Could it be this much?

It was well known that his power was extraordinary.

But they hadn’t known it was to this extent.

‘No, it’s not that we didn’t know….’

It’s increased from before.

Duke Livius Limnike glared at Rashid with envy. His powerful strength was so beautiful and enchanting… it drove him mad.

His nephew was born from his younger sister, yet at the same time, an unfilial man who imprisoned her. However, he’s stronger than anyone else, and thus proud. He was confident enough in his power to dare bare his claws at the Crown Prince.

Livius felt he could do anything to obtain that power. An indescribable, deep anger and envy stormed in Livius’s heart.

The next moment, Castor unleashed the Crown Prince’s dominion to suppress Rashid.

The imperial family’s dominion granted by the God Morea was the power to control and suppress Dragon’s Strength. This ability that activated just by thinking about using power was used to command the ducal families.

Other dukes exhaled sighs like laments feeling the pressure weighing on their shoulders from Castor’s power.

Rashid also yielded to that force and concealed his released magical power again.

However, everyone knew this wasn’t defeat.

“…Duke Penvernon, I see you’ve become even closer to a dragon now.”

Castor forced composure while harboring mockery.

Rashid snickered. It was truly an arrogant attitude.

“Since it’s a power obtained by luck, I must hone it further for the sake of the imperial family as well.”

Rashid didn’t get angry at Castor’s sneering about becoming a dragon. Rather, he remained composed.

To him, the Dragon’s Strength that had driven him to this point was clearly like a curse. However, after becoming duke, it ironically became a power he had to value more. Because he survived thanks to that power.

“Excellent. So, are you trying to reveal that power to me?”

“How dare I do such a thing, Your Highness. I merely wanted to speak of a dog’s instincts.”

It was a warning, but also a gamble. He cautioned the Crown Prince while willingly exposing his hidden power.

The reason for this was clear.

Because he brought up his wife.

Not because he called him a dog, but because he mentioned the Duchess of Penvernon.

The Crown Prince’s words were clearly not polite. But they weren’t words worth burning with hostility and making a fuss over either.

Moreover, his wife was literally a political marriage partner chosen by the Emperor. Everyone knows they were once distant with each other, yet now he acts so unreasonably.

The dukes had heard rumors that Duke Penvernon cherished his wife tenderly. But even so, they hadn’t known it would be to this extent.

Despite lowering his force, Rashid still emanated an ominous atmosphere. Blue eyes and golden eyes clashed sharply in the air.

“Duke Penvernon’s dedication to the imperial family is exemplary enough to be a model for others.”

“You’re too kind.”

“I hope you’ll maintain your relationship with the wife you married thanks to His Majesty without divorcing for a long time.”

Rashid’s brow twisted fiercely. A brutal energy swirled over his face.

A precarious air like walking on thin ice surrounded them. A dangerous silence continued where it felt like the ground would cave in below with one wrong step.

The one who broke the silence that had flowed for a moment was Duke Chrysante.

“Haha, I didn’t know Duke Penvernon cherished his wife this much.”

He tried to calm the situation by adding a good-natured laugh.

“By the way, Your Highness. You’ll be busy once you welcome the Crown Princess. Would you grant me the honor of going hunting together before then? It should be even more enjoyable since deer and pheasants are abundant this summer.”

Castor turned his gaze toward him. His unusually cold expression softened into his usual faint smile.

“Let’s do that. It would be good if your son joins too.”

“Ah, yes! It would be my pleasure!”

Lorenz, the heir of House Chrysante, answered urgently.

The dangerous tension that had enveloped the hall finally relaxed. The dukes each became lost in their own thoughts, either secretly sighing in relief or feeling great fear at Rashid’s newly revealed power.

* * *

After the tea time ended, people gathered together again.

Unlike the women’s gathering that somehow ended harmoniously, the men’s atmosphere seemed unusual.

The noble ladies tried to sense what had happened. At a glance, some daughters including Patricia also had dark expressions for some reason. But they too just quietly took their places behind their parents without saying a word.

I poked Rashid’s waist.

“Did something happen?”

“No. Nothing.”

When I whispered quietly to ask, Rashid slightly shook his head. Then he held my hand.

