If You Wish For A Married Couple’s Duties - Episode 102

Dooha picked up the pile of prescription records from the imperial physician with a surprised look in her eyes.

“When did you…”

Dooha’s eyes narrowed as she browsed through the documents.

Sure enough, there was a record of prescribing a large amount of Mandrake for the prince’s palace.

It made people wonder where such a large amount of herbs was used for.

“The reasons were pretty well fabricated.”

As the princess said, the cause was perfectly justifiable.

It was written that all of the prince’s knights were seriously injured in battle, and required a strong sleeping medicine for the mental stress and pain.

“Even if Imperial Father doesn’t want to cover it up, it has to be covered up. It’s become rather troublesome because of that.”

In fact, besides prescription records, there was evidence that proved that Justin secretly distributed the Devil’s Nap.

Just by looking at the accounting books of Paul and his subordinates, who were detained by the Duke, only names of nobles that supported the princess appeared.

The prohibited drugs were only found in the territories of aristocrats in the princess’s faction, which was impossible unless done on purpose.

However, if there was one problem, it would be that there’s no way to prove that the owner of those accounting books was the fourth prince Justin.

“This time, he’d done his best so that his tail wouldn’t be caught. Haven’t you found any signs of contact between the drug distributors and the prince?”

“Yes, the prince’s faction didn’t just destroy all the documents related to the distribution accounts, he’d also killed all the people he used as contacts. As such, it seems like it’ll be difficult to prove their connection to His Highness Justin.”

“Tsk.”

Leonhart’s eyes narrowed as soon as the princess clicked her tongue.

“Also, I apologise to Your Highness, but His Majesty has personally ordered me to move on from this matter.”

“What? Again?”

Leonhart bowed his head as he recalled the conversation he had with the emperor in the audience chamber.

“It seems like His Majesty didn’t want to cause trouble with the Heine duchy.”

“Hah.”

A corner of Julia’s lips curled upwards, as though she was rendered speechless by the duke’s words. She wasn’t unaware of the situation at the eastern border.

“Your Majesty must be getting on in age too. He doesn’t seem to know that he might cause an even bigger fire when he tries to extinguish a small fire.”

Julia sighed softly and clicked her tongue.

“Tsk, even the evidence that I thought would be useful has become paper scraps that can only become kindling, but there’s nothing I can do.”

“The Heine duchy, was it,” the princess muttered to herself, before inclining her chin in the duke’s direction.

“Let’s just continue observing for now. Even if they’ve destroyed all the evidence, it’s impossible for someone to walk around without leaving a foot trail.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Julia took a sip of tea while listening to the Duke’s response.

“By the way, as far as I know, the duke can’t participate in this year’s hunting contest, is that right?”

“In principle, yes.”

Dooha looked back at her husband in surprise.

“You can’t participate in the hunting contest? Why? Aren’t you good at archery?”

“That’s what happens when your husband is too skilled at hunting.”

It was Julia that answered Dooha’s question, and not the Duke.

“The winner of the imperial hunting contest is banned from participation for three years after the year they’d won. The year before last, the duke was the winner in his first hunting contest, so he won’t be able to participate this year.”

In particular, this imperial hunting contest is hosted by the emperor himself.

It was designed to display the presence of imperial power to the aristocrats that question the current emperor’s ability to perform his duties.

Therefore, the presence of aristocrats in the imperial faction was tantamount to their duty.

“The Emperor favours the Esbaden duchy greatly, and insists on their participation. However, there’s no way that the central aristocracy will just watch you participate.”

If the duke participated in the hunting contest, the winner was as good as decided. It was impossible for the aristocratic faction, who wanted to take the edge off the emperor’s spirit, to welcome his participation.

“Normally, the closest brother born from the same family should be sent as his substitute.”

Among the duke’s closest blood relatives, there was only one male blood relative.

Of course, he could never become the duke’s representative.

“That old fox and Daniel won’t be participating in this year’s hunting contest. In that case, will there be anyone else that’s suitable?”

“My lieutenant will be participating in my stead.”

Julia tapped the table with her fingertips a couple of times.

“Well, it seems to me that there’s someone that’s more suitable to be your representative than he is.”

The princess’s fine, petal-like lips drew a crooked line.

“In Bashal, no matter their age, men and women are masters in archery.”

“Your Highness.”

“Didn’t you say that the Duchess is a talented person that’s capable of catching monsters by herself? Isn’t it a waste to keep such skills under wraps?”

Although it was a virtue for women of the Krone empire to embroider, read poetry, and raise children in the inner chambers, hunting was an exception.

Archery and horseback riding were the most intense games a woman could enjoy in the Empire.

“If the Duke is worried about sending the Madam into a hunting ground filled with men all by herself, there’s no need for such worries.”

Julia smiled.

“Because I’ll also be participating in this hunting contest.”

