I Was Reborn as the Female Antagonist's Servant-Chapter 34 – The Cold Duke

I began to step inside.

My footsteps echoed on the patterned floor as the Head Servant closed the door behind me, the sound of his footsteps gradually fading into silence.

I continued walking past the long dark blue sofa in front. Duke’s hand was already stretched out toward it.

Once I reached my position, I sat down slowly without any fuss. My injured hand was placed on my thigh. The pain from the bandaged hand was still quite noticeable.

I clenched my teeth, biting down afterward.

Duke in front of me only watched me from across. His gaze gradually lowered to the hand resting on my thigh. His eyes narrowed before he looked back at me.

"...What’s wrong with your hand, Kid Touji?"

I was startled, one of my hands instinctively caressing the back of my neck.

"Ah... Nothing. Just got hurt during practice, Duke. Haha..."

He looked at me as I lowered my gaze. His hands, clasped in front of his mouth, slowly lowered and rested on his thighs. His chest expanded as he took a deep breath.

He smiled faintly. "If you say so, then never mind. Here, I just want to express my gratitude to you."

My eyebrows raised. Gratitude? What have I done?

He started with a long sigh, then seemed to want to say something. His gaze was fixed directly on me, slightly narrowing. The atmosphere felt silent. My eyebrows began to furrow as I pressed them further.

"You..."

...What?

"You..." He smiled quite broadly. "Really amazing, Kid Touji!"

...Huh?

"I heard from Razoru that you can haggle your monthly groceries down to just one gold coin! HAHAHA!"

He wiped tears from the corner of his eye. "Usually, monthly groceries can cost up to thirty gold coins or even more..."

His laughter disappeared. He looked down softly, gazing at me. "That’s why I want to give you a chance to ask for one thing. You can ask for anything. Wealth or position, at least here I will grant it to you."

He raised his hand, interlocking his fingers in front of his mouth.

"So, what do you want to ask for?"

I fell silent. From his gaze, I could see his seriousness. My eyes weakened as I looked out the window in front.

Could I also ask for freedom...?

I shook my head slowly. My gaze lowered. I saw a round table with a chessboard on top, and the pieces were lined up neatly. My stare was fixed there for a moment before I looked back at him. My eyes sharpened.

...No. There’s something I want even more than that.

I took a deep breath, bowing my body slightly. My fingers interlaced on my thigh—playing with each other a little. I gripped tightly.

"I think I’ve made my decision, Duke."

His eyes widened, and his hands gestured for me to continue.

I cleared my throat once, then straightened my body. My gaze narrowed over time.

"I ask... that you not be too cold to the princess, Duke. That’s all I ask."

A moment of silence followed after my question. Time felt slow. My heart beat faster. I smiled faintly, watching Duke in front of me, who was staring wide-eyed without speaking. On one hand, my request might seem like wasting an opportunity. But on the other hand, I felt this was the right request.

Duke remained silent. Not speaking. He lowered his gaze, looking at the chessboard in front.

"...Why do you ask for that?" His gaze sharpened. "Do you think my choice to protect her is wrong? Huh?"

He asked me that so simply. His furrowed brow showed how annoyed he was with my request.

I swallowed hard, feeling heavy. My heart was pounding faster than before. I took a short breath, slowing it down a little. My fingers, pressed together, gripped my left thumb tightly.

"Well, I honestly don’t know what your protection means exactly, but isn’t there something better than that, Duke? If you truly want to protect My Lady, wouldn’t it be more effective if she’s nearby?"

His eyes widened, listening intently.

My gaze lowered inward. "Even though I haven’t felt paternal love for a long time, if I were your daughter... I would prefer not being protected than being treated like that..."

I took a short breath, smiling faintly.

"And also, wouldn’t it be more beautiful if you protect her without causing her trauma? Both sides define protection. A better way, without damaging the relationship."

He listened to my words. His eyes suddenly widened. His lips trembled slightly before falling silent again. He was silent. The atmosphere became quiet, only the chirping of birds outside the window. The dark blue bird, sharing the same fate as the person in front of me. Leaving its young alone, to find food for them.

My gaze fell, and my smile became even more sincere.

If he wants to punish me, I will accept it as long as it doesn’t threaten my life. I have no regrets in saying that.

His gaze lowered. Deep doubt could be seen in his eyes. His fingers interlaced tightly, pressing hard. He raised his gaze, staring straight at me, who was bowed down.

