Home/The Duke's Revolution Is My Responsibility/ch 7

Chapter 7: Unfair Deal

This was her second chance.

A chance not to be dragged around like a dog on a leash. A chance not to be used like a fool, not to betray her convictions, not to lose her loved ones, and not to drive innocent people to their deaths.

"What destroyed you was yourself, Roana Wedgison."

Knowing the truth and having someone speak it to you were entirely different things.

Cleo Eastwood had dragged the truth she wanted to avoid right in front of her, like a mirror. In it, she saw another version of herself—exhausted, shabby, soulless, no different from a cog in a machine. And superimposed over her face was Yervaiten. A devastated... Yervaiten.

When she didn't answer, Cleo added hastily, slightly impatient.

"This artifact—simple as it looks—has multiple functions built in. Incorporating multiple capabilities into a single artifact isn't something just anyone can do."

He seemed slightly excited.

"And despite its size, it delivers that kind of output—that's impressive too."

"I'm flattered beyond words."

Even at her half-hearted response, Cleo raised an eyebrow with interest. He rubbed his chin and began pacing the room.

"I'll meet whatever conditions you have. How much do you want?"

His reason for seeking her out wasn't purely about the artifact.

He needs a rising magical engineer whose name isn't widely known yet.

It would make no sense to commission someone affiliated with the Imperial Palace when he was moving against Arthur III. He could try to corrupt someone, but the risk would be enormous. That was why he was desperate to recruit talent.

And in such a situation, Cleo Eastwood had encountered her by chance. He'd realized her artifact was top-tier. A background check would have easily revealed that she was still unknown.

The price will be low.

Because she was that kind of talent.

...She had a reason to help him.

Arthur III's tyranny would peak within a few years. Even now, peasants were forced to hand over ninety percent of their harvest as tribute. If they couldn't pay on time, able-bodied children were sold into slavery. As a result, the slave trader cartel ran rampant. They bribed the corrupt guards, and the guards turned a blind eye to their outrages. For now, it seemed like the guards controlled the cartel, but the cartel's growth was terrifying. Soon, any force opposing them would disappear. A person could be sold into slavery overnight with nowhere to appeal.

And it wasn't just this.

This was a second chance. A chance not to be dragged around...

When she didn't answer, Cleo added hastily, slightly impatient.

"Take your time—think it over."

"No, I don't need money. Instead, I want you to do me a favor."

"Name it."

Before she'd even finished speaking, Cleo answered.

What was with this guy? He hadn't even heard the favor yet and already agreed so readily?

"Without even hearing it?"

"I'm hearing it now."

He grinned and continued.

"If I refuse your favor, you won't accept mine. Of course, this is the right approach. Don't you agree?"

She liked his confidence. He seemed... much more playful than she remembered from her past life. He smiled easily and seemed emotionally open—it felt unfamiliar. Well, no one smiled sweetly at their enemy. In her past life, she had been his enemy, so it made sense she'd never seen this side of him.

She was overtaken by a strange sentiment.

But even in this surreal situation, she would find her own path.

"Hmm, in that case..."

She trailed off, pretending to deliberate, and glanced at Victor. Cleo followed her gaze. Standing between them like a forgotten bag of potatoes, Victor smiled awkwardly as all eyes turned to him.

"H-ha... why, why are you looking at me?"

Looking at the pale young man, she made up her mind.

"I want Victor Hartland to cut ties with the Hartland family."

"I see. Victor Hartland to cut ties with the Hartland... what?!"

Victor jumped in place. Ignoring him, she continued calmly.

"I want you to support Victor so he can sever all ties with that miserable baronial family, become independent, and live properly."

"Whaaaaaaat?!"

He looked like he was about to faint from the bombshell. Victor, who had been by the door, rushed over and grabbed her arm.

"Roana! What are you saying?!"

She answered as concisely as possible.

"Exactly what I said. It's also what you've always wanted—leaving that house."

"That's true! No, no, no! When did I ever say that?"

"Just now."

"Ahhh!"

Victor made a pained face, his handsome brows furrowing delicately.

"You just admitted it, Victor."

Seeing his reaction, Cleo said with amusement.

"From the look of it, you two haven't agreed on anything at all. Should I step out?"

---

She left Cleo with Karim.

Karim, who had been holed up in her room agonizing over Victor's situation, fiercely resisted the sudden addition to the household.

