The Devilish Duke Can’t Sleep

First friend I made

“She approached you like a thieving cat. What did she say?”

“She wanted to apologize for Miss Elliot for slapping me on the cheek at the last tea party.”

“You don’t believe that word straight away, do you?”

“I thought it would be a greeting. I heard that the intention of bringing Miss Elliot that day was not very good. Rather than calling me to apologize…… It seemed like she was trying to figure out who I was.”

“That is correct. Miss Lena, as I was thinking from a while ago, you are very noble.”

“It sounds kind of like an insult.”

“It’s not an insult, but it’s not a good thing either. You’re definitely noble enough to understand that.”

Lena glanced at Gerard once more and shook her head.

In the meantime, the performances stopped for a while, and people chatted over champagne or tea. And a young girl from the other side who had been glancing at Lena sneaked up to her and spoke to her timidly.

 

“Hi, hello, how are you? My name is Leslie Peregrine. Uh, it’s, it’s been a while since my father got the title, so this is my socialite debut. May, maybe…… If you need a friend…… No, of course you don’t need it, but…….”

She was a pretty girl with blush-colored hair, white skin with freckles, and green eyes. However, her speaking to Lena in the first place was all the courage she could muster, she couldn’t even meet Lena’s eyes, her face turned red, and her two hands were clutching the handkerchief. Lena seemed to know how courageous she had been to approach her.

“Hello? My name is Lena Belrose.”

So she spoke softly to her, but behind her, Gerard spoke in a harshly stern voice.

“Lady Baronet Peregrine. I understand what you meant to say, but I don’t think it’s a very good way to find common ground just by saying that you’ve just been given the title.”

Then, the young lady named Leslie was startled and immediately lowered her head.

“I’m, I’m sorry. I’m still…… still poor in etiquette and I made a big mistake. Please forgive me.”

Lena frowned again at Gerard. But Gerard’s eyes were sharper than ever. He looked carefully at Leslie and nodded his head to Lena. He seemed to mean it was okay to talk to her, but Lena even thought that she didn’t want to be a noble if everything was like that.

“Raise your head, Miss Peregrine. There are many things I don’t know either. Count Langtail probably warned us both not to make mistakes elsewhere.”

Leslie slowly raised her head at Lena’s friendly voice. But she was pitiful, like a terrified puppy who kept looking at Gerard.

“How did Baronet Peregrine receive the title?”

“Ah, my father worked as a servant in the Royal Palace for a long time, but he recently became the second prince’s last servant.”

“Oh, I see. So, has Miss Peregrine been to the Palace? It’s my first time, so everything is awkward.”

“I haven’t been here often, only a few times to deliver my father’s items through the back door where the servants come and go…….”

Lena liked Leslie. Now, Leslie has shrunk due to Gerard’s glares, but her original personality seemed to be cheerful and playful. A glimpse of vitality in her vivid eyes spoke of it.

“Count Langtail. Can I have a cup of tea with Miss Peregrine?”

“Sure. Instead, use the table you see over there. You must not get out of my sight.”

It could be seen as surveillance, but Lena understood Gerard’s concerns. Because she also wanted a place where Gerard could come to help when she was surrounded by people like before.

Lena sat down with Leslie at the table Gerard had pointed to, and she drank tea served by the palace servant. Lena smiled playfully, and Leslie then loosened her shrugged shoulders as if she had relaxed a bit.

“Actually, I haven’t talked to anyone since I came here. I’m a daughter of a low-ranking noble whose name people don’t know, because people don’t care. So, to be honest, I was thinking about whether Baronet Belrose might be in the same situation as me, but I made a huge mistake.”

Leslie was mistaken that Gerard had caused Lena to be surrounded by people. She was unaware of the speciality of Kahel’s close maid position, and she simply assumed that Lena had been granted a title for reasons similar to her father’s.

“Before, Count Langtail was a little too much. He probably meant more to crack down on me than Miss Peregrine. And if you don’t mind, please call me by my name. Actually, the name Belrose is very awkward.”

There, Leslie smiled and nodded her head.

“Actually, I get goosebumps every time I hear that I am Miss Peregrine. Please call me Leslie.”

The two, who gave each other their names, enjoyed sharing small stories like other young ladies. It was a little awkward and embarrassing for her to be with a socialite friend she met for the first time, but it did not make her feel lonely in this spacious banquet hall.

Kahel was watching Lena from afar. Gerard, standing beside him, reported in a low voice about Leslie and her father, Baronet Peregrine.

