If You Wish For A Married Couple’s Duties - Episode 105

An elderly escort stepped forward on behalf of the prince, who lost his reason because of the arrow that flew at him.

“Duchess of Esbaden, I’ve just witnessed you shooting an arrow at His Highness the Prince with my own eyes. Don’t you know that you could be punished on grounds of treason for what you’d just done?”

“What do you mean, treason?”

Without a single change in her expression, Dooha continued to speak with a calm voice.

“I just acted in advance, out of worry that His Highness would be in danger.”

“What did you say?”

“Look at what my arrow had been aimed to shoot at.”

At the Duchess’ explanation, the knights’ heads turned towards the arrow that was stuck in the ground together.

There laid the body of a dead frog, which was pierced by an arrowhead.

One of the knights got to the ground, picked up the arrow, and examined the frog’s body.

“Isn’t this a poisonous mushroom frog?”

A poisonous mushroom frog was a famous species that fed only on poisonous weeds and insects.

The moment it thought that it was threatened, it would open a spore-like pocket on its back and spray a deadly poison, which was fatal for humans, everywhere.

“I was afraid that the prince’s horse was about to step on the frog, so I used a rougher method.”

Justin looked at the frog body with a stunned look, before looking back upwards. 

“What kind of trick is this……!”

“Not only is the Duchess of Esbaden good at archery, she also has a kind heart.”

Then, Julia moved in front of the Duchess.

She looked down at her brother with a contemptuous gaze.

“Yes, as expected of my brother, who’s the emperor’s talented son. Unlike me, you’re a magnanimous child. Although it was a big mistake to shoot an arrow before the imperial family’s face, it was for your sake, so why don’t you display your generosity?”

Justin remained silent and clenched his fist.

After huffing for a long while, he smiled like nothing had happened.

“…That’s right. As Sister said, I’m magnanimous.”

The prince looked back at Dooha and laughed loudly.

“The Duchess caught the poisonous frog for my sake, and it’s no different from saving my life. I can’t thank you enough, so how could I blame Madam?”

He inclined his chin towards the Duchess.

“I will think of your sins and beneficence as the same weight, and overlook them.”

Justin clutched an arm and got onto the horse with difficulty

“Unfortunately, I think I’ll have to forfeit my participation in this hunting contest. It seems like I sprained my wrist when I fell.”

“Oh dear. Would you like me to cast healing magic on you?”

“That’s alright. I can’t make SIster use your precious mana to treat such minor injuries.”

“Then go back to the headquarters and get treated first.”

“That’s what I’m planning to do. Well then, I wish you the best of luck, Sister.”

Julia stared at the fourth prince’s entourage leave, before opening her mouth.

“It seems like everyone isn’t interested in winning.”

She looked back at some aristocrats, who’d yet to leave their positions.

“Or are you waiting for an explanation about the nonsense that my foolish brother babbled on about?”

Julia’s chilly smile caused the aristocrats to leave in a hurry.

Soon, the only people that remained were the imperial princess’s entourage and the duchess’s party.

“Why aren’t you asking anything?”

“What?”

“Didn’t you hear what Justin had just said?”

Dooha’s expression turned gloomy at the princess’s words.

It’s because she’d also heard what Justin had said clearly.

“A weak woman that can’t even bear descendants.”

The emperor’s most important duty was to produce the descendants of the imperial family.

Therefore, the members of the imperial family that lacked the ability to reproduce could never ascend the throne.

“I didn’t ask because I thought that you didn’t want to talk about it.”

“It’s good that you’re quick-witted.”

Did this couple resemble each other in their quick-wittedness?

Julia remained silent for a moment before opening her mouth again.

“Anyways, if it weren’t for you, I would’ve been hit by surprise by that d*mned brother of mine.”

Julia looked at the Duchess with subdued eyes.

The gazes of the aristocrats would be focused on her, because she shot an arrow at Justin’s foot, who was spewing rough words.

Thanks to this, it’s safe to say that little to none would pay attention to Julia’s dirty linen, which was mentioned by the prince’s mouth, today.

‘Except for those that didn’t leave until the end.’

Julia recalled the faces of the nobles, who kept looking at her with a suspicion-filled gaze until the very end.

She turned her gaze towards Dooha again.

“I thank you, from the bottom of my heart…”

“Instead of thanking me, I think that Your Highness is someone that has good luck.”

“What?”

Dooha smiled lightheartedly, like it really wasn’t anything much.

