Chapter 201: Young Gold Duke? (1)
A peaceful holiday, a peaceful academy, and a peaceful lodging.
Being able to stay in my quarters without having to go to work was truly a blessing. I could lie down if I wanted to, and I could go to sleep if I wanted to.
“Carl, you shouldn’t stay in bed all day, even on a holiday.”
“Understood.”
Marghetta advised as she approached with a teacup in hand. As I promptly got up in response to her valuable suggestion, she smiled with satisfaction.
It indeed felt peaceful. Having someone to softly chat with made the holiday feel even more fulfilling.
“The aroma is lovely. I’m sure you’ll like it, Carl.”
Still smiling, Marghetta handed me the teacup.
The tea had a bright red hue. I didn’t have this in my room; did she bring it?
“Thank you, Mar.”
“Fufu, it’s nothing.”
This, too, was peaceful. Spending a holiday savoring new tea was truly beautiful.
Yesterday’s chaos felt like a lie. Enjoying a peaceful day like this would surely quickly lift my fatigue, allowing me to return to work in good spirits the following day.
Yes, I felt happy. Everything was peaceful. I was enjoying… myself, right?
I am not enjoying this.
The self-assurances I kept repeating to myself crumbled like a cookie dropped by a clumsy toddler.
I took a sip of the tea and glanced at Marghetta, who met my gaze with a bright, unwavering smile.
“Do you like it?”
“Oh, yes. It’s nice.”
At my response, Marghetta opened her arms wide.
I was well aware of what she meant by that, so I carefully moved closer to hug her, and she embraced me tightly in return.
“So it should be okay to accept an award like this, right?”
“Of course.”
While her words sought permission, the only response I could give was already set in stone. How could I ever deny Marghetta?
Right now, I would have to comply even if she asked me to give her a piggyback ride around the academy’s track field. That was just how it was.
As I stroked her back with all my heart, Marghetta snuggled deeply into my embrace.
“Warm.”
She murmured with a drowsy voice.
“So much that I don’t want to share you with anyone else.”
Her words almost made my hand stop, but I forced it to keep moving.
If I had stopped just then, I would’ve been in immediate hell. Even someone as inexperienced as I was in matters of the heart knew that.
“Don’t you think so, Carl?”
Ah.
Her strangely cold voice made me shut my eyes tightly.
Were there two hells?
I still had much to learn.
*
I finally got some time to myself after soothing Marghetta for several more hours.
Just like yesterday, today had been mentally exhausting. But what could I do? It was something I had to endure, like an old pair of pants you just can’t throw away.
Marghetta must have been out of sorts, too.
Thinking this led to a sigh escaping me like air from a deflated balloon.
Right, I shouldn’t feel too wronged. No matter how tough it was for me, it couldn’t be as hard as it was for Marghetta, who had to fight alone against the Mage Duchess. How difficult and painful must it have been for her?
Was she affected that much?
Thanks to that, she burst into my room first thing this morning.
I didn’t venture to the Vice President’s office; it was Marghetta who raced to my quarters. The very same Marghetta who usually wouldn’t come near unless it was urgent—like an air raid siren going off at a tea party.
“Mar?”
“Carl. Can you stay with me today?”
Only a monster would lock eyes with those desperate orbs and say no.
“Yes, Mar. I wanted to be with you, too.”
So, I accepted without hesitation.
Upon hearing those words, Marghetta’s face lit up as if she’d just won the lottery. Or maybe she was just playing it up.
I’d comprehend even if it was all just an act. Just like how during my time with Marghetta, I tried to pretend I was okay.
I’m going crazy.
I lay back down in bed since no one was watching. A frown rolled onto my face like a stray cat showing its displeasure because of an empty food bowl.
Why?
I had pondered this since last night. Why exactly was this happening?
And why me—?
I sighed deeply like an overworked office worker on a Monday morning.
It was truly unimaginable. If someone had told me this would happen just two days ago, I would’ve labeled them delusional.
But it was astonishingly real. I could hardly believe it even now, yet all signs pointed to it being as true as taxes.
Why does she like me?
The thought which was difficult to even consider completed itself in my mind as I stared blankly at the ceiling. I tried to clear my mind because it seemed like I wouldn’t be able to chill until I did.
Of course, it didn’t clear easily. Thoughts about the Mage Duchess continued dominating my mind, refusing to budge like a tenant subletting a bad apartment.
I wondered again and again if I was mistaken. Was my self-consciousness and unfounded confidence making me mistake her favor for affection?
Did it make sense for her of all people to like me?
It does.
Surprisingly, it made sense. While my heart still refused to accept this outcome, my reasoning was ringing the alarm bells like a fire drill.
I admit I was a bit clueless when it came to romance. Noticing Erich’s obliviousness in love was just proof that this body had some vested genes in ignorance.
Maybe I’m dumbfounded, but I’m not brain-dead.
Still, being slow to grasp situations due to cluelessness and the stupidity of not understanding them despite clear evidence were two separate matters.
The antics the Mage Duchess displayed at the party, Marghetta’s bizarre opposition to her… At the time, I was too busy treading lightly to notice. But now, looking back, it was such a simple puzzle to solve.
