CH 18

As I looked at the map brought by Vielle, I began to contemplate seriously.

Redias Argenta had been in danger, so there wasn’t much time left until the real Ferro arrived. Shouldn’t I prepare myself for when I leave this place? It was time to prepare, just as I had vowed before going to the battlefield.

My goal was to live happily without any threats, and I had already been contemplating the method for a long time.

“The Daisy Forest.”

It was a forest that covered the center of the continent, with the massive Daisy River flowing through it.

Currently, there weren’t many people venturing into the forest because of the threat of wildlife and monsters. However, a few years later, there would be movements to create a massive waterway centered around the Daisy River.

It was by the time the three noble families stabilized the external threats.

“As expected, the future lies in real estate.”

I had been considering buying land in this area beforehand.

The problem was the funding to do so…

⎡ “The expenses of the Duchess will be given to the Alors family.” ⎦

I recalled the absurd statement from the marriage contract that Alors sent to Argenta in the original. It should’ve been my money, so I didn’t understand why it ended up in their pockets though it wouldn’t be difficult to retrieve that money.

If there were a need for funds to operate in this place, the Alors family wouldn’t stubbornly snatch away that money.

It was when I was contemplating that point—

“Krua!”

Thud!

—The door opened, and Diello entered the room, looking a bit breathless.

“Diello…?”

“I was worried.”

He approached me and let out a sigh.

“I wanted to come faster, but the coast was getting rowdy…”

Diello explained his circumstances with his hands moving.

“In other words, I’m sorry I couldn’t be by your side when you woke up?”

When I summarized his words appropriately, he lightly touched his lips and nodded as he continued his words.

“I’m sorry, and thank you.”

He was quite considerate. It made me burst into laughter.

“It’s okay. You must have been busy.”

Listening to his story, it seemed like he had spent the past two days in a hectic schedule, scouting the battlefield firsthand. And even during that time, he found opportunities to check on me.

“Still, are you really okay? I heard about Nias’ examination, but…”

As he gazed at me with a worried expression, I shrugged my shoulders, indicating that I was fine as I parted my lips.

“It’s just that it’s my first time using my abilities, so my body wasn’t used to it.”

I reassured him with a gesture not to worry.

Diello smiled awkwardly.

“…You used your abilities too much.”

“If I hadn’t, there would have been significant damage.”

Since we were in the same boat, the uncertain future of Argenta was no different from the uncertain future for me.

Upon hearing my words, Diello let out a short sigh.

“Thanks to you, many people in Argenta were saved. But next time, I should tell you not to do something like this…”

He closed his mouth for a moment and then smiled with a more embarrassed expression, “…It’s just that your ability in the endless sea was too attractive, so I can’t protect you if a similar situation arises again.”

Diello chuckled and cleared his throat.

“I mean, what do you want to do about that, Krua?”

His sparkling eyes were fixed on me.

“Well, what can I do? I’ll continue to help you in the future. Until we drive out Alors, we’re on the same boat, aren’t we?”

‘…So, there was no need to look at me with those sparkling eyes.’

As I quietly turned my gaze away from his sparkling eyes, Diello lowered his gaze toward the table in front of me. I was sitting in front of a small table in the bedroom.

The moment I looked at his sparkling blue eyes, his gentle voice rang out.

“But these things… especially the map—”

When he saw the map, his head tilted in confusion.

“Do you have an interest in the Daisy Forest?”

“Yes. If I ever leave Argenta, I want to live near this area.”

There was no need to hide my plans from someone who already knew I would leave anyway. I thought about it lightly.

However, his silence was a bit long.

“…Diello?”

When I called out to him as he silently examined the map, Diello finally uttered slowly.

“…If you leave Argenta?”

He chose his words carefully.

It took me a while to realize that his response was in regard to my earlier statement, ‘If I leave Argenta, I want to live near the forest,’ which came much later. Perhaps it was because of the dim lighting, but his eyes studied the map seemed oddly peculiar.

* * *

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The next day, after making plans for the future, an unwelcome letter arrived.

It was none other than a letter from Duke Alors, the future source of my financial support… no, the letter regarding the promise to allow him to meet his daughter once a month.

* * *

“I’ll come back without any problems.”

Krua whispered to Diello as she boarded the carriage.

“I’m good at acting, so don’t worry.”

Confidently stating her words, Krua left Argenta on the carriage to visit Duke Alors, as per the conditions of their unjust contractual marriage. It was undoubtedly an occasion to see how far Duke Alors’s plan had progressed.

“Neigh!”

Until the sound of the horses pulling the carriage faded into the distance, Diello stood in the spot where he had seen her off.

“….”

Suddenly, he thought about her from the previous night.

“The Daisy Forest…”

There was a massive river flowing through that place, which made it quite appealing for someone with Alors blood. Nonetheless, what about the monsters and wild animals in the forest?

He slowly turned his body.

Well, if it was an ability that manipulated water, living in the forest shouldn’t be a problem.

“….”

He squinted his eyes.

He hadn’t considered the possibility of Krua using her abilities to fight with Argenta. Besides, he didn’t trust people easily, contrary to what his innocent wife thought.

Krua had no advantage in engaging in a battle with her abilities, yet she did it.

“…Hmm.”

However, did she really need to leave?

* * *

Crash…!

With narrowed eyes, Diello still felt as if he could hear the sounds of the coast ringing in his ears as he recalled Krua’s image from that place.

…Krua.

Her ability undoubtedly saved many lives. From Argenta’s perspective, her ability would make it easier to defend the endless sea.

“….”

It must be because of that… because he had witnessed her tempting ability, she now stood out so prominently in his eyes.

Above all, yesterday…

“Someday, when I leave Argenta…”

Recalling her words, Diello raised an eyebrow slightly.

The image of her preparing to leave resurfaced in his mind. Looking at the map with her shining crimson eyes, she was dreaming of an unimaginable future.

“I thought she was wise, so why is it that she’s knowledgeable about certain things and ignorant about others?”

He turned his body towards the mansion.

He didn’t know when the real Ferro would come, but Krua was already deeply involved in the affairs of the family. It was because if she didn’t perform the duties of the Duchess properly, their plan would be exposed.

Still, regardless of the reason, she had come too deeply into Argenta’s family.

“Do it or don’t do it.”

According to Argenta’s rules, those outside of Argenta were not supposed to know about Argenta’s affairs. In other words, she had to die once the real Ferro appeared and served her purpose.

That was the plan.

“Krua.”

Diello silently repeated her name in his mind.

She naively revealed everything. It seemed like she pitied Diello Argenta himself more than anything… unaware that she was the one trapped inside the beast’s lair, she was gradually digging deeper.

“If the Ferro is late…”

Diello moved slowly.

If she truly understood Argenta’s rules…

“…It might be fine like this.”

No, it might be better like this.

He whispered quietly, a voice that only he could hear. There were already Argenta people who admired and accepted her as an Argenta. Above all, she was a person who suited Argenta well.

“I said, ‘Do it or don’t do it,’ didn’t I?”

The bold bride who confidently spoke those words and exchanged vows was someone too precious to be in Alors.

Yes, she was truly precious.

She was shining brilliantly and yet, so regrettable.

If she was the real Ferro…

…If she could become the real Ferro, it would be even better.