Chapter 8. From Winter to Spring (10)

“Oh my, so my son isn’t impotent after all. What a relief.”

I fell silent for a moment after hearing the Duchess’s blunt remark. Then, I couldn’t help but question her strangely composed reaction. I had expected her to gape in surprise…

“You’re not surprised?”

“Hehe, I was already planning to make you my daughter-in-law. If my son hadn’t done anything, I would’ve stepped in myself.”

Gasp—so that means… Wait, could it be? Was everything she said during my previous visit not just a joke? Now that I think about it, didn’t she try to hand me some suspicious documents…?

Shiver. Just the thought made me tremble. If my hunch was right and I had signed that paper, I would’ve already become the Duchess’s daughter-in-law… Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.

“So, what was your answer? You didn’t turn him down, did you?”

“Actually… I didn’t get to answer. Kyle had to leave to subjugate monsters under His Majesty’s command…”

I lowered my head with a pitiful expression, and the Duchess clicked her tongue, saying, ‘What unfortunate timing.’ I think I also heard her mutter, ‘Damn emperor,’ but I chose to ignore it.

“So before I see Kyle today, I wanted to ask for your blessing.”

The Duchess tilted her head curiously. I cleared my throat a few times and, wearing a serious expression, took both of her hands in mine. Ah, I’m kind of nervous.

“Please… give me your son!”

“Yes, please take him. Gladly.”

“Huh? That was way too simple.”

The Duchess was far more cheerful and cool-headed than I expected. Shouldn’t she have been at least a little flustered after hearing something like that?

As I stood there in thought, I realized one thing—

The Duchess was someone who didn’t know the meaning of “ordinary.”

I watched her for a moment as she joyfully and casually handed over her son, and then burst into laughter.

As expected, my future mother-in-law was… unique.

“Hehe, my son finally has a fiancée. Ah, I’d been so worried I’d never get to see his wedding before I died…”

Well, considering how Kyle used to treat women like rocks on the roadside, it was understandable the Duchess had worried.

I listened to her talk as I sipped tea and tried a slice of the cake Sebastian had brought in.

Wow, this was delicious.

“Anyway, take good care of our Kailon, okay?”

“Yes, Duchess.”

“Ahem, then should we start looking at wedding venues now?”

“…Excuse me?”

The look in the Duchess’s eyes was serious—so serious that I genuinely thought she’d order Sebastian to go scout out venues right that second.

I started sweating cold bullets. Wait a sec! Isn’t this all moving a little too fast?

“The young master Kailon has returned, my lady.”

“Oh my, was that today?”

Fortunately, what managed to snap the Duchess out of her wedding fever was the news of Kyle’s return.

Oh my, Kyle’s back? I tried to act composed as I took another sip of tea, but my heart was already thudding like crazy.

“Hey, calm down, heart! Don’t get ahead of yourself!”

No matter how much I tried to stay composed, his return filled me with overwhelming joy.

“Lady Radel, you should go to him,” Sebastian urged.

But I shook my head. “It’s alright. I still want to chat with the Duchess a bit longer.”

It didn’t feel proper to stand up and leave the Duchess just because I was excited. Besides, he was in the same mansion—we’d see each other soon enough. I set my teacup down, resolving not to rush things.

“Hehe, how sweet of you. Then shall I call Kailon here instead?”

“There’s no need for that, Duchess,” Sebastian cut in with quiet confidence.

He gently opened the firmly shut door and added, “I already told the young master that Lady Radel is here. He’ll be joining us shortly.”

“Oh my,” the Duchess murmured with a smile.

As if on cue, the door opened wider to reveal Kyle in his neatly pressed knight’s uniform. He took a deep breath, eyes fixed on me, and then strode forward.

“I’ll be taking her now.”

“Go on, have a lovely time together,” the Duchess said warmly.

After exchanging only a few brief words with her, Kyle gently scooped me into his arms.

Kyaa! Is he serious?! Not in front of people! I hastily covered my face in embarrassment as the Duchess chuckled fondly beside us.

“Ah, youth really is a beautiful thing.”

“Then let’s see each other again at dinner,” the Duchess said brightly as her parting words, and with that, Kyle and I left the room.

***

“Are you really not going to put me down?”

From the room, through the garden, and along the walking path, Kyle carried me in a princess hold the entire way. I had no idea why he insisted on carrying me like this, but honestly—I wished he’d set me down already.

“What did you talk about with Mother?”

“Hm… I got her permission.”

As soon as he gently set me down, Kyle reached out and smoothed my hair. His touch was so gentle that I couldn’t help but smile.

Ah—Sebastian was up ahead, his jaw practically on the floor as he stared in disbelief at Kyle’s affectionate gesture. He looked like his chin might fall right off.

“Permission for what?”

“To marry you.”

I blushed and smiled shyly. “The Duchess gave her blessing, so that means you’re mine now!”

At that, Kyle’s gaze darkened, sinking low like the calm before a storm.

Ah… That look—why does it feel so familiar?

Before I could figure it out, he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek.

“Let’s go to our room.”

“Ehh? Why?”

Kyle’s lips brushed against the nape of my neck as he spoke, sending a ticklish shiver down my spine. I clutched his shoulder tightly and asked with a slightly trembling voice.

“You’re too beautiful. I want to love you more.”

