SBHD 5

Episode 5

Hehe. Melissa’s skirt was slightly torn at the corner from her smile, but that dress wasn’t exactly the kind one could use to climb a wall in the first place.

Eisenhart Grand Duchy.

The Eisenhart family’s stronghold, called the northern wall of the Empire, lived up to its reputation with walls tens of meters high, topped with sharp spears angled outward.

Even a skilled thief or spy wouldn’t dare approach such height and fortification. Yet, she climbed over it in a dress?

Most people would faint at just the thought of climbing that wall.

Perhaps…

A spy?

The Grand Duke’s gaze sharpened as he scrutinized Melissa.

What kind of training did she receive?

Without physical ability and skill surpassing that of a regular knight, there’s no way someone could scale that wall in such clothing.

Seres mulled over it repeatedly, baffled.

What on earth was Demius thinking, bringing such a person into this household?

A tiny girl with a gentle, innocent face smiled harmlessly, yet the fact she had effortlessly scaled such a terrifying wall was already enough to raise suspicion.

His suspicious son would never let such a questionable person stay by his side.

Especially not as a “companion.”

“…I don’t know.”

Seres furrowed his brows and reconsidered his thoughts.

After his close brother Ascelion went missing, Demius had acted half-mad, even running away and disappearing for a year.

During that time, his judgment may have been severely impaired, leaving room for someone untrustworthy to approach the heir of the Grand Duchy.

Seres’ gaze briefly turned cold as he finally focused on the bandage on her forehead.

“What’s that?”

“…That.”

Linburton flinched, then reluctantly explained.

“It’s a wound… from saving the young master from a rampaging horse.”

…Makes sense.

Seres slowly opened his tightly shut mouth.

“The Eisenharts repay favors clearly.”

Double the favor, tenfold the vengeance—such was the Eisenhart creed.

He closed and opened his eyes deeply, then commanded:

“Let her stay in the castle until her wound heals.”

“Your Highness!”

Linburton, shocked, hurried over to whisper.

“That’s not possible! Who knows how Young Master Demius will react after returning from monster hunting…!”

“Linburton.”

The Grand Duke’s eyes instantly turned cold.

Ah.

Linburton realized his disrespect.

This man before him was his lord. Any command deserved unquestioning obedience.

Linburton immediately dropped to one knee, bowing his head.

“Understood, Your Highness.”

Seres nodded slightly, then turned his gaze to Melissa.

A tiny girl with hair that was either orange or yellow, and green eyes.

It was uneasy to have such a stranger stay even a single day in the castle, but he had two reasons for allowing it.

One: repaying a favor.

The second, hidden reason: to verify whether she was a spy.

It was better to keep a potential future threat close and observe than far away and uncertain.

Melissa, who had been fidgeting with her fingers throughout the conversation with Linburton, finally spoke up cautiously.

“Um… Excuse me, Mother.”

Mother.

Seres’ eyebrows twitched, but he answered coldly.

“Yes?”

“Um… perhaps…”

Melissa looked at him nervously.

“Have we… met somewhere before?”

What nonsense is this?

The Grand Duke clicked his tongue, displeased.

He had let his guard down, thinking the little girl was innocent, but clearly, this tiny girl was capable of ensnaring the heir of the Grand Duchy.

He wouldn’t have fallen for such a trick.

But Demius had avoided social circles for a long time, interacting mostly with monsters.

So he could be inexperienced with people, and might have been fooled by a seemingly transparent trick.

The Grand Duke firmly rejected the notion.

“That’s impossible.”

“…I see.”

Melissa immediately deflated, looking crestfallen.

Just as the vivid bloom of her expression withered like a fading flower, Seres flinched slightly—but then Melissa suddenly smiled brightly again.

“Then I suppose we’re meeting for the first time! That’s fine too!”

“…What?”

Seres, doubting his ears, heard Melissa cheerfully exclaim:

“I couldn’t bear it if someone as wonderful as you slipped from my memory!”

“…?!”

The Grand Duke froze in disbelief, then hardened his face.

“I don’t fall for flattering words.”

“I’m sincere!”

Melissa’s round eyes widened.

