Failed to Train the Beast Male Lead

It was a bit of a sudden outburst, but I had no regrets.

It even felt refreshing.

“……”

However, when there was no response to Carol’s shout, anxiety began to creep in.

“……?”

Wondering if she had yelled into empty air, she slowly opened one eye.

“Huh?”

As soon as she opened her eyes, she met Mrs. Wells’ gaze. She looked surprised.

“Carol…!”

And next to her was Noah’s face, looking moved. Noah covered his mouth with both hands, his eyes glistening with tears.

It would have been better if it was just the two of them.

As she gradually shifted her gaze, she saw Bianca and Benjamin, who should have been at the academy, and Kevin and Dylan, who should still be in the capital, trying to hold back their laughter as they looked at her.

Why are you all here? Carol’s bewilderment was short-lived as she noticed the person sitting in front of them.

“Duchess, you say. You’ve already thought that far ahead.”

The Duke was there too. He spoke with a hint of amusement in his voice.

“But Duke, you said you were busy…”

Carol’s face turned pale, then quickly reddened again. The words she had said and the realization that the Duke had heard them passed through her mind in order.

Unable to overcome her embarrassment, she wanted to run away, but Norman quickly said,

“Welcome back to the Duke’s Mansion!”

This embarrassing gathering was for her.

“…Thank you.”

So she couldn’t run away. Mrs. Wells patted Carol’s shoulder apologetically.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know things would get this big.”

The kind Mrs. Wells that Carol remembered apologized.

“How could you all deceive me so perfectly!”

After hearing the whole story, Carol attended the party, not knowing whether to get angry or laugh.

Mrs. Wells was right.

If she had settled into the Duke’s Mansion as if nothing had happened, she might have doubted their true feelings when conflicts arose.

Thinking that it was a relationship where they were just enduring because she was the Duke’s lover, without truly forgiving or accepting her.

But now she knew for certain.

The people here were welcoming and accepting Carol Langer herself, not just as the Duke’s lover.

The connections she had made at the Duke’s Mansion years ago weren’t just with the Duke.

“These are the foods you used to like, right Carol?”

Norman laughed, saying he had put in some effort. Then Mrs. Wells handed over a wrapped box that had been next to the sofa.

“I was surprised to receive a gift just now.”

“What?”

“It seems we had the same idea.”

Mrs. Wells handed over the wrapped box. She had also prepared a separate gift for Carol, and it was the same item that Carol had gifted to Mrs. Wells.

“I bought a gift, but I didn’t buy my own slippers. Thank you, Mrs. Wells.”

Carol said as she put on the slippers. Noah approached Carol hesitantly.

“I’m sorry. Were you upset a lot because of me?”

Noah apologized to Carol, who must have been troubled because of what he did.

“It’s okay.”

Norman, Mrs. Wells, and Noah. They were all precious connections made here.

Although it was a slightly embarrassing entrance, Carol soon forgot about it.

“Kevin, Dylan. Is this what you meant when you said you’d see me soon?”

“Sorry, Sis.”

“We were planning to come earlier, but it snowed too much just before we arrived, so we were a bit late.”

Kevin explained, feeling guilty about the extended period of deceiving Carol.

Carol looked at her two younger siblings. The fact that the siblings she needed to take care of were now able to deceive her made her feel strange, though not unpleasant.

“Still, you shouldn’t force yourselves to stick to a schedule.”

“Okay.”

The two nodded obediently like tamed beasts at Carol’s nagging.

“Can we eat now?”

Dylan said, fidgeting with his fingers. Norman, who had been watching, burst into laughter.

“So it was true that your siblings like my food too!”

****

Though it was called a party, it was just eating and drinking, but the laughter never ceased.

“The North is really a warm place, isn’t it?”

Bianca, who had sat down next to Carol at some point, said as she leaned her head on Carol’s shoulder. It wasn’t simply about the warmth from the fireplace.

“It is, right?”

“I think I’m going to really like the North.”

Bianca’s words made Carol feel strangely proud.

The party ended late at night.

“Then I’ll go first. Have a good night!”

“It’s already way past Noah’s bedtime too.”

Bianca left first, taking Benjamin with her, and then Mrs. Wells left with Noah.

