TOOCM | Chapter 025

Episode 25

At Reina’s request, Kaiden furrowed his brow as if she’d said something absurd.

“Did you think I’d leave you alone on your birthday?”

“Well… you’re busy, so…”

Reina hesitated, fidgeting with her hands.

She was afraid of the upcoming birthday.

Before her regression, she had endured the fever alone, and the world had been plunged into darkness.

And then came the first prophecy she saw.

Knowing how that prophecy had sent her life plummeting into ruin made her even more fearful.

So, she had mustered the courage to speak, but seeing him harden his expression made her shrink back.

“I’m fine. I can be alone.”

Reina quickly changed her words, burying her face in her plate, focusing on her food.

Kaiden, seeing her dejected demeanor, ruffled the back of his head and responded.

“I’ve noticed this before, but you seem to think I’m some kind of heartless jerk.”

“Huh?”

“What kind of man leaves his wife alone on her birthday?”

“…?”

“I’m not going to leave you alone, so stop making that face.”

Reina’s lips parted in surprise.

She stared blankly at Kaiden, who grumbled and downed his water in large gulps.

The words I won’t leave you alone sounded unexpectedly sweet.

Even though she was being scolded, she couldn’t help but smile.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me for something so obvious.”

“But I’m still grateful.”

As Reina beamed brightly, Kaiden let out a dry laugh.

Her cheerful smile, as if she hadn’t just been downcast, looked as innocent as a child’s.

“If there’s somewhere you want to go on the day, let me know.”

Knowing she wouldn’t be able to go anywhere because of the fever, Reina replied lightly,

“I’ll think about it.”

* * *

Reina received a list of Dalia’s former teachers from the butler, Dive.

As Kaiden had said, most of them had been dismissed for unsavory reasons.

While carefully examining the list, Reina noticed something odd.

In every case, the accuser was Mrs. Mary, and the matters were resolved based solely on her testimony, without any clear evidence.

Reina quietly called for Lily and sent a letter to Baron Clam, the most recently dismissed history teacher.

The response she received was surprising.

[To the Duchess,

I never expected to receive a letter directly from you.

I’ve been quite frustrated about that incident. I’d like to discuss the details in person quietly.

Please let me know a convenient time, and I’ll arrange a discreet meeting place.]

As Reina prepared to meet Baron Clam, Lily asked in a concerned tone,

“Are you really going to meet him?”

“I have to. I haven’t heard both sides of the story.”

“Still, I’m worried. What if Baron Clam holds a grudge and sets a trap? He might try to kidnap you for a big ransom.”

“That seems a bit far-fetched…”

“You don’t know, my lady. There are plenty of people in the North targeting you. Why don’t you just tell the Duke? Ask him to increase your escort.”

“Hmm.”

Reina hesitated, unable to outright refuse the repeated pleas.

Just because she suspected Mrs. Mary didn’t mean Baron Clam was trustworthy.

In the end, she headed to the training grounds to request an escort from Kaiden.

Upon arriving at the training grounds, she heard loud shouts and the clanging of metal.

The air was thick with tension as military drills were in full swing.

“It looks like a joint training session,” Reina noted.

Unable to enter recklessly, Reina stood by as Lily whispered and prepared a seat for her.

Sitting down obediently, Reina watched Kaiden.

He effortlessly dispatched knights charging at him with fierce momentum, moving with ease.

She was admiring his precise, efficient movements when a spear thrown by a knight came hurtling toward her.

Thinking it wouldn’t possibly reach this far, Lily, caught off guard, screamed as the spear shot toward them.

“My lady!”

Hearing the cry, Kaiden, who had just noticed the two, swiftly threw his sword.

Clang!

With the sound of metal clashing, the spear veered off course.

Crack!

The spear embedded itself not far from where Reina sat, causing Lily’s face to pale.

Reina, on the other hand, remained remarkably calm, even comforting the startled Lily.

“I’m okay. You must be really shaken.”

“M-My lady! A-Are you really okay? That was really dangerous just now.”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

Reina shrugged nonchalantly.

She had been startled and frozen when the spear was aimed at her, but then she saw Kaiden’s actions.

She had faith that Kaiden wouldn’t make a mistake.

If anything, she felt guilty for disrupting the training.

Kaiden, who had approached by now, grabbed Reina’s shoulders.

“Are you okay?”

“Thanks to you, I’m alive.”

Reina gave a faint smile, and Kaiden swallowed hard.

She was far too calm for someone who had almost died.

It was Kaiden who was shaken.

If he had been even a moment slower, Reina could have been seriously injured.

His heart was pounding uncontrollably.

As Kaiden steadied his breathing, the knight who had thrown the spear approached, flustered.

“I’m so sorry, Your Grace! I got carried away and aimed the spear poorly. I had no idea the Duchess was in that direction. I’ve committed a grave sin!”

Kaiden, watching the knight bow deeply in apology, muttered coldly,

“I told you that in spearmanship, you only throw when you have a clear target. Didn’t I repeatedly say that a misaimed throw could lead to a counterattack?”

“…”

“If this were a real battle, you would have not only injured an innocent person but also lost your life.”

“…I’m sorry, Your Grace.”

The knight, unable to muster a defense, groaned deeply at his mistake.

As the atmosphere grew heavy, Reina tugged at Kaiden’s sleeve.

“I’m really okay.”

“Okay? How is this okay…!”

Kaiden, irritated by her calm response, raised his voice.

Reina spoke in a gentle tone.

“Of course, it was a dangerous situation, but I felt safe watching you. I knew you’d save me.”

“…What?”

“Thanks to you, I’m completely unharmed. The knight seems remorseful enough, so don’t be too hard on him.”

At Reina’s words, Kaiden wore a dumbfounded expression.

Strangely, her words calmed his boiling anger almost instantly.

“You felt safe just because of that?”

“There’s no knight in the Empire as skilled as you.”

Her words carried not a hint of doubt.

It was a magical phrase that remarkably diffused the tense atmosphere.

“You say the strangest things.”

The knight, seeing Kaiden’s faint smile, was stunned.

He had expected a sharp reprimand and severe punishment.

Duke Crensia was an even stricter presence during training.

No one had ever been able to quell an angry Duke Crensia.

Even Aide Ben treaded carefully around him.

Yet, the new Duchess, who had only recently arrived in the North, was effortlessly soothing his anger.

The quick-witted knight immediately grasped the situation.

Contrary to rumors, the Duke and Duchess of Crensia seemed to get along quite well.

In fact, it seemed she might even have the upper hand over the Duke.

As the knight looked at Reina with newfound respect for saving him from peril, Kaiden spoke lowly.

“Pull out the spear and get back.”

The knight quickly responded, grabbed the spear, and disappeared.

Kaiden, watching him with a hint of exasperation, turned to Reina.

“So, why did you come here unannounced?”

“Oh, I’m planning to go out and need an escort.”

“I see.”

Kaiden shouted to the knights in the training grounds.

“Handle the rest of the training on your own.”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

The knights responded in unison, falling into formation.

Glancing at them briefly, the Duke sheathed his sword and said,

“Let’s go.”

“Huh?”

“You said you needed an escort.”