IORAWM 23

Chapter : 23

“This….”

Even as a deadly aura emanated from him, the duke showed no sign of being intimidated, and Luak ground his teeth in frustration.

But the duke’s next words made Luak stare at him in disbelief.

“The sofa’s already broken, isn’t it?”
“…And what does that have to do with anything, Your Grace?”
“All the servants in the mansion must have woken up by now! They’ll all come running here soon, so you must compensate me!”

As he spoke, the duke’s voice trembled with tears.

“Ugh!”

It was understandable—he was already uneasy from being indebted, and now the furniture had been destroyed.

When the duke sniffled and pointed at the sofa, Luak raised one eyebrow, puzzled.

After studying the shattered sofa for a long moment…

“Pfft! Ah, compensation.”

He doubled over, clutching his stomach and giggling.

“What’s so funny?!”

The duke shouted, and Luak raised his head, his mouth twisted in a crooked smile.

“Don’t worry, poor duke. This is a family of magic experts.”

“P-poor duke….”

The duke staggered back, shocked by Luak’s sharp words. Luak, satisfied, smiled faintly and repeated,

“P.oor. Duke.”

“H-huh!”

“They wouldn’t be petty enough to demand compensation for a sofa like this. And there’s a soundproofing spell around me, so even if the room is wrecked, no one will come looking.”

Luak took a gleaming orb from his robes and tossed it in his hand, startling the duke.

“Is… is that a magical tool too?”
“Of course.”
“Why… why are you doing this?”

Only then did the duke seem to grasp the seriousness of the situation and took a step back, while Luak smiled.

The smile, reminiscent of the crown princess, shimmered under the moonlight.

“I can’t stand seeing anyone weaker than me beside my sister.”

It was a languid confession, as if he were sighing.

‘With a warning like this, the duke won’t dare approach my sister.’

That thought pleased him immensely.

But at that moment,

“Are you saying you refuse to acknowledge me?”

The duke’s eyes suddenly hardened, no longer fearful. He strode to a corner of the room and grasped his sword that had been leaning there.

“So you pursue martial arts, do you?”

Clang!

In an instant, the drawn long sword clashed against Luak’s iron blade.

Clang!

‘Hah, not bad.’

Luak noticed the pure competitive spirit in the duke’s dark eyes.

‘Northern Empire’s finest knight, huh? Well, my sister wouldn’t choose just anyone as a lover.’

Thinking of Retié, Luak felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

‘Why… does it have to be her rival?’

He was frustrated that Retié’s choice had to fall on someone else.

‘If only my sister could divorce… we could spend all day together…’

Luak did not yet know that imperial law, crown law, and temple law all forbade the crown princess from divorcing.

‘My sister can do anything!’

So, Retié, who refused to return to her family even after being betrayed by the crown prince, felt infuriatingly obstinate.

‘If she could just divorce the crown prince, it would be the perfect revenge…’

Yet she did not. A rival in the form of an affair.

‘I really hate this.’

Whenever Luak strayed amid the crumbling family fortunes, Retié corrected him. But now, why was his sister intent on walking the path of vengeance herself?

‘I want to kill him.’

Luak felt murderous intent toward the duke charging with a drawn sword—but he could not actually kill him.

“Will you wait for my sister?”

Luak promised. He would stay out of the way and not hinder her revenge. But…

“He will never forget his promises or change his mind suddenly.”

But, but, but, but…

“Luak, look at yourself. How about you?”

Her eyes, distrustful, tightened his chest—as if to say he himself could not be trusted. But…

‘No matter how well I keep my promise, I still can’t stand beside my sister.’

That was why he could not be outshone by a mere lover temporarily using and discarding her.

‘If I see the duke utterly defeated tomorrow, she won’t take a fancy to him!’

Wham!

“Ah! W-wait! G-give me time!”

“There is no ‘wait’ when a fight starts.”

And so, Luak began pummeling the duke.

[I’ll return tomorrow. – Crown Princess]

That evening, after returning from an outing, I handed two short telegrams to the head maid.

“Please send these to the Crown Prince’s palace and the Crown Princess’s palace.”
“Yes, understood.”

The maid seemed cheerful, probably because we had gone out together, which made me feel good too.

‘It’s been a while since I had fun like this.’

Lying down on my bed afterward, I felt as if I were back in my hometown.

Of course, that feeling didn’t last long.

A distant ominous alarm wailed.

‘…Ignore it.’

I threw aside my thoughts and took my diary from my pouch. I decided to focus on the most important task of the day.

[Keep the duke close! → Date with Duke Rikesis!]

It was time to make a plan to lure the duke.

‘Luak will go to school tomorrow morning, so I’ll see him off and then request an outing with the duke!’

Writing in my diary, I smiled slyly.

‘I’ll walk with Duke Rikesis along the main street and even go to the department store.’

Of course, it wouldn’t be easy.

‘That Jennein seems focused on dealing with my father.’

Other Rikesis knights would surely follow the duke around.

‘Can I create a romantic atmosphere?’

I also worried about interference from the royal family. Recent rumors had been spreading, and they might send the royal guards to stop me.

“No matter what, I must get everything done tomorrow.”

I clenched my fist.

‘A chance like today might never come again.’

Since Duke Rikesis seemed to have a favorable view of me, he probably wouldn’t refuse my outing.

But there were many obstacles.

‘Can the duke withstand public scrutiny?’

If he were often seen with the crown princess, rumors were inevitable.

‘The key will be persuading that Jennein.’

From what I observed, he was very sharp and practical.

And if the Rikesis family began making huge profits through magical stone…

‘The nobles will smell the money and rush like wild dogs, and I want to avoid that.’

Jennein would realize it was better to let people assume the duke was my lover.

And since the duke loved his people enough to refuse imperial honors, he would endure the gossip.

‘If it comes to that, the first goal is achieved…’

“Ultimately, the final problem is the duke’s reluctance.”

Every beginning is scary. Especially an affair!

But nothing lasts forever. The longer the duke spends time with me enjoying wealth and luxury, the more he will fall for me.

And the moment his feelings for me surpass unnecessary morality…

‘He’ll become mine!’

“Then, now I need to plan the date course…”

I was completely lost in thought, pen in mouth, when suddenly:

“Milady!!”

The door burst open.

“There’s a brawl happening!”
“What?! N-no, what do you mean?”
“The duke’s quarters! The young master—”

I didn’t have time to think. I followed the head maid in a rush to the duke’s quarters.

And…

‘This is insane!’

What I saw was a terrible scene.

In the guest room assigned to the duke, amidst broken furniture and scattered knights, stood a man.

No—more accurately, a boy.

“Luak…!”

I felt all the blood drain from my body and collapsed onto the floor.

“Luak…!”

Luak’s shoulders twitched.

When he turned around, he saw Retié sitting there, her porcelain-like face flushed with anger. Luak froze in place, unsure how to move.

But then…

“Where do you think you’re running?”

A knight lying on the floor grabbed the hem of his pants.

“If you move, your pants will come off in front of your sister! Hehehe!”

Luak, failing to escape, fell into despair. No matter how much he closed his eyes or turned his head, he could feel Retié’s rage.

And at that moment…

“Ughhh.”

“…!!”

Duke Rikesis, sprawled against one wall, flinched, drawing everyone’s attention.