28 - How to Survive as the Wife of a Monster Duke
How to Survive as the Monster Duke's Wife
Episode 28
"Lord Milo!"
Just then, the door to the merchant leader's office shook violently, as if struck by an April gale.
"Come in."
The door opened immediately.
The person who entered was from Delos.
Only then did Milo realize that the awaited message from Biften had finally arrived.
"A message from the estate."
"Yes."
Milo straightened his attire and listened.
He had been waiting for contact from the mainland, but he already knew the answer.
His Highness does not think favorably of Arlen.
He could already guess as much from the investigation results alone.
Putting everything else aside, the fact that, contrary to rumors, the Countess didn't even have a dedicated maid was concerning.
It was practically the same as saying the Countess's position within the Arlen family was the opposite of the rumors.
"Regarding the estate..."
Information about the Countess could be obtained through other channels.
There was no need to pry for information by initiating a trade deal.
Milo felt as if he had already heard the answer.
The messenger, having caught his breath, spoke.
"They say to accept Arlen's trade proposal."
"What?"
His words were the complete opposite of what Milo had expected.
He instinctively repeated the question before covering his mouth.
But the messenger's words weren't finished.
"However, they say you are to meet the Baron in person."
\\
The Biften estate was thrown into chaos by the sudden decision of the family head.
To make matters worse, it was a blizzard-ridden April, so members of the three families, except for Delos, couldn't even contact their respective elders.
Consequently, the one who came to see Aden in place of the elders was one of the Dazzling Elo's knights.
"I have a matter to discuss with the Leader of Delos."
In front of the Delos Knight Commander's office at the estate, Aegis, who was guarding it, concealed his troubled expression and announced the visitor to the inside.
"Commander, a request for an audience from Elo."
"Who from Elo?"
The elders of Elo were surely, by now, in the northwestern Domain of Elo, busy figuring out how to escape the cold.
"Knight Rosie of Elo."
"Aha."
Rosie was a knight whom Aden knew, a rare occurrence.
Not as the Duke, but as the Knight Commander of Delos.
It was only natural, as they had clashed over the same issue numerous times.
Knight Rosie of Elo was someone who cherished the lives of his own subordinates above all else.
Put differently, he was also a person who showed little interest in the lives of knights from other families.
"Tell him to come in."
Den, the Knight Commander of Delos, was known to be an extremely difficult person to deal with.
On the battlefield, he often employed challenging strategies, but the prevailing opinion was that he decided on them only after thorough calculation.
And there was one more thing: the talk of him being the Duke's proxy. A phenomenon unique to the Delos knight order, which couldn't face their leader directly.
"Rosie of Elo."
Upon entering the Commander's office, Rosie offered only a simple salute befitting a superior.
Even that would have been different from the one given to the Knight Commander of Elo.
"What is the matter?"
Aden had no intention of listening to a long story.
Wasn't what he was going to say obvious anyway?
"I heard that the Leader of Delos plans to travel to the Sunlands this time."
Just as expected.
Den leaned back in his chair.
"And?"
Rosie faced the Knight Commander of Delos, whom he had seen several times on the battlefield.
The Knight Commander didn't even bother to hide his displeasure.
"...It is currently April."
April in Biften.
The coldest season.
"It's a period when the movements of the Yester race are unusual. They recently joined forces with the Molly Tribe as well. As you know, the Yester race in April is dangerous. I thought it would be good if you could advise the Leader."
It was a textbook statement.
Den tilted his head.
"Are you saying it's dangerous for the Leader to go out to the Sunlands?"
"...Of course, I'm not doubting the Leader's abilities, but..."
The safest place in Biften during April was not the Biften estate, but right next to the Duke of Biften.
Because if there was someone with the ability to control temperature, there was no reason to fear the Yester.
The Yester, being sensitive to temperature, ran rampant in the cold to their heart's content, but if the temperature rose even a little, they lost all their vigor.
"Just speak frankly."
Aden laughed.
He leaned forward, placing his hands on the desk.
"Because the lands of Elo are too close to the Yester."
For a moment, the Commander's office was enveloped in silence.
"...I cannot fully represent the position of Elo, but..."
Rosie was a cautious knight.
To be precise, he was also a cunning knight.
"His Highness is not only the Leader of Delos but also the one who protects Biften. The Elder has been feeling regretful about Delos's recent course of action."
If Delos's recent course of action had changed, there was only one thing.
That Aden was staying at the estate, resulting in fewer long-distance expeditions.
That wasn't originally Delos's role either.
It was merely an abnormal situation caused by Aden's dislike of staying at the estate and the pressure from the three families surrounding the succession ceremony.
'We cannot acknowledge a Family Head of Biften who cannot even protect the People of Winter!'
It was the story the elders of the three families had constantly on their lips until the succession ceremony.
Aden curled his lips into a smile.
Now that the succession ceremony was over, and he had a reason to stay at the estate, there was no longer any need to lead the Delos knights around.
"Then I shall convey the Leader's words as well."
Although it was actually Aden's own thought, the only one who would laugh at that truth was Illyin.
"The Leader said that from the moment He decided to travel, He anticipated that Elo or Nose would come seeking Him."
The Blue Nose are those who are more alert than anyone else to the actions of the Red Deloz.
As for Elo, it's only natural they react sensitively, since their headquarters is right next to the Yester race's gathering grounds.
