A Wise Life in Captivity with the Mad Duke - Chapter 6

The duke, who had finished his greeting with a smile until the very end, soon disappeared somewhere with the director. Thanks to that, we were given free time.

I sat on a bench placed in a sunny spot and looked around.

Even though more than two hundred people were gathered in the yard, the place didn’t feel cramped. Maybe it was because there was so much land on this island that even with large buildings, there was still plenty of space left.

“Pass it this way!”

“Everyone’s hiding, right? I’m coming to find you!”

Before I knew it, people had formed small groups, playing ball games or hide-and-seek and enjoying themselves.

They looked like students running around during lunch break at school. Maybe it seemed that way because most of the patients had the mental age of children.

“Ah… this feels nice.”

Leaning my drowsy body against the backrest, I closed my eyes. A cool breeze brushed through my hair pleasantly.

“What’s that place for?”

Suddenly, a black container at the edge of the yard caught my eye.

At first, I thought it was a storage shed, but the tall wire fence surrounding it made it look suspicious. It looked more like a huge chicken coop meant to keep livestock in.

‘I should ask Joel about it later.’

Losing interest quickly, I stood up from the bench. The drowsiness from lunch was kicking in, and all I wanted was to go back to my room and take a nap.

Just then, an emergency broadcast went off.

[Cotton candy. Number 172. Rooftop.]

Rooftop?

As if possessed, I lifted my head and saw a woman standing precariously at the edge of the roof.

“What is she doing….”

Before I could even grasp the situation, the woman stepped up onto the ledge and, without hesitation, threw herself into the air.

The instant her body floated up, a large hand appeared from behind me and covered my eyes.

A dull thud shook the ground, followed by the sharp screams of people piercing my ears. I didn’t need to see it to know what had happened.

“Dying in front of everyone. Damn it.”

A voice filled with irritation came from nearby. Judging by the sharp tone, it must’ve been a caregiver, the one who always carried a baton like it was part of their body.

Soon, I heard other caregivers trying to calm the patients and take control of the scene.

Amid the commotion, I steadied my pounding heart and turned to the person who had covered my eyes to thank them.

“Thank you.”

“Think nothing of it.”

Startled by the familiar voice, I looked up. As expected, Duke Gray stood in front of me, his face unreadable.

“What do you want?”

With nothing but unpleasant memories of this man, my tone came out sharper than I intended.

He didn’t seem bothered at all by my sudden change in attitude.

“I was worried you might faint again like last time.”

“That’s only because you didn’t give me a chance to close my eyes before shooting.”

“I couldn’t help it. If I’d counted to three, it would’ve been too late. I couldn’t let you get hurt.”

…When he said it like that, I couldn’t argue.

I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly, pretending to be busy with something. Just a few kind words, and my irritation melted away like it had never been there.

That didn’t mean I welcomed his kindness, though. In the world I’d lived in, there was no such thing as goodwill without a price.

If I got caught up with this man without thinking, the cost I’d have to pay later might pile up like a mountain before I even realized it.

“Anyway, I’ll get going. I need a quick nap before lunch.”

As I tried to leave, the duke grabbed both my shoulders.

“Stay a bit longer. We’re not done cleaning up yet.”

His indifferent gaze turned past my shoulder, his tone making it sound like he was referring to an object, not a person.

Watching him remain completely unaffected only made my blood boil.

If three days ago Cheon Go-eun had succeeded in jumping to her death, my corpse would’ve been treated just like that woman’s.

A burden. A nuisance. Something to be disposed of.

My nerves snapped thinly, and my voice came out sharper than I intended.

“Caregiver, someone just died.”

“Yeah. I know.”

“Then how can you act like it’s nothing?”

The duke studied my face, which was clearly picking a fight, and finally tilted his head as if he didn’t understand.

“What’s the problem? Do you want me to mourn her or something?”

“I’m not saying you need to mourn, but you could at least feel sorry.”

“Why would I feel sorry for someone who wanted to die?”

The moment I heard that, I was certain.

This man was missing something.

“No. Never mind. I’m leaving.”

The best thing to do with someone like him was not to engage. If I didn’t want what little humanity I had left to be scraped clean, I needed to walk away.

“Rosetta.”

But the duke didn’t let me go so easily.

“It’s my first day here, so I don’t know anything yet. Could you show me around the building?”

Why was a supposed caregiver asking a patient to give him a tour?

I rolled my eyes and replied curtly, “Ask one of the other caregivers. They’ll be much more helpful.”

