Chapter 92

How to Tame My Beastly Husband — Chapter 92. Competitive Atmosphere (1)

“Annette! How long has it been?” shouted a beautiful blue-haired woman as she climbed down from her carriage.

“Claire!” Annette cried, running to her with an enormous smile and hugging her as tightly as she could. It was unusually demonstrative behavior for the graceful woman, but she was overjoyed, and Claire only pulled back from her embrace to shower kisses all over her face.

Annette laughed aloud.

“You look well,” said Claire. “You used to get sick if there was a stiff breeze. I could always tell when winter was coming from your sneezing.”

“That was a long time ago. You can see, I’m much better, and we’ve hired a very competent practitioner. She often gives me medicine.”

Claire kissed her smiling face again.

Annette’s sister-in-law was certainly affectionate, thought Raphael, who was sullenly observing their reunion from a few steps away. He knew Annette had a sister-in-law, but this was not at all what he expected.

Looking at Claire, anyone would think she was a man.

A handsome man. Raphael scowled at the androgynous beauty. Somehow, it felt as if he was watching an affectionate reunion between Annette and a strange man, and Raphael’s mood plunged accordingly.

It was bad enough between women, but Raphael’s intense possessive streak flared at the mere thought of a man treating Annette this way. Just imagining it was enough to nearly push him over the edge, and Claire turned her head toward him as if she sensed his smoldering gaze.

She was a Knight Commander of the Chapelle Empire. Claire had that impressive title for a reason, and she could sense the hostility of others. Her sharp eyes flashed as they met his gaze.

Is that him?

Look at the muscle in those forearms. He must have a grip like iron, he would never drop his sword. But that physique is balanced, he has the same strength from his biceps to his quads. That man is made for the sword.

Inside, Claire clicked her tongue jealously. It was unfortunately true that skill in the profession of arms did not depend solely upon effort. Some people were just born with the right physical attributes and overwhelming talent, and though she hated to admit it, Raphael appeared to have both. No wonder his name was known even in the vast Chapelle Empire.

If there was a new Master of Swords, it would surely be Raphael Carnesis of Deltium. Every swordsman in the world knew it. Having finally seen him in person, Claire’s green eyes burned with the challenge.

“At last, we meet,” she said. “It is a pleasure. I’m Claire Lucid, Moonshadow of the Chapelle Empire.”

The greeting was quite polite, as was expected from a member of a knightly order, but it was not a greeting between new family members. It was a greeting between knights.

Raphael looked down at the hand she extended to him. It was a bit smaller than his own because she was a woman, but there was clear evidence that she trained hard. There were many marks of injury on that hand, proof that she had used a sword in real contests. Impressive.

“…Raphael Carnesis. Annette’s husband,” he said slowly, and shook her hand. This also was not a greeting, but a test of the strength in each other’s grip, and there was a strange lack of hostility between them, very nearly friendly.

Strange, thought Annette, surprised. Raphael was actually showing an interest in someone. He was not merely standoffish with strangers, but distrustful by nature.

Annette would never say it aloud, but she thought he had some significant emotional problems, especially with interpersonal relationships.

She had been very worried when she heard that her brother was planning to visit, accompanied by Claire. To her, of course, they were family, but for Raphael they were strangers. Annette would have been satisfied if he had just managed not to hate them for their connection to the Bavaria family.

But it seemed he had changed a lot from his previous life. He had even gone with her to greet them, and her resentment to him softened.

Before, something like this would never have been possible at all.