Chapter 27

While Bersha kept holding back Raon, who was refusing, Chris quickly summoned the Imperial physician and had him examined. He was examined carefully to see whether there was anything wrong with his bones and whether his muscles had been strained. Fortunately, there were no major injuries, and it ended with a prescription that he needed rest. After the Imperial physician left, Bersha let out a sigh of relief.

“Stay and have a meal today as well. I had your favorite duck dish prepared.”

“……It’s all right.”

Since he had not given Kina any word about it, he had no intention of eating outside.

“Stay and eat. It’s been so long. Please?”

Bersha grasped Raon’s arm and looked up at him. It was the kind of coaxing charm she often used. Raon watched her for a moment, then stood up as he picked up the upper garment he had taken off and put it back on. It was a refusal.

“Raon.”

Bersha rose after him and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. Raon froze just like that.

“I know you’re uncomfortable with people’s eyes on us……. But can’t you at least understand how much I want to be with you?”

Her voice made a small echo against Raon’s back. He realized that she too was no less unaccustomed to the changed situation than he was. At her unchanged feelings, a complicated wave of emotion rose in him again, leaving him unable to decide whether he ought to be glad, or whether he should continue to turn away and flee as he was doing now.

“……All right.”

In truth, the most selfish one of all was himself, who could do neither this nor that.

* * *

“Master says he will be late.”

It was only after the evening hour had passed that the news reached the ducal residence of Graize.

“I’ll have things prepared right away, even now.”

“No. Just have a light refreshment set out.”

Gerard was about to move quickly for Kina, who had not eaten dinner while waiting for Raon, but she stopped him.

“Understood.”

After Gerard went downstairs, Kina, left alone in the drawing room, let out a small sigh.

“I really ought to speak with him in detail.”

When Kina had entered the ducal residence alone, she had no way of knowing how much the servants knew, so she had tried to avoid standing out as much as possible. But now that the true master had returned, it seemed she could simply ask him and adjust accordingly.

“I should ask about meals too.”

Since there was no guarantee that Raon would eat at the mansion every time, it was something that had to be discussed at least once. She could not wait like this every time. As she sat there lost in thought, she suddenly covered her face with both hands.

“Ah…… how embarrassing.”

It must have shown that she had been excited over nothing more than a simple form of address. Hoping at least that her face was not turning red with embarrassment, Kina fanned herself with one hand.

And in the end, she did not see Raon that day.

The next time Kina saw Raon was in the library of the House of Graize. She carefully opened the door to return a book she had finished reading. Since she brought only one book at a time to read, there was no need to ask for help from the servants.

With practiced ease, Kina found where the book belonged and placed it back. Then, in order to choose another to take with her, she ran her index finger along the covers of the books. Covers both soft and firm, all kinds of textures, could be felt beneath her fingertips.

Then, after stopping and pulling one book out—

“Ah!”

Kina cried out and stumbled backward. In the place where she had removed the book, there had been violet eyes.

“It’s my fault if I startled you.”

It was Raon, the one responsible for startling Kina. He stepped around the bookshelf to where Kina was and picked up the fallen book. He did not forget to hold out a hand toward her, still seated on the floor. Kina took that hand, rose to her feet, and received the book she had meant to take.

“You didn’t go out?”

Kina had assumed he would, as usual, go to the Imperial Palace after breakfast, so it had never even occurred to her that he would be home.

“I’m on leave.”

The Knights who had returned from the sudden war had been granted leave as sweet as honey. Raon was spending that leave in the library.

The suppression of the rebels had, in truth, not been fully completed. The core of the rebels was the one who used magic. Because of him, free infiltration and movement had been possible. Unless that was neutralized, the same thing would only happen again.

The place that held the most materials concerning magic was the ducal residence of Graize. Raon had been searching frantically for books hidden deep in the library. But it was no easy task. Books hundreds of years old, and books long thought to have no practical value, were not easy to find.

While wandering through the library searching for those books, he had noticed Kina moving quietly. At first, he had simply intended to speak to her, but something about how overly careful she was caught his attention, and he ended up watching her.

“Do you always walk like that?”

“Pardon?”

“I mean the way you walk.”

It did not seem as though her steps were usually that cautious.

“Ah…… it’s just…… in case someone might be here.”

Kina’s answer was not satisfying. Raon looked at her with a slight frown.

“I don’t know how far I’m allowed to go.”

At the look in his eyes asking for an explanation, Kina added that.

“What…… do you mean?”

Raon’s voice changed noticeably as he suddenly crossed his arms.

“Since my marriage with you is different from an ordinary one, Your Grace, I’m not really sure where the boundaries of what we permit each other lie.”

Holding the book tightly in her arms, Kina spoke. Having heard aloud what he had only vaguely suspected, the crease in Raon’s brow deepened all the more. He had known before their marriage that she was not someone who easily asked for help. But Raon had not expected her to be like this even after marriage, and he let out a deep sigh.

“I had actually been thinking that I ought to speak with you about it once, Your Grace.”

Misunderstanding the meaning of that sigh, Kina added quickly.

“If you dislike being disturbed, then please set a time.”

“What do you…….”

“Or if it’s easier, you can set a date or even certain days of the week.”

I’m fine with any time, she answered quickly, and Raon pressed a hand to his forehead.

“You may come whenever you wish. Madame.”

At his answer, Kina’s body gave a small start, and she pressed her lips firmly together. It was because she wanted to keep herself from letting a smile slip out at a title she wanted to hear again and again.

“……Any time?”

She asked after calming down a little.

“Yes. Anywhere within the ducal residence, whenever you wish, you may go at any time.”

“Is that really all right?”

“Of course.”

It was Kina who was flustered by the answer that set no restrictions at all. If there was a defined role and period, then it was only natural there would be limitations to match. Just like Chris, who ordered her to do nothing.

“Then what should we do about dinner?”

At Kina’s question, Raon’s body stiffened for a moment.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t send word yesterday.”

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

Flustered for the second time by his swift apology, Kina waved her hands.

“I’ll send word in advance from now on.”

It meant that they would continue eating together. Is that really all right? She thought, recalling Bersha. But if the person concerned said it was fine, there was nothing she could argue.

“All right.”

Having finished her deliberation, Kina answered.

“From now on, ask a maid. There are more than enough servants in the ducal residence that no one is lacking for the task of bringing you a single book. Is there anything else you want to see?”

Raon asked as he took Kina’s book for her. She shook her head. Since doing this and that took time, even reading one book alone took her quite a while.

“I’ll have a few more books of a similar kind brought to your room.”

Saying that, he reached out and pulled out two or three more books. Kina simply stared at him. The sight of him was just like when they had first met, and she could not take her eyes away.