If I Disobey the Duke

Cut (1)

The two serfs put their hands together and prayed like the dead who were brought to the underworld.

A precious person would not have easily seen the duchess in their lifetime.
She, herself, came down to judge them.
Being so afraid that your intestines felt like they were tightening and you would rather choose death?

Lily knew that feeling all too well.

The life they faced was the life she had one day, long ago.
When she was very young, she wasn’t even half their height now.

“…Heads up.
Wake up.”

The two serfs, presuming to have heard a hallucination, reluctantly disregarded the orders.
Valks punched the wall with his hammer-like fist.

“Heuk! Yes, yes, we apologize.
Sir.” The serfs rose like chickens struck by lightning.

Among them, a prosthetic leg that took the place of one of the taller’s legs pressed against the floor.
Lily’s breath trembled.

The faces of the two serfs were also a mess.
 It was as if they had been beaten several times with fists.
Lips and cheeks were all chapped.

“Is it true that the interrogation hasn’t even started yet? Gosh.”

“That’s right.
The plan was to conduct the interrogation face-to-face first.”

“Are you saying the soldiers didn’t beat these people?”

“…The soldiers said they just came in.
There would be no time for that.”

It meant that even if they were a little late, no one knew what was going to happen to them.

No matter how fair people proclaim to be, they are living a slave’s life anyway.
It was natural that something unfortunate would happen to them.

“For now, take these people somewhere else.
 A little better than here… A comfortable place.”

The serfs looked at each other in disbelief.

Lily’s whole body throbbed at the sensation she had never felt before.
Anger.
An unfamiliar feeling pierced her gut.

Did he hit them with a shovel or pickaxe? How dare they assault her brother with a weapon?

It was a situation that could be easily deduced.

Before the foolish serfs had finished grasping their situation, she turned towards her door, where she had come in.

After taking a few steps, she stood tall, breathing deeply until she could calmly face the others again.

As she narrowed her distance, it was the two serfs who were most bewildered.

Do I have to bow my head again? Should I kneel down?

“I… Instead, I apologize.”

“Heuk…”

She was suffocating in many ways.

The lady who met them shone so bright that it was difficult to even look at her.
Her silver hair, slightly wet from the rain, glistened in the light of the torch.

Green eyes as clear as spring.
She was like refreshing snow that was still clean even after pouring muddy water on it.

The two serfs naturally lowered their eyes.

“You people who are under my protection, have been harmed because of me… I’m sorry.” Lily clasped her hands politely.
Her low, elegant voice seemed to illuminate the dark stone room.

“M-madam.”

Hans and Valks were equally perplexed.
No nobleman apologized to the commoners.

Especially to serfs.

It was not a crime to pass by and beat one to death.
The world was like that.

Like the lord, their hostess was also flipping over such sensibilities and throwing them away.

She instructed Hans to treat the serfs fairly and to have their injuries treated.

“So that the citizens are not unreasonably harmed.
Please manage it with care.”

Hans bowed his head lightly.
“I will take your orders, Madam.”

As she turned her head, the serfs bowed their waists, their foreheads nearly touching their knees.
“Thank you.
Madam.
We will never, never forget this grace!”

The memory of receiving an unexpected respect for life in an unexpected place did not disappear easily.

Lily didn’t even know how she felt.
She smiled rather uncomfortably.
“Of course, it is something we should do.
Of course…” she trailed off quietly and quickly left the room.

Valks strode after her.
The sound of heels echoed in the dark, arched hallway.

“Where is the interrogation room, Valks?”

“Please return to the castle, Madam.”

There was a silence that was heavy enough to be filled with the sound of flashing torches.

“As long as the lord is absent.
You may not know, but I am the leader of the city.
My orders are those of the lord.”

Valks let out a harsh sigh.

This slender woman was instinctively realizing how much power she had.

“So now, guide me.”

Valks spoke no more.
He had no authority to stop her.

* * *

The second interrogation room had the same design as the space where the serfs were.

Although it was the same stone room, the floor was even and clean as if it had been laid with stone tiles, let alone the iron bars.

“Hello, dear sister.”

It was Rocus wearing leather pants, a shirt, and a leather vest.

He supported the back of his head, leaned back on the spacious chair.
His majestic body looked even stronger.

Their reunion was odd.

She was filled with the confidence that he would come to her today, tomorrow, anytime, if he wanted.

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