Glancing down briefly, Ines smiled with mild sheepishness at the dress sparkling brilliantly in the sunlight like scattered crystals.

‘……This alone could probably buy a small townhouse in the capital.’

In her past life, she had been unable to close her mouth when she first saw the dress.

It was customary for the groom’s side to prepare the bride’s dress, but she had not expected them to put such care into a dress for Ines, who was hardly a welcome addition. On top of that, Ines had never worn anything this fine even at the imperial palace, so her surprise had been understandable.

‘I never imagined I would wear this dress again.’

Ines lightly touched the soft fabric of the skirt with the hand not holding Killian’s arm.

The dress was made of layers upon layers of fine silk, and while her legs were warm enough, the fabric around the sleeves and shoulders was breathable and a little thin, even accounting for the temperature-regulating magic circle that ran through the entire grand ducal residence. And though they had walked a fair distance, the grounds were so vast that the main building was still as far away as what they had already covered.

So when a sneeze that sounded something like ‘achoo’ escaped her without warning, it was really beyond Ines’s control.

“……”

Ines flushed and was smiling awkwardly when,

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Killian freed his arm and, before Ines could stop him, removed his formal jacket. Shh. The black jacket settled over Ines’s shoulders.

“I apologize. I should have thought sooner about the thinness of the fabric……”

Unlike Ines, who had gone rigid as a statue at the sudden closeness as he draped the jacket around her, Killian was carefully adjusting it with a look of genuine remorse. The cloth covering her shoulders was very large and warm, and carried Killian’s scent.

Coming back to herself belatedly, Ines held the jacket in place, which was generous enough to be in danger of sliding off even after Killian had arranged it.

“Thank you. It’s warm now.”

“Not at all. I should have noticed sooner. I was too thoughtless.”

Killian still looked apologetic.

In truth, there was no reason for him to be sorry. The temperature in the grand ducal residence, arranged by the black dragon’s design, was merely a little cool. Ines already knew that to the people of the North, this was practically summer weather.

As proof of that, not only the trained knights but even the servants were dressed lightly. The sudden sneeze had simply been because Ines was not accustomed to the cold.

Ines smiled softly and placed her hand back on Killian’s arm.

“There’s no need to be sorry. I just sneezed a little.”

“……If you catch a cold……”

“Hmm, Killian. I may not look it, but I am a perfectly healthy adult. I don’t fall ill that easily.”

But Killian did not look particularly convinced. He looked at Ines quietly, then gave a low hum. Reading in that look a reminder of her illness just days ago, Ines smiled sheepishly.

“I know my credibility is low after you saw me bedridden a few days ago, but……”

“Ines is too small and delicate. That’s why I worry.”

Even Ines was momentarily at a loss for words at that. It was not so much Killian’s concern that flustered her as the words that came before it.

Small and delicate.

‘……Me?’

Objectively speaking, Ines was not someone the word small suited.

Among the noble ladies of the capital, and even among the maids, those taller than her could be counted on one hand.

And since the Cassian Empire prized a small, slender figure in women, Leila’s jab that being so uselessly tall was a problem was not entirely without basis.

Of course the people of the North tended toward larger builds, but even so, small was not a word that fit Ines.

“Ki, Killian. In the capital, I was one of the tallest women outside of female knights. People used to say I was too tall for my own good……”

Ines had meant to correct his misapprehension, but Killian narrowed his eyes as though he had heard something unpleasant.

“Everyone’s eyes must be off. Being tall is…… fine, but what is there to be troubled about?”

“……In the capital, small and slender women are considered beautiful. And I’m quite tall, so naturally……”

“You’re beautiful.”

It was not as though she had ever had any particular feelings about her own appearance, but confessing her own shortcomings to herself was still uncomfortable. Her voice had been trailing off when Killian’s words stopped it.

“Pardon?”

“You’re the most beautiful person I have ever seen. I mean that sincerely.”

Was he trying to comfort her? But those blue eyes looked so genuinely sincere that the flush rising to her cheeks was entirely Ines’s to deal with.

Ines moved her lips for a long moment before finally murmuring a small thank you.

Fortunately, Killian stopped there. Ines was grateful. She was already struggling just to settle the noise her heart was making.

The rest of the walk was warm throughout.

* * *

After returning to the main building, they received the servants’ greetings once more, which felt almost ceremonial at this point. Then they changed into more comfortable clothes and made their way to where the reception was being held.

Most receptions were held with invited guests, but Rupert followed its family tradition and held it with the household. The household included everyone residing in the grand ducal castle, which meant not only the servants but also the mages from the tower some distance away and the Ikalante Knights.

“……”

Following Cecile’s guidance into the banquet hall, Ines felt her shoulders tense slightly under the weight of the gazes that turned toward her, while inside she smiled quietly at the warmth rising in her chest.

The mix of emotions in those gazes scattered before long.

“Ines.”

Killian, dressed more simply now just as she was, had come to escort her.

“Ah, Killian.”

The people who witnessed them call each other by name so naturally looked mildly surprised.

Since arriving at Rupert, Ines had spent nearly all her time on the second floor of the main building. On top of that, she had been confined to her room for several days while ill, so for most people present, today was the first time they had seen her face.

And yet here was this princess and their lord, looking more at ease with each other than anyone had expected. For those who knew the full story of how this marriage had come about, the surprise was even greater.

“……How many days has it been since Her Highness the Princess arrived?”

“Honestly. She’s the Grand Duchess now.”

“Ah, right. The Grand Duchess…… is that really what matters right now?”

“Proper address always matters. In any case, it would be ten days as of today.”

“……So after only ten days, they’re already calling each other by name?”

“That’s right.”

“Good lord……”

Unlike those who were simply surprised by how comfortable they seemed, the people who could be called Killian’s inner circle were stunned that their lord, who appeared easygoing and unhurried but held firm lines, had not drawn a line with the daughter of that Emperor.

The only one among them who looked the same as always was Theodore, who could be said to be closer to Killian than anyone. He had already known some time ago that his friend had taken a liking to the wife who had come from the imperial palace.

Meanwhile, Ines, whose view was conveniently blocked by Killian, had not caught those reactions properly, and popped a piece of finger food into her mouth.

“Oh. It looks pretty and it tastes good too?”

“Ha ha. The head chef will be pleased to hear that.”

Killian, looking oddly proud, offered her a few more dishes after that.

He seemed to want her to eat well, and since she happened to be hungry, Ines did not decline.

Apart from having already grown accustomed to the food of the North, every dish he offered was, strangely, exactly to her taste.

Having eaten a fair amount, Ines sipped white wine to cleanse her palate and glanced around out of habit. Her eyes met someone who happened to be looking in her direction.

‘……Sir Zapel.’

The moment Ines recognized him, her eyes dimmed briefly with guilt.

“Ah.”

Killian, standing beside her, also seemed to spot Theodore and fixed his gaze on him.

“Ines. If you don’t mind, I’d like to introduce you to some of my people.”

“……Of course. Please.”

Ines quickly composed her expression and nodded with a natural smile.

At Killian’s glance, knights in uniform who had been standing some distance away came striding over.

The white and blue uniform was the symbol of the Ikalante Knights, the direct knightly order of the Rupert grand ducal family.

Despite the distance, they had responded immediately to a signal sent with nothing more than a glance, which meant they had been watching this way all along, pretending otherwise.

At the very front of those who approached was a man with curly brown hair.

“Ines. This is Theodore Zapel.”