DSB 27

Lebel looked out at the clear sky and sighed. The wind was fierce, but the sunlight was bright.

Why is the wind so harsh while the sunlight is strong? He lost his excuse to blame the weather.

When Mahan entered the room, he froze at the sight of Lebel standing by the window.

“You got up on your own today…!”

Lebel’s eyes grew cold. The words were full of awe, but unpleasant to hear. He sighed and walked toward Mahan.

“If I don’t get up, someone comes to wake me. Besides, I have an appointment.”

Today, he was supposed to tour the territory with Yutis. It was still winter and cold, but he couldn’t bring himself to refuse Yutis’s eager offer to show him around quickly.

“Is it cold outside?”

“Of course it is.”

“Bring warm clothes.”

“Yes, understood. But first, let’s bathe.”

At Mahan’s solemn signal, maids entered the room.

Lebel blinked.

Wasn’t it just a visit around the territory? Why such fuss since morning? And why so many maids?

“What are you doing?”

“Young Madam, it’s your first outing with Lord Yutis. And you’re going to tour the territory.”

“What does that have to do with all these maids?”

But Mahan only smiled and pushed him gently. Lebel could only be swept about by the maids’ hands.

They placed him in a bath filled with floating flower petals. They washed him and even tended to his hair.

Then they brought out a lavish outfit. It looked warm, but gold decorations coiled all over it.

He hadn’t even known such clothes existed. He had lived inside the annex, rarely bothering to change, often staying in sleepwear or simple daily clothes.

But Lebel accepted the servants’ work calmly. Human Lebel might never have worn such clothes, but when he had been a demon, he had worn them often.

“Young Madam, isn’t it too heavy?”

Lebel looked at the maid serving him. Much of the malice in their eyes had faded. Now they all called him “Young Madam,” a ridiculous title.

“I’ve been meaning to ask, what is that title supposed to mean? Even you’re saying it now.”

His looked at Mahan, who had been directing the maids.

“You’re the young master’s spouse, so to us, that makes you the young madam.”

“So you’re saying you acknowledge me as young madam?”

Lebel had always received respect and reverence from demons, so he knew what that look meant.

It wasn’t quite respect, but they seemed to be fond of him.

The maids dressing him were the ones who answered.

“Because you’re a good person!”

“Me? I haven’t done anything for you.”

Lebel tilted his head slightly at her confident answer, and the maids around him smiled fondly at the sight.

Lebel’s reputation had already changed. He hadn’t caused any disturbances in the manor and had lived quietly, and during that time a shocking revelation had spread.

Through the kitchen maids, it became known that he had never eaten proper food before. Just as people began to pity him, news of what had happened at the manor also spread.

He had shared knowledge about demonic beasts that even northerners didn’t know, offering ways to improve the domain’s finances.

Those who managed the treasury and those who studied beasts even asked Yutis for permission to speak with him.

After one administrator praised him endlessly as “Young Madam,” then everyone started using the title.

When Yutis returned and began crossing paths with the servants more often, they realized Lebel wasn’t a difficult person to serve.

He overlooked mistakes and made no unreasonable demands.

Yutis’s own attitude helped too. Though he wasn’t a master who angered easily, he would get visibly angry if anyone treated Lebel carelessly.

He even doted on him openly, calling him “my wife.”

So when the servants saw Lebel going out with Yutis, they began to understand that he was not at all the person they had imagined.

There were still a few who kept their distance, but others began to feel sympathy for him and even wanted to get closer.

“I’m sorry, Young Madam. I misunderstood you.”

“It’s fine. It doesn’t mean much to me.”

“Young Madam….”

Lebel didn’t even notice the pity in the maids’ eyes.

“Anyway, stop calling me young madam.”

“Sorry? Then what should we call you?”

“Use my name… no, keep calling me that.”

Lebel thought for a moment and shook his head. A name was important to demons. A name was a vessel of power, even used as a medium for contracts.

He never thought he’d end up being called young madam. It’s unfamiliar, but even Damian is called madam.

