CH 10

The eyes of Lady Locke were already full of speculation.

She got all worked up that if the Grand Duke was by her side, she wouldn’t even think of her honor, and she would want to grab his hair and shake it.

It was just three years. Isn’t it right for him to be prudent, just for at least a month?

Finally, the impatient Bestia sprinted from her seat and stood up, she said.

“I’m sorry, Lady Marnier, but I have to leave today. I forgot I have an outing schedule.”

“Is that so? That’s too bad.”

Lady Marnier gently shook her head and tried to break off of her seat.

Still, she listened quietly to the voices of Lady Locke and her maid who were muttering.

“I’m going to the seed farm. Prepare for the carriage.”

Again, Lady Locke was unable to control her anger and seemed to go to meet the Grand Duke.

Lady Marnier achieved her desired purpose and got into her carriage with a delightful pace.

It was several hours later that Lady Locke met the Grand Prince and Grand Princess.

***

As I entered the seed farm, the farmer greeted me and welcomed Akid and me.

“I heard the news that you were coming. My name is Mac, the manager of the seed farm here.”

“Nice to meet you, Mac.”

“We came here so suddenly, but thank you for the hospitality.”

As Akid and I took turns speaking, Mac said to me.

“Last year was your first time visiting here, wasn’t it?”

“Hm? Did I visit here?”

I tilted my head at the story I heard for the first time. Akid also asked me if I was a beginner.

“Have you been here last year?”

“Hmm, I guess so. It’s faint.”

Mac opened his mouth as I spoke vaguely, pretending that I don’t remember because it’s been a while.

“Perhaps you didn’t remember because you followed Her Grace the Grand Duchess here for a while.”

“Yes. I guess so.”

“Did something happen that day? The Grand Duchess’s expression was very bad, so I was very worried.”

“Mother’s?”

“Yes. That day, the Grand Princess went away without a word, and Her Grace the Grand Duchess was very angry.”

“Gosh, did I go without a word?”

I screamed without realizing it, and covered my mouth in surprise.

‘Loena you, really were diverse.’

No, no matter what, it’s not like I’m talking nonsense.

I couldn’t figure out what happened last year, so all I could do was listen to Mac’s words.

It seemed that it was true that she had come to check the seeds with the Grand Duchess.

She couldn’t have been in this boring place for long due to her nature.

‘Perhaps she saw the opportunity and ran away. Because of that, the Grand Duchess had to do the work alone.’

Plus, she even messed up the flower festival that year, so it was only natural that she would be hated by the Grand Duchess.

‘I have to do really well this time.’

I made up my mind to do so and said to Mac with a ferocious expression on my face.

“This time, I have plenty of time to spare, so I would like to introduce myself without exception.”

“Of course. Then, would you like to see the flowers we have grown first? These are flowers grown in advance in a plastic greenhouse for demonstration purposes. If you want, I can also explain in between.”

“Ooh, thank you for the explanation!”

“This year, the colors of the Delus flowers came out particularly well. If you plant it, you will probably see the Delus flowers in full bloom around the middle of this year. Obviously, it is possible to advance the flowering time with magic.”

Mac guided me to the place where the flowers bloomed with a warm smile. He pointed to each flower garden and explained about the flowers.

“The seeds of this flower are very light. Sometimes there are rounded ends, but they are defective and must be removed separately.”

Whenever Mac explained the seed, I diligently wrote it down in my notebook.

Akid was puzzled by my noticeable enthusiasm, but added a comment in between from time to time.

He also studied a lot and knew quite a bit about seeds.

“I have heard that the Grand Prince is very versatile, but you seem to have a lot of interest in landscaping like this.”

Mac happily complimented him, and Akid shyly avoided his gaze.

After a while, Mac guided us to a certain door and caught the wind.

“Now, this is where we grew the Delus flower I mentioned earlier.”

I pricked up my ears at the word ‘Delus flower’. It was a flower I knew well.

‘If it was a Delus flower, it was the first flower that Archid gave to Mabel.’

The Delus flower is a rare species that only blooms here, and it’s also a flower that symbolizes Delus, the territory of Hadellus.

His gift of Delus flowers wasn’t just a sign of affection.

‘It’s a flower that the Grand Dukes or the Grand Princes give only to their wives.’

But Mabel had never been to Delus, so she didn’t really understand what it meant.

“It’s pretty.”

I wanted to touch them, but I only looked at them with my eyes because I thought I might hurt them.

