Chapter 38 Part 1: The Calm Before the Storm

A new year dawned.

Calm came to Arnad, the capital of the north.

The first day was like an after-festival.

People gathered in the square until the afternoon, chatting.

The next few days were languid and quiet, a time to prepare for the coming season.

Soon the frozen ground will thaw, and fresh green shoots will sprout.

And then wild animals that were hiding in burrows will roam the mountains.

Hunters are preparing their tools one by one.

The hunting season has come again.

It was the same for the Archduke’s family in Arnad.

“Yah-!”

Figures wearing black ponchos rode their horses roughly into the castle.

Short dark blue hair that ends above the shoulders.

A silver monocle with a silver chain.

Pavel, who looked like a strategist, greeted them.

“Everyone’s gathered.”

They sat around a round table.

The round table, made by a skilled craftsman, had a deep and antique feel.

Right behind it hung a blue flag.

A black wolf was drawn on it.

A figure howling at the sky.

The figure was both huge and sacred.

“Haaa-“

Someone sighed.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been in this office.”

The smell of dust and winter air still remained on his body.

The knight looked at the black wolf drawn on the flag.

The black wolf is the symbol of the Arnad Knights.

In other words, their other name was also the Black Wolves, and the knights had sufficient pride in being called by that name.

The eight gathered here today are the knights who went on a secret mission by order of the Archduke.

They are the elite of the Knights and experienced.

But even for them, this secret mission was not easy.

“Quite a few came back unscathed.”

“Actually, all of them. Max. I thought everyone except me would be buried somewhere. Especially you.”

“Watch your mouth. Royle. You’re the one who’d be panting after facing ten guys. All talk and no action.”

Despite saying that, they were happy to see each other’s faces and chuckled.

Soon someone opened the door and entered the room.

The knights all rose from their seats.

“It’s been a while. My lord.”

“We greet our lord.”

“Any casualties?”

Cayron asked immediately.

Pavel answered.

“None.”

“That’s a relief.”

The Archduke was dressed in a neat black formal attire.

A dark blue cloak was draped only on his right side.

But even such attire could not hide the sharpness emanating from him.

“Then let’s start the reports.”

Cayron said.

Following that, the eight knights reported on what they had investigated.

The knights headed to a total of four estates.

They infiltrated in pairs.

The estate where the hunting festival will soon be held, Theicia, is the most closely watched.

A few years ago, their castle was captured.

By none other than Cayron and his knights.

‘It’s already a thing of the past..’

Cayron certainly showed them mercy.

He spared the nobles of the captured castle, so of course, the current lord of Theicia is the same person from back then.

[I surrender.]

That expression stained with humiliation.

‘But at least for the past few years, there have been no problems.’

It’s not that he let his guard down.

Cayron deprived them of their financial rights.

Theicia’s annual budget and the merchant guilds are all managed by Arnad.

The private army was drastically reduced.

Security and policing were also entrusted to troops from other estates.

It was the same for other estates.

This was Pavel’s first proposal.

“Half of the troops of one estate are stationed in another estate quite far away. Of course, the security of that estate will be the responsibility of troops from another place.”

In this way, any hasty movements in the occupied territories were blocked.

It’s difficult to move troops in the first place, and even if they do, they have to take considerable risks.

They have to take into account the other forces in the estate, and they have to finish everything before the Archduke’s family notices.

But as expected, bad predictions come true.

A total of three places.

“Lastly, there were suspicious movements in Ritchel as well.”

Cayron’s meticulous personality.

He had been receiving these reports every month.

And finally, the prey came into the trap he had set.

“Good work everyone.”

Cayron rose from his seat.

“Summon Welter Variang secretly.”

“Yes, sir.”

Pavel bowed respectfully.

Soon the Black Wolves will move.

To hunt the prey that has entered the trap.

It seems like she’s in big trouble.

Rosa didn’t know how the past few days had passed.

It’s not a simple matter of memory.

It’s because her mind was preoccupied with one thought.

