IBWMD 46

~Chapter 46~

Karl narrowed his eyes like he couldn’t believe what he just heard.

“…Blue titanium, you say?”

“Yes. From the first floor to this entire room.”

“……”

Yes, this place was pretty, emotional, and had a great view…

But it should be practical too.

Originally, I thought if there were any dragon relics, I’d borrow one to purify the contaminated minerals. I figured it would be just a nice historical site.

But then I realized—

‘Actually, this is better.’

Instead of trying to purify one piece at a time with a relic, I could just dump all the contaminated blue titanium here and let it cleanse over time.

‘And this place works like a storage too!’

It might end up looking like a cursed warehouse full of monster-tainted stuff… but who cares?

Nobody else can even come in here anyway.

Sure, it might not work. But if it doesn’t, I’ll think about it then.

Still, I had a good feeling it would.

Why?

Simple.

If this place was truly built for the dragon’s beloved partner—

‘There’s no way a dragon would allow anything dirty to touch it.’

“……”

“……”

Karl stared at me with a blank face, and I started to feel a little guilty. Did he regret bringing me here?

“Well… you never know.”

“……”

“You said the dragon’s magic purified monster-tainted land, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then maybe, even tainted materials could be purified here…”

“Go ahead.”

His quick reply made my eyes go wide.

“Seriously?”

“If it’s necessary, you can start bringing it in right away.”

Wait… I mean, that’s great, but—

“Can we really decide that on our own? Shouldn’t we get permission from the Duke…?”

“I’ll talk to His Grace.”

“You won’t get in trouble?”

He seemed close to the Duke, but still, the Duke didn’t seem like the understanding type. Especially judging by the nasty letter he sent me.

I could just imagine him yelling at Karl too.

‘Ugh, that’d suck.’

But Karl casually brushed it off.

“He’ll say yes anyway.”

“He will? Why?”

“Just like you said — blue titanium is a valuable resource.”

“Right.”

“I’m not sure how much is left in the mine, though.”

Karl casually picked up a snow globe sitting on the table and shook it.

“If processed into weapons, it will definitely help with winter defense.”

Of course it would. That’s exactly why I brought it up.

‘So Karl’s saying the Duke wouldn’t pass up that advantage?’

Karl nodded like he read my thoughts. I half-sarcastically, half-impressed, replied,

“Even if he doesn’t show his face to his own bride, he still cares about the people, huh?”

It was just a passing comment, but Karl’s expression changed slightly.

“You’re finally showing interest in the Duke?”

Why were his eyes sparkling when he said that? I rolled mine and muttered,

“…A little, maybe?”

So just a tiny bit.

After seeing that beautiful dragon, I couldn’t help but get a little curious about what kind of person the Duke was.

‘Not that I’m seeing him in a positive light!’

“I guess I’m just wondering… why he’s so cold-hearted.”

“……”

“Sure, the letter was rude, but usually when your bride arrives, you at least come say hello.”

I answered vaguely while scanning the tower again, thinking about how much blue titanium we could store here.

‘How much space would we need…?’

“……Maybe.”

As I looked around and thought, Karl suddenly spoke in a cautious tone.

When I looked at him, he seemed to have realized something, murmuring like he was thinking aloud.

“Maybe he’s delaying… accepting his bride.”

‘Delaying… accepting me?’

His calm, low voice stuck in my ears. I stared at him and asked,

“Because I’m a noble from the capital, sent by the Emperor?”

I’d heard that line so many times, it wasn’t anything new.

But Karl shook his head slowly, hesitating like he was picking his words carefully.

‘Karl? Picking his words?’

That alone was surprising.

But when I heard what he said next, I understood why he hesitated.

“…Because that might be the only way to keep you alive longer.”

“Who…?”

Ah.

Then I noticed Karl was gently holding the snow globe — something that must’ve belonged to the dragon’s beloved partner.

‘Beloved.’

So… he was talking about me.

And he wasn’t wrong. The Duke’s power could indeed harm me.

But still, it felt strange.

Karl sounded so calm and distant when talking about my possible death before.

‘Back then, he didn’t even sound like he was talking about me.’

Now, though… I could clearly feel he was worried about me. It was a little embarrassing, but also kind of nice.

Still, I wasn’t ready to accept that explanation just yet.

‘Even if I generously give him the benefit of the doubt…’

“That’s giving him way too much credit.”

“……”

If that was really the case, then instead of sending a rude letter to push me away, he should’ve told me directly.

He should’ve talked to me like a normal person and figured out what to do.

‘Who does he think he is — some tragic ex full of regrets?’

In the original story, the Duke was just a cold, emotionless man.

Exhausted by politics and schemes, his heart had grown numb.

‘If that kind of man was actually thinking such noble thoughts… I’m not sure I’d buy it.’

I was having doubts when Karl said,

“…The previous Duke was said to have deeply loved his partner.”

‘Now it’s the old Duke?’

At this rate we’ll be talking about the Duke’s great-great-grandfather next.

But Karl’s voice stayed serious.

“The Duke’s partner also loved him — not something you’d expect from a bride sent from outside.”

“……”

“But… it didn’t end well.”

And that was all he said. No clear details.

‘…Now I’m more curious because he didn’t explain anything.’

No, no. I’m not curious. I don’t need to be.

As I shook my head to clear my thoughts, Karl met my eyes — for the first time in a while, it felt like.

Even though he’d been facing me the whole time, this felt different.

“Maybe the current Duke learned something from that story.”

Ah… so that’s why he brought up the previous Duke.

“…Like ‘keeping your distance is better than killing them,’ that kind of lesson?”

“Even sending you away with that letter could’ve been part of it.”

“Still sounds like something he wrote in a fit of anger.”

“…I’m just saying, it could be.”

Then why did his mouth twitch like he got caught?

Now I was suspicious. He did seem to know the Duke pretty well.

Anyway, I got the point of what he was trying to say.

Even so—

‘What is this, not naming your pet because you don’t want to get attached?’

“Karl, that’s not how you treat someone you should be speaking to as an equal.”

“……”

“That’s how you treat someone below you — someone you’re just looking after.”

Most of all—

“All of this is just our guess.”

“……”

“I won’t make any judgments until I hear it from the Duke himself.”

I need to hear directly what kind of person he is, and what he’s thinking.

Karl paused, then asked,

“Are you willing to speak with him, then?”

“Did you really think I wasn’t?”

“……”

“What else can I do? We’re married, after all.”

I saw Karl’s mouth twitch slightly — he seemed happy that I might make peace with the Duke.

‘Honestly, it’s mostly because of what Karl said that I’m considering it.’

Originally, I was planning to greet the Duke when he arrived and say, “See? I did my duty as the Duchess.” Then wash my hands of everything.

‘I was even thinking of when to make my exit.’

But talking about responsibility with Karl the other day had reminded me of mine.

‘If I back out now, someone else will be forced into this position.’

I can’t just dump this on another noble lady and run.

Besides, if Karl’s right — if the Duke really doesn’t want to hurt his partner — then…

Maybe we can come to a peaceful agreement.

‘Like pretending to be married for a while, then getting a mutual divorce?’