If You Wish For A Married Couple’s Duties - Episode 97

“Have you heard the news? Apparently, the Duchess of Esbaden will be attending this hunting contest.”

Before the hunting contest, the noblewomen of the imperial castle, who’d heard of this news from the border, gossiped enthusiastically.

“If it’s the Duchess of Esbaden, are you talking about the barbarian princess from Bashal?”

“Yeah, I heard that she’s a freak that could kill monsters with her bare hands.”

“What? A woman, with her bare hands?”

“The rumours are running rampant in Esbaden. There’s a rumour that she enjoys eating freshly caught raw meat that’s dripping blood, and that she also hunts monsters.”

Although the rumour was fairly distorted, the ladies had no way of knowing the truth.

As such, they began adding sentences about the Duchess of Esbaden, whom they had never seen before.

“My cousin in Halton said that the Duchess personally saved the drowning Young Lady from the Blair Barony.”

[T/N: The raws say Barony and not County. I guess the Blairs were demoted?]

“I heard that she didn’t save her, but she intentionally pushed her in and pretended to save her afterwards.”

“If that’s true, that’s just…”

“Whether it’s the truth or not, we’ll ascertain it with this opportunity.”

One of the ladies fluttered her fan and spoke joyfully.

“I heard that this time, Her Highness the First Princess would also participate, right? This year’s hunting contest would turn out to be rather interesting.”

“I hope there won’t be any mishaps that’ll occur during the event.”

“That’s right.”

“By the way, have the ladies here decided what dress you’ll be wearing for this hunting contest?”

“My husband has brought silk from the Eastern continent this time…….”

Their conversation quickly shifted from the Duchess of Esbaden to the First Princess, and towards the outfits that they would be wearing for the hunting contest.

As though they had no interest in what kind of person the Duchess really was in the first place.

* * *

The carriage procession that departed early entered the Imperial castle of the Krone Empire.

The carriage, which was led by four horses, had the symbol of the Esbaden ducal family carved on it, a huge eagle.

Soon the carriage door opened and the duke, Leonhart, stepped out.

His golden hair, as well as his cool and beautiful features shone under the noon sunlight.

The faces of the guards and imperial maidservants that came to greet him turned red at the same time.

Meanwhile, Leonhart, who was dressed in navy uniform, extended a hand that was wearing a pendant towards the carriage.

As such, anticipation and tension rose on the faces of the imperial castle’s servants at the same time.

The debut of the duchess, who’d melted the ice-cold heart of the duke, in the imperial castle, was occurring right before their eyes.

They recalled the rampantly circulating rumours about the Duchess of Esbaden.

What would the beast-like duchess, who was born as a barbarian princess and could kill monsters with her bare hands be like?

She must be a peerlessly ugly woman.

In the first place, wasn’t the princess also famous for being ugly in Bashal?

All their eyes were on the duke’s carriage.

Rustle. 

Finally, with a rustle of her dress, a woman stepped out of the carriage.

She was a beauty that stood out wherever she went, with wavy silver hair falling down like a waterfall, dazzlingly beautiful skin, and refreshing features.

In particular, her eyes, which seemed made out of molten gold, shone so fascinatingly that it was difficult to avert their eyes when their eyes met.

The turquoise dress, which was adorned with yellow ribbons, as well as the rare yellow diamond ornaments that could only be found in the desert, was a perfect match with her as though they were only made for her.

On the other hand, Dooha ignored the numerous gazes on her and looked around carefully.

This was the imperial castle of the Krone Empire

They were in the imperial castle, and the palace they first headed towards was where the emperor resided within.

‘Is it because this is the Imperial Palace? It’s quite well-maintained.’

Although the structure was as old as the empire’s history, the imperial palace, which was built of white marble, shone brightly like a newly constructed building.

A tranquil quality could be felt from the neatly trimmed garden, or the fountain that spewed water out quietly.

“Shall we?”

Dooha nodded at Leonhart’s voice.

The both of them walked towards the front of the Imperial Palace with elegant and direct steps.

They waited for the guards at the gate to inform the emperor of their visit, but for some reason they didn’t respond.

“Hey, what are you doing without informing His Majesty?”

The members of the imperial guard, who were mesmerised by the ducal couple’s beautiful appearance, hurriedly adjusted his hat.

“M—my apologies, Duke Esbaden.”

He poked the side of the guards that were as enraptured as he was and urged them to open the door.

A guard that cleared his voice shouted loudly.

“H—Halton’s Duke and Duchess of Esbaden has arrived!”

The sound announcing the visit from the Duke of Esbaden, the Empire’s strongest knight, and the Duchess, resounded loudly in the imperial castle.

Minutes after they entered the Imperial Palace, rumours about the new Duchess of Esbaden’s beauty being akin to a goddess descending to the mortal plain spread throughout the imperial castle.

