If You Wish For A Married Couple’s Duties - Episode 113

“The hat suits you well too.”

As Dooha complimented while suppressing her laughter, Leonhart raised an eyebrow.

“Don’t lie.”

He grumbled with a dissatisfied expression.

“I’ve heard comments before that I look like I’m wearing a bird’s nest whenever I wear a hat.”

“Your face is too small, that’s why. Even so, that hat really suits you though?”

“It probably appears that way only to you, my wife.”

“All that matters is that it looks good only to me. After all, you’re my husband.”

Leonhart ended up wearing the hat all afternoon as they wandered around the village.

It didn’t take that long to finish sightseeing the village. It was a vast plain, so there wasn’t much to see.

Just how long had they been walking around? Before they knew it, the sun was already beginning to set.

“But what is this place for? Seeing how there’s so many rocks stacked up like this, is it a tomb?”

Leonhart asked Dooha with an intrigued expression at the scattered pile of rocks in front of him.

From how the nearby villagers had their heads bowed with their hands together, and it seemed like they were in prayer.

“It’s not a tomb, but a tower. Each of the rocks are contained with wishes, and are piled up into a tower.”

Dooha placed a small stone that had been rolling on the ground back onto the tower.

“While wandering through the plains, our ancestors used to build these stone towers at important crossroads so they wouldn’t lose their way. Even though we’ve settled down and became a kingdom, this tradition still remains.”

May none lose their way in this endless plain, which only consists of the desolate wind.

May those that lost their path return to their families’ embrace upon sight of this tower.

May the blessing of the wind always be with them.

“It’s just like making a wish. Would you like to give it a try?”

Leonhart put a stone on the tower, closed his eyes, and put his hands together.

It was a long time before he opened his eyes.

After hesitating for a moment, Leonhardt eventually picked up a small stone from the ground.

Although he, as an Imperial citizen, believed in a designated god, he wasn’t very religious, so he wasn’t that resistant to it.

Placing the stone on top of the tower, Leonhart closed his eyes and clasped his hands together.

Quite a while passed before he opened his eyes.

“What did you wish for?”

“It’s a secret.”

“What? Why?”

“A wish won’t come true if you tell someone else.”

As the retiring sun cast its last crimson rays from the other side of the mountain, the stone tower was illuminated.

The rays of the setting sun spilled over Leonhart’s golden hair, which didn’t quite fit this place.

Inadvertently, Dooha looked at him blankly.

Leonhart simply grinned.

“When my wish comes true, I’ll tell you.”

“How do you know when your wish will come true?”

“It’s a wish because I don’t know when it’ll come true.”

Was it a wish that he couldn’t tell others?

It briefly sparked her curiosity, but that was all.

Dooha shrugged, gesturing to do as he pleased.

“By the way, it’s fascinating.”

Leonhart looked up at the tower, which was much taller than he was.

“I’ve heard that Bashalians don’t believe in God.”

“We just have different objects of faith. Instead of God, we believe in nature.”

This long standing belief instilled within Bashalians a unique power.

“The five tribes were given the will to harness different powers of nature.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you use that power.”

“It’s not something I can use just because I want to. It’s different from magic.”

Unlike magic, which required mana as payment, manipulating the power of nature required a strong will.

A powerful will to change the flow of water, create fire, alter the direction of wind, reshape the earth, and sow seeds.

“And I used it once in front of you.”

Leonhart struggled to recall the faint memory.

“Ah, at Tochern.”

“That’s right.”

While falling off the cliff, wind was manipulated at the ground to mitigate the impact as much as possible.

Even then, she was stunned at that time, thinking the Duke had died.

“Does that mean the stronger your will is, the stronger the power you can use?”

Who said the grandmother and grandson pair weren’t alike?

Dooha smiled at Leonhart, who asked a question similar to Margaret’s.

“Not necessarily. Even if their will isn’t as strong as others, there are some that’s exceptionally good at handling this power.”

Just like how some had innate talent for magic, there were those who excelled in manipulating the power of nature.

“They’re commonly referred to as ‘shamans.’ I heard skilled shamans can even summon typhoons.”

“Are shamans common?”

“No, they’re very rare. They’re restricted from leaving the village except in extreme circumstances, out of fear that they might cause some incident or something.”

Leonhart’s gaze sharpened instantly.

“You said that they’re able to manipulate the wind freely. So, was the person who launched that strange attack at the princess a shaman?”

“Probably……”

Wait, why did she forget about this?

As she was responding, Dooha raised her head quickly.

Leonhart was also looking at her.

