Episode 6 –
Bzzzt, bzzzik—
A wave of static passed, and as the hologram slowly brightened into a clear image, Zen shot to his feet.
“Your Grace the Duuuuuke!”
At his pitiful wail, the mage beside him cleared his throat awkwardly.
He normally wasn’t this bad, but after being apart from the duke for several months and even receiving news of his ambush… well, his reaction was understandably over the top.
The mage hesitated, clearly embarrassed by his shameless superior, but Zen paid him no mind.
Even though it was just a hologram, Zen’s eyes were already shimmering with tears.
Thankfully, his lord seemed unharmed.
[You don’t need to shout. I can hear you just fine.]
“Do you… do you have any idea how worried I was!?”
[Ah. Yes. I understand your… effort.]
Zen had already been shocked to hear that the duke suddenly resigned from the Imperial Knights and was returning to the duchy.
But when news arrived that he’d gone missing on the way back… Zen had nearly lost his life from sheer panic.
When he hurriedly sent the ducal knights to investigate, all they found was wreckage of a shattered carriage and bloodstains.
The trail through the Beryl Mountains had always been plagued by bandits.
But Zen didn’t believe for a second that this incident was simply their work.
‘Those damned Imperial-faction nobles.’
From the moment the duke refused escort knights for his return, everything was part of a meticulous ambush plan.
It wasn’t enough that they’d driven him out of the capital. They wanted him dead.
He’d voluntarily resigned from the position of Vice-Captain of the Imperial Knights—effectively relinquishing any right to succession.
Yet they still weren’t reassured. After all, the duke still bore the middle name Hemert.
One couldn’t drain royal blood from his veins.
So, their conclusion?
“Since he’s dangerous, just kill him.”
Zen clenched his teeth.
[How is the territory?]
“Ah—yes, Your Grace, there is nothing at all for you to worry about.”
There had been a light drought this year, but they’d managed with magic.
Taxes were collected smoothly, minor expenses handled, ledgers completed…
Upon receiving the news of the duke’s return, he had rushed to finish all postponed work.
Zen reported everything with a proud expression, clearly awaiting praise—but the duke merely nodded once.
Maybe the hologram quality was bad? Yes… that must be it.
“Where are you right now, Your Grace?”
[Here… ah, a village called Igraine.]
“Igraine?”
Zen gestured, and the mage quickly spread out a map.
Igraine… Igraine… Ah.
He pointed at a spot.
A village at the southernmost edge of the Beryl Mountains—very close to where the attack occurred.
“It’s close. If I send a search party immediately, we can escort you within five hours.”
[No, that won’t be necessary.]
“Yes. …Wait. What?”
Zen had fully prepared to assemble an elite rescue team the moment the call ended—and of course include himself. The ducal household was more than ready to welcome their lord back.
But instead of the expected order to come retrieve him, the duke shook his head.
[You will come to the forest near Igraine one week from now.]
“…Pardon? In a week?”
[Yes. One week.]
As he spoke, the duke seemed to glance sideways, almost as if someone else were present.
Zen stiffened.
…Was someone on the other side of the hologram?
[Then I’ll see you in a week, Zen.]
“Wait—Your Grace? Just a moment—Your Grace! Duke!!”
Zen still had more to say, but the hologram had already gone dark.
His lord’s habit of ending a conversation after saying everything he wanted hadn’t changed.
That was a relief—but why were his eyes stinging?
The mage patted Zen’s trembling shoulder sympathetically.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Thank you! Please use our services again!”
As they left after returning the communication crystal, a cheerful guild employee shouted behind them.
Rita scratched her cheek at the sound.
Since Deer had no money on him, he’d paid for the call by handing over a brooch he had been carrying.
A brooch with a sapphire as large as a fist—for one call, that was absurd.
But Deer had handed it over without a moment’s hesitation, which was why the guild workers had suddenly become so very kind.
Well… for Duke Melinger, that brooch was probably pocket change.
“Was that man earlier your aide?”
“Yes. His name is Zen. He remained in the duchy to manage things while I was in the capital.”
“I know….”
“…You know? How could you know a mere aide of mine? Were you acquainted before?”
“A—ah, no! I meant I could tell he was an important person just by looking!”
