Chapter 49

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Chapter 49

“No, what I want is to have tea with the employees of the Duke’s Castle.”

“…With the employees of the Duke’s castle, you say?”

“Yes. With the people of the Duke’s castle.”

The butler’s expression changed strangely, though Iellie nodded her head cleanly and explained, “I think everyone went through a lot during Zachary’s coming-of-age ceremony this time.”

“That is our duty.”

“I know. But, if you do your duty well, you may be given some compensation.”

“If it’s a reward…”

The butler made a strange face.

Because she didn’t know what the butler would think, Iellie first smiled.

“Wouldn’t it be nice to get together with people who have worked hard, drink tea and eat delicious food while resting?”

“It’s absurd. How will the future mistress of the Duchy and the employees sit together?”

As the butler frowned and shook his head, she then widened her eyes and explained to the butler.

“It is not. They are the people who will help me in the future.”

“….”

“Rather, I think I should show myself well to the castle’s employee.”

Having said that, Iellie suddenly had a worried expression on her face. She looked into the butler’s eyes and opened her lips.

“Well, I haven’t officially become a mistress yet, so am I bothering you too much?”

“What is the Little Master’s wife saying?”

However, the butler answered firmly. He made a stubborn face in front of the bewildered Iellie.

“Because the Miss is already the next mistress of the Duchy. You can do whatever you want.”

She blinked her eyes.

Whenever the people of the Duke’s Castle said something like that, she was inevitably moved.

‘The next Mistress of the Duchy…’

She heard that the butler was a very strict person. Most of the employees were people who have served the duchy for a long time, but among them, the butler was special.

It was said that the butler’s family had held the position of the Duke’s butler from generation to generation, and the current butler has served the Duke’s family for his whole life.

She felt recognized by such a person, so Iellie had no choice but to enjoy it a little.

“Thank you.”

She smiled, answering so.

The butler looked at her quietly.

‘You had a successful coming-of-age ceremony for the little master.’

In fact, Iellie and the butler were usually difficult to meet. This time, she had only met a few times for Zachary’s coming-of-age ceremony and budgeting. Inside, the butler raised his own evaluation of her.

‘At least, you seem to care more about people than authority.’

This time, Countess Laurent behaved arrogantly in many ways. Therefore, the butler thought that when the Miss said, ‘I want to drink tea together,’ of course, she would throw a fancy tea party.

She would invite the noble ladies of the north to show off that she was the next Mistress of the north. That was also her right.

‘…Because she is such a person, not only the Little Master, but the Duke also cared for her.’

In fact, after she entered the castle, the atmosphere in the castle changed to a rather mild one.

‘Because the Duke, of course, the Duke also smiles often when the Miss is by his side.’

Since he was a butler who had been serving the Duke and Zachary for a long time, therefore, he remembered well the cold atmosphere of the Duke’s Castle before Iellie came. A father who turned away from his son, and a son who lived like a doll in fear of his father…

Iellie narrowed the deep distance between the two of them.

“Well, the theme of this tea party is relaxation.”

Meanwhile, as he was thinking, she looked at the butler, her eyes twinkling.

“I don’t want the kitchen maids to work for the tea party. So, I mean…”

A lively voice tapped the butler’s ear.

She glanced at the butler and said cautiously, “…I want to bring tea food from Cafe Laurent. Will that cost a lot?”

“The next mistress of Hessenweitz doesn’t have to worry about spending that money at all.”

As The butler said so in a calm voice, she smiled broadly again.

It was a smile like sunlight.

“Thank you. Most of what I have to tell you is over, so I’ll just go back.”

“Take care, miss.”

The butler got up from his seat and opened the door with a polite gesture. At least, the butler’s attitude seeing Iellie was full of respect. She thought as she stepped into the hallway with a happy face.

‘If I invite Zachary and the Duke to this tea party… Can they both attend?’

If that were the case, wouldn’t the relationship between the two father and mother growling like dogs and cats would be even a little more harmonious? She had a little hope. If they were invited to a tea party, what would they do?

‘I’ll try to ask it to the Duke first, and ask Zachary later.’

It was better to have a tactic with the Duke with a relatively high probability of rejection. Iellie made a determined expression.

‘If you’re going to do it, you have to do it right. There might be a new tea party going on in the future.’

As a practice and tea party plan, she vowed to make an invitation one by one.

Zachary took a deep breath and knocked on the Duke’s office door. As always, a calm answer came back.

“Come in.”

Click.

The door opened. Fortunately or unfortunately, the Duke was in his office. The Duke, who was sorting out the papers for a while, secretly hid the medicine bottle on his desk.

He pretended to be okay and asked a question.

“Zachary. What are you doing here?”

“….”

Zachary bit his lips for a moment. Looking back at his son, who was frozen, the Duke narrowed his brow and asked again.

“Your face is pale. Did you see a ghost?”

“…Father.”

“Why?”

As always, the Duke looked as if not a single needle would go in.

Zachary sighed.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

A smooth answer was returned. Zachary bit his lip, chewing and spitting out each syllable.

