25 - How to Survive as the Wife of a Monster Duke
How to Survive as the Monster Duke's Wife
Episode 25: Arlen Fief was booming these days.
It was the most remarkable achievement that the current Baron Arlen had accomplished since receiving his title.
He had tried planting a crop called 'Karrot' that was said to be popular in the south these days.
Arlen Fief, close to the capital, was strangely warm.
Like other fiefs around it, it had four distinct seasons, but the winters were particularly mild.
Also, the summers were so hot that the bright sunshine never stopped.
Like a southern fief, there were often long days of rain.
He had the clever idea to use that climate to grow southern crops while he was searching for a doctor who would be willing to take care of his mad Countess.
Finding a skilled doctor who was tight-lipped and easy to silence if necessary was no easy task.
It was a real coincidence that he heard about the southern crop Karrot while reaching out to the south.
The crop, which grew well even if you just scattered the seeds, had plump roots that were perfect for food.
There was no need for it in Arlen Fief, which was near the affluent capital, but its sales value was truly sufficient.
The cost of growing it was low, the amount harvested at once was large, and Arlen Fief was very close to the north compared to the south.
If he could make a deal with the northern fiefs suffering from food shortages, it was obvious that his financial situation would flourish.
"Master, this is Knight Cedric."
Cedric? Was there such a knight? The Baron, who had no hobby of memorizing the names of his subordinates, pulled the Signal Cord instead of answering.
Then, the door to the office opened slightly.
"I have investigated what you ordered."
Ah, he was the knight he had ordered to investigate the northern sales channels last time.
Only then did the Baron nod.
"You work fast."
"Thank you."
"So, how did it go?"
Cedric hesitated before speaking.
"First, I looked for merchant groups that mainly distribute goods to the north. Some of them already had exclusive trading partners, which was difficult. The most promising merchant group is Essid Merchant Group. We are planning to send someone there today."
The Baron was satisfied with the quick work.
Cedric's report continued.
"Other merchant groups from the north seem to be exclusive, so it will take time to approach them."
Exclusive, huh.
Baron Arlen licked his lips.
Certainly, the Arlen Barony had never had any ties with the north until now.
'I've decided on a marriage partner.'
'With whom?'
'The north.'
Suddenly, Baron Arlen's expression brightened.
Come to think of it, didn't Illyin go to the north?
Milo had been visiting the north frequently lately.
It was the season when he often had to go to the north because it was getting colder.
But the place he was going was not just any northern region, but Biften.
"It's my first time traveling around in April like this."
It was late October in the Sunlands now.
What the merchant group employee, who was from the Winter Territory like Milo, was talking about was April in Biften.
April in Biften, where blizzards raged so fiercely that even Winter Territory people had a hard time enduring it.
"Me too."
Still, Milo had no complaints.
There was no one in the Winter Territory who could take care of the Sunfolk, and he couldn't feed the Duke's wife, who hadn't even adapted to the winter yet, harsh Winter Territory herbs.
'Come in and talk.'
'M-Me?'
'Yes.'
'Are you telling me to go into the Duke's wife's room in front of the Delos maids?'
"......"
The pure Duke's wife had taken him to the gates of hell and then let him go.
Since then, Milo had decided to refrain from visiting the Winter Territory as much as possible.
He was thinking of sending someone else for the food supply this winter.
It was because the gaze of his lord was unusual.
Still, he had brought a lot of herbs, so he wouldn't have to go up for a while.
Milo slumped in his chair.
"But I got another call."
"What?"
Milo jumped up from his seat as if he had been shot.
The employee who had been talking to him just now said with a troubled face.
"It's not a summons."
Why didn't you say the important thing first? Milo glared at the employee for no reason and then drooped his shoulders.
"Then?"
"It's an order to investigate the Madam's maternal family."
"Maternal family?"
This time it's the maternal family?
He had just carried out the order to investigate the Arlen Barony not long ago.
The Barony he investigated at first was an unremarkable family.
But as he grabbed the tail and dug one by one, the appearance that emerged was sinister.
It was strange that they had replaced all the subordinates at once about 20 years ago, and it was even more suspicious that all the people who had been replaced had died or disappeared when he tried to investigate them.
Besides, the timing of the Countess's madness was around that time, so it seemed that was the reason why his lord had ordered further investigation.
Milo's head quickly made connections.
"Good......"
He was lost in thought.
The Arlen Barony was a family with little connection to the north.
Contact was essential to investigate not only external news but also the internal affairs of the family.
Then this side would inevitably be exposed.
Until now, he had mainly investigated people who had left the Arlen Barony, so there was little risk of being caught in their information network.
But investigating the current Countess's maternal family would be more risky.
No matter how unthreatening the Arlen Barony's information power was, he needed a way to make contact naturally.
"Milo."
Then, there was another knock.
Milo thought he had a lot of visitors today.
"Come in."
The person who came in this time was not from Biften, but a regular employee from the Sunlands.
A person who knew nothing about the Winter Territory.
