Chapter 22: 22

Episode 22: Duke Omerta

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“Madam?”

The Duke, who was staring at me, who had been silent for a while, suddenly hardened his expression.

The contorted face was quite similar, in case someone doubts that they are not not  related. Huh?

“Don’t tell me…”

“Brother didn’t even show up.”

Ellenia intervened again. At least, it was a fight with someone who knew why.

Nevertheless, the Duke didn’t let go of his expression and stared at me with a fierce, frozen stare.

Hey, man…….

“The moon[1] has already passed, and you still haven’t finished your duty?”

“That’s….”

“Excuse me, ma’am, I don’t know how you expect me to accept this current situation. I was relieved because the Holy Father asserted that he would never insult the North, but what the hell is going on with this?”

I don’t know either. How about asking your son that?

It wasn’t that I didn’t understand the Duke’s reaction.

It is part of my job, and I can’t say that we are an official couple even if we had a wedding unless we had a first night.

A family with such great pride would not be able to tolerate the humiliation of being unilaterally annulled like my previous grooms.

The problem is, nevertheless, why does the father, who was just watching with his hands behind his back in the original work, suddenly appear now?

The Duke’s active push for Isaac’s marriage with me was largely due to the belief that he could not give his daughter to the Pope’s second son, but at the same time, there was also a nasty intention to break the habit of his son, a celibate.

Once he forces him to marry [2] me, it will be easier in the future to make him marry a good family woman in the North.

In other words, I didn’t expect my marriage to last long, so did the duke.

But why all of a sudden? Are they just trying to show that they’re not that easy?

They have the plan and if the time comes, they’ll be happy to let me go, but suddenly they don’t even think about doing it their way?

See, if I were originally Rudbeckia, I would have turned the tea table upside down or provoked it in reverse by sneering at the tip of her nose.

He’s doing this because he doesn’t think I’ll do it, right? Should I be thankful that he thinks I’m trivial already when I didn’t do anything?

I picked up the teacup again and smiled ignorantly.

“I have been ill several times so far, so it was just because everyone was taking care of me. I am determined to do my duty, so please do not be angry, Father.”

The Duke still looked disbelieving, but he eased his expression a little.

“If that’s the case, then I’m relieved, but you’ve come all the way here by sea, you’ll have to do it as soon as possible to put everyone at ease.”

“Thank you for your concern. He’s so sweet because he resembles his father. I think I’m really blessed.”

“……I’m glad we understand each other.”

You said you are glad, but why does it sound upsetting? Did you expect a fight?

A conspiracy crept up. If I spent the night with my husband, it will be hard to divorce later if we truly become officially married.

As it has been so far, if I never gone through the first night which made it easy to go through with annulment of a relationship that never existed, but divorce was another story.

Divorce was taboo, regardless of status, in Pope-ruled Romagna.

Neighboring countries loyal to the Vatican with the same faith also had a similar trend.

Of course, as in any other place, there are only couples legally, but there were also people who separated and lived freely, but divorce was not an easy matter.

Even in a world where the Pope has children openly, it will not be an easy problem.

Even if it was Cesare with my father, they would have to pay quite a lot to agree that the night had never happened and take me back.

That’s what the Duke is after, but…….

After being a real couple, I will have more time.

In the original work, I poisoned Ellenia in time for the annulment of marriage and returned to Romagna, so as the divorce process became more complicated, the assassination plot against Ellenia might also be delayed accordingly.

If I do well there, if my plan succeeds…….

Isaac might just let me stay here instead of sending me home.

He’ll let me live here as a hostage or whatever.

As long as we are a real couple, Cesare can’t take me away without his permission, so I can stop Ellenia’s death, save my life, and then my family, and…….

Wooooo, it looks good. Fine. It’s very okay!

It’s a concept of a fanatic who wants nothing, but wanting nothing is different from being faithful to one’s duty.

Yes, well, what’s more, isn’t your dad shoving your back?

He’s angry that we didn’t fulfill our obligations, but there’s nothing we can do.

The only problem was how to seduce that wretched husband.

He’s still an extraordinary ascetic, but would he ever want to do something with me that might make him even dirtier……?

* * *

The temple, surrounded by gray fog, gave off a different feeling than when I first saw it.

This time, the gloomy and mysterious labyrinth-like atmosphere of the real North is overflowing.

“Oh, ma’am. You’re just in time!”

As soon as I entered the entrance of the arena with a fruit basket, Endymion, who was sitting on one side of the stairs and sharpening the sword, greeted me gladly.

I was a little grateful that he forgot all of my embarrassing looks on the day of Isaac’s birthday banquet.