She was lost in thought several times a day.

She was wearing clothes that covered her neck.

“Your Highness. Look. The weather outside is really nice.”

“Huh..? It is.”

At that dazed answer, Reina just smiled as if she understood.

‘Oh my..’

The day after the wedding night.

The exclusive handmaiden, Reina, came to work in the afternoon.

Since then, the Archduchess has sometimes been like that.

A dazed expression, as if she were somewhere else.

‘They must have had a good night.’

Reina was sure of that because of the marks left on the Archduchess’s upper body.

The Archduchess’s slender neck, and just above her chest.

She had seen the reddish marks blooming all over.

“Um.. Reina? I, I’ll change by myself.”

She remembers the Archduchess saying that as if embarrassed.

She is a particularly shy Highness.

When Reina came to work, the bed sheets had already been washed and were hanging out to dry.

‘Your Highness.. It’s originally the handmaidens’ job to do that.’

Still, she could fully understand the shyness of a young newlywed.

‘She’s cute.’

Reina likes such an Archduchess.

Meanwhile, unaware of Reina’s thoughts.

Rosa was still lost in thought.

‘Me.. for Cayron?’

She had already thought about it countless times.

But it’s not easy to come to an answer.

It’s hard to admit a conclusion that she can’t believe.

‘Maybe it was from before?’

Without even realizing it.

She thinks of Cayron as a man.

Not just a friend she shares memories with.

Not a younger brother to be cared for and cherished.

Has he become someone she can rely on?

The way he comforts her and shows her meticulous consideration.

Did she come to see him as a man because of that?

[You’re beautiful. Rosa.]

Those words also lingered in her head.

Thump-

She’s flustered.

At her absurdly racing heart.

She knows.

In her head.

But think about it.

She definitely has the memories of a man.

Even if it’s almost faded now.

‘I like a man..?’

‘And of all people, it’s Cayron?’

It’s really hard to accept.

She had a lot of headaches.

‘No, honestly.’

She doesn’t even know if this feeling is really love.

‘It could just be a temporary illusion.’

Why.

There’s the shaky bridge effect.

It could be a misunderstanding of the first experience between a man and a woman.

At least to that extent, Cayron is skilled.

In any case, her body was that of a woman.

It was really embarrassing.

And mortifying.

When she was held tightly in Cayron’s large arms, she felt her strength drain.

Honestly, she also looked forward to the act with Cayron.

Unintentionally.

Really unintentionally.

But there was one thing for sure.

It seems like she’s in big trouble.

Because it’s somehow harder to treat Cayron like before.

Even now, Rosa was startled by Reina’s words and got up.

“Your Highness. The Archduke is coming. It seems that work ended early today!”

Really.

What’s wrong with her.

Her heart started pounding.

It was a holiday, so everyone was free.

Of course, that doesn’t apply to Cayron at all.

He is the ruler who manages this vast land.

He was rather busier in the new year.

Quite a lot.

To the point where Rosa felt it was a shame.

But why did she find that fact a shame?

If it were before, she would have definitely answered like this.

‘Because we’re friends.’

But now she realizes.

The feeling of disappointment she feels now was slightly different from that.

It’s a more red, more longing, wanting-to-see-the-other-person kind of emotion.

But the really funny thing.

When she actually sees Cayron, Rosa unconsciously wants to avoid him.

That fact is quite mortifying.

As if she really likes Cayron.

‘Not like a maiden experiencing her first love.’

No.

Actually, it might be true.

But there are moments when she can’t help it.

The moment when Cayron returns to the castle.

Rosa, as a wife, must greet him.

As always, she was dressed neatly.

Cayron strode towards her.

“..You worked hard.”

Rosa said in a small voice, avoiding his eyes.

Cayron frowned.

Because she had been strange for the past few days.

Somewhat unnatural and withdrawn.

He thought it must be because of that night.

Because she was so awkwardly stiff.

He can’t help but feel regretful.

It seems that he was too hasty that night.

But he also endured a lot.

