I Stole The Duke - Chapter 69

Imperial Year 321, June 16

“Ah! What time is it?!”

Startled, Eliana shot up in bed, blinking rapidly. The last thing she remembered was Michalis lying beside her the night before. Thanks to that, and all the sleeplessness from the previous day, she’d ended up sleeping far too soundly.

Well, at least I’m still alive, so there’s that.

Judging the sun’s position, she immediately yanked the bell cord beside her bed.

“Greetings, My Lady.”

A new knight stood at her door. It seemed the guards rotated daily.

“Ah, nice to meet you. What’s your name, Sir?”

She recognized his face but had never spoken to him before.

“Sir Roanes Mikkelsen, at your service. It would be an honor if you called me by name.”

Where Speaker had a brawny, gorilla-like build, Roanes was lean and sharp. He looked like the type who could catch a flying dagger with his bare hands. Very reliable.

“Sir Roanes, I’ll be counting on you today.”

“It’s an honor to escort you, My Lady!”

She… she called me by name!

What Speaker couldn’t achieve, Roanes had done in one try.

“Would I be able to find Sir Joel in the training grounds right now?”

Today’s plan needed Joel’s help.

“At this time, he’s likely just finishing his personal training. I know where he is—I’ll take you.”

Roanes knew more than he let on about his lord’s private activities, but discretion was part of the job. He could lead her there, at least.

“I’d appreciate that.”

With Roanes escorting her, Eliana made her way toward the rear garden.

Eliana?

“M-My Lady!”

Just as Michalis and Joel were leaving the garden after finishing a secret training session, they ran into her face-to-face.

“Here—take this.”

“Ah, yes.”

Michalis quickly passed the longbow in his hand over to Joel.

“Sir Joel!”

Eliana’s eyes widened with joy as she rushed toward him with quick steps. After three days apart, seeing her personal guard again made her genuinely happy.

She just… left my side and ran to him…

She looks happier to see Joel than her own husband…

Both men were a little heartbroken.

“Why are you holding a bow?”

Eliana tilted her head, looking at the two longbows Joel was now holding.

“With the hunting competition just days away, I was getting some practice in.”

“……”

Michalis remained silent, leaving Joel to answer. He would never admit he’d only just started learning.

“Oh, right. I completely forgot the hunting competition was so close.”

She’d been so preoccupied with the regression magic that the upcoming event had completely slipped her mind.

If I were the assassin…

Rather than breaking into the heavily guarded Duke’s estate, using the hunting competition would be much easier.

If the Duchess were killed inside the estate, it would be murder. But at a hunting event? It could be disguised as an accident.

No assassin guild would want to openly oppose House Acher. So the kill would have to look like a tragic accident.

That means I have four days to get my magic cards back.

Time was running out fast.

“Sir Joel, could I have a quick word?”

This part of her plan was urgent—and Joel was essential to it.

“Ah, of course, My Lady.”

Eliana tugged his sleeve and led him away without hesitation.

“Sir Roanes, please wait by the main entrance.”

In other words—don’t follow.

“Yes, My Lady.”

“……”

She didn’t even speak to me…

I’m supposed to be the escort today…

The two men left behind looked quietly crushed.

Only when they were far enough that the others were out of sight did Eliana finally speak.

“Sir Joel.”

“Yes, My Lady?”

Feeling the Duke’s gaze stabbing into his back, Joel was visibly tense.

[Operation 5: Ask an Expert for Advice]

“The Duke is really mad at me. I want to fix things as soon as possible… and I thought you might have the best insight.”

Eliana still hadn’t recovered from her ‘ear-torture’ conversation with Speaker. Picking the right person to ask was clearly crucial.

“……”

Why me, My Lady…

There was nothing more awkward than being dragged into a couple’s issues.

“Ah… My Lady, well… I…”

Joel hesitated. But Eliana pressed on.

“Sir Joel, you know you’re the only one I can ask about something like this.”

Her sincere words shook Joel’s resolve.

Ugh, I’m going to regret this…

But it was true. She had no close female friends, and the rest of her surroundings were filled with men who thought with their muscles.

“Alright, Sir Joel. Tell me the answer. Please.”

“A-aha… then… how about this?”

Sighing, Joel finally spoke up.

I guess it’s time I paid off my karmic debt for all that spying…

“Don’t approach him first. Leave him alone for now.”

Ideally, you’d disappear from his sight for a while… but since that’s not an option, this is the next best thing.

Time usually heals things—but if she wanted a quick resolution, she’d need to take drastic measures.

“…Huh?”

Eliana blinked in confusion. That was the complete opposite of her last strategy: get close and stick to him.

“If you force the issue while he’s still upset, you might just make it worse. You need to give His Grace some space.”

Jack narrowed his eyes at the job posting.

Urgent Hire: Short-Term Garden Workers for the Acher Ducal Estate
Location: Wespa

Qualifications: Healthy males aged 17–45
Positions Available: Multiple
Duties: Replacing stone walkways, removing weeds from the garden paths
Benefits: Work clothes and lunch provided
Period: Throughout June
Daily Wage: 80,000 RM
Note: Residents of Districts 2–5 not eligible due to plague restrictions. Daily temperature checks required for entry.

Only 14 days left to assassinate the Duchess of Acher.

Once the social season in Wespa ended, the Duke’s party would return south, and any opportunity for an assassination would vanish. That meant the difficulty would rise drastically.

Guess I got lucky, Jack thought.

With District 3 locked down from the outbreak, security across Wespa had tightened. Even so, the Acher estate was hiring day laborers. That alone felt like a golden opportunity.

“I can start tomorrow,” Jack said confidently.

The work would likely be grueling, but the pay wasn’t bad. Without hesitation, he submitted his resume.

The Acher family was known for its powerful military force. Still, rather than go in as a team, Jack preferred to infiltrate alone—quieter, cleaner. It was more dangerous, but if he succeeded, he’d claim all the glory for himself.

It was a high-risk, high-reward strategy. But for a man like Jack, there was no other way.

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