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Chapter 24
“Do you like Duke Cameon that much?”
Ryle asked Dorothy with an almost casual air, as if it didn’t matter whether Vitus’ jaw dropped. Seeing Dorothy’s confident smile, Vitus scratched his arm nervously. Goosebumps ran down his skin. She actually called him “Duke Cameon” in the third person. That was even worse than a cutesy lisp.
“Of course! For the Duke, the stars mean nothing. I like him so much I could even steal the sun for him. So stop asking me all the time.”
Dorothy’s answer was even more astonishing.
He had no idea when these two started dating, but the level of cringe was off the charts. Dorothy boldly confessed her feelings right in front of the person himself, and the Duke listened with a pleased expression—or at least his voice sounded pleased, even if Ryle himself never actually looked pleased.
It was enough to give someone goosebumps, and Vitus even wondered if he’d wandered into a haunted house. Being around these two, whose sheer “aww” factor could make chicken feathers fly, was enough to give someone an allergy out of nowhere. Vitus thought to himself that he needed to find a way to leave this situation.
“Enough of that talk. Let’s get to work. I’m a busy person too.”
Saying that, Dorothy began her report.
“This morning, the Duke had a fish stew caught from the Maison River, accompanied by a lamb cream salad, and a special blueberry juice to restore his energy.”
Vitus blinked. Did he just hear that correctly?
“?”
“I’ve thought about it before, but Dorothy’s investigations are practically criminal.”
“Well, I don’t know his underwear color, so it’s not really a crime, right? That part isn’t revealed to me,” Dorothy said, in a joke that didn’t sound like a joke at all.
Vitus had heard of Dorothy Sailor through rumors. She was an idol for teenage boys, known as the leader of the so-called “harem gang.” Not the kind of pervert one would expect.
And she had the audacity to say in front of the Duke himself that she hadn’t done background research on the color of his underwear today. She continued such bold statements with a cute, composed face!
Vitus was shocked, but he had to maintain his composure.
“Are the breakfast details Dorothy just mentioned… the same as what the Duke actually ate this morning?”
Vitus was also responsible for protecting information about Duke Cameon. Letting small falsehoods slip while protecting the truth was critical in situations like this. A Duke of a nation, a head of the Elder Council—it wasn’t information an ordinary young lady could casually access.
Ryle nodded at Vitus. This was troublesome. What was going on? Vitus’ mouth went dry.
“Then, Dorothy, do you know what the Duke did yesterday?”
“Yesterday? Yesterday, he would have been working continuously at the ducal residence.”
That was a relief. She didn’t know. Information about the Duke’s whereabouts was among the most critical. Not everything had been exposed yet.
“He’s probably still at the residence. I’ve heard he hasn’t even been visiting the capital lately, just staying at the residence. His workaholic tendencies seem to have worsened.”
Vitus breathed a sigh of relief, then suddenly felt suspicious.
“Right now? The Duke is right here!”
Vitus narrowed his eyes at Dorothy. Something was off. For someone who claimed to like him so much, she seemed unusually calm.
“Excuse me, Dorothy. Do you know who is sitting beside you right now?”
“Ryle, of course,” Dorothy answered simply.
“Not that. Be more specific.”
Dorothy looked puzzled at Vitus’ urgent tone. She turned to look at Ryle. The Duke was smiling at her as if he had stepped out of a masterpiece painting. Dorothy was frozen, unable to speak, staring up at the Duke. Vitus, losing patience, finally spoke.
“What exactly is his job?”
“Oh, that.”
Dorothy nodded as if she understood, flapping her hands in a gesture that said she knew all about it, making Vitus uneasy.
“Of course I know.”
Dorothy declared proudly.
“He’s a drug dealer.”
Ryle, as if expecting this answer, scrunched his face in disbelief. Vitus, who had been dumbfounded, almost laughed, but his survival instinct successfully shut his mouth.
“That’s enough.”
Ryle stepped in front of Vitus, giving him a sharp look. From Ryle’s unusually cold eyes, Vitus realized Dorothy Sailor didn’t know the man in front of her was Feyrial Cameon.
But… how could she not know? No disguises, no makeup—how could she not recognize the man she claimed to love so much?
The rumors that Dorothy Sailor had feelings for the Duke had been spreading rapidly since last year, almost as if deliberately. What was originally thought to be a brief scandal now sent chills down Vitus’ spine.
Why did these rumors spread? She hadn’t seemed interested in the Duke at all.