“I’m not comfortable around them.”

So he found patients easier to handle than coworkers? What should I do? He’s the one making me incredibly uncomfortable.

Besides, I wasn’t in any position to play guide either, so I looked around for someone else to dump the task on.

Who would be good for this? Since he said caregivers made him uncomfortable….

Just then, I spotted Joel playing ball not far away.

“Joel!”

Hearing his name, Joel abruptly stopped mid-run and dashed over to me. His cheeks were flushed bright red from all the running.

“What? Why’d you call me?”

“The caregiver’s new today, and he needs someone to show him around the monastery. You can handle that, right?”

Before I could hand him off completely, Duke Gray grasped my wrist.

“Let’s go together.”

His touch was so gentle that I barely even registered being held.

I stared down at my wrist. Normally, I hated physical contact with strangers, yet oddly enough, I didn’t feel any discomfort.

Was I really that shallow—someone who let looks sway me this easily?

The thought was depressing, but what could I do when my body seemed to think otherwise?

“Is that not okay?”

Maybe it was the sorrowful look on his face, like he might burst into tears if I said no.

The sharp edge in my tone dulled without me realizing it. And with Joel’s expectant eyes sparkling beside him, I couldn’t do anything but raise the white flag.

“…Fine. There’s no reason it can’t be. Let’s go together.”

At my answer, the duke’s face lit up with a radiant smile.

Even though I suspected it might all be an act, my heart still fluttered against my will at that pure expression.

***

“Let’s start from the first floor!”

Following Joel’s lead, we moved to the first floor of the main building. Until now, I’d only thought of the first floor as the building’s entrance and had never actually looked around to see what was inside.

In the center stood an information desk where the nurses were stationed, and a bit further in was a large shop.

I followed Joel as he went inside, looking around curiously. The wide shelves were packed with all sorts of snacks that made your mouth water and daily necessities for living.

‘So this was here all along.’

On one side of the shop, a refrigerated section displayed various types of alcohol.

It would’ve been perfect if not for the notice saying sales were restricted to monastery staff only.

Meanwhile, Joel filled his basket with drinks and snacks, then glanced at the duke and asked slyly, “Are you buying all this for us, mister caregiver?”

“Call me hyung.”

“Got it, Hyung!”

Without even a moment’s hesitation, Joel changed the title. The duke, having gotten what he wanted, paid for everything without complaint.

‘…How are people like this so simple?’

Hugging his newfound treasure of snacks, Joel happily made his way up to the lounge on the second floor.

Inside the lounge, dozens of round tables were arranged at regular intervals. Mini snack bars filled with treats and various tea leaves were scattered around the area.

The entire floor had been designed as a place for socializing, so even if many people gathered, it wouldn’t feel crowded.

“Oh my.”

“Hey, look over there!”

I turned at the commotion and saw a group of nurses blushing furiously as they whispered among themselves, clearly flustered by Duke Gray’s appearance.

‘Good for him, being so popular.’

The duke, however, seemed completely unaware that people were talking about him. Joel’s endless chatter seemed to drown out the world for him.

As soon as Joel found a seat he liked, he poured out his mountain of snacks onto the table.

“Where did it go again? Oh, here it is! Noona, try this. I’ve never met anyone who said this didn’t taste good. I mean it!”

Joel, who’d been rummaging through the pile with no restraint, handed me a long, yellowish snack of unknown origin. It didn’t exactly look appetizing.

“I’m fine. You go ahead.”

“Then I’m eating all of it, okay? Hyung, you don’t want any either, right?”

The duke gave a small nod, and Joel immediately tore the snack into strips and started chewing happily.

Chomp, chomp, chomp.

The sound was so intense it could’ve been ASMR. No matter how hard I tried to focus on something else, my attention kept being dragged back to that sound.

Eventually, unable to resist anymore, I reached out my hand.

“Give me one.”

Joel willingly tore off a piece and handed it to me. I hesitated briefly, then put it in my mouth.

The moment I bit into it, a sweet, nutty flavor spread across my tongue. More than that, the texture was so familiar it made my eyes widen.

“This is jjondigi.”

“Is that what they call it where you’re from? We call it chewy-stick.”

So it had different names here too. Back home, people called it jjondigi, jjonddeugi, and other similar nicknames.

I waved the piece in my hand back and forth, adding casually, “What a shame. It tastes way better roasted over fire.”

The words had barely left my mouth when, right before my eyes, bright flames suddenly burst to life.