"Hei, Kid Touji."

I turned my head.

"...Is what you said true?"

My eyes widened, then narrowed. Looks like I managed to open his heart.

"...If you ask whether it’s true or not, I can’t determine that, because the truth must be decided by you, Duke—that’s what I heard from my father..."

Almost there.

He heard my words. His gaze lowered. His fingers tightened even more before relaxing. His eyes caught the chessboard in front. He began tidying up the pieces.

"I see..."

His hands kept arranging them until they reached the second row of the edge pieces. He fell silent before looking at me in front. He smiled faintly.

"I will try to do as you say."

My eyes widened in disbelief.

His hand was pulled away from the chessboard and placed on his thigh.

"Anyway, a promise is a promise. So it must be kept, right?"

I nodded. "You’re right, Duke."

My gaze fell downward. My body felt weak. The pain in my left hand worsened. My breathing was hurried, coming in and out through my mouth.

Duke looked at me, slightly narrowing his eyes. He fell silent, not uttering a word.

My gaze caught the chessboard in front, which was starting to blur. My eyes widened, staring at Duke in front of me. I rubbed the back of my neck, tilting my head slightly, smiling faintly.

"Aha... shall we start playing, Duke? Wait, I will—"

"Are you really okay, Kid Touji?"

I nodded slowly. "Yes, Duke. Nothing to worry about. I can still do it!"

His eyebrows furrowed, as if he didn’t quite believe my words. I tried to reassure him, to make him trust me more. After I tried, he took a deep breath. His eyes narrowed, pushing the white "Pawn" forward.

"Alright." He looked at me sharply. ’But if you act like that again... we’ll stop the game.’

I nodded, accepting his advice. I advanced my black "Pawn," and the chess game began.

We kept playing. I used the same style I last played with him—"Italia." And he used a completely different style, "Two Knights Defense." As the name suggests, this style uses both knights to attack my center.

My play was quite calm, with no deadly moves. However, the person in front of me played very aggressively, not afraid to sacrifice his white "Pawn" until I was overwhelmed.

The game continued, and Duke won the first match. I didn’t give up, trying to challenge him again, and he accepted. I kept using various styles and attack tactics, but he remained calm about it.

Time passed so quickly. The yellowish light illuminated the round table, casting long shadows on our pawns. A gentle breeze brushed my ears, signaling that the weather was getting colder.

And from all my matches with him, I was utterly defeated. He won ten games, and I only managed five victories.

I wiped my face. "Ah...! I lost again. Did you hold back then? You’re too good, Duke."

He smiled broadly. "HAHAHA! You can do it, Kid Touji! HAHAHA!"

He laughed loudly, then calmed after a moment.

He looked at me from the front. His chest rose, then he exhaled through his nose.

He smiled faintly, looking at my wound wrapped in white bandages. "...You may go now. It seems you also need rest."

I looked at my left arm, right where my eyes were directed. My gaze shifted back to him. I nodded slightly, agreeing.

I stood up. Bowed, performing Saikeirei as a sign of respect and gratitude. I straightened again, accompanying the long sofa, then turned to walk behind him.

At the door, I pulled the long handle. A long creak sounded as the door swung open wide. I stepped out of the doorway, turned around. I performed Saikeirei again.

Duke only raised one hand with a smile. I looked at him, gripping the outside of the long handle again. A cold sensation pierced me before I closed the two door panels tightly, sealing them.

For a moment outside, I fell silent. The pain in my hand was unbearable now. Inside, I had held back that pain to be able to play chess with Duke. My hand was clutching one of my knees, the other pressed against the corridor wall. My breath was rapid. I couldn’t hold back my eyes anymore.

I need rest.

I took heavy steps. My hand kept gripping the wall. I descended the stairs. My steps were slow. The servants I passed only glanced at me with slightly raised faces, their eyes narrowing as if in sympathy.

Once downstairs, I headed to my room. When I arrived, I only pulled one of the handles. A small gap, just enough for my body. I entered, then gently closed the door.

I moved away from the doorway, immediately lying down on the bed to rest. My body was on my back, facing the ceiling. The light coming from the window further emphasized its yellowish hue.

I lifted my hand, showing the bandaged hand that was blood-red. I lowered my hand again, taking a breath of the surrounding air.

My eyes closed. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Today was truly exhausting.

I smiled faintly. But still, it was enjoyable...

Those were my last words before I drifted into sleep, carried away by the flow of dreams.