I’m Not Doing This With A Friend Chapter 106

 

“…Why don’t you just call me Leen?”

 

The Duchess looked somewhat shocked at my words, but she quickly composed herself and shook her head.

 

“Well, I suppose you’re not yet married, so it would be a burden.”

 

She patted me on the back and said softly.

 

“You must be tired, and it’s late today, so why don’t you put down your things and get some rest.”

 

“Thank you,” I replied, somewhat timidly.

 

‘Not’ yet.

 

‘You’re making it sound so blatantly like I’m going to marry Carson.’

 

“Oh, and your room isn’t quite organized yet, so I’m afraid you’ll have to stay in another room for the night, if that’s okay?”

 

“Sure. I’d appreciate it, as long as you let me sleep in any room.”

 

I need to avoid Rex Begonia right now, this was not the time for playing hot and cold.

 

“Thank you for your understanding.”

 

The Duchess raised her hand and snapped her fingers. A moment later, a middle-aged man, presumably a butler, and several users appeared.

 

They seemed to be signaled by some sort of magic.

 

“You summoned me, Madame.”

 

“Butler. Please escort Leen to the guest room.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The butler, bowing low, approached me and bowed.

 

“Greetings, my name is Dan Altemere, butler to the Duke of Lysianthus.”

 

…Altemere?

 

That sounds familiar. I was wondering where I’d heard it before. The Duchess’s lilting voice came through.

 

“Caon. You will stay here and not follow. I have something else I need you to do.”

 

Carson, who was about to follow me, tilted his head.

 

“A task?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I don’t like it.”

 

‘Wow. He just said no right away?’

 

My mouth was open, stunned by Carson’s snark.

 

The Duchess smirked, as if she’d seen it coming, and glanced at me.

 

“Leen.”

 

“Yes… Duchess.”

 

“My Leen has all his limbs and abilities, and who do you prefer, a lowly human being who does nothing but eat and celebrate, or a hardworking man who does his job?”

 

I wonder if it’s the way I feel that I already know the answer.

 

“…The latter.”

 

The Duchess looks pleased with my answer and tilts her chin up.

 

“Well, then, my son, repeat what you said earlier.”

 

At that, Carson frowned in exasperation.

 

“I can’t do much, my time belongs to Leen.”

 

My face went rigid, a series of question marks forming on my face.

 

‘Why are you giving me your time? It’s yours to keep.’

 

After a moment of disbelief, I decided to ignore him and turned to the butler standing next to me.

 

“Please guide me.”

 

🍃

 

The butler, walking down the hall in silence, turned to me.

 

“The Duchess and Master are very fond of you, young lady.”

 

“At your ease, butler.”

 

“You are to be the Duchess’s maid of honor, and that is impossible.”

 

“Didn’t the Duchess tell you, I’m a commoner?”

 

“…A commoner? How can a commoner be the Duchess’s maid?”

 

His eyes narrowed. His expression and tone changed subtly.

 

“Alas, my lady has taken in another poor child.”

 

…Again?

 

As far as I knew, the Duchess had only taken in a maidservant once. No doubt she meant Jane.

 

It made me feel horrible. I squinted at him, and something clicked in my head.

 

Ahh…

 

Viscount Altemere.

 

That bald, bad-tempered…?

 

I stole a quick glance at his hair. It’s full, no matter how you look at it. Is it a wig, or have I mistaken the man?

 

“Here you go. This is where you’ll be staying temporarily, so please keep it clean.”

 

“Yeah…”

 

I couldn’t take my eyes off his head the whole time, and I was about to head inside.

 

“…Just a moment, please.”

 

He walked to the window, suddenly arrogant, and wiped the inside of the window with his index finger on a white glove.

 

His white gloves were lightly dusted. He turned to the servant beside him and ordered in a calm but somehow heated tone.

 

“Bring in the person who was responsible for cleaning this room.”

 

As if it hadn’t happened once or twice before, the servant quickly ran out and brought back a servant.

 

“I, I’m sorry!”

 

Thud—

 

My eyes widened at the sight of the servant kneeling hesitantly in front of him.

 

‘Crazy. What kind of situation is this?’

 

Viscount Altemere held up a soiled glove of his in front of the young servant’s eyes.

 

“Don’t you realize that guest rooms should be kept in the best possible condition at all times?”

 

“Well, I’ve been working hard to clean it, but it’s…”

 

Suddenly, a loud popping sound echoed through the room. He swung his hand so hard, the servant’s body jerked.

 

“Did I just ask for an excuse?”

 

Immediately, I stepped in front of Viscount Altemere, who was fuming with frustration.

 

“Butler. I’m fine, so calm down.”

 

His gaze fell on me. There was a hint of annoyance in his eyes.

 

“No, the slightest mistake is not tolerated in the Duchy of Lysianthus, and my lady.”

 

Viscount Altemere’s tone grew fierce.

 

“Whatever punishment I choose to bestow to the servant is my prerogative as Chief Steward.”

 

“I said it was fine, and if it’s fine with me, the one who will be sleeping in this room, then it’s not a mistake.”

