Chapter 12
Chapter 12
We decided to look around the town during the festival, searching for anything suspicious.
“Wow, this is my first time at a festival like this!”
I diligently scanned my surroundings, taking in the town’s scenery.
“……”
The Young Duke wore an expression of little interest, but he still accompanied me as we explored every corner of the town.
Perhaps this was his first time in a place like this too?
“Come to think of it, Young Duke, you wouldn’t have had any reason to visit a commoner’s village, would you?”
High-ranking nobles had absolutely no reason to visit a commoner’s village.
Wasn’t the only time he’d been to a commoner’s village before coming to our house?
But my thoughts were entirely mistaken, as Aristelle’s voice, filled with excitement, could be heard from behind.
“No! Lady Bestia…!”
“Yes?”
“Don’t be fooled by that calm-looking face.”
“What did the Young Duke do?”
“Master, no, Master, he used to run away from home as if it were a daily meal since he was little!”
As if his words weren’t a lie, Mary nodded vigorously.
The Young Duke, known as a filial son, ran away from home so often?
Instead of speaking, I looked at the Young Duke with questioning eyes, but he subtly avoided my gaze.
What, is it true…?
“Master was running away from home as if it were a daily meal right up until very recently.”
Aristelle, now openly calling him Master…
Mary, seemingly unfazed by Aristelle’s words, added another story.
“That’s right, I can bet my life that this is my first time in a village like this… um… I’ll bet on the note Lady Bestia gave me.”
Ah, was that the one where I wrote ‘please take good care of me’ last time?
As if our actions were too much, the Young Duke’s eyes became particularly sharp.
“…A note?”
“Yes?”
“You were the only one who received a note from Bestia?”
“Master, no, you, please don’t be jealous in such a strange place.”
No, what’s so special about a note?
To move past this strange atmosphere, I posed a question to him.
“Young Duke, why did you run away from home?”
“I suppose I was going through puberty.”
“Puberty, what! You were like that right up until you met Lady Bestia…!”
Was my belief that I had come to understand the Young Duke a little bit recently a mistake?
Him, who is always proper and calm, running away from home?
“Well, given the Young Duke’s personality, I don’t think he would have liked wandering around various places.”
As I subtly inquired, the Young Duke sighed softly and said.
“…I was looking for something.”
Looking for something?
Was there something the Empire’s sole Young Duke had to personally go out and search for?
Moreover, frequent outings would pose a threat to his safety.
Asking would likely yield no answer, so I shouldn’t pry any further.
Feeling a pang of regret, I glanced at him, and the Young Duke readily offered the next words.
“But I no longer need to look for it, so there will be no need to go out. I promise you that.”
“A promise? To me?”
“Yes, I am not a scoundrel who would disappear leaving behind the person they are to marry.”
“……”
It seems the Young Duke is genuinely thinking of marrying me.
But I don’t know the reason why…
At first, I thought it was to fulfill the Duke’s wish.
But the current Young Duke doesn’t seem that deeply filial.
He seemed like he would do anything I asked, yet he skillfully avoided answering important questions.
He was definitely hiding something from me.
Hadn’t I asked him similar questions before?
A few days before leaving for the investigation, at the Duke’s Mansion.
The Young Duke and I were sitting opposite each other, having a meal.
“Young Duke, why do you want to marry me?”
“Yes? Why would you….”
The Young Duke’s demeanor, uncharacteristically trailing off.
He couldn’t be unaware that he seemed suspicious.
“As I’ve said before, it’s strange. This time, don’t run away and tell me the reason.”
“That’s because…”
Ah, will he tell me this time?
“Isn’t it unavoidable?”
“What does that mean?”
“Humility may be a virtue, but it’s not a good habit to belittle yourself too much.”
He furrowed his brows as if contemplating for a moment, then continued.
“Beth, look over there.”
When I looked where he pointed, I saw my reflection staring blankly into the mirror.
“……”
Putting aside my embarrassment, I observed the expressions of the servants attending us from behind.
As expected, they couldn’t hide their expressions.
Some wore looks of shock, while others were on the verge of bursting into laughter.
Yes, it must be amusing. Of course.
If it weren’t about me, I might have felt the same.
With such excessive praise, I didn’t know where to look.
I can’t be the only one experiencing this wonderful feeling!
“Oh, you’re too kind. I’ve never seen anyone as handsome as you, Young Duke?”
I said to him cheerfully, with a more glib tone than usual.
“…Beth.”
“Perhaps the Young Duke’s features are brighter and more distinct than the Empire’s future?”