But did he just arrived?

“Hello, Sir Endymion. What happened?”

“What? No, nothing happened, so don’t worry. It was just a pleasure to say.”

What kind of man is this? He was just bored, but is it a good thing?

“Are you here to see Lord Isaac?”

“Yes, would you like a fruit?”

“Wow, thank you. I was dying of thirst.”

I put down the fruit basket and sat next to Endymion. But it was then.

Thump, thump. I thought the floor was vibrating, but then a huge paladin walked close to us.

The combination of blood-red hair, bloody amber eyes, dark tanned skin and large size was very threatening.

The low voice was also very husky and creepy.

“Is it a fruit?”

“……Ha, would you like one?”

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Instead of answering, the paladin, who looked like an angry brown bear, picked up a peach from the basket.

Crunch!

Then he bit very deliciously.

Thump, thump. 

And disappeared again toward the arena.

Looking away from his back, Endymion scratched his head and gave an unasked explanation.

“He’s my brother.”

“Oh,…..you have a reliable brother.”

“That’s not true. As you can see, he’s not very intelligent.”

I see. I think all of you missing a screw somewhere.

“More than that, ma’am, look over there. Lord Isaac is in the middle of a battle.”

“A battle?”

“Yes, it’s five to one. Oh, of course the lord.”

Of course it is. I sat side by side with Endymion, biting fruit and looking at the arena.

My husband, surrounded by five colleagues, soon wielded a light blue shining holy sword.

Spark!

A flash of sparks flew all the way here.

“Ah! He’s so cool!”

“He’s my boss!”

“Way to go! Cheer up, milky-colored husband!”

“Milk… Anyways, fighting! Way to go!”

Let’s say I’m a big fan. Endymion. What the hell is this?

I don’t want to express what kind of eyes the solemn and serious Paladins started to look at us, who clapped their hands and laughed passionately.

In any case, the massacre under the guise of battle quickly ended blandly.

Bang!

Isaac, who violently threw his helmet off over his fallen comrades, started striding towards this direction right away.

The momentum was so bloody that we talked about anything that came in our mind.

“Wow, not everyone is the best knight in the North.”

“Yes, I feel this every time I see him, but he’s like a monster.”

“My hometown knights can’t even beat their toes, really.”

“He’s my idol. Haha…. Argh!”

Bang!

Sir Ivan, who literally jumped like a fly, beat Endymion’s black head mercilessly.

Sir Ivan’s hobby must have been drilling on the apprentices.

“You bastard, do you want to drool over and eat fruit alone while we are sweating? Huh?”

“Ugh…. B-but I…”

“Anyway, kids these days don’t do what they’re told to do, whenever they have time…… You’re here, ma’am. I was wondering when you were coming today.”

What does that mean? It felt a little strange, but I smiled regardless.

“Sir Endymion was accompanying me.”

“It was a little too much to call him a companion. And it’s not Sir. I don’t know how he deceived the madam, but he’s still just a pathetic apprentice. Hey, isn’t that right?”

“Well, yes. I’d appreciate it if you could just call me Endy…….”

“What? Endy? Endy? Are you flirting with your boss’s wife now?”

“What? How dare I…….”

“Shut up bastard.”

That’s what I wanted to say. It is said that the couple resemble each other. Ho Ho…

Isaac, who wiped sweat with the back of his hand and shook off his hand, looked down at me blankly.

I gulped down my dry saliva.

“Hello.”

“…….”

“You know, you were really cool just now. I already fell in love, but I think I fell in love again.”

So why don’t take it easy? Yes?

“Come here, bastard.”

“Oh no, why do you keep dragging me….”

Thanks to Sir Ivan dragging Endymion, there are only two— me and my husband left on the beautiful stairs.

Isaac apparently didn’t really care whether his junior was crushed by his foul-mouthed friend.

“Ahem, did I bother you?”

“You seem to be well aware.”

The guy, who responded with a constant bluntness, took off his gauntlet and threw it randomly to one side.

Then, for some reason, he sat on the stairwell at my feet and reached for the fruit basket.

There was silence for a moment, and only the sound of Isaac biting and chewing the fruit rang out.

Crunch. Crunch.

Whenever the smooth chin moves, the sweat-drenched temples twitch together.

As I slowly reached out my hand, he glanced back at me. Red eyes froze terribly.

Hik, a haughty one.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going to wipe your sweat off.”

He frowned when I smiled trying to hide my black heart. Did I get caught?

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[1] menstruation period.

[2] spend the first night, like make him loose his virginity.

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