“Rashid.”

Everyone is watching.

I looked around in embarrassment. I could feel people’s gazes focused on us.

“Why, why are you doing this? Everyone is staring.”

I tried to pull my captured hand away, but it was futile. Rather, he even interlaced our fingers as if to show off. My cheeks burned at the sensation of him deliberately intertwining each of my fingers.

When I squirmed around, he gripped my hand more firmly to hold me even tighter. Not knowing what to do, I could only lower my gaze.

The banquet concluded with Castor bidding farewell to those who had come.

The Duke and Duchess Penvernon’s turn was the very last.

When Rashid tried to keep holding my hand even in front of Castor, I shook my hand.

“Let go quickly.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Don’t be stubborn.”

When I bumped his waist with my elbow, Rashid released my hand though he looked displeased.

Castor greeted Rashid and me with his usual smiling face.

“Duchess, thank you for visiting the Imperial Princess. She’s regained much strength since then. Will you come again next time?”

“I’ll gladly do so.”

“That’s fortunate.”

His gaze left me to look at Rashid, then returned to me again.

‘Hm? What is it?’

I met his eyes with question.

“Do you remember the question I asked back then?”

Castor suddenly changed the topic. I easily remembered it. And I also recalled the four-leaf clover I had placed between the books. I should show it to Rashid.

“Ah, yes. I remember.”

“What do you think now?”

My eyes unconsciously darted around at the question that had returned. Even back then I had answered with great difficulty, and now Rashid, the subject of my married life, was right beside me.

What could be his intention for asking again?

Why was Castor curious about this? Do I not look happy? Or does he think he won’t be happy? Then what about now?

Embracing the numerous question marks that welled up in my heart, I answered.

“Your Highness……”

“Yes?”

“How are you?”

I look into his pupils. A blue curtain like the clear summer sky and clear sea spread within them.

“Are you happy, Your Highness?”

That curtain trembled as if caught in the wind.

Castor looked at me for a moment with an unusually stiff face, then soon returned to his original expression.

“……Well, I wonder.”

He drew a faint smile on his lips. His low voice continued slowly.

“Duke Penvernon. Thank you for coming.”

Without answering my question, he turned his gaze and gave only a very brief greeting to Rashid.

Rashid did not say anything to Castor.

As soon as we got in the carriage after leaving the imperial palace, Rashid grabbed my hand again. He looked almost like a child who had once been lost, making him seem even a little cute.

“Earlier.”

“Yes.”

“Why did you ask His Highness such a question?”

I expected he would be curious. I patted the back of his hand as if to soothe him.

“When I went to see Her Highness the Imperial Princess before, he asked me the same thing. I gave somewhat of an ambiguous answer then, I guess he suddenly remembered.”

“……Next time you have occasion to see His Highness, I’ll go with you.”

Does that mean Rashid will accompany me when I go to see Jeanne? I don’t mind, but I wondered if he would have time.

“Won’t it be difficult? You’re too busy.”

“Know that I’ll prioritize appointments with you above all else.”

“Alright then.”

When I answered lightly without much thought, Rashid seemed to be in a much better mood.

I quietly tilted my head to lean against Rashid. Somehow the regular sound of hooves clicking along the well-maintained road made my heart feel at ease.

“Come to think of it, there’s something I want to show you.”

The four-leaf clover I had placed between his books should be very well dried by now.

“But I think it would be better if you found it yourself.”

“Find it?”

“Yes. It’s somewhere in the mansion.”

“What could it be.”

“When you see it, you’ll immediately realize ‘ah, this is what she meant.'”

Because I’m the only one who would do such a thing.

Since luck comes suddenly one day, discovering it directly will become a much more enjoyable memory.

I slowly closed my eyes. Inside my closed eyes, I recalled the blue clover colony I had seen then. Countless symbols of happiness were spread carelessly beneath my feet. Thinking of Castor’s question while recalling each of those happinesses.

Am I happy?

I already know the answer. It’s so clear and precise that I cannot deny it. I didn’t want to either.

Just like the flower language of the countless three-leaf clovers, I was happy now.

And perhaps that was the problem.

* * *