Chapter 168
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Just after the morning, which, as expected, had not been exactly short, the Duke and Duchess of Wincastle visited Cynthia’s family home.
The Margareta Barony had become unrecognizably prosperous. As if the days when it had been looked down on as a poor territory were long gone, the number of residents had rapidly increased, crop production had surged, and merchant groups large and small now frequently came and went through the territory.
Naturally, that meant there was more to pay attention to than before, so Segleninde often visited the Margareta Barony with Cynthia. It was partly to help revive her childhood memories, and partly to let her spend time with the parents from whom she had been separated for so long.
Of course, whenever he went to his wife’s family home, he never forgot to bring three carriages filled with gifts.
Though no small part of that fate had been shaped by his own hand, at least in this world, their role in allowing her to exist was also immense. So, with gratitude for that, he treated his father-in-law and mother-in-law with honorifics and respectful titles, as humans commonly did, almost as if he were revering them.
If Cynthia said she wanted to see her parents, he set everything else aside and quietly accompanied her like an attendant. More than anything, whenever they went to the barony, it was obvious that she was excited, so he spared nothing when it came to investing in and pouring resources into that place.
If he saw anything lacking, he immediately filled the gap and took meticulous care of it. He gifted them new land and expanded the farmland, helping ensure that not a single miserable lesser creature living there, no, not a single human, went hungry, struggled, or shed tears.
Baron and Baroness Margareta were also deeply grateful for his support, and instead of squandering everything they received, they used it frugally and carefully to manage the territory. The Baron and Baroness were cautious not to act shamelessly toward him, but they accepted his help with dignified grace.
Cynthia was happy to see her parents shedding their shabby appearance day by day, and Segleninde was extremely satisfied by that sight as well. To him, anything that pleased his wife was worth cherishing, second only to her.
At this rate, he was surely one of the most admirable husbands among humans. Convinced that he himself was the model answer and the finest example of a praiseworthy husband, he inwardly waited, full of pride, for his wife to praise him.
However, after observing closely, it seemed there was still something lacking.
“Not long ago, we were going to visit the ducal residence first, but this father of yours caught a cold. I opened the window for a little while at night to read, but ended up falling asleep just like that…”
“Really, Father. Are you alright now?”
“Don’t even mention it. He insisted on going out for a walk in the garden in that state and nearly collapsed. It’s a relief his cold got better quickly, but Jenny, his attending physician, scolded him so much!”
As the story came up while they were having tea together, Baroness Margareta let out a sigh. The Baron smiled awkwardly.
“But staying only inside the room feels so stifling. If I don’t move at all just because I’ve caught a cold, won’t my body only grow weaker? Of course, I’m sorry the schedule was disrupted…”
“Don’t apologize to me, apologize to Cynthia and His Grace. Honestly, you never change. You’re stubborn in the strangest places.”
They said the Baron’s health had grown considerably weaker after searching for his missing daughter for so long. After Cynthia learned this, she sent him medicine said to be good for the body every time, so his condition had improved quite a bit now. Even so, whenever she occasionally heard news of her father’s minor illnesses, Cynthia’s heart sank.
But there was something somehow unusual about the atmosphere between the Baron and Baroness.
Baron Margareta shyly lowered his face, which had lost some of its beauty compared to his youth due to all the hardships he had endured, but had still not lost its radiance. Then, carefully glancing at the Baroness, he murmured softly.
“But if I don’t do that, my wife focuses only on work and doesn’t spare me a single glance…”
“Pfft.”
Tea sprayed out of Cynthia’s mouth. Segleninde hurriedly pressed a handkerchief to her lips, while watching the situation unfold with great interest.
After letting out a sigh, the Baroness cleared her throat, then turned to her husband with a smile.
“Honestly… that side of you is cute too, but if you keep wandering around with that frail body, I may have to lock you up.”
“Ahh, my dear…”
“Sellie, your eyes, close your eyes. You shouldn’t watch things like that.”
Separate from feeling relieved that her parents had such a close relationship, Cynthia had to cover her husband’s eyes at the kiss that followed between the Baron and Baroness.
Perhaps because they had regained their daughter and become more at ease, the Baron and Baroness had gained quite the reputation as an affectionate couple. Since Cynthia occasionally heard that they didn’t care about time or place, she was already prepared for the possibility that she might one day get a much younger sibling.
But what happened that day seemed to come as a somewhat new experience to Segleninde.
Immediately after returning from the Margareta Barony, he took to his bed.
“My wife, I am ill. Truly ill.”
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