That must be the usual title here. Then following it will save him needless trouble.

“Young Madam, this.”

Mahan handed him a small dagger. Lebel looked at the dagger, then at Mahan.

“Lord Yutis will be beside you, but you should still take this, just in case.”

Lebel tilted his head slightly, meaning, is this really necessary?

“…Northerners don’t like the imperial family. The misunderstanding about you is fading inside the castle, but not among the townsfolk. The engagement between the prince and the young master caused an uproar across the North. So…”

“So everyone must hate me?”

“…They may not hate you, but they won’t like you either.”

So, that’s the same thing.

“And there’s a high chance they’ve misunderstood.”

“Misunderstood?”

“…Didn’t I also mistake you for a spy once, Young Madam?”

Mahan lowered his head as he spoke, and the maids around them reacted strangely. Looking at him pitifully.

“If you had been sick as the rumors said, we wouldn’t have been so wary.”

He must mean when he was a fool.

“But you changed suddenly. You arrived earlier than expected, so we thought you might have come when we were at our weakest to take advantage of it.”

He did come in without warning. But he didn’t know it was like that.

“Few had ever seen the Foolish Prince, and I couldn’t even tell if the one before me was really him.”

So that’s another reason people hated him.

“And most of the attendants who accompanied you here…”

“Yes, there were a lot of knights. I know what you mean. It’s fine. I don’t care.”

Mahan’s words sounded like he was explaining his past hostility. Lebel knew what he meant. It was an issue even he had noticed.

Lebel held the dagger in his hand. It had been a long time since he had held a sword. More than three hundred years, maybe? For a dagger, probably even longer.

“That’s not all. Even if the territory is under Hestro’s protection, demonic beasts can still appear. It’s better to have a way to defend yourself. There’s a strap for the dagger at your waist.”

Following Mahan’s instruction, Lebel fastened the dagger securely at his side.

Knock, knock.

When Mahan stepped back, the door opened, and Yutis entered.

“My wife, are you ready…”

Yutis stopped mid-sentence. He stared at Lebel. The maids and Mahan looked satisfied.

Lebel looked beautiful.

He had once been like a lifeless doll, but now that he had been eating and sleeping properly, his body had filled out slightly, and his skin looked smooth. His hair was soft enough to shimmer when it moved. And the clothes on him suited him perfectly, as if they had been made just for him.

“It’s your introduction to the townspeople. We did our best,” Mahan said proudly.

There wasn’t a single person in the territory who didn’t know Yutis, so everyone would naturally know who his spouse was.

They had done everything to make an impression. The servants in the manor hadn’t been fond of the prince at first either, but many had admired his appearance. The people of the territory would likely do the same. Let’s make the first impression perfect. Mahan clenched his fist in triumph, already confident his plan had succeeded.

Lebel tilted his head as he watched Yutis, who was silent. After a brief pause, Yutis approached him and spoke softly.

“My wife, you look beautiful. But… it’s a pity your natural scent is hidden. Did you bathe in rose petals? The fragrance is strong.”

“They floated petals in the bath.”

Lebel lowered his head and sniffed himself. He did smell like roses.

But what does he mean, my natural scent is hidden?

“Do I have a scent of my own?”

“Yes. Of course. I prefer that one.”

“Then we’ll skip the perfume next time. Young Madam, this.”

“I’ll help you put it on.”

Yutis draped a cloak over him and fastened the buttons under his neck.

The large cloak Mahan had prepared was warm, but it completely covered the fine clothes underneath, making all that effort pointless.

“Shall we go, my wife?”

Yutis extended his gloved hand.

Well, he did say I look beautiful.

Lebel placed his hand on top of Yutis’s. As he quietly walked beside Yutis, Lebel looked at him. Maybe because they were going to the territory, Yutis’s outfit looked different from usual.

He had always worn simple, battle-ready clothing with not a single ornament, but today was different. He had put some effort into his appearance, much like Lebel had. Since Yutis had given him what could almost be called a compliment, Lebel felt he should say something in return.