Chapter 57

‘Lexion……’  

Adelina placed her hand on the surface of the mirror.  

Maybe it’s because the lighting is too dim.  

Lexion’s playful gaze looks too serious…  

It must be because the lighting is dim that it looks that way.  

“Duke, it seems they’re patrolling.”  

When Stephan, who had gone out for some fresh air, came back in, Lexion put the mirror back into his bosom.  

The two went deeper in and turned off the light stone.  

+++

Even though the time for the sun to rise had long passed, the sky was dark gray.  

The sky blue that was occasionally visible was quickly covered by clouds, hiding the sun.  

The 7th Knights of the Petrus Empire stationed in Ernst gathered in the meeting room at the corner of the training ground.  

“The message from the homeland stated that the whereabouts of the Duke, Duchess, and the Marquis are unknown. Check the faces of everyone disembarking from the ships.”  

With Prince Evans absent, until Princess Isabelle arrived as the military governor, the captain of the knights took full responsibility.  

“Handle this matter with utmost secrecy so as not to disturb the people of the duchy!”  

“Yes, Captain!”  

They immediately ran to the port, sharply watching the incoming ships.  

Huge waves, large enough to swallow small fishing boats, continuously crashed onto the shore.  

“Look! A ship is coming in! A ship departing from the Petrus Empire is coming in!”  

The people gathered at the port ran to see the ship breaking through the fierce wind and rain, waiting for their beloved ones to disembark.  

The 7th Knights began to inspect each person disembarking from all the ships, removing their hoods to check their faces.  

“Search the surroundings thoroughly as well.”  

The captain of the knights, watching the inspections, discreetly instructed a close subordinate.  

+++

Near the southernmost Figura Port of Ernst.  

Two people swam as if pushed by the waves to a cliff-lined coast where ships couldn’t dock.  

A sea cave formed by long periods of wave impact revealed a flat floor at low tide.  

The two people entered the cave and stood on the flattest spot.  

“Duke, we must hurry and leave before high tide.”  

Stephan took off his clothes and wrung out the water.  

His whole body ached from swimming through the fierce waves, but thanks to it, they arrived safely, avoiding others’ eyes.  

“We have about an hour left.”  

Lexion also wrung out the water from his clothes, shook them off, and put them back on.  

Seeing Stephan put on his shirt and pants, he took out the mirror from his bosom and placed it on the floor.  

“Come out, my wife.”  

He spread a black robe around the mirror.  

‘I’m not coming out. It’s really nice here!’  

“What?”  

At Adelina’s bright voice from inside the mirror, the robe in Lexion’s hand tightened as if it would tear.

+++

‘Why would I come out! How hard it was to get into the mirror!’

Adelina rolled around inside the mirror, holding a healing parenting novel given by the god.

‘If possible, place me somewhere nice. A flower garden would be nice. Underwater where I can see fish is good too.’  

Yes. After all, how much work had I done!  

She could make such a demand confidently.  

Well. If it’s really bothersome, a safe full of jewels?  

“Adelina, come out. You have to meet the subjects as the new queen of Ernst.”  

‘Wow…… Queen?’  

At Lexion’s too serious tone, the novel book in Adelina’s hand disappeared.  

‘Duke. Let’s recall our contract. I clearly contracted to do nothing as a Duchess. Queen, you say? That’s absurd.’

Trying to subtly make someone work more for free!  

I should have written a contract.  

Without a written contract, isn’t this why he’s changing his words!

“Really? If being a queen is too burdensome, let’s stick with Duchess. Come out.”

Lexion softly stroked the surface of the mirror with a voice as gentle as cotton candy.  

‘I don’t want to. Our contract is over.’

At the continued refusal, Lexion clenched his fist and tightly shut his mouth.  

“Duke, you must hurry.”  

Stephan, who couldn’t hear Adelina’s voice, urged Lexion with a ‘what are you doing?’ look.  

Water began to pool on the flat floor, signaling the start of high tide.  

“If you don’t come out, my blood will soak you thoroughly. Until you come out.”  

Lexion took out a dagger from his bosom and placed it on his wrist.  

‘No way. Would he really spill blood?’  

Adelina snorted and crossed her arms, but she kept a nervous eye on Lexion’s wrist.  

Plop. A large red drop fell right in the center of the mirror.  

‘Hey! You crazy man!’  

Adelina, startled by the drop of blood, came out and immediately grabbed Lexion’s wrist.  

“Got you. My wife.”  

Lexion spread the robe around Adelina’s unclothed body.  

‘What if you really bleed!’  

As soon as Adelina got a new piece of clothing, she tore the sleeve with her teeth.  

Since the only dry cloth was her own clothes, she wrapped it tightly around Lexion’s wrist.  

‘It tickles.’  

As Adelina, on the verge of tears, applied pressure to stop the bleeding, Lexion added more force to keep the blood flowing.  

‘You fraud! Ugh! I can’t even speak loudly because the mirror might break!’  

Adelina, still frowning deeply, held onto Lexion’s wrist tightly.  

+++

“Nice to meet you again, my daughter.”  

Stephan wiped the blood off the mirror and wrapped it in black cloth.  

Lexion placed it back in his bosom.  

“When you go up there, the subjects will be waiting.”  

Following Lexion’s words, Adelina looked up.  

Above the cave was a hole big enough for about three people to fit through.  

Stephan took out a rope he had brought, tied it around his waist, and approached the cave wall.  

