My Husband was Switched - Chapter 33

“Could it be that you even rescued the knights…?” 

 The eyes of the mansion’s servants turned to me. I had to awkwardly smile and avoid their gazes. 

 “My friends were quite passionate…… But thanks to them, we were able to get out quickly, so isn’t that good?” 

 “You’re truly amazing! I believe Your Highness the Grand Duchess’s animal friends are better than human friends.” 

 I’m pretty sure they looked at me with pity earlier when I mentioned having animal friends. 

 The butler seemed to have forgotten his earlier gaze. Humans truly are social and fickle animals…… 

 But I was a generous person who wouldn’t get hurt or hold grudges over such things. 

 “Well, they say not to take in black-haired beasts, but there’s no saying against taking in furry beasts. Animals are often better than humans.” 

 “You speak true words.” 

 The butler nodded vigorously. It seems he was impressed by my social connections. 

 Soon after, as the snow piled in front of the door was almost cleared, the knights approached the door with their shovels. 

 Click–

 I carefully opened the door and smiled at the polar bears staring blankly at me. 

 “Thank you, I won’t forget this favor.” 

 “Groowr!” (I expect delicious food in return.) 

 “Can I ask one more favor?” 

 “Gruff!” (Anytime.) 

 Such a cool polar bear! I hugged the polar bear tightly and whispered. 

 “Could I borrow your back? I’d like you to be my legs.” 

 “Grooowr!” (Sure, you’re looking for your mate, right?) 

 The polar bear lifted me up suddenly. The startled knights rushed toward me. 

 I settled lightly on the polar bear’s back and waved at them to show everything was fine. 

 “I’ll go find His Highness the Grand Duke!” 

 “Y-Your Highness! It’s too dangerous!” 

 “Don’t worry!” 

 I grabbed the polar bear’s fur tightly and shouted. 

 “Track this scent.” 

 I handed the handkerchief Cedric had used to the polar bear. After sniffing it for a moment, the polar bear began running like mad. 

 “Ahhh! Ah! Ahhh!” 

 At the incredible speed, I closed my eyes tight and screamed as we disappeared into the snow. 

 Fortunately, the polar bears didn’t just carry me. 

 Knights who had ended up on polar bears followed behind me. Five polar bears plowing through the snow with people on their backs. 

 I gave up trying to imagine how we looked. 

 ‘I won’t let Isabelle get away with this.’ 

 First, I asked the birds to check if Isabelle was at Lendsa Castle in the capital Belodna. 

 If she’s not at the castle, Father must be looking for her too. 

 I need to find Isabelle before that. Then I can persuade her to stop acting out. 

 ‘Maybe it’ll be fine if I just prevent the marriage.’ 

 If we talk more, we might be able to find another way. 

 “Huh, why are we stopping?” 

 “Grooowr!” (The scent trail ends here.) 

 “……Here?” 

 “He’s not buried, is he?” 

 “Gruff!” (Can’t see an entrance.) 

 I blinked at the pure white snowfield where nothing was visible. 

 All that could be seen were trees and snow-covered mountains. Any traces that might lead to him were buried and hidden in the snow. 

 “Your Highness, should we split up and search?” 

 “Do we have a map of this area?” 

 “Ah! Here’s one. It’s a map used for monster subjugation, but it roughly shows trap locations and surrounding terrain.” 

 Looking at the map the knight handed over, I pointed at a circled area. 

 “I’m not sure about this either. Seems there was something around here.” 

 This was troublesome. We needed to know exactly what it was to confirm if it could be a space to shelter from the snow. 

 “Gruff!” (A cave!) 

 “Grooowr!” (That’s right, there’s a cave here where we often hide food!) 

 “Really? There was a cave?” 

 “Grooowr!” (Yes, our food supplies are near here.) 

 At the polar bear’s words, I brightened and told the knights. 

 “They say there’s a cave nearby. We need to find the entrance. He might have taken shelter from the snow in the cave.” 

 “……Your Highness. Can you understand what the bears are saying?” 

 The people at the Grand Duke’s residence seemed to know I could communicate with animals, but there wasn’t time to explain everything to the knights. 

 The people residing in the northern mansion had high loyalty to Cedric. Which meant even if they learned about my abilities, it wouldn’t leak outside. 

 So I told the knights. 

 “I’m not certain but I can make good guesses. After bonding with them, I came to understand what they’re trying to say just by looking in their eyes? Hahaha. They’re my friends after all.” 

 They wouldn’t think it was an ability, so it was fine. I casually stroked the polar bear while laughing smoothly. 

 The knights seemed convinced after seeing me handle the ferocious polar bears so naturally and nodded. 

