IBWMD 78

~Chapter 78~

In my mind, this place was no longer a prison for interrogations—it had fully transformed into a romantic date spot Karl made up an excuse for.

The more I looked around, the more it felt like a village where fairies might live.

“…Ugh, such a sly fox.”

I mumbled Beth’s favorite phrase playfully as I started walking.

Honestly, Karl didn’t seem like a fox—he was more like something bigger.

‘A sleek black wolf or a jaguar, maybe.’

If I think about how he bit my leg, I could even say he was like a puppy…

Well, only the bite strength was puppy-like.

If he’s a puppy, I must be a hamster.

Even with those silly thoughts, I kept smiling.

I tried to compose my expression and continued forward.

“Is it this way?”

Finding the path wasn’t hard.

There was a straight road ahead, and at the end of it, a small building with a light on.

The windows had bars.

‘Maybe this is the jail in the underground village?’

On both sides of the path were quaint houses, each one full of character and care.

One yard had a hand-carved bust of a dragon.

‘What’s the story here?’

Thinking about Karl’s calm voice explaining about dragons made my heart flutter.

‘I want to ask him more—right away.’

Sure, he wouldn’t say it in a soft, loving tone. More like with a sigh and a grumble.

But I still wanted to hear it—from his voice.

I quickened my pace and reached the building in no time.

Just as I reached for the door—

“…ka?”

“…said… right?”

I heard soft voices from inside.

‘Huh?’

It wasn’t just Karl’s voice.

‘He’s not alone?’

But the other voice was familiar.

‘Jeremy?’

Is Jeremy involved in the interrogation?

Just as I was wondering—

“Did the Grand Duchess… say something…?”

Someone mentioned me.

I froze instead of opening the door.

“Until the end… and said….”

“…really?”

The voices were muffled through the door, but I could tell—they were talking about me.

‘What the heck? Why are they talking about me without me there?’

I was going to barge in and tease them—but then I heard Karl’s voice loud and clear:

“Do you really think I meant it?”

“Do you think I’m that kind of scumbag?”

“Someone who enjoys seducing married women?”

* * *

Just a short while ago…

“Eat fast and follow me, Jeremy.”

“Huh? They say not to interrupt even a dog while it eats…”

“If you’re enjoying dinner thanks to my wife, you can repay her by helping carry a body.”

Jeremy had been dragged away from the welcome banquet for the Grand Duchess.

Apparently, they had to move the knocked-out assassin to the interrogation room.

“I thought the interrogation was going to be a private thing with just the two of you?”

“And then I’m supposed to touch Elaine after handling that guy?”

And what about me?

Of course, Jeremy was too loyal to say something like that aloud.

Well… he used to, but this wasn’t the time.

The Duke was clearly in a mood—and talking about the Grand Duchess with such a sparkle in his eye.

So Jeremy obediently carried the unconscious assassin on his back and followed Caillen.

Eventually, they arrived—

“So this is where you called the Grand Duchess?”

“Yeah.”

“To the prison attached to the Ancestral Village?”

They had reached the Ancestral Village.

It was the place where the first dragon of Saint Portou met its mate—a place long forgotten after both died.

After the first Grand Duke sealed it, only a few loyal to the family knew of its existence. Now, it was only used for one purpose:

“…Are you planning to recite the wedding vow here?”

Specifically, the sacred vow between the Grand Duke and their mate.

Even if the wedding ceremony was held elsewhere, the true vow was done here, in memory of the dragon and their partner’s love.

“Is that a problem?”

“No, it’s just that…”

Of course there were problems.

There were no witnesses, no proper procedure, and not even a priest to certify it.

Well, considering the Duke’s strained ties with the temple, no priest might actually be better.

‘So moving the assassin was just an excuse…’

‘He’s using me as the witness, huh?’

As the pressure mounted, Jeremy sneaked glances at Caillen.

‘Isn’t this a bit rushed?’

Jeremy didn’t dislike the Grand Duchess anymore.

His old suspicions were gone. Now, he thought she was perfect for Caillen.

The Grand Duke had suffered enough scheming and betrayal.

Someone honest and straightforward like the Grand Duchess would be a real comfort to him.

Still, this felt too sudden.

‘They’re skipping everything and jumping straight to vows?’

It felt like watching a runaway carriage roll downhill.

Who would’ve guessed the Duke—who once avoided women—would be this forward?

‘Well… it is his first love.’

That realization hit Jeremy with a jolt of anxiety.

‘That’s right.’

Even with that face, this was Caillen’s first time falling in love.

He’d never had feelings like this before.

‘He does really like her, right?’

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have shared a bed.

That part still made Jeremy’s head spin.

When Clark first heard the Duke say they’d slept in the same bed, the old man fainted on the spot.

‘Your Grace… she’s married!’

That was the first thing Clark shouted when he regained consciousness.

‘Isn’t her husband me?’

‘But she doesn’t know that!’

‘Is that a problem?’

‘That’s basically cheating from her point of view…’

‘What are you even talking about?’

‘So you seduced a married woman—no wait, technically she’s your wife but still—’

‘Clark. I am her husband.’

‘But Your Grace… this is just… immoral…’

Remembering that bizarre conversation made Jeremy feel faint too.

And when Clark said she doesn’t know, Jeremy had asked:

“Your Grace. One question—have you told the Grand Duchess everything?”

“Told her what?”

“Everything!”

…Because the biggest problem hadn’t even been dealt with yet.

Jeremy panicked.

‘First of all—’

What if their definitions of “we’re dating” are completely different?

Spending one night together doesn’t automatically mean they understand each other.

There are plenty of one-night encounters.

What if the Duke thinks they’re in love—but the Grand Duchess has no idea?

What if she sees this vow thing as a complete ambush?

‘What if she rejects him? No—he wouldn’t get rejected, but still…’

Wait—before all that.

‘Did he even tell her he’s the Grand Duke?’

That was the most important part.

If he hadn’t said that—everything could fall apart.

‘I thought he just missed the right timing…’

But now that they were talking about a sacred vow, he should’ve told her already.

‘Your Grace… you did, right?’

You told her… right?

“…”

…But the moment Jeremy saw Caillen’s awkward silence, his hope shattered.

‘What are you going to do if she dumps you?!’

This wasn’t just any Grand Duchess.

She once faced a possessed priest and exorcised him instead.

If she learned Karl’s true identity and felt betrayed…

Jeremy could already picture it—the Grand Duke getting slapped and dumped for the first time in history.

Words burst out before he could stop them:

“You’re not seriously planning to hide your identity and marry her as Karl, right?”

“What?”

“You’re not trying to seduce—well, she’s technically your wife—but a woman who doesn’t know the truth?”

“Did you and Clark catch heatstroke out here?”

Caillen frowned, clearly irritated.

“You think I’d go that far?”

“So are you going to tell her here?”

Still not convinced, Jeremy pressed again.

“You’re not still planning to keep it from her, right?”

“…What did you say?”

“You once said it was fun to tease me. You’re not trying to enjoy teasing her a bit longer, are you…?”

Caillen narrowed his eyes.

His most trusted aide had a habit of occasionally saying completely absurd things.

“Do you really think I meant that seriously?”