Chapter 1: Part 3
If she could freely control what she dreamt about, making them into “premonition dreams”, would it be possible to prevent “those things” from happening?
Looking at the soundly sleeping man on the bed, she couldn’t help but to recall the incident from ten years back.
That was her first and only time she had a “premonition dream”. Even Lukana herself had no idea why she had the dream.
She supposed the sorceress that had saved the whole Mystica region would at least have an idea of what happened? About why Lukana had that dream and how she could make it happen again.
That sorceress seemed to be quite famous, because her name appears frequently in rumors. For example, how she saved an aristocrat of some country from some deadly illness or like how she saved Mystica, she saved villages on the verge of starvation etc…
However, ever since that time, Lukana has never met the sorceress ever again.
She looked out the window. The sun was already setting but the festival was still bustling with people, instead looking more and more crowded as night approached. A “festival” was the same no matter where it was, since they often attracted large numbers of people.
The boss of the tailor shop which she was in currently was her uncle’s. The few sets of clothing that she has tailored were placed within this Lasaland shop which was quite a distance away from the village of Mystica. After hearing the customers’ praise about the clothing Lukana made, and to match with the high demand of the New Year season, the shop ordered a large amount of clothing from Lukana. That was why Lukana came down personally to the capital of Asmodean to pa.s.s the goods this time.
After her job was done, since it was a rare opportunity, she had decided to stay at Lasaland for a few more days to enjoy the New Year Festival before returning to Mystica.
The lively New Year festival was something exciting that cannot be experienced at Mystica. Lukana was enjoying the jubilant atmosphere thinking about how much fun they would have if she had brought her friends from Mystica along.
Just at that moment, she saw Duke Sateriasis Venomania fall in the center of the busy street.
Lukana had previously visited Lasaland many times and has also caught eye of the Duke a few times. During the times when the Duke was still Ilotte, his only son could still stroll peacefully and freely on these streets.
Tying his long purple hair into a pony tail, Sateriasis with his long eyelashes made him look as beautiful as a woman. He had a cheerful smile as he greeted the people cordially, making him look awe-inspiring; he was going to become a duke with a bright future.
However, the Sateriasis now was nothing like before. The clothes he was wearing were definitely not bad, one look and Lukana knew that they were made from high quality material that she would not have dreamed of even touching. But no matter how high quality the clothing was, without good care, it would still become crumpled and unpleasant.
Wearing the crumpled clothes really wasted his good looks ——
Just when Lukana was using a tailor’s perspective to feel pity for the high quality clothing, Sateriasis’s left hand moved slightly. His eyes opened slowly as he turned his face to look at Lukana.
“How are you feeling, Duke Venomania? ”
Lukana asked, Sateriasis’s unfocused eyes stared at her face, not long after, he started mumbling.
“Duke… Venomania? Is that… me?”
“Yes, it is you. You are Duke Sateriasis Venomania, the lord of Asmodean. Are you alright? Is it still a blur?”
“… Ah, yes. I am Sateriasis. Yes, that’s correct.”
Slowly sitting up, Sateriasis said as if he was trying to confirm a fact.
“Where… is this?”
“The “Octo” tailor shop of Lasaland. You, Lord Duke*, fainted on the street just now.”
“Oh… Sorry about it then, I must’ve caused some trouble for you.”
“How are you feeling?”
When Lukana asked once again, Sateriasis’s stomach took the initiative to answer by growling.
“I’m fine… but it seems that I’m a little hungry.”
“I will go and prepare some food immediately.”
The sight of him made Lukana exhale a breath of relief. Walking out of the room and into the kitchen, she placed the ready-made food into a plate and brought it back into the room.
“I’m not sure if this food will be suited for your taste ——”
“Thanks for the food.”
Before Lukana even placed the plate on the table, Sateriasis grabbed a bread from the plate and finished it in one gobble, the way both his cheeks puffed up made him look like a child.
“Yeah… It’s delicious.”
“This bread has ketchup and chili powder as its filling, actually I shouldn’t be giving Lord Duke such commoner food—- ”
“No, it’s really delicious, yeah.”
Sateriasis praised the food she brought in, finishing it in a blink of a second, and said somewhat guiltily,
“Sorry about that… But can I have another serving?”
