Chapter 8

The Life in the Duke's Family (8) Chapter 8 (8/177)

#8.

With the Lork siblings out of the way, peace returned to the Hadelus Castle.

The only slightly disappointing thing was that the Duke had turned a blind eye to the Lork Baron's misdeeds.

'Probably because the bill is still under review, right?'

It seemed that to avoid complications during the review process, the Duke had deliberately kept the abuse incident under wraps, which is why he was still leaving the baron alone for now.

But he couldn't just leave things as they were.

Surely, the Duke must have warned the baron that if he ever came to the castle and started causing trouble, he would crush the baron's family to pieces.

Given the Lork Baron's character and the fact that he had been so quiet, this was almost certain.

It was said that the Lork Lady had not stepped out of her room at all.

She must have been deeply shocked by being abandoned by the Duke.

After all, she was the Duke's lover for three years, and even a mistress before I came to the castle.

'So, she probably didn't expect to be discarded so easily because of me.'

Anyway, with the Lork siblings out of the way, Akid's future looked a bit brighter.

The Duke, feeling guilty, had been subtly taking care of Akid since then.

This morning, for example:

I recalled the conversation we had at the breakfast table, where we were all together for the first time in a while.

The Duke said casually during the meal:

"Next time someone treats you badly, don't just stand there."

I looked at the Duke, who spoke freely in front of the Duchess, with a steady gaze.

The Duchess's expression was as calm as ever.

'So, it seems they must have reached some kind of agreement yesterday.'

Probably, like in the original story, the Duchess didn't get the mines, but some kind of deal was made.

Akid, surprised by the Duke's unexpected words, replied stiffly:

"Didn't you tell me to live like a mouse before?"

The Duke, whose eyebrows twitched at the subtle rebuke, said sternly:

"That doesn't mean you should just take it lying down."

Still not satisfied, he added:

"Better to strike first. It's much easier to clean up after hitting someone than after being hit."

"…I will keep that in mind."

"Teaching such good things. What exactly are you teaching our innocent Akid?"

I rolled my eyes at the Duke's absurd advice.

Of course, I don't like being hit, but hitting someone just because you're upset is too thug-like.

Akid, who looks a lot like the Duke in appearance but is completely different in personality, is nothing like him.

The Duke is free-spirited and extremely self-centered.

In contrast, Akid, who grew up being treated poorly, has a habit of interpreting everything negatively.

This often led to conflicts with the female protagonist, Mabel, and eventually, she was taken by the male protagonist, Jeronis.

'It's okay. As long as I'm here, Akid won't have an unhappy childhood.'

Thinking of Akid made a smile spread across my lips.

At that moment, Hannah entered the bedroom with a basket of flowers.

"What flowers are these?"

"Oh, the flower festival is coming up soon, so I brought them to lift the mood."

"Flower festival? In this weather?"

I blinked, pointing to the cold wind blowing outside.

Even though winter was over, it was still early spring.

While some flowers were starting to peek out, it was too early for a flower festival.

Vivian, seeing my confused expression, chuckled and said:

"You've only been in Delus for a day or two, why are you so surprised?"

"Huh?"

"It's just called a flower festival, but it's actually a seed-planting day."

"Seed-planting day?"

"Oh, are you sleepy today, my lady? Why are you pretending not to know?"

Vivian asked, half-asleep, and I rolled my eyes. Then Shuri explained:

"Yes. Since flowers don't grow easily in Delus, they have a seed-planting event."

Hannah, arranging the flowers in a vase, added:

"Maybe you ran away from the annoying event when you first came to Delus, so you don't remember?"

"Oh, right. I did that last year. Well, I can see why I wouldn't remember."

Vivian, as if just remembering, stuck out her tongue. Shuri, standing nearby, agreed:

"Given that you had just arrived, it must have been overwhelming."

"Uh-huh. I guess so."

I added a comment to the situation, where the maids understood, to avoid the crisis.

Hannah looked at me seriously and said:

"You can't run away this time. You might get a severe scolding from the Duchess."

"O-of course not! I'll listen well and fulfill my role as a wife."

"Oh, really? You're not going to make the Duke's life difficult again?"

I snapped at Vivian's provocation:

"No way! How much do I like Akid!"

"Wow, my lady. You finally acknowledge the Duke?"

Hannah said brightly, as if pleased.

"Could it be that all your complaints were just a pretense of interest? Wow."

