Chapter 66

“Uhm, Duke?”

At Astel’s call, the Duke of Anais managed to awaken from reminiscence.

“Lune, it is.” (Duke) 

The Duke of Anais bit his lip.

“Yeah, it’s cool, right?” (Astel)

“That’s a very… precious name.” (Duke)

The name Astel would have given was obvious. The Duke turned his gaze again and slowly swept the child’s hair as he looked at the sleeping child.

“It fits him well.”

As he said that, he bit his lip again.

“But… aren’t you curious about my name, Astel?” (Duke)

“The Duke’s true name?” (Astel)

“Yes.”

Astel rolled her eyes curiously. It’s natural for Astel to be curious. In a close relationship, we usually call each other by our first names.

“Come to think of it, my name is Astel and this kid’s name is Lune… I don’t know the Duke’s name.” (Astel)

While muttering, Astel was startled at her words, “Oops.”

In fact, for the Duke, revealing his true name was a bit of a special problem. Because even the Emperor of the Empire doesn’t know his real name.

He was called simply Duke of Anais by everyone. Even though it’s just an inherited family name and title.

Astel also finds it crazy to that point.

“Oh, come to think of it… I made a mistake! You don’t have to tell me.” (Astel)

He swept over Astel’s forehead and whispered low, “You probably already know my name.”

Astel’s face darkened at his confident words. She looked as if she was searching for her memories. But in the end, she shook her head slightly, saying she couldn’t figure out the Duke’s name.

After a brief silence, Astel cautiously spoke, “You never really told me…” (Astel)

He cut out Astel’s words in a rare, determined tone, “I’ve told you before.” (Duke)

A question mark appeared on Astel’s face.

“So please remember.” (Duke)

“Huh…”

“As soon as possible.”

He smiled and kissed Astel’s ear briefly.  Astel whose face became a little reddish because of a low fever stared at him in bewilderment.

❅

Miles, the director of the treatment center who was selected as an outside manpower help to prepare for the swordsmanship competition, heard that Astel was sick.

News that said she was struggling with an unexpected fever, not a major illness.

As the Duke’s guardian, the Duke summoned all the healers in the castle.

‘It’s just a cold fever, and I can’t believe that much manpower is summoned just for that.’ Miles thought inwardly.

Because of that, rumors spread that she was favored by the Duke of Anais.

Since then, even beast (shapeshifters) healers, who hate humans, have not dared to talk about Astel.

As a result, it was funny that he entered the castle with the ambitious goal of ‘taking Astel’s place and becoming the best healer who is recognized by the Duke’.

Miles frowned and clenched his fist. He planned to go outside the castle for a while to see if the work he had ordered had been carried out well.

And as a result, he unexpectedly got a valuable clue.

A healer working under him at the 1st treatment center outside the  Duke’s Castle handed him a torn letter stating that Astel had left her former home.

“Oh, come to think of it, that girl has left her luggage.” (Miles)

He smiled meanly and pulled the small letter out of his pocket.

“It seems that her relationships with men are quite messy. Besides, I don’t know what her purpose is, but this seems to have conveyed war in this Duchy!”

‘I really like putting the torn pieces of paper together.’ (Miles)

There were more than one or two such contents.

Moreover, in the letter, it was also mentioned that the atmosphere of the Duchy wasn’t good, and that war seemed to prevail.

Miles crossed his arms and muttered with a sneer, “The fact that Astel is a promiscuous person and guilty of trying to leak the secrets of the Duchy. I can weave it and send it to you secretly.”

“Well, I don’t think it’s confidential…”

Miles grimaced and cut off the healer’s words.

“The Castle beasts despise humans by nature. Even the Duke of Anais will not be able to hate more!”

“Well, you’re right. Now that she’s a guardian he cherished, but aren’t humans still human anyway? If you make a small mistake, you’ll immediately be thrown away.”

