The Murderous Duke's Domestic Affairs - Chapter 58

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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 58
Aster Veil Lilywood had begun preparing for his departure. He mentioned stopping by the Knight Order to inspect their training status. It was an event held once every three months, and I’d wondered if he’d be staying for several days, but apparently that wasn’t the case. When I asked Aster Veil Lilywood if it was even possible to inspect the entire Knight Order in a single day, he simply laughed with a soft chuckle.
“The Knight Order, while called such, isn’t particularly large. Most of the soldiers I commanded during the war were commoners who left to return to their own lives. So…”
“What’s wrong with people living their own lives?”
Aster Veil Lilywood cut off Letti Torres’s words. His tone was cold and sharp. Letti Torres laughed awkwardly with a forced smile. Lauren observed Aster Veil Lilywood quietly. In moments like these, his way of thinking seemed somewhat similar to hers.
Though a war hero, Aster Veil Lilywood didn’t particularly enjoy fighting. One could tell just by watching him drink alcohol. The way he drank with a displeased expression was surely to forget his memories from the battlefield. Just like the soldiers who had come to recuperate at the Siaz Territory.
“They fought to survive, after all.”
I agreed with his sentiment. It might sound strange, but ultimately, people took to the battlefield to survive. Many dreamed more of the rewards they would receive than of their fears. Even during wars where lives hung in the balance, and even after the wars ended leaving deep scars, that promise of reward continued to drive people forward.
“…That’s true enough.”
Letti Torres replied quietly. His brow furrowed noticeably. Likely, all three of us were thinking the same thing right now. About how, after the war ended, we’d nearly failed to receive proper recognition for our accomplishments.
Fortunately, Lauren’s Father had made efforts on our behalf, allowing Aster Veil Lilywood’s unit to receive proper credit for their deeds. It seemed Letti Torres, despite his commoner origins, had been recognized for his service as Aster Veil Lilywood’s adjutant and received the title of Baron. It was truly a fortunate outcome. I felt a renewed sense of pride in my Father.
“It won’t take long.”
Aster Veil Lilywood turned his body toward me and added, while pulling on his gloves, that he would return before the day was through. The Lilywood Knights were currently stationed in the outskirts of the Capital, he’d said. If that were the case, he could have easily stayed the night, but it seemed he didn’t wish to. He must be exhausted. I watched Aster Veil Lilywood with concerned eyes, but he merely lifted the corners of his mouth slightly in response.
As he fastened the buttons on his black leather gloves, Aster Veil Lilywood glanced at me. He didn’t dislike the worried look in my eyes directed toward him. Even knowing he should send me back to the Siaz Territory, even thinking he should keep his distance, his gaze naturally turned toward me.
There seemed to be a small affection for him buried within that worried expression, and strangely, that pleased him. Though it shouldn’t. Even knowing that Blaze Lilywood had his sights set on me. Unable to let go of that fragment of affection from him. Truly, something about himself must be twisted.
“Travel safely.”
“You’ve worked hard these past days, so take some rest today, Lauren.”
Aster Veil Lilywood nodded at my brief farewell. Winter would soon arrive. Thanks to all the hard work, word had come from the Territory that they’d stockpiled provisions to prepare for the cold months. Following my opinion that they couldn’t rely solely on crops, we’d also contracted a considerable amount of side work to keep people occupied throughout the winter. The steward, who used to complain about dying during winter, had been overjoyed. It was no exaggeration to say this was all thanks to me, who had served as a mentor to both Aster Veil Lilywood and Letti Torres.
“My, a holiday? Then I should read some books for a change.”
Perhaps to see him off, I draped the shawl I’d folded on the long chair over my shoulders and smiled softly. Even as Aster Veil Lilywood answered that it sounded nice, his brow furrowed faintly. The Duke’s Mansion’s Library was precariously just outside the Forbidden Zone. Aster Veil Lilywood felt a slight unease. He still hadn’t found Blaze Lilywood’s accomplice. The restriction that kept him from leaving the Forbidden Zone was essentially broken, so caution was warranted.
In the Mansion’s Lobby, Calvin Stewart and Garnet were waiting. Normally, Garnet should have accompanied him on this schedule as well, but Aster Veil Lilywood had decided to leave him by my side. Garnet directed his gaze toward Aster Veil Lilywood, who was giving Calvin Stewart some instructions, and waited quietly. Though he might have had objections to this decision, not a single emotion showed on his beautiful face, which hadn’t yet shed its boyish qualities.
“I’m counting on you, Garnet.”
Soon after, Aster Veil Lilywood turned to face Garnet. He wore the same bitter smile, twisting only one corner of his mouth as always. Then he raised his hand and stroked Garnet’s white hair a couple of times. At this sight, my eyes widened. The beautiful young man, like a finely crafted doll and expressionless, smiled brightly with his eyes closed in apparent joy.
So he can make that expression too. As I stood dazed, watching the two of them, Aster Veil Lilywood turned his body toward me.
“Then…”
At his low voice, my senses snapped back into focus. He took a step closer to me. Our eyes met—his green and pale violet irises. I smiled softly at him. We’d already said our farewells in the Office anyway, so this should be sufficient. We weren’t even a couple who’d married out of genuine love for each other, so why add another word?
“I’ll be back.”
Aster Veil Lilywood left a brief parting and slipped out through the Mansion’s entrance. I stood there for a while, watching his retreating figure and the empty space he’d left behind. Even though only one person had left, somehow the Mansion felt completely hollow.
