“Oh, Duchess. You could use divine power as well?”

Fortunately, Glishakov didn’t seem to have any aversion to her use of divine power. Eve smiled faintly and answered.

“Yes, I can use it, but it’s still a modest power at best.”

“After saving the Crown Prince of a nation, I wouldn’t call it modest anymore. In any case, I’m truly grateful.”

“I only did what needed to be done.”

“Like husband, like wife! Your answer is exactly like the Duke’s! When the Duke saved me and I expressed my gratitude, he said the same thing.”

Glishakov continued, recalling the time when Medric had saved him from near death in their childhood. Apparently, Glishakov and Medric had spent time together since childhood due to their family connections.

“If it hadn’t been for you back then, I would have died.”

“Was that so? It was so long ago that I don’t remember clearly.”

“Haha. It was when we were children, so that’s understandable. Who would have thought that a child would take down a bear twice his size with his bare hands? I still can’t forget how amazing you were then.”

“I only vaguely remember being scared at the time.”

“Don’t lie. You were strong even then. What was there to be afraid of?”

“I was only 10 years old. Even I had moments of fear.”

Eve listened to their conversation while eating her herring.

Just from their conversation, she could feel how much Glishakov trusted Medric. Seeing them get along so well made her smile involuntarily.

Occasional laughter echoed through the formal dining room.

“Come to think of it, both of you have saved my life once. I don’t know how to express my gratitude.”

“Your Highness being healthy is enough for us.”

Glishakov smiled and continued.

“Even so, I can’t just let it go when you’ve saved my life. If you ever want anything, come to me. I’ll grant whatever it is.”

“I’m honored, Your Highness.”

“I mean it. Truly.”

They exchanged a few more words about the awakening before the conversation shifted between the two men.

After the meal, the table was set with salad, light refreshments, and jasmine tea.

“Your Highness, how is your training going these days?”

“I’m doing what I can on my own, but it’s not easy by myself.”

“Why not find a teacher?”

“Do you think it’s easy to find a teacher as good as you? Would you consider being my teacher again?”

This was the first time Eve learned that Medric had been Glishakov’s teacher.

‘I knew Archild was strong, but…’

Eve swallowed the salad in her mouth.

“You know my situation. I’m staying in the territory now because of my marriage, but soon I’ll be heading back to the outskirts of Ptotr, and I’m not even sure when I’ll return.”

“I see…”

Glishakov showed his disappointment at Medric’s words.

“In any case, you mustn’t neglect your training. The magical power flowing within you is already powerful, and now that you’ve awakened, if you neglect your training, you’ll find it difficult to control your magic.”

Glishakov nodded.

“That’s true. During this awakening, if it hadn’t been for the Duchess… Ugh, it would have been terrible.”

Glishakov shuddered, wrapping his arms around himself.

“But you’re safe now. You no longer need to worry about awakening.”

“Haha! That’s right. Now that I’ve overcome this fate-like awakening, I feel relieved.”

“I suppose no magician can defeat Your Highness now.”

“What are you saying? I’m still far behind you.”

Medric, modest in the face of what was essentially a compliment from Glishakov, picked up his wine glass.

“How about a toast to celebrate the completion of Your Highness’s awakening?”

“Gladly.”

“Cheers.”

The three wine glasses clinked together with a bright sound.

As Eve was about to drink the wine with them, Medric’s hand stopped her.

“My wife, please drink the jasmine tea instead.”

As he whispered quietly in her ear, Eve recalled the embarrassing memory of her behavior the first time she had drunk wine. How could she have forgotten that day? Eve pressed the back of her hand to her face to cool her rising temperature.

Fortunately, due to the distance between them, Glishakov hadn’t heard Medric’s words. After drinking his wine, Glishakov spoke to Eve and Medric with a brightened face.

“Now, enough about me. Tell me your story. How did you two meet?”

“We became connected when I saved her from danger.”

While Eve was contemplating how to answer, Medric replied calmly.

“That’s a wonderful connection. Who did the saving?”

“It was Duke Archild.”

“I see. I hope you two stay together for a long time and become an example for many others.”

“Thank you.”

“Thank you for inviting me. I hope to see you often. I’m sorry if I talked too much with the Duke, Duchess.”

Eve met Glishakov’s eyes as he smiled with crescent-shaped eyes.

