The Reason I Keep Avoiding My Childhood Friend

The Grand Duke was infinitely ideal for the public. He was far from the greed that the powerful tend to fall into. He does not collect harsh taxes, nor does he use excessive labor.

Rather, he was dedicated to working for the safety and development of the public. When it was said that there was a threat to the public, he took action immediately and tried to solve it quickly even if it was only minor complaints.

The Grand Duke worked so hard for his people that he would be busy even with two bodies. Thanks to him, he neglected his family and ruined his children’s rearing.

In any case, there were times when such a Grand Duke was infinitely scary. It was time to strike the head of the supposed enemy. The Grand Duke was a person who was usually considered easy-going by the people around him. However, the cruelty he had hidden from the enemy was displayed.

As if he had deliberately suppressed it. With a numb face, he took the life of his opponent as if he was doing something completely meaningless. Lightly as if a person’s life was not worth more than the life of a fly. Just as it is a pretense to value the lives of public citizens. The Grand Duke had such a duality.

After everyone was speechless, the Grand Duke opened his mouth again.

“It didn’t happen in a day or two.”

The butler intuitively felt that his life was running out. Grabbing his sanity, he urgently begged the Grand Duke.

“Your Grace, I was wrong. It was never meant to be. I just couldn’t treat the Grand Prince/Lord so badly, so that’s why!”

Despite the butler’s explanation, the Grand Duke’s expression did not change at all. As if bored, his finger tapped the paperwork on the desk. As his indifference grew, everyone held their breath because the butler’s life was becoming insignificant.

“Please, if you give me one chance, it will never happen again.”

“Noisy. I did not allow you to open your mouth.”

The butler was startled and covered his mouth. He didn’t want to even block the hole where he could barely survive by touching the Grand Duke’s judgment. Leaving the butler alone, the Grand Duke stared at his aides.

“I know what I lack.”

That was not true. He ruined his children’s rearing, but at least he was a good Grand Duke to the people of the Grand Duchy. In order to defend him, the first aide Roel came out.

“Grand Duke. Why are you saying that?”

“You don’t have to be flattering like that.”

“It’s not flattering. The Grand Duke is truly a good ruler.”

Even the 2nd lieutenant Byrne stepped forward and stood up. It wasn’t really a flattery. They didn’t even have the personality to be flattering. It was a fact that even the Grand Duke knew. So he doesn’t doubt their words. They were just stating the facts.

“No. I know what I lack, so I found a vassal as capable as you.”

The Grand Duke’s eyes slowly scanned the person in the office. Their numb eyes pointed out their inadequacies, so the aides could not open their mouths.

The way of acknowledging one’s own shortcomings and praising others would sound so terrifying. The aides felt a greater burden than the promise of openly punishing them. But they admitted that they were partly responsible for getting things to this point.

“I want you to catch the part that I lack. I need you to help me. That is why I have you. It’s hard that people who never let you down, let you down.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry.”

Roel and Byrne’s faces were full of guilt. The more the Grand Duke was indifferent to his son, the stronger they should have informed him. They should not have delayed the Grand Duke’s work.

At first, they must have made a mistake because they were young, because they were so busy, so they had to deal with other things, and it was a tedious task. But at some point, they couldn’t even touch it. At some point they only noticed yet couldn’t speak their words. They were just hesitating how to convey it.

They should have been a little more courageous. They shouldn’t have compromised to take it easy right now. It was all their fault for failing to support properly.

“But I can’t scold you. Like the story of Commander Hertman’s daughter, it’s my fault, but I’m not blaming others. It was my fault from the start.”

At the Grand Duke’s words, their faces were momentarily mixed with joy. Hope was in the butler’s eyes, who was lying flat like a death row prisoner; the two aides watching in frustration. It was much better to punish them like the butler.

Only by beating that greedy butler can they get the Grand Duchy right. Everyone in the know knew that he was whispering next to him and encouraging the Grand Duke’s actions. This time, when the vassals hesitated to say something directly to the Grand Duke.

“Even if you don’t blame others, you can’t just let go of the person who made the mistake. Since I don’t know anything, Roel should investigate the butler’s crimes in detail from now on. Because we can’t punish innocent people. The butler will be locked up in a dungeon until a formal investigation is released.”

“Grand, Grand Duke…….”

With the Grand Duke’s announcement, the butler’s face went black. His eyes, which had been glowing with hope, became cloudy like a dead fish.