The Monster Duke Mistook Me for His Wife Chapter 145 - Side Story Chapter 2

Oh dear. Anyone would think the world was ending.

I clapped my hands to break the heavy mood.

“Stop crying now.”

“Stooop…”

“You’ve been reborn, so you just need a new name. Dante, what do you think?”

“I like it!”

“A new name? Me too! I like it too!”

Blackie, who perked right back up, sparkled with excitement.

“Hmm, what would be good?”

As I rubbed my chin pretending to think, Dante shot his hand up.

“Go ahead, Student Dante.”

“Whitey!”

Well, that’s certainly a… very straightforward name.

“That’s good—really good—but maybe something else…”

“Whitey! Whitey!”

Blackie—well, now newly dubbed Whitey—seemed to like the name a lot and bounced noisily around me and Dante.

…Well, if they like it, what can I do?

“That’s a pretty name. You did a great job, Dante.”

“Right? From now on, you’re Whitey!”

“Whitey is the best!”

Recharged in no time, the two of them held hands and spun around in circles.

So cute. Just watching them made me smile.

“They’re going to break something like that.”

“Why? They’re just adorable.”

Right after I said that—crash!

Seeing the two giggling in a heap in the corner, I put my hand to my forehead.

“Nathan. This isn’t going to be easy, is it?”

“Raising kids is always the hardest.”

“Haha…”

And just like that, Dante and Whitey’s chaotic first lesson began.

 

 

****

 

 

Time passed quickly.

Too quickly, in fact.

“Didn’t you say you were only going to teach for a week?”

“…I did.”

I scratched my cheek as I looked at the calendar, the date circled in red.

“When did time fly like this?”

Before I knew it, the day I was supposed to leave had passed. Even so, I was still at the Count’s estate.

“It’s obvious—it’s because of those kids.”

Dante and Blackie.

“I’m sorry, Miss Ria. We keep relying on you because of my child.”

“No, really. I enjoy teaching him. It’s fulfilling.”

It wasn’t just a polite answer—I truly meant it.

“Did you know, Count? Dante is a genius.”

He’s one of those children who understands ten things if you teach him one.

Watching a kid like that absorb things like a sponge sparked a strong desire in me to keep nurturing him as his teacher.

“A genius…?”

“Yes. A genius.”

“Oh, hoho…”

Giselle’s lips trembled. She was clearly trying hard to keep her composure.

“Go ahead and smile. What parent wouldn’t love hearing their child is a genius?”

“My Dante… a genius!”

Finally breaking into a grin so wide her cheeks could fly off, Giselle grabbed my hand.

“It’s all thanks to you, Miss Ria.”

“No, it’s because Dante’s doing so well. He’ll do just fine even without me now.”

“Teacher… are you leaving now?”

Dante, who had been eavesdropping, ran up and hugged my waist.

Not to be outdone, Blackie jumped up and clung to my neck.

“Ria, you’re leaving?”

“Can’t you stay longer? I just started to get the hang of things. I really think I could do even better if I learn just a bit more!”

“Yeah! Dante’s really good! Let’s study together!”

As if they thought I’d be leaving immediately, the two stuck to me like glue.

“Teacher!”

“Ria!”

“You guys…”

“Ria, the kids love you so much. How about staying just a few more days?”

“Miss Ria, you’re more than welcome to stay as long as you’d like!”

Nathan and Giselle gently coaxed me.

“But… Dillian is waiting for me…”

“He’s a grown man who can take care of himself. These little ones still need nurturing. Just stay a bit longer.”

“Exactly. Dante relies on you so much—if you leave now, he’ll be really heartbroken.”

The devil’s whispers grew louder and soon landed the final blow.

“More than anything, it’d be such a shame for Dante’s talent to go untapped. You’ve done all the work—how would you feel if someone else took the credit?”

“You have a point.”

“And come on—how could there be a blessing without Miss Ria?”

“…That’s also true.”

At the very least, as his teacher, I needed to be there to see Dante receive his blessing.

“Then… shall I stay a few more days?”

And so, I caved.

“Really?!”

“Blackie’s so happy!”

Dante grabbed my hand, and Blackie grabbed Dante’s.

We all held hands and spun around together.

Sorry, Sir Dillian. Please wait just a little longer!