“Baby. If it’s okay with you, shall we dance together?”
Frankly, nothing else really mattered. The mere fact that the bachelorette Mage Duchess asked me to dance was proof enough to warrant a theatrical gasp.
And the moment I realized the Mage Duchess had feelings for me, a comment I’d heard long ago blazed through my mind like a firework.
“I thought we had a close relationship, but it seems like it was one-sided. It hurts.”
I never imagined that the ‘close relationship’ she referred to was actually in the context of romantic interest.
A romantic relationship unknown to one of the parties involved…
In that instant, I felt a surge of resentment toward the Mage Duchess. How could there be a romantic relationship when even the recipient of the affection wasn’t aware of it?
If I had known earlier that the Mage Duchess had feelings for me, at least I wouldn’t have been so shocked.
…Would it have made any difference?
Letting out a frustrated sigh, I scrubbed my face with my palm.
Indeed. What would have changed if I had known sooner? Even knowing how the Mage Duchess felt, it wasn’t like I would have dusted off my shoulders and proclaimed, ‘Let’s just get married!’ I probably would’ve just ducked and covered.
And the more I avoided her, the more the Mage Duchess’s patience would have been strained, like a rubber band about to snap. Eventually, it would have exploded. No woman enjoys being dodged by the guy she loves.
There’s not much time left.
My hands trembled with tension. Unfortunately, the Mage Duchess’s patience was wearing thin as the seconds ticked down like a countdown timer nearing zero.
Whether I clued in early or late didn’t change that the Mage Duchess was harboring unrequited love toward me.
“It’s a shame. I wanted to be with you.”
Right after my narrow escape at the Crown Princess’s birthday party where His Highness the Crown Prince had saved me, the Mage Duchess looked at me with genuine regret.
“Still, as His Highness said, there’s the New Year’s Ball. I guess I’ll have to wait for that day.”
The Mage Duchess wore a smile brighter than before, but deep down, it felt scarier than a moonlit night in a haunted forest.
The New Year’s Ball was a day when all the nobility gathered for celebrations.
But that festive day had now turned into the date of my doom.
Damn it.
I felt suffocated. Why on earth would the Mage Duchess like someone like me?
She was a person who had been alone for over a century, and yet she chose me, of all people, in this era.
Why would someone who seemingly had it all even look my way? Wouldn’t loving someone with a different lifespan lead to a future filled with heartache?
That was a tough nut to crack.
*
I drank heavily for the first time in a while. I couldn’t handle it otherwise.
And I had never loathed my body more than I did at this moment. I desperately wanted to down enough to reach Nirvana, but my overachieving body wouldn’t allow it.
All I could do was fan the flames of my anger with the heat of the alcohol flowing down my throat.
“Mar, are you okay?”
However, the anger I had just managed to contain bubbled up again at the sight of my precious youngest daughter.
She wore a forced smile, her eyes flickered anxiously, and her lips trembled like leaves in a breeze.
I suppose this was to be expected. I had hoped that giving her time might let her calm herself down, but perhaps expecting her to gather herself in a single day was too much to ask.
— “I’m okay, Father. I’m sorry I worried you.”
Her words felt like daggers piercing my heart. How could anyone think she was okay?
It had always been like this. Mar grew up too fast. It would be nice if she let loose a bit and leaned on others more, but instead, she always tried to solve everything by herself, like some superhero in a comic book.
They say that spoiling a child too much makes them a handful. But then, why was Mar the complete opposite?
Is it because of our surname, Valenti?
Mar knew her place rather too well. Was it because of this that she wrapped her tender heart in layers of thick armor?
However, amongst family, shouldn’t we be allowed to show our true feelings? It was somewhat disappointing. I had only seen Mar act like a carefree kid once.
“Waaah! Daddy!”
The problem was that the one time I saw it was because of that cursed wretch.
Remembering how she’d cried last year after her marriage proposal was rejected by him twisted my emotions like a pretzel.
Is it because of him again?
Because of that guy, Mar was suffering once again. They weren’t even married yet, and he was already making his future wife miserable. What kind of husband acted like that?
If he were before me right now, I would’ve pinned him down instantly. I’d bury him up to his neck and let only his head surface. Nothing would calm me down until I heard an apology.
What did he do?
Mar was his perfect match. What on earth did he do to entice the Mage Duchess?
The Mage Duchess, who had lived a lifetime alone, had taken a liking to him. If so, then the problem wasn’t with the Mage Duchess but rather him. I resolved this in my mind like a math equation.
“Mar, don’t worry too much. He has a brain; why would he turn his eyes to another woman when he has you?”
I spoke, soothing my trembling fists. Right now, comforting Mar was paramount, not seeking revenge.
“Love is not one-sided; it’s mutual. No matter who it is, they can’t meddle in your relationship.”
At these words, Mar cautiously nodded.
Fortunately, that seemed to be the right answer. It appeared she wanted words of reassurance.
“And besides, is he the only guy in the world? If he strays, that just reflects poorly on him. You can always find someone better.”
But because I felt relieved that I’d chosen the right path, I ended up rambling—
— ….
Mar silently glared at me while tears welled up in her eyes.
This was all because of that jerk.
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