“I’ll go up first, check the surroundings, and lower the rope to you both.”  

Now the water was lapping at their feet, making a splashing sound. They had to hurry.  

“Stop!”  

As Stephan climbed the cave wall up to his height, people wearing black masks entered the cave.  

+++

“We greet Prince Lexion!”  

One of the masked people who had pointed swords at them removed his mask and knelt toward Lexion.  

“You are?”  

“I am the vice-captain of the 1st Knights of Ernst. I failed to save my homeland with my death. I am still alive here.”

He, who looked ten years older than Stephan, met Lexion’s eyes and bowed his head.  

Following him, the kneeling people also bowed their heads.  

Their necks, not fully covered by the mask, were tense.  

Gulp. They swallowed saliva pretending to swallow tears in their blocked throats.  

“Thank you all for staying alive……”  

As Lexion embraced his shoulder and helped him stand, the other knights also stood up.  

They deliberately avoided looking at each other’s swollen eyes.  

“The 7th Knights of Petrus are searching above. You must take the kayak.”  

“My wife will ride with me.”  

Lexion wrapped an arm around Adelina’s waist.  

“It is an honor to serve you.”  

Sharp glances briefly brushed over Adelina, but they politely bowed their heads.  

“Thank you for the welcome.”  

Adelina gracefully received their greetings while pinching Lexion’s arm around her waist.  

Now that it was high tide, the water in the cave rose to waist height.  

Adelina and her party paddled against the waves in the kayak and exited the cave.  

+++

By the time Adelina and her party disembarked from the kayak, the sky had turned even darker as if another typhoon was approaching.  

The grass, grown to knee height, lay flat in the wind, wrapping around their ankles.  

“Are you okay? Should I carry you?”  

Lexion, who had been walking for a while holding Adelina’s hand, paused.  

“I’m fine.”  

“Fine, my foot.”

Lexion lowered himself to inspect Adelina’s ankle.  

The grass had burrowed into the hem of Adelina’s dress, leaving small scratches on her ankle.  

“Here. I would be honored if you used this handkerchief.”

One of the knights cautiously offered a handkerchief to Lexion.  

“Thank you.”  

Lexion wrapped the handkerchief around Adelina’s ankle.  

“I can walk on my own.”  

As Lexion held her hand again, Adelina tried to pull her hand away, embarrassed by the others watching.  

There were almost no stones or pebbles now, so there was no fear of tripping.  

“I can’t walk on my own.”  

Lexion placed Adelina’s hand on his arm and pulled her closer.  

Having let go of her hand while checking her ankle, Adelina’s hand had become as cold as snow.  

Lexion walked forward silently, holding Adelina’s hand.  

After passing a lake where swans had lowered their bodies in the grass to avoid the typhoon, a fairly large mansion appeared.  

As Adelina and her party entered through the mansion’s secret door, two people waiting in the garden ran up.  

“Your Majesty!”  

“Earl Bettran.”  

Lexion held the hand of the old loyalist whose hair had turned completely white.  

Despite losing both sons, who were Imperial Knights, ten years ago, he had raised his voice to Evans with truth.  

“And this is…….”  

Earl Bettran wiped the traces of tears from his wrinkled eyes and turned his gaze to Adelina.  

‘Is my role starting now? Lexion, you need to pay me a queen’s allowance!’  

Adelina swallowed dryly and removed her hood to reveal her face.  

“Adelina Ernst.”  

“We greet the Queen!”  

At Adelina’s calm and dignified introduction, Earl Bettran placed both hands on the ground and bowed.  

‘No…… Grandpa! You don’t have to go that far……’  

Adelina was startled and helped Earl Bettran to his feet.  

“Queen, this is my granddaughter, Seyra Bettran. She will have her coming-of-age ceremony next year.”  

As Earl Bettran looked at the woman who had been waiting behind him, she stepped forward to stand beside him.  

“Seyra Bettran. I’ve heard much about you, Your Majestyes.”  

Seyra bowed halfway to Lexion and Adelina, blushing.  

“Come in, please. Today, just greet the people and rest well.”  

Earl Bettran looked at his granddaughter with satisfaction and guided the people inside the mansion.  

Lexion and Stephan were to stay a little longer in the reception room to talk with the people, while Adelina was first escorted to the bedroom.  

‘Ah. I feel alive now. It was so cold.’  

While Adelina was resting after taking a bath with the help of a maid,  

“Queen, did you really paint this n*de portrait?”  

Seyra entered Adelina’s bedroom, taking only two portraits from the luggage that had been moved to the ship in advance.  

+++

‘No! When did she sneak those out?’  

Adelina blinked her eyes, looking back and forth between the paintings and Seyra.  

Since Lexion was supposed to come after the typhoon ended, moving the luggage in advance wasn’t under much scrutiny.  

“Yes, I did.”  

Adelina turned her head slightly, burdened by Seyra’s intense gaze.  

“Then…… Queen, does His Majesty really…… look like this?”  

Seyra’s finger subtly pointed to the sword handle and the place covered by both hands.  

“Oh my. My mistake. Here, the abs. The abs.”  

Adding such unbelievable words.  

‘This girl…… she’s a tougher opponent than me……’  

Despite being taken aback by Seyra’s overly innocent voice, Adelina didn’t show it outwardly.  

Adelina raised her index finger to her eye level, signaling Seyra to come closer.  

Seyra’s face turned as red as it could explode, and she leaned her ear slightly towards Adelina.  

“Are you curious?”