“What’s wrong with the commander?”

“Yeah, I thought he’d loosen up a bit after bringing his new bride here, but calling us to assemble at dawn and then showing up for morning training? What’s the deal?”

“He’s really going all out today. Oh, my God—is that even a spar? It looks more like he’s just pummeling him.”

“Sir Helman’s not walking out of here today, is he? Poor guy, tsk tsk.”

In a dusty corner of the training ground, two knights crouched, whispering while trying to avoid Caleb’s gaze.

Their eyes were fixed on Caleb and Helman, who were sparring in the distance with live steel. Even as they tried to stay inconspicuous, their sharp eyes followed the movements of the swords.

Thwack, thwack! The sight of Caleb’s relentless blows sent cold sweat trickling down their spines.

“Next!”

Caleb planted his sword into the ground and shouted after finally toppling Helman. Helman lay sprawled, frothing at the mouth.

Caleb scanned his surroundings impatiently, but no one stepped forward. It was understandable—after enduring Caleb’s torment since dawn, none of the knights had any desire to continue sparring.

Their lives were unpredictable, with the constant possibility of being summoned for monster hunts. Every day spent within the territory was precious. Caleb, well aware of this, usually didn’t push them too hard.

Regular training sessions were held about once a week, but they weren’t particularly grueling. Caleb rarely oversaw them personally.

This reflected his trust in his subordinates and his intent to maintain a reasonable balance of tension and relaxation in preparation for wartime.

However, when Caleb was in a bad mood, he would push them to the brink of exhaustion. Everyone in the knights’ order was all too familiar with their commander’s temperament.

The reason Caleb maintained a casual relationship with others but ensured certain lines were never crossed was clear. Of course, there was always someone oblivious enough to overstep those boundaries.

Like Helman, for example.

“Guys, the commander says you better hurry up and get over there.”

“Gulp!”

“…Ugh.”

At the words of Kyle, the youngest and only apprentice knight of the order, the two knights’ faces turned pale. Caleb had already drawn his sword and was pointing its tip at them.

That day, after a bout where he took down more than half the knights, Caleb delivered a chilling warning.

“Keep the casual banter to me alone. Try instigating any more nonsense, and I’ll show you what hell feels like.”

Although he didn’t specify the subject, everyone knew exactly who Caleb was talking about. With that, Caleb tossed his shirt aside and stormed out of the training ground.

The exhausted knights promptly jumped up and started gossiping about the soon-to-be-married couple’s first night together.

***

At that moment, Astrid was engaged in a discussion with Elkan.

What began as a simple exchange of pleasantries naturally flowed into a discussion about Cliff Castle.

“While entering the castle, I noticed that the moat had completely dried up. If, by chance, an enemy or monsters were to attack, relying solely on the high walls would put us at a disadvantage in a siege. I’m curious why such a well-formed moat is left unused.”

“…Ah.”

“Could it be due to hygiene issues or maintenance costs?”

As Elkan explained the castle’s history, structure, and unique features, Astrid repeatedly asked questions. The more the conversation progressed, the more frequent and incisive Astrid’s questions became.

Eventually, the topic reached the dried-up moat, leaving Elkan visibly surprised.

‘They say she has potion recipes memorized perfectly, and Caleb wasn’t exaggerating. At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if she took over my position as steward.’

Though titled steward, Elkan’s role encompassed everything from the castle’s finances to managing the knightly order and even acting as Caleb’s personal butler. It was a workload akin to slavery, and he wouldn’t mind relinquishing his post immediately.

Of course, offering the role to the future grand duchess was out of the question.

‘Still, I might be able to delegate a significant portion of the workload…’

Though he tried to suppress it, he couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from curling into a slight smile.

“Ha, ha. My lady, you’re absolutely correct! However, if we’re looking for a more fundamental reason…”

“And that would be?”

“Well… We simply don’t have the manpower.”

“…Ah.”

“As you may know, the knights of Cliff Castle spend more than half the year stationed at the borders. This means they spend little time at the castle itself, leaving no resources for managing the inner workings of the castle.”

“But the head steward or Matilda could—”

“They are already stretched thin managing the household staff and daily affairs. The rest ultimately falls under my jurisdiction, but even I spend much of my time outside the castle with the knights.”

“I see. I couldn’t help but fall in love with Cliff Castle the moment I saw it—it’s near perfect in design. But the facilities seemed somewhat neglected, so I was curious. Oh, not to criticize you, Sir Elkan…”

“I didn’t take it that way! I’m glad you’re interested, truly.”

Elkan waved his hands, denying any offense, and Astrid let out a small sigh of relief.

“Is there a particular reason you asked about the moat?”

“Ah, well, it’s spring. The weather’s been so dry, and though there isn’t much farmland, there are so many trees. I just thought it might become a problem for the villagers if a fire broke out.”

“Oh! As a matter of fact, last spring, there was almost a fire in the largest village. Thankfully, it was extinguished early, but we suspect it was arson and are still investigating.”

“…Ah.”

“If the moat were full of water, you’re wondering if it could be used to help extinguish fires. Is that right?”

“Exactly, Sir Elkan!”

Impressed by how easily Elkan understood her intentions, Astrid clapped her hands without thinking. Their eyes met.

That was the beginning.

The two launched into an in-depth discussion about fire prevention and firefighting methods, transitioning seamlessly to castle finances, renovation plans, staff welfare, and even the possibility of producing their own potions.

What was initially planned as a one-hour meeting stretched to nearly three hours. By the time it ended, a significant portion of Elkan’s responsibilities had been passed on to Astrid.

Elkan was pleased to have relieved himself of some of his burdens, while Astrid was glad to have found a way to contribute at Cliff Castle.

