The Murderous Duke's Domestic Affairs - Chapter 16

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 16
Yes. Has it already come to this? I suppose it was inevitable, yet irritation still crept in. I leaned back deeply into my chair. The worn office seat didn’t cradle my body nearly as comfortably as the long chair where I spent most of my time. In truth, I’d never found a moment of comfort sitting in this chair.
They say misfortunes never come alone. I tried to suppress a sigh, but it proved futile. The sigh that escaped was followed by a hollow laugh.
What I held in my hand was an invitation to a ball at the Imperial Palace—accompanied by a handwritten card from the Emperor himself, expressing his desire to see the Duchess.
I had no desire to visit the Imperial Palace if I could help it. The memories left there were far from pleasant. A banquet the Emperor had deliberately summoned me to. Whispered voices directed at me, gazes that looked upon me with distaste. The heavy atmosphere of that day when I received orders to take the field—all of it came rushing back like a nightmare, crushing me beneath its weight.
Not a single moment had ever been comfortable about holding the title of Duke either.
If only I had graduated from the Military Academy as planned and become an officer instead. I might have felt some sorrow if the family fell, but I wouldn’t have regretted it much. After all, the family name had no place in what I would build. I raised my hand to rub my eyes. It was better to set aside such useless thoughts. Thinking about it wouldn’t change anything. The deed was done, and it was I who now bore the title of Duke.
Suddenly, my breath caught in my throat. I thought this symptom had vanished long ago. Even on that battlefield where there was nothing but flashing blades, blood, and screams, this had never happened. Perhaps it was because I felt that place was where I belonged. In the end, I pushed myself up from the chair. I retrieved a bottle of liquor from the cabinet, poured it into a glass, and settled onto the long chair.
Yes, this is far more comfortable than the Duke’s office chair. I took a sip of the drink, propped my legs up on the chair, and reclined halfway. No one would be coming to the office today anyway, so it should be fine. Because of the invitation from the Imperial Court, my mind kept wandering to useless thoughts. I shook my head to dispel the idle musings from my mind. It seemed better to think of something at least somewhat useful.
After the newspaper article was published, I called Jasmine Aloria to have formal attire prepared. I had hesitated about whether such measures were necessary, but Lauren assured me it would be wise to do so. As if she had anticipated this invitation would arrive. She was right in the end. A man so changed by love for his wife that he’d even held a secret wedding ceremony couldn’t possibly show up in hastily thrown-together shirts like before.
I pulled back my own hair. I had known for a very long time that people took interest in my background as the Duke’s son and my appearance. When I was a Military Academy cadet, my mailbox would overflow with letters after I participated in inter-school athletic competitions. But I had never paid much attention to such things.
After I inherited the Duke’s title, I could no longer pretend not to notice. However, given my circumstances, I had never entertained the idea of courting or marrying anyone. My marriage to Lauren was, well, something like an accident.
Though I call it an accident, she has been nothing short of unexpected fortune for me. I do think it fortunate that I didn’t let her slip away. Just as Lauren had been confident, she truly was capable. The work that Letti and I could barely maintain on our own began to take shape once Lauren took the lead. And she even became an excellent mentor. Now I find myself unwilling to let her go.
As I stroked my chin, I realized I was smiling. I couldn’t understand why I was smiling. I deliberately frowned. The smile naturally twisted into a bitter one.
In any case, I needed to speak with Lauren. About Delania Siaz, her sister. And about this invitation from the Imperial Palace.
I hadn’t done anything, yet I felt inexplicably tired. I drained the remaining liquor from the glass, leaned my head against the back of the chair, and closed my eyes. It was best to get whatever sleep I could when the opportunity arose. Because of insomnia, that old nemesis which had always lingered by my side, I wouldn’t be able to sleep long anyway.
* * *
“…Good morning.”
Morning. Lauren entered the office as usual, greeting me with a smile that seemed slightly awkward. Yes, I answered briefly. Seeing that I appeared unbothered, she felt relieved instead.
“Letti’s leave seems to be extending quite long.”
“It can’t be helped if he’s going to visit the Academy of Arts.”
“The Academy of Arts? The one in the eastern region?”
Lauren’s eyes widened at the unexpected place name. He jokes and acts affably, but looking at him closely, Letti also seems like someone who was born a soldier. Yet the Academy of Arts? Of course, being a soldier doesn’t mean one must abstain from music or art, but Letti, who seems to know only how to arrange things neatly, going to the Academy of Arts? It hardly seems fitting.
Lauren wasn’t entirely uninterested in the arts either. Though she hadn’t attended a boarding school like other noble ladies, the teacher at the village school she attended was devoted to teaching art and music alongside language and mathematics. Lauren had learned the basics as well, but abandoned it as it didn’t suit her aptitude. After all, such things are a matter of talent.