He smiled faintly. His eyes sparkled with sincerity as he looked straight into mine.

It suddenly felt like a beast was standing right before me.

‘Ugh… this feels dangerous.’

Something told me that once we entered the room, I wouldn’t be coming out for quite a while. I quickly shook my head and asked him to wait—to love me later instead.

Kyle looked a bit disappointed but nodded in agreement. Whew, you can never let your guard down around him.

“But before that, I have something to tell you.”

I gently pushed Kyle away from his clingy embrace and glanced around hurriedly. Hmm… I think it should be around here somewhere…

“Ah, there it is.”

I started picking flowers that were blooming along the walking path. The colorful blossoms stacked up in my arms one by one. Hmm, this should be enough!

“Oh, Sebastian! I’m picking a few flowers!”

“You’ve already picked half the path’s worth…”

“I’ll take that as a yes!”

Turning away from Sebastian, who was wistfully eyeing the flowerbeds, I walked slowly back to Kyle. He was staring at me, completely bewildered.

“Kyle, here—take these flowers.”

Kyle tilted his head slightly as he accepted the bouquet. He looked so beautiful and gentle with the flowers in his arms that I couldn’t help but beam at him. Ah, what am I going to do? I really, really love you.

“What’s all this?”

“A proposal. This time, I’m proposing to you. Kyle, will you marry me?”

He proposed first last time, so now it was my turn. It was sudden and not exactly well-prepared, but I had no doubt he would say yes… surely he wouldn’t reject me, right?

“Yeah, I will. Even if you change your mind later, you won’t be able to run, so be prepared.”

Wait—why does it feel like he’s the one proposing now? The way he answered so confidently made me feel like I was the one who’d just been snared. If I ever tried to run, would the empire’s entire knight order be deployed to hunt me down? I imagined a ridiculous chase scene with hundreds of soldiers—ugh, just thinking about it gave me chills.

“So, where should we hold the ceremony? Ah, I suppose we should pick a date first.”

“Heh…”

Yep, Kyle was definitely his mother’s son. The way he immediately began planning made me see the duchess’s reflection in him. Looks like I’m starting to get used to the Raven family quirks.

“Let’s hold the wedding somewhere warm, like a southern island.”

“If that’s what you want, then that’s what we’ll do.”

I was starting to get used to these kinds of exchanges too. I laughed boldly, thinking I could handle even this kind of teasing now. Ha! I’m more than ready for it! But then… Kyle said something that made me quickly lose all that confidence.

“Hmm, no. Maybe I should just buy that island.”

“No, absolutely do not buy it.”

I still couldn’t wrap my head around the Raven family’s jokes. Buying an island? Sure, they probably could do it… but it was so far removed from my sense of reality that I couldn’t help but be flustered.

When I hurriedly refused, Kyle tilted his head and mumbled with clear disappointment, “Really? I kind of wanted to.”

Even if it was just a joke, hearing that kind of thing was… a little—no, very—unsettling.

The scary part was, he probably wasn’t joking.

Yeah… there’s no letting your guard down with the Raven Duke’s family.

“Shall we head to dinner now?”

Sebastian, who had been standing by with a clear look of disapproval on his face, finally spoke up. Whether he was sick of watching our little love fest or it really was dinner time, I couldn’t tell—but it was obvious that he was not in a great mood.

“I’ll go wash up first. Wait for me.”

“Okay.”

Kyle leaned down to place a gentle kiss on my forehead, then turned and briskly walked toward the mansion. He looked almost desperate—as if he couldn’t get to the bath fast enough.

I found myself absentmindedly watching his retreating figure until Sebastian cleared his throat beside me, snapping me back to reality.

Whoops. His back view was just… too perfect. I zoned out.

“You two already seem like newlyweds. It’s quite nice to see.”

“Doesn’t really look like you’re enjoying the view, though?”

“You’re mistaken.”

Hmm. I clearly saw his brow twitch into a deep frown—yet he’s calling that a mistake? I was dumbfounded, but decided to just go along with it.

As far as I knew, Sebastian was currently single. That must be why he was struggling to keep a straight face—jealousy, plain and simple. Hah! Just be honest, Mr. Directionally Challenged!

“Aren’t you lonely, Mr. Lost-in-the-Hallways?”

“…I wish I could say no, but that would be a lie. Terribly lonely.”

Sebastian, who had been answering stoically, looked like his eyes were starting to glisten.

Sniff… I get it. I patted his back gently as we walked.

Hang in there. One day, someone will come along for you!

“But, um… I don’t think the dining room is this way.”

“Ah.”

I had only been to the dining hall once, but I knew for sure this wasn’t the way.

Sebastian, who had been discreetly wiping his tears with his sleeve, stood there momentarily stunned, then turned around like nothing happened.

“Hmm… I believe it’s this way.”

“That’s the entrance to the basement storage.”

There was even a sign right in front of us that clearly said Basement Storage, and he missed it? When I pointed it out, Sebastian looked genuinely baffled.

“Huh? When did they change the layout of the mansion?”

…This butler is too hopeless.

With a sigh, I stared at Sebastian, who was now glancing around with a dignified posture as if trying to recover his pride.

He had the face, the manners—everything about him seemed perfect.

But the fact that he was this terribly directionally challenged… made all those perfect traits seem almost meaningless.

I suppose this is proof that the universe is fair.