“You must have declined.”

“I haven’t declined yet.”

“……”

“Tell me if you want to go.”

It had been two weeks since she was confined in this house. The only time she had gone out was when she was practically kidnapped and taken to the cathedral, where she was forced to sign the marriage certificate.

 To offer her an outing, and even a meeting with a friend? Seeing the clear suspicion in Celian’s eyes, Izer pulled his chair back. 

 “You don’t seem to like it as much as I expected. Does confinement suit you?”

“I’m just surprised……”

“It’s because I trust you won’t do anything foolish. Same goes for false rumors.”

“……”

“The Duke of Chesterfield keeps his wife locked up, he’s a s*xual deviant, forcing marriage wasn’t enough and now he’s pressuring her to have a child…… These aren’t very good stories for Beth’s emotional state.” 

 The question of why this person was showing kindness vanished with a poof. 

 Logically, it would raise people’s suspicions if a married noblewoman never left her house. Realistically, it was impossible to keep someone confined for decades. 

 Allowing Celian a little freedom now meant he intended to keep her by his side for her entire life. 

 Having grasped Izer’s intentions, Celian pulled her chair back and stood up. Izer was already standing beside her, waiting for her to rise. 

 Celian placed her hand on his arm. 

 “You don’t need to speak in roundabout ways. You want me to behave like the Duchess of Chesterfield, right?” 

 Even without being threatened with Beth, she couldn’t escape from this man. 

 Though he would never believe it. 

 * * *

 “Welcome, Izer. Hello, Celian. Have you been well?”

“I’ve been well. It’s been a while, Wendy.”

“Hello.”

Izer watched the back of Celian as she walked ahead, arm in arm with Jade’s wife, Wendy. 

 The profile he caught a glimpse of was smiling. With a bright smile she never showed in front of him. 

 ‘I thought she would want to avoid being seen by people.’ 

 She had spent a long time in hiding. Even at the duke’s residence, she had stuck to dull clothes, saying she didn’t want to catch the nobles’ eyes. He had heard she barely spoke with the maids. 

 He thought her personality had changed, but perhaps not entirely. 

 The butler took Izer’s jacket as he followed the ladies. The hat Celian had worn was also taken by a maid. 

 Wendy led the guests to the living room. 

 “Please wait a little until dinner is ready. Celian, would you like milk and sugar in your tea?”

“Just milk. Thank you, Wendy.”

“Don’t mention it. Your Grace?”

“I’ll have just milk too, please.”

“Dear, aren’t you going to ask me?”

To Jade who was acting like a child, Wendy answered in a humming tone. 

 “You would want a little milk and three spoons of sugar, wouldn’t you? And I’ll have just two spoons.”

“But……”

“Jade, too much sweet isn’t good for your health.” 

 The couple’s conversation was affectionate. A smile naturally appeared on Celian’s lips. 

 Jade and Wendy had married in early summer this year, about two months after Celian had come up to the capital. 

 The Jade Schwenn she remembered was quite a troublemaker. In his teens, like many peers, he had also admired Celian. Celian had an objective eye about her appearance. Even wearing a hat pulled low and keeping her face down in the capital was ultimately a result of her self-awareness that her appearance stood out. 

 ‘To think that boy has grown up so much to even get married.’ 

 Quite some time had passed. Jade, who had been looking at his wife, caught Celian’s eye and grinned. 

 “Why, Celian?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Speak comfortably. You can do that now.” 

 He still didn’t seem to have matured much. Izer warned. 

 “Jade, stop paying attention to my wife.”

“Izer, this is why there are rumors that the reason the Duchess of Chesterfield stays cooped up at home is because of her husband.” 

 It was a chillingly accurate reason. Celian slightly avoided looking at Izer and looked around. 

 Wendy had excellent taste in decorating interiors. Her preferences showed in the furniture that seemed to follow the latest trends while maintaining appropriate dignity. Celian’s eyes sparkled as she lived among furniture that looked centuries old. 

 ‘Pretty.’ 

 While she was completely absorbed in the decorations, the gentlemen started quite a heavy conversation. 

 “Izer, do you think His Majesty will send reinforcements to Fairville?”

“How would I know. Your father is the commander.”