Deer eyed her suspiciously, but Rita waved it away with a silly smile.
In truth, she really did already know Zen.
Jen Lowry.
The younger son of Baron Lowry, one of the duke’s vassals.
Brilliant enough to work in the capital, but he chose to become Deer’s aide after the previous Duke Melinger—Deer’s father—saved his life during the war.
He began out of gratitude, but eventually grew genuinely loyal to Deer.
Deer trusted him deeply, often tasking him with important matters.
Though… most of those weren’t exactly wholesome tasks.
Like obtaining poisons to assassinate the male lead, or plotting schemes to corner the heroine.
Rita shivered remembering those scenes.
In the novel, Zen always appeared cold and shadowy—but the man she’d just seen was nothing like that.
Still competent and loyal, yes… but—
‘He’s completely hopeless, isn’t he?’
The dramatic crying for his lord, the exaggerated reactions, the shy glances seeking Deer’s approval—
He was funny.
And cute.
And with the shadows under his eyes… a bit pitiful too.
No trace of the sinister aura she remembered—unless he only showed that side to enemies.
‘Or maybe I’m too biased…?’
Or maybe everyone’s personality was shifting away from what she remembered.
Zen had changed.
The deer prince had changed…
In the original, Duke Deer Melinger was cold and indifferent to everyone except the heroine.
Yet here he was: treating Rita politely, keeping her close, acting respectful—
Unthinkable for the original Deer.
‘Because I saved his life?’
He was a perfectionist who hated debts, but would he really go this far because she saved him once?
Besides… she was just a commoner woman.
“…Ta. Rita. Rita!”
“Huh? Yes!?”
Lost in her thoughts, Rita jumped at his voice.
Deer frowned at her distractedness.
She scratched her head and smiled sheepishly.
“Sorry. What did you say?”
“Ahem… I asked if you were surprised.”
“Surprised? By what?”
“That I’m, um… the duke.”
“Oh.”
Zen had called him “Your Grace” earlier, revealing his identity. Deer must’ve been worried she would be shocked.
But Rita already knew, so his concern was unnecessary.
“I wasn’t that surprised. I already knew.”
“What? How?”
“From the nove—”
She bit her tongue.
Thinking fast, she corrected herself.
“You mentioned your name when you greeted me—Deer Helmert Melinger.”
“…”
“Well, only nobles have middle names, and the Melinger estate is… well, we’re in the Melinger Duchy. Hard not to notice.”
“…I see.”
“Yes.”
Deer nodded, looking slightly embarrassed.
“You don’t need to show extra formality just because I’m a duke. I’d prefer if you treated me the same as before.”
“Oh…”
He must have thought she’d suddenly start groveling now that she knew.
She hadn’t even considered that.
“And as I said earlier, I’ll be staying here for another week. I realized I needed some rest.”
Rita blinked.
“Why rest here?”
His real home was the ducal manor—grand estate, countless attendants, soft beds…
And no one there would dare question him.
Though it was a bit lonely since he had no family…
Still, for a high nobleman, resting here made no sense.
“Wouldn’t it be uncomfortable? For a duke to live like this—”
“If I return to the duchy, I’ll have to fulfill my duties immediately. Ignoring them and idling around there would be more uncomfortable. Here, where those duties aren’t staring me in the face, I can actually rest.”
“But Zen— I mean, your aide—handles everything, doesn’t he?”
“There are plenty of things a duke cannot delegate.”
Rita nodded. That, at least, made perfect sense.
The Deer she knew would never choose leisure over responsibility.
A workaholic perfectionist—that part hadn’t changed.
Seeing her accept his explanation, he lowered his head slightly and smiled.
A bright, dazzling smile.
“Thank you.”
Well… sure. If her deer prince wanted to rest somewhere inconvenient, he had his reasons!
Rita accepted everything instantly under the power of that smile.
If my flower-deer wants to do something, then he should absolutely do it!
But then, something felt odd.
“Why are you thanking me?”
If he meant the arrow incident… that moment had long passed. No need to thank her again.
Rita blinked up at him.
Deer looked down at her—and smirked.
“Because I’ll be staying at your house.”
He said it as if the matter were already decided—with shameless confidence.
Rita blinked once, twice, then whispered:
“…Holy crap.”
Was he serious?
