DKVM Ch 28

Chapter 28

The biggest change was in the duke’s relationship with Rahel!

After that day, the duke slowly increased the amount of time he spent with Rahel.

He took her out for dinner, teatime, and even gave her a custom-made sword.

At first, Rahel felt awkward about the changes to the duke’s behavior.

‘That’s why the duke deliberately invites me to teatime and asks me to stay for dinner.’

It was clear that the duke intended to use me as a buffer, to ease Rahel’s discomfort, but I was happy to do my part.

I did it for the duke, but most of all, I wanted Rahel to be happy.

I wonder if Rahel sensed the duke’s efforts and my hopes for her.

At first, Rahel tried to avoid being around the duke, but now she didn’t mind.

‘But she still doesn’t talk much in front of the duke.’

Though I heard she was having dinners with the duke separate from me now.

And best of all…

‘Rahel also seems to be gradually settling down.’

Without being aware of it, the wariness in Rahel’s eyes was fading.

She was no longer struggling to fend for herself, but rather acting like a ‘real child’ with someone to lean on.

It was a miraculous transformation.

“We can go to the basement later.”

I added in case Rahel rejected the duke’s offer.

Rahel then nodded eagerly to the butler.

“We’ll be right there, so you may prepare the tea.”

“What would you like to drink?”

“I’ll have grape juice.”

“I’ll have the same, please!”

The butler took our order with a gentle smile, bowed, and walked away.

“Let’s go, then, Rahel.”

And with that, I took Rahel’s hand and led her to the parlor where the duke would be waiting.

 

ɻʂʅɿʊʈʓʢʟʠ…

 

‘Huh?’

A faint sound rang in my ears, like a humming.

No, rather than hear it, I felt it inside my head.

The direction the sound came from…it felt like it came from the window.

No, that’s not exactly it.

‘…was it from the Western Woods?’

There was a vast forest to the west that could be seen outside the window.

Our village forbade us from going into the Western Woods because it was said to be haunted by magical creatures.

‘I feel like something is calling to me…’

As I shook my head and stared off at the Western Woods, I heard Rahel’s voice calling me.

“Vivian?”

“Uh huh?”

“Is there something over there?”

“Ah, no. There’s nothing. Let’s go.”

‘Eh, I must be imagining things.’

Even if someone called me from the woods, I couldn’t possibly hear them all the way here, could I?

I shook my head and quickly ran to Rahel’s side.

* * *

“You wanted to see me?”

When Rahel and I entered the parlor, we were greeted by the duke, who had been waiting for us.

“It’s been raining pretty hard, so I thought we’d better wait for it to stop. Have a seat.”

The duke gestured to the sofa across from him.

The table was set with tea and juice, which the butler had apparently brought, and some sweets to go with it.

I absentmindedly walked over to the couch, hand in hand with Rahel, but when I saw the duke’s gaze fall on our clasped hands, I quickly let go.

‘It would be impolite to hold hands in front of the duke, wouldn’t it?’

But even after I let go of Rahel’s hand and sat down on the couch, the duke’s gaze lingered on Rahel and my hand for quite a while.

It was only when his gaze moved past us and out the window that he spoke.

“It sure does rain a lot in the south.”

“It doesn’t rain a lot in the north in the summer?”

“It doesn’t get like this. Sure, it snows a lot in the winter…. It’s different from the north. I find it quite pleasant, but I’m sure the villagers don’t like summer.”

“I like rainy days too. Listening to the rain helps me go to sleep! But then you can’t go to the festival…”

“The festival?”

The duke seemed interested in what I was saying.

I happened to have something to say about the festival, so I explained as if I’d been waiting for it.

“Yes, There’s a festival every summer. People dress up as devils and ghosts, and they sell a lot of delicious food.”

“Dressing up like a ghost. That sounds like fun.”

“So, speaking of which, may I accompany you and the princess on the festival day?”

The duke looked at me with keen eyes as I expected to answer in the affirmative.

“Is that what Rahel wants too?”

Actually, I had pestered Rahel about it and guessed she would want to come along.

“Yes. She said she wanted to go too.”

I lied without batting an eye.

When I first met the duke, I would have never imagined it, but now I can be that shameless.

It was a change from being friends (?) with the duke. [T.L. Note: The ? is in the original text to indicate Vivian is not sure she and the duke are friends.]

“Aren’t you saying that because you’re begging me to go too?”

*gasp* How did he know?

I flinched at the duke’s piercing scrutiny, but I quickly pulled my face together and protested.

“N, not at all!”

“I said I wanted to go.”

Luckily, Rahel sided with me.

Was it because my relationship with Rahel was improving?

The duke who had been watching us both, softened his eyes and asked.

“When did you say the festival was?”

“In three days! Ah, and if you would like, Your Grace can come―”

“That’s enough. You two go together.”

“Wow! Your Grace is the best!”

“Whatever you say.”

The duke glanced at me fondly, still curling his mouth into an arc as he spoke.

Watching me fidget, the duke changed the subject, picking up his cup of lukewarm tea.

“By the way, Vivian, you said your father owns a bakery, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Well, the chef is in need of an assistant, and I was wondering if I could hire your father.”

My eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected suggestion.

He must have not discussed it with Rahel beforehand because she looked equally surprised.

“Y, you want to hire my dad? As the chef’s assistant?”

“Sure. Of course, if your father agrees.”

I was dumbfounded.

Truth be told, if he wanted to find a chef’s assistant, he could find one anywhere.

Still, for the duke to give my father the opportunity first meant that he thought well of me.

‘If Dad becomes an employee of the duke, I won’t have to go back and forth from home to the villa in the rain like I did today.’

And best of all…

‘I’m sure the salary from the duke is better than what dad makes at the bakery.’

If it was a more humble aristocratic family that made this offer that might not be true, but not so for Duke Edelwein, whose wealth rivaled the imperial family.

So this was a great opportunity.

But…

“Thank you very much for your thoughtfulness, but I’m afraid we have to decline your offer.”

The duke responded as if he had expected my rejection, without any hint of dejection.

“What’s the reason?”

“It’s because….”

I hesitated for a moment before answering honestly.

“I hate to say this, but my dad isn’t good at baking or cooking…”

No matter how greedy I am for wealth or power, there is such a thing as having a conscience.

“Aren’t you being humble?”

“As a daughter who loves her father, wouldn’t I boast about him, especially in front of other people?”

I meant that my father’s skill was not enough to even boast about because I loved him.

The duke laughed heartily at my words.

“I expected you to refuse, but your reason is unexpected. It makes me want to try his bread for a different reason.”

Then he asked another question.

“Is there anything else your father likes to do then, that he’s got a talent for?”

That duke seemed to hire my father for any sort of position for the duchy.

The question puzzled me.

‘What is my father good at…?’