ILTDAMH|CHAPTER 71

Chapter 71 

 The Duke’s Only Weakness Is You, His Duchess!

“If we attach this to the carriage, you’ll be there in a single day. You could stay two days and be back within four. After the last trip, I thought it might come in handy, so I bought it on my last outing.”

Clea wrapped Charles tightly in her arms.

“Charles… who would have thought you could be this lovable?”

“Alright then! Let’s leave before Master returns!”

Just as Charles and Clea stood to gather their things, the mansion doors flew open. Ruan strode in, his steps urgent.

“Master! What happened with the rebellion?”

“Of course it’s been suppressed. I’m on my way to fetch the Duchess.”

“You’re… you’re really going to bring Madam back?”

At Ruan’s words, Charles and Clea glanced at one another in disbelief.

“You mean you’re bringing her here? Not just visiting her like before?”

“Yes. She promised me that if she reached the village safely this time, she would return to the ducal estate with me. Ah—that transport artifact! I meant to bring it, but in my rush I left it behind at the palace. It seems I’ll have to ride instead. Don’t worry. I’ll have her back within a week.”

At that, Charles pulled a small object from his front pocket and pressed it into Ruan’s hand.

“Master! Use mine.”

“This is…?”

“A transport artifact. With this, you can reach her in a single day. Please, bring Madam back quickly!”

“Excellent. Charles, when I return I’ll see you rewarded. Wait for me, all of you. This time I’ll bring her home.”

“Yes, Master! Good luck!”

Buoyed once again by his household’s cheers and hopes, Ruan set out for the village of Phenomenon.

***

“So this is the village?”

The man in tattered clothes dragged his weary body into Phenomenon.

“Hey, are you alright?”

A villager, concerned by the stranger’s staggering gait, asked softly.

“I… heard there was a shop here that sells sandwiches.”

“Ah, then you must be looking for Rosalin. Down that road, at the very end, you’ll find her shop.”

“Th… thank you.”

The man smiled faintly as he turned away.

His eyes, however, glinted with murderous resolve as he gripped the sword hidden beneath his cloak.

“Marican Canoluf… I’ve finally found you.”

***

The day had begun like any other.

Marican rose, ate breakfast with Cat, opened the shop, swept, prepared for business, and sat down to drink the tea Cat always brewed. It was a perfectly ordinary morning—

—until the man walked in.

He looked ragged, half-starved, his steps heavy.

“What would you like, sir?” Cat asked brightly, as she did with every customer.

The man said nothing. His eyes wandered the shop.

“Sir?”

“Ah, forgive me. Even this early, you have so many customers. I heard the sandwiches here were famous—and it seems the rumors were true.”

“Our most popular item is the ham sandwich. We also have one with avocado that’s very good. Which would you prefer?”

Still scanning the room, he finally muttered, “Ham sandwich. And… do you serve coffee?”

“Yes, we do. Just a moment.”

Cat smiled and went to prepare the order, but the man remained restless, eyes darting about the shop.

“Rosaline, don’t you think that man seems odd?” Cat whispered.

Marican lifted her gaze. Their eyes met. For all his shabby appearance, his stare was sharp as a blade. He studied her, as if confirming something, then turned away quickly.

Does he… know me?

“I don’t think so,” she murmured.

She was used to the occasional unpleasant gaze, and assumed he was simply another customer of that kind.

“Feels like he’s here for something other than a sandwich,” Cat muttered.

“Maybe.”

Even after his food arrived, the man ate slowly, scanning the shop. One by one, the patrons drifted out, until only Marican, Cat, and the stranger remained.

“Rosaline!”

The shop door burst open. Zelda rushed in, arms full of newspapers.

“Zelda? What’s all this?”

Marican feigned ignorance. She longed to ask about the capital, but dared not mention the rebellion herself.

“You won’t believe it! They say a rebellion nearly broke out in the capital last night!”

“Re… rebellion?”

Cat’s eyes widened, darting toward Marican.

“Joseph brought these from the next town. The whole city’s in uproar. That man—the one who came looking for you last time, from the Hwang clan or whatever—and the Empress, with her father, they stormed the palace!”

