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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: A Piece of Advice
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The Duke, whose eyes met mine, lowered his hand and offered an awkward smile.
"My apologies. My eyes were a bit dry."
"Not at all. I'm the one who should be sorry. I'm afraid your eyes have grown tired from reading documents in the dark because of me."
Overcome with guilt, I subtly averted my gaze.
*Sigh*, honestly.
If there was a hole to crawl into, I would have dived in right then...
Fortunately, the Duke politely shook his head.
"That's not it, so please don't worry. It's a chronic issue."
"A chronic issue?"
"Yes. I suppose since I do a lot of paperwork, my eyes often get tired."
"...Ah."
I blinked.
I hadn't noticed at first because of the darkness, but I could see it now that I looked closely.
The Duke's eyes were completely bloodshot.
The moment I noticed it.
The Duchess's dissatisfied voice suddenly echoed in my mind.
"He's been like that since we were children. He insists on doing all the hard work himself and just tells me to relax."
That sullen expression,
"Of course, I'm grateful that my brother thinks of me... but he doesn't have to."
those drooping shoulders,
"I feel like he's always overworking himself because of me."
and those blue eyes, filled with worry for her only sibling.
'I can see now why the Duchess is so worried about the Duke.'
What younger sister could possibly relax and do nothing when her brother pushes himself this hard?
I spoke without thinking.
"In that case, how about trying a warm compress?"
"A warm compress?"
"Yes. Covering your eyelids with a warm, damp cloth helps to rest your eyes."
I smiled, my eyes crinkling.
"The Duchess often says her eyes get tired from paperwork, and she always enjoys it when I prepare a warm compress for her."
The Duke glanced at me and replied playfully.
"My, my, a warm compress. It seems Eva is working Lady Ansi to the bone."
"Pardon?"
"You don't need to indulge her whims so much. You can tell her no when necessary."
"Ahaha..."
I could only manage an awkward laugh.
"In any case, thank you for the advice. I'll give it a try."
The Duke nodded readily, then his expression suddenly turned serious as he continued.
"Also, you must receive an apology from Eva for this matter."
"Pardon?"
"Evanjeline is the sole Duchess of the Duchy of Claudius."
His voice was grave, all traces of his earlier humor gone.
"She may not have participated in household affairs until now, but she has stepped forward to act as its mistress. As such, she must bear the responsibility that comes with it."
"...Your Grace."
"One who governs an organization has duties and rights befitting their position. Those duties and rights are not so trivial that they can be passed on to others at one's convenience, only to be taken back later."
As he spoke, the Duke wore a rare, resolute expression.
"Even if it is merely the internal affairs of a single townhouse."
I see.
Meeting his stern gaze, I suddenly realized something.
The reason the Duke could establish himself as one of the most distinguished rulers in the long history of the Duchy of Claudius was likely because he held himself to such exacting standards.
...And the reason he never asked the Duchess to do anything...
'was because he wanted her, at least, to be free from those standards.'
But just then.
"What is this?"
A sharp voice rang out, and at the same time,
*Click!*
The library lights flooded the room.
With that, a person strode into the library with a commanding presence.
"Why are you two together in this dark place?!"
It was the Duchess!
Standing as if to block me, the Duchess glared daggers at the Duke.
"Brother, you didn't do anything rude to Lady Ansi, did you?"
Of course, the Duke scoffed in response.
"Do you think I'm you?"
"Hmph...!"
Wow, to sink the Duchess so completely with a single sentence.
The Duke's skill is quite formidable.
Anyway.
"Your Grace, really, nothing happ—"
I hurriedly tried to interject, hoping to clear up the misunderstanding growing between the siblings in real time.
But the Duchess just whipped her head around to look at me, her eyes flashing.
"So naive. All men are wolves!"
...Like brother, like sister. The Duchess is just as sharp-tongued as the Duke.
I hastily changed the subject.
"So, did you get the rose seedlings?"
"Of course! Who do you think I am?"
The Duchess replied triumphantly.
"I'm the Duchess of Claudius. Is there anything in this world I can't have?"
That's not something the person who ran out around noon just to buy some rose seedlings should be saying...
I shook my head inwardly.
At the same time, the Duke, who had been staring at the Duchess with a look of exasperation, opened his mouth.
"Leaving your friend to prepare for the meeting while you go off to buy rose seedlings. Well done."
"Ugh."
Hit where it hurt, the Duchess began to furtively watch my expression.
"Lady Ansi, are you angry?"
Huh? Suddenly asking me?
I quickly plastered a smile on my face.
"No, I'm not angry."
"Evanjeline, think carefully."
But the Duke continued mercilessly.
"Such a flimsy sense of responsibility, leaving your work to a friend."
The Duchess flinched, her shoulders tensing.
"How can you expect to properly fulfill your role as the mistress of the Duchy of Claudius like this?"
"Th-that's...!"
About to protest, the Duchess cautiously turned to me.
Then, with an expression as pitiful as a rain-soaked kitten, she muttered...
"I'm sorry... I won't do it again."
"No, I'm really fine!"
As I desperately tried to console the Duchess, I shot a sideways glance at the Duke.
But something was strange.
The Duke looked rather triumphant...
Huh?
My expression turned doubtful.
It's just, that look on his face.
Of course, I'm not doubting the Duke's intentions. He was surely reprimanding her with affection so she wouldn't go down the wrong path!
But it seemed, just a little, like he was satisfied with having won the argument.
...It must be my imagination, right?
* * *
That night.
Dietrich asked a maid for something.
It was...
"I'll leave the damp cloth you requested here."
The maid bowed her head, placed a silver tray on the table, and left.
On the tray lay a steaming hot, damp cloth.
Dietrich stared at it blankly.
"In that case, how about trying a warm compress?"
"Covering your eyelids with a warm, damp cloth helps to rest your eyes."
Lalitt's gentle voice lingered in his ears.
'I'm making such a fuss.'
Dry eyes were hardly a big deal.
After all, it was a fatigue he always lived with.
He was already used to it.
And yet.
'How strange.'
Dietrich fiddled with the damp cloth for no reason and let out a small laugh.
'When it's Lady Ansi's advice, I find myself wanting to follow it.'
Dietrich picked up the cloth, which had cooled to a suitable temperature.
As the warm cloth fully covered his eyes, his vision went dark.
It felt as if his fatigue was melting away.
Recognizing the sensation, Dietrich suddenly realized just how exhausted he had been.
'This feels good.'
In the peaceful darkness, Dietrich rested deeply for the first time in a very long while.
