"Wait a moment, please!"
The door burst open as Grandpa rushed in. He slammed the door shut again, forgetting the stares of those waiting, and quickly squeezed himself between me and the Duke.
"There's a reason for everything our master does!"
"What on earth could that be?"
The person who asked with a boiling face was the Duke's knight. Yes, I understand. I must look like a madman.
"Enough, Sir Rayburn..."
"Your Grace! Please don't stop me. This is an issue that cannot be overlooked."
I wonder why he's so angry. Honestly, I'm so embarrassed I wish I could just crawl under a desk and hide. The knight, ignoring the Duke's attempt to calm him, coldly pressed on.
"Explain yourself. Last time, you suddenly laughed and cursed through the chat, and in the wizard's district, you shouted that it would be the last time you'd answer. What complaint could you possibly have against the Duke?"
What? Did the Duke show that chat to the knight too?
"It's all a misunderstanding!"
Grandpa shouted loudly. Then, looking back and forth between the Duke and the knight, he began to speak boldly.
"If you listen to the story, both of you will understand. In fact, our Count is—"
"The Count is?"
"The Count is... uh... uh... ah..."
A chilling silence fell. Grandpa struggled to speak, but it was in vain. Due to the curse that prevented him from speaking to others, his lips seemed glued shut! Despite using all his facial muscles, he couldn't utter another word. The Duke and the knight watched Grandpa's lips, tense with curiosity about what significant story he might have.
Ah, I don't know. I'll step forward. Let's get out of this situation quickly.
"There's a story so sad it can't be told without tears!"
The Duke and the knight turned their gaze to me. The knight asked incredulously,
"What is this story, exactly?"
"It's a story so sad it can't be told without tears. It's a secret. You shouldn't try to hear someone else's painful story so easily!"
I scolded them boldly. I feel like I'll never be able to face the Duke and the knight again out of embarrassment... But I felt I should apologize anyway.
"Anyway, I'm sorry."
Grandpa looked at me as if I were crazy for suddenly apologizing after scolding. But I am crazy. After all the insane things I've done in front of these people, what difference would one more make!
The knight opened his mouth and asked incredulously,
"Didn't you say we would understand if we heard the circumstances?"
"Did I?"
That was Grandpa's line.
"You did."
"Then I take it back."
The Duke's face, which had been calm, cracked. This time, it was the knight who couldn't hold back.
"This is an unprecedented insult! I demand a duel with the Hexton Count's family in the name of honor...!"
"Enough, Sir Rayburn."
The one who stopped the knight was the Duke. He seemed to have barely regained his composure, but his voice was calm. The Duke looked at me with his blue eyes. Honestly, I flinched, thinking he might explode in anger.
Surely he didn't stop the knight because he wanted to hit me himself instead of a duel? Soon, his beautiful lips parted.
"The Count is right. We shouldn't insist on hearing private matters. I believe there must have been a reason."
...What?
Suddenly, a halo appeared behind the Duke.
A saint, a saint!
Even Grandpa, who should have been on my side, looked amazed by the Duke's mercy and understanding. The only one unhappy with the situation was the Duke's knight.
Then the Duke continued in his refreshing voice, like a forest after the rain.
"I understand the Count's heart. Everyone has their own story to tell, don't they?"
I nodded without thinking.
"Ah, yes..."
"I admire your courage to speak honestly. It seems we were the ones who were rude. Do you forgive us?"
The knight looked at his lord with a dumbfounded expression. His eyes said it all.
'Where exactly was the Count honest?'
Yes, I think the same.
Grandpa didn't miss the opportunity. He quickly nodded and spoke for me.
"Of course. We are also moved by your great understanding, Your Grace. Isn't that right, Count?"
Either the Duke is kind, stupid, or a kind fool... one of the three.
"Ouch!"
Lost in thought, my foot was stomped on by the butler. To step on a foot wearing a shoe, such a cruel act! But it snapped me back to reality.
"Of course. Your Grace is truly kind. How... how do you manage your domain with such an amazing character..."
"Yes?"
"No, I mean, I wish everyone in the domain knew of your generous nature. Thank you for understanding."
And so, this mysterious conversation came to an end. The most embarrassing thing was that before the Duke left, we had exchanged such a conversation.
