Chapter 41

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 41

Chapter Title: If He Doesn't Hold Me

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"...Are you in your right mind?"

No matter how many times he read it over, the furrows in his brow refused to smooth out.

[Brother. I feel like going hunting. They say the fox pelts caught in Promhunt lately are of top quality. As you know, the old fox is also Duke Vermonte's nickname, so I trust the duke will approach the fox hunt with utmost seriousness. Ah, but now that the old fox is my father-in-law, maybe he won't join the fox hunt? See you in two days at Promhunt.]

If someone else had received a telegram like this, they might have shrieked, "Eek! What the hell is this monstrosity?" But compared to what Valquiter usually sent, this was remarkably concise.

Anyway, what left Kaiyan dumbfounded was the content itself.

"Fox hunting? Right now?"

The autumn festival was only about ten days away.

This tyrant-like madman was asking him to go fox hunting?

But there was one more line below that made Kaiyan even angrier.

[This is a royal command. You wouldn't disobey, would you? Duke?]

Kaiyan pressed a hand to his forehead.

When viewing the entire Oberon Kingdom, support for Valquiter's rule was quite high.

Opinions calling him an inexperienced young king lacking Queen Sylvia's gravitas held no water against Valquiter, who had protected the kingdom and solidified its foundations through five years of war.

Nevertheless, the one place in the entire Oberon Kingdom where lingering resentment toward Valquiter remained was Rowen territory.

During his father's time as duke, it had been the land with the strongest support for the royal family, thanks to the queen and her sister the duchess. But now the situation was the complete opposite.

There were a few reasons for that.

First, Valquiter could have prevented Kaiyan from deploying to the front lines but didn't.

As the child born to a married-off princess, Kaiyan was half royal blood.

Unlike other families, he had the privilege of exemption from frontline duty as a royal descendant, but Valquiter's order for every noble house to send troops without exception made it awkward to bring up.

Kaiyan had never once thought he would die.

He would return alive—it was a given. House Temneth was a massive clan teeming with collaterals, strict about heir training even for branches.

Even in the worst case, the line wouldn't end.

The real issue was House Vermonte, which had precious few heirs.

But not everyone shared his mindset, so resentment toward the king grew in the territory over the five years its heirless lord failed to return from the battlefield.

The second reason was that over the past few years since Kaiyan returned from the war to govern, Valquiter had repeatedly summoned him to the capital for trivial reasons.

He received major reports via telegram from the front and couriers rushed between battlefield and territory conveying the lord's orders, but it was worlds apart from Kaiyan staying in the castle to oversee things personally.

The anxiety in Rowen after suddenly losing both lord and lady was dispelled when Kaiyan returned from the war, but in truth, that lord had gone to a war he didn't need to fight just because of a few words from the king.

And now this so-called king was ordering their lord back and forth?

Kaiyan's kin and vassals quietly submitted petitions suggesting Rowen might be better off independent from Oberon Kingdom.

Kaiyan had grown up with Valquiter like brothers, without formality, and even now, he believed that man was the only one he could trust if the world crumbled.

He was different from Biange, even if they were the same kind of cousin.

The same age and male, Valquiter held a uniquely special place for Kaiyan.

Family.

For Kaiyan, who had grown up as an only child and lost his parents, Valquiter was undeniably family, and he was always lenient with what brothers did to each other.

Still, the moment he saw that telegram, a headache set in.

"This is going to stir up another storm."

Promhunt was a day's ride north from the central lord's castle in Rowen territory.

It was a famous fox hunting ground where various breeds of foxes with slightly different fur colors thrived in dense forests.

If Kaiyan left the territory for several days at this busy, crucial time on royal orders, his vassals would kick up a fuss again.

He could bet his position as family head that those who dismissed even the Oberon King in the presence of the great Lord Kaiyan of Rowen would not hesitate to curse Valquiter.

It was immensely important and desirable that the territory folk and vassals revered and respected their lord like a god, but when they turned a blind eye to reason and belittled even the king as inferior to their lord, that was another matter. And the current atmosphere in House Temneth was far from lenient on that front.

However, his most serious concern was something else entirely.

"Haah. What about Clodel?"

The poor woman who couldn't sleep without him holding her.

The thought of taking her to Promhunt flickered briefly before being dismissed.

"The hunting grounds are dangerous."

Recalling how Clodel had been injured during the crocodile hunt sent a chill up the fearless man's arm.

Promhunt was a well-maintained hunting ground, but Kaiyan couldn't stay glued to her side. He would be dragged off to hunt foxes with Valquiter.

"This bastard sets me up with a marriage and then acts oblivious."

To the fact that Kaiyan was now a married man.

"Well. What would a guy who's never even dated once know?"

About a husband's woes caring for a wife who can't sleep.

"Anyway, I can't refuse a royal command."

Kaiyan folded the letter back into the envelope and rose.

The next morning.

Clodel woke to the gentle touch stroking her body.

"Mm."

Her lips curved up instinctively at the familiar warmth and masculine scent.

'The light is so bright... the sun must be up.'

Was she still half-asleep, dreaming?

Clodel happily burrowed deeper into Kaiyan's embrace.

"You're making it hard for me to leave."

When Clodel opened her eyes at Kaiyan's voice, he was gazing at her tenderly.

"Kaiyan? You haven't left yet?"

