DSB 25

They knew each other’s circumstances, and each of them had reasons, so their marriage wasn’t merely formal?

He wanted to leave the imperial palace, and he couldn’t break with the Empire, and had the rut problem, so he accepted the proposal.

Strictly speaking, they joined hands based on their own goals.

He and I are a married couple in name only.

As they moved away from the training ground, Yutis asked Lebel cautiously.

“…Are you disappointed?”

Lebel shrugged at the careful question.

“There’s nothing to be disappointed about.”

“But….”

“If you hold me dear, that’s enough. I don’t care how others see me.”

He didn’t react to every hostile look. Many demons had disliked him before.

Then Yutis took Lebel’s hand. His large, warm hand wrapped the cold small hand and held it warmly.

“…I do hold you dear.”

“You show it when I look.”

“Soon the others will hold you dear too.”

Yutis continued saying wife over and over and glared at his men.

Was that why he called him wife so often these days?

Lebel let out a small laugh.

Probably not.

***

The manor never had a quiet day. Word spread through the household that Yutis had summoned all the servants and given them a harsh scolding the moment he returned.

Moreover, the fact that the cold Yutis visited Lebel’s room every day to ask after him, ate with him, and even served him during meals had become common knowledge.

“But don’t you think that the young master finds the prince suspicious? Everything’s quiet so far, but there are more than a few odd things.”

The servants split into those who trusted Lebel and those who still doubted him. Even those who trusted him tolerated him because of Yutis’s behavior.

To get through Yutis’s rut safely, they needed a dominant omega, and from Yutis’s attitude no one doubted his sincerity toward Lebel.

He had rushed to find Lebel as soon as the beast subjugation ended, and he had run out at the sound of the big explosion when he heard Lebel was there.

Then he had called the physician and had not left his side for a long time.

“I heard from the butler that he had a lot of knowledge about beasts. Isn’t that odd? He must have looked up materials in some imperial archive before coming to the north.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s an enemy! To win, you must know your enemy.”

“Hm, I don’t think so. What can the prince do alone? Maybe he just feared the beasts.”

In fact, the Empire had never once hunted the northern beasts, so it had no records about them. Therefore it was impossible for Lebel to know beast details from imperial sources.

The servants believed Lebel learned beast knowledge by stealing information from an imperial agent spying on the north. Otherwise he couldn’t know such detailed matters about northern beasts.

That belief made them angrier. If true, knowledge about beasts had leaked to the Empire. Yet even the imperial knights who had accompanied Lebel to the north knew nothing about the beasts, so opinions split.

Everyone now knew Lebel had been treated poorly in the Empire and his knowledge had helped the north.

“You slandered the young madam! He told us to help, and he did so for us! Do you know how much that helped us? Why would an enemy help us?”

The man who shouted while listening to the servants was Jess, who managed beast materials. Since that day he ardently supported the young madam.

Because he called Lebel Young madam all the time, others started calling Lebel the young madam of House Hestro.

“Ah, I’d like to meet him once more, but the young master won’t allow it…!”

Jess’ sudden change surprised the servants.

But he focused on the fact that every piece of information Lebel provided proved true and that his finances had improved because of it.

Jess had spent his life researching what to do with the abundance of beast materials in the north and how to process those materials to revive the region, so Lebel seemed remarkable to him.

“…What’s with him?”

“I don’t know. Isn’t it weirder if he knows things he himself doesn’t know?”

“The Empire has never seen those beasts…”

“Exactly. It’s strange that information unknown even to northerners came from the prince.”

“But it did help. Since then he hasn’t done anything more… They even say the young master makes him take walks so he gets some sunlight…”

“W-well, still….”

At first, they thought the prince had merely made things up, but soon the information proved true.

They grew suspicious, and Lebel’s motives were vague.

Why would the prince help the north?

“Ah, butler! Can we meet the young madam? About the materials you mentioned last time…”

“Lord Yutis won’t allow it.”

“Please! I have questions! This hunt destroyed a lot of weapons and armor, so what about making them from beast materials? Last time the young madam…!”

The servants shook their heads as Jess grabbed Iol’s leg and begged to meet Lebel just one more time.

At that moment, a servant spoke in a worried tone.

“…Is he very sick?”

“I saw the physician groaning and clutching his head while saying he needed to add this and that to the decoction.”

“All the herbs we got recently were given to the prince, right?”

“They say he gets so cold that when he steps outside and the wind touches him, his body starts trembling automatically.”

“That’s because he isn’t eating properly. The kitchen maids there are worried. Can you believe he said it was his first time eating meat or fish?”

“What? Is he some kind of spirit? How did he live until now then?”

“That’s why his body’s frail.”

The servants who had once spoken of their suspicions about Lebel realized he might collapse from illness before he ever endangered the north.

“I can see why the young master takes care of him.”

“If he wasn’t a prince….”

And so, without realizing it, Lebel was gradually becoming a member of House Hestro.

The same thing was happening elsewhere.

“Is that prince really a good man?”

“Bron, I guess today’s punishment wasn’t enough for you?”

“Can’t you see my state?!”

Bron spoke furiously. His whole body was covered in dirt and dust, and he was full of scratches from the duel.

“You should’ve dodged better.”

Theo, who was in slightly better condition than Bron, spoke.

“I told you I’m not a fighter, I’m the brain type, how many times do I have to say it!”

Bron was a knight, but he mainly used magic as a mage, so his swordsmanship and stamina were weaker.

Today, Yutis had sparred with his men in the training yard under the pretext of mental discipline, and as a result, his subordinates were sprawled on the ground.

“Yesterday was running drills, today is sparring… If this continues tomorrow, my body won’t survive!”

“You should’ve watched your mouth. Bron, didn’t you say my wife has unusual tastes? Did you think I didn’t hear that?”

“Ugh. You heard that…?”

“You think I wouldn’t hear what you said about my wife?”

Yutis was especially harsh toward anyone who was hostile toward Lebel or who had made a slip of the tongue.

“Do tomorrow as usual. But if any of you show disrespect to my wife again, it won’t end in a day or two.”

Yutis spoke as he sheathed his sword, but the knights shouted in unison after hearing it.

“Everyone, go rest.”

“Are you going to see His Highness again?”

“His Highness? You called him prince earlier too. He’s my wife. She’s not a prince anymore.”

At Bron’s words, Yutis’s eyes hardened. Bron changed his address reluctantly.

“Yes, yes. Are you going to see the young madam then?”

“Yes. He must be bored alone.”

Bored, right. He’ll be asleep again.

Bron sighed. As he followed Yutis, he asked carefully.

“Lord Yutis, you don’t have any doubts?”

“How could a husband doubt his wife?”

“I heard what happened at the castle. There are many things I didn’t know myself. Don’t you think it’s strange? None of our ancestors who fought beasts for generations would ever leak the records they compiled. But the young madam spoke of information not in those records and nowhere else.”

“I also find it strange.”

Theo, who had been quietly following, said.

“For once, we’re agreeing! See, even Theo says so.”

They were always quarreling, but today they were in rare agreement.

“I know what he said helped the north. But how did he know it, and doesn’t he have a purpose for telling it?”

“A purpose? You believe he has one?”

“Isn’t that the case?”

“Regardless of purpose, it’s strange that he knows more about beasts than we do.”

Bron and Theo were wary of Lebel. Yutis let out a sigh.

“No one knows what he might do once you lower your guard.”

“…He won’t ever think like that.”

“How can you be sure, Lord Yutis?”

“Then what about you?”

At Yutis’s question, Bron and Theo’s eyes widened.