When news of the imperial princess’s participation in the hunting contest broke out, news about the wives of the central aristocracy’s participation also spread one by one.

In addition, the circumstance of wives participating in hunting contests in their husbands’ stead occurred much more commonly than expected.

Instead of answering, Julia smiled at the Duke, who was staring at her, and got up from her seat.

“It would be an honour to witness the Duchess’s archery skills, which I have only heard of in writing, with my own two eyes. So why don’t you think about it? The duchess’s participation will always be welcomed.”

The princess walked away slowly, like she’d nothing more to say.

But she only took a few steps before suddenly turning around.

“Oh right, I’m sorry that I couldn’t bring you water. I served you tea instead, so I hope that you’d be understanding, Duchess.”

Only then did Dooha realise that the Imperial Palace maid, who she’d sent on an errand, has yet to return.

“Then I’ll see you both later on.”

The princess couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of Dooha’s astonished look.

And as expected of a wizard, she quickly disappeared without a trace.

After the imperial princess disappeared, Dooha headed to the ducal family’s residence, which was near the imperial castle, with Leonhart.

The Esbaden family’s residence in the imperial capital was the place that the Duke of Esbaden would stay in whenever he had to stay in the imperial castle.

As the residence was decorated similarly to the Esbaden duchy, she didn’t feel awkward or uncomfortable despite it being her first time visiting.

No, to be exact, she couldn’t afford to care about anything else because of what happened a while ago.

“I didn’t know that the maid from the emperor’s palace was arranged by Her Highness…”

Dooha placed a hand on her temple, like the shock has yet to dissipate completely.

“I had no idea.”

“Me too.”

Leonhart muttered in an uncomfortable voice.

He knew that the princess was a magical genius, especially in transformation magic.

The fact that he knew and was caught unaware seemed to prove the fact that she was a genius.

It’s a relief that they were on the same side, as she would be rather terrifying as an enemy.

Meanwhile, Dooha made a face of incomprehension.

“Does she treat her own people like that?”

“There is an eccentric side to her.”

Leonhart let out a sigh and responded.

“I didn’t expect that she’d confront you.”

“She seemed rather interested in me.”

Dooha looked up at her husband.

“What on earth did you tell her, to make Her Highness think so highly of me?”

“I just told her the truth.”

Leonhart spoke seriously without any hint of a smile on his face.

“If Her Highness thinks highly of you, it would be because to her, the things you did were impressive.”

“I don’t know.”

Dooha made an embarrassed look on her face.

She was just doing what she had to do as a human, and as the duchess, but it felt awkward to receive gratitude and praise.

“My wife tends to underestimate herself too much.”

“That can’t be. I don’t think there’s anyone that knows me as well as I do.”

“Sometimes, the you that others see is much more accurate.”

Dooha listened to the Duke quietly and tilted her head.

“Then what kind of person am I in your eyes?”

Leonhart pondered for a brief moment about his wife’s question before opening his mouth.

“You’re always reckless.”

Dooha’s expression crumpled immediately.

He’s the one that told her not to underestimate herself earlier.

It’s alright if he didn’t compliment her, so why did he have to say that?

“You are stubborn, and you’ll push for what you believe is right, no matter what the people around you say.”

In other words, she had a stubborn and tiring personality.

Just as Dooha was about to get out of her seat with a displeased expression.

“I like that.”

“…What?”

“I have to take back what I said then.”

Leonhart continued while looking his wife in the eye.

“I’m glad that I accepted it.”

“What?”

“This marriage.”

Dooha’s eyes widened.

She recalled what Leonhart said on the day they wandered in the forest around Tochern castle together.

“I shouldn’t have married you.”

Although she now knew those heartrending words were actually a desperate confession of love, listening to them again like this made her embarrassed for some reason.

Was he worried that the words he’d said at the time might have hurt her?

Dooha can’t believe that he’s personally mentioning that to correct it.

“You’re good at saying embarrassing things at unexpected times.”

Dooha lowered her head to hide her embarrassment.

Her face, which was hidden by silver thread-like hair, turned pale pink.

Leonhart watched his wife’s reaction for a moment, before asking back the same question.

“Then, what kind of person do you think I am?”

Dooha raised her head at his question.

“You’re…”

She paused for a moment, before speaking unhesitatingly.

“You’re someone trustworthy.”

“…That’s it?”

“It’s the greatest compliment.”

“Don’t you think it’s too concise to be the greatest compliment?”

“Not at all.”

“Please compliment me a little more.”

Dooha smiled at Leonhart, who kept grumbling.

Does the duke know what ‘someone trustworthy’ meant to her?

Did he know what it meant to her, who’d always done everything herself because she couldn’t trust her parents, brothers, and villagers?

“Your praise was like an insult. I think this is an equivalent exchange.”

Dooha turned towards the displeased-looking Duke.

“Also, about the hunting contest.”

She placed her hands on her waist and made a confident expression.

“I’ll participate.”