 “All the animals at the mansion are my friends. Now then, shall we look for the entrance?!” 

 I clapped my hands and urged the knights. 

 “Yes! Understood.” 

 The knights searched for the cave entrance together with the polar bears, digging through the snow. I too stuck a shovel in the snow and stomped it down with my foot. 

 While putting strength into shoveling the snow, my eyes constantly scanned the surroundings. 

 ‘Please let him have at least taken shelter in the cave……’ 

 Suddenly a shiver ran through my body. I lifted my head and quickly began searching for something. 

 ‘This is definitely Zeno’s power!’ 

 Though faint, I could feel Zeno’s energy as if we were connected. Given that he used power similar to mine, it seems Cedric was injured. 

 Thankfully Zeno was with him. While trying to track the faintly sensed power, I began pouring my energy into shoveling. 

 “Ahhhhh!” 

 No matter what, I will find Cedric. 

 ❖ ❖ ❖ 

 “This is wrong.” 

 With the endless falling snow, forget finding even a strand of Cedric’s hair — I could barely see what was right in front of me. 

 “Your Highness, we should head back. This is getting dangerous.” 

 “……But we can’t go back not knowing where His Highness the Grand Duke is stranded.” 

 “Even so, it’s dangerous now. With the Grand Duke absent, Your Highness is who we must protect.” 

 I couldn’t let go of my lingering attachment. Though the polar bears blocked the snow with their paws, as the knights said, it was too much to endure for long. 

 At that moment, certain content flashed through my mind. 

 The two people are surprised by an unexpected meeting. Using the excuse of avoiding the cold, they try to share body heat. 

 “What?!” 

 “W-why did you shout, Your Highness!” 

 The knights approached, startled by my sharp cry. 

 “……It’s nothing.” 

 I frowned at the unexpected content. I thought the story was progressing differently from the original due to the changes in Cedric’s and my relationship…… 

 The scene that came to mind would originally have been my actions to seduce Cedric. 

 ‘Did Isabelle and I switch places?’ 

 This was a development I hadn’t expected. I covered my mouth with a face like I’d been hit on the back of the head. 

 ‘Damn it.’ 

 Isabelle won’t stop until she gets what she wants. 

 I needed to find Cedric quickly, but looking at the weather, it seemed hopeless. 

 The Emperor began searching the continent after learning Isabelle had disappeared. If the deal with the Kingdom of Narankas fell through, it would mean massive losses for the Empire. 

 Even if Father searches for Isabelle, it won’t be easy. 

 Zeno must have hidden his power as I could no longer sense it. In the end, all I could do was meet Father and try to persuade him. 

 ‘I need to find a way to stop the marriage alliance with Narankas Kingdom without taking losses.’ 

 If that happens, Isabelle might also stop this madness. 

 “Let’s go back. I know where to go.” 

 “……Where do you mean to go?” 

 “We need to go to Lendsa Castle.” 

 Father would come looking for me anyway, but there was no need to wait. 

 To think I’d end up going to the Imperial Palace of my own accord. 

 But that was the only solution I could think of for this situation. 

 I knew well what the Kingdom of Narankas needed. I also knew why Father wanted to form an alliance with the kingdom. 

 Though Isabelle and Father might not know it, this battle too was as good as my victory. 

 “Grooowr!” (You better give us special treats when we get back!) 

 “Don’t worry. I’ll feed you well!” 

 With the polar bear’s excited roar, we broke through the snow and returned to the Grand Duke’s residence. 

 The knights seemed motion sick as they immediately vomited upon dismounting from the polar bears. I looked at them with pitying eyes before hurriedly entering the mansion. 

 “Your Highness, are you alright? Your complexion doesn’t look good.” 

 “I’m fine. We couldn’t find His Highness the Grand Duke. But we’ll find him soon, so don’t worry.” 

 “His Highness will be fine. Please just take care of yourself, Your Highness.” 

 The butler rushed over and followed closely behind me as he spoke. Rien came with a thick shawl and draped it over my shoulders as she followed. 

 I didn’t slow my steps despite the butler and maid’s words. 

 “Your Highness. Please warm yourself by the heated stove at least. You’ll catch a cold.” 

 “Rien, I’m fine.” 

 “But your hands are so cold……” 

 “My temperature dropped because of the blizzard, I won’t catch a cold from just this much.” 

 I smiled at Rien to show I was fine, then slipped into my room. 

 Opening the door slightly, I poked my head out and spoke to those watching me. 

 “I need to think, so don’t let anyone in.” 

 “But……!” 

 “It won’t take long. I have somewhere I need to go anyway.” 

 Then I closed the door.