Unable to say anything, I watched as Vivian shrugged and continued:

"Tsk tsk. You're clumsy. If it were someone else, you would have run away long ago. These days, acting so mischievously can make you lose interest."

"Vivian, you…"

I shuddered at the thought of Akid running away.

The memory of him trying to run away last time, saying he wanted a divorce, made me even more frustrated.

At that moment, Shuri patted my back gently and said:

"Hehe. You're so cute. Ignore Vivian. She's just jealous of Akid."

"Shuri, what are you saying?"

Vivian, jumping up, glared but didn't deny it.

I ignored them and fell into deep thought.

No matter where I go, Roena has caused a lot of trouble.

Even the children I brought from April Castle are half-believing, half-doubting, yet Akid believes in my change.

'This will take quite some time to convince everyone in the Duke's family.'

I felt tired and shook my head.

A little later, I brought up the flower festival again:

"So, what do I have to do on that day?"

* * *

Akid was sitting on the terrace, reading a book.

After the Lork Baron was gone, Akid's life became more stable.

He no longer had to stay up all night to prepare and still get beaten, and the new tutor was quite good.

Moreover, the Duke had even assigned him a sword instructor.

'Could he have meant it when he said to hit back?'

Just as he was thinking this, a clear laugh from a girl came from beyond the terrace.

It was coming from Roena's bedroom next door.

Akid immediately recognized it as Roena's laugh.

"She must be talking to her maids."

The unusually clear laugh kept catching his attention.

Akid closed his book and got up, moving closer to Roena's bedroom terrace.

It was something he wouldn't normally do. Even though their bedrooms were separated by a lobby, the connected terraces allowed them to see each other.

Of course, it was a bit of a distance to cross.

The voices, muffled but clear, drifted over to Akid's terrace, as the windows were open.

He couldn't make out exactly what they were saying, but he could tell they were having a pleasant conversation.

'They must be the maids who came with her from April Castle.'

Akid roughly guessed, knowing that Roena had been particularly close to them since they arrived at the castle.

She relied on them even though she didn't open up to other servants.

Akid, thinking it was wrong to eavesdrop on her private life, was about to turn back.

Just then, Roena's bold voice rang out:

"How much I like Akid!"

"…!"

Akid held his breath at the sudden confession. It was so clear because she had shouted it.

Akid shivered and coughed.

"Cough! Cough!"

He barely suppressed the cough, leaning against the wall. His heart was pounding.

He covered his mouth to avoid being heard and took a deep breath.

'Did I hear that wrong?'

Akid was confused. It was definitely Roena's voice.

But the content was too unexpected to be her words.

The wife he knew would never say such a thing.

'I hate you so much! Don't even come near me!'

She had always shouted that she hated him and showed her disgust through her actions.

But now.

'Come on, dear.'

Akid's face flushed as he recalled the endearment Roena had used.

It was so natural that it took him a while to realize how shocking it was.

But when she called him 'Akid' again, he felt a bit disappointed.

'Why am I disappointed?'

Akid was confused by his own thoughts.

He was just more flustered by Roena's new behavior.

Moreover, it was strange for her to suddenly say she liked him. Was she lying again?

"Ha…"

Akid sighed deeply. He couldn't understand Roena no matter how hard he tried.

At least she wasn't as cruel as before, so it wasn't embarrassing to his parents.

The problem was that she was now too affectionate towards him.

'What is she thinking?'

Akid's mind was filled with thoughts of Roena.

Then he remembered what she had said:

'I did hate you, Akid, but I didn't hate my life.'

At that moment, Roena seemed to be speaking indirectly.

Especially when she said, "I hated you," her voice trembled.

It sounded like she was saying something she didn't want to say. For the perceptive Akid, her change was puzzling.

Akid stood there, leaning against the wall of the terrace, for a long time.

After a while, he shuffled back to the table and sat down.

He didn't try to open his book again. He just fiddled with the cover and played with his lower lip.

Eventually, Akid muttered to himself:

"Even though she said she hated me…"

Akid's face turned red, and he bowed his head.

It had been so long since he had heard someone say they liked him.

He felt embarrassed, touching the back of his head and sighing deeply.

He felt pathetic for his heart melting at just those words.

After a while, when his heart had calmed down a bit:

Knock knock.

"Akid. It's me, Roena."

Roena knocked on Akid's bedroom door.