Then Akid came up to me and said,

“I thought Wife didn’t like the Delus flowers.”

“Me?”

“Don’t you remember? I was told to throw the flowers I gave you as a gift at last year’s festival in the trash can.”

“…”

“That’s why I thought you didn’t like flowers…”

“I don’t hate it!”

I was startled and made excuses. It was a gift from Akid, so it seemed like she hated it and told him to throw it away.

“That… I’m sorry. I went too far back then.”

I muttered mournfully because I was in a situation where even prayers weren’t enough

I wondered if Akid would blink his clear blue-gray eyes at that sight.

“If you don’t hate it, I’m glad.”

He had a soft smile with a kind consolation. For an instant, a shade seemed to appear behind his back.

‘He really isn’t the beauty from this world.’

I stared at Akid with a scruffy look. I still couldn’t believe I was his wife.

Then he asked with a slow smile.

“If there is a flower you like, please tell me. I will send it to Wife’s room.”

“Ah, for me, of course, Del…”

I was excited to hear that he was going to give me a gift and I was about to choose the Delus flower.

“Wait a minute, Lady! We have guests here now, so if you go in…!”

On the other side, there seemed to be a commotion, and a familiar woman came in full-dressed.

“Lady Locke?”

I was stunned by the unexpected person and muttered a little.

Lady Locke was looking around with her ax-eyed eye, but she found Akid and me and strode towards us.

“Where is the Grand Duke?”

“You’re rude.”

Akid pushed me back and spoke low to Lady Locke.

But Bestia, who had usually ignored Akid, snorted at his warning.

“Now, does he even use his children as blackouts?”

“What does that mean?”

“Tell me the right thing. I came because I heard that the Grand Duke is here now!”

Bestia shrugged and screamed. I looked at her, who appeared out of nowhere and shouted at Akid, with an absurd look.

Hmm, is it my turn, I wonder.

I had made up my mind that I was about to break her spirit with my main skill, speech, with a lot of flair.

‘What?’

Suddenly, my eyes began to spin.

Piiiiiㅡ

Soon after, I heard a ringing in my ears, causing it hard for me to hear what Akid and Lady Locke were talking about.

‘Why is it like this? Did I eat something wrong?’

I was bewildered by the sudden abnormal signal from my body.

A buzzing sound pierced my ears, as if someone was talking to me.

I got dizzy and rested my face on Akid’s back.

“Wife?”

Akid called me in a tone of dismay at the sudden contact. But I couldn’t afford to answer.

“A-Akid…”

It was the moment I managed to call his name. My body shook violently, and my legs relaxed.

Akid grabbed me as I fell and shouted.

“Wife!”

“Kyakk! Grand Princess!”

The clerk who was trying to stop Lady Locke screamed.

“Wif… Stay cons…!”

Akid yelled at me, but he was cut off. Eventually, even that sound couldn’t be heard.

‘What is it, is Loena dying like this?’

Maybe it’s because I’m not Loena’s soul, so her body is rejecting me?

In the original story, Loena, who was in good health before she got infected, is said to have fainted.

I tried to pull myself together, yet it wasn’t enough

I glanced at Akid, who was urgently shouting out of sight, and Lady Locke, who had been contemplating. After that, it was dark.

***

Akid arrived at the Hadellus Castle carrying Loena on his back.

“Asil!”

At Akid’s urgent cry, the butler, Asil, came out.

“Grand Prince, what happened… Gasp!”

Asil became contemplative the moment he saw Loena who collapsed.

“H-How did this…”

“Asil, call the doctor. Right now!” Akid gave a brief order as if he didn’t have time to explain.

“Yes, yes! I understand.”

Asil rambled and rang the bell to search for the doctor. Akid headed straight to Loena’s bedroom.

Loena’s breathing was very rough. Her body was like a fireball, and she was sweating profusely.

‘Was she not feeling well before we went to the farm?’

Akid was in a state of confusion at Loena’s fainting. He hadn’t noticed any signs of pain at all.

It was like a first date, and the atmosphere was very good.

Besides, Loena, who blushed as she exclaimed in the Delus flowers’ garden, didn’t look like a sick person.

‘Why all of a sudden? What is the reason?’

Akid had just opened the door, asking a question for which he couldn’t find the answer.

“Grand Prince?”

Hannah put on a puzzled look as she was tidying up the bedding.

Soon afterㅡ

“Miss!”

She couldn’t take her eyes off of Loena, who had collapsed, as she screamed.