Failed to Train the Beast Male Lead

Suddenly, with the abrupt development, Carol’s mind was a mess.

What kind of emotional change had occurred that he was saying he would see Margaret, who had only arrived a day ago?

The aftereffects of yesterday’s pain might not have completely disappeared yet.

If Margaret sees him and can’t manage her expression, would the original plot be accelerated?

“And wouldn’t it be killing two birds with one stone if my guest joins us?”

“But still…”

“It’s burdensome to meet alone, and I can’t keep the guest forever.”

“…”

In the novel, he was incredibly smooth-tongued, unbelievable for someone who had been neglected for over a month.

“If you don’t like my company…”

As Carol remained silent, the Duke feigned sadness and lowered his gaze. “That’s not it.”

Carol, who would only look terrified to others, desperately excused herself to the Duke, who looked miserable. At Carol’s answer, the Duke asked as if he had never done so.

“So when would be good?”

“…I think work hours would be good.”

It felt like she was being swept up. Carol belatedly realized her mistake, but she had already agreed.

“Work hours?”

“I think other times might be a bit difficult.”

She had said that because she had little time to be human outside of work hours, but to the Duke, who didn’t know Carol’s circumstances, it was conveyed with a different meaning.

Work hours sounded like she would endure even if she didn’t like it because the Duke was her boss. The Duke opened his mouth to say something, but soon closed it again.

Her suggestion was extremely reasonable as an employer and employee. Because suggesting to meet and eat at a time other than work hours could feel like coercion.

So, he shouldn’t express the discomfort he was feeling now. The Duke, who had calmly and rationally separated his emotions from reality, muttered.

“Then the class time will be reduced.”

“But you really don’t have to do me any favors.”

Carol fiddled with her cup. She secretly hoped that the Duke would take back what he had said.

“Favor? If I only provide meals during work hours, you can think of it as an extension of work.”

“You can just let me rest.”

The Duke’s voice, which was still hoarse, felt a subtle distance from before. She felt like she could vaguely read the flow of the Duke’s emotions, but the confusion only intensified because she didn’t know why it was changing.

“I have a favor to ask too, so let’s consider it an extension of work.”

The Duke’s attitude, which was like dealing with a moneylender, strangely irritated her, but Carol had no choice but to agree because she knew how big a decision the Duke had made.

“We’re going to have a strange combination for a meal.”

“Do you plan to go back with the young Viscount when the work is done today?”

“Maybe if the young Viscount is there until the work is done, that’s what will happen?”

The Duke tapped the sofa rhythmically with his finger and fell silent. He seemed to be lost in thought. Since she didn’t expect an immediate answer, Carol waited calmly.

“Today would be good. How about staying at the Duke’s Mansion today since your brother is here too?”

“…Isn’t that too sudden?”

“It’s a good opportunity to entertain your brother.”

“…”

“The guest room will be properly prepared this time, so don’t worry.”

The Duke, who had spoken somewhat harshly, called Mrs. Wells before hearing Carol’s answer.

Mrs. Wells looked flustered at the sudden instruction, but soon disappeared quickly, saying she would obey the Duke’s command.

“But what if Lady Chessworth…can’t accept it, what do you plan to do?”

“There are countless ways that my ancestors have greeted guests without revealing their identity.”

“Huh?”

“I said we would meet, but I never said I would reveal my identity, did I?”

“So…”

The Duke said he planned to sit separately on a sofa covered with a curtain like the Duke’s bed.

“It will need to have several servants in front of the curtain in case of an emergency, it will only look suspicious.”

“…”

“Instead of having several servants, I would like you to help.”

The Duke explained that she just needs to prevent the curtain from opening.

She felt a strange sense of relief.

Was she worried about the Duke being rejected by her?

She consulted herself, but it didn’t seem like that.

She was worried that he might have decided to meet Miss Chesworth, risking everything because he missed her so much.

She wondered why she was worried about this, but soon accepted a plausible excuse that came to mind.

‘Because it has to be connected to the female lead.’

“If I can be of help, I’d be happy to.”

Carol felt sympathy for Margaret Chesworth.

Although her death grandly signaled the beginning of the tragedy, her own death was pitifully insignificant.

‘After all, the life that falls for the protagonists is unchanged.’

Her fingertips cooled. What kind of emotional change had there been that she was showing a completely different reaction from the original?

“Oh, right. Didn’t you say you had a question for me earlier?”

“Yeah. I did. But it’s okay now.”

It seemed faster to go and check it out directly.