It was a mutually satisfying arrangement—for everyone except one person.

It wasn’t until a fuming Caleb stormed in that they realized they had missed the lunch hour by a long shot.

Bang!

The door burst open without warning, and Astrid gasped sharply at Caleb’s abrupt entrance.

“Gasp!”

And then the relentless hiccups began.

Hic, hic!

Sensing the ominous aura creeping up from behind, Elkan slowly turned around.

“…Lord Caleb.”

The figure standing firmly, nearly blocking the entire doorway, appeared deeply displeased.

Seeing his openly scowling face made me want to flee the scene immediately. However, the only exit was completely obstructed by the large man’s imposing physique. Escape was not an option.

“Seems the two of you were having quite the cozy time together?”

Hiccup. Hiccup.

At the ominous tone in Caleb’s voice, Astrid’s hiccups quickened noticeably.

Simultaneously, a bead of sweat formed on Elkan’s forehead and dropped onto the monster hide beneath their feet.

***

Hiccup. Hiccup.

Astrid’s hiccups persisted even as they moved to sit at a table for lunch. With each hiccup, the furrow between Caleb’s brows deepened.

Unable to bring himself to meet Caleb’s gaze, Astrid sat rigidly next to him. Meanwhile, Elkan, seated opposite, watched Astrid with sympathy as he struggled. This prompted Caleb’s sharp gaze to shift abruptly toward Elkan.

“And what’s with that insolent look?”

“…Sigh.”

The accusation was entirely baseless. Not in the mood to deal with Caleb’s rare petulance, Elkan let out a deep sigh, which only made Caleb’s sharp, dark eyebrows twitch.

“Elkan, care to explain the meaning of that sigh?”

“I apologize for making Her Grace late for lunch. I should have informed you, but I lost track of time.”

Hiccup.

Startled by Elkan’s defiant tone, Astrid hiccupped again. Unlike the knights, who were armored in muscle, Elkan appeared delicate at first glance. Yet he, too, was a man of Cliff—a man who would speak his mind even if it cost him everything.

When Elkan committed, even Caleb had no choice but to relent.

“…Lost track of time? Enough to turn a one-hour meeting into three? What, were you two playing house together or something?”

“…!”

Caleb’s unexpected remark instantly silenced Astrid’s hiccups.

‘Playing house?’

The phrase carried an oddly suggestive undertone, depending on how one interpreted it. Was Caleb accusing them of something, or merely treating them like children? Whatever the intention, the derision was clear.

“Yes. For a full three hours! We discussed matters regarding the future grand duchess and Cliff’s management. Why don’t you hire another administrator? You’ve been overworking us, and even when we complain, you ignore us! We were talking business, yet you—”

Elkan’s cutting words abruptly stopped. Caleb’s expression, as he sat listening with arms crossed, had taken a turn.

The smile tugging at the corners of his mouth was unmistakably a warning sign.

“And? What about me? Go on.”

“I mean… it’s unreasonable, that’s all!”

Elkan hastily backtracked, but Caleb leaned back, draping his arms on the chair’s armrests with a sly grin.

“Not trying to insult me, were you?”

“…”

His relaxed posture and sarcastic tone only appeared when Caleb was truly angry. It was the demeanor of a predator toying with its prey, deciding how to strike. Realizing his misstep, Elkan bit his lip, facing Caleb’s piercing gaze as if it might flay him alive.

“Um, Lord Caleb…?”

“What.”

Without shifting his glare from Elkan, Caleb responded.

“Elkan did nothing wrong. I was just… so engrossed in his story that I lost track of time. It’s my fault, Lord Caleb.”

At that moment, Caleb’s penetrating stare shifted to Astrid.

‘So engrossed?’

Astrid’s voice was so soft it was barely audible, but her unyielding gaze met Caleb’s directly. Her deep blue eyes shimmered faintly, like ripples in the ocean. After a moment, Caleb chuckled softly.

“Since when did he become ‘Sir Elkan’? Meanwhile, I’m still just ‘Lord Caleb,’ your fiancé. So engrossed you lost track of time, huh? You’re blatantly taking his side.”

“No, that’s a misunderstanding! I just…!”

Though she was clearly terrified, Astrid still managed to defend herself. Caleb might have admired her courage if only her words hadn’t irked him.

“So, what was so fascinating? Care to share?”

Caleb feigned calm as he smiled, but his heart bristled with irritation. However, seeing Astrid’s stiff expression gradually relax into a shy smile as she spoke, his irritation inexplicably melted away.

“Hm. Hm.”

Confronted with Astrid’s brightened demeanor, Caleb cleared his throat unnecessarily and reached for his water glass. At some point, the furrow in his brow had vanished entirely.

‘…What is that attitude supposed to mean? How am I supposed to interpret this?’

To Elkan, Caleb’s behavior was baffling. In all the years he had known him, Caleb had never had a proper romantic relationship. This meant that Caleb’s interactions with women were as much a mystery to Elkan as they were to anyone else.

‘The Grand Duke of Cliff, melting like spring snow before a single smile… what a sight to behold!’

It was a truly novel experience.

No matter the circumstances, the two seemed quite like a loving, engaged couple. Elkan carefully observed the two as they chatted amicably.

‘At last! Spring is finally coming to Cliff Castle.’

Regardless, a harmonious relationship between the Grand Duke and his wife-to-be was certainly a cause for celebration. Setting aside the fact that Astrid was the prospective Grand Duchess, having someone as capable as her at Cliff Castle was undoubtedly advantageous for Caleb.

Growl.

Only then did Elkan feel the pangs of hunger he’d forgotten in the midst of his animated conversation with Astrid. Just as he reached for the bell on the table to summon a meal, the door swung open. A man entered, pushing a trolley laden with food.

***