Duke Ashillean’s Contractual Marriage - Chapter 19

Chapter 19

‘I know that I am making a sweep arrest to those who were daring to revolt, but he was kind of pitiful. Can’t I just try living with him for three years?’

For the sake of the woman he loved, he struggled to get out of Count Graham’s grasp and dared to offer her a contract marriage.

‘Wow, was I such a proactive human being?’

Why am I being proactive when no one is asking me to do it? Even the Emperor and Cadric the Duke Feltharg never do what the beauty in front of her did. Indeed, a handsome man is good to look at.

“Then, see you in three days.”

Rubiana turned around as she pushed back her sword to its sheath. Of all things, at that moment, a cold wind blew that shook Louismond.

“Ha-choo.”

Louismond sneezed loudly and trembled. A beautiful man was standing pitifully in a garden where the cold wind blows and dressed messily.

Rubiana inadvertently touched her shoulder. She thought that she would want to put the cape around him, however, her hands stopped before she took off her cloak.

‘This is not good.’

The cloak she was wearing now was engraved with the Ashillean’s family crest. If Louismond walks around with her cloak and was found out by other people, they would talk about the relationship between the two of them.

‘That would be a problem.’

Rubiana neatly retreated.

“I will send a servant here.”

“W, wait a minute….”

She heard a pitiful voice calling her but she didn’t look back.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

And three days later.

“He’s not coming as expected.”

Rubiana sat alone in her study and stretched her body. She told the gatekeeper to let him in without stopping him if a man comes to see her. She also told the Head Maid to let the employees of the mansion go to sleep early, and to turn on the lights on the library so they wouldn’t wander around. So she waited after finishing the preparations for receiving the guest she would have that night. At the same time, she also checked the reports sent from the Northern Wall and handled the work from the Imperial Palace.

The long candle had long been short after she was done checking the last report. It was already late at night but no guest arrived. She expected him to come, but she was quite disappointed he didn’t.

“He seemed so desperate, but is setting the condition for having two or more children too much?”

She heard that letting go of meat makes you more disappointed. She also felt like she was letting go of such a decent husband. If Louismond doesn’t come as it is, then the Head Maid would urge her to go to another round of social gathering tomorrow.

“Oh, I don’t like that.”

I will try persuading him that two children is nothing – a little bit kinder. Rubiana regretted late. She then realized that she was rubbing her chin with her ink-stained hand.

“This.”

Rubiana roughly wiped her chin with her sleeves. She then started to stare at the door that would never open.

Contrary to what she had planned beforehand, Rubiana wasn’t able to report about this to the Emperor for the past three days. The Emperor was busy with the Eastern flood control project, delaying the audience requests from Rubiana and the others, and wrapping her head with the officials from the House of Scholars. Even so, she should have been able to meet her as she is the Emperor’s older sister, but she didn’t do that.

‘I’m sure she’s going to ask me to help her with work.’

Ugh, Rubiana shrugged her shoulders for nothing in particular. She thought of discussing Wyverns instead of Dragons to other Dukes, but they weren’t particularly interested in it.

‘I heard that she has become interested in the tyrant’s illegitimate child these days, but why was she suddenly interested in him?’

It was because Cadric asked her where it was coming from when he came to find her first. She thought that for some reason, it would be bothersome if Cadric intervened. Rubiana really hated being bothered, so she pushed aside Cadric’s attacks and roughly glossed over it.

“Well, he was beautiful.”

“Is his face her type?”

“He’s beyond her type. Maybe his face wasn’t to her liking.”

“Her Majesty is not particularly attracted to him.”

“Ah, so what if Her Majesty isn’t?”

She may not be attracted to him at the very least. Rubiana nodded her head.

‘I think Lena is more on the delicate side. Or the other way around – the big and tough-looking type.’

Louismond was indeed a very beautiful man, but he wasn’t very delicate. He doesn’t look like a tough-looking guy even with his excellent physical conditions.

‘Anyhow, he wasn’t Lena’s type.’

Once again, she was attempting to rationalize herself for having a beautiful man as her husband who should be dedicated as the Emperor’s husband.

“Since Her Majesty and you are sisters, he wasn’t your type too, right?”

Cadric asked Rubina who was thinking about something else.

“Why? Her Majesty and I are completely different.”

“What?”

“I told you, he’s beyond her taste. Doesn’t it apply if you look at the same man? Isn’t it?”

“No, it’s not the same to me.” Cadric answered with his teeth clenched. His expression looked very bad.

“I told you Lena doesn’t seem to like him and that’s enough, so why are you still being wary?”

Rubiana only found it strange to see Cadric like that.

‘Why is he curious whether I like him or not?’

Rubiana’s eyes narrowed. Ahem, Cadric turned his head away from Rubiana’s gaze and cleared his throat. His attitude was very suspicious.

“Don’t tell me….”

Ha? Rubiana frowned.

“W, what?’

“Look at you stuttering. I was right.”

Aigoo, my head. Rubiana put her hand on her forehead.

“Rudante’s running wild because he’s just immature. Will you also be like this too?”

“What?”

For a moment, his single eye that had little expectations was colored with wonder.

“What are you saying now…?”

“Weren’t you worried that I’m going to push for that tyrant’s illegitimate son as Lena’s husband or lover?”

“….”

“Aren’t I right? Don’t worry, that won’t happen.”

“….”

“I already told you. He wasn’t to Lena’s liking.”

“Hey, how on earth did you think like that…?”

“Why? Is that not it?”

“… Forget it.”

