Chapter 285: At Last, Paying Respects at the Vélez Ducal Residence

[A/N: Updated the character of Robin Marie, hype it up by adding popularity to it :D]

We returned to the embassy once, put ourselves in order, and set out for the Vélez ducal residence. I had to see him at least once no matter what. I would not speak of grudges or bitterness. I would only offer thanks. There were all sorts of things, but the one who had made the stage for my exploits last night was the Duke of Vélez, so I had no grounds to complain. If anything, I thought I ought to be grateful. I had learned well enough that a creature called a duke was that sort of thing, and I had been given a lesson, so I would call it even.

Her Majesty might already be there, so I had sent word that I only wanted to greet the Duke briefly. I had also said that if it overlapped with Her Majesty we could shift the time. The Duke’s reply had been an extremely simple "Please come."

When we entered the ducal residence, the carriage His Grace used was in the courtyard, so he was home. There was also a carriage that appeared to be Her Majesty’s. I rather wished to decline the dense experience of meeting Her Majesty twice in one day.

As I was about to step down from the carriage, Rudolf pleaded with me.

"Please, whatever you do, do not say anything unnecessary."

When exactly had I said anything unnecessary! Well, I might have said something that stepped in a little. But that sort of thing was rare, I thought. I thought so. Hmm. Anyway.

"It is fine. I understand."

Rudolf could not hide the unease in his face at my answer.

The Duke and Duchess of Vélez stood at the entrance and received us. Elle and Annie were lined up behind them. Thank goodness! Her Majesty had not come out! I wanted to exchange a brief greeting at the door and leave.

The Duchess was smiling as usual, but the Duke looked badly worn down. The circles under his eyes were terrible, and his eyes were bright red. Had he been crying until a moment ago, or had he not slept at all? His breath smelled a little of drink, so had he been drunk until morning on the sweet wine of victory? Or had it been despair-drinking after losing his stake?

The Duke would not meet my eyes and said nothing. There was no helping it, so I spoke first.

"Thank you for making time today despite being busy. I came because I wished to offer a word of thanks for last night."

The Duke twitched and looked at me from the corner of his eye, but still said nothing. The Duchess said,

"Lord Marie fought so hard last night, and today you show no sign of fatigue. Welcome to our home. Come, please. Do come inside."

and invited us in.

"No, His Grace must be busy as well, and I thought I would take my leave here..."

I protested, but the Duchess took my arm and would not let go. Was it proper for another man’s wife to grab a young man’s arm and tug? Her chest was pressed against my arm!

And yet the Duke only stood there, swaying like kelp in the sea. He had always been a man with no backbone, but I did not think it had been this bad.

"No, well, I am busy too, and I have other business..."

I pleaded, but I was not heard. Elle stood behind me and blocked the escape. Annie pulled Rudolf along. What was going on in this house? What did they take a guest for!?

That thought lasted only until Her Majesty put her face out over the second-floor stair rail.

"Oh my, Lord Robin. Do come up quickly. We have been waiting."

Once she said that, it was all over. I could only advance toward Her Majesty like a dog whose scruff had been grabbed. That was right. I had forgotten. I was Her Majesty’s hound. I drifted toward her like a moth drawn to a lamp. When Her Majesty and the Duchess were together, nobody could win. Haaaah.

"Ah, um, I..."

The Duke stammered, trying to say something with the nuance of let me slip out already, but when Her Majesty shot him one glare he shrank with a tiny queeeek.

"Lord Robin, I said I would go see the Duchess of Vélez, so you timed your visit to match, did you not? Then there is no need to worry about His Grace and go home. Mariska wants to hear your story as well, so please talk at length. His Grace, one of the two parties of House Vélez, is here too, so I think we will hear something interesting!"

Her Majesty sought the Duchess’s agreement. The Duchess nodded greatly, then said,

"Before we hear the story, Lord Robin Marie, please allow me to thank you. Thanks to your exploits I was able to make a great profit. Thank you so very much. It truly feels like a dream. Fifty gold coins becoming two thousand five hundred! Ufufu. I wonder what I should use it for. I have never held this much money. Those fifty gold coins were what my father gave me when I married into this house. I had treasured them all this time, but this time Her Majesty said, ’Lord Marie will absolutely win, so bet on Lord Marie,’ which I found strange, yet it was Her Majesty speaking, so I believed her and bet. For it to become this much money makes me truly happy. Thank you, truly."

She bowed her head again and again. Surely the Duchess had already thanked Her Majesty many times as well. It was a sharp contrast to the Duke beside her, who looked as if he were chewing a bitter bug. The fact that I was seeing such a bright smile on the Duchess probably meant she did not know the Duke had taken a huge loss.

I am good at reading a room. I would not go spreading the Duke’s failure around.

But looking at how worn down the Duke was, it felt pitiful to drag him into a circle of chatting with Her Majesty and the Duchess alongside me. It was obvious the two of them would pick at him relentlessly, and I could not tell how the conversation might turn his resentment toward me, so I thought it better to ask him to withdraw. That way I could sell him a favor.

"Your Majesty, looking at His Grace, he seems quite exhausted. I am young, so one night’s sleep took away last night’s fatigue, but His Grace not only last night, he also put in much effort beforehand with preparations and arrangements. I think that fatigue has piled up and is coming out all at once now, so I would like him to rest properly here. How would that be?"

When I said that, Her Majesty made a face as if to ask whether she had to let go of this toy, but I appealed with my eyes and she seemed to accept, reluctantly.

The Duchess wore a face that said why?, and an expression that said she had not squeezed enough yet, but I felt that could wait until after we left.

"Yes. Lord Marie says so as well, and I think His Grace had better rest. Shall we ask Lord Marie to keep us company instead? Would that be all right, Your Grace?" ℯ

When Her Majesty put it to the Duke, his face looked ready to cry. Or rather, tears welled in his eyes.

"Lord Marie! Thank you! I am in your debt! If anything troubles you, tell me! I will surely be of help!"

He gripped my hand, shook it hard, and withdrew.