"No."

He usually slipped out of bed before she woke.

This was the first time she opened her eyes to find him still there, leaving her flustered.

"What's the occasion? Ah, don't look. I must be a mess."

Her hair probably tousled, face grubby from sleep.

He lightly kissed her lips as if it were nothing, watching her embarrassment.

"Not as messy as you think, so don't worry."

...Could he not say she looked pretty even just woken up, that it was fine?

As Clodel felt pleased yet wistful,

"I have to be away from the lord's castle for three days starting today."

"Pardon?"

She was startled.

"You're leaving the castle?"

"Royal command. Have to head to Promhunt."

"Promhunt?"

Kaiyan smoothed her tousled hair with the hand that had been patting her back.

"Hunting ground north of the territory. The telegram yesterday said to meet in two days, so the king probably left the capital three days ago. Telegrams are sent midway when convenient."

"So sudden."

As Clodel murmured, Kaiyan pulled her tightly into his arms.

"Yeah. Can't refuse, and it's always like this."

Kaiyan gathered her newly combed red locks in one hand and whispered against her nape.

"Guess I'll snag some yarn for the scarf you'll knit this winter."

"Rowen... isn't cold even in winter. No need for scarves, right?"

"I want to see you wrapped only in that."

"..."

As Clodel squirmed in his arms as if to pull away, Kaiyan swiftly kissed her, his hands roaming over her thin nightgown, feeling her warmth.

After the deep kiss, Clodel parted from Kaiyan, unable to hide her sulkiness.

"You should have told me last night if you're leaving today."

"Meant to, but forgot."

As if there was nothing else to forget.

Kaiyan had come to the bedroom much later than usual last night.

'Busy with a sudden issue.'

He apologized then immediately pulled her into a kiss.

Kissing was daily routine!

Forgetting something this important.

Clodel knew Kaiyan didn't expect much from her as duchess.

Moments like this, realizing it anew, made her wonder what use her diligent studies as lady of the house were.

Seeing her deflated, he fell silent for a moment.

"I'd better prepare."

"Yes."

"No need to see me off. You slept late, and I woke you. Rest more."

"Um."

Clodel hesitated, then asked him.

"Irena should arrive soon."

"Ah. Your sister."

Kaiyan answered readily.

"Heard she's been studying hard. When the lord's away, the lady must stand in for me. I'll tell the butler, so welcome her properly without lacking anything."

"Yes."

"Since I'm leaving abruptly on royal orders, we'll hold the welcoming banquet when I return."

"Got it."

Kaiyan looked at her with eyes expecting something.

"Doesn't it sadden you that your husband's gone for three days?"

"Don't go."

His eyes widened in surprise at her words.

"You know I can't sleep without you. Don't go."

Clodel pouted, then lifted her gaze slightly. No trace of her earlier sulk remained.

"As if you'd defy a royal command for that. You spring this on me suddenly and expect so much. Wanting me to miss you and all."

"Almost had me. Sounded so sincere."

Kaiyan spent their brief, regrettable time scolding her lips fervently.

He held Clodel, nipping sensitively at her until she was breathless.

"Don't get hurt."

Reading the anxiety in her clear eyes, the man stared deeply into them for a moment.

"No chance of that."

"Still..."

Kaiyan realized Clodel was recalling the crocodile hunt.

'Good thing I decided not to bring Clodel.'

Swallowing an inward sigh, he told her.

"Have Hanna sleep here while I'm gone."

"Pardon? Really?"

Kaiyan decided to allow a servant who had pledged her soul to House Temneth the spot where he lay.

A maid sleeping in the lord and lady's bed was absolutely against custom—unless the lord took her as concubine—but for Clodel's health, he took the extraordinary measure.

"Can't be helped, for your sake."

"Thank you."

"In return, sleep well and greet me happily."

Seeing Clodel nod, Kaiyan felt pleased.

His wife was growing more endearing by the day.

Kaiyan departed for the hunting grounds early that morning.

Not long after, an advance party arrived at the castle, announcing Irena would come half a day later.

"Isn't it ridiculous? Even on that stormy downpour day, Duke Vermonte said he couldn't spare more escorts for madam. What's this advance party on such a fine day?"

"Hush, Hanna. Someone might hear."

"So what if they do? I'm House Temneth's servant."

On the way to Rowen, a torrential rain had made the roads collapse and hazardous in places.

The group had requested more escorts, even hiring mercenaries from Valmond if needed, but Duke Vermonte sent a curt "just go."

After forcing the battered, rocky roads, water began leaking from the carriage roof. The wheel only broke upon reaching the castle—a miracle.

"As if they'd dare look down on us too. House Temneth will just see us as Vermonte folk anyway."

Irena's poor treatment would blemish not House Temneth, but the Vermonte-raised lady.

'Surely the butler won't skimp, following Kaiyan's instructions.'

Clodel was tense; she hadn't yet done anything as lady of this castle.

Soon, a splendid carriage arrived at Rowen Castle, flanked by escorts on golden-fringed horses.

The familiar Vermonte crest gleamed on the door as it opened, and Irena stepped out.

Her lush red hair fluttered in the breeze like flower petals swaying in a gentle wind.

The dazzlingly beautiful woman spread her arms wide, smiling brightly at Clodel.

"Clodel! My little sister!"