He really exercised superhuman patience.

Besides, Cayron already knows.

When he holds the woman in front of him in his arms, what kind of satisfaction he feels.

“There, there.”

When Rosa stood on her tiptoes and loosened his cravat.

“Thank you.”

Cayron deliberately pulled her into his arms.

“Let go. Really.”

Rosa was at a loss for what to do.

But Cayron only found her struggling cute as he held her waist.

“..Let go, I’m telling you.”

Rosa said again.

But she whispered, fearing that others around them might misunderstand.

But if they continued like this, they would incur resentment.

Cayron slowly moved away from her.

Rosa is afraid that this sound will be heard.

Thump thump-

Is it because a woman’s heart is a little smaller than a man’s?

Because it’s smaller than a man’s, does her heart race at such trivial things?

Originally, she really didn’t care.

‘I just.. cared about what others would think.’

Now it’s definitely different.

She’s embarrassed by their bodies touching.

Suddenly, the feeling of that day comes to mind.

Rosa lowered her head.

‘Crazy. What’s wrong with me..?’

She doesn’t like it.

Absolutely not.

‘I’m crazy, a man..’

And of all people, Cayron.

‘That can’t be.’

She tries to reassure herself.

Fortunately, such denial was still possible.

She just has to treat him casually.

But the moment Cayron held her hand tightly.

“Let’s eat dinner. Rosa.”

She had to lower her head again.

Rosa and Cayron.

As always, a variety of dishes were prepared for their cozy dinner.

Ahem-

Chef Jeff coughed for no reason.

What is this tingling atmosphere?

Recently, there were moments when the Archduke and his wife were suddenly awkward.

But that awkwardness is nothing special.

Literally, it makes the onlooker feel awkward, but the people involved don’t know.

Such an inevitable youthful atmosphere.

It’s strange that the two of them are like this even though they’re already married.

The Archduke seems to have something on his mind.

He was originally quiet, but now he was even more so.

Instead, his gaze is fixed on the Archduchess.

She slightly turns her head so that it’s not visible to the Archduke.

‘It’s definitely an expression of embarrassment. That expression.’

It seems that their wedding night was quite passionate.

It was what the exclusive handmaiden, Reina, said.

So such reactions from the two are understandable.

It must have been a special night unlike any other.

While Chef Jeff was smiling contentedly.

Cayron spoke first.

“The schedule for the hunting festival has been decided. In three weeks, at Theicia.”

“Theicia..”

Rosa had heard of it.

A name similar to that of the main god.

There is a legend that the city is where the divine beast in the shape of a white deer, Theicia, was first discovered.

As such, it was quite a historic city in the north.

Right near the estate, there is a vast plain, and if you go a little further, there is a deep coniferous forest.

Of course, it’s a very suitable condition for a hunting ground.

In fact, it was the city where the hunting festival was held the most.

“So we’ll have to leave in about two weeks.”

It’s a three-day journey by carriage.

Of course, the two will ride in one carriage.

Because they are a couple.

Rosa stammered.

But she couldn’t say that she would go separately.

In any case.

This peaceful daily life hasn’t ended yet.

At least until two weeks later.

At that time.

“Ah, and..”

Suddenly, what Cayron handed to Rosa was a white letter sealed with red wax.

“A letter for you. It came from Brother Roald.”

“Brother..?”

“Yes.”

“Why is Roald your brother?”

At Rosa’s words, Cayron answers.

With a very composed expression.

“Well, because he’s my wife’s older brother. It would be right to call him brother.”

How shameless.

‘We’re not even a real couple.’

Rosa was dumbfounded by these trivial things.

But strangely, the fact that she didn’t feel bad about it made her feel worse.

“Just give it to me.”

Rosa snatched the letter from Cayron’s hand for no reason.

She hurriedly opened the letter.

‘A letter from Roald..’

She couldn’t help but wonder what it was about.

Soon the beginning of the letter comes into her view.

[To my dear sister, Rosa.]

Underneath that, there were unexpected words.