The Devilish Duke Can’t Sleep

The Devil of Temptation

“The family of angels is a bunch of people who are very different outside and inside. I was meeting my father and my brother and we were telling the story well, but the next day, a rumor that I had betrayed Hildebrunn suddenly entered their ears. It was the day after Duke Santella’s younger brother visited the royal family. So, who would have come up with such a rumor?”

“Because the intelligence strength of the Santella family is no less than that of the Luave’s.”

“It’s not that I’m angry. If it had been only that, I would have understood that it was to politically keep the Duke of Luave in check.

“Did anything else happen?”

“Yes! With the theme of making my life in Hildebrunn like a lamp before the wind, the Santella family tried to convince me that they could improve my relationship with Hildebrunn. Who do you take as an idiot? I almost threw up my own stomach and put it in the face of that noble who pretended not to know anything.”

“Ahaha! If you really did, I would have given Sir Luahalla a mansion.”

“Could you have saved my life before that?”

Thanks to Luahalla, who gets agitated and swears at the Santella family, Kahel smiles happily after a long time. He had forgotten that that pleasant ringing had a very bad effect on the hearts of others.

“With the fact that Sir Luahalla came to me at this time, does it mean that you have made up your mind now?”

“Ah, well, I’ve actually decided since the last time I visited, but…….”

“That’s good.”

“Isn’t it Sir Kahel’s work that soothed the Hildebrunn royal family?”

Ragdrill, who was raging to kill Luahalla due to the scheme of the Santella family, was quickly softened by the amount of bloodstone sent in the name of Luahalla. After reading a memo saying, ‘A bloodstone sample is sent at the request of Marquis Rognac’, the king of Hildebrunn even praised him, saying, ‘After all, Luahalla is the best diplomat in Hildebrunn!’ when seeing the 5 tons of bloodstone.

“Would I have placed all the burdens on Sir Luahalla? If it’s about that amount of bloodstone, it’s not a big deal if you look at the future of the business.”

 

Luahalla, who had nodded his head at Kahel’s relaxed voice, soon returned to a serious expression.

“The price of lylok per ton that Hildebrunn wanted was 1.1 million luans.”

“And what’s the price that Sir Luahalla will give me?”

“It is 700,000 luans per ton for a five-year monopoly supply. Sir Kahel said you didn’t want to bargain, so I gave the maximum I could lower it to.”

To be honest, it was a very welcome proposal for Kahel, who thought 800,000 luans per ton would be the maximum. Of course, it will never be free.

“Great. First of all, I will write a provisional contract. Arder!”

Arder, who had already prepared paper, pens and ink, set down a silver tray in front of them. Luahalla hesitated for a while at the contract that went straight through without any fuss, but soon caught his attention on the handwriting that started dancing straight on the paper.

“Hildebrunn will exclusively supply lylok to the Duchy of Luave for 700,000 luans per ton, and the Duchy of Luave will purchase more than 300 tons every year for the next five years. Currently, Hildebrunn’s annual income from the export of lylok is about 45 million luans, and the annual income to be obtained through this contract is over 200 million luans, so for Hildebrunn it’s also a profitable business, isn’t it?”

However, Luahalla knew that the Luave family would benefit much more from this contract. And Kahel knew that too, so this time he picked up another piece of paper and spoke in a lower voice.

“Now, let’s write down what kind of reward I will give to Sir Luahalla.”

Luahalla’s heart raced.

“As you may be aware, the day after tomorrow, there is a birthday banquet for Grand Duke Rufelio in the royal family. Let me introduce you directly to Her Majesty the Queen. It would be a good idea to briefly outline your business idea to avoid wasting an opportunity. There, I will invest 50 million luans in your business and lease you a building on Rivella Street free of charge for 5 years. If you wish, we will help you with your asylum to Logos and provide free bloodstones for use in Luahalla’s house and office. And…… When you go to a party, you can say that you are Kahel Luave’s friend.”

Luahalla opened his mouth unknowingly. He thought it wouldn’t hurt to have someone as prestigious as the Duke Luave, but he never imagined that he would give such an unconventional reward. The last clause, above all else, would have a huge ripple effect.

“Ha…… Hahaha! This…… I don’t know what to say. Sir Kahel’s…… Friend?”

Whether his heart was beating because of Kahel Luave’s devilish power or the conditions written in the contract, Luahalla were a little confused. The title of friend of the Duke of Luave will come back with great benefits. But soon he had a question. No matter how big the business profit he gets from lylok, He think this might be too much of a price…….

 

Then the door inside the parlor opened and the lady he had seen last time brought out the tea. He thought it might be a little late for her to get the tea out, but Kahel’s eyes were sharp as if they could pierce Luahalla. The icy atmosphere did not change until the maid, carefully pouring the tea, bent her knees slightly, and left the room. And Kahel, who never took his eyes off Luahalla, added his words with a cool smile.