“Heheheh!”

Nathan’s mischievous laughter echoed like background music.

 

 

****

 

 

 

A few days.

Those “few days” Ria mentioned… had no end in sight.

One day became two, two became three, and three became a week in the blink of an eye.

And before anyone realized it, a full month had passed since Ria left.

With the Lady-to-be, Angel, Fairy of Spring—all names likening Ria to sunshine—gone from the ducal estate,

it had become a perpetual blizzard.

‘He’s terrifying again today.’

The reason was, of course, the Duke of the house—Dillian Sinaise.

His aura, darker than yesterday’s, made his lieutenant, Nathan, visibly shiver.

The longer Ria was away, the deeper Dillian’s mood sank—so deep it felt like he was burrowing into the Earth’s core.

“How much work is left?”

“Just the paperwork on your desk, and we’ll be done for today.”

“Let’s get to it quickly.”

Dillian’s hands moved fast. His focus was frightening.

Though it felt wrong to admit, Nathan was quite pleased that Ria had been away for a bit.

Normally, Dillian would spend all day glued to her side, neglecting his duties—but now, in a rush to go to his fiancée,

he was displaying unprecedented levels of productivity.

‘Still… I do hope Miss Ria comes back soon.’

Perhaps his desperate wish was heard. A message came that could add years to his life.

“Your Grace! A letter from Miss Ria has arrived!”

The butler beamed with joy as he brought the letter, but Dillian snatched it like a hawk.

He moved so fast it was almost invisible.

“Where did the letter—”

No one paid the blinking butler any mind.

‘With Ria’s letter here, His Grace should be in a good mood for a while.’

Nathan relaxed, waiting for Dillian’s face to soften.

CRACK.

The letter, which was supposed to bring joy, was crushed ruthlessly in Dillian’s hand.

“…Your Grace? That’s Miss Ria’s letter…”

Nathan flinched without meaning to. The eyes that met his were blazing with fury.

“Nathan.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

“There’s nothing urgent left, is there?”

“N-no, sir. Everything’s been finished cleanly.”

“Then you take care of the rest.”

“Pardon…?”

“I’m going to Ria.”

“What?! Wait, Your Grace—!”

Grabbing his coat, Dillian disappeared like the wind.

Left alone, Nathan quickly picked up the crumpled letter.

[Sir Dillian, I’m sorry I keep extending the stay. But it’s really almost over this time!
I’ll definitely be back next week!
Sorry, and I love you ♥]

“He might be disappointed, but why so furious…?”

As he flipped the page, Nathan couldn’t believe his eyes.

[You poor lonely devil, suffering all alone!
The Count’s estate is paradise without you!
I’m having the time of my life with Ria, so enjoy your stack of paperwork, hahahaha!]

Nathan’s hand trembled as he clutched the letter.

“Nathan! What the hell have you done?!”

Forget what I said about being glad Ria was gone.

I take it back!

Please, just come back!

“Miss Ria! Please come back soon!”

Nathan cried out.

 

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

While living a busy life teaching Dante and Blackie, I suddenly realized something.

“It’s summer.”

A hot breeze blew in through the open window. The curtains fluttered.

Beyond them, a landscape full of lush greenery filled my view.

Drawn in as if hypnotized, I approached and rested my arms on the windowsill.

Naturally, a familiar and dearly missed face came to mind.

“I miss him…”

“I missed you, too.”

Then, as if replying to my words, Dillian’s voice rang out.

I rested my cheek on my arm and muttered,

“I must be hearing things now…”

Maybe it really was time to go back. The voice was too vivid—too real. I slowly closed my eyes.

Dillian’s voice became even clearer.

“Miss Ria.”

“This is so real, it almost feels true.”

“Are you going to keep your eyes closed?”

But… the thing is, it was too real.

As if he were right beside me…

Startled, I opened my eyes wide.

There he was—leaning against the wall beside me with his arms crossed, wearing that picture-perfect smile.

The face I loved so much, the one I’d longed to see, was right before my eyes.

“…Sir Dillian?”

“Yes, Miss Ria.”

“Is it really you?”

As I lifted myself from the windowsill, Dillian took my hand and kissed the back of it, smiling with his eyes.

“Yes. I’m your Dillian.”