CHAPTER 10
At Rahan’s words, the elderly Abbot Wilbert gave a bitter smile.
“Because sending that child to marry Philrod Ahen is truly a mistake.”
Truly a mistake.
Rahan didn’t see it that way. The world was full of young women trapped in unhappy marriages.
Why should this particular girl be protected in a way that tarnishes someone else’s reputation?
Of course, Rahan had enough sense not to say such things out loud. Abbot Wilbert didn’t seem to expect an answer anyway.
He called out.
“Erishy.”
Erishy, who had been hiding behind Rahan, flinched and responded.
“Y-yes?”
“Don’t look so pleased. You’re making me embarrassed.”
Rahan blinked and turned to look. He couldn’t understand what she was supposedly so pleased about.
Unexpectedly, Erishy Ahen responded with a face as red as a tomato.
“…Was it obvious?”
“Very much so.”
The abbot pressed a hand to his forehead. Erishy fidgeted as she replied.
“I, um, I’m just happy that I get to stay at Windrock Monastery…”
Only after some conversation did Rahan understand what this was all about.
“For the next three months, you are not allowed to leave a radius of 2,000 cubits from Windrock Monastery.”
So, when Liet had told Rahan that, Erishy must have jumped for joy in the background.
Because Rahan Norwich being exiled to Windrock Monastery meant that Erishy, now his wife, didn’t have to leave either.
Ha. He couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.
‘Should I call that cute, or just childish?’
Oblivious to Rahan’s thoughts, Abbot Wilbert sighed.
“We were originally planning to send you to the Grand Duchy, but now look at this mess.”
It was common for a newlywed wife to move to her husband’s home.
So Erishy Ahen was supposed to head to the Grand Duchy of Latchez after her forced marriage to Rahan Norwich had been recognized.
But the plan had changed. Apparently, even Abbot Wilbert hadn’t expected the Duke of Latchez to act this way. Rahan certainly hadn’t.
“I got married like they asked, and now they’re dumping me in this countryside?”
“…I suspect His Grace the Duke did not want the young lady’s presence in the duchy to reveal any ambition for the imperial throne.”
He almost cursed: damned Duke of Latchez. But Abbot Wilbert seemed unaware of Rahan’s inner frustration as he sighed again.
“I understand, but this method is…”
He hesitated, then asked:
“Is it true the Duke injured his eyes?”
“It’s true.”
“Oh, Erydraghan…”
His lament didn’t last long.
“You’re not saying he did that because of this matter, are you?”
“No. His Grace was injured in an attack a few months ago. It’s been kept a secret, but it seems he decided to reveal it now.”
Abbot Wilbert was more knowledgeable than anyone about the political power struggles among imperial throne contenders backed by electors.
After offering a quick prayer for the Duke of Latchez—who even used his injured eye for political gain—he spoke.
“It can’t be helped. For now, Sir Norwich and Erishy should stay here at Windrock Monastery.”
“Yesss!”
The silver-haired girl quietly clenched her fists in victory. Her excitement was obvious even to Rahan’s sharp eyes.
He let out a stunned laugh.
She liked this countryside that much?
Well, it was a beautiful place.
But… Rahan sighed, recalling the food at the inn in Vandel. He was known for sharing the Grand Duke’s love of fine dining.
‘How long are they planning to keep me in a place where it’s hard to even get pepper?’
He’d been told the marriage wouldn’t last long…
And somehow, things were starting to feel blurry.
Though they were to remain at Windrock Monastery, a newlywed couple couldn’t literally live inside a monastery.
After all, a monastery is a sacred place where priests serve Erydraghan through prayer and training.
So, Abbot Wilbert decided to let the couple stay in a small cabin next to a fallow wheat field just below the monastery. The field had been left unused since the summer, and the cabin was vacant.
But that would be starting tomorrow.
“It’s late. Spend the night in the monastery and move down tomorrow.”
The sun was already setting. Despite the commotion caused by Erishy’s marriage, the priests didn’t forget their evening prayers.
The abbot suggested they rest for now—which Rahan welcomed. After all, he had climbed a cliff, kidnapped a bride, and brawled with Philrod that very morning.
“Um… Sir Rahan, are you going to sleep in my room, then?”