So, the strange mealtime came to the fore without a hitch.

****

“That’s ridiculous. It’s too sudden.”

After the Duke and she were left alone, Mrs. Wells, who had finished preparing, revealed her honest feelings. She hadn’t noticed that her always perfectly arranged hair was disheveled.

“It’s already decided.”

The Duke sat at the head of the bed and propped his forehead. He thought until his moist nose became dry.

He was aware, as Mrs. Wells said, that it was too sudden.

But his heart still hadn’t changed.

“Shouldn’t we tell Lady Chesworth right away that we’re not going to eat together?”

The one who is actually running the Duke’s Mansion now is the Council of Elders.

It was a long-standing tradition of the Duke’s Mansion. As soon as the curse manifested, most of the management rights were delegated to the Council of Elders.

If there was an unusual event unlike usual, they had to report to the Council of Elders.

His head ached at the reaction the Council of Elders would show after reporting, rather than being caught right away.

“I’m the owner of Winternox, and you’re looking at the Council of Elders.”

Mrs. Wells retorted to the Duke’s harsh tone.

“They are people who hate change in the first place.”

At first, the Council of Elders had made efforts, according to the records, but now they were just people who were trying to take care of their own interests by confining the Duke.

Mrs. Wells sighed deeply, frowning.

“You’re the one who gave me a teacher to live like a human.”

“Honestly, I’m scared.”

The Council of Elders was also a concern, but there was something else that worried Mrs. Wells more.

In fact, the Duke knew what she was most concerned about.

“Do you think if the Chesworth family finds out, the secret will no longer be a secret?”

“Yes.”

The Duke had a hard time just coming back from the social world. If people from the past who knew the brilliant Duke of the past knew the Duke of the present.

‘How much more would the Duke suffer then…’

Just imagining it was terrifying, and Mrs. Wells shivered, clutching the hem of her skirt.

“Carol will accompany me, so don’t worry too much. It’s just tea time.”

He was surprised at his own words. How long had it taken to say it was just tea time?

On second thought, it was a tremendous development.

The previous generation Duke never allowed his appearance to be seen even to his family.

“I’m comforted by the Duke. I guess I worry more as I get older.”

Mrs. Wells touched her cheek and murmured.

The Duke sighed as he moved towards the wardrobe.

“Ah.”

“Are you okay?”

“Lady.”

“Yes.”

The Duke lowered his voice and called her. The atmosphere was more serious than at the beginning of the conversation, and Mrs. Wells looked at the Duke’s face with a naturally tense face.

“What does Young Viscount Walden look like?”

“Huh?”

“It’s pure curiosity. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a man my age.”

At the Duke’s excuse, Mrs. Wells seemed to accept it, and she recalled the face of Young Viscount Walden.

He was a man with a soft atmosphere, contrary to the wild appearance of the Duke in the original.

With a look that was hard to see in the north, he was considered weak, but generally…

“He’s a handsome man. With dark brown hair and sparkling golden eyes, he can appeal to any lady.”

“Is that so?”

He should have seen it at least once when he was in the social world.

Just hearing the description made him feel worse because he had to imagine the appearance.

Mrs. Wells, who had her arms crossed, soon stroked one cheek and said regretfully.

“I’m worried about Teacher Carol.”

“Why is Teacher Carol suddenly mentioned?”

“Usually, such a guy with words and actions that match the face.”

“Hmm. I heard they’re just friends.”

“It seems that the relationship has not been established yet.”

At the even more regrettable voice, the Duke narrowed his eyebrows.

He said no, but the only person who took his word for it was the Duke himself.

“Make sure to keep your mouth shut so that no strange rumors spread around.”

“…Of course.”

Since Carol doesn’t show up often, the rumor will soon die down, but the Duke couldn’t tolerate even that short time.

The Duke soon stood up from his seat and stood where the mirror was.

He had removed the mirror because he couldn’t even see himself and could possibly only injure him, but the Duke frowned at his forehead, looking at the front as if he could see his own appearance.

“Don’t we have better clothes?”

Even if he dressed in proper clothes, the guest wouldn’t see it.

The Duke touched the thin fabric of his arm and muttered.

“Let’s prepare.”

Mrs. Wells concluded that the Duke was trying to maintain etiquette towards the guest even though separated by a curtain.

‘He still retains his original gentlemanly appearance.’

“It would be better to pay more attention when greeting guests in the future.”

The Duke wet his lower lip with his tongue for no reason.

He only held the sincerity of wanting to show a better side to Carol.