"No! I don't have enough time to laze around as it is, and now you're giving me more baggage? Do I look like an old pack mule to you? Work me to the bone, dump all the difficult things on me—at this rate, I'll be too hurt to live!"

"Yes, yes, Karim. I love you too."

Before closing Karim's door, she whispered a warning to Cleo.

"It's best to keep the fact that you're a duke a secret. Karim is the type who'd go all out to bleed a wealthy noble dry. Still... she's a good person at heart."

"Dealing with ladies is my specialty."

Cleo confidently dropped to one knee and kissed Karim's hand.

"Ugh—blech."

Karim made a loud gagging sound, snatched her hand back, and rubbed it vigorously against the curtain.

She nodded to him.

"Very smooth."

With that settled, she returned to her room.

Victor was sitting primly on the wooden chair in the center of the room. He looked so much like someone strapped to an interrogation chair that she felt a pang of pity.

What was he thinking right now?

Asking to sever ties with the Hartland family all of a sudden—did he think she was being presumptuous?

Carrying a bundle of worries, she approached him.

But good-hearted Victor, aside from looking slightly pale, didn't scold her. He was even trying to smile.

"...Ro."

"...Victor."

She sat on the opposite side of the bed and began.

"Can you hear me out first?"

Victor nodded, like an angel.

She explained that Baron Hartland was already preparing the next marriage arrangement, and that if this one fell through, he planned to send Victor away to a remote place. She glossed over how she'd come to know this and hid the fact that Victor might collapse soon. Years of trust ran as deep as their bond. Victor would believe her without complaint.

But what came out of his mouth was shocking.

"...I know."

He murmured with a wry smile.

"I know my father and brother are always scheming to cast me out. I've even been threatened directly. What surprises me is that you know about it, Ro. Did... Gunther tell you?"

Gunther was Victor's servant—loyal and compassionate toward Victor, unlike the other servants. He took good care of Victor and maintained some rapport with her. Victor had no reason to doubt his sincerity.

"It wasn't Gunther. I just... heard it somehow. The source doesn't matter. What matters is that it's true."

"Right... This is so humiliating, Roana."

Victor buried his face in his hands. Seeing his thin shoulders, an inexplicable emotion rose in her chest. She stood up and wrapped her arms around him. Through his thin back, she could feel his irregular heartbeat.

"Since when... have you been thinking about this?"

Victor lifted his head. She squeezed his hand once and returned to her seat.

"About getting me out. About rescuing me from that family."

'Rescue.'

That's what Victor said. In other words, he had been hoping to be saved all along.

"To be honest, I've been thinking about it for a very long time."

"You should have told me sooner."

She braced herself, thinking Victor might finally get angry. But he continued gently.

"How could you handle that kind of family alone?"

"Then... you agree with my plan?"

"Like you said. I've been considering independence for a long time. The question was how. To be honest, I don't want to put this on the negotiation table. This is my problem, and I want to resolve it myself."

Victor was too honest for his own good. He always insisted on taking the straight, long road. But in life, there were shortcuts—and they weren't always unjust.

In a way, Victor's perspective was also narrow.

But what could she do? He was still a boy who hadn't even had his coming-of-age ceremony.

She was different from Victor. If she found a shortcut, she'd take it without hesitation.

"I think we should take full advantage of this opportunity. He's the Emperor's cousin, right? If he can't even handle this, then his offer to me is as good as void."

"But that doesn't mean you should make a deal with him because of me."

"Why shouldn't I make a deal because of you?"

"..."

This was her honest feeling. A pang of bitterness hit her.

"Can't I even do this much for my precious friend?"

"Ro..."

"He said he'd provide the equipment. He'll probably assign apprentices too, so making the artifacts will be relatively easy. Think it through, Victor."

Victor bit his lip anxiously. She clasped his hand.

"We can secure your independence just by getting him to agree to this simple favor. Honestly, this isn't a fair trade—it's far more favorable to us."

"I know... I know. But..."

"Do you feel any attachment to the Hartland family?"

Victor flinched and pulled his hand away. He shook his head desperately.

"Not at all."

"See? This is a gift from heaven, Victor. Opportunities like this don't come often in life. There are people who live their whole lives without ever encountering one, yet this one walked right up to you."

She spoke firmly.

"Let's use it to the fullest. Squeeze it dry, leave nothing but the rind. I want you to kick that damned, trashy family to the curb and live well. That's my honest wish."

Well? What do you say?

Victor.

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