I said, smiling broadly, returning the embarrassing compliment to him.
However.
“Then, how about marrying me, whose future is bright and distinct?”
“Young Duke, stop joking and tell me the real reason…”
“It’s not a joke, but it’s also because you are ‘Bestia’.”
“Doesn’t that ultimately mean it’s because of the Duke?”
“Bestia.”
“Yes?”
“Upon reflection, I have an afternoon schedule, so I will take my leave. I will see you again in the evening.”
He always slipped away like a slippery fish, avoiding the core of the matter.
It was frustrating that he always answered, leaving out only the essential part.
“Then, may I ask what you were looking for, Young Duke?”
My question caused a flicker of bewilderment to cross his usually serene expression.
The reason I asked such a question was nothing more than mere petulance.
Neither the Young Duke nor I had any genuine intention of marrying.
Yet, the Young Duke cautiously offered an answer I hadn’t expected.
“…I was looking for someone.”
“Yes?”
If the Young Duke was willing to run away from home, it must be someone important to him.
It would be rude to pry further, wouldn’t it?
But the Young Duke opened his mouth again.
“There was someone I saw a very long time ago… someone dazzlingly beautiful.”
His expression was somber, as if recalling old memories.
However.
“What is he saying now? That Master?”
“What are you saying, in front of our Lady Bestia?”
“H-hey, everyone?”
While I didn’t think much of it, Aristelle and Mary were extremely agitated.
“No, no matter how well he treats you, Lady Bestia might or might not marry him? What?”
“Someone dazzlingly beautiful…? Ugh, Lady Bestia, let’s just call off this marriage.”
“No, everyone. I’m fine, please calm down…”
“We are not fine, Lady Bestia!”
Mary said in a very firm tone.
“Male leads who can’t forget their first love are the worst! And he stopped running away so recently? Have you no conscience?”
Before that, he’s your Master, you know.
“Wow, Master. You always do as you please, but you’re about to get dumped by Lady Bestia… Ow!!”
Aristelle, perhaps disliking the Young Duke’s words, kicked him in the shin.
“Tsk.The Young Duke, who let out a light click of his tongue, wore a nervous expression.
“Nonsense.”
“Then what is your relationship with that dazzling person?”
“Perhaps a hidden ex-lover? Or perhaps you were a stalker who chased after them out of unrequited love….”
“……”
“See? You can’t answer? Is it the former, or the latter?”
“Ignore him, Beth.”
He wore a fierce expression, as if he could beat Aristelle even more, but seemed to be holding back for now.
“Actually, I’m curious too, Young Duke.”
Someone the Young Duke had desperately searched for since childhood.
If it wouldn’t be rude, I genuinely wanted to hear his answer.
At my words, he wore a peculiar expression, neither smiling nor angry, and said.
“We promised to meet again. After that, she suddenly disappeared…”
“We decided to call that getting dumped. Master… Ow, really!”
Aristelle, kicked by him once more, clutched his shin and groaned.
The Young Duke merely looked at Aristelle with a pathetic expression.
“Didn’t we agree to act inconspicuously?”
“…Yes. I apologize, Master.”
Aristelle quickly admitted his disruptive behavior and returned to a calm demeanor.
“It’s inefficient for us to move around together for the investigation, so let’s split into pairs.”
“Ah, right. It would be too conspicuous if Lady Bestia and Master went together, so I’ll go with one of you…”
“Aristelle.”
“Yes? Miss Mary, why all of a sudden….”
“Get a clue.”
Mary grabbed Aristelle by the scruff of his neck and then dragged him in the opposite direction.
Mary, you’re quite strong, aren’t you?
As I blankly watched this scene, I heard the Young Duke murmur softly.
“…Talent.”
Although the Young Duke’s sudden remark felt out of the blue.
If she can drag Aristelle, who is much larger than herself, with one hand, Mary is indeed talented.
“Now that I think about it, Young Duke, you seem very interested in talent?”
I had often heard him murmur the word ‘talent’.
“Yes, lately I’ve noticed quite a few valuable talents at the Duke’s Mansion.”
“Is that so? That’s good news.”
“Soon, I plan to provide separate training so that all the servants at the Duke’s Mansion can become talented individuals.”
“Oh, as expected of the next head of the family.”
“What do you think, Bestia?”
“Yes? Well… the more talent, the better, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Thank you for agreeing, Beth.”
He gave a strangely mischievous smile at my answer.
I didn’t know it then.
What meaning was hidden within the Young Duke’s smile and the ‘talent’ he spoke of.
To be continued in the next chapter ▶
