Chapter 7. A Wife’s Temptation

Had someone passed by?

But there was no further sound of footsteps on the wooden floor.

Yuelina no longer had the presence of mind to pay attention to sounds from outside.

It was because of Delkan’s question.

She took a deep breath to calm her rapidly beating heart.

“N-no. Nothing like that happened. His Highness the Grand Duke and I only met for the first time yesterday.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

“A-and how can you ask such a question?”

Yuelina fanned her flushed face with her hand.

On the other hand, Delkan’s face clearly showed disappointment.

“Your Highness the Grand Duchess. The north, this principality, is different from Luhae Island. Consummation is not a shameful thing here.”

“…B-but.”

“Here, one can marry without love. It’s a procedure that nobles naturally follow.”

“……”

“So those who become couples on their wedding day consummate the marriage. The fact that it didn’t happen means His Highness the Grand Duke doesn’t particularly like Your Highness.”

Yuelina had thought that Theo was using separate rooms to get to know her.

Just as she was meeting Theo for the first time, Theo was also meeting her for the first time.

So she was very grateful for his consideration.

But to think that it wasn’t consideration, but rejection.

Yuelina hung her head low.

“Your Highness the Grand Duchess is neither a citizen of the principality nor a noble, so you have no grounds to be involved in the council. You don’t even know how the council works, do you? You’re of no help to His Highness.”

Delkan rebuked Yuelina in a cold voice.

“And in Your Highness’s hometown, isn’t it natural to marry for love? Can a loveless marriage be maintained for a lifetime?”

“……”

“When you came to the north, you were shocked by the cold, weren’t you? But this is just early autumn. Winter hasn’t even arrived yet.”

Yuelina’s eyes widened.

The wind was so cold that her breath was visible just from walking outside.

Yet this wasn’t even winter?

“A cold like that will come to the island too. That’s why the supply of magic stones is most important.”

“……”

“The reason the interior of the mansion is so warm is because of magic stones. They manage the temperature with magic stones.”

“…Yes.”

“How many magic stones can be given to the island depends solely on His Highness the Grand Duke’s heart. So you must capture His Highness’s heart.”

Delkan’s voice was very firm.

The more he spoke, the more uncomfortable Yuelina felt.

The idea that she had to win his love to obtain magic stones sounded like she had to keep using him.

“Here, I thought you might need this.”

Delkan handed Yuelina a pouch filled with gold coins.

“What’s this?”

“If you go to the square, there are dress shops and jewelers. Go and buy what you want. Something His Highness the Grand Duke would like.”

“Ah…”

“You know, those kinds of things? Clothes that reveal just enough to make one want to undress you.”

“What?”

Yuelina was startled.

It was unfamiliar to see the proper Delkan giving such advice.

Delkan cleared his throat awkwardly and raised the corner of his mouth.

“You need to win His Highness the Grand Duke’s love. Your Highness the Grand Duchess… you’re the one who has to be with him until death, after all.”

She clasped her hands together with a serious face, as if in deep thought. Then she parted her tightly closed lips.

“Then… did His Highness the Grand Duke consummate the marriage with his three wives?”

At Yuelina’s question, cold sweat ran down Delkan’s neck.

* * *

Ulysse, who had knocked and entered Theo’s office, tilted his head in confusion.

It was because Theo wasn’t inside.

“Huh?”

Just as Ulysse was wondering about Theo’s whereabouts, Theo entered his office.

He sat down heavily in front of his desk and quickly opened the window.

Judging by the heat on his cheeks and the sweat on his forehead, it seemed his lord had been to the training grounds.

Ulysse adjusted his glasses and began to speak.

“Did you go to the training grounds?”

“No. I just walked around the first-floor corridor a bit.”

“Suddenly?”

“You know.”

Theo cut off Ulysse’s question and continued.

“I wonder if sending Delkan to the northern wall is the right thing to do?”

“Pardon?”

“I suddenly feel like it might not be a good idea.”

Ulysse frowned.

What benefit was there in keeping the empire’s pawn close by?

Moreover, it was obvious that Delkan would try to constantly monitor the relationship between Yuelina and Theo.

