Chapter 52
“What? You were discovered by the Archduke and that delinquent?”
Princess Caroline shouted at her direct sorcerer, Genba.
Genba bowed and reported.
“Yes. It seems those two were indeed the ones. The fortunate thing is that the mastermind does not seem to have been exposed.”
“Of course not! If I had been exposed, I would have had to kill you instantly!”
“Yes. Your words are perfectly correct.”
Caroline, apparently angry, suddenly stood up and paced back and forth across the room.
Her lady-in-waiting, Genba, and the Chief Sorcerer, Pelles, were present there.
The Chief Sorcerer opened his mouth.
“Compose yourself, Your Highness.”
“Do I look like I can compose myself right now?!”
The Chief Sorcerer took a sip of tea and asked Genba.
“Genba. How did your subordinates escape from the Sword Masters? It couldn’t have been easy.”
Genba replied, sweating cold.
“That is what’s strange. They had taken the children hostage, but the woman, who appears to be the delinquent, suddenly fainted and fell backward, they say.”
“That is certainly unusual.”
The Chief Sorcerer muttered, stroking his chin. At this, Princess Caroline said nervously.
“It must be because she’s pregnant. Perhaps she developed some mental or physical weakness?”
The Chief Sorcerer nodded.
“That could be the case. Genba, could you specifically describe the situation just before Baroness Marion collapsed?”
“Ah, I heard that a small amount of blood came from the child’s neck.”
“Hoo…”
The Chief Sorcerer’s eyes lit up. Genba shrugged and asked.
“Could her stomach have just become weak after the pregnancy?”
Princess Caroline snapped impatiently.
“Who cares about that! That delinquent now even has a guard! And my brother, Marius, must have lost his mind, he won’t even leave his room! If the Archduke really marries that delinquent…”
“Do not worry, Your Highness.”
The Chief Sorcerer set down his teacup and gently placated her.
“The achievement of having damaged Baroness Marion’s reputation is enough for now.”
“Hah! What kind of achievement is that! The wedding is in just three weeks!”
Caroline anxiously bit her thumb.
She had never been without anything she desired in her life. Kaiden was the first thing Caroline might lose.
And that her competitor was a lowly delinquent! This was the ultimate humiliation. She had to make Kaiden hers somehow.
The Chief Sorcerer, seeing through her hidden thoughts, quietly spoke.
“There is still a chance.”
“A chance?”
“In ten days, the Archduke will be dispatched to the East for three days to suppress the monsters, correct?”
Caroline nodded, but her face still showed distrust.
“That’s true, but that will be only ten days before the wedding. With a child involved now, how do you propose to overturn the marriage?”
The Chief Sorcerer interlaced his fingers, tilted his head slightly, and smiled.
“We will strike when he is away. To ensure that the matter of the child is no longer a concern.”
Ten days quickly passed.
“I’ll be back, Marion.”
“Please be careful on your way.”
Kaiden said, hesitating.
“I can’t bear to leave.”
“Look at them putting on airs.”
The morning of the day Kaiden was scheduled to leave for the East dawned.
The Archduke was glaring at Kaiden and me, who were exchanging farewells at the Archducal mansion’s entrance for the past thirty minutes, with eyes full of disgust.
Not only the Archduke, but also Vito, Bethel, and the other servants, who had been standing outside for thirty minutes, looked like their souls had departed.
Kaiden cleared his throat and looked at the Archduke.
“Ahem. Grandfather. Please take good care of Marion.”
“You already said that twice earlier. And didn’t I tell you to say that to Bethel, Marion’s guard?”
At the Former Archduke’s tired tone, Kaiden glared at Bethel and said.
“…Bethel. Do well.”
“Yes, sir! I will serve her with all my heart!”
“But don’t get too close to Marion.”
“Pardon?”
“Understood?”
“Ah, yes!”
Kaiden scrutinized Bethel with a watchful gaze, then looked back at me with affectionate eyes.
“I really must go, Marion.”
“Yes. Please be careful on your way.”
Kaiden hugged me tightly. We had naturally started hugging each other to sleep every night since that day. My face flushed slightly, remembering sleeping nestled in his arms.
“Now, go already!”
Finally, only after the Archduke yelled did Kaiden pull away from me. He reluctantly and hesitantly left the Archducal mansion. Ten knights followed behind him.
“Ugh, exactly like his father! I can’t bear to watch! Let’s go inside!”
“Yes!”
When the Archduke shouted, the servants followed with joyful enthusiasm.