Still, she thought it far better than never having learned at all. It had cultivated in her the ability to appreciate a painting or marvel at music. Though her own skill never progressed beyond humming when cheerful or doodling when bored.
But Letti was different.
Lauren glanced at the empty adjutant’s desk. The neatly organized surface seemed to reflect his meticulous nature. Even just looking at the documents he organized, one could see it at a glance. But it was difficult to imagine him decorating something or singing. Unlike Lauren, who would doodle on paper out of boredom during lessons or hum when in good spirits, he did neither. Yet, the Academy of Arts?
“You seem quite interested in Letti.”
As Lauren tilted her head in confusion, a low voice seeped into her ear. Startled, she quickly covered her ear and turned around, only to find Aster had moved right beside her.
“No, you startled me…”
Aster didn’t respond to her words. Instead, he folded his arms and let out a small laugh. Was it just her imagination that his twisted smile looked fierce? Lauren pressed down on her racing heart and let out a small sigh.
“It’s not like that. I was just curious because someone who’s always been here is suddenly absent.”
“Well, never mind. Sit down for now. I have much to discuss today.”
With that, he walked over and flopped down onto his usual long chair. He rang the bell on the corner of the table to summon Calvin. In response to his summons, the capable butler of the estate brought a tea set. Unusually, coffee was placed before him instead. Lauren’s eyes widened at the sight of the dark liquid.
Coffee. It was imported from across the sea and quite expensive—something she had never even dreamed of drinking at the Marquis Estate. So one could drink it at the Duke’s Mansion. Perhaps next time she’d request that instead of tea. She must have been staring too intently at the cup before Aster. Noticing her gaze, he smiled softly.
“This conversation will take a while.”
Lauren nodded. He was probably going to talk about Delania. Aster had said she could speak whenever she wished, but she had already heard from Calvin that she’d been invited to a dinner tomorrow. He had bowed deeply and apologized, saying he wouldn’t have let her into the mansion had he known she would suffer so much.
Lauren had stopped him, saying it was fine. She herself hadn’t expected Delania to come looking for her, so how could Calvin have known? It wasn’t his fault. If anything, it was her own fault for publishing her article prominently on the front page of the newspaper without considering that the people of House of Siaz would see it.
Still, thanks to Aster being by my side yesterday, I was able to sleep soundly without idle worries. After hearing the story from Calvin and having breakfast, I had sorted through my thoughts to some degree. So I was ready to discuss it all. Lauren lifted her eyes from the teacup and met Aster’s deep green gaze directly. It was a signal that she was ready to speak and listen.
But contrary to her expectation, what he placed on the table before her was a single letter envelope. Lauren tilted her head in confusion and looked down at it. The envelope, with its edges cut delicately like lace, bore a red seal mixed with gold dust. Her eyes narrowed as she gazed at the seal, and she let out a small sound.
“Am I allowed to look at this?”
Lauren’s reaction—furrowing her brow as she stared at the envelope—mirrored my own so perfectly that I nearly laughed. Did she dislike the Imperial Court as much as I did? I suppressed the smile that threatened to escape, sensing an unexpected kinship between us. Lauren asked Aster for permission to open it, and he nodded while bringing his coffee cup to his lips. We needed to discuss this together, and she had to read it first.
Lauren pressed her lips together and opened the envelope. Since I’d already broken the seal, she didn’t need a letter opener. After carefully reading the two cards inside, she exhaled slowly and returned them to the envelope.
“This is important.”
An invitation to an Imperial Court ball. It naturally took precedence over matters like Delania. The date was two weeks away. Was that a long preparation period or a short one? I’d never attended a ball before, so I had no idea what to prepare. Fortunately, I’d already commissioned Jasmine to have Aster’s formal wear and my evening gown tailored in advance.
“This is serious.”
“What?”
“At a ball, people dance, don’t they? I don’t know how to dance. I’ve never been to such events before…”
Lauren had given up on entering society. Of course, she’d never attended a ball and had no intention of doing so. She much preferred spending that time reading a book or reviewing another document. Her parents understood this and never pressured her to attend social gatherings. But now, a ball invitation had arrived.
The only dance Lauren had ever learned was the village festival dance from her childhood school days. Her wavering periwinkle eyes turned toward Aster. She despised appearing before others, especially to stumble through a dance she didn’t know and humiliate herself. The mere thought made her feel faint.
“Are you athletic, Lauren?”
Aster set his coffee cup back on its saucer and asked her. Though she wondered why he’d ask such a thing, Lauren answered honestly.
“I was good at running when I was younger, I think. Why?”
“The Military Academy teaches dancing as part of an officer’s education.”
I see. So Aster knew how to dance. And what was he getting at? I didn’t think he was bragging.
“Would you like me to teach you?”
Aster smiled at her with a subtle warmth. Lauren could only stare at him with wide eyes.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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