Marican followed Zelda’s finger to the bold headline. It told of how Kymon had led his knights into the palace in an attempted coup, only to be captured by Ruan.

“What happened? Was anyone hurt?”

“Thankfully, no. But they say all the traitors were arrested. Their trial will be within days, and they’ll likely be executed. Hey—what are you—”

The ragged man lurched forward, snatching the paper from Zelda’s hands. His fingers trembled as his eyes devoured the words.

“Excuse me?! What do you think you’re doing?” Zelda gaped, but the man didn’t hear her.

His hands shook harder. Then he crushed the paper in his fists and let out a strangled sob.

***

After Kymon marched away with the elite knights, Hugo had waited with the few left behind. No one returned from the gorge.

Fearing they’d been deceived, he moved closer—only to find Cassel arriving with his knights. Realizing Ruan was not in the gorge at all, Hugo slipped away while the others fought.

If Kymon failed, someone had to secure leverage. So Hugo came here, to seize Marican.

He knew exactly where to find her—Daimond had assigned him men, and the prince had given him the destination.

In his ragged guise, a kindly villager had even pressed coins into his hand, pitying his state, and personally guided him to Rosalin’s sandwich shop.

Hugo had never seen the Duchess in person, so he watched and listened—until Zelda’s slip revealed the truth. The woman called Rosalin … was Marican Canoluf.

He had meant to wait, to strike after the shop closed. But the news of Kymon’s failure shattered all patience.

***

“Sob… ngh… Master, I wanted so badly for you to succeed. Damn that Duke! If not for him—if he hadn’t trapped your knights in the gorge—the rebellion would have triumphed!”

The report that Kymon had been captured, that he would be executed, filled Hugo with urgency.

Only one thought consumed him: Seize Marican, use her to save Kymon.

He glanced around. Morning trade was nearly done. Only Marican, Zelda, and Cat remained.

Three women… easy enough.

“Yes. Prince Daimond was right. You are the Duke’s only weakness. To save Master, I need you.”

With that, Hugo drew his blade and lunged at Marican.

“Kyaaah!”

Zelda screamed as Hugo seized Marican’s arm, yanking her against him and pressing cold steel to her throat.

“Rosaline!”

“Let her go, you bastard!” Zelda cried.

“Quiet! Don’t move!” Hugo barked.

“If it’s money you want, we’ll give it! Just let her go!”

“Rosaline … ha. So you’ve been hiding under a false name? No. Your true name is Marican Canoluf, Duchess of the Duke’s House. Isn’t it?”

He knows me.

Marican’s voice trembled, but she steadied herself. “Who are you? Do you know me?”

“Of course. I’ve never seen your face until now, but who in the capital doesn’t know the Duchess? The Duke searched for you madly. And here you were, hiding in this backwater. You’ve been found—thanks to that useless prince, Daimond.”

He knows Daimond too? Who is this man?

Hugo had expected her to faint, or beg, as noblewomen usually did. Instead, Marican stayed composed. It unsettled him.

What kind of woman doesn’t cry, with a blade to her throat?

Yet he felt her slight trembling. He smirked.

“Don’t bother pretending you’re calm. I can feel you shaking. But don’t worry. I don’t hate you. You’re simply necessary. To free my master, I need you. The Duke’s only weakness is you.”

Ruan… knows I’m his weakness too. This man must be tied to the rebellion.

“You… you know Ruan? Who are you really?”

Hugo’s lips curled. He traced her cheek with the edge of his blade.

“Since you’ll find out soon enough, I’ll tell you. I am Hugo, steward of House Craft and the right hand of Duke Kymon Craft.”

Craft… the Empress’s family. The traitors from last night.

So he came here in case the coup failed… to take me hostage.

“Hugo, was it? Put the blade down and—ugh!”

“Don’t move, unless you want your pretty throat cut.”

He pressed harder. Blood welled along her pale neck.

“Rosaline!” Zelda shrieked.

“Relax. She’s far too valuable to kill. But she’s coming with me to the capital, to save my master.”

“No!”

Dragging her toward the door, Hugo sneered.

“Follow quietly. As I said, you’ll stay alive. Limbs are optional, but your husband wouldn’t want to see you mangled, would he?”

Marican shuddered at the cold indifference in his voice.