I Married the Mad Duke Who Killed My Husband - Chapter 105

“We’re here, Asil. I’m sorry.”

“…Ugh… What do you have to be sorry for?”

When I heard about the location of the duchy, there was one disappointing aspect. Since the duke’s residence was already right in front of the imperial palace in the capital, I had hoped the duchy would be a bit farther from the palace, but it wasn’t. Of course, being close to the palace also meant being close to the city center, which had its advantages, but the disappointment was unavoidable.

But maybe it’s because I’m pregnant, now that we’ve actually traveled, I think I would have died from vomiting if it had been any farther. As the Crown Prince, he had to give land, but he probably didn’t want to send Cassion, who was like his right arm, too far away.

“Hah… Can you open the window a bit?”

The carriage, which had been running through a shallow forest path, slowed down as we approached the duke’s castle, which was clearly showing off its new construction. Thinking that there wouldn’t be any dust from the carriage at this point, I made the request, and Cassion quickly opened the window and changed his position from holding me to let me get some fresh air.

“The scenery is nice. I like it more than I expected.”

“I’m glad.”

Only Cassion had visited this land before the duke’s castle was built, and I hadn’t been able to check it out, so he let out a sigh of relief, having been anxious about whether I might not like it. Well, in truth, wouldn’t anywhere be good as long as we’re together?

“We have arrived, Your Grace, Madam.”

As we passed through the large castle gate and the carriage stopped in front of the new family members who were already lined up, the coachman and knights relayed the message.

I straightened my waist to arrange the hem of my dress before getting out, but Cassion tidied up my appearance first. It was funny that his own front was a mess from holding me, so I faced him and arranged his clothes, and he smiled and kissed my cheek.

These days, as if he had caught something from me, his light kisses had become more frequent.

“We greet the Lord and Lady. I am Jigon, in charge of overseeing this castle.”

“I look forward to working with you.”

Regrettably, since people were needed to manage the duke’s residence in the capital as well, more than half of the staff, including the original butler Bert, couldn’t come with us. Moreover, it seemed better to have people from the territory as castle staff to hear news about the domain.

“Introductions can wait. My wife is pregnant, so guide us to the room first.”

“I’ll go ahead and organize the luggage!”

Of course, Pia came along. Hearing Cassion’s words, Pia darted out, and unlike me who was slowly taking in the surroundings as we entered, she quickly disappeared with a castle servant who was just showing her the location.

She had said she was looking forward to the dressing room in the duke’s castle being larger than the one in the capital residence, so she seems quite enthusiastic.

“We should rest for a bit and then greet the people of the territory while looking around.”

“No. You need to rest, Asil.”

“But if the lord and lady shut themselves in the castle as soon as they arrive, it won’t make a good first impression.”

“They’ll understand if we do it tomorrow. Today, focus on resting since you must be tired from the journey.”

…Is that so? Well, I suppose people would understand if we’re busy for a day, though it might be off-putting if we don’t show our faces for a week or a month.

In truth, although I’m trying not to show it, it is difficult. Since my belly isn’t showing yet and it’s not visible from the outside, I was worried it might seem like I’m just pretending to be sick, but the concern in Cassion’s eyes is genuine.

“Then you should also… Oh.”

“It’s been a while, Duchess. Your Grace. Or should I say, Lord now.”

As we were about to enter the castle with a smile, there were piles of gifts at the entrance that we hadn’t brought. And next to them, a familiar face appears.

“Only the residents of this territory would call me Lord.”

Cassion’s face immediately turned cold as he blocked my way and looked at the Crown Prince’s spy. It was a face I had forgotten about after the incidents with the Empress and the First Prince had ended.

“What brings you here?”

“His Highness the Crown Prince said that since the duchy was a gift from His Majesty, he would give a separate gift…”

“You’re not in a position to do such things.”

“…I am also part of the gift.”

Seeing the man averting his eyes, seemingly uncomfortable unlike his usual self, I couldn’t help but let out my inner thoughts.

“What nonsense is this?”