Her question snapped Rahan out of his daze. His eyes flew open.
What the hell did she just say?
Fortunately, Abbot Wilbert laughed dryly as if dumbfounded.
“Erishy, don’t you think your bed is too small for that?”
He elaborated to Rahan:
“Erishy was preparing for priesthood. Naturally, her room is smaller than the others.”
“But the bed’s decent…”
“That ‘decent’ bed was made when she was fourteen. If Sir Norwich tried to sleep in it, he’d have to chop off his ankles.”
“Geez! Father!”
Excuse me—do I get a say in this?
Still, seeing that cheerful girl protest without actually disagreeing, the room must’ve truly been tiny.
Rahan answered with a dry tone.
“I never imagined a man and woman would share a room in a monastery.”
“Excellent. Then you’ll stay in the guest room next to the prayer hall with the rest of the duke’s men.”
Erishy looked disappointed, but Abbot Wilbert was firm.
“Erishy. Today has been a long day. Talk with your husband tomorrow.”
“…Okay.”
Husband, he said.
Rahan instinctively turned to look at Erishy, but when she met his gaze, he quickly looked away.
For some reason, making eye contact with that girl felt… awkward.
But Erishy didn’t seem to notice. She gave him a small bow, and Rahan nodded back reluctantly.
He followed another priest toward the guest quarters.
The priest clearly had a million questions about today’s events, but perhaps due to the abbot’s warnings, he said little and quietly left after showing Rahan to the room.
As soon as the door opened—whistle! cheers!
“Well, well, the groom has arrived.”
“How’d the scolding go?”
It was Harris and Liet. Rahan snapped.
“Shut it, you idiots.”
They must have arrived earlier.
The room was modest, expanded only slightly from a typical priest’s chamber.
Three chairs, three wooden beds.
Rahan sat on one of the empty beds. Liet handed him a small birdcage.
“Here’s your pet, sir.”
Rahan frowned.
“Why’d you bring that? I left it at the castle.”
A tiny creature inside the cage chirped indignantly. It was a pink axolotl.
Its body resembled a lizard, but its face was oddly rabbit-like. Six deep-pink fin-like appendages in place of ears gave it a feathery look.
The creature had been with Rahan since the expedition and was brought here by Liet when he was exiled.
“So annoying.”
Harris booed.
“Abandoning a pet? That’s cold.”
“I wasn’t joking. I did abandon it.”
“What happened to your humanity, Captain?”
Liet chuckled.
“Funny thing about it—it’s clearly aquatic, but even when I offered it water, it refused to go in.”
“Oh, I’m so touched.”
Rahan put the cage on the desk without elaborating, then turned to Liet.
“Explain.”
“No need to explain. It’s as you heard.”
Liet shrugged.
“His Grace intends to keep you stashed away in this backwater for a while. He said to treat it like a vacation.”
“Damn it.”
Rahan sighed. Harris snickered.
“Well, you’ve been running nonstop since the expedition. Maybe take this as a chance to relax. Lucky you.”
“If you think it’s so great, you do it.”
“I’ve gotta return to the duchy. Oh, woe is me.”
Feigning sorrow, Harris made a crying face.
Rahan glared, but the grinning fool was clearly enjoying himself.
The two had joined Rahan on the long expedition. They were practically family—more like unruly younger siblings.
They had once protected the young Rahan on the battlefield, and later owed him their lives.
Despite their jokes, watching Rahan run himself ragged post-expedition had clearly concerned them.
If the Grand Duke had simply said, “Take a break,” Rahan would’ve welcomed it.
The reason he was so dumbfounded now was because this absurd “honeymoon” had been labeled exile.
“So I’m officially the Empire’s top bastard now, huh?”
His subordinates cackled.
“No argument there.”
After gouging out the Duke’s eye and kidnapping a noble’s daughter into marriage, Rahan was now the continent’s most wanted delinquent.
Just thinking about it gave him a headache.
As he sighed, Liet suddenly raised a hand.
“Captain, can I ask something I’m really curious about?”
Rahan narrowed his eyes.
“Go ahead.”
“…Did you actually do it?”
Rahan’s brow twitched.
So he meant—did they consummate the marriage?
