Home/I Didn't Want a Honeymoon Like This/ch32

Chapter 32

"The Duke of Lyon?"

"Do you know him?" the shopkeeper asked.

"No. I was just surprised it was a duke," Franz answered.

"I thought you might know him. There are quite a few nobles who collect antiques as a hobby. That's how I make a living, after all."

The shopkeeper wiped his magnifying glasses on his sleeve, calming his startled heart.

"I'm suddenly curious how much you sold that five-Bath piece for."

"Th-That's…"

The glasses slipped from the shopkeeper's pale hands. Franz picked them up and placed them back on his face. With a gun waving back and forth before his eyes, the frightened shopkeeper hurriedly opened the safe.

Looking at the silver coins laid on the table, Franz let out a dry laugh.

"Paid five, made four hundred."

"Please, please… just spare my life."

The shopkeeper dropped to his knees and clasped his hands in desperate pleading.

Alexei pocketed the silver coins and tossed a few copper coins in front of the shopkeeper.

"That's to keep quiet about our visit. If you want to hold onto your noble regulars, you'd better keep your mouth shut."

"Y-Yes, understood."

Franz lowered his gun.

"Do you know where the Duke of Lyon lives?"

"Yes, yes."

"Draw a map."

The shopkeeper, swallowing hard, picked up a pen as Alexei instructed.

The two left the shop with a map instead of a telescope.

Alexei was anxious.

Time had been wasted haggling with the shopkeeper, and they still hadn't recovered the telescope. There was no telling how long it would take to go to the Duke of Lyon's residence and back.

Even if they're anxious, they won't kill her—surely.

In truth, it was Alexei himself who was more anxious than anyone.

He quickened his pace and exited the alley.

But he stopped when he realized there were no footsteps following him.

Franz stood there with a grave expression.

"What's wrong?"

"You're really going to enter the duke's mansion?"

"Yes."

"It's dangerous."

Alexei walked slowly toward him.

"So? You want me to run away like you? Or run away together?"

"I resent being called a traitor. From the start, this had nothing to do with me."

"True. You're not a traitor. But can you say you're blameless?"

Franz had no answer.

"I'm grateful you saved us, but make up your mind. This isn't a ship you can board and leave as you please."

"……"

"The promise we made then still stands. If you help us, the reward will be generous."

"Money means nothing if I'm dead."

"It's money that could change your life if you live."

Franz let out a short laugh and looked into the distance. A gentle yet urgent voice stirred in his ear.

"Help us. Just this once."

Franz couldn't look away from the pleading Crown Prince.

Alexei noticed the waver in his eyes. He waited silently, hoping Franz Boyl would once again join this reckless companionship.

Entering the mansion of an enemy nation's duke was a life-risking endeavor. Strangers wouldn't be granted entry, and even if they forced their way in, they could die at the duke's hands.

With two, it might be possible—but alone, it was impossible.

Alexei had to return alive, because his death would mean Angelina's death. He also had to retrieve the telescope.

"…Fine."

And the reckless ally, Franz, would also have to come out alive.

---

The mansion of Duke Eberhard of Lyon.

The Crown Prince of Latria and his temporary ally were about to enter to meet the duke of an enemy nation.

The gardener and his wife, who saw them, tilted their heads in curiosity. Their attire was no different from their own, but their bearing resembled that of their master.

"Maybe they're replacing the butler."

A butler's dignity was tied to his master's stature; appearance was as important as ability.

"He's too young for that."

He looked to be around twenty.

The wife, entranced, gazed at the young man of unknown status.

"I hope they do hire him."

"With your husband right here, you're still distracted."

"What can I say? I'd just prefer a younger man to come in."

Unaware that they were fueling a marital spat, the two men stopped before the entrance.

"Ready?"

"Of course."

Franz took a deep breath and knocked. At the firm knock, the bellboy opened the door.

"We've come to see the duke."

"Did you have an appointment?"

"No, but this is a very important and urgent matter."

The bellboy disappeared behind the door, and soon the butler appeared.

"How may I help you?"

"We've come from the Forest of Time."

Alexei held out the business card he'd taken from the antique shop. The butler adjusted his glasses—he seemed to recognize it.

"Speak to me."

"Let us see the duke."

The butler immediately frowned.

"There's a problem with the telescope you took a few days ago. It's a matter we need to discuss in person."

"…Wait."

Alexei reasoned that a man who had impulsively bought an expensive telescope wouldn't be able to ignore that.

The butler, having gone to seek his master's permission, returned.

"Follow me."

The two were led to the reception room.

"We'll need to search you."

"Even so…"

The butler raised an eyebrow.

They'd thought they'd passed the first hurdle, but no.

While they hesitated, sharp eyes bore into them.

Reluctantly, they raised their arms.

As the butler patted Franz down, he grimaced at a hard object.

"That is—"

He pulled a gun from inside Franz's jacket, his expression murderous, as if ready to pull the trigger.

"It's just a personal belonging. Nothing special. We often travel through the mountains, so a defensive weapon is essential."

"We'll return it when you leave."

The butler also took the knife from Alexei's waist.

After the butler left, the two stood helplessly, stripped of their weapons. Franz wore an expression of near-enlightenment.

"Now it really sinks in—that we've walked into a lion's den."

"Having second thoughts?"

"If I were, I'd have jumped off the carriage."

"We can only hope he's different from the Tordi Emperor."

"The impression isn't bad," Franz said, looking up at the Duke of Lyon's portrait.

While the two exchanged hopes, the master of the mansion arrived in the reception room.

"Are you the ones who wanted to see me?"

It was Duke Eberhard of Lyon.

The two bowed politely and straightened up.

"Yes, we are."

The duke walked slowly and sat on the sofa.

"What's this about a problem with the telescope?"

"I apologize, but we must ask you to return the telescope."

"Return a telescope I bought? What kind of nonsense is that?"

"The truth is, I am the original owner. I sold it to the antique shop because I needed money, but I changed my mind and tried to buy it back, only to learn Your Grace had purchased it. It's a very precious telescope to me. I humbly beg you to return it."

"The original owner, you say…"

The duke stroked his chin.

"I refuse."

"Please reconsider."

Alexei bowed courteously.

The Duke of Lyon rested his chin on his crossed leg and pondered. When his fingers stopped tapping the armrest, he finally spoke.

"This is a rather rude request, but your story is pitiful enough that I'll make you an offer."

His emotionless eyes scanned Alexei from head to toe.

"If you beat me in a card game, I'll return the telescope without another word. But if you lose, you'll give up cleanly."

"Agreed."

"Rubicon Piquet. Do you know how to play?"

"Of course."

The duke summoned the butler to prepare for the game.

Soon, servants brought a round table. After taking cards from a drawer, the duke called the butler again and whispered something. Seizing the moment, Franz asked quietly.

"It feels like he's up to something. Doesn't it seem suspicious?"

"Even if so, we have no other choice."

"Are you confident you can win?"

"I believe card games depend more on luck than skill."

"That could also be heard as an admission that you lack skill."

"It's not that I lack skill—I just don't enjoy it."

"How many times have you played? Surely not just once?"

Despite Franz's growing anxiety, Alexei remained calm.

"Not once."

"……"

"Twice?"

At Alexei's flat response, Franz was appalled.

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