Chapter 28: The Duke Who Will Die After Chapter 22
Just as we were starting to wrap up our lunch and discuss going shopping, a carriage came to a halt right in front of the cafe we were at. It wasn’t just any ordinary carriage you’d see in the streets; it was a custom-made vehicle lavishly adorned with extravagant decorations.
The rather gaudy carriage drew the attention of everyone in the cafe.
In the midst of this, I noticed that Lily had gasped, thanks to my «Ninja» Skill. A quick glance revealed her face was composed, but her fists were tightly clenched. Perhaps due to the tension, a slight sheen of sweat glistened on her neck.
Had something happened with the person inside the carriage…?
“That carriage, could it be from the Lecherie Duke House…?” Rouge murmured, eyeing the large family crest emblazoned on the side. A marquis house… no, a duke house? The similar sounds were confusing, but it was likely the latter.
Duke houses are among the highest nobility, connected to the royal family. If I recall correctly, there are three duke houses in the Kingdom of Reese… I still have much to learn. Since I’m assisting Prince Lucas, it would be wise to study up on this.
At that moment, a plump man stepped out of the Lecherie Duke’s carriage. He appeared to be in his forties, dressed entirely in white, from his vest to his trousers. Adorned with numerous flashy accessories, he seemed to flaunt his status as a powerful figure at the pinnacle of this nation.
Could this be Duke Lecherie…?
The duke walked straight toward us at the terrace seating.
All the patrons in the cafe placed their right hands over their left chests and bowed their heads. The duke was of royal blood. While kneeling wasn’t necessary, failing to bow would be considered rude. The only one permitted to keep her head up in this situation was Lily, the daughter of a marquis house.
“Ah, Lord Greed. It is a pleasure to see you,” Lily said, gracefully curtsying while holding the hem of her uniform’s skirt. Her movements were beautiful and should have been perfect.
— Crack!
A sharp sound echoed through the air. Lily pressed her left cheek with her hand, staggering slightly, and immediately shot me a glare with her emerald eyes. I had instinctively moved to intervene, but I was halted by Rouge clinging to my right arm.
When I turned to shake her off, our eyes met. Rouge looked up at me, her deep blue eyes pleading for me to stay still.
…Damn it.
This was the first time in my life, including my previous one, that I felt such intense anger. My chest ached, and I struggled to breathe. Why wasn’t Lily resisting? I found myself growing frustrated with her.
“Come! I shall treat you to a special meal!” the duke bellowed.
“I would be honored, Lord Greed,” Lily replied, being roughly pulled along as the duke turned on his heel and walked back toward the carriage.
She glanced back at us, offering a troubled smile, as if to reassure us that everything would be alright.
But as they passed, I caught a faint whisper of “I’m sorry.” The tremor in her voice and the expression on her face suggested she was on the verge of tears.
“…!”
In that instant, a distant memory from my childhood flashed back to me.
Could it be that Lily…?
Once the duke and Lily climbed into the carriage, it sped off to an unknown destination. A storm far more intense than anything with Idiot had ever conjured suddenly appeared, whisking Lily away.
“Hugh, Rouge, what about Lily…?” Lecty’s worried voice broke through, but neither Rouge nor I could respond. A battle raged within me between the urge to chase after her and the rational thought questioning what I would do if I caught up.
Eventually, as I relaxed my body, Rouge finally released her grip on my arm.
“…Sorry, Rouge. Thanks to you, I was able to calm down.”
“No, I understand how you feel,” she said, smiling gently. That alone eased my heart just a little.
Afterward, we completed only the bare minimum of shopping before returning to the academy, where we dropped Lecty off at the girls’ dormitory.
Since Lecty looked anxious, I asked Rouge to stay with her (male students are allowed in the girls’ dorm entrance), and I sat alone on a bench near the academy entrance.
I waited for Lily to return, hoping that a certain someone might pass by.
After a while, the person I had been hoping for appeared.
“Hey there! Isn’t that Hugh? What are you doing sitting on a bench like this? Waiting for a girl, perhaps? You sly dog, charming the princess while being such a naughty boy!” Alissa teased, spotting me from a distance. I responded with a wry smile.
“I was waiting for you, Alissa. The carriage was still parked.”
“Huh? For me?”
“Can you tell me about Duke Lecherie?”
“…Something happened, didn’t it?”
When I nodded, Alissa’s expression tightened as she scanned the area.
“We’re drawing too much attention here. We should change locations if we’re going to discuss this.”
“Understood.”
There was a chance I might miss Lily, but it couldn’t be helped. I decided to leave this spot with Alissa.
Author’s Note:
Rest assured, there will be no cheating developments!!!
He will die after Chapter 22.