TNDHD 19

Chapter 19

Huh? What is this person saying right now?

Since his gaze wasn’t directed at me, it took me quite a while to understand what he meant.

Only when Kaigan looked at me, as if checking my reaction, did I finally understand the meaning of his blunt yet somehow shy expression.

He was talking about me.

“…So we do look somewhat alike, don’t we?”

What he had called beautiful wasn’t the willow ribbon.

Feeling the heat rising to my flushed cheeks, I slightly lifted the hem of my dress.

“This is Mila’s masterpiece. The concept is peach blossoms.”

Of course, she didn’t actually make the dress herself, but the hairstyle, the coordination of jewelry, and various other things—I rambled on without much sense, then lowered my eyes and pretended to brush pollen off the dress.

Even being called pretty in such a serious tone made me feel at a loss.

“Anyway, thank you. And…”

But was I going to lose here?

“You also… resemble it.”

Carefully, I raised my finger and pointed to one side of the fountain in the square.

There stood a statue of Keor, proudly displaying his beautiful naked form without a single piece of cloth, wearing that faint, enigmatic smile.

“That’s a bit much.”

Kaigan muttered in a voice so quiet it was barely audible, then closed his mouth.

My first spring in Weiriver would remain a gentle memory of celebration. There were occasional wary glances directed at me, but like the seasonal winds growing warmer day by day, I believed those gazes would gradually soften as well.

Even during what was supposedly a date, Kaigan maintained the same rigid, stone-like demeanor as always, yet without any sign of annoyance, he continuously offered me his arm and matched his pace to mine.

Sharing time alone under the sunlight for the first time in a while, I enjoyed my first spring with my husband.

[One good thing about the days getting longer lately is being able to read books late into the evening with free lighting. I wonder if Miss Diana, the book lover, would agree? Ah, “book lover” is a nickname Mila taught me. She told me you didn’t dislike it, so she passed it on to me. So even if I tell you I’ve ended up being called by the same nickname, you probably won’t pity me, will you? It’s obvious Mila is teasing me, but what can I do? Even if only as a nickname, the fact that I’ve become a comrade of Miss Diana brings me great joy.

Since you said you liked the parasol I chose and sent last month, I tried something more daring this time. I wanted to prepare a birthday present because I was so disappointed that you wouldn’t be able to return home even on your birthday. If you like it this time as well, you might be able to wear it when you have a party with your friends. It’s a bit too elaborate for studying, after all. Maybe my gift arrived even before this letter.

I hope you can laugh, dance, and enjoy yourself with your dear friends and have a happy day. And please, let me join your birthday party next year. May I hope for that?]

I wrote letters to Diana every week. Her replies to my chatty letters were always short and neat. But what did length matter? Perhaps Diana was simply the type who struggled and carefully chose every word.

Spring was very short. Like the time it takes for peach blossoms on a tree to bloom and fall. The time I could spend alone with my husband felt just as brief.

Two months into married life.

Kaigan was still as polite to me as if I were a stranger.

At times, he even seemed like a loyal subordinate.

On the other hand, when it came to work, he drew strict lines without compromise—even with me.

“I think I need to go to the Imperial Capital urgently, Ruwan.”

“Again? I’ll go with you. I heard you didn’t even have proper meals on the last trip.”

“No. It would be faster if I go alone. And if I leave now, I won’t be late.”

“It’s already evening. How are you supposed to sleep…?”

“I’m fine. I’ll sleep in the carriage.”

He would slip away from me as if escaping.

“The meeting has been going on for days. I’m sorry, but could we postpone dinner plans?”

Every single time.

“While I’m away, the construction contractor for the new church will visit. Please leave it to Ben. Even if he requests a meeting with you, do not accept it and pass it to Ben.”

At times, it almost felt like he was deliberately excluding me. Even though there was no way he would want to isolate and hurt me.

“I’m fine. I’ll handle it alone.”

He insisted on doing everything by himself.

Perhaps his personality, as the head of the household, was excessively responsible and self-sacrificing. Or rather, his devotion was excessive. It seemed he wanted to keep me away from all the exhausting work.

Of course, there were tasks that Kaigan alone could never accomplish.

