He’s My Real Brother, Duke Chapter 111

🐾

 

The same night that Astel and Duke Anais spoke in private, Cassian was invited to the Empress’s palace.

 

He’d been warmly welcomed by the Empress’s, maid of honor, the Marquise Melania, who had always had a soft spot for heroic knights from commoner backgrounds.

 

A knight in the Empress’s entourage had injured his arm, and she wanted to speak with Cassian Gray about appointing him as a temporary Knight of Honor tomorrow.

 

“I wish to see Her Majesty.”

 

“I have assigned you tomorrow’s Knight of Honor. Do you know why?”

 

The Empress’s face, always gracious to her subjects, hardened strangely.

 

“…I do not know, Your Majesty.”

 

“I’m off to the dessert café owned by the Duke of Anais’ ward.”

 

The ward of the Duke of Anais was Astel. Cassian’s brow narrowed slightly as he recognized Astel’s portrait on the table and the pamphlet for her café. The mention of Astel from such an unexpected source gave him pause.

 

‘Stealth magic’s been a bit of a bust lately, but it’s working.’

 

He smiled his usual easy-going smile as he calmed his anxiety.

 

“Yes, she was a bit of a friend of mine in the past, and I met her a couple of times when I was a courtier for the Duke.”

 

“So, how was it?”

 

Cassian smirked in his trademark flamboyant manner.

 

“It seems she’s as kind as she looks. In truth, there are no bad ladies in the world.”

 

Even as he spoke, Cassian’s mind was racing.

 

First the Duke of Anais, and now Empress Veletha?

 

He wasn’t sure what the hell Astel was doing that they cared.

 

“I see.”

 

At the Empress’s brief acknowledgment, Cassian repeated more politely.

 

“That’s all I know for now, but is there anything else you wish to know, Your Majesty?”

 

Cassian turned to face the Empress with a steady gaze, but unlike Cassian’s initial expression, the Empress’s face was pale.

 

“Yes, a moment… Ugh…”

 

The pale-faced Empress had already stopped listening to Cassian’s words. She pressed her left hand to her forehead, wiped the sweat from her brow, and clutched her heart.

 

The Marquise, who had been standing by her side, hurriedly handed the Empress water and medicine.

 

“Your Majesty!”

 

“Here.”

 

The Empress took the medicine from the Marquise, shoved it into her mouth, drank the water, and closed her eyes, still frowning. The Marquise hastily spoke on behalf of the Empress, who had a sudden fit.

 

“My lord, you must leave immediately. Come to the Empress’s palace early tomorrow morning.”

And so Cassian could no longer watch over the Empress’s health. With a look of concern and suspicion, Cassian bowed briefly and left the palace.

As he walked the halls of the palace, he was confronted with a troubling question.

 

‘The Empress’s health is worse than expected. If she’s in such poor health, why would she even bother going to see Astel?’

 

Taking a deep breath, Cassian rummaged through the silverware in his pockets out of habit.

 

‘First… as Astel said, we must deal with Duke Cornwall at once.’

 

He dutifully followed Astel’s orders. With some difficulty, he found a passageway into the Cornwall manor and successfully stole the silverware from Rachel’s hired wizard. 

 

It may seem like a small theft, but the Cornwall manor serves the Duke of Cornwall’s every whim.

 

The fact that the Duke of Cornwall didn’t even notice the intruder was encouraging enough. I don’t know what Astel was planning, but I had a feeling I was about to see the big picture my little squirrel of a sister had painted.

 

As Cassian slipped out of the Empress’s palace, he decided to think only positive thoughts for now. 

 

It had been a long time since he’d been able to see Astel by a proper route. His heart fluttered at the thought of seeing her without Duke Anais’ interference.

 

🐾

 

The next day, I woke up before the Duke and went to work at the café early in the morning.

In preparation for the Empress’s visit, the café was neatly decorated and desserts were prepared in advance.