“It is said that he had recently ascended to the rank of Servant of His Highness Rudein for his contribution by throwing his whole body when His Highness Rudein was nearly injured by a fall. He is in his early 50’s. His family includes a wife, two sons and a daughter. That daughter is Miss Leslie Peregrine over there. I haven’t been able to find out more about the daughter. I’ll find out when we get back today.”

“How did you see her?”

“I do not know. She was naive and timid, but she didn’t seem timid by nature. Now that she is talking to Miss Lena, she seems to be on the lively side.”

“As Lena’s first socialite friend, her status is too low. I’m sure there will be flies sticking around that Lady. And humans are weak to temptation…….”

“I will keep an eye on it.”

Gerard nodded his head lightly and looked around the banquet hall. Because Kahel was next to Lena earlier and gave a harsh gaze around, people couldn’t approach Lena prematurely even with their curiosity full. Leslie was rather unaware of such a situation, so she could approach Lena boldly, but the people thought that Leslie was a special someone and threw curious gazes at her as well. So, after Leslie and Lena’s chatter ended, people would approach Leslie, who was a little more friendly, and ask about how Lena was.

However, it was not possible to crack down on Lena’s relationship one by one. Lena is not a sinner, but to live next to Kahel on a leash is just too much.

“Well, Lena is surprisingly formidable, so she won’t be swept away by troublesome things.”

“That’s something you don’t know. If things go awry, even the smartest person can get caught in a trap.”

If she had been just a maid, he wouldn’t have cared so much about her. However, he could not even discover the identity of Lena’s unique constitution, and he was careful about everything now that he had special feelings for Lena. Because there are plenty of people who will use Lena to point a knife at his neck even if it’s just a little mistake.

Kahel sighed, considering that he was going too far by stamping Lena as his.

But he couldn’t be distracted by Lena’s situation.

“Long time no see, Sir Kahel”

“It’s been a while, Sir Luahalla.”

After visiting Hildebrunn for a while, Luahalla greeted the Queen, then went straight to Kahel and pretended to say hello to him. But the real story they shared wasn’t a small greeting.

“The old nobles in Hildebrunn have turned their hearts to me. It’s not because I’m good at it, but because my brother is so bad.”

“There hasn’t been a chance to show Sir Luahalla’s abilities yet. It will happen soon, though.”

“Even my brother is not the type of person to sit still. He seems to be up to something lately, but I don’t know what it is.”

Kahel’s gaze turned to Luahalla.

“How did you know he was up to something?”

“Did I ever tell you that my brother is a person with a strong desire to show off?”

“No, but I can only imagine.”

Luahalla smiled and drank the champagne. His brother did indeed have many shortcomings, one of which was that he lived only with his mouth. If he wants to earn the trust and respect of people with real influence, he has to show it as a result, but he always jeopardizes the future as a collateral. Ragdrill’s shortcomings were soon to be Luahalla’s gains.

“My brother recently suddenly gave strength to his shoulder and went around. And he keeps saying things like, ‘Let’s see how long you can say such a cheeky thing’ to the servants who give advice, or ‘You’ll regret it soon.’..… As if something would happen soon.”

“I am so glad that he is our enemy. It’s because he’s so light-mouthed before an important event…….”

 

“I am ashamed of everything, but it is certainly fortunate from our point of view. So, I’m sure he must be preparing something. I have planted people all over the Palace, so please look forward to the news from there.”

The solidarity between the two was getting stronger day by day. Luahalla was slowly gathering troops, money, and people to defeat Ragdrill. Since it was already decided a long time ago who holds the Crown Prince position, there were many people who felt reluctant to deprive him of that position, regardless of Ragdrill’s incompetence. However, due to Ragdrill’s nature, he will make mistakes at any time. Luahalla was waiting for that moment.

“Soon, I will send you the necessary funds for the work you are doing. I don’t know what Ragdrill will do, but this could be a chance.”

“Thank you.”

The two secretly clinked their champagne glasses.

* * *

It was around evening when they returned to the mansion after the banquet. Kahel told her to rest because she must be tired, but Lena immediately changed into her maid’s uniform and prepared Kahel’s dinner. Having a meal together and a cup of tea in his office, Kahel asked Lena how she felt attending the banquet.

“I was out of my mind. The only person I could remember today was Miss Leslie Peregrine. Actually, I was a little scared of people talking to me…….”

“You will get used to it. If you want, you can reject all invitations.”

Kahel would rather have Lena not go out anywhere. Especially when he thinks of the men who flirted with Lena. Today, only the light-hearted guys showed up, but it was clear that as the number of attendees increased in the future, more and more men would seriously approach Lena.