It was a bit harsh to say to the Crown Prince, who must be beyond the man, but no one objected. However, Cassion soon seemed to realize the Crown Prince’s intention and looked at the gifts once and then at the man with a “hmm.”

“So, a dog with its leash cut off.”

“….”

“I suppose it’s up to us how we handle something that’s been abandoned. Asil, I’ll do as you wish.”

“…Ah.”

In other words, the Crown Prince had kept his promise. It was a promise I had forgotten too, but the Crown Prince had said during his time as the Second Prince that he would let me know if he caught the person who poisoned my food. Though it was quite late, it seemed the Crown Prince had found out that this man was behind it and had handed him over as a “gift” for us to decide his fate directly.

And Cassion, who had already sent assassins to warn him several times, would probably want to kill him this time.

The man seemed to have sensed his fate the moment he was cast out by the Crown Prince and sent to our territory, remaining calm.

“When our child is born, let him be in charge of the child’s guard.”

But that’s not what I want.

I didn’t want to see blood during my pregnancy, and even though it was the best choice I could make, I felt quite uneasy for a while thinking about the end of the First Prince and the Empress.

I also know that the man doesn’t particularly have any complaints or ill will towards me, and knowing that he’s skilled enough to dodge the attacks from the duke’s residence assassins, I wanted to keep him alive.

But at my words, both Cassion’s and the man’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out.

“Why are you both making that face? Did I say something difficult?”

“Asil, why this guy of all people? If you’re tired of the knights’ fights, I’ll make them restrain themselves, so please reconsider.”

Cassion hurriedly tried to stop me. In fact, after announcing that I was pregnant and that we would be moving to the duchy with only a small number of people, there was quite a commotion at the duke’s residence.

Who would go to the territory together? Who would be in charge of guarding the baby in my womb? As days passed, I had clicked my tongue more than once, seeing the wounds engraved on the bodies and faces of the knights brushing past me.

In the end, we did narrow down the people coming to the duchy, but the nurse and knights who would take care of our baby hadn’t been decided yet.

“Let the knights keep fighting. The one who becomes our child’s public guard knight should be the strongest and most persistent, right? Oh, by the way, I bet on Maxey.”

“You bet money too? No, that’s not the point.”

Cassion started to fret, gradually lowering his large frame. I wavered slightly, seeing how much he disliked bringing in that man and how sincere he was, but no matter how I thought about it, this seemed better.

“I don’t want to assign our knights to do dirty work. They serve us so wholeheartedly!”

“You’re right, Asil. But aren’t your legs tired? Wouldn’t it be better to go inside and sit down before we talk…”

“But accidents can happen anytime. There’s no harm in preparing for that! Let’s use that detestable guy as our child’s spy!”

I won’t let him shine by putting him in as a public knight. Even if he had no ill will towards me, even if it’s now a thing of the past, he did cause harm. And if he’s someone who’s been a spy for a long time, wouldn’t it suit his aptitude to continue doing that kind of work?

The child who will become the next duke should have at least one spy!

“Yes, yes. I never thought of that, but as expected of you, Asil. Is your throat not sore? Should I ask for some tea to be brought?”

Cassion, who was about to object, seemed to have shifted his concern more towards my physical condition than the man when I started to get heated. Then that means he won’t oppose my decision anymore, right?

I subtly followed Cassion as he led me back inside the duke’s castle, only turning my head back.

“You, your name?”

Until now, I’ve called him ‘the man’ or ‘the Crown Prince’s spy’ because I wasn’t interested, but now he’s going to be our child’s spy. I should at least know his name. Of course, I’ve heard it in passing through Cassion’s words.

“…You’re finally asking, my lady. It’s Eugene.”

The man, who had been dumbfounded longer than Cassion, greeted me with an indecipherable expression, showing proper respect unlike his previous casual attitude as I was moving away.

I turned my head back to its original position and waved my hand without looking back.

“I’ll be watching. I believe you’ll become a spy who can put poison in others’ food for the safety of my child.”

“Of course. Thank you for accepting me, my lady.”

His voice, now openly addressing only me and not Cassion, who was both the duke and the lord, gradually faded away.

Not a bad entry into the duchy.