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Chapter : 09
“Pardon? You want to hire me as your personal guard knight?”
“Yes. It won’t be on the level of an imperial knight, but it should still be a respectable position. As of yesterday, I was officially recognized as the Grand Duchess in public.”
No matter how much he was reviled as a cursed beast, Kaiden was still a Grand Duke acknowledged by the Emperor. And Jenaida was the Grand Duchess who had married him.
For Dalton, who had always pursued the honor of becoming an imperial knight, it was regrettable—but still a position he could be reasonably satisfied with.
She didn’t want to create unnecessary ties, but if she wanted to protect him from the unknown spirit contractor, this was the best option.
Keeping him within a range where she could watch and monitor him.
It wasn’t ideal, but there was no guarantee the spirit contractor wouldn’t suddenly change their mind and kill Dalton.
Despite the turmoil in her heart, Jenaida calmly waited for Dalton’s answer.
There was no certainty he would act as she wished. In the worst case, she had even considered forcibly dragging him away.
As she entertained such an improper thought—kidnapping—Dalton finally opened his mouth.
“…Are you sure this is all right?”
As the conversation began to move in a positive direction, Jenaida inwardly rejoiced and continued speaking.
“I’m fine. What matters is your decision.”
“Then I’ll go. To be honest, I’ve felt uneasy all this time. You didn’t marry the Grand Duke because you were on good terms with him, did you? His reputation isn’t exactly good.”
“…….”
“I’ll stay by your side and protect you.”
His words were full of prejudice toward Kaiden, but his concern for Jenaida was genuine.
Having watched Dalton for a long time, she could tell.
Jenaida nodded and spoke warmly.
“Thank you. That’s reassuring. Then… no, let’s have you come right away—today.”
The deadline the spirit contractor had mentioned was two days.
Now, only one day remained.
She had no choice but to move as quickly as possible and hope the spirit contractor would come quietly to the Grand Duke’s estate.
But Dalton, who knew nothing of these circumstances, looked thoroughly bewildered.
“Today?”
“Yes. As a squire, you should be able to leave the palace easily. Tell the knight commander today and come to the Grand Duke’s residence. If the servants ask, just say you came on my recommendation.”
As everything proceeded at lightning speed, Dalton continued to question her with suspicious eyes.
“Are you really sure nothing is wrong?”
He seemed to believe that the reason she was recruiting him was because her relationship with the Grand Duke was poor.
Reading his intent, Jenaida firmly reassured him that nothing strange was going on.
“Nothing happened. I just wanted to take responsibility for my squire until the end. And it would be a waste of your skills. I know better than anyone how capable you are.”
In the imperial court, the knight who took a squire under their wing played a crucial role in whether the squire would later be formally appointed as a knight.
The more influential the knight, the higher the chances of appointment—and future promotions as well.
They were, quite literally, a powerful backer.
But Jenaida, who could have fulfilled that role for Dalton, had left to become a Grand Duchess, leaving him stuck in limbo.
After hearing her explanation, Dalton nodded as if he understood.
“Then I’ll inform the knight commander today and come to your residence.”
“Good. Thank you.”
“No matter what anyone says, I’m on your side, Lady Jenaida. If anything happens, please tell me.”
Seeing Dalton’s unconditional loyalty, Jenaida added another word of thanks.
After successfully persuading Dalton, Jenaida left the imperial palace.
‘We were together until dawn, but nothing happened.’
If he had intended to ambush her, he would have chosen a time when few people were around.
Yet nothing untoward had occurred. It seemed she hadn’t angered him so far.
Still, she couldn’t let her guard down.
‘Will he come straight to the Grand Duke’s estate?’
The imperial palace—protected by the strongest divine barrier in the kingdom—had been treated like his own home by that man. There was a high chance he could just as easily breach the Grand Duke’s protective wards.
‘Then the Grand Duke’s residence will become the meeting place.’