“Then, one of the people that attacked the hunting ground might be here now?”

“…It’s possible.”

The escort warrior that Dooha had caught had probably gone hunting along with Nihir.

But what if it was a shaman? Even during large-scale hunts, shamans were never mobilised.

Moreover, there was a small number of shamans, thus making the investigation relatively easy.

“How many shamans are there?”

“Before I left for the Duchy, there were only five. It’s probably still the same.”

“Then we can wait until the banquet.”

“Shouldn’t we find them sooner?”

“In the first place, a guilty conscience needs no accuser. They should have noticed that you’d seen one of their faces and recognised their true identity, so they must be anxious by now.”

Rather than individually approach each of them, it was easier to identify suspicious behaviour when everyone was gathered.

Besides, they were currently under the pretext of the Duchess’s visit back to her former home.

It wouldn’t be beneficial to draw attention from the tribesmen.

“Madam, there you are!”

Dooha turned to the voice calling her.

Layla, who should’ve been staying at her home, was running toward them.

“Layla?”

“Madam, I heard that you’re attending the banquet! Then You need to start preparing now!”

“What? No, I’m fine…”

“What are you saying? Madam, you’re the only princess of the Wind Tribe! This is your first banquet since returning to your homeland. Of course, you have to be properly dressed according to Bashalian tradition!”

Layla grabbed Dooha’s wrist, her determination thoroughly ignited.

“Those d*mned people, I’m going to teach them how fitting Madam is as the princess of Bashal today!”

Now, the situation has become clear. Evidently, Layla must have overheard the disrespectful words uttered by those that were displeased by the fact that the princess was dressed in an imperial attire.

“Do as your handmaiden says.”

This time, even Leonhart stepped in.

Although Dooha didn’t mind it and told him to ignore it, the gossip from the villagers

‘Haah.’

She’d definitely come here to uncover evidence against Nihir for attacking the princess and reveal the identity of those who assisted him.

How did she end up as the banquet’s center of attention?

“See, the Duke has also agreed that my words are correct! Let’s go quickly!”

In the end, Dooha had no choice but to be dragged off by Layla to prepare for the banquet.

* * *

Wahahaha—

Beneath the moonlight.

The Wind Tribe’s land was filled with the sounds of laughter from the tribesmen.

It was thanks to the long-awaited banquet.

It was a celebration to commemorate the first visit by the Bashalian princess, who’d married into the empire, along with her husband. As a result, there was an abundance of food and drink, far more than usual.

The elated tribespeople, revelling in the long-awaited feast, gathered around the massive pile of ignited firewood and danced.

The banquet hall where the chieftain and noble warriors were gathered was equally lively.

“Come on, quickly accept this glass.”

Leonhart looked at the person that was pouring alcohol into a glass.

Compared to him, the person at the seat of honour seemed particularly cheerful.

The person, Nihir, handed an alcohol-filled cup to Leonhart.

“According to Bashalian tradition, the first cup should be consumed immediately. Were you afraid that it might be poisoned, or not?”

“Then that won’t do,” saying that, Nihir playfully took the cup away from Leonhart.

He poured out half of the alcohol and shrugged his shoulders.

“It just tastes good though?”

Leonhardt received the cup, which had half of the alcohol left, from Nihir again.

In the end, he had no choice but to down the remaining alcohol.

As he wiped off the alcohol at the corner of his mouth, Leonhardt asked.

“Seems like something good has happened.”

“Ah, indeed! Today’s hunt went exceptionally well. Perhaps the duke’s visit is bringing me luck.”

Nihir, who was seated at the helm, chuckled as he looked at the Duke, who sat diagonally from him.

“Indeed, Duke, your visit has been very favourable. I must apologise for the discourteous way I’d come to your territory without notice. I was short-sighted. I, too, would feel indignant if someone asked me to return the wife that I’ve already married.”

Nihir waved his hands like he was dismissing any worries.

“So, I immediately informed His Highness the Prince. I told him that my younger sister has already married and that I couldn’t just hand her over. I don’t think there will be any more trouble for the both of you.”

“Thank you for understanding. I will also apologise for the events of that day.”

“Haha, our brother-in-law doesn’t hold grudges. That’s great!”

Nihir raised his glass towards the Bashal warriors seated below the seat of honour.

“Come, everyone, have a drink!”

“For Bashal!”

All the warriors raised their cups and yelled the toast before downing their drinks.

Dancers were brought in on either side to liven up the atmosphere, and everyone burst into hearty laughter together.

However, Leonhart couldn’t laugh at the scene that followed.