"I catch on quick"
You. DO. Not. (ch. 132 mate. 1 3 2!)
Oh, come on, can't our witchy witch be happy first with that adorable whats-her-name (I instantly forget names because established characters don't introduce themselve every time they enter the scene)
Like, BEFORE you pull out the big weapons of "Imma kill this witch like 2 seconds after their adorableness confessed" and witchy witch going "this....<bodyguard> of yours can kill me, lets get on with it"
First of all the motto of the "Righteous Thieves" to "not make more competition by people starving so there's someone left to con and steal from" is so. Wholesome.
and like. That poor butler guy. Not only is the whole con not really aimed at the Duke but HIM, he's already so stressed from dealing with a guy who's supposed to do "ABC" but takes a sharp turn in front of "D" into "WTF"-territory.
"Him" holding the fifth of the quintett is... ok, so maybe he took her advice to heart (for which he must have been awake, yes). But the hell kind of conclusions did he draw from that advice.
"What are you gonna do out there?! I've never seen such a foolish man."
yes. I mean, he might look poised and suave and like, on top of things. But that's uhm. For all things military, I suppose and if you pluck this poor moron and plant him right in the middle of "human interaction" there's a wooden *clack* and you possibly see a screw springing away and from then on Murphy's Law is in session, which means if he CAN fuck up then he most ardently WILL
To cite Jade from https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/don_t_mess_with_my_duke_dubless/
"All these men and all of them useless!"