The Devilish Duke Can’t Sleep

That’s right. What could it be

Arder, who knew well that if the two people had mutual affection for each other, the one who would be hurt in the end, would be Lena, even though he was reluctant to think like that. Of course, it was Kahel who mattered more to him, and he would do anything to help her, but it broke his heart to imagine the innocent country girl grieving for her unfulfilled love.

And on the other hand, he was still bothered about Lena’s identity, which is still unknown. She looked like she was Baron Fidelia’s illegitimate child, but he still couldn’t figure out what was causing the devilish powers to not work. Considering that Lena’s approach to Kahel was something to be concerned about, he couldn’t help but hope that the two would get closer.

Arder just watched the time when Kahel and Lena were getting closer to each other, without doing this or that.

Not knowing what Arder was thinking, Kahel was preparing to go out after a long time.

“Does Lord Kahel need to go?”

Gerard, who stopped by the Duke’s residence after a long time, asked with a dissatisfied face. He made an appointment in advance and brought a bunch of documents to be approved, but he seemed impatient when he heard that he should just leave them.

“Luahalla said he wanted to discuss plans for the interior of the building. Furthermore, I have to show that I am supporting Luahalla.”

“Then I will go, too. I still cannot fully trust the Marquis of Rognac.”

Count Gerard Langtail was one of the few people who were close to Kahel, who was able to fully prepare for his devilish nature thanks to meeting him about six years after Kahel’s devilish manifestation. Only four years older than Kahel, he also inherited the county before he was 20, so there was a kind of camaraderie between the two that had to lead the family at an early age.

He was mostly a loyal servant and entourage, occasionally friends to exchange jokes with leading the young blood of the black faction nobles, and attending as deputy of Duke Luave when Kahel was busy.

He was close to Kahel to that extent, so in the social world the one that was referred to as a ‘close friend of Duke Luave’ was usually referring to Gerard. Maybe that’s why Gerard didn’t seem to like Luahalla, who was newly awarded the title of ‘friend of Duke Luave’.

“Do whatever you feel like. However, don’t go ahead and provoke Luahalla or do anything unsavory for nothing. We are going through a very sensitive time in business right now.”

“I will never do anything to trouble Lord Kahel. I just want to examine the character of the Marquis of Rognac. Then…… Are you going to leave right now?”

“Just a second.”

 

Kahel finished reading the document he was checking and rang the bell calling for Lena. Then Lena, who was waiting in the next room, appeared quickly.

“Did you call me, Your Excellency?”

“Well. Prepare to go out. I suggest you bring a hooded robe, and wear a robe that covers your face.”

“Am I leaving too?”

“You’ve never looked outside since coming here, have you?”

At those words, Lena couldn’t hide her anticipatory expression. She was brought to this mansion to die, as Kahel said, and she never went out of it. Lena’s heart which had been curious about the world outside Kerouac since she was a child, began to pound

“There won’t be a lot of attending work when going out, so all you have to do is follow me diligently.”

“Yes…… ! I will prepare myself right away.”

Lena was excited and headed to Kahel’s dressing room, and Gerard, who watched and listened to their conversation, looked at Kahel with wide-open eyes which appeared to be asking for an explanation.

“Why are you doing that?”

“Why am I doing this? Now, why did you ask that? No…… Would you mind explaining it to me first?”

“What?”

“What! That maid!”

“Ah…….”

Kahel’s reaction was truly carefree. Gerard immediately doubted whether the door he had just opened and entered was a door to another world.

 

Who is Kahel Luave? The cursed duke who suffered constantly from tragedy and cannot have anyone next to him. It’s already been 16 years. But while he hasn’t seen Kahel for a while, he’s now been taken care of by a maid so calmly…….

“Is that maid too, perhaps, a knight with aura?”

“No. She’s very mediocre.”

“Then, is she the one who inherited the blood of Luave or Santella?”

“I wondered if she was an illegitimate child of the Santella, but these days, it doesn’t seem like that.”

“Neither this nor that! What the hell is it, then?”

“That’s right. What could it be?”

Gerard took a deep breath, suppressing the rushing rage.

Kahel was a really smart and capable person, but when he twirls his horse like this without giving him the answer he wants, he really wants to hit him. But he can’t, so he has to be patient.

“Are you trying to see me lose my breath?”

Then Kahel smiled and gave him the answer he wanted.

“I’m sure you’ve seen her before. She had been taken in place of the daughter of Baron Fidelia, and she was his illegitimate daughter. For some reason, she’s no response to the devilish power. But in the Barony, she used to work as a maid or something. Do I have to miss out on such good fortune when I couldn’t have a single attendant in the Duchy overflowing with workers?”

“Not reacting…… to the devilish……?”

“Yes. Not at all. She has no reaction to my appearance as well as my devilish power.”