“He said he was going to a meeting. Seems like they’ll decide today or tomorrow? Ferdinand II must be quite bitter. That’s what happens when you make such a snot-nosed kid the crown prince and cause this mess.”

These days, all of Humingham was abuzz with talk of the rebellion started by Ferbien Letters. It had begun when the man, who they thought had quietly given up his succession rights and stepped down, gathered his forces and headed for Fairville’s capital.

Izer’s impassive voice was heard.

“That’s what an incompetent king would do. Sitting on the throne without even knowing which officials support whom.”

The supreme commander of the military is the king. Therefore, the power to command Fairville’s hundreds of thousands of troops comes from their king, Ferdinand Letters Sperosa II.

But that’s only from a macro perspective.

Ferdinand Letters Sperosa II’s noble orders are delivered to soldiers through generals and officers.

The king’s ‘occupy enemy territory’ gets translated by generals into ‘drive five thousand enemy troops beyond that forest boundary within three days,’ and officers further interpret that already-translated sentence into ‘deploy three thousand troops to the east, three thousand to the west, and three thousand to the north to apply pressure.’

After passing through various ranks within that structure, the soldiers receive simplified orders like ‘you will advance to the eastern forest at nine tomorrow morning.’

What Ferbien Letters had taken from the king was precisely those middle-ranking commanders.

Though lengthy in explanation, the summary is simple. Ferdinand II lacks the ability to suppress the rebellion.

Jade nodded in agreement.

“Ferdinand II is indeed foolish. Honestly, Treven is in a difficult position. If Ferbien Letters becomes king, things will get harder for Treven.”

An enemy nation’s capable leader is the greatest threat to one’s own country. Moreover, in this war within Fairville, even if Treven sends troops to drive out Ferbien Letters, Treven’s territory and civilians won’t be harmed.

But no parent wants to sacrifice their son for another country’s war. Jade stirred his teacup with a teaspoon.

“Ferdinand II’s fate will depend on what he offered Treven in exchange for military aid. If he’s going to give something, it better be worth the lives.”

“Ask General Schwenn when he returns.”

“Izer, you’re already calling my father ‘General’? Your tone suggests his deployment is certain. That’s ominous. Take it back right now.”

“I was lacking in consideration. I’ll correct it.”

“Never mind. If we’re ordered to participate, we’ll do it. What else is there for a soldier to think about?”

Celian lowered her eyes. Jade was a captain, and Jade’s father, Count Schwenn, was a general. If James III decided to send troops, Count Schwenn would likely become the commander-in-chief.

Celian knew better than anyone the weight of that position, where great responsibility came with power.

Izer offered his speculation.

“Even if they deploy troops, it won’t be many. It’s an expedition, not our own war. If Treven commits too much force, it would look foolish…… Twenty thousand troops at most, I’d say?”

No one voluntarily wants to walk into danger. Young nobles enlisted for honor, commoners for livelihood. Whether the price was worth risking their lives remained uncertain, but nevertheless, the system of nation and military maintained itself on such logic.

Jade scratched his head.

“Ah, if I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have become a soldier. I envy you, Duke Chesterfield.”

“You would have enlisted anyway. I can’t imagine Jade Schwenn as anything but a soldier. You’re different from me.”

Izer had no interest in being an officer. His injured right hand was a good excuse to avoid commission offers. By forsaking the small honor of being an officer, he consequently avoided being dragged to the battlefield.

Izer’s gaze followed his wife, who was busy looking at a music box, seemingly bored with their conversation. Her body stiffened the moment his eyes turned toward her.

‘So she was listening to everything.’

Just then, Jade headed to the kitchen, saying he would check on Wendy. Izer naturally moved to Celian’s side.

Even in her heavy dress, she was light. The man who pulled her onto his lap whispered seductively.

“Kiss me.”

“……”

His wife lowered her lips with a resigned expression. A sweet fragrance soon moistened him.

After sharing a long breath, Izer opened his closed eyes. A flushed face was staring at him.

Do you know? That whenever you look at me like that, I not only praise but revere myself for having you. Where I am, you are; where you are, I am. The fact that this won’t change no matter what happens is so beautiful it leaves me in awe.

The man pulled his wife’s face close again. The dream that had reached its destination after a long journey was endlessly satisfying. 

 * * *