So short
The Duke is not the problem, the author is as it's the author that control everyone. In this chapter, you can see the Duke is able to made a wise decission to stop Cliff, as the author authority has been reduced. Each time pass the constraint savely, the author control will also reducing greatly especially for the side character like the maids, knights, etc. Those that involve in the main character will be free when Edith able to pass the 3rd. As for now theauthor already loss around 60% of its authority to control the story.
Those are your doom. Haha
there you go a great merchant 🤣🤣🤣