Duke, Is This Your First Time?

Chapter 44

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***

[That b*st*rd Duke Deimos, I want to kill him so bad.]

He understood the twisted mind of Dustin, but it wouldn’t do him any good to speak it out. Words could be interpreted exaggeratingly depending on the person who heard it.

Duke Russet examined the surroundings first. Luckily, the door to the hall was closed and there were no sight of nobles tailing them.

It was a relief, so he decided to appease the bad-tempered little b*st*rd first.

[Just because you can’t get your hands on it right now doesn’t make any difference. Marquess Camellia will eventually fall into your hands. Then you can unwind your yearning however you want after that.]

[The same line again and again. I’m sick and got enough of it. Do you know how many years I’ve been hearing that? I guess that’s all you can say, Duke.]

Duke Russet frowned slightly at Dustin’s arrogant attitude, regardless of how angry he was.

[It’s not easy to control people and things from the third perspective. Therefore, I didn’t tell you that. Win over Marquess Camellia, or create an opportunity to embrace her naturally.]

He was talking in circle, but what he was implying was actually simple. He was saying that if the Prince had seduced the girl properly, they wouldn’t have encountered such trouble.

The duke spoke again with a sigh as Dustin’s eyes slanted ferociously after he understood what Duke Russet meant.

[Let’s return first. I brought in two new maids yesterday. Embracing them will help you relax.]

Perhaps realizing that it was useless to talk any further, Dustin gritted his teeth to the point he could hear the gritting sound.

After that, he felt relieved upon receiving news that he was locked up in the bedroom along with the maids, and all hell broke loose.

Duke Russet glared coldly at the trembling maids on the bed.

The maids hurried out of the bedroom naked upon receiving his glare telling them to get out of the room at once.

The door closed and when they were the only people remaining there, Dustin spoke up. His mocking eyes were showing a deep blue color with a mix of lingering madness and anger.

“Father seems to have no intention of giving the Crown Prince’s position to me. If he wanted to give it to me, he would have done that.”

Despite the murderous appearance that looked as if he would kill anyone right away, Duke Russet kept his composure.

“Isn’t that something you already knew?”

“There’s a big difference between knowing and confirming, I feel very angry.”

Dustin gritted his teeth.

His father, the Emperor, knew the reason very well. He was an unworthy son to him.

It was already fatal from the moment his mother took over the position of Empress by setting the Empress up and using them as a pretext to intimidate her.

[t/n: the terms used for Dustin’s mother is ‘황비’, which can be translated as the other wives of the Emperor, meanwhile the term for deposed Empress is ‘황후’ which can be translated as the official/first wife of the Emperor.]

Moreover, when his half-brother, the First Prince suddenly died, the Emperor’s gaze on him and his mother turned even colder than ever.

Neither Duke Russet nor his mother said anything, but Dustin had an indistinct hunch about it.

His half-brother’s death was never by natural causes.

With that being said, he didn’t mean to blame or resented the duke nor his mother. No, instead, he was thankful for them.

The only emotion he felt when hearing the news of his half-brother’s death wasn’t sorrow, but the joy of being able to take the Crown Prince’s position.

Regardless of the disapproving look of the Emperor toward him, that position would fall into his hand and he would stand on top of everyone and look down at them.

But, when the Emperor suddenly took a step forward with the Third Prince, he couldn’t help but to be angry and irritated.

“Of course, you would. That wouldn’t bring much change to the flow. It could be an opportunity.”

“Opportunity?”

Duke Russet calmly continued as Dustin eyed him with a look as if saying, ‘What are you talking about?’

“It’s a fact that we’ve hardly laid hands on the Third Prince because His Majesty has been covering him until now. Everytime we sent a bunch of skillful assassins, we failed. You knew it well, didn’t you, Your Highness?”

“……”

Dustin shut his mouth and didn’t say anything. He was the one who asked to send off assassins, so there was nothing he could say.

Since the target is a prince, it wasn’t easy to hire a tight-mouthed assassin with remarkable skill, even though it’s Duke Russet.

He should have used Veramus to bring in a notorious assassionation group that would do anything only if they were given money.

How much money did he spend solely for it?

Duke Russet continued with his logical speech as he clicked his tongue with a sigh.

“But it’s different now. He becomes easier to be targeted and it’s easier for you to show your qualities as a crown prince in front of the nobles. You’re not confident to go against your brother, who is nine years younger than you.”

“……”

Dustin glared viciously at Duke Russet who provoked him. But the duke continued talking without blinking.

“More than that, you have to pay attention to every word and every action you take from now on. It’s embarrassing for you to show your terrible temper like today. What if it spread around?”

“Are you threatening me?”

“There’s no way I would do that. I’m not threatening you, I’m simply giving you advice.”