She belatedly smiled and bowed her head.

“Not at all. I enjoyed my time thanks to you.”

“I’ll have to continue our unfinished conversation with the Duchess another time.”

“I’ll visit whenever you call for me.”

Glishakov noticeably brightened at Eve’s polite response.

“It’s a promise. Next time, I’ll be the one to invite you. You must come when I call.”

“Of course.”

Glishakov stood up with a genuinely happy, bright face.

The luncheon between the three ended successfully.

Although she had been nervous, it concluded smoothly thanks to Glishakov’s comfortable demeanor.

Eve opened the door upon arriving at her room. She thought she would lie down and relax a bit, even though it was early, since she had completed all important tasks for the day.

However, Medric, whom she thought would leave, followed her into the room.

Does he have something more to say?

Eve tilted her head and asked him.

“Do you have something more to say?”

“Do married couples need a reason to enter a room together?”

Eve blinked, trying to understand the meaning of what she had just heard.

Then she stared at him with widened eyes.

‘I hadn’t even thought about it.’

Eve and Medric were now married.

Which meant, according to the kingdom’s customs, the newly married couple should spend their wedding night together, and everyone around them should know about it.

“You missed out on our wedding night. You’re not planning to miss tonight too, are you?”

Since she had lost consciousness on their wedding night, tonight was essentially their first night together.

Her eyes trembled uncontrollably. Not wanting to reveal her agitation, she quickly lowered her gaze.

“We didn’t marry because we genuinely liked each other. Wouldn’t it be enough to spend just one night together so the servants know?”

Eve worried that her voice might be trembling.

“Even if it’s not a marriage of love, shouldn’t we observe the customs of a married couple?”

Medric smoothly countered her words.

The customs of a married couple? She hadn’t even considered that they would have to do this.

‘But it is my duty as the Duchess.’

Eve rolled her eyes around, carefully choosing her words. Watching her, Medric finally let out a small laugh.

“Pfft.”

“Why are you laughing?”

“It’s funny. Are you afraid of this situation?”

He placed his hand over his mouth and began laughing openly.

His laughter somewhat eased the tense atmosphere.

“Anyway, if we’re going to sleep together, we should get ready for bed.”

“Already? It’s still daytime! Don’t you have a lot of work to do?”

Eve pointed to the window, where the sun was already setting. Early or not, Eve had planned to lie down in bed early to rest, but that was when she thought she’d be alone; she hadn’t imagined doing so with Medric.

‘The customs of a married couple.’

Lady Anna hadn’t taught her about such things, but Eve was an adult and wasn’t ignorant of what would happen.

Eve unconsciously gripped her collar tightly.

Perhaps stimulated by this gesture, he began to approach her.

‘Why is he suddenly coming so close…!’

Startled, Eve retreated, but the large bed behind her left nowhere to go.

Standing awkwardly just in front of the bed, the distance between Eve and Medric was now only about a handspan.

A strange tension surrounded them.

As Eve’s widened eyes met his red ones in midair, she couldn’t look away.

Cold sweat ran down her back.

Gulp.

When Eve swallowed, the sound echoed loudly in the quiet room.

Her stiff face, flustered, turned bright red.

She lowered her head deeply, lest he see her face, now as red as a radish.

‘Oh, dear.’

Barely suppressing a sigh that almost escaped through her slightly parted lips, she burst out:

“Could you… please step back…”

Despite her words, Medric didn’t move away but came even closer.

Just before their shoulders touched, Eve tightly shut her eyes.

But Medric brushed past her and sat down on the bed.

Rustling as he got under the covers, Medric said to Eve:

“Aren’t you going to sleep?”

Huh.

Eve exhaled in disbelief as she looked at Medric.

Unless she was a fool, she could tell that Medric had just been teasing her.

Seeing his expression, which seemed to say, “What? You weren’t thinking something else, were you?” made her blood boil.

So that’s how you want to play it.

Eve felt fired up by his brazen behavior.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

She couldn’t just let him win like this.

Eve, still wearing her clothes without changing, climbed onto the bed and lay down abruptly.

“I’ll sleep.”

She closed her eyes as if she didn’t care whether Medric was beside her or not.

“Ha.”

Medric looked at Eve in surprise before bursting into laughter. It was the first time since meeting Eve that he had laughed so heartily.

“Hahaha.”