Cadric turned around and went somewhere, feeling embarrassed when she hit the bull’s eye. Although his droopy shoulders looked pitiful, Rubiana wasn’t someone to be fooled.

“You’re being wary of men around Lena even before you get married. This spiteful guy.”

She stuck out her tongue at him instead thinking that he was worse than Rudante. Since then, he has been sensitive so she had to give up the plan on discussing and taking on the job together. Rudante the Duke Dominent was just unlucky so she’d rather not say it. And so, she had to go through this situation alone.

‘Should I just give up? Or should I just act pathetic? Why didn’t he come when I told him to come and see me?’

While she was thinking of this, the door opened.

“Oh.”

Rubiana greeted the visitor thoughtlessly.

“Ahh.”

She was immediately disappointed, because he wasn’t the someone she was waiting for.

“The [tnote keyword=”bush warbler”]This is a type of bird that can be detected by its song, a long mournful whistle followed by a quick burst of rich, bubbly tones. However, I’m guessing that the use of bush warbler here isn’t literal (just like what you can read after this sentence) and might refer to a spy Rubiana planted inside Marquis Odill’s mansion, since bush warblers are also hiding, so as a spy.[/tnote] whistled from the Marquis Odill.”

It was a call from a subordinate planted inside Marquis Odill’s mansion.

“It was said that a black carriage secretly went outside the back door from the Marquis’ mansion and entered Count Graham’s. What should we do?”

After a brief moment of disappointment, Rubiana’s ears perked as she listened to her subordinate.

“Let’s go.”

“Pardon? Do you want to go by yourself?”

The subordinate made a grim expression.

“Yes. Right Now.”

Pretending not to see the strange look her subordinate gave her, Rubiana put on a black cloak.

‘I think Marquis Odill and Count Graham are up to something. It may be too late if I contact the Imperial Palace and Duke Feltharg now.’

It wasn’t because she thought it was a pity to lose a pretty decent husband for nothing while she was being charitable. It wasn’t also because she felt like something was going to happen when she felt uncomfortable and something was pulling the back of her head. It was to see what those treasonous conspirators were going to do in the middle of the night.

‘Yeah, that was it.’

Rubiana rode her horse to Count Graham’s vicinity in a heartbeat. She hid her horse nearby as she pressed the hood on her head and Rubiana became part of the dark streets. After a long night, her blood was already boiling. Rubiana grinned. Her subordinates hiding nearby showed up, and said that they would follow her.

“We will follow you.”

“Shh, wait quietly until I give you a signal.”

Rubiana jumped over the County’s high fence alone. There were quite a few guards guarding the mansion, but no one noticed her. Rubiana found the black carriage that had once entered the mansion. It was empty inside. The coachman was dozing with the reins in his grasp. Rubiana turned to the mansion.

‘Did the Marquis of Odile move on his own, or did he send his close associate?’

She didn’t forget the reason she came all the way here. At the same time, she guesses with her eyes where Louismond’s room might be. It was at that moment.

“Please don’t be like this. I told you I don’t want it. Don’t touch me!”

She heard a loud shout from inside the mansion. It was a very familiar voice.

‘This is already the third time hearing that voice.’

Man, this isn’t something to admire, but it just came out. I heard that if you happen to meet someone three times in different places then you’re meant to be. Is it fate to hear the same voice three times in different places?

‘Is this a sign to properly save him this time?’

Rubiana rushed towards the direction where she heard the voice was coming from. The screams she heard were coming from the living room on the second floor of the mansion. The lights were brightly lit there even though it was late at night.

Rubiana grabbed the railing of the veranda with one hand and lightly jumped. She looked inside through the curtains, and all the important people were gathered there.

Count Graham, Louismond, and Marquis Odill’s Young Lady, Lisana. There were also some servants. She could tell what was going on as soon as she saw it. They were trying to make a situation to unite Louismond and Lisana where no one could deny it, but it was becoming difficult as Louismond was resisting.

The living room was like a scene from a theatrical stage. Count Graham was standing up from the sofa. His trousers were wet, and there were bottles rolling under his feet. Lisana, Marquis Odill’s noble Young Lady, was standing by the door wearing only a thin slip and a gown over it. Two maids were supporting her.

‘So it was the Marquis’ Young Lady who came here in the black carriage.’

Rubiana saw the man sitting down on the cold marble floor. It was Louismond. He was wearing his outing clothes, but it was worse than if he wasn’t wearing it – because it was like it was torn three days ago. He looked like that every time she saw him, and it was a wonder that he didn’t catch any cold.

“How, how can you do this!”

Louismond cried out to Count Graham with a tone of being betrayed. It was just like the climax scene of a tragedy – sorrowful and pitiful.

“Well, why didn’t you drink it? You would fall asleep after drinking that, then everything would be over once you woke up in the morning!”

Count Graham shouted louder, not going to lose to him.

“… Indeed, not only honey was added to that milk.”

“You’re making that face and acting like a moron, I was just trying to help you!”

“You’re going to help me? You were giving me a drug to lose my consciousness and throw me in a bedroom with a woman I don’t even know?”

“What do you mean you don’t know! You’re going to get married soon. Pushing you into the arms of a woman? How can you call yourself a man, you b*st*rd!”

“Who are you calling a moron! And why does that mean helping me? Will you really, really treat me like a prostitute? No one else but you, Grandfather? I, I was thinking at the meantime… that the Young Lady was personally pouncing on me… but now it wasn’t…? To grandfather… that was it ….”

Louismond was distressed like a betrayed person. Rubiana was fascinated by such a Louismond.