“Count Delkan will keep monitoring the relationship between Her Highness the Grand Duchess and Your Highness the Grand Duke.”

“That might not be a bad thing.”

Ulysse felt a strange suspicion creeping up.

He thought that Yuelina might indeed be using magic, as Theo had suggested.

Otherwise, his lord wouldn’t have such clouded judgment.

“I should urge David to come quickly.”

Ulysse had initially requested Theo’s personal physician, David, to visit in the afternoon, but now decided to ask him to come as soon as possible.

Theo ran his hand through his hair with a subtle expression at Ulysse’s words.

“The meal?”

“It’s ready. You can go down now.”

Ulysse took out a coat for Theo to wear.

It was a neat outfit with gold buttons and sharp shoulder angles.

Theo carelessly put on the coat and followed Ulysse down the stairs.

The place where Yuelina and Theo would dine together was the second-floor reception room. The reception room was also a space often used when nobles visited.

The wide windows offered a good view of the mountain range, and it was well-equipped for entertainment with a terrace suitable for tea time.

Although the mansion was old and in need of repair in many places, the second-floor reception room was one area that was always thoroughly maintained, if only for the sake of other nobles.

Ulysse carefully opened the double doors of the reception room.

Through the sudden flood of sunlight, Theo’s eyes fell on Yuelina’s back.

Theo strode straight inside.

Yuelina, seemingly not having heard the door, was absorbed in the view outside the window.

Her lush hair, shimmering even more in the sunlight, looked as soft as if clouds had been attached to it.

“Then, I’ll have the meal brought in.”

At Ulysse’s voice, Yuelina, belatedly sensing their presence, quickly turned her head.

At that moment, her hair swayed, creating a gentle breeze.

A sweet floral scent.

As if she had hidden flowers somewhere inside her body.

Today too, her thick floral scent continued to envelop his body.

Theo suppressed the urge to keep smelling that fragrance.

He felt like pushing her against the wall and burying his nose in her neck like a dog.

“Hello.”

However, her clear voice made Theo snap to his senses.

If he were to bury his nose in Yuelina’s neck now, she would probably be startled and never look at Theo again.

Theo deliberately averted his gaze and pulled out a chair.

“Sit down.”

Yuelina gracefully walked up to him.

“Thank you.”

Seeing her express gratitude even for such a small gesture, it seemed she had received good etiquette education.

At that level, shouldn’t she be allowed to freely express her opinions as a member of the council?

How many uncouth individuals among the nobles needed to be re-educated in etiquette from scratch?

In fact, Theo knew everything about the conversation between Delkan and Yuelina.

He had been curious about what Delkan would hurriedly say to Yuelina.

Of course, he had unintentionally heard Delkan’s crazy coaching to boldly seduce him.

Well, that coaching wasn’t bad.

Rather, Theo had nodded in agreement when Delkan was talking in detail about married life in the principality.

“Did you meet with Count Delkan?”

“Ah, yes. He said he was leaving for work.”

Theo nodded briefly at Yuelina’s answer.

“With Delkan gone, if you need anything, tell me.”

Yuelina only fiddled with her hands, keeping her gaze lowered even at Theo’s words.

What’s this?

He had expected some change after hearing Delkan’s words, but she seemed even more passive than yesterday.

As Delkan said, if she tried to impress him, magic stones would flow abundantly.

Not raw stones, but processed magic stones ready for immediate use.

Magic stones that would automatically activate and burn brightly with just a few touches were waiting for Yuelina.

So why was she hesitating?

Theo had expected Yuelina to show seductive words or more active behavior towards him.

However, Yuelina was just fiddling with her hands.

What is it?

What could it really be?

Perhaps she’s sad because Delkan left suddenly?

“Are you upset that Delkan left?”

“No. It’s for work. I’m fine!”

Hmm.

Seeing her deny it with wide eyes, it didn’t seem to be a lie.

Then what could it be?

Why does she look so gloomy?

Growl.

“Ah! I’m sorry! I haven’t eaten anything since morning!”

Yuelina clutched her stomach with a reddened face.

“I, I usually always eat breakfast.”

Is this woman trying to seduce with growling sounds?