* * *
Normally, the Lilywood Knights, who should have been protecting the Lilywood Estate, couldn’t return to the Territory even after the war ended. It was because of Aster Veil Lilywood, who couldn’t leave the Capital. Fortunately, they’d received an imperial decree allowing them to manage the security of nearby Territories.
Aster Veil Lilywood, the master of the Knight Order, took his place in the Knight Commander’s Office and listened to a lengthy report. As always, there was nothing major to report. There were no bold criminals causing trouble at the garrison of the Lilywood Knights, who had made their name on the battlefield. The Knight Commander explained the training results and the security of nearby areas, and they also discussed shortages in supplies and equipment. After signing three months’ worth of dried paperwork and lifting his head, the sun had already long since fallen to the west.
“I apologize for troubling you every time.”
“Please don’t say such things.”
The Knight Commander was an older man. Though Aster Veil Lilywood was young and could have been looked down upon, he too was someone who had rolled through the battlefield with Aster Veil Lilywood and Letti Torres.
A young child bearing the title of commander, who hadn’t even properly graduated from the Military Academy, had to throw himself into a battlefield that was nothing but harsh. Despite fighting fiercely on the front lines, support was inadequate. Many blamed Aster Veil Lilywood, saying it was because the Crown Prince disliked him. Despite the continued complaints, that young child quietly did his duty. He always thought of his soldiers first and fought ahead of anyone else. It was natural that the knights and soldiers came to follow Aster Veil Lilywood.
Whether it was because the Emperor wanted to expand the Empire’s territory and be recorded in history as a great ruler, the war continued by imperial decree. Their young commander, who they’d doubted could even fight properly, grew into an adult through countless battlefields. The child they’d thought would never learn to fight became a general with a perfect record of victories. Yet nothing about him changed. Aster Veil Lilywood remained in his place, quietly and steadily.
Quite some time had passed since the final war ended. Without receiving proper recognition for their accomplishments, the Lilywood Knights had nearly been abandoned entirely. It was obvious, without much thought, that this was the doing of the Crown Prince, who had viewed Aster Veil Lilywood as a thorn in his side. Those soldiers and knights who had long served in the Military understood well that they couldn’t defy the orders of those in high positions. Everyone gave up. They’d fought hard, but they laughed bitterly, saying they couldn’t hope for recognition of their accomplishments.
But his superior didn’t leave the Knight Order abandoned. The soldiers who were transferred received proper recognition for their deeds and could return, and the Knight Order could also avoid wasting away their days. Moreover, they even received support they’d never once received on the battlefield. No one could doubt that a young commander cherished the Knight Order bearing his family’s name.
“It would be dangerous to ride a horse at night.”
Even knowing that Aster Veil Lilywood was an excellent horseman, the Knight Commander wore a worried expression. And he suggested that staying one night might be better. His suggestion was something that always came up, as if it were predetermined. And today, too, Aster Veil Lilywood shook his head.
If I had my way, I would have stayed here as he suggested and observed tomorrow’s training and patrol schedules. It would have been better both as a commander’s ambition and in terms of scheduling. But it couldn’t be helped. With his lips twisted, he instructed Letti Torres to prepare the horses. Letti Torres left his post to carry out the order.
“You’re still as stubborn as ever, sir.”
“Unnecessary meddling.”
Aster Veil Lilywood scowled fiercely at the Knight Commander. But the Knight Commander, who had been with him since before adulthood, merely laughed with an unperturbed expression. He considered saying something, but finding nothing particularly to say, Aster Veil Lilywood clicked his tongue softly.
It was then that Letti Torres knocked on the door. Upon his report that preparations for heading to the Duke’s Mansion were complete, Aster Veil Lilywood rose from his seat. Naturally, the Knight Commander followed behind him.
Well past midnight, the streetlights in the village were nearly extinguished. Even in the darkness, Aster Veil Lilywood and Letti Torres mounted their horses with practiced ease. The Knight Commander bowed to the two of them. Aster Veil Lilywood acknowledged the bow with a nod and gestured to Letti Torres. His adjutant, who had served alongside him for so long, understood his thoughts from the gesture alone. The two horses began to gallop.
But before long, Aster Veil Lilywood’s horse came to a halt. It was before the City Gate leading into the Capital. Beyond the gate lay the Capital where the Duke’s Mansion stood, and on the opposite side was the beginning of a road that led anywhere. Aster Veil Lilywood gazed into the distance, toward the end of the road. The road’s end, buried in darkness, was barely visible, so he narrowed his eyes.
I didn’t want to go back. I wanted to leave for somewhere else, just like this. It was a thought that repeated itself every time I left the Duke’s Mansion. The Duke’s Mansion was little different from a prison without bars. Any other time, I would have lingered as long as possible, but today was different. Today, I had to return quickly. Because Lauren was at the Estate. If I didn’t return to the Estate by dawn, an angry Blaze Lilywood would cause a commotion. Then Lauren would naturally learn of Blaze Lilywood’s existence.
I didn’t want her to discover Blaze Lilywood’s existence. Yet I still wanted to run away. Perhaps it was because of this heart that kept drawing me toward her. Concealing emotions I couldn’t control, I wanted to flee to somewhere beyond her gaze.
“Sir?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Letti Torres, whose horse was now alongside his, called out to Aster Veil Lilywood. Aster Veil Lilywood twisted one corner of his mouth and answered him. There was no room for useless thoughts. He quietly clenched the hand he had been gazing down at, gripping the reins tightly. Yes, it would be better to hurry back to the Estate. Suppressing the urge to gallop off elsewhere that moment, Aster Veil Lilywood pulled the reins and headed toward the Estate.

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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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