“I’m not tired. So if your period of discomfort is over…”

For example, even the nightly events that took place almost every day on my bed, assuming they were also treated as part of his duties.

“…I want to, Ruwan.”

In any case, he was an extremely busy and dutiful person. He was strong-willed when it came to work, and I had no intention of ignoring the opinion of someone far more experienced than me.

The more skilled a worker was, the more they would feel that having an inexperienced partner reduced efficiency.

But he couldn’t always work alone forever.

How much effort would it take for him to soften his stubbornness?

“No, why did His Grace leave the Madam behind again?”

Mila always complained whenever he went out and left me behind.

This time, it was a charity gathering.

“It’s not like he’s going to a battlefield or a hunting ground. Charity events are where the ladies take charge and make a scene, aren’t they? Besides, the Duchess of Delphonia is from Elcon, so there must be so much to see at their charity gathering. They even invited Elcon bards and a fantasy orchestra. And yet he’s not taking the Madam? That makes no sense!”

“Delphonia is quite far. You’d have to ride in a carriage until your hips go numb.”

I smiled, hiding my disappointment. I had just reached the final volume of “The History of the Imperial Family” in my hands—a recommended reading list by Mrs. Harbert, and the most complicated and boring book of them all.

Reading such a difficult book with only half-hearted concentration was impossible, so if I had gone with Kaigan, I wouldn’t have been able to pick it up again for at least two weeks.

“Maybe I’ll go visit Delphonia when I’m a bit free. It would be nice to go with Mila too.”

“I’d love that. But Madam, you really should receive His Grace’s escort if you go.”

“Then I’ll just have to take the two of you under my arms.”

“Oh dear, even as a joke, I must decline, Madam.”

So when would the day come that I could freely travel alone?

Honestly, I wasn’t very optimistic. Even I, who was currently living like a monk in training, was busy accumulating knowledge and refinement.

Once I became fully active in the world, there was no way I would have more free time than now.

But to me, all of that was a minor issue. Missing the opportunity to see the charity event in Delphonia, which supposedly had plenty to offer, wasn’t that disappointing.

What mattered more was the growing impatience over how long I would have to keep postponing my role.

Wasn’t it strange that the Duke of Weiriver, now a married man, was still working as if he were single?

It seemed I would need to seriously discuss it with him when he returned. I should tell him that I ought to start attending larger events as well.

“Oh my, it’s already this late. I’ll go have a snack outside today, Mila.”

When I finally finished reading “The History of the Imperial Family” and put it down, it was already tea time.

Mila, who guessed my destination, hurriedly prepared to go out with me.

I walked in a light dress toward the northern guard post, carrying a basket I had bought along with candy from a girl selling sweets in the past. The savory smell rising from the still-warm bread stimulated my appetite.

“You’re really going to eat here?”

Mila expertly set up the parasol she had brought onto the grass in front of the guard post.

“Yes. It seems like it only eats when I’m here.”

Next to the northern guard post stood a peculiar warehouse. When you opened the door, an inner structure with iron bars on the outside came into view. No one knew what it was originally designed for, but until two months ago, it had been used to store broken weapons from training in the barracks.

But two months ago, it gained a new purpose.

“How ugly.”

Mila said, looking from a distance at the iron cage.

“Is this the first time you’ve seen a creature like that, Madam?”

Inside the warehouse, a magical creature was being held captive.

The green creature confiscated from Aroz was imprisoned there.

Well, calling it a prison might be disrespectful. As far as we knew, the green creature had not violated imperial law. Still, in terms of isolating it from society and providing only minimal care, it was no different from treating it like a prisoner.

“I’ve never seen a magical creature before at all. I’ve only ever seen them in drawings.”

“And yet you’re not afraid of it, Madam?”

“Not really. Probably because it’s small and because we’re seeing it while it’s confined in a cage.”

It was wounded, trapped, and bleeding red.

“Look at that, Mila. The bowl is still full. It looks like it hasn’t eaten anything again today.”

“What a strange creature. Why does it only eat when it’s sharing a meal with our Madam?”

“Well, it has to eat to live today too.”

I smiled as I sat comfortably on the picnic mat spread under the parasol. Aside from the fact that an ominous imprisoned creature was right nearby, the grassy field surrounded by cute flowering trees was, in its own way, a charming picnic spot.