“I wouldn’t have dared to shoot an arrow if the frog hadn’t appeared at His Highness’s feet. And the poisonous frog happened to appear at that time because the princess was lucky.”

“…What does that mean?”

“I’m just saying that Your Highness doesn’t have to bow towards me, because what I’d just done was something that’s but a matter of course.”

Julia looked at Dooha in astonishment.

She was well aware that ‘a matter of course’ didn’t refer to the arrow she’d shot to save that annoying prince.

It was an inevitable coincidence that a poisonous frog appeared at the prince’s feet, but shooting an arrow at the prince was still within her choice.

Although she valued the lives of everyone, she didn’t value the prince’s life.

Nevertheless, there was only one reason why she’d shot an arrow and pretended to save the prince.

“I hate cowardly people the most.”

For Dooha, it was not a matter of course to save the prince.

However, it was a matter of course to teach a lesson to those who casually aired another’s dirty linen while pretending to be noble.

“Rather, I should thank Your Highness. I’d dared to shoot an arrow right before the prince, because Your Highness defended me.”

Julia stared at the Duchess blankly.

A woman that blinked innocently, with a face that wanted nothing.

“Honestly.”

The princess fell silent for a while before quietly speaking.

“I thought it was rather unusual when I saw the duke shielding you excessively.”

Julia felt bitterly disappointed at the sight of the duke making a fuss and acting like Dooha’s nanny.

She couldn’t understand why the duke hadn’t thought about how to make use of his wife, who was talented and upright at heart, and instead only thought about keeping his wife in his arms.

But now, she seemed to understand the reasoning behind the duke’s actions.

“In this world, there are many that’s capable of shining themselves, but there are few that’s able to brighten those that’s next to them.”

Evidently, the Duchess of Esbaden belonged to the latter.

A person that’s capable of brightening the hearts of those around her, just by being by her side.

Rather than take advantage of her, she wanted to protect such a person.

“It’s such a relief that you’re the Duchess of Esbaden.”

Julia smiled and pulled on her horse’s reins.

The head of the horse she was riding on was turned in the opposite direction.

“As you wish, I won’t express my gratitude towards you. Instead, I’ll be sure to repay this debt someday.”

“Your Highness, what do you mean, debt? That’s……”

“Haha, whether it’s a debt or not, isn’t it up to the debtor?”

Dooha tried to hold onto the princess to argue otherwise, but it was useless.

“I should go and find prey of my own now. I’ll invite you to my palace after the contest. Let’s have a meal, along with the Duke. I wish you good luck, Duchess.”

After leaving behind what she wanted to say, Julia disappeared with her party.

‘The word ‘eccentric’ really suits someone like her.’

Dooha shook her head lightly as she looked at the cloud of dust being kicked up by the horses’ hooves.

She signalled towards Baron, who was standing behind her, with a nod.

“Sir Baron,”

“Yes, Madam.”

“Let’s also change locations. It seems like the beasts have moved somewhere else.”

“…Excuse me, Duchess.”

Baron, who rarely spoke up first, suddenly called her.

Instead of answering, Dooha looked at him with widened eyes.

“I know it’s presumptuous of me, but I’d like to say something as a vassal of the Esbaden ducal family.”

Baron continued with an expression that appeared more serious than he did in Tochern Castle.

“…I hope that next time, you’ll give me a signal in advance before doing anything.”

“Ah.”

Dooha sighed.

Only then she realised what Baron had felt while watching the events that occurred with the prince.

“I’m sorry, Sir Baron, were you very surprised?”

“In such a situation, there isn’t any escort knight that wouldn’t be surprised.”

Baron shook his head slightly as he recalled the sight of Dooha shooting an arrow without hesitation.

If the princess hadn’t been present, Baron would have stopped the Duchess at all costs.

As that would’ve been the only way to protect the Duchess.

“I don’t know what would have happened if Her Highness hadn’t been present.”

Upon hearing Baron’s solemn voice, Dooha’s expression also became serious.

She didn’t want to cause difficulties for people around her, but whenever an emergency cropped up, her body would always move first.

“…I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s not like I didn’t understand what the Madam was feeling.”

Baron implored Dooha in a sedate voice.

“However, when something like this happens next time, please do not interfere when you’re by yourself. Because if I’m unable to protect the Duchess, I wouldn’t have the face to meet Milord.”

“Sure. I promise.”

Baron’s expression only relaxed after receiving Dooha’s firm vow.

He led the rest of the escorts to follow behind the Duchess.

After an untimely disturbance, the hunting contest seemed to begin officially.