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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: My Grand Ducal Married Life is Too Easy
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Because it was a temple, the lodgings were separated by gender.
Even though we were husband and wife, we had to sleep apart, but since we'd never shared a bed before, it didn't feel all that strange.
What surprised me more was getting to sleep in the temple itself. There were separate guest quarters prepared inside for VIPs.
It wasn't quite up to hotel standards, but it had everything one could need, so there wasn't any real discomfort.
I'd thought it would just be a quick outing, but given the distance, it seemed we'd be staying one or two nights.
Hanna spoke as she helped me change into comfortable clothes.
"I've heard there are lots of ancient ruins in this area. Apparently, the terrain makes it easy to preserve artifacts. Some of the ones discovered in Delrus Territory are even on display here."
"Ancient ruins like tombs or something?"
"Tombs, artifacts from that era... Ah! I think there are ritual sites too. Hold on."
Hanna paused mid-explanation as if vanishing, then returned with a pamphlet in hand.
"It's the ruins map the priest left behind earlier."
I took the map and unfolded it. It vaguely reminded me of touring ruins in my previous life.
"I'll go check if Akid is ready while you're looking it over."
"Sure."
I mumbled a half-hearted reply, sending Hanna off, and continued studying the map for a while when a spirit fluttered over and chattered away.
― Huh. This one's still around? I thought they were all gone.
"What?"
I glanced over with a puzzled look, and one spirit pointed to a spot on the map. My gaze shifted to that corner.
'Divine Beast?'
I tilted my head at the unfamiliar term. It had never appeared in the original story, which made it all the more intriguing.
Mysterious divine creatures. Were they extinct like the spirits?
Come to think of it, even these spirits right in front of me hadn't appeared in the original story.
It suddenly struck me how much my situation had changed, bringing a smile to my lips, but the spirits buzzed excitedly.
― Let's go see it. I want to check it out with my own eyes.
― Maybe a sleeping Divine Beast is sealed there.
"A sleeping Divine Beast?"
― That's an artifact for forcibly sealing Divine Beasts. The black mages' handiwork.
"Black mages?"
― They're truly vicious. They don't care if other races die out as long as it benefits them.
― Even spirit summoners suffered because of them. No humans who could perceive Delphina have been born since they broke the taboo.
― That's why we were forgotten. What if a Divine Beast is trapped there? It's too pitiful—we have to go save it.
The spirits grew overly agitated, circling around frantically.
We had no idea if there was actually a Divine Beast in that artifact, but their overheated fervor showed no signs of dying down.
"A taboo? What taboo did the black mages commit, exactly?"
― We don't know precisely what taboo they broke. Just that it had something to do with time.
― It was a terrifying time. The world stopped, completely separating us from humans.
The spirits shuddered as if they never wanted to remember it again.
A moment later, they crowded right up to me and said,
― Since then, you're only the second person to perceive Delphina—and the first to successfully contract with us.
"I see."
It felt like they were saying I was chosen, which was a bit embarrassing.
― Black magic must disappear. It tears cracks in the world and pollutes the land.
"So black magic is the cause of the pollution?"
This was new information.
In the original story, no one knew the cause of the pollution. It just started suddenly, spreading like a plague across the continent in an instant.
But if it was black magic's influence... I pressed the spirits for more details, and they continued.
― Pollution has various causes, so it's not always black magic. But severe enough to kill the land? That's likely black magic.
― Black magic draws in dark powers, corrupting the energies that make up the world.
― If the land can't purify that corrupted energy, pollution begins.
"Is black magic that fearsome? Enough to overwhelm nature's regenerative power?"
― Black magic is inherently corrupt, so nature can only resist so much. They know that and still exploit it.
The spirit growled indignantly, as if it were their own affair. Of course, in butterfly form, it wasn't very intimidating.
'Then in the original story, someone must have used black magic too?'
My mind grew complicated. What if the impending cataclysm was someone's manipulation?
In the story, pollution severe enough to kill the land had indeed begun.
