DSFL | Chapter 15

~Chapter 15~

I buried my face in my knees.

Bianca, go see Ricardo already!

My grandfather’s voice seemed to ring in my ears.

‘Leon, I knew from the start that kid was trouble. That wild temper of his—where do you think that’ll end up?’

The newspapers were filled with gossip about Leon and Ricardo. The article about me and Ricardo, which my grandfather had managed to get published, had long been buried.

…Well, it deserved to be buried.

In the photo, Ricardo and I both had veins bulging in our necks. It didn’t exactly scream “loving couple.”

The reporter tried to pass it off as a lovers’ quarrel, but we had a real fight. A nasty one.

I glanced at the bouquet on the table. It was the bouquet Grandpa had prepared, telling me to visit Ricardo.

…I should go.

But the thought of facing Benjamin and the knights’ disapproving looks made it hard to move.
Oddly, my stomach churned.

***

…Leonhart Owen.

Ricardo repeated a man’s name over and over.

Such an ignorant fool. He didn’t even know how to shoot a bow—swinging it around like a stick was laughable.

“I asked you to tell the butler last time…”

Lost in thought, Ricardo snapped out of it at Idette’s voice.

“Tell me now.”

“Yes… Lady Siren really did die in the Magic War.”

The magic war. A dreadful conflict that lasted for the past 20 years. The Duke of Hessen and Marquis Roygin had fought in it and returned victorious.

“…I figured.”

He had expected it. She had come back under a dead person’s name.

Ricardo gave a dry chuckle as he played with his teacup.

The dead returning to life—what nonsense.

But for some reason, the royal family was hiding this fact.

“What about the Tower Master?”

“…I don’t know. I did wake up, Lord Peril, but we weren’t that close.”

As Ricardo’s eyes turned dark, a nervous Idette quickly added, “Maybe… just a little bit closer now.”

“Isn’t that what you’d call being close?”

Ricardo tilted his head.

The Tower Master, Peril. He had definitely been at the hunting competition. He looked pretty close to Bianca too.

That woman did see me—saw me bleeding and writhing in pain.

But she turned her head away like she hadn’t seen anything.

…We made eye contact. If we did, shouldn’t she have run to me, worried?

The old Bianca would’ve done that. With tears streaming down her sly, lying face.

Yeah. That’s what should’ve happened. Worrying about me—that’s the proper thing to do.

That’s what was always expected from a fiancée. The courtesy the Roygin family drilled into her.

So why didn’t she come?

…Even now.

Was that apology she gave me fake too? If not, then why?

Was that first love story she told me all true?

Then who was it?

Leonhart? Or that snake-like, flirtatious Peril Edwin?

Can feelings really change that fast, Bianca?

Just then, the teacup in Ricardo’s hand shattered with a loud crash.

Idette, startled, shouted in panic, “You don’t seem well. I’ll be going now!”

“Wait.”

Ricardo stood up and pulled out a document from his drawer. He handed it to Idette.

“This is the information you asked about—Lord Picard.”

“Th-thank you!”

Idette’s eyes lit up at the unexpected gift, but then she hesitated and cautiously spoke.

“Um… will you be addressing the rumors?”

“What rumors?”

“The ones going around… about you and me.” Idette swallowed nervously.

“You don’t actually… have feelings for me.”

“Why not? It might be true.”

At that, Idette’s face went stiff like she’d heard something she wasn’t supposed to.

“I know you want something from me, and you’ll act kind until you get it.”

“…”

“But… your engagement to Lady Bianca…”

“Oh, are you worried my engagement to Bianca will be broken because of you?”

Because of you? Ricardo let out a small laugh, as if that were the most ridiculous thing.

Idette looked down, knowing he was right.

Ricardo, still half-smiling in mockery, said confidently, “Bianca won’t leave me.”

“…”

“She never did.”

She talks about first love, but I know that was a lie.

Bianca always smiled her most beautiful smile when she lied. Just like back then.

That’s how I knew she was lying again.

Idette parted her lips to speak, but then stayed quiet.

“…Then I’ll be going now.”

She’s leaving me?

The Marquess’s illness was just an excuse—everyone could see that.

…And that she loved someone else too.

She used to cling to me with all sorts of excuses.

So now, suddenly leaving me?

That can’t be.

Knock knock—

“Duke, Lady Bianca is here,” Benjamin said.

Ricardo gave a sly smile.

See, Bianca? You can’t leave me.

“…Shall I tell her you’re resting—”

“Let her in.”

Ricardo quickly lay back on the bed.

Ricardo said I could come in?

I was surprised—I’d expected to be turned away.

Creak—

Inside, there were two teacups on the table.

No way Ricardo had prepared them for me.

One of them had lipstick on it…

Idette.
She was the only woman Ricardo ever kept close.

Ugh, the timing is just awful.

Even with his arm covering his eyes, Ricardo looked oddly cheerful lying in bed.

…What the heck? Is he this happy just from seeing Idette?

That’s annoying.

I rolled my eyes and carefully spoke.

“Um… if you’re sleeping, I’ll just go—”

“Why did you come?”

Ricardo looked at me sharply, like he was a completely different person.

“F-for a hospital visit.”

“This late?”

…Was it late? The hunting competition was yesterday.

He was the one who told me to leave so he could rest, and now he’s snapping at me?

But I couldn’t exactly get mad at a patient.

I ignored his tone and set the bouquet on the table.

“Is your leg okay?”

“…They said I won’t be able to walk for a week.”

“Oh no.”

I was so jealous.

But of course, I couldn’t show it, so I forced my face to look concerned.

“Then what about your official duties…?”

Ricardo slowly sat up.

Startled, I rushed to help him.

“I still have to do them.”

Being a duke must be awful. Doing paperwork from bed… just the thought made me cringe.

“Shouldn’t you be resting, though?”

“It’s my leg that’s injured, not my brain. It won’t affect my work.”

Fine. Good for you.

I didn’t have that kind of passion—guess that’s why I’m not a duke.

“Anyway, what do you plan to do about Earl Owen?”

That was the real reason I came.

I have a gut feeling he got hit on purpose.

Leon’s frustrated voice echoed in my mind.

Even I doubted Ricardo would fail to dodge Leon’s arrow.

Leon was worse at archery than I was.

Still, what reason would Ricardo have to let himself be hit?

Ricardo responded with a strangely annoyed tone.

“…So you’re more worried about the earl than me?”

“Of course not.”

In any case, he was the one who got hurt.

“I don’t plan to hold him responsible. I don’t even want an apology.”

…Then what do you want?

I felt a bit uneasy at what he might say next.

When I looked at him, Ricardo let out a dry laugh.

“What? Are you afraid I’ll punish him too harshly?”

“That’s for you to decide.”

Maybe I shouldn’t have brought up Leon.

I quickly tried to change the topic.

“Well, if you’re doing fine, I’ll get going.”

Just as I was about to say goodbye—

“Ask me for help like you used to.”

His voice—cold and arrogant—rang out.