I, indifferent to their reactions, stood at the entrance until Kaiden’s back was out of sight. Kaiden also kept looking back.
Somehow, sending him off felt sad. Was it because I had hugged him to sleep every night for ten days? Even knowing he would be back in three days, I felt strange.
[Are you two dating?]
Bled asked slyly.
‘Is this dating?’
[You hug each other to sleep every night. What’s dating, you’re practically a married couple.]
Seeing the chuckling Bled, I narrowed my eyes.
‘Are you watching me all the time?’
[No! I’m so annoyed by it, I go outside to sleep.]
Bled grumbled and flew away somewhere as a feather. Watching its small wings flutter, I thought.
Was I dating Kaiden?
The days continued as usual, but they were different from usual.
I liked holding hands while shopping outside, and I liked the small moments of happily talking while eating together.
I could feel a warmth seeping into his gaze when he looked at me, and I liked seeing him smile occasionally while listening to my words.
The hand that gently brushed stray wisps of hair back was tender, and I liked that he immediately bought me a hair tie when I casually mentioned it was pretty.
In fact, none of this was different from what Kaiden had done for me when I was young.
The difference now was that I was conscious of his every action.
Another difference was falling asleep with him every night.
A subtle current flowed in the air before I climbed into the soft bed. When I awkwardly got into bed and stared up at the ceiling for a while, I could feel his gentle warmth beside me.
When I wiggled closer, captivated by that warmth, Kaiden would wrap his long arm around me.
The moment I closed my eyes, listening to the echoing sounds of our hearts, was peaceful.
“Baroness Marion. Let’s go inside now.”
I snapped back to reality at Bethel’s sudden voice.
Kaiden’s figure was no longer visible. Leaving my regretful feelings behind, I slowly entered the Archducal mansion.
Kaiden took the magic transfer circle located outside the capital and headed East, to the territory protected by Marquis Fernandi.
“I was waiting for you, Your Grace.”
“It’s good to see you, Marquis.”
Marquis Fernandi was waiting in front of the magic transfer circle.
He was a veteran, with white hair and deep wrinkles. Had he said he was sixty-three? He was defending the East alone at that age, without a proper heir.
“Thank you for coming all this way.”
“Not at all. What is the situation in the East?”
Kaiden felt more sorrow for him, as the Marquis reminded him of his grandfather, the Archduke.
He had heard the story before: the Marquis’s only daughter ran away with some man. After several years with no trace, all that returned was her corpse.
“The monsters are running wild, but I cannot escort you there immediately upon your arrival. I will take you to the Marquisate Castle.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
The Marquis led Kaiden to the Marquisate Castle. Traveling by horse, the castle quickly came into view. As the fortress of the East, its robust walls gave it a majestic appearance, not inferior to the Archducal Castle.
However, the expressions of the common people they passed were not good. Everyone clearly looked tormented by anxiety.
At the castle entrance, knights of the Marquisate were seen, ready to receive the Archduke.
The knights, standing in formation, bowed to Kaiden.
Kaiden observed their faces.
‘…They are worn out from the long standoff with the monsters.’
The regions in the Gratia Empire where monsters frequently appeared were this Eastern territory of Marquis Fernandi and the Northern territory of Waldstein.
This was because the giant forest belt extended from the North to the East. That area was ideal for monsters to gather and live, thanks to abundant food and good terrain for hiding.
While the circumstances were similar, Marquis Fernandi’s territory looked harsher to live in than the Archducal territory. The difference between the two territories was only one thing.
The presence or absence of a Sword Master.
One Sword Master is equivalent to a hundred knights. The saying ‘worth a hundred men’ was not for nothing.
“This way.”
Marquis Fernandi guided Kaiden into the castle.
Walking through the corridor, Kaiden could see old portraits of the Marquisate family. One could easily guess the long history of the family.
Then, he abruptly stopped in front of a portrait of a woman.
“…Who is this person?”
A young woman with red hair and blue eyes. Her cat-like eyes and finely-featured face made her beautiful. Her appearance was reminiscent of someone.
“That is my daughter.”
Kaiden was flustered. Talking about his daughter must be a sensitive point for the Marquis.
“I apologize.”
“What is there to apologize for? It is all in the past. Would you like some tea?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“I shall lead you to the drawing room. I will inform you of the situation in the East.”
Even as he was being hosted by Marquis Fernandi, Kaiden couldn’t concentrate on the conversation. The portrait of the woman, who the Marquis said was his daughter, kept lingering in his mind. It couldn’t be helped.
‘Is it just my imagination that she resembles Marion…?’
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