 

Today was bound to be a very important day.

 

I turned to the numerous pastry chefs and said, “Excuse me, could you please make a lily-shaped decoration on the surface of the cake?”

 

The chocolatiers and pastry chefs shook their heads at my detailed request.

“Of course we can, but…”

 

“…But it’s a little tricky, how do you think I should carve it?”

 

Since most of them seemed to be hesitant, I casually suggested another method.

 

“If it’s too difficult, you can also put a fresh flower in it.”

 

But the pastry chefs clenched their fists in determination.

 

“No!”

 

“Give us the details. We’re paid to do it!”

 

Since the Duke had invested quite a bit of money in the restaurant, they were absolutely on board and cooperative.

 

Thinking I was very fortunate, I worked hard to organize and half a day passed.

 

During all the hustle and bustle, a carriage bearing the imperial seal arrived outside my window.

 

The Empress and her lady-in-waiting, who I presumed to be the head of the maids, the Princess, my brother, and…

 

“Astel.”

 

They arrived at the same time, and as soon as they got out of the carriage, I saw the Duke opening the door to the shop.

 

I hurried over to the Duke and held the door wide open for him.

 

“Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress, Your Highness the Duke, your ladyship and the knight. I’m Astel.”

 

“Astel, this is the second time I’ve seen you.”

 

As soon as the Empress finished speaking, she turned to me with a strange look.

 

I gestured toward the center table, neither hurried nor slow.

 

“Yes, Your Highness, it is an honor to serve such distinguished guests. Please take a seat.”

 

The Empress, the Princess, my brother, the Duke, and the Marquise Melania, her maid of honor, sat down at the table.

 

It was no secret that the Empress was ill. But I hadn’t expected her to look this sickly.

 

‘You look very ill indeed.’

 

She stared at me with her flushed cheeks. I shook my head inwardly at her uncanny appearance, but I greeted her.

 

Holding the hem of my dress to either side, I bent down on one knee and bowed again.

 

The Empress smiled benevolently, but with a slight frown, and whispered.

 

“It is good to see you.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

The Marquise, seated at the Empress’s side, glared at me as if to say how dare I let her come all this way.

 

But I only smiled broadly. When they all arrived, the small café was filled.

 

I stared wistfully at my brother standing outside the glass door and thought to myself.

 

‘I wish I could talk to him.’

 

Maybe being a knight of honor doesn’t allow for double entendres, I thought and shifted my gaze in his direction.

 

‘Cheer up.’

 

My heart skipped a beat when I saw his eyes soften and his lips curve.

 

Grinning broadly, I looked away and stopped dead in my tracks at the sight of his gaze on my face.

 

…It was the Duke.

 

‘I shuddered from his gaze.’

 

The Duke’s expression softened as I spoke to him, my words coming out in a small whisper. His eyes narrowed at me.

 

“The Princess and the Duke, you look so well together!”

 

The Duke’s expression softened as the Marquise of Melania gushed.

 

“Not at all, not one bit,” the Duke asserted, as if for emphasis.

 

The Marquise, dumbfounded at having her opinion dismissed so quickly, giggled merrily.

 

“Hmm… there’s not much to this seat either, is there?”

 

She seemed to have decided that I was an easy target.

 

As I passed her disgruntled voice over my shoulder, I set the cake on the table.

 

The Marquise of Melania snorted as she watched me bustle about in a frenzy of impatience.

 

“Anyway, I hear the young ladies are into unusual things these days… and I’m not a fan of bad food.”

 

She spoke in a tone that was affectionate and coquettish but with a hint of disdain.

 

“I never thought to come to a commoner’s shop, well.”

 

She chirped loud enough for all to hear.

 

“It’s not that I don’t like this place, it’s far away and … well, isn’t it, Your Majesty?”

 

I glanced urgently toward the table.

 

The Duke sits at that table, and if she’s going to speak so provocatively…!