As such, the beasts’ hatred of humanity was deep-rooted. If the Duke, the leader of the beasts, would have had a deep hatred for humans.

‘She’s a life saver, but if she makes a little mistake, I’m sure she’ll be thrown out.’ Miles thought to himself.

Everyone was deceived because she was acting kind and sincere right now, but if they find out that she had done something disgraceful, she’d be kicked out in no time.

‘Now, the Duke is being deceived by that promiscuous little girl.’ The look in Miles’ eyes grew ferocious.

A warning sound seemed to be ringing in the other side of his head, but to a person full of anger, he couldn’t see an inch ahead.

Miles proudly took the letter stolen from Astel’s house and went back to the Castle’s treatment center. He whispered in the ear of the youngest healer who was working diligently in the seat next to him.

“Oh, I mean. What should I do to deliver the secret letter to the Duke?”

Bang!

At that moment, no matter where he was listening, Ricardo jumped out and hit him in the head with his stiff, sinewy fist.

“What nonsense are you going to do again, you punk!” (Ricardo)

“Oh, ah, no!”

“Just by looking at it, it’s a spectacle optimized for conspiracies and lies.” (Ricardo)

“Oh, it can be! I’m a person who’s been rumored to be extraordinarily talented!”

Miles hastily curled up his tail. He thought it would be difficult to accuse the Duke through others. So he changed his method, saying that he would rather write anonymously in the comfort of his way.

‘Astel, that bastard. You’ll see!’ Miles covered his mouth with one hand and grinned insidiously.

Ricardo, who was watching Miles attentively, raised one corner of his mouth ferociously.

❅

Then, inside the Duke’s office…

Duke Anais placed the white magnolia that Astel had given him in the center of the table.

On the rosewood table, there was nothing decorated but the white magnolia, which stood out even more.

The Duke observed the white magnolia, pressing down on his proud chest. It’s the first gift from Astel.

—”The blossoms are white magnolias! The flower language also contains the words I want to say to the Duke. Look it up later!”

I was very curious and excited about what it would mean. At that moment, the door swung open with a knock.

“Your Excellency, Duke.”

“Come on in.”

The aide entered the door carefully, wiping the sweat off his forehead. It was suspicious that he was sweating and his left hand was trembling unusually. There was a letter in his hand.

“Well, that’s… I have something to report to you, Sir.”

Regardless of his sudden visit, the Duke of Anais, brooding in thought, slyly asked his aide.

“Before that.”

“Yes?”

“Do you happen to know what white magnolia means?”

The aide tilted his head at the Duke’s mysterious words.

“I’ll find out right away!”

Then, the Duke smiled, his eyes curved finely, he looked surprisingly kind and gentle.

“Yes. I’m looking forward to seeing how good it will be. By the way…” (Duke)

After that, he returned to his businesslike expression.

“What brings you here?” (Duke)

“Oh, yes, it’s a secret letter about Miss Astel. It’s a letter from the director of the treatment center where Astel previously worked.” The aide frowned as he said that.

The director of the treatment center, Miles, came to the Castle to reinforce the manpower of the swordsmanship competition not long ago.

No matter what he says, he’s only full of himself.

—’ You must show it to the Duke. Okay?!’

The position of an aide who was close to the Duke was often changed.

The Duke of Anais was such a mysterious superior that no one could easily win the Duke’s heart, so each of them left.

Therefore, the current aide had no intention of openly creating work by listening to the director of the treatment center.

However, an order came to the Duke’s mind to report anything related to Astel’s personal life without delay.

“Come here, please.”

His gaze turned to the letter in the aide’s hand. It was clear that Astel had written it, considering that the flower pattern was carefully drawn on the envelope.

Suddenly, the corners of his mouth loosened and his expression softened. The Duke leisurely received what was called the secret letter and opened it right away.

However, the momentary peace was broken as soon as the contents of the letter were read. The Duke of Anais looked down at the letter with a ghastly look in his eyes.