Chapter 112
“Um, ahem. Madam?”
“Yes?”
“It seems your inner thoughts just slipped out.”
At Gallard’s awkward comment, Amber flinched. She hadn’t realized it at all.
“Knights, I have a question.”
Hesitant, Amber gathered a bit of courage.
Maybe this was something she could ask.
Although the answer she hoped for was quite clear, she felt she couldn’t focus on anything else until she asked this question.
“So… there are couples who don’t love each other, right?”
The knights instantly recognized that Amber was talking about her own situation. They simultaneously raised a huge question mark above their heads.
Not what?
In love?
Their Grand Duke, who acted like a crazy puppy? Not loving? The Madam?
‘It’s like watching a dog wag its tail so vigorously when it sees its owner you’d think it might fall off, or rather, a large dog who is always so affectionate.’
‘I nearly got beaten up for suggesting that maybe the Grand Duke had fallen ill because of his constant smiling.’
Everyone in the estate, from the knights to all the servants, knew that Grand Duke Igmeyer Niflheim was deeply infatuated with the Madam.
So why did the Madam think it was a loveless marriage?
“Well… then, would he at least get a tattoo out of loyalty?”
Amber dragged her words out unexpectedly.
The knights’ faces gradually turned pale upon hearing this.
Something was off. Why was loyalty coming up here?
“Ahem.”
Answering on behalf of the astonished knights was Gallard.
“No, Madam. There is no knight who gets a painful tattoo out of mere loyalty.”
“None? Not even one?”
“No. They all get them because they love their wives. Loyalty is something knights talk about with other knights.”
“……”
At that moment, Amber felt a deep sense of disappointment.
She was convinced that Igmeyer’s back would still be bare.
Seeing the visibly deflated Madam, Gallard felt his mouth go dry.
Jason, who found Gallard’s reaction somewhat pitiful, promptly walked over and took Amber’s hand.
“Lady Amber.”
“You can call me sister-in-law.”
The child’s call snapped Amber back to her senses.
Taking a deep breath, Jason spoke clearly so Amber could hear him well.
“Don’t worry. When I grow up, I’ll get a tattoo on my back for you.”
“Oh my.”
“It’s true. So don’t be sad.”
Amber burst into a smile at Jason’s declaration. She was on the verge of sadness, but the child’s pure comfort made her feel much better.
“Thank you. But you should save your back for someone you love.”
“That doesn’t matter. As long as it’s you, sister-in-law.”
At Jason’s bold statement, all the knights averted their gazes, pretending not to hear. They wanted to ignore the whole thing.
Moreover, when someone makes such statements…
“Who are you planning to get a tattoo for now?”
As expected, Igmeyer appeared like a ghost and glared at Jason.
It seemed that even with a child, being petty was just like the current Grand Duke.
“Igmeyer. Don’t scold Jason.”
“No amount of scolding will make that cheeky little brat back down. He needs to learn some manners.”
“Still…”
“And getting a tattoo of someone else’s wife is a strict taboo. Such a person would be expelled from the Frost Giant Order and banished from the North. Don’t even think about it.”
Igmeyer, holding Amber tightly from behind, issued his warning. Jason, with a frustrated expression, tried to retort but was stopped by Gallard.
“Argh! Ugh! Arghh!”
“I don’t understand what he’s saying.”
Igmeyer, smirking mischievously, buried his face in Amber’s neck and whispered softly.
“I’ve received news about Madame Etoile.”
“Has Sir Raphael contacted you?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I also have some updates from Iona.”
It was time for both of them to share and discuss what they had learned.
However, still feeling a bit distant, Amber decided to take a bold step and suggested.
“How about a drink?”
“That sounds good.”
Igmeyer had no reason to refuse.
* * *
At twilight.
With well-aged, high-quality wine and honey cheese, along with goat cheese before them, the two began their conversation.
The first topic that came up was, of course, when to send that unwelcome guest away.
Typically, in noble society, guests stay for a minimum of two weeks, and sometimes up to three months.
However, keeping an unwelcome guest in the castle required a lot of patience, even when they were not there for a good reason.
“It’s really unpleasant, but… if we’re not going to start a full-scale war with the Imperial family, we have to send the prince back in one piece.”
“True, Igmeyer.”
“But no matter how I think about it, I don’t want to send him back in the same condition he arrived.”
Igmeyer’s crimson eyes gleamed with mischief.
“I want to make it a memorable experience, one that will leave him shuddering for a lifetime…”
“Do you have something in mind?”
“I’m planning to take him on a monster hunt.”
It sounded extremely dangerous, but Amber remained silent. She, too, wanted to see him get a taste of trouble.
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