“Even if you died right away, it wouldn’t be strange.”

“….”

Normally, the Duke would have replied with a cold answer, though this time, he didn’t. The Duke rarely chose to remain silent.

Zachary’s voice, who had been trying to pretend to be calm, slowly began to carry all kinds of emotions.

“Did father plan to hide your illness until the end?”

“Of course, if I can.”

“Father…!”

As he raised his voice, the Duke furrowed his eyebrows at his son. However, Zachary did not lower his voice.

“How could you do that!”

“What?”

The Duke calmly asked Zachary. The calm question stopped him from speaking.

“Even if I report my illness to the outside, nothing gets better.”

“Father, for God’s sake!”

He yelled. Nevertheless, the Duke’s face was still as neat as it is made of ice.

“If the Imperial Family find out that the Duke of Hessenweitz is ill, you know what will happen?”

“Don’t you know that it’s not what I’m talking about!”

“Zachary.”

The Duke opened his mouth with still eyes. The old hatred was thinly diluted, and the voice was still.

“All I want is your safe succession to the title and a quiet death after you’ve got it all sorted out.”

“However…!”

“To be honest, I want you to take over the title right now, and I want to step back, but…”

Saying so, the Duke muffled his speech. It was an attitude as if choosing what to say. After a while, he continued his explanation softly.

“At this point, if I succeed you in the title, the people, including the Imperial Family, will be suspicious.”

The Duke, as always, had a calm attitude.

Zachary stood frozen there and stared at his father.

“Because I’m fine on the outside, I’m hiding that I have a disease.”

“….”

“Besides, you have the power of the silver dragon. When I hand you the title, they will definitely attack that point.”

It was a fact that both father and son both knew, but had not spoken.

The Duke continued, “They would argue that there are too many dangerous factors for you to assume the title of Duke.”

“…I—”

Zachary stuttered his mouth.

Heirs who were not good enough to earn the title… No matter how hard he tried, he used the power of a monster to protect the Duchy.

…Still, it was no use.

Eventually, the Duke added his words in a calm voice.

“So, we are waiting for the right time. The best time for you to inherit the title.”

“…Father?”

“Whatever my feelings toward you, no one will inherit the throne of Hessenweitz but you.”

Zachary stared blankly at the Duke, as he gave his son a rare open smile and added his words.

“Didn’t I already tell you before? I want a quiet death.”

“….”

“Adelaide is dead, anyway. From the time this disease appeared to me.”

The Duke’s blue eyes scanned his son’s gorgeous features. He tilted his head obliquely and said.

“My life didn’t mean much.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“My wife had gone first, so I wouldn’t be so happy even if I lived a long time.”

Contrary to Zachary’s chewing words, the Duke’s tone was light, as if he was having a normal conversation.

“Sometimes, I wonder if this illness is the punishment from Adel… There are times when I think so.”

“….”

Zachary took a breath. It was the first time the Duke had revealed his true feelings like this. The Duke, who always wore a cold attitude like a shield, spoke honestly for the first time.

“That, that…”

“I know it’s a stupid idea, but I was rather happy when this disease broke out.”

The Duke muttered with a sigh. He raised his hands and pressed his tired eyes tightly, and continued his words straight away.

“I thought this illness was at least an apology to Adel.”

“…Father.”

“If I ever see her again… This time, I think I will be able to apologize to her.”

Having said that, the Duke lowered his hands and faced his son. Zachary was staring blankly at him. It was the first time he was making that kind of expression towards the Duke without hatred.

“I’m not going to die right now, so don’t make a shocked face like that.”

The Duke chuckled. That laugh calmed Zachary a little, and he asked.

“Well. How long are you going to hide it from Iellie?

“Well… Until I die?”

Zachary was now at a loss for words.

However, a knock was heard.

Knock, knock.

Zachary walked nervously to the door. When he opened the door to the sudden sound, Iellie was standing there.

“Len?”

Iellie narrowed her eyes and entered the office one step at a time. She asked a question.

“What’s going on? Are you two fighting?”

“We’re not…”

“There was only a brief disagreement. No need to worry.”

The two father-and-son hurriedly opened their mouths. Anyway, not wanting to make her worry was a rare compromise between two men who always fight emotionally.

The Duke narrowed his brow and spoke first.

“So, what’s going on here?”

“No, just…”

Iellie glanced at the two’s expressions. Fortunately, both of them don’t seem to be angry.

“I heard that Zachary is here. And I was wondering about the Duke’s health…”

“My body is fine.”

The Duke lied without blinking an eye. Zachary made a surprised face for a moment, though the Duke just stared at his son gently as if to agree with him.

Zachary then spoke as he was furrowing his eyebrows.

“Yes, he’s been coughing quite a bit less than before.”

“Really? That’s a relief, Duke.”

Iellie smiled brightly as if she was feeling a little relieved then. Afterward, she told the Duke little by little.

“Still, you have to take your medicine and have your doctor always with you. All right?”

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