"Someone has come to see you and urgently wants to meet with the head of the group."
Where have I seen this situation before? Milo tilted his head.
"Who?"
"They say they are from the Arlen Barony. They say they have a deal to propose."
Milo blinked.
Huh? Things are working out too strangely well?
Aden stayed with Illyin until morning as promised.
None of the people on the 7th floor felt any strangeness at the sight.
"So, everyone knew?"
Illyin narrowed her eyes and stared at Etra, who had come to greet her in the morning.
Etra bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry, Madam. I had orders not to say anything......"
The maids who were coming in next to her saw Aden next to Illyin and realized the situation, and they started to come in one after another and bow.
Of course, they all said the same thing.
"His Grace the Duke told us not to tell you,"
The maid who had told too much truth hiccuped after receiving Aden's gaze.
Illyin got the impression that the maids were not as afraid of Aden as she had thought.
Well, it was natural since these Delos maids on the 7th floor knew that they wouldn't freeze up even if they made eye contact.
But not only that, but it also seemed a little different from the command system between nobles and servants in general.
"I'm sorry, Madam!"
The sight of the maids shouting like that was definitely different from the Sunlands maids.
Illyin briefly thought of the Arlen Barony maids, who had been stiff in front of the Baron.
"......If it's an order, I guess it couldn't be helped."
Illyin ended up laughing.
She wasn't cruel enough to turn away the maids who were begging for forgiveness with tearful eyes.
Above all, they weren't trying to deceive her with malice, but just following orders, right?
"The person who lied is the bad one."
Illyin said softly.
Aden began to stare at the distance through the window.
The maids looked at each other with wide eyes.
"What time does the Delos group leader start working?"
Illyin asked Aden slyly.
"......It's time to start the morning schedule now."
He was talking as if it was someone else's business, but it was his own story after all.
Illyin smiled brightly.
"Shall I see you off?"
"It's cold outside."
Aden tried to dissuade Illyin, but Illyin eventually got up from her seat with him.
Etra draped a thick cloak over Illyin's shoulders.
"It's really cold outside the mansion, Madam."
"I'm not going outside."
Aden eventually escorted Illyin and left the room.
Illyin was seized by a strange feeling.
She wouldn't be able to walk around like this with people from other families from the floor right below, but at least on the 7th floor, the two of them were free to do whatever they wanted.
A secret shared only on the 7th floor.
This place was more comfortable than Arlen Fief, but the 7th floor was a more peaceful place than any other place in the mansion.
It was like walking on soft clouds.
That's what Illyin thought.
Behind the two of them, the Delos maids followed one by one with quick steps.
They were holding things like winter protection gear and thick clothes for the frail Madam from the Sunlands.
As they approached the stairs leading down to the 6th floor, Aden slowed down.
"From now on, I have to be the commander of the Knights."
In short, it meant that he couldn't walk side by side with her unless it was a special occasion.
Illyin turned to look at him.
Still, they could make eye contact freely outside.
She smiled, feeling better.
"Wouldn't it be okay here?"
Her voice was somewhat low, as if imitating someone.
Rather than meaning that it was okay since it was still the stairs, she was repeating what Aden had said before.
"......"
Aden, who noticed that, rubbed his forehead.
Illyin discovered a strangely unfamiliar side of herself at that moment.
She was so unfamiliar with herself, teasing him with playful words.
It was a side of herself that she had never seen in the Arlen Fief, where she had grown up for over 20 years.
Aden's short silence felt long.
Just as a subtle anxiety that he might get angry was seeping in.
"......It wouldn't be bad for the commander of the Knights to guide the newly arrived Duchess around the mansion."
The silence, which had felt long, but was actually brief, ended like that.
One of the maids who was holding gloves behind Illyin quietly approached and put the gloves on her hands.
A scarf also slipped slightly under the hair that had been lifted without her knowing.
Aden, who was watching the scene, raised his hand and dismissed the maids.
When he spread out his other hand, a blue light emanated from his hand.
Illyin's eyes widened.
It seemed to be his Authority.
"Wow......"
The temperature of the mansion rose in an instant.
The body temperature trapped in the Exposed neckline wrapped in the scarf felt like heat in an instant.
The intention was clear.
The maids, who had realized the master's desire to have time alone, quietly moved away from the two of them.
All kinds of winter protection gear were also removed, except for the scarf and gloves that Illyin had around her neck.
There was a small commotion among the maids.
It was a small voice, so Illyin didn't hear it, but Aden definitely heard it.
The maids were arguing about whether or not they should take off Illyin's scarf.
"......"
When Aden looked at them again, the flinching maids moved further away.
Only then did Aden look back at Illyin as if he was satisfied.
"Shall we go?"
Illyin looked at him and then looked back at the maids who had moved far away.
When she turned around, they bowed their heads deeply.
It was a gesture closer to saying goodbye than avoiding her gaze.
I can't stop them.
Illyin, who laughed without realizing it, willingly entrusted herself to his hand.
