I Stole The Duke - Chapter 54

Imperial Year 321, June 13.

The day after the tea party, the Duke’s estate in Wespera was turned upside down.

“Sir Joel Terius! Just what were you thinking, behaving like this—ha!”

“Sir Terius. I can’t hide how disappointed I am in you.”

It was happening in the estate’s annex, originally built as barracks for the knight division.

“What…? What do you mean, Sir?”

Joel, who had just opened the door to step out for his secret training with his lord, suddenly found himself surrounded by his Blue Knight seniors, bombarded with harsh scoldings he didn’t understand.

“I want to believe this article is fake, but how could you allow such filth to even mention Her Grace?!”

“Right. Let’s say it’s nonsense—but still! First, you take a beating. Come to the training yard.”

Speaker, gripping a rolled-up newspaper like a sword, looked murderous.

“What is going on?!”

Please—just let me know what I supposedly did wrong.

Shoved into a corner without a clue, Joel felt wronged to the core.

“Sir Joel Terius. His Grace is calling for you.”

Just then, Cedric, commander of the Wespera escort unit, stepped into the hallway and called out.

“Immediately.”

“Yes, understood.”

He had been heading to train with the Duke anyway. A summons likely meant he was to go directly to the office.

“……”

The five Blue Knights shook their heads in sync and gave Joel a single, solemn look.

Farewell, little brother. You won’t be going far after this.

Joel Terius—irritatingly perfect, yes, but sharp and decent—was still a junior they all grudgingly liked.

Joel’s days as Her Grace’s escort end today.

All five shared the same thought.

Obviously, I’m the one best suited for that position anyway.

“Your Grace, you summoned me?”

Joel entered the office, bowing respectfully after knocking.

“Haaah…”

Even early in the morning, the man had the gall to look this handsome. Seeing him, Michalis could only sigh.

“Haaah.”

“……”

His lord sighed. Twice.

What in the world did I do…?

Joel felt the blood drain from his entire body.

“Sir Joel Terius. First, read this.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

He carefully accepted the newspaper. But the moment he opened it, Joel’s hands began to tremble.

Spread across the front page, in bold, scandalous letters—

<Wespera Daily Sports>

The Irresistible Southern Man, ‘J’

By day, he rides with Her Grace…
By night, he seduces Crown Princess Candidate ‘L’!

A man like no other is here!
Wespera’s social world now dazzled by a new star!

A face to die for, fashion like a dream.
Words like silk, manners like royalty— and if you think that’s all, think again.

He’s just as impressive… down below.

Carriage rides with Her Grace shaking for over an hour? Routine.

Lady ‘L’—rumored Crown Princess candidate— can’t forget the steamy night they shared in the palace garden.
Now she’s said to cry herself to sleep every night.

(Excerpted)

Once ensnared, no one escapes his spell.
So who’s his next target?

(Believe it or not. Reporter: D.P.)

“What do you make of this? Go ahead and explain, Sir Joel Terius.”

Michalis waited until Joel finished reading, his voice cold and sharp as a blade.

“Your Grace!”

Joel paled and dropped to one knee without hesitation.

“Your Grace, while I may not be entirely inexperienced, I have never had an improper relationship with anyone.”

This was… utterly ridiculous.

No one truly believed a gossip rag like this was factual. But that wasn’t the issue. The mere existence of such a story circulating was the problem.

‘L’—a Crown Princess candidate… surely they mean Lady Rancelloti?!

Joel was on the verge of snapping.

He’d never even ridden in the same carriage with Her Grace. As for Lady Rancelloti, they had danced once—just once—at her coming-of-age ball. During the tea party, he’d merely offered some help. There was no emotional connection whatsoever.

“This article is nothing more than revolting, malicious fiction.”

“I know.”

If Joel had even a hint of scandal in his past, Michalis wouldn’t have let him anywhere near Eliana. The moment Joel had offered to waltz with her before their marriage, he would’ve been reassigned—far, far away.

This was… a clean hit.

Joel’s brain felt like it had been bleached white. A flash of Freya’s sly, smiling eyes passed through his mind. He had expected her to be the sort who gossiped like any typical young lady her age—but this? This was calculated warfare through the press. He hadn’t seen it coming.

“Sir Joel Terius. What would you like to do?”

Eliana had been mentioned in the papers again. Michalis felt a headache coming on. Crushing a third-rate tabloid with no credibility would be easy—but doing so would only give the article legitimacy.

“Would you prefer to resolve this yourself, or shall I send you back to Flencia?”