Dustin gritted his teeth at the sly words of Duke Russet.

Although his anger was still at its peak, he couldn’t afford to be angry anymore because what the duke said wasn’t wrong.

After confirming his grandson’s temper had been subdued, Duke Russet spoke in a more gentle voice.

“The birthday banquet has been announced. If it’s irreversible, you can beat the Third Prince to become the main character of that day.”

Dustin crumpled his eyebrows slightly as he listened.

Is that possible at the event where the main character is already selected?

However, it wasn’t said by just anyone else, but Duke Russet, his maternal grandfather. He couldn’t say that if there wasn’t any way.

After remaining silent for a moment, Dustin asked in a completely subdued voice.

“……How do I do that?”

“Take Marquess Camellia as your partner.”

“Elly?”

“Yes. If Marquess Camellia, who had a scandal with Duke Deimos, appeared at the banquet with you, everyone’s eyes will be directed to you.”

Dustin thought it wasn’t a bad idea. No, it was a very good idea.

Taking Elysia as his partner would not only focus the eyes of the nobles to him, but to give the impression that she, the head of the aristocratic faction, belonged to him as well, as the duke said.

Dustin nodded, feeling better when he thought about walking around the banquet hall with her in his arms.

“I will do it. I like that.”

“I’m glad you like that. Then, I’ll be waiting in Your Highness’ office. I believe you will appear with a neat appearance by then.”

Dustin wiggled his thick eyebrows. He understood the duke, who was saying he should stop acting angry and wash up.

He glared at the man in disapproval, but the opponent didn’t even blink an eye.

Dustin gritted his teeth inside as he watched the duke bow his head lightly before walking out of the bedroom.

“Let’s see if I can be treated like a child even after I become an emperor.”

He headed for the bathroom while roughly sweeping back his disheveled bangs.

***

Three days after being summoned by the Emperor, Elysia headed back to the Imperial Palace.

She was entering the palace not as the head of the aristocratic faction today, but as the shooting mentor of the Third Prince. Due to that, she wasn’t wearing her usual uniform.

She was dressed in a light attire which consisted of black pants, a neat white shirt, and a coat. There was a leather belt around her waist with a holster for the lesson.

Of course, Elysia visited Duke Russet and informed him that she would be the shooting mentor for the Third Prince before entering the palace. She also emphasized that it wasn’t her will, but the Imperial Order.

The duke, who had been silent for a while, surprisingly just said a few things. Rather, he encouraged her to do well.

It was exactly like what Lulien predicted.

[Don’t worry, Elly, Duke Russet won’t say anything. He will tell you to do it well. That way, you can take advantage of it if necessary.]

She also added with a look as if it was the most important thing.

[If you encounter the Second Prince at the Palace Entrance, just say that you come over for business. Please don’t bring up the Third Prince unless you want to see him lose his mind, and leave it to his nanny, Duke Russet.]

Dustin, who turned into a crazy b*st*rd?

Elysia thought it was horrible just by thinking about it. She even thought she was lucky to arrive immediately at the Third Prince Palace by carriage.

Arriving in front of the palace, Elysia took Har’s hand and got off the carriage, and the man who appeared as the servant of the Third Prince immediately bowed deeply to her.

“Welcome, Marquess Camellia. I’m Owen, the Head Servant of His Highness the Third Prince.”

“Nice to meet you, Owen. Where is His Highness?”

“His Highness is waiting for the Marquess in the backyard. I will lead the way.”

“Please.”

Since it has led to this, Elysia was burning with enthusiasm to educate him properly, regardless of whether he was a prince or something I can. Then the head servant suddenly looked at Har, who was standing by her side.

“Is this Sir Har Teske escorting Marquess Camellia?”

“You’re right.”

“I was ordered to bring Sir Teske with me. This way.”

Har looked at Elysia after the head servant finished his words. His eyes were saying, ‘Why me?’

Elysia also couldn’t figure out the reason. She just shrugged and returned his gaze, ‘How am I supposed to know?’

Har’s eyes clearly showed that he was irritated. It was natural that he felt uncomfortable because his time relaxing on the tree would automatically be deprived.

However, he couldn’t disobey the Prince’s order, so he released a faint sigh and followed Elysia.

It was the backyard of the palace where Elysia previously showed her shooting skill to Rashian.

The blue sky without a single cloud in sight, and the wide leaves fluttering in the wind under the warm sunlight.

The Third Prince, Rashian, sat at the table under the shade of a giant tree which probably aged for centuries. But he wasn’t alone.

When Elysia found the man sitting opposite Rashian, she unknowingly stopped in her tracks.

The golden eyes under that dark raven hair that fell nicely and filled with the sunlight were gleaming softly toward her.

‘Why is he here?’

Elysia blinked with her eyes wide open as they met Iker.

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