I Stole The Duke - Chapter 79

‘It’s her. She’s the one who ordered it.’

“You’d better think carefully before you answer, Jack.”

Fiore stepped closer to Jack, whose eyes were darting nervously.

“I don’t have much experience with torture… I’m not good at judging how much pressure to apply.”

His specialty had always been intelligence gathering and surveillance—not interrogation or torture.

“……”

“You seem to be having trouble breathing already. Maybe I’ll try your ribs next?”

Fiore’s hand lifted slowly as he stared at Jack’s wheezing chest.

‘Ah… damn it!’

A face so plain and gentle shouldn’t look so terrifying.

“Damn it! Fine! Yes, it’s her voice! The client!”

Just before Fiore’s hand touched his skin, Jack screamed in panic.

“Jack… you’re a real piece of work, you know that?”

“What?”

Fiore’s sudden remark threw Jack off.

“You’ve killed forty-three people… and you can’t handle a little pain?”

Unfortunately, Fiore’s hand didn’t stop.

“Aaaargh!”

“I haven’t even started torturing you, and you’re already giving up your client?”

“You sick bastard! That’s not what we agreed—AAAGH!”

“I never said I wouldn’t torture you.”

“AAAAAAGH!”

Jack’s screams echoed endlessly through the basement beneath the flower shop. It was only after a long while that Fiore finally emerged, calmly jotting down a coded message.

{ Confession and testimony secured. }

Flap!

In the early dawn, a masked owl with a scroll attached to its leg soared into the sky.

June 21st, Imperial Year 321

Clip-clop. Clip-clop.

Hooves struck the cobbled road with a cheerful rhythm.

“Ah, Sir Concerto. Heading to work?”

As a healthy chestnut-colored horse trotted closer, the guards stationed at the inner gate straightened and greeted the rider.

“Was the night peaceful?”

“Yes, sir. No incidents.”

“Good. Carry on.”

A light hum escaped his lips. The skies were clear, not a cloud in sight. A crisp sea breeze made the commute feel even better.

‘Ah, how I love the social season.’

With his lord away for an extended period, the deputy had been enjoying a sweet stretch of freedom.

Tasks that weren’t urgent were neatly stacked in the duke’s office, while time-sensitive matters were sent directly to the Wespa estate via priority mail.

Indeed, ladis, Duke Ascher’s loyal deputy, was currently living the dream of a well-balanced civil servant life.

‘I will get married this year—no matter what.’

His lips curled into a small smile at the thought of the matchmaking appointment scheduled after work.

He was undeniably a handsome man: skin as fair as a northerner’s, golden-blonde hair with an orange sheen, clear teal eyes, and a knight’s solid build. The only reason he’d remained single at twenty-six was the sheer workload that had kept him away from society events.

“Sir Concerto!”

“…Yes?”

Just as Iadis was heading toward the main estate, he froze. That voice wasn’t exactly welcome first thing in the morning.

“Dan—I mean, Sir Carlisle.”

Since Carlisle was still under disciplinary action, Iadis couldn’t call him “commander.”

“Perfect timing. I was just on my way to find you.”

Members of the Azure Knight Order, dressed in uniform and mounted, were lined up behind Carlisle. Fifteen in total—the entire force currently stationed within the estate.

“You mean me?”

An uneasy feeling crept up his spine.

“We’re short on time, so I’ll explain on the way.”

“What’s going on…?”

Suspicion flared in Iadis’s eyes as he joined the formation.

“With everyone assembled, full gallop to the portal!”

“Yes, Sub-Commander!”

“……”

“To Wespa—move out!”

“Wespa?!”

Iadis was dragged away before he’d even had the chance to sit at his desk.

‘Wespa? But my spare clothes… my matchmaking appointment?!’

And just like that, his carefully chosen outfit—painstakingly selected for the arranged meeting—was ruined in the mad dash.

‘What time is it…?’

Eliana slowly blinked awake with the sun already high in the sky. She’d barely slept the night before, and now she’d overslept again.

‘Where’s Michalis?’

The seat beside her was cold, and the tea table that had once been cluttered with documents was now completely cleared.

“My lady.”

As Eliana stepped outside after finishing her morning routine, Sir Roswell Speaker greeted her with a polite bow at the door.

“Oh, Sir Speaker. Your arm… seems to be doing fine.”

Eliana swallowed the rest of her question. If she ended the sentence as a question, she’d end up listening to an entire drama’s worth of backstory.

“It’s all thanks to you, my lady.”

Speaker managed to keep his chatty nature in check—for now.

“Let’s go to the training grounds.”

“Yes, my lady. I’ll escort you.”

When they arrived at the entrance of the training grounds, Eliana stopped in place.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

The sparring field was echoing with the sharp clash of steel.