“Ahh, seems like you’re starving.”
Lukana returned from the kitchen with another plate of ketchup bread and, once again, Sateriasis finished it fervently. Finishing the tea that was also brought in together with the bread, he turned towards her.
“Huu… I’m full. Thank you, I’ve calmed down a lot.”
Sateriasis lowered his head and said his thanks, giving the impression of a rational person as compared to the one before.
“It might be a little rude … but can I ask you something?”
Lukana inquired gingerly. Even though it was none of her business, she was still curious about it.
“It’s fine, ask ahead.”
“Why were you walking through the streets in such clothing? And it seems as though it has been a long time since you’ve eaten.”
“Ah… Seeing the Duke in this state must’ve been very strange…”
“I don’t stay in the capital, so there are things that I’m unsure of——”
“I see. Where do you usually stay at?”
“Mystica. I came to Lasaland for a work deal.”
“Oh, what’s your job?”
“I manage a tailor shop.”
“That’s not bad, you must be an expert. I can feel it.”
“Oh, thank you… and then…”
Lukana cleared her throat lightly, pulling the conversation back to the topic at hand.
“I heard people saying things like “the Lord Duke has gone mad”… Of course, I do not believe such words, especially now.”
Based on her deduction after having a conversation with the duke, she didn’t feel that Sateriasis was mentally ill. He looked extremely normal and even seemed very gentlemanly. After hearing Lukana’s words, Sateriasis looked down at his clothing, tilting his head to the back slightly.
“Oh, seeing this disheveled appearance, their thinking that I’ve gone crazy can’t be helped. Since that incident had happened.”
“…”
“Father, Mother and everyone else… have all died.”
“…I heard that the murderer has yet to be apprehended.”
“Yes… Causing insecurity among the citizens, I feel guilty about it.”
“There’s no such thing! You, Lord Duke, are the one who is in the most pain…”
Lukana answered as she scrunched her eyebrow together, tears glistering in her eyes.
She didn’t know why she suddenly felt like crying. But, if she was placed in the shoes of Sateriasis——.
Your own house being destroyed, everyone around you getting killed——.
She thought of her father’s face, her mother’s face, the faces of her good friends Lilien and Rajih, and she thought about how she will feel if she lost them.
In that way, Lukana could deeply experience how miserable it must be for Sateriasis who was going through that.
“…But, the fact that you, Lord Duke, had survived… is already very fortunate.”
She finally forced these words out of her mouth.
“You’re kind. Your name is…”
“…Haha. I forgot, I have yet to introduce myself.”
Lukana wiped the tears from her eyes and stood up straightly.
“My name is Lukana Octo, my Lord Duke.”
“Lukana, is it? A very beautiful name. I am Sateriasis Venomania… Ah, you should already know that.”
“Hahaha.”
“And, I’m not very used to being called “Lord Duke”. Since it was a t.i.tle that has been forced upon me.”
“Is that so?”
“After Father got killed in the ma.s.sacre, didn’t I take over the t.i.tle of Duke rather suddenly? If it is only the Earl who governs the country, many problems will arise, hence why they allowed me to succeed his seat; it’s only for appearance’s sake. ”
Even Lukana, who was a commoner, knew that. Asmodean belonged to the Beelzenian Empire, and the n.o.bles there had a deep-rooted mindset for tradition and appearances. She sympathized with Sateriasis’s plight that he had no choice whether he wanted to be a Duke, but she also knew that it was something that she couldn’t change.
“If possible, I hope that you can change the way you address me. Otherwise, you can just call me “Sateriasis”.”
“That might be too… no matter what, to me, “Lord Duke” will always be “Lord Duke"…”
“You don’t have to mind it that much.”
Sateriasis coaxed once again but Lukana was still unwilling to stop addressing him as "Lord Duke”. Even though he was much kinder and friendlier than what she had thought, he was still a n.o.ble, and there is a line that shouldn’t be crossed.
The door opened while the two were conversing, revealing the boss of the tailor shop, Lukana’s uncle.
“Ohoh. My Lord Duke, you’re awake. Is your body feeling better?”