Something was very suspicious. She knew his diet down to the last detail, yet she couldn’t recognize the Duke standing before her. She had no previous contact that could explain this. Could this be a smokescreen? What was her real purpose?
Vitus’ gaze shifted to Ryle. Ryle seemed to have read Vitus’ thoughts. He already knew, and that’s why he brought them here—carefully maneuvering Dorothy.
Vitus decided he needed to investigate Dorothy Sailor further. Simply writing novels popular with teenagers didn’t explain the strange details he was seeing.
There had to be a valid reason why Ryle hadn’t revealed his identity. Vitus knew his master’s fastidious personality well enough to handle this personally rather than delegating it. He’d keep that part to himself.
Dorothy, unaware of Vitus’ suspicions, asked brightly,
“Did I get it wrong?”
“More than that—it’s even more incredible.”
“More incredible? What, a drug kingpin?” Dorothy wondered aloud. Vitus shifted to another question.
“Dorothy, can you tell me about the sources of your information? I’d like to collaborate if you’re that knowledgeable about Duke Cameon.”
“No,” Dorothy shook her head.
“You know how it is in that line of work, right? Loyalty is everything. I can’t just reveal the identities of my sources without permission.”
Ryle asked softly, “Was it the place Lexa introduced you to?”
Despite her suspicion about Ryle and Lexa, Dorothy nodded. That much was harmless to reveal.
“I thought so,” Ryle said, his tone a little cold. After all the fuss, his impression of Lexa was not favorable.
“Lexa Barbarin!”
At that, Vitus groaned miserably.
“What’s wrong?” Dorothy asked. Vitus stammered awkwardly,
“Well… I used to… date Lexa for a short time…”
So here was Lexa’s real ex-boyfriend. Dorothy cast him a cold glare. A man wrapped in hot pink… ridiculous.
“But isn’t it unfair?” Dorothy suddenly complained.
“You promised to reveal information about the Duke if I shared what I know. Isn’t it one-sided?”
“Do you want to know anything specific about the Duke?” Ryle asked gently, as if to soothe her.
“Yes. You know the Duke’s birthday is coming up, right?”
That comment left both Ryle and Vitus looking surprised, as if they suddenly remembered something important.
“Has it really come around already?” Ryle said casually. Dorothy was exasperated.
“You know about Duke Cameon, right?” she asked suspiciously.
“Of course. And I have some news you’ll like, Dorothy.”
“News I’ll like?”
“This year, Duke Cameon’s birthday will have a grand party. One you’ll enjoy.”
“A party?” Dorothy’s eyes widened. A grand party? That workaholic? Duke Cameon hated noise and commotion. He wouldn’t voluntarily host a large-scale party, except maybe a small one for high-ranking nobles.
Vitus couldn’t contain himself and asked,
“How grand is grand?”
“As big as any noble in the capital can attend.”
Vitus went pale.
“No way…”
Dorothy also turned white.
“Would the Duke really like such a party? He dislikes noisy gatherings.”
Ryle smiled faintly.
“Yes. And you’ll receive an invitation too, Dorothy.”
“Me?” Dorothy asked anxiously.
“Why wouldn’t someone as cute, charming, and perfect as you be invited?”
Ryle’s voice carried a teasing laugh. Dorothy thought: I am cute and charming and perfect… but I don’t want to clown around in front of the Duke, even at a party.
“Didn’t you say you even learned the layout of the Duke’s residence to meet him by chance?” Ryle continued.
“Wait, the interior layout? That’s been exposed too?” Vitus asked in shock, but Ryle gave him a look, and he backed off. Ryle focused solely on Dorothy.
“That’s probably true,” Ryle said.
“I just want to support you, Dorothy. I hope you can meet the Duke directly. I’m curious what confession you’ll make to him.”
Ryle’s interested expression reminded Dorothy suddenly of Lexa. How unsettling. She shook her head, trying to stay rational.
Everything Ryle said was just a prediction.
Dorothy had been in love with Duke Cameon for a year. She knew his tendencies well enough to predict: he wouldn’t host a noisy, grand party.
“If the Duke really does host a grand birthday party…”
Dorothy believed what she knew of the workaholic Duke. He wouldn’t host such a thing.
“It’s impossible for me to miss it. I’m looking forward to seeing if it really happens,” Dorothy said with a smile. Ryle smiled along.
“I also look forward to seeing you at the party, Dorothy.”