“You really are amazing, Mother!”

More of that nonsense.

Feeling a slight ache in his temple, Seres furrowed his brows and gestured.

“Leave.”

“Yes!”

Melissa cheerfully bowed and left.

Only after the door creaked shut did Seres exhale a long sigh.

Where had Demius found someone like that?

I don’t like it.

Seres pinched his temple, displeased.

He had never seen such a person—not among the highborn nobles who pretended to be refined, nor among the northern territories’ common folk or tavern dwellers.

Always giggling, always complimenting, acting heroic with every word…

Even more outrageous, she made it sound genuine.

Suspicious.

Whoever trained her must have undergone grueling training somewhere.

Furthermore, her hands earlier were far from those of a noble lady, delicate and protected from the sun.

Sturdy, strong hands—more like his own.

“Hah.”

Seres let out an involuntary bitter laugh.

To think he was comparing a monster-fighting knight’s hands to a suspected spy girl’s hands… he must not be fully aware of reality.

Pinching his aching temple, he muttered quietly:

“…There’s no time.”

Even though his health was declining, the fact that he had fainted when he saw Demius and Melissa wearing matching rings was proof his condition was worse than expected.

Did he have less than a year to live?

Good.

He had found Demius before his life ended.

With a bitter smile, Seres spoke slowly:

“Do not neglect surveillance of that child.”

“…!”

Linburton’s face lit up instantly upon hearing that.

“Understood, Your Highness!”

Indeed, this was the Grand Duke.

Linburton immediately reflected on doubting his lord even for a moment.

With renewed resolve, he vowed:

We’ll see about that little thief!

To think a girl had dared to covet the precious heir he had raised since childhood… he would chase her away soon enough.

“Truly amazing.”

The first room I was shown was elegant and beautiful.

Though old, the furniture was well-maintained without cracks. Curtains and bedding lavishly used silk and gold.

Everything inside the Grand Duchy’s castle was more graceful and beautiful than anything I’d seen in the city beyond the mountains.

But after Demius returned from monster hunting, bloodied and exhausted, my assigned room suddenly changed.

“This must be the room.”

In the darkened corridor, I clenched and unclenched my delicate fingers nervously.

After realizing that the guest room in the annex was assigned to me, Demius had suddenly declared to the servants that I would share the room with him.

The butler was shocked and tried to stop him, but Demius said:

Who will object to my wife?

Though I couldn’t see his expression, for some reason, the servants’ faces went pale.

I walked down the corridor, feeling my fingertips chill with nervousness.

After all, it was my first time entering my husband’s room.

I needed to get used to it… for the next year.

Taking a deep breath, I knocked lightly at the door at the end of the corridor.

Knock knock.

“…Wife.”

The door opened, and a man wearing a robe appeared.

His silhouette, framed by faint light from the room, was elegant.

Water trickled down from his freshly washed hair onto his high nose bridge.

Following the shimmering drops downward, I saw his open robe.

Straight collarbones, firm chest, and defined abs.

…Wow.

I lost myself for a moment, and Demius hurriedly closed his robe, stepping aside.

“Pl-please, come in.”

“Oh! Excuse me!”

I hurriedly lifted my eyes and stepped inside the room.

Click. The door closed behind me.

“So this is Demius’ room.”

I looked around, eyes wide.

The room, lit by dim lamps, was far more luxurious and ornate than the room I had been shown earlier.

Every piece of furniture had delicate gold trim and inlaid gems. I had never seen anything like it.

Above all…

It smells so good.

Though Demius had been away from home for over a year, the room he had used since childhood still seemed to carry his scent.

It felt as if he were right there, in my arms.

“…Huh?”

I blinked at my own thought, and from behind, I heard his voice.

“I had no other intention.”

Even from afar, leaning against the door, Demius’ voice sounded slightly trembling.

“Truly, no other intention. I just thought… if my wife stayed in a guest room meant for outsiders, people might misunderstand. That’s why I guided you to my room… I just…”

Hearing his rambling, I realized he was as nervous as I was.

To ease his burden, I spoke brightly:

“You don’t need to worry so much!”

Then I smiled and added:

“We have a contract, after all, right?”