"He said to tell them, 'I don't know since when Delos became the sword of other families.'"
If you dislike wielding the sword so much, why not just discard it?
\\
"Will it be alright?"
Illyin spread out a map of Biften on the desk.
The cake and tea she had been eating were already forgotten.
The perceptive Etra brought out two new cups of warm tea.
The somewhat cooled tea was passed on to other maids via her hands.
"Is this Sunlands liquor?"
"It's tea, I said. It's hot?"
"Can we try drinking it?"
The hushed voices of the maids faded away.
Tea was one of the many items brought from the Sunlands for Illyin.
Illyin had told the maids they could feel free to drink the tea, but no maid dared to touch the Madam's belongings under Etra's sharp gaze.
Still, since Etra didn't say anything about what had been left after drinking, the maids soon began examining the tea with sparkling eyes.
"It will be fine."
The one who naturally claimed one of the newly brought cups was, of course, Aden.
He, too, had never been to the Sunlands, so this was his first time seeing tea.
As one typically does when holding a wine glass in winter, he swirled the tea in his mouth a few times and then slightly furrowed his brow.
Because all he tasted was a bitterness completely different from what he had expected.
"It seems it doesn't suit your taste."
Illyin looked at him and gave a small laugh.
Etra tried to bring out liquor in a new cup, but Aden raised his hand and waved Etra away into the distance.
"It's my first time drinking it."
Even after drinking it again, the bitterness remained the same.
Aden eventually set the cup down.
A fork was suddenly thrust toward him.
Blinking from behind the fork was, of course, Illyin.
"Have this too."
The one smiling and saying 'It's sweet' looked even sweeter.
When his response was delayed, Illyin tilted her head slightly.
Then, as if remembering an important fact, she pointed to the fork placed in front of her.
"The fork I was using is this one,"
But the one I'm holding is new... Before Illyin could continue, Aden abruptly reached out and took the fork that was in front of Illyin.
The new fork with cake on it, which had been in Illyin's hand, had now changed direction and was pointing toward Illyin.
"If Elo lacked the power to repel the Yester, they wouldn't have been able to establish their headquarters there."
Putting down the fork, he looked down at the map Illyin was viewing.
He pointed to the spot right next to the Yester territory, marked clearly with the Elo crest.
"Have you ever heard of Elo's Light?"
Light? Illyin tilted her head slightly.
She had heard of it in her dreams.
About Elo's wedding venue where there was light.
"A little."
"That light, while not as strong as the Sunlands' sunlight, is warm and sturdy enough for the Yester to dislike it."
Aden looked at Illyin, who was drinking tea again.
He wondered how she could drink that bitter stuff without any change in expression.
He set aside the thought that had momentarily occurred to him and continued.
"—Moreover, for April, the temperature is relatively high now. Even if the northwesterly winds are strong, if a headquarters located in the northwest cannot withstand even a minor incursion..."
Aden narrowed his eyes.
It was a sign of his displeasure toward Elo.
It was natural that Delos's military strength was strong, given they had a Family Head with Authority.
But the swords of the other three families weren't completely worn out either.
Despite that, they always wanted Delos's military support, unwilling to diminish their own forces even slightly.
While waving around their paltry Divine Relics.
"?"
Just then, as he was about to speak again, a fork laden with cake was thrust toward him once more.
"So, since the succession ceremony that required the Divine Relic is over, there's no need to support Elo further?"
Illyin summarized the situation simply.
Without realizing it, Aden accepted and ate the cake.
Although he wasn't the type to particularly enjoy sweet things, perhaps this cake suited him, for it was delicious.
"...That is correct."
"Still, I'm worried in many ways. Elo is one thing, but the estate too,"
Aden brought his index finger to her lips as she listed her worries.
Her moist lips touched his hand.
"More than that, have you made up your mind?"
At his words, Illyin set down the cup she was holding.
Seeing her expression turn serious, it seemed she needed cake.
"About whether I should go to the Sunlands or not, you mean?"
"Yes."
Aden had told Milo to inform them that he would accept the trade deal.
On the condition that he would meet the Baron in person.
Of course, it didn't mean he would go before the Baron as the Duke of Biften.
Aden had entrusted all matters concerning Arlen Fief entirely to Illyin.
He said it was fine to let them know she had come to Biften, if she wished.
Although, upon him receiving the Dukedom, Winter had almost severed its ties with the Sunlands, that was due to Aden's disposition, not any other political reason.
Illyin had answered that, as it was a matter of the Fief, she wouldn't turn a blind eye, but she couldn't easily choose to meet the Baron in person.
Because her feelings were complicated.
She knew Baron Arlen.
He was the type who, upon learning she had married the Duke of Biften, would first think about the benefits that might fall to him.
What was their marital relationship like? If they were on good terms, could he perhaps extract something from the Duke?
The mere thought made her shudder.
Above all, she wished not to become a weakness for Biften.
"Is it causing you much worry?"
Despite Aden's cake prescription, Illyin's expression showed no sign of clearing.
Aden pushed the cake and map aside and kissed her cheek.
"Shall I help you a little?"
"How?"
Aden was silent for a moment.
He placed his hands on the desk and leaned toward her.
He teased her until her heart raced for a different reason, then he spoke.
"Illyin."
"Yes."
"What would you like Baron Arlen to be doing about ten years from now?"