Gerard’s expression became more worth seeing.

“How the hell…… !”

“That’s it.”

“Aren’t you going to ask the temple?”

“You still don’t know whose breath touches the temple?”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

After all, the temple was the power of the Santella family. If there was news that an ordinary person appeared there, who did not react to Duke Luave’s devilish powers, it was obvious that that person would immediately flow into the Santella.

“You still don’t know the cause of the devilish power not working, so can you leave her by your side like this?”

“She may have other powers other than those that protect her from being affected with the devilish powers, but if you put her in an invisible place, you know what will happen. Rather, it is more comfortable to have her by my side.”

Gerard nodded his head. As he said, it would have been better to have her serve Kahel as a maid and to keep watch.

“If possible, I don’t want the Santella or the royal family to know. I don’t think I’ll be able to hide Lena’s existence forever, but anyway, keep quiet around her for the time being. Don’t even talk about the devilish story in front of Lena.”

“I…… will, but…… Then, why do you want her to accompany you while we go out?”

At Gerard’s sharp question, Kahel avoided his gaze. In fact, Gerard was right. In the meantime, he tried not to have her be seen by other people whenever possible. However, the more he became accustomed to Lena’s service, the more comfortable he became with Lena, the stronger he wanted to be with Lena wherever he went.

When nobles went out, it was natural for the attendants to follow them, so he wanted to argue that he was also doing it for granted. When he goes out, his cloak may become heavy, he may suddenly feel thirsty, or he may have to run an errand. So he needed a maid.

But when Gerard said that, the words he thought before became nonsense. So, he was thinking about what to say so that the stingy Gerard wouldn’t nitpick, but Gerard opened his mouth first.

“Well, have you been feeling uncomfortable all this time? It is only natural for Lord Kahel to be accompanied by an attendant, but there is no need to tremble because you are afraid of other people’s eyes. Who cares if someone knows! Do you think they’ll just take the maid away and leave us alone? Don’t worry!”

Hearing those words, Kahel’s mind flashed.

Yes. He is Kahel Luave. He is the head of the black faction nobles and the protector of the half of the country. He submits to the power of the queen, but even the queen cannot be careless to him. Why would he have to worry that he would lose one maid. If she is not taken away, that is enough.

It was the first time he had such a rare and precious thing, so he guessed he was afraid without even knowing it. It was laughable to forget that no one dared to take away Kahel Luave’s.

“Yes…… That’s right.”

A twinkle flashed in Kahel’s eyes. The feelings of possessiveness and monopoly suddenly appeared within him, but he didn’t even know they were possessiveness and monopoly. It was the first time he had ever felt this feeling since he was born, so he couldn’t figure it out.

Meanwhile, Lena returned with her and Kahel’s robes.

“I prepared a black robe. What do you think?”

In anticipation of her going outside, her violet eyes twinkling, Lena with a lovely blush on her cheeks, took deep breaths at how hastily she was…….

Kahel smiled happily and said, ”It’s okay.” Gerard, who was opposite him, felt as if he was about to lose his mind at seeing Kahel’s expression for the first time.

‘That’s the guy I know……?’

However, Kahel, not paying attention to Gerard’s confused situation, draped the robe over his shoulder, and immediately ordered departure.

“Do…… Do I get on in this carriage?”

In front was a black aesthetically pleasing carriage that was incomparably beautiful and sturdy compared to the carriage she rode on when she was escorted to Ardennes, Lena was unaware of what to do. Then Kahel, who had got up first and was waiting for her to enter, got off again.

“It must be a bit high for a lady to ride without an escort.”

“Ah, ah, no! Even by myself, I can climb! I can go up…… excuse me…….”

Lena looked desperately towards Arder and sent him a request for help. However, Arder, who wanted Lena to be closer, secretly encouraged Kahel.

“Since there is no woman in the mansion, it seems that the step is a little high. It must be difficult for Lena to get in alone.”

That couldn’t have happened. The carriage was large, but not too high to climb, and the footsteps were straight in place. But Lena, who thought Arder’s words were the law, soon just thought, ‘It must be difficult for noble girls to climb a step that high because their dresses are heavy.’

The problem with her was that she wasn’t a noble lady. How could she dare to get on a carriage while being escorted by the master on a subject that she was nothing more than a maid? And Gerard must have had the same thoughts as Lena. It’s because his expression was so absurd.

But Kahel didn’t mind the embarrassment of the two.

“There is no time, Lena. Now, hold my hand and hold the skirt with the other hand.”

At Kahel’s words that there was no time, Lena was embarrassed and said, “oh no no,” but in the end, she had no choice but to grab his hand and get on the wagon.

Gerard’s eyes, wondering how this could possibly happen, made him break into cold sweat.