 

“Haha, young lady. I’ll tell you again, it’s not my—”

 

“Isn’t it in the butler’s monthly pass to punish the user who didn’t make a mistake?”

 

Silence descended on the room at the mention of the word ‘monthly pass’.

 

He pursed his lips and gazed at me in silence.

 

Viscount Altemere stared at me for what seemed like minutes.

 

“…If that’s what you think, my lady, I’ll let it slide this time.”

 

Viscount Altemere gestured to the fallen servant.

 

The latter rose to his feet, seemingly oblivious to the pain, and left.

 

Throughout the entire process, the Viscount never once took his eyes off me.

 

“May you rest in peace.”

 

The look in his eyes as he walked out the door was unpleasant to say the least.

 

🍃

 

Meanwhile, Carson and Sylvia were left alone…

 

“Mother. Don’t you think you’re being a bit harsh on your son, who just graduated this afternoon?”

 

“Even though the work you have to do is related to Leen?”

 

“I’m itching to get it done, so what is it?”

 

Sylvia smirked and thought, ‘Carson was so much easier to deal with when it came to Leen. He looks so much like my husband…’

 

“I thought it would be nice if you could set up a transportation circle in Leen’s room. It’s on the third floor, and it’s hard to get up and down the stairs.”

 

“Ah. That’s a good idea.”

 

The two masters chatted casually, but the people listening to them were stunned.

 

Who in their right mind would install a transportation magic circle in their home with astronomical maintenance costs?

 

Just because it’s hard to get up and down the stairs.

 

“So what you want to do is draw a portal?”

 

“Yep. I bet you’re a lot faster and more accurate than me, who’s a rat when it comes to drawing magic circles.”

 

“It’s not hard, so let’s get it done and go see Leen.”

 

Looking at Carson, Sylvia shook her head as if she couldn’t stop him.

 

They were too far apart. It was serious.

 

Moreover, Carson’s words had a great deal of cachet.

 

Only because Carson was a wizard of genius could he even think of setting up a transportation magic circle himself.

 

A lesser mage would not have even considered it.

 

But to call it a difficult task was not.

 

‘He may be my son, but he’s a monster. Thank goodness Leen is here to keep him on a leash.’

 

Sylvia was once again reminded of Leen’s importance.

 

“By the way, Mother. Where did my father go?”

 

“Why are you looking for him?”

 

“Leen asked me earlier.”

 

So be it. There was no way my son would want to know his father’s whereabouts.

 

With a small sigh, Sylvia crossed her arms and explained.

 

“He said he was going to pick up Leen… but he hasn’t come back yet, so he must have gotten mixed up with the rest of the party.”

 

At that, Carson frowned as if he’d heard something strange.

 

“Why?”

 

No matter how he looked at it, it was better for him to bring Leen with him, given his vastly greater mana reserves.

 

“He asked me how I could leave Leen in your care.”

 

“…What?”

 

Carson’s expression became subtle. He couldn’t believe his father, who cared for nothing in the world except his mother, would want to take care of Leen.

 

‘How could I even entrust her to him?’

 

He didn’t like the fact that his father was acting like he had a personal connection to Leen.

 

“I don’t know what he’s up to, but I need to get the enchantment in Leen’s room, so I’ll go first.”

 

With that, Carson teleported out of Sylvia’s sight.

 

Shrugging her shoulders, Sylvia was about to return to her room when she sensed a faint hint of mana from her husband.

 

A moment later, a magic circle formed, and the Duke appeared.

 

Sylvia opened her arms as she always did, and the Duke swept into her arms as if it were a matter of course.

 

“You’re here, my dear?”

 

“…Sylvia.”

 

Her husband’s voice sounded melancholy.

 

And his fat face had the look of a man who had failed to accomplish something.

 

‘I guess he’s resentful that Carson stole his favorite child.’

 

Anyway, as far as cuteness goes, my husband was number one in the empire.

 

Very subjectively, of course.

 

Sylvia patted the Duke on the back.

 

“Don’t be so depressed, Leen was supposed to come to us after all.”

 

“…What?”

 

The Duke strained his ears. It was Leen who had written to me, assuring me that she didn’t mind the help.

 

Judging from the letter, it seems she’s staying at a friend’s house for the time being…

 

So, she went to the academy graduation to try one last time to convince Leen to take her in as her daughter.

 

But he was depressed that he couldn’t even meet her, let alone convince her.

 

And then Leen…

 

“She came to the duchy on her own feet?”

 

‘No, did Leen know my identity before that?’ Duke thought inwardly.

 

Sylvia, who didn’t know the Duke’s secret, chuckled.

 

“No. You know it’s not a fast distance to walk.”

 

“Then how did Leen know…”

 

“Well, our daughter-in-law was brought here by our son.”

 

“…I see.”

 

The Duke thought to himself that sometimes even his son was helpful.

 

Suddenly, his face stiffens as he realizes something amiss.

 

Wait a minute.

 

‘Not a daughter, but…’ 

 

“…A daughter-in-law?”