The Murderous Duke's Domestic Affairs - Chapter 6

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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 6
I was completely exhausted. Even knowing that the dress fitting still awaited me, I wanted to abandon everything. There was truth in what Butterfly had said. After all, I had initially considered becoming a tutor for some noble household.
My reasons for rejecting the tutor profession were the same as hers. In reality, many took positions as tutors through force and power. Becoming an elderly man’s second wife or becoming a tutor to noble children only to be coerced into becoming a mistress—I wanted neither.
The Marquis household I had lost could not serve as my backing. I harbored no resentment toward my father. Though impoverished compared to other noble families, the Previous Marquis Siaz was my pride—a man of integrity. My father, who loved me dearly, had supported me when I said I didn’t wish to enter society, and had readily taught me when I expressed a desire to learn.
Yet sometimes I couldn’t help but wonder. What if Father had accumulated wealth like others? What if he had coveted power—would my situation be better now? But I quickly dismissed such thoughts. Even if he had, circumstances would scarcely differ. I would have been forced into an unwanted marriage, taking in a son-in-law to continue the family line, and I would never have found fulfillment in work as I do now.
I slapped both my cheeks with my own hands. I mustn’t succumb to melancholy. At least, I wanted to appear composed before Aster. It was stubbornness without reason.
Straightening my posture to clear my thoughts, I knocked on the door and heard a low response.
Now that I thought about it, that man did have quite a pleasant voice.
At this pointless thought, I let out a small laugh to myself. Good. Maintaining a smile shouldn’t be so difficult.
Aster looked up and acknowledged my presence. Documents lay in his hands, and Letti stood beside him.
“You’ve arrived. Are you finished?”
“No, I’m taking a break.”
I sat beside him. A slice of cream cake lay on the table—placed there by someone, I knew not whom. Noticing my gaze fixed upon it, Aster let out a light laugh.
“You may eat it.”
I looked at Aster intently. His green eyes curved pleasantly. It was fine. Whether from the fatigue of excessive worry or simply from hunger, I was ready. Taking up a fork, I cut the cake slice delicately and brought it to my mouth with almost combative determination. Soft cream and moist sponge. The sweetness spread across my tongue and filled my mouth.
“Aren’t you eating?”
“I’m not fond of sweets.”
Then I wouldn’t refuse. I brought the second bite of cake to my lips. A sigh escaped me without my knowing. Letti poured tea into the empty cup before me. I nodded my head in gratitude to him.
“Did something happen?”
Aster spoke only after Letti, having gathered the documents he’d been reading, had left the room. Startled, I shook my head with the fork still in my mouth. He seemed indifferent, yet unexpectedly perceptive? That Aster Veil Lilywood, who needed to heed no one’s feelings? With arms crossed, he leaned back against the chair and gazed at me with only his eyes. His green eyes and my pale violet ones met for an instant. I quickly turned my head away.
“Your cheeks are flushed.”
“Ah, that’s… it’s warm, that’s all.”
“Hmm.”
His gaze, which had swept over me, turned forward once more. Setting down my fork, I pressed gently against my racing heart. Truly, he was a man who startled people easily. There was no moment to let one’s guard down.
“What documents were you reading?”
I hoped it wouldn’t seem like I was changing the subject. Cradling the teacup in both hands after taking a sip, I asked him. After all, I was destined to oversee the Duke’s documents. I hadn’t asked something I shouldn’t have. But Aster gave no answer. My gaze, which had turned away from him, returned. The lips of Aster, which had held a somewhat gentle smile, were now twisted savagely.
“…Confidential.”
His voice was cold as he answered curtly. His sudden change in demeanor troubled me somewhat, but if it was confidential, there was nothing to be done. Though I held the position of Duchess, it wasn’t as though I had married for love. I had not yet earned his trust enough to reveal everything. It was only natural that he had things he wished not to share.
So I simply nodded. Aster was far better than I had steeled myself to expect, yet the rumors of him being a war hero and a murderer hadn’t circulated without reason. Though he seemed in good spirits now, there was no knowing when he might change. It was better not to provoke him. For reasons I couldn’t explain, I felt a pang of disappointment. An emotion I shouldn’t harbor.
I ate the cake in silence and drank my tea. For some reason, I could say nothing. Aster too kept his mouth closed. The atmosphere in the room grew heavy. A silence descended so profound that even the sound of wind beyond the window seemed audible.
A knock broke the silence. I thought Letti had returned, but it was Calvin who appeared beyond the door.
“Garnet has arrived.”
It was a low whisper, yet in the quiet room it rang far too loudly. At the name Garnet, Aster nodded and rose from his seat. My gaze naturally followed him. Meeting his eyes as he looked down at me, gently biting the corner of his lip.
“I must take my leave.”
“Of course.”
