘There must have been another reason.’

 

A belated realisation dawned on her.

 

The Duke, who looked up to even fellow nobles and couldn’t treat even the imperial family lightly, couldn’t have called her just to hear a few words.

 

However, she still couldn’t grasp what the Duke wanted. Elise tried to recall their past interactions.

 

The times when Vanessa told her not to worry and the joyful expression on the Count’s face after a long time.

 

Elise felt she knew something, but it wouldn’t come to her clearly.

 

She hesitated and couldn’t bring herself to open her mouth.

 

“If there’s another reason, could you let me know what it is?”

 

At that, Cardale’s eyes softened slowly.

 

“If I tell you the reason…”

 

“I’m willing to do what I can.”

 

“You seem braver than I thought.”

 

“What? No…”

 

Elise almost attempted to refute it.

 

In her own thoughts, she was the weakest and ugliest person in the world. There were many times she felt cowardly and lacked courage.

 

“Do you think I would say something to take advantage of what you can do?”

 

When Cardale chuckled softly, Elise’s eyes widened.

 

‘The Duke… also smiles sometimes.’

 

But the smile disappeared in an instant. He returned to an indifferent expression, as if he had lost interest.

 

“Lady Elise.”

 

When he called her name in a low voice like a cave, Elise flinched and looked at Cardale.

 

“It’s probably better for you to leave now.”

 

This time, Elise was truly taken aback.

 

Would it really be okay to leave like this?

 

“H-hah… but…”

 

Cardale, who raised his body, strode across her room and stood before Elise, who was at a loss for what to do.

 

“Just consider the greeting well received.”

 

The man now appeared imposing, looking down at her. He slightly tilted his head and whispered into Elise’s ear.

 

“There’s nothing to worry about. You can rest easy. Now, let’s proceed with the investigation.”

 

***

 

She could not easily leave her seat and was trembling with fear, but Elise eventually bowed deeply and excused herself.

 

Alone now, Cardale raised one corner of his mouth and let out a smirk.

 

She was an attention-grabbing woman, after all.

 

Part of the reason was that he had deliberately called her to meet again. He needed to figure out why she kept getting on his nerves.

 

However, now that she stood before him and he examined her closely, there was nothing particularly special about her. Her timid and meek demeanour was frustrating, and her weak and gentle appearance seemed insignificant.

 

She was neither a prey he had to hunt down nor a prey he had to claim as his possession.

 

‘There was nothing to you after all.’

 

Cardale concluded with satisfaction.

 

Indeed, there was nothing special about this woman, who was nothing more than a weak beast left to roam in the hunting ground.

 

‘I wasted a lot of time on an insignificant woman.’

 

Although he felt relieved that the matter that had been bothering him was resolved, the sense of liberation didn’t last long. Nevertheless, it would soon be forgotten.

 

For him, there were far more pressing matters to attend to than such trivialities.

 

Above all, he needed to finalise the contract with the Emperor.

 

Dealing with Helmut’s remnants in Nordrat or finding the traitors who stole information from the enemy country required a lot of patience, but it wasn’t difficult. Eventually, time will figure it out.

 

The only annoying thing was the Emperor’s persistence in trying to marry off the Princess to him, using the unfinished contract as an excuse.

 

‘Futile efforts.’

 

He had thought that even if he made it clear so that the Emperor would understand, but the Emperor kept trying regardless. It was as if dealing with beasts required patience.

 

Beneath his cold facade, his lips twisted.

 

Cardale moved toward a wall where hunting rifles were hanging.

 

While examining the hunting rifles, he picked up a shotgun with a stock made of black walnut, adorned with the grain of black oak. It was a state-of-the-art shotgun capable of loading multiple buckshot at the same time.

 

There was no easier way to settle a frustrating dispute than hunting.

 

“Your Grace.”

 

Michael, who had just seen off a guest and returned, looked slightly surprised.

 

“Are you going hunting?”

 

“The number of beasts has increased excessively, so we need to control them, don’t we?”

 

If he hadn’t participated in the war against Helmut, he would have turned the forest upside down as usual. Winter was the hunting season.

 

It was also passed down like an unwritten rule to the successive Dukes of Vassenberg.