“I’m fine, no problems at all. Sorry for causing you trouble.”
“Is that so, that’s good. Please pardon my rudeness, but to be cautious, it would be best if you get checked by a doctor. Your health is very precious, regardless if it’s to us or to you.”
“I will… sorry to disturb you, thank you. Even though I’m empty-handed right now, I will definitely bring you a thank you gift someday. ”
After saying that, Sateriasis stood up slowly.
“You’re returning? Not going to rest for a little longer?… Ah, to the Lord Duke, staying in this small room must make you feel breathless and constricted…”
“That wasn’t my meaning. If I have caused any discomfort for the both of you, please pardon me. I just thought that it would be very rude if I continued to trouble the both of you.”
“The sky is already getting dark, please allow us to bring you back to your mansion… Lukana, can I count on you to guide the Duke?”
Lukana nodded mutely in acceptance to her uncle’s question. Due to the festival, there were still many customers in the shop, thus, the only free person in question should be Lukana.
“If you don’t mind, please change into this set of clothes.”
Uncle pa.s.sed a set of male clothing to Sateriasis.
“This is the most high quality formal dress that we have; it should be more befitting than the ones you are wearing now.”
“…It’s really embarra.s.sing, thank you for the trouble.”
Sateriasis took the clothes, spreading it open right at the spot.
“Yeah, the taste in the design is really good. The tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs and embroidery really suit my taste.”
“Since before Lord Duke, members of the Venomania family tend to like Marlon-styled clothing.”
“Oh, then this clothing is imported from the island nation of Marlon?”
“No, this was made when Lukana tried to imitate Marlon-styled clothing. Even though the material is slightly worse off than the one that you, Loard Duke, are wearing…”
“I see. My intuition was indeed correct… you’re a talented tailor, Lukana.”
Sateriasis said this as he gazed at her, making Lukana’s cheeks flush red in embarra.s.sment.
“I will send the cost of these clothes together with the thank you gift that I will be sending… I would like to change, is it okay for the both of you to leave the room for a while? ”
“Pardon us, please take your time.”
After finishing the sentence, both Lukana and her uncle left the room.
“Uncle.”
“Yes?”
While waiting, Lukana asked her uncle about information of Sateriasis.
“I once heard on the streets that “The Duke has gone crazy”, but looking at him, he really doesn’t look like he is—-”
“Ah, those are just baseless rumors. No matter where it is, there will always be idiots who start these rumors, it’s just that—- ”
“Just… what?”
“I heard that Lord Duke lost some of his memories.”
“Lost his memories?”
“This information was told to me by a soldier woman who frequents my shop.”
“Ah, you are talking about the person that uses words weirdly…”
“… That was a tragic event. The lord’s house was attacked and, other than Lord Duke, most of his family were killed; there were even servants who were disfigured at their deaths. Experiencing that horrible event must’ve been quite a great blow so losing his memories is nothing surprising. “
“… But, in the end that is still nothing but a rumor, right?”
“Having said that, the words said by that military soldier, Tette Cetera, who was in charge of the after matters of the incident are much more reliable than those rumors in the city——”
At that moment, Sateriasis, finished changing, exited the room.
——The him now gave off a completely different impression. This made Lukana realize that the Duke who had changed into befitting clothing was indeed an aristocrat, completely different from commoners.
“Such a beautiful person”, Lukana whispered in her heart. The Duke was indeed a prettyboy*, but it didn’t just stop there. It even seemed like she was hallucinating, as if Sateriasis himself was emitting some sort of top cla.s.s l.u.s.ter, so beautiful that it made Lukana jealous as a woman.
“If he were to wear even better clothes, this man would definitely become even more eye-catching.” She thought to herself.
Perhaps it was because of these thoughts that, when she was accompanying Sateriasis back to the mansion before witnessing the state of it, she had completely forgotten to ask him why he was wandering around the streets of Lasaland.
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*Lukana literally adresses Sateriasis as “Duke-sama”, a very formal adress; “My Lord Duke” is similarly very formal, usually only written in letters to said Duke.
*The narration literally refers to Sateriasis as a “bishounen”, the equivalent of which is a “prettyboy”; both refer to foppish or effiminate looking men.