"Then, please enjoy the party to the fullest. I hope you will also attend the raffle and auction to brighten the event."
"Thank you. I look forward to seeing the Count's face again."
"Of course. See you outside."
"Yes, see you."
"Take care."
"You too, Count."
"Your Grace, please go ahead."
"Yes, thank you."
It's either going to be death by turning into stone or by high blood pressure. But I couldn't shout to shut up since I had just managed to calm things down and said I would have the last word.
Annoyed, I watched the Duke leave.
"Yes. You don't have to answer."
"Ah, yes, I again..."
"Yes, yes, I get it."
The Duke unconsciously opened his mouth again but closed it after seeing my fierce expression.
The knight seemed to realize I was cursing with my eyes and was about to rush at me again.
Hey, don't do that to me; try stopping your lord from answering.
After the Duke and knight finally left, Grandpa wiped his brow, looking ten years older.
Then he took out a handkerchief, wiped the cold sweat, and sighed.
"How was I? Did I seem like a madman?"
"Yes."
"Was I incredibly rude?"
"Would you call that talking?"
So blunt.
"But isn't that Duke strange too? He's obsessed with answers."
"Maybe that's just his personality. Or he has his reasons."
"Ah, what reasons?"
"They understood our situation, didn't they? Let's just move on. Okay?"
True, that's right. I don't need to dwell on it. I nodded in agreement.
"How did they recognize me? I thought I wore the hood well..."
"Your presence is too strong. They must have recognized you just by your lower face... Honestly, it's not something easy to forget."
Yes, if I saw someone stomping their foot in a store saying they would be the last to greet, I wouldn't forget it either.
Time passed, and it was already time for the auction. Grandpa had prepared a special auction for me, cursed as I am.
Still, the thought of standing in front of so many people made me nervous. If only it weren't for this damn curse. It feels like I've lost ten years of my life because of what just happened.
Honestly, I don't understand why the Duke forgave my rudeness. As I lay there, wiping the cold sweat, Grandpa patted my shoulder sympathetically. Of course, he didn't tell me to rest.
"Let's get ready to go out quickly. The moneybags are waiting."
…
Sir Rayburn, the knight of Duke Dayra, was particularly sensitive to insults. He was somewhat hot-tempered and prone to taking the lead. Had the Duke not intervened in time, he might have truly dueled with the knight of the Hexton Count’s family.
“Why do you just let it go? Didn’t that Count insult you, Your Grace?”
“Not at all. It seemed like there really was a reason.”
“A reason justifies cursing and shouting? Really?”
“Sir Rayburn, calm down.”
Duke Dayra calmly walked towards the auction hall, pacifying him.
The knight’s voice had been so loud that passersby glanced over.
Normally, the noise of the party would have drowned out such a voice, but now the surroundings were unusually quiet. It was due to the special auction theme prepared by the Hexton Count’s family.
‘The Silent Auction.’
An auction conducted in silence, without speaking to each other, and even the auctioneer refrained from speaking except to introduce the items.
The hall, filled with those eager to participate in the auction, was as quiet as a mouse. There were only occasional whispers, no loud voices. Rayburn, sensing the atmosphere, whispered as well.
“Is there perhaps a close collaboration with the Hexton Count’s family in the works?”
The Duke quietly found his seat and shook his head.
“That’s not it, Sir. The Hexton Count might be… similar to me. You know I have that side too.”
Rayburn knew what the Duke meant.
The Duke also had a tendency to obsess over having the last reply or the last word. But, in Rayburn’s view, the Duke was still within the bounds of reason. He had never shouted to shut up because he would have the last word.
Just as Rayburn was about to argue that such rudeness should not be overlooked.
“In a world where everyone tries to win, it’s been a while since I’ve met someone similar. It was nice, even if just for a moment.” “That’s a misconception on your part, Your Grace, even if you tumble forward to see it…”
“Sir, drop your prejudice and take a good look at the Hexton Count. He seems to be a person with a tender heart and honesty.”
“Tender-hearted and honest… No, didn’t you see him cursing with his eyes earlier…”
“Sir, you sometimes judge people too harshly. The Hexton Count is not such a person.”
Rayburn gave up on further argument and leaned back in his chair. Do as you please, if you like him so much, marry him.