Chapter 38
A leisurely voice, tinged with amusement, suddenly brushed past my ear.
Looking around, I saw a man strolling toward me, a relaxed smile on his lips and an apple in hand.
It was Gerald.
The newly tailored navy uniform suited him well. The sharp lines characteristic of military dress only made his long limbs stand out all the more.
“Good morning,”
he greeted brightly, raising his hand in salute.
After making sure no one else was around, I allowed my voice to soften a little.
“Good morning.”
“Oh?”
His eyes widened slightly, and the corners of his lips lifted.
“Is this the real side of Your Highness Bea? Usually you’re a bit more…”
Tilting his chin up, Gerald gave me a deliberately condescending look from above, then broke into a playful grin.
“…Dignified.”
I felt a bit embarrassed. That kind of formality was something I maintained only when being careful around Rachel and the other watchful eyes — and in front of branch nobles, it was a deliberate way to assert authority.
“There’s no one here now. Isn’t that why you’re speaking so casually to me?”
With his skill, Gerald had surely already swept the area for any nearby presence.
He gave a nasal chuckle, eyes glinting as he nodded.
“Indeed. I must admit, I rather prefer this side of Your Highness Bea.”
Prefer? How impertinent.
“The Grand Duke should be here to hear that.”
“Ugh—ah, I was just joking~.”
Pulling a mock-sorrowful face, he swung his head from side to side. After confirming again that they were alone, he exhaled a small sigh, dragged over a chair, and sat opposite me, lowering his voice.
“Your Highness… that stays between us, yes? It seems His Grace is rather jealous.”
Jealous?
We were only in a contractual marriage.
Was there even room for such feelings to creep in?
And surely Gerald knew that.
When I tilted my head in puzzlement, he smirked.
“Ah, it seems Your Highness doesn’t know him as well as you think.”
Waggling a finger, he shrugged.
“As your first knight, I’ve had my share of trouble dealing with his possessiveness.”
His tone was playful, but there was a weight beneath it that hinted at truth.
I thought of Denok for a moment — that ever-calm face speaking in an even voice. Jealousy hardly suited him… yet somehow, the thought wasn’t entirely implausible.
Gerald, smiling faintly, went on:
“Oh, it’s true. He’s far more possessive than you’d expect.”
“Is that so?”
“Once something is in his hands, he never lets it go. Even a book. If he’s that way with inanimate objects, how much more so with a person…”
His voice trailed off as if something came to mind. Lifting the apple in his hand, he asked:
“Your Highness Bea, may I tell you an old story?”
“Go ahead.”
After a small hum, Gerald straightened his expression and began in earnest.
“This was when I was a fresh-faced youth, and His Grace the Grand Duke was still a clumsy little boy.”
“…”
“Back then, my skill shone so brightly that not only nearby domains but even the Imperial Court wanted me. Swordsmanship, character, appearance — I had it all.”
His exaggerated tone nearly made me laugh, but I found myself listening closely to what came next.
“Naturally, people tried endlessly to lure me away with gifts and bribes — some sent fine swords, some sent their daughters, some even came with gold ingots in hand.”
“…Impressive.”
“Feeling restless, I decided to clear my head by joining a monster forest subjugation unit. Dangerous, yes, but peaceful — and best of all, no need to mind my manners when swinging my sword.”
He bit into the apple and winked.
“But the night before my departure, little His Grace came to my room, grabbed my sleeve, and whispered, ‘Don’t go.’”
I blinked. Denok… with such a cute story in his past?
“Even then, His Grace was hailed as a rare talent destined to bring glory to House Luciano. Perhaps he enjoyed being able to speak comfortably with me.”
That, I could believe. Denok’s magical power was exceptional, even in the famed House Luciano.
“Believe it or not, my heart nearly leapt out of my chest that night.”
Gerald clutched his chest with mock drama.
“The problem was… I simply couldn’t shake his hand off. So I had no choice but to promise, pinky and all, that I wouldn’t go. He fell asleep clutching my sleeve.”
Gerald’s smile was full of fondness as he recalled the scene. It was clear how much he cherished Denok. The warmth of it seeped into me, too.
“The two of you must have been close. You even gave up the subjugation unit for him.”
His eyes went wide.
“What? Oh, I went.”
“…Didn’t you promise not to?”
“I snuck out that night. Cut off the bit of fabric he was holding and left it there. He slept hugging it without a clue.”
His shameless tone left me momentarily speechless — then I burst out laughing.
“Pfft! What is that?”
The small laugh quickly spread across my face.
“Honestly…”
It was ridiculous… and oddly endearing.
When he added that Denok had sulked terribly upon his return, my laughter wouldn’t stop.
And then—
A faint rustle.
I turned my head toward the sound — and drew in a sharp breath.
Under the garden trees, half-hidden in shadowed leaves, Denok was quietly watching me.
I flinched, then forced a calm smile, setting down the teacup in my hand.
“…Your Grace.”
“Ah, Your Grace!”
Gerald greeted cheerfully, raising a hand.
“Perfect timing. I was just chatting with Her Highness Bea.”
“Is the conversation… over?”
Emerging slowly from the shade, Denok’s voice was familiar, yet carried a faint chill at the edges.
“Just finished. A very pleasant time, Your Highness.”
Gerald spread his arms in an exaggerated knight’s salute toward me.
Denok didn’t add more to him — it seemed he had come to see me in particular.
“Were you looking for me?”
His gaze turned to me.
“…There’s a matter of work I’d like to discuss.”
I see — perhaps something urgent had come up, and my absence had startled him.
“I’ll come right away.”
I rose and went to his side.
Once the two of us had left, the garden grew quiet again.
Crunch.
The sound of Gerald biting into his apple broke the silence.
“See? I told you — His Grace gets jealous.”
He murmured it to himself, then turned away, shoulders faintly shaking with a certain buoyancy in his step.
Following Denok into his study, I accepted the papers he handed me… and blinked.
“This is…”