“Of course…… Because I have the belief that Sir Luahalla will not scatter the private stories of his friend.”

It was then that Luahalla realized that there was another condition for this undeserved price. The condition is to deny that there is a ‘normal’ handmaiden who is not affected by Kahel Luave’s devilish power. And the timing when the maid brings out the tea is probably for that realization…….

‘Duke Luave can’t make a mistake…….’

Luahalla, who saw the maid’s existence as a card he could use someday, had to admit his own defeat. Even under these conditions, if he risked the maid, then he would have to risk his life.

* * *

The Grand Duke’s birthday banquet was held in Angelique Hall just like last year. No matter how large the birthday banquets of other Grand Dukes were, it could not be held in the main hall of Regina Palace.

The paintings embroidered on the ceiling and the bloodstone chandelier hanging between them were the same as last year, and the dark green curtains and flowers decorated everywhere were the same as last year. However, there was no lack of splendor as the dresses and jewels of the nobles entering the hall changed every time.

And in the middle of that splendor, there was Liddell Santella.

“Oh, Lady Santella. Every time I think you can’t be more beautiful, you always exceed my expectations.”

“I survived the past month with the thought that I could meet you today.”

“Are you really an angel’s incarnation? If that’s the case, then please do something for my heart that is tormented by you.”

All around her, as always, men who admired her with all the rhetoric and hyperbole, longed for a glimpse of her gaze and gathered around her. They quarreled fiercely with each other and would come closer to whisper one more word into Liddell’s ear.

Of course, Liddell didn’t give anyone a partial look. She always devotes equal time to interacting with them, then moves towards the people waiting for her.

“Oh, Lady Liddell! Dazzling! May I ask which artist the dress is made by?”

“Rather than the dress being beautiful, Lady Liddell is so beautiful, so the dress seems to benefit from it?”

“Oh my … The ‘Ernoa’s Eyes’, which was said to have no owner because it was too flashy, really shines on Lady Santella’s neck. They say that the famous jewel chooses its master…… I envy you, Lady.”

“Lady Santella. Long time no see. I sent you a party invitation a while ago, did you receive it? You must be busy, but it would be a great honor if you could attend.”

Although the queen of the Logos was Fabian Ardenia, the ladies, who firmly believed that the queen of the socialites was Liddell Santella, could not take their eyes, filled with envy, off of Liddell, who was always leading the way. They tried to invite Liddell to their party, which they hosted, by any bribe. She would quickly raise her chin and look around when some who pretended to be close to her called her name. Some of the people she allowed her name to were already influential in the social world.

However, Liddell showed a clear and beautiful smile to everyone without any sign of arrogance. She never looked down on anyone or listened to gossip. So, no one can imagine what she whispers to Lian with a fan covering her mouth.

“It’s tiring to answer every single story you don’t care about, right?”

“Pft! Why are you always taking care of such annoying people?”

“As the heir to the Santella family, there is nothing I can do about it. I need to extend my family lineage, but how can I live with only the people I like? Even if you don’t like it, you have to constantly be attractive to the central nobles.”

If they found out that she was thinking of such a political calculation with an innocent face, it would have been quite a sight to see.

At that time, Lian was giggling at that thought.

“Terraluave and Allendorf, Cardelia and Sharden’s Lord, Duke Kahel Luave has arrived.”

The target of the announcement was the royal family and the two dukes, only three. And people were more interested in the Duke of Luave, who is close to being a hermit, than the Duke of Santella, which they can easily meet at big parties. In fact, the reason why there are so many people at the Grand Duke’s birthday banquet is probably because of Kahel Luave, who does not miss this banquet.

Anyway, at the voice announcing Kahel’s appearance, the eyes that had only been on Liddell and Lian suddenly turned to a different direction. And there, as usual, stood Kahel Luave, dazzling from head to toe.

From all over the banquet hall, voices of astonishment began to roar.

“Oh my god…… The devil who possesses people appeared, and even dressed up, so many more will faint.”

“It’s lucky if they just faint. We have to stop those so they don’t kill themselves.”

There were people who were sarcastic like that.

“I didn’t drink the purification potion today, will it have any effect?”

“Just in case, I brought some, so drink it right away.”

There were people who were worried.

“Oh! I, I can’t, I can’t breathe! Ahh, Duke of Luave…….”

“What brings him here today? Ha…… That’s what a halo looks like.”

Some blush their faces and watch him fervently.

“Kahel is getting more and more like the ‘devil of temptation’ day by day.”

There was also Liddell Santella, who smiled meaninglessly.