IBWMD 102

~Chapter 102~

“Ugh.”

That lingering heat across my back still haunted me.
Even through thick armor, the warmth had been strong enough to cover my whole back.

And then there was… the sensation against my lower body.

The road was rough, the horse was fast, and we were constantly jostling into each other.

“Am I going insane?”

I kept reciting the Lord’s Prayer, begging that we would arrive at the ducal estate quickly—
but it felt like we’d never get there.

It hadn’t seemed far when we first set out.
Of course, the Grand Duke wouldn’t do it on purpose,
but it felt like being in a cab that circled endlessly instead of going straight.

And then speeding up, just to make it worse.
Like a “hot iced Americano”—
nonsensical words, yet perfectly describing the feeling.

Eventually, I leaned forward on the horse, desperate not to touch him anymore.
If I did, I was sure my face would burst into flames.

‘I’ve bumped against men plenty of times before.’
I’d used them as shooting rests, even carried wounded men on my back.

But the Grand Duke was… different.
The only other man who had ever made me this flustered was Karl.

Now, there were two men in my life who could make my face burn.

“One was more than enough. How could there be two?”

And that wasn’t all.

“Elaine.”
“What?”
“You’re going to fall like that.”
“I know how to ride. I won’t fall.”
“No… I meant I might fall.”

“……”

When I turned, I saw the Grand Duke had slid dangerously close to the back of the saddle.
Because I’d been leaning so far forward to avoid touching him, my hips had slid back.
He had shifted back in turn, trying not to touch me…

“…Could you think about my situation too?”

His voice was low and rough.

“I’m really going to lose my mind.”

…In the end, I stopped avoiding him and nestled into his arms until we reached the estate.
At the time, I thought it was the best choice for both of us.
Now, I wasn’t so sure.

Because even now, my back still felt like it was burning.

“No wonder I was so dazed when we arrived.”

I was trying to shove the memory aside when Beth, helping me into a banquet gown, suddenly said:

“Oh! That reminds me!”

“Hm?”

“Coming in like that—didn’t you promise to always tell us before going out?”

Right. I had.
No wonder she’d been so startled this morning, opening my door and finding me gone.

I answered with genuine guilt.
“Sorry. It was urgent, and I didn’t think.”

I’d been terrified the Grand Duke might die fighting while still injured.

‘Though now, it seems that worry was unnecessary.’
For a patient, he had fought just fine. Rode just fine too.

…No. Better not think about the horse again.

Beth let out a deep sigh at my apology, then kindly changed the subject.

“Anyway, it’ll be harder for you to sneak out in disguise now.”

I nodded bitterly.
The Grand Duke had seen me in servant’s clothes. So had Reina, Captain Ista, and Jeremy.
Even the head maid, on our way in.

I couldn’t forget their shocked faces, wondering when I’d managed to slip out.
Later, I’d overheard whispers about strengthening the guard around my room.

‘Well… I knew the risks when I decided to sneak out.’

Normally, being unable to go out would’ve been suffocating.

‘But now…’

Reina was here.
That kind, gentle family member who was always on my side.

“At least it won’t feel as stifling as before.”

“Right?” Beth smiled, clearly relieved.

“It’s really such a blessing that Lady Reina came.”

“The problem will be when she has to leave.”

“The Grand Duke will surely handle it then, too.”

“…Didn’t you used to dislike him?”

“Hmm. Back when I was writing to Lady Reina, I disliked him enough to complain about him.”

“What? What did you write?”

“Well, that he welcomed her warmly, that he didn’t seem like he planned to make your wedding a formality. And earlier, when you two rode in together, the atmosphere between you was…”

“Wh-what about it?”

“From what I saw, maybe…”

Before Beth could finish, a knock sounded at the door.
It was one of the ducal servants.

“Are you ready? It’s time.”

The banquet had begun.

“Wow.”

I couldn’t help but admire the corridor leading to the banquet hall.

‘They really went all out in such a short time.’

As expected of the Grand Duke of Silence, everything looked dignified.
The garlands and draperies weren’t new, but elegant and old-fashioned.

‘Probably reused supplies, given shortages… but they don’t look worn at all.’

In fact, they looked better than the flashy, disposable decorations of the capital’s nobles.
The further I walked, the grander it became.

“Uh…”

It was almost overwhelming, proof of the head maid’s experience.

And it made me wonder—

‘Do we really need a banquet this big?’

Hardly anyone even knew the Holy Knights had been dispatched here.
Officially, the Grand Duke had only returned briefly from the front to greet them.

‘The people of the territory probably don’t even know he’s here.’

A simple greeting would have been enough.

That thought brought something else to mind.

‘Captain Ista…’

He was supposed to arrive secretly.
Of course, the monster attack had blown that cover—
but he had even moved up the departure date.

‘Why?’

There had to be a reason. But I couldn’t guess what it was.

And then there were the men he’d brought.

‘They looked like complete amateurs.’

They couldn’t even keep their eyes open in front of monsters, let alone swing swords.
Instead of being a help, they looked like they’d drag us down.

Why would he bring such people here?

‘Someone must be using Captain Ista to pull something in the duchy…’

The thought made me uneasy.

If I exaggerated, I’d say the only reason the Captain hadn’t been scammed before was because of me.
Now that I wasn’t at Saint-Portu to guard him, there was no one to fend off schemes.

“Good thing I found you. Jeremy.”

“…Yes?”

I spotted Clark and Jeremy standing in the corridor.
Dressed so formally, it was impossible not to notice them.

Especially Clark.

“…Trying to impress someone tonight?”

I forgot for a moment that I was avoiding him and blurted it out.
He wore such a proper outfit, he could’ve passed for the head butler instead of a monster hunter.

“Well, I am the Grand Duke’s… ahem!”
Clark cut himself off awkwardly, looking uncomfortable.

The air between us grew strange again.
Not hostile, not friendly. Just… uncertain.

I swallowed a bitter laugh.

‘Awkward or not, I need to say this.’

“You two. Keep an eye on Captain Ista.”

Even saying it made me uneasy.
It was uncomfortable, doubting the superior I had trusted for years.

‘It’s not him I doubt, but the one pulling his strings.’

Judging by their surprised looks, they found it hard to believe too.

“…Excuse me?”

“He left secretly, earlier than planned. We don’t know why.”

“…But, Your Grace… weren’t you close with him back in the capital?”

“……”

“They say you were very good friends.”

Clark’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. Jeremy looked uneasy too.

I took a deep breath.

“Personal friendship doesn’t prevent conspiracies.”

‘If you let prejudice and blind trust cloud your judgment, you’ll miss everything.’

I knew better than anyone how dangerous that was.

If I’d wanted to cripple the Holy Knights, I could’ve kissed each one and then revealed I was a woman.
In an order that strict about purity, many would’ve collapsed, believing themselves defiled, their holy power crippled.

Absurd—but true.

And no one would’ve stopped me, because everyone firmly believed I was a man.

Captain Ista’s case was the same.
If someone used him, no one would stop it.

“Think realistically.”

“……”

“If we wait until something happens, it’ll be too late.”

“When innocent people’s lives are at stake, I won’t just stand by—
whether you see me as the Grand Duchess or not.”

I declared firmly.