The novel never mentioned black magic itself, which made it tricky.
If the original pollution was from black magic, what should I do?
"Is it still happening even now...?"
I was just about to ask about black mages when Hanna returned.
"Akid's all ready. He's waiting outside."
"Okay. Coming!"
Right—for now, my date with Akid took priority.
I lived for this fandom, so worries about pollution that hadn't even started could wait.
I rolled up the map and held it as the spirits followed, chattering.
― Let's go save it. Let's go see the Divine Beast. Okay?
― Someone like you could even contract with a Divine Beast. They have great affinity with us.
"Got it, so quit nagging."
― You said you'd go—hurry and pinky swear!
I waved the spirits away with a vague reply, and they swarmed my pinky finger, making a fuss until I hooked it in the promise gesture. Only then did they quiet down.
"You want to go to the museum?"
"Yes. It's nearby, so how about a quick visit?"
I suggested, even unfolding the map, and Akid replied,
"I didn't know you were interested in artifacts."
"Think it'll be boring?"
"No. Truth be told, I've wanted to go too."
Akid grinned, and it felt like a halo bloomed behind him.
I was in an extremely good mood right now. Even more so because I was holding hands with Akid and walking side by side.
Who knew no wheeled vehicles allowed in the temple would be such a blessing?
The path to where the carriage waited was quite long. The fine weather made it perfect for walking, almost leisurely.
"Father and Mother ended up with work after all."
"But they said they'd have time starting dinner tonight. We're staying till tomorrow, so plenty of time."
"Hehe. Means it's just us on a date."
"A date?"
"Ah, maybe not quite a date? More like a family trip, I guess. Either way, isn't it fun coming out to play?"
I waved my arms excitedly, and Akid kept touching the corner of his mouth with his free hand.
His lips twitched—he seemed as thrilled as I was.
Maybe he reacted to 'family trip' and 'date'.
'Yeah, he said he's never been on a proper family trip.'
Akid hadn't left Delrus Territory since enrolling at the academy. He had much to learn and was clueless about geography.
I'd heard the Grand Duke found him on the outskirts of the capital while heading to a regular meeting.
With faces so similar, there was no way he wouldn't recognize him.
Besides, Akid had strongly inherited the Hades family powers, so they must have sensed each other.
I wanted to give Akid lots of happy memories, so I boldly declared,
"We'll come often from now on. Just us or all four."
Of course, just us would be better.
I swallowed the afterthought, but Akid threw a straight pitch with a casual face.
"I prefer just the two of us."
"Pardon?"
Had I said that out loud?
He'd said exactly what I'd longed to hear, leaving me dumbfounded. And when I heard what followed—
"Your parents would just get in the way."
I couldn't help but stare blankly at Akid.
Was this the Akid I knew? Hearing him call his parents an annoyance was shocking.
Wasn't he the one who craved family more than anything?
In the original, he'd fulfilled his filial duties despite their coldness, so finding them bothersome was surprising.
Then Akid delivered the finishing blow with a grin.
"Truth is, I wanted just the two of us."
Oh my god.
Was this my grave?
Akid's killer smile truly made my breath catch. Was this how it felt when a haughty cat suddenly snuggled up?
Sometimes he struck without warning, leaving me clueless on how to react.
Deep down, he was so adorable I wanted to pop him in my mouth and roll him around.
If Akid could see these intense feelings, he'd be horrified.
I desperately maintained my normie cosplay and said,
"Well, your parents are pretty whimsical, huh? Matching their moods is no joke."
"Even without that, I..."
"This way, Young Grand Duke, Duchess Consort."
Akid was just opening his mouth when the coachman appeared right on cue, so I missed the rest.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
Akid quickly replied and hopped into the carriage. His ears looked a bit red—was it the sun?
Or maybe my fujoshi lenses were viewing him through an omniscient fangirl perspective.
Yeah, I was pretty far gone. I cooled my heated heart with deep breaths and followed him into the carriage.