Closing the window, Jenaida removed her robe. Her hair, pressed down by the hood, spilled out messily.
As she roughly swept her hair back, she felt something strange within the room.
The flow of air had subtly changed.
Noticing this, Jenaida slowly lowered her hand and scanned her surroundings.
Anyone capable of concealing their presence in this darkness was at least on the level of the assassin she had met before.
‘Who is it?’
She had just come from meeting the Emperor, so it couldn’t be someone from his side.
Which left only one possibility.
“Where have you been, returning only now?”
Kaiden’s voice, sharp with displeasure, cut through the air like a blade.
It was reminiscent of the time he had interrogated her on the balcony.
Jenaida relaxed her guard, searched for a candle by moonlight, and skillfully struck a match to light it.
Kaiden’s face, invisible under moonlight alone, was revealed by the candle’s glow.
His brow was faintly furrowed.
Seeing him seated there as if he belonged, Jenaida asked in confusion,
“You came to my room at this hour?”
“Yes. We are husband and wife.”
Hearing Kaiden so naturally use the word “husband and wife,” Jenaida was startled. She had never imagined he would say such a thing.
“You didn’t expect this while staying in my estate?”
Having been neatly struck down by his retort, Jenaida bit her lip and ended up apologizing.
“…I’m sorry.”
Kaiden narrowed his eyes at her apology and closed the book he had been holding.
Still calm, still composed, he continued speaking.
“Tell me where you went.”
Jenaida carefully chose her words again and again.
A clumsy lie would be exposed immediately.
She had already decided not to love Kaiden, so there was no reason to try to please him.
Among nobles, having one or two lovers was commonplace. A secret meeting would hardly be a serious issue.
“I met Dalton.”
“…The lady’s former squire you mentioned before?”
“Yes. I needed someone trustworthy to use like Your Highness’s guard knight. And more than that, he was my squire, so I wanted to take responsibility for him until the end.”
The more she spoke, the darker Kaiden’s expression became.
Sharp-eyed as she was, Jenaida noticed the change—but she did not retract her words.
“So you think it’s acceptable to tell your husband so boldly that you met another man in secret?”
At his rebuke, Jenaida swallowed.
She had already drawn a clear line by returning the flower. Her goal was to save him, not to fall in love with him.
Then why was he acting like this? Was he trying to control her behavior?
She soon got her answer.
“Have you already forgotten the warning I gave you at the palace?”
As expected—it was the latter.
Letting out a short sigh, Jenaida replied,
“I’ve heard that nobles usually keep one or two lovers. In high society, it’s not considered much of a flaw, so I don’t think there’s any risk of scandal. Unless…”
She slowly finished her sentence.
“…you love me?”
Silence settled between them.
The atmosphere instantly became awkward, yet she didn’t stop speaking.
Jenaida hoped Kaiden would not even harbor the slightest personal affection for her.
In this life, she was his sword.
A sword does not need emotions.
“This marriage was arranged by His Majesty. So it shouldn’t matter to Your Highness whom I meet.”
Her firm answer brought the conversation to an end.
Under the flickering candlelight, Kaiden looked at her with an impassive expression.
There was not the slightest trace of emotion in his eyes.
Seeing that clearly, Jenaida let out a hollow laugh. It was ridiculous—she was the one wounded by her own words, while the person who heard them was perfectly unaffected.
Afraid her breathing might tremble, she barely dared to breathe at all.
A long, heavy silence filled the space between them.
Kaiden slowly scanned her from head to toe, then stood from his chair.
The candlelight illuminated not his face, but his arm—muscles taut, veins standing out.
Jenaida couldn’t bring herself to lift her head and instead lowered her gaze.
With his face hidden from view, he finally spoke.
“…Get some rest.”
Leaving only those words behind, Kaiden exited the room.
Jenaida remained standing where she was until the sound of the door closing faded away.
She couldn’t take even a single step forward.
If she did, the life goal she had painstakingly set for herself might completely collapse.