Aster regarded me briefly before following Calvin from the room. His final murmured words scattered as they reached my ears. My gaze traced his departing figure. He had, unmistakably, murmured an apology in my direction. In a voice so low it was scarcely audible.
I could no longer fathom what manner of man Aster was.
* * *
In the dead of night, within the dimly lit Office, Aster sat alone in a long chair. Supporting the back of his head with one hand, he read the documents in his other hand repeatedly. His brow was deeply furrowed.
At his response to the knock, the door opened. Calvin entered bearing a tray with a bottle and glass, which he set upon the table.
“Jasmine Aloria wishes to see you.”
Aster Veil Lilywood nodded slowly. While Calvin went to fetch the visitor, he set down his documents and poured himself a drink with his own hands. After taking a sip of the amber liquid, he exhaled a long breath.
“Your Grace.”
A voice tinged with reproach reached his ears. Aster Veil Lilywood looked up from his wine glass toward the source of that voice. A faint smile played at his lips.
“Drinking so frequently is not good for you.”
“I know.”
Still seated, Aster Veil Lilywood stretched languidly before leaning back against the chair. His green eyes, after brushing back his hair, fixed directly upon Jasmine Aloria.
“So?”
A terse question devoid of subject or object. Though his demeanor seemed arrogant at first glance, Jasmine Aloria smiled toward him—a gentle expression far softer than her usual businesslike tone.
“Might I inquire how you came to meet her?”
“A pointless question.”
Aster Veil Lilywood answered curtly. Yet Jasmine Aloria continued smiling. She had once worked in this mansion. Those one knew from childhood were difficult to maintain formality with. Aster Veil Lilywood exhaled softly.
“She is a fine woman. Now that she has become the Duchess, one might expect her to desire something more elaborate, yet everything she chose was modest. I even had to remind her to consider her station as Duchess. Despite appearing unaccustomed to receiving service, she accepted it with composure.”
Jasmine Aloria bowed her head. The young and beautiful woman with black hair and violet eyes had responded with cool judgment even in situations where anger would have been expected. It was remarkable discernment. The smile at her lips deepened slightly.
“In my eyes, she is already a perfect Duchess. Her elegant bearing and confident demeanor are beyond reproach.”
“She made a good impression, then.”
Jasmine Aloria answered yes. Aster Veil Lilywood took another sip of his drink. Jasmine Aloria had a discerning eye. If she spoke thus, it could be trusted.
“It seems Garnet has brought the report.”
Jasmine Aloria spoke while glancing at the documents on the table. Aster Veil Lilywood did not answer, but she paid it no mind—her demeanor suggested this was a common occurrence.
“I thought Your Grace would have completed the investigation long ago.”
“…The investigation regarding the person in question was finished long ago.”
Aster Veil Lilywood set down his wine glass. His gaze fell upon the woman with yellowed hair twisted up. There was something in Garnet’s report that had been nagging at him. Jasmine Aloria would be able to resolve it better than anyone. After a moment of contemplation, Aster Veil Lilywood ran a hand across his face.
“When do you think the Duchess’s Dressing Room can be completed?”
“Since she said she dislikes anything too elaborate, it should not take long. I will prioritize the Duchess’s wardrobe above all else, so a week should suffice.”
“I see.”
The timeframe was convenient. Aster Veil Lilywood selected one of the reports and handed it to Jasmine Aloria. Her brown eyes, faintly tinged with green, traced across the text. Aster Veil Lilywood rested his elbows on the desk, supporting his head in his hands, and quietly observed her.
“…Can you find it?”
Her greenish-brown eyes, deeply furrowed, looked toward Aster Veil Lilywood. He pretended not to notice her gaze. Of course, he knew it was unlike him to concern himself with such details. Yet it continued to weigh on his mind—perhaps because he felt indebted. Lauren was, as she herself had said, a capable administrator. She could identify Lettie’s mistakes with merely a glance at the documents.
For someone like him, who had never properly learned anything and had only rolled about on battlefields, Lauren was truly an essential talent. Perhaps that was why he did not wish to owe her a debt of conscience. Perhaps. Aster Veil Lilywood rubbed the rim of his empty glass with his bare hand.
“I will do my utmost.”
Aster Veil Lilywood merely nodded in silence. Jasmine Aloria withdrew a notebook from her pocket, jotted down the important details, and returned the report to him. Though she had already committed its contents to memory and had no real need to return it, he accepted it and tucked it among his pages.
Jasmine Aloria bowed respectfully and departed the room. The Office fell once more under the dominion of darkness and silence. As Aster Veil Lilywood gazed down at his documents, he sipped his drink. Garnet’s report continued to prick at his mind. There was so much else to attend to—why was he dwelling on this? He could not understand himself. Yet still, he wondered: how could he make this report stop troubling him?
Having drained his glass entirely, Aster Veil Lilywood leaned back fully in his chair and closed his eyes. For some reason, his chest felt heavy. Without cause, he exhaled a long breath.

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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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