“They seem quite drunk, so I should take them home.”

Next, Norman left with the drunk Kevin and Dylan. The three had strangely bonded, saying that swords and knives were similar, and became close in an instant.

“We’ll stay a little longer and then go.”

With Carol’s words, everyone left, and only two people remained.

With just the two of them left, Carol brought up what she had wanted to say earlier.

“You were all in on it. And you said you were busy.”

As Carol glared, the Duke leaned his head back on the sofa and looked up at her.

“Forgive me.”

The blazing fireplace, silver hair reflecting in the firelight, red eyes that rippled only when looking at her, cheeks flushed from drinking. It was unfair to look up at her with that face. She forgot even to pretend to be angry.

“Is it okay for my siblings to come so soon?”

“Yes.”

“Since when did you plan this?”

“Since before the teacher left the capital.”

Realizing it was planned from the beginning, she couldn’t even be angry.

“I understand why you did it, so I’ll let it slide this time.”

It was also nice to see her siblings earlier than expected.

‘I thought I’d have to wait a long time since we decided the first visit to our parents would be just the three of us.’

It was good to be able to see them sooner than expected.

The Duke keenly noticed that Carol’s thoughts were about to drift elsewhere.

“By the way, what you said when you came in was impressive.”

The Duke brought up what Carol had shouted when entering the room to tease her.

“……”

Carol didn’t glare at the Duke to tell him not to tease her as she usually would.

The Duke gently pulled Carol’s wrist. Since she had brushed it off lightly, it was just a casual remark from the Duke as well.

After a moment of silence, the Duke hugged Carol, fidgeting.

“If you were really hurt earlier…”

“Should we not make it fake?”

Carol was thinking that she wasn’t hurt.

The thought that pretending to be his fiancée wasn’t as burdensome as expected. And the thought that it wasn’t so bad. Carol pushed against the Duke’s chest.

“What… fake are you talking about?”

The Duke, not understanding Carol’s words, was pushed back as she pushed. Carol climbed on top of the Duke, who was now lying on the sofa.

“The engagement.”

An impulsive statement popped out. Although she was tipsy from drinking, her mind was clear.

“…What?”

The Duke frowned at Carol’s statement.

“You’re saying let’s not make the engagement fake. If you’re teasing me, stop it.”

The Duke ran his hand through his hair, avoiding Carol’s wide-eyed gaze.

The sight of the embarrassed Duke was unbearably lovable.

Hot lips met. The Duke seemed to push away, but Carol held his face with both hands, fixing his head in place.

“Mmph.”

She caught her ragged breath. After talking about the engagement, the effects of alcohol had completely disappeared. So she thought about it again.

“It was an impulsive statement, but I’m serious.”

The conclusion remained the same.

“…Teacher.”

Carol grinned, resting her chin on the Duke’s chest.

“I think I’ve been overthinking it.”

It was an easy problem if thought about simply. She liked the Duke and wanted to be with him in the future. Just as the Duke saw her as Carol Langer, if Carol saw the Duke as Edward Winternox, the answer came out simply.

Whoosh!

The Duke grabbed Carol’s waist. Carol’s vision blurred, and in an instant, their positions were switched. The Duke held Carol within his arms.

“Even if you regret it tomorrow and ask to pretend it never happened, I won’t be able to comply.”

The Duke spoke as if warning her. His bangs tickled her forehead. Carol chuckled softly.

“Even if it’s fake now, it’ll become real later, right?”

“That’s right.”

“I’m not saying we should get married right away. I want to properly establish myself at the academy you founded.”

“That’s reassuring.”

“Isn’t it? I don’t know how long it will take, given how big my dreams are, but…”

As Carol’s voice trailed off, the Duke spoke nonchalantly, as if asking if she was getting cold feet now.

“I’ve given you my all, so what’s a few years of waiting?”

Carol wrapped her arms around the Duke’s neck. She thought it would be very enjoyable if moments like this continued.

And Carol was certain that the Duke would not make her sad.

“I look forward to our future together!”

Carol hugged the Duke tightly.

“As do I.”

The Duke whispered affectionately. Silver hair and brown hair intertwined.

It began to snow outside, and the night sky turned white.

~Fin~