 

Going on a hunt every year stemmed from a desire for destruction as great as the mighty power that runs through blood.

 

He deliberately created hunting grounds on a vast wooded area, releasing the animals while thoroughly controlling the access of others.

 

Beasts grew and multiplied easily in forests where humans could not reach.

 

However, the population remained stable each year. It was because they were hunted as much as they grew.

 

As Michael made arrangements with the stablekeeper and the hunting ground personnel, Cardale gently cleaned the gun with a soft cloth.

 

No one else could handle his guns as well as he did. The battlefield, where the situation is always urgent, was no exception.

 

“Your Excellency, the horses are ready.”

 

Michael returned just as Cardale finished cleaning the gun, informing him they were ready for the hunt.

 

Cardale, along with the gun and the sword placed beside him, left his study.

 

The man’s stride quickly passed through the back gate of the mansion and reached the beginning of the forest. His coachman took the reins of the great dark horse and bowed his head.

 

“Your Highness, you have arrived.”

 

Afterwards, the hunting ground keeper was waiting with some soldiers, pulling a cart. It was to bring back the hunted animals.

 

The Duke always skillfully dispatched his targets, and as a result, the leather from the animals he hunted was always of the highest quality.

 

The sales revenue naturally became part of the Duke’s assets, but some was given as compensation to those who accompanied him on the hunt.

 

For this reason, the hunting ground keeper always welcomed the Duke’s hunting. The soldiers were also the same. They took turns supporting the Duke’s hunting.

 

The only thing they had to be mindful of in exchange for this lucrative additional income was just one thing.

 

“Do not be a nuisance.”

 

“Yes!”

 

Never disturb the Duke on a hunt.

 

They must not obstruct his path, disturb the prey, or make unnecessary noise. Especially the last clause was a rule that must be engraved in their bones.

 

“When do you expect to return?”

 

Michael asked. Cardale took the reins and replied.

 

“It won’t take long.”

 

He mounted the black horse in one breath.

 

With a deep red gaze, he headed toward the lush hunting grounds.

 

The vast expanse of the forest, whose end was not visible, was locked in serene silence, as if hinting at the slaughter that was about to begin.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

Cardale lightly tapped the horse’s flank with his foot. It was hunting time.

 

***

 

As soon as Elise returned to the Count’s mansion, she was called to see Gerhard.

 

He inquired one by one about what had happened at the Duke’s residence. So persistent, Elise had no choice but to answer everything she had experienced.

 

After hearing the entire story, Gerhard touched his chin, lost in thought.

 

“It’s not too bad for now, but I can’t just trust you… It’s better to consider backup plans.”

 

The Count mumbled something Elise couldn’t understand and then lightly clapped his hands together.

 

“Well, having possibilities is a great harvest. Good work, Elise.”

 

It was a signal for her to leave. However, Elise hesitated and stood her ground.

 

“It’s okay just to go out.”

 

“I actually have something to tell Father…”

 

Gerhard narrowed his eyes and looked at Elise. She felt her clasped hands become sweaty and carefully spoke.

 

“Please let me meet Mother once. I followed everything Father commanded, and…”

 

“Elise Schuvan.”

 

As Gerhard’s cold voice interrupted her, Elise gulped nervously. When she saw Gerhard’s face, his displeasure was obvious, she instinctively cowered.

 

“I would have told Marisa that she was doing well?”

 

“But I haven’t seen her for almost a year already…”

 

“Tsk.”

 

Elise flinched reflexively at the sound of Gerhard clicking his tongue.

 

“I told you multiple times, yet you keep having pointless thoughts. Do you not understand how crucial this time is for you? You seem utterly pathetic.”

 

His cold eyes pierced Elise’s whole body like an invisible blade, as if looking down at her as ridiculous and inferior.

 

Elise quickly apologised.

 

“I’m sorry…”

 

However, instead of accepting her apology, Gerhard replied icily.

 

“Oh, so you’re longing to see your family? How fortunate. As luck would have it, there’s someone I can show you.”

 

‘Family? Who could he mean?’

 

It was at that moment when Elise was puzzled that a voice was heard from outside the door.

 

“Father, I’m here. You called for me.”

***