(4)

TN: Conversations are easier for me to translate. Oh, and I finally heard back from eseul. Putting this up because it’s done ?

Although the ducal couple did not finish dinner, the two of them were left alone and a servant approached Jerome.

"Fabian has arrived. I do not know when his Grace will be in the office so I had him wait in the steward's office"

"Good job" [Jerome]

Jerome greeted the waiting Fabian with a light embrace. Fabian had just come down from the capital.

Due to the excessive hunting of the Duke, the King had to be presented with enormous gifts. Jerome could not imagine the king bemoaning the loss of the people's lives.

Fabian could walk all over his head because that was not going to happen. (1)

Although it was bet he made alone, it gave a really great reward. (2) Fabian never placed a bet that harms himself even as a joke.

"Uaah, I'm so exhausted. I want to hurry and report to his Grace. Is he done with dinner?" [Fabian]

It was not too bad but there were traces of fatigue on Fabian's eyebrows.

"I will tell him for you, you just go and sleep. I don't know when he will be coming" [Jerome]

"Why? The entire time I've been here, hasn't he already finished eating?"

"Because those two are together, it may take longer than usual" [Jerome]

"Those two? Who?" [Fabian]

Jerome looked at his loud and dull brother and clicked his tongue.

"It's the madam. Who else would it be?"

"Madam? His Grace and madam had dinner together? Hooo. What is the occasion?"

"His Grace has dinner with the madam almost every evening" [Jerome]

"…"

The face of Fabian's that was always astute and sharp, froze.

"Really?" [Fabian]

"Really" [Jerome]

"Since when?"

"Ever since the day he returned to the mansion"

Fabian then asked questions like 'how many times' or 'Truly?' and Jerome answered patiently. It's not like he could not understand Fabian's surprise.

Jerome would have found it hard to believe if he had not seen it with his own eyes.

"Since when did his Grace's… no, this is not a matter of his tastes. The way I see it, I don't think his Grace is having 'only' dinner with madam every evening" [Fabian]

"Just say only up to there" [Jerome]

"Wow. This is true. It must be true. Oh my G.o.d. I can't believe it. This is the person that cannot share a bed with a woman more than three times–"

Fabian suddenly received a blow to his abdomen and grabbing his stomach, buckled over.

Jerome, who delivered the fist to his brother's stomach, grit his teeth as he stopped him (Fabian) from talking.

"Shut up. There are a lot of ears listening. What is this about three times? Don't make up such nonsense" [Jerome]

"Your words are right, that's how it is. His Grace is a greeeat person. He is the romance of men" (3)

"Oh really. I'll pa.s.s on your words to Alice" [Jerome]

When his wife’s name was mentioned, Fabian's face went blue.

"Ah…no. I'm not saying me but others. Don't go telling Alice strange things. And will you keep calling your older brother's wife's by her name?"

"Older brother's wife, what bull. You mean younger brother's wife?" (4)

"I'm married which makes me the adult. So, of course I'm the older one"

It was the same issue these twin brothers fought over every time they met without ever coming to a conclusion.

“Hmm… Yeah. You have it reversed" [Jerome]

From the time when the Duke was 18 years old to when he rose to the top and became the Taran Duke, he took his aides to his side, and they all knew of the female attraction to the duke in the past. Even if the Duke did not tempt women, women were constantly attracted by his power, his wealth, and his youth and charm.

However, amongst those numerous women, not one could move his heart. To the duke, women were just for warming the bed. They were fun to play around with and when the woman started to want more, he ended it.

It was their job to make a clean up after him, so that any woman that could not let go would not disturb the Duke's mood.

"We don't know yet. Even that woman was with him for over year. Maybe he's enjoying the newlywed play for a while. I think it's pretty much like that. Well. Then, I'll go to sleep. Help me tell his Grace that I will be there early tomorrow morning" [Fabian]

This time is different. Jerome did not bother trying to explain. If Fabian watches, he'll end up knowing. Like Fabian said 'That woman', the Countess of Falcon and the Duke had met for more than a year, but at that time, she was not the only woman the Duke met.

There hasn't been a day like this before where the Duke is only focused on one woman.

The next day, Countess Corzan visited. She was a graceful white-haired lady with a slight taller and lighter body than Lucia. When she was younger, she must've been quite the beauty, she was late in her years but it was still there.

"My greeting to the Madame. You can call me Madam Mich.e.l.le"

"It's an honor to meet you. Madam Mich.e.l.le. I do not know if it might be rude to suddenly ask if you are fifty-four"

Mich.e.l.le’s eyebrows went up, and the old n.o.ble’s eyes were curved slightly. In fact, Mich.e.l.le was in a bad mood before getting here. Although the Duke seemed to formally ask her to teach the d.u.c.h.ess, in reality it was a one-sided request.

Mich.e.l.le was a very proud person. Things like power or wealth could not move her. However, even if it was her, she could not ignore the request of the Duke. The second problem was that her son was a va.s.sal to the duke, and it was never the personality to tolerate old lady’s pride with laughing generosity.

Because she knew she would not benefit from dragging it out, she had simply accepted the request. However, despite her feeling badly, when she saw the d.u.c.h.ess who greeted her politely and personally, she was relieved.

"It is a great honor to be able to teach you, Madam"

"Thank you. I have many shortcomings so I'm afraid you'll have a lot to deal with. Please come here"

She sat down facing the receiving room and soon a maid came out to serve tea. Lucia drank her tea while admiring Mich.e.l.le's appearance. She didn't know one could be so elegant while having tea. Even her hand gestures did not have useless movements.

Translator's Corner:

(1). "그건 아닐 거라는 점에 파비안은 제 머리카락을 몽땅 걸 수 있었다." I could understand the first half, second half had unfamiliar words.

(2). It suddenly starts talking about a bet. I looked through and haven't seen any other place where they bet. So confused.

(3). A man's romance means men want to be with him/ be him. He's also being a bit sarcastic.

(4). Fabian calls his wife, Alice "형수" (hyungsu) which means wife of the elder brother. While Jerome is saying she's his "제수씨" (jesu-ssi) which means younger brother's wife.