Michalis was ready to return Joel to the territory if that’s what he wanted.

“Your Grace, if you grant me just one day’s leave… I’ll handle it.”

His lord was testing him. And Joel knew—backing down now would only prove he wasn’t worthy of the responsibility entrusted to him.

“Very well. Sir Joel Terius, as of this moment, you’re on leave for the day. Dismissed.”

“Suh-ho!”

Joel saluted firmly and exited the office.

Click.

Michalis stared at the closed door briefly before pulling out a small slip of paper from his desk drawer.

It was one of the reports submitted the previous evening by the intelligence bureau.

Imperial Year 321, June 12
Freya Espensen’s Schedule

• • • • Carriage Departure (13:30)

• • • • Attendance at Rancelloti Marchioness’s Tea Party (14:00 – 14:40)

• • • • Visit to Wespera Daily Sports Newspaper Office (15:10 – 15:45)

• • • • Return Home (16:20)

Was this just another battle in the ongoing power struggle between crown princess candidates? Or… was it orchestrated from the start?

Could a media smear campaign of this scale really have come from an eighteen-year-old girl? Michalis found that hard to believe.

Freya Espensen… did she really approach Eliana because she wanted to be friends?

The tone of the article seemed to sarcastically exaggerate Joel’s charm—while clearly aiming to undermine.

Tap. Tap.

Michalis drummed his fingers lightly on the desk, lost in thought.

If this is truly just between the crown princess candidates, then why was Riana dragged into it?

“……”

It was a suspicion he couldn’t afford to ignore. Michalis swiftly scribbled out a coded order.

Change priority surveillance target
From: Count Espensen
To: Freya Espensen

Even if Count Espensen was pulling strings from behind the scenes, the one executing them was his daughter—and the results would show through her actions.

Flap!

After releasing the carrier pigeon, Michalis stepped out of the office.

Today is my chance to take Eliana on a proper date.

With Joel on leave and their “secret lessons” canceled, Michalis decided to give himself the day off as well.

From the Ascher ducal estate in Wespera, the Terius family residence was only ten minutes away on horseback.

“Young master, welcome!”

“Young master, good morning!”

As Joel stepped into the front hall, the maids who had been cleaning stopped what they were doing and bowed in unison.

“Young master! At last, you’ve returned.”

The butler, wide-eyed, practically rushed over. Even though the Terius estate was so close, Joel had insisted on living in the knights’ barracks. Seeing him back was cause for celebration.

“Butler, what about the instructions I sent yesterday?”

“Yes, sir. We’ve prepared the celadon tea set from the East Empire and the gold-plated cutlery from Kantoor. We were just about to send them off.”

“Butler, I think it’s best if you deliver them personally to the Rancelloti estate.”

“Of course, young master. Is there anything else you’d like added?”

“Hold on a moment. I need to borrow something of yours.”

“Yes, sir—of course!”

There was no time to leisurely choose stationery. Joel reached into the butler’s coat pocket and pulled out a blank notepad and pen, scribbling a quick note.

I will visit in three hours.
—Joel Terius

“This is urgent. Make sure you deliver it personally to Lady Rancelloti.”

“Young master, there are two ladies in that household. Which one shall I give it to?”

“…Lady Riela Rancelloti.”

That was a detail he hadn’t known until now. Joel hesitated for a moment, then answered.

“Understood.”

“Oh, and before you go, have the carriage prepared.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll depart immediately.”

Joel watched the butler disappear down the hall, then turned and climbed the stairs.

Clack.

He opened the door to the dressing room and scanned the neatly hung garments in one sweep.

Good thing I sent these ahead of time.

In preparation for any sudden social obligations, Joel had arranged for his formalwear to be delivered before traveling to Wespera. The large room was now filled with options.

Time to become not Duke Ascher’s knight, but the heir of House Terius.

Soon, Joel was dressed in a deep navy tailcoat that hugged his frame perfectly. From a distance, it appeared simple and monochrome, but up close, one could see the fine Art Nouveau embroidery stitched into the fabric in matching thread—a true artisan’s piece.

His shirt was a pristine white, his cravat a deep navy embroidered with the golden crest of House Terius.

He completed the ensemble with a cream-colored silk pocket square. Topping it off, he donned a navy silk hat crafted in the East Empire and swapped his sword for a sleek cane—an outfit that balanced refinement and prestige.

Perfect. I’m ready.

Style didn’t permit sweat. Before leaving, Joel slipped a temperature-regulating magic device into his pocket.

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