Haa… haa…

Joel Terius, soaked in sweat, was barely holding off Cedric’s attacks. He was being steadily pushed back.

“Sir Joel Terius! Are you not awake yet?!”

Scraaaape—!

Their longswords screeched against one another as they locked blades.

“With skills like this, do you really think you can protect the lady?”

Despite his harsh words, Cedric was secretly impressed by Joel’s rapid improvement.

‘If I keep pushing him for another month or two, he’ll reach Expert class soon.’

When Joel first arrived at Wespa, he hadn’t lasted even five minutes against Cedric. Now, he had been holding out for over fifteen—almost as if he’d been secretly training.

“Five more minutes, Sir Joel. If you can’t hold out, I’ll bury you in the dirt.”

Still harboring resentment from the tournament, Cedric renewed his assault.

“Yes, sir!”

Startled, Joel quickly raised his blade again. A faint mirage-like shimmer began to rise from the edge of his sword.

“Sir Speaker, how long do you think it’ll take for Sir Joel to be accepted into the Azure Knights?”

Eliana, still watching from a distance, asked casually.

“Hm… To join, he’ll first need to reach Sword Expert rank, then challenge and defeat a current member, and finally pass the naval maneuvering exam. At his current pace, I’d say… three to four months.”

Speaker answered fluidly, as though he’d been waiting to be asked.

“Assuming he passes everything on the first try, of course. But since he’s from the Terius family, which has deep roots in naval tradition, all that’s left is to focus on swordsmanship.”

“How is the naval exam conducted?”

“To become an Azure Knight, one must prove the ability to command a fleet. The test involves leading a squadron of three ships through a series of designated checkpoints within a time limit, returning with zero losses.”

Speaker, perhaps feeling less talkative than usual, finished his explanation there.

“I see.”

Surprisingly enough, Sir Speaker was ranked fourth among the Azure Knights. If he said so, it was reliable.

‘If that dream last night was a vision…’

In her dream, Joel had been wearing the Azure Knight’s uniform.

‘Then Karahan will return in… three or four months at the earliest.’

Eliana’s heart ached at the memory of Joel, turned to stone and sinking into the sea.

‘If I don’t want that to happen… I have to start preparing now.’

It didn’t matter whether it was a true prophetic dream or just her subconscious fears. As long as there was even a sliver of possibility, she couldn’t allow everyone to die meaninglessly as they had in her nightmare.

“I should go to his office.”

After watching the match a little longer, Eliana turned away. She didn’t want to interrupt the rhythm they were building.

“Michalis, when are you going to lift my house arrest?”

Michalis’s hand, mid-sentence as he was writing a reply, paused briefly.

“You wish to go out?”

He looked up from the papers as Eliana, now seated across from him at the desk, met his gaze.

“I understand it’s for my safety, but… staying inside the mansion all the time is becoming stifling.”

“It won’t be for much longer.”

He offered the brief, curt reply and turned his focus back to the documents.

Flap!

At that moment, a messenger pigeon flew in through the open window.

“……”

Eliana’s eyes widened on instinct.

‘A blue ribbon… Azure Knights?’

She had seen messenger birds fly into the office before, but this was different. The white dove, with a distinct blue ribbon tied to its leg, instantly drew her attention.

Michalis opened the scroll, read the contents, and without a word, burned it in the flame of a nearby candle.

‘Azure Knights… in Flencia?’

The paper, whatever it was, disintegrated before her eyes—reduced to ash before she could read a single word.

“……”

Michalis ignored her questioning gaze completely.

‘He’s definitely hiding something important…’

Eliana let out a soft sigh and returned her eyes to her stationery. Since it likely involved military intelligence, she couldn’t pry.

Scratch, scratch.

The room fell silent again, the two of them lost in their own tasks.

After the hunting tournament, all construction inside the mansion had been suspended. No further assassination threats had emerged. And just like that, an eerily peaceful day passed by.

“Sleep well, Michalis…”

“May you have better dreams tonight.”

It wasn’t until after dinner, curled up in Michalis’s arms just before falling asleep, that the lingering unease in Eliana’s heart finally faded.

“……”

Near midnight, Eliana’s breathing was soft and even—deep in sleep.

Rustle.

Michalis gently pulled back the blanket and slowly rose from bed. He lingered for a moment, watching her sleeping face, then quietly slipped out of the bedroom.

‘Your Grace.’

Joel, waiting outside, bowed silently.

‘Take good care of her.’

No words were needed—their eyes conveyed everything.

“……”

Wearing the uniform of the Supreme Commander, Michalis stepped out through the mansion’s front gates. Everything for the operation had already been meticulously prepared.

“Move out.”

Mounting his black steed, Michalis gave the quiet command.

Clop. Clop.

The magic-lit procession gradually disappeared into the darkness, heading away from the estate.

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