* * *

Within the Imperial Palace’s audience chamber.

Laughter travelled out from the place that was usually solemn and quiet.

“Haha, as expected, rumours cannot be believed.”

The emperor looked downwards and observed Dooha, who was standing quietly, with interest in his eyes.

“If the fact that the Duchess of Esbaden is such a beautiful woman is known, the central aristocracy would be turned upside down.”

He continued while stroking his beard.

“Yes, Duchess of Esbaden. It must have been difficult for you, having to marry into an unfamiliar country and adapt to our surroundings, but We feel apologetic that We were unable to take better care of you.”

“No, Your Majesty.”

Dooha responded politely in accordance with the imperial etiquette that she’d learned so far.

“I am grateful enough that Your Majesty has personally presided over and blessed our marriage.”

“We would be grateful if you thought so. Still, as the emperor, We feel regretful at the fact that a proper wedding gift wasn’t even given to you.”

The emperor asked while supporting his temple with a hand.

“Feel free to mention if there’s anything that you want. This is Our small sincerity for you, who’d made a difficult choice for the Empire and for Bashal.”

Dooha hesitated. Leonhart, who stood next to her, nodded slightly like he was urging her to speak without hesitation, but she couldn’t speak easily.

As there wasn’t anything she wanted, she was worried that she’d appear as vulgar if she asked for money and treasure.

After pondering for a long while, Dooha suddenly raised her head at a thought that suddenly came to her mind.

“…In that case.”

Dooha’s big eyes twinkled. She clasped her hands together and raised her request politely.

“I would like to view the greenhouse belonging to the imperial clinic.”

“The imperial clinic’s greenhouse?”

The emperor’s eyebrows rose in surprise.

A slightly bewildered look was also on Leonhart’s face, like he didn’t understand her intentions.

However, Dooha disregarded it and continued on in a cheerful voice.

“I heard that precious and rare herbs that aren’t commonly seen are grown in the Imperial clinic. If I’m not being disrespectful, I’d like to look at some of the Empire’s rare herbs that don’t grow in Bashal.”

“Haha, so that’s why!”

He laughed quite cheerfully, perhaps because of the fact that he liked Dooha’s zeal for studying, or because her request wasn’t excessive.

“I didn’t know that the Duchess was well versed in medicinal herbs. We like people with a passion for learning.”

The emperor beckoned for the lord chamberlain that stood to the side with a smile.

“Give the Duchess of Esbaden a pass.”

The lord chamberlain bowed at his command, backed down from the podium and approached Dooha.

As he’s a noble that’s fully in charge of the emperor’s palace’s activities, his face exuded pride based on that.

“Please accept this. This is a pass with His Majesty’s seal on it. With this, you’ll be able to enter and exit all buildings in the imperial castle without seeking separate permission.”

He seemed rather elderly, and stared at Dooha with intelligent eyes.

“Of course, I believe that the Duchess wouldn’t act rashly, even if she can enter and exit all the buildings.”

“I’m only interested in the greenhouse.”

Dooha smiled carefreely as she accepted the pass, which was made of gold.

“But I still won’t forget your friendly reminder.”

Upon hearing her response, awkwardness appeared on the lord chamberlain’s face and he retreated silently like a ghost.

“Now that the ceremonial greetings have finished, We’d like to chat about uninteresting things amongst men from now onwards.”

The emperor rose from his seat and nodded his head.

“Shall we head towards the office, then, Sir Leonhart?”

“Your Majesty, my apologies, but can I escort my wife back first before returning?”

With his usual indifferent expression, Leonhart continued.

“I’m rather worried because it’s my wife’s first time in the imperial castle.”

The emperor burst into chuckles at his words and waved his hand.

“Haha, to think that the Duke of Esbaden, of all people, would become a devoted husband. Sure, of course, We understand.”

“My sincere apologies.”

“Of course not, please take your time. It’s not as though We’re unaware of the joys of being newlyweds.”

Leonhart bowed politely to the emperor, and Dooha also followed him lifting her skirt slightly in greeting.

The emperor quietly watched the retreating silhouette of the ducal couple leaving the room.

His wrinkled face was inadvertently filled with anxiety instead of laughter.

* * *

“I never thought that you’d raise such a request to His Majesty.”

As soon as Leonhart left the audience chamber, he cornered her against the pillar in the hallway where no one was present.

“What made you request a favour like that?”

“We have to find solid evidence.”

“What evidence?”

“Proof that the fourth prince stole the Devil’s Nap.”

At Dooha’s words, Leonhart’s eyes widened slightly.

“I heard that Mandrake, the herb that goes into the Devil’s Nap, can only be grown in the imperial castle.”

* * *