Chapter 15

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 15

Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Wife of the Monster Duke

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Ilrin de Biplten woke from sleep and stared blankly ahead for a moment before quickly sitting up.

The avalanche rushing toward the knights was vivid in her mind.

An avalanche happened, but no one died.

I didn't see it bury anyone.

Ilrin exhaled the breath she'd been holding in tension.

Her precognitive dream had only foreseen up to the avalanche.

"Etra."

Ilrin had woken in the morning.

The maid Etra, who had been waiting by her side, responded immediately.

"Yes, Madam."

"Is there any expedition planned for Crimson Delroz in the near future?"

The men in her dream had all been Crimson Delroz knights.

They would encounter an avalanche.

But their deaths hadn't been foretold.

They could avoid it if they knew.

Etra bowed deeply at Ilrin's words.

"Shall I look into it?"

Ilrin hesitated for a moment.

The people of Crimson Delroz served her with unwavering loyalty.

It was different from those of other houses.

She could tell from their eyes and every little gesture.

But ultimately, the leader of Crimson Delroz was Duke Aden de Biplten.

What would he think if I asked about expedition plans?

'Is there anything a lady of the house shouldn't do?'

'No, there isn't.'

His words had seemed almost resolute.

Ilrin made up her mind.

"Yes, please."

"Understood. Also, we've brought a young lady well-versed in Biplten customs, but..."

That was fast, Ilrin thought, blinking in surprise.

"...it seems we may need to postpone until evening."

Ilrin didn't mind, but she was curious about the reason.

As she tilted her head, Etra bowed deeply again.

"The knights' quarters sent a summons. It seems to be for Madam's safety, so I hope you'll understand."

Of course, they had to bring someone vetted thoroughly.

She hadn't expected it to be quite this soon, though.

"Tell her to come whenever it's convenient."

"Thank you."

Etra bowed apologetically once more.

"I'll see to the expedition schedule as well."

She relayed the message to a Crimson Delroz maid waiting outside.

In the meantime, Ilrin got out of bed and sat at the table.

Another Delroz maid draped a soft, short cape over her shoulders.

"Thank you."

The maid, who couldn't reply with "You're welcome," blushed.

Ilrin called back the girl retreating backward.

"One moment."

"Y-yes, what is it?"

The maid looked quite tense.

Ilrin smiled reassuringly.

"There's something I'd like to know. The guest houses for each faction are in different areas of the estate, right? Because there are unspoken rules assigning positions to each house?"

"Yes."

Since it was something she knew, the maid's tension eased a bit.

Ilrin smiled faintly.

"I was curious about the area assigned to Crimson Delroz."

"Ah! Well..."

The maid's face lit up as she began explaining eagerly to her lady.

A rough map of the estate lay before Ilrin.

She marked the Crimson Delroz territory as the maid had described.

She did the same for the other houses' areas.

The affairs of the estate were the lady of the house's domain.

Shouldn't she know how things worked? That was her initial thought.

But she'd sensed something odd midway—when she heard about the succession rite.

It was to be held in the underground Crimson Delroz territory.

Since the Duke of Biplten was effectively their leader, it made sense.

But the oddity was elsewhere.

The other houses' territories were scattered, but Crimson Delroz's were remarkably consistent.

Looking at it on the map made it obvious.

Not just consistent in shape—they could move through every floor of the estate without stepping into other houses' areas.

The other houses absolutely could not.

This isn't a path Azure Noz could take.

Tracing the route Riji of Azure Noz had guided her on before, it crossed plenty of other houses' territories. That must have been allowed because she was escorting a guest.

And even then, with frequent breaks.

Thinking back, every break had been in Azure Noz spaces.

Ilrin recalled the irregular break times and reached a conclusion.

Riji must have chosen times when people weren't moving around much.

Proof: the only person they'd met that day was Den of Crimson Delroz.

"Up to here..."

Yes, as the effective owners of the estate, it was possible for Crimson Delroz.

The fact that other houses even had guaranteed territories felt strange by comparison.

The problem was the Duke's schedule.

Ilrin thought of the upcoming succession rite.

His Grace would surely attend.

Of course, being underground, there'd be no need to face outsiders.

The elders would be there too, but they were few.

If she didn't want to freeze upon eye contact, she could just keep her head down.

But the issue was the Duke on the battlefield.

'Your Grace!'

The knight's urgent call.

Ilrin recalled first meeting Den.

The Duke of Biplten had surely been somewhere nearby.

And the knight had sought him out directly...

She hadn't dared look around, afraid their eyes might meet.

Even if she went back to that moment now, she doubted she'd scan the surroundings.

For fear of their eyes meeting.

But that was what felt off.

She wouldn't have noticed if she hadn't gone to the battlefield herself by chance.

Ilrin had assumed the Duke stayed at the rear or moved alone.

With his house head's authority, he was unlike other knights.

How could you fight sword-in-hand with someone you couldn't meet eyes with?

So she'd thought he wouldn't be in the center.

'Your Grace!'

Yet the knight had called for him right in the middle of the battlefield.

Risking eye contact?

Or maybe the rumors were exaggerated.

The idea that your body freezes upon eye contact.

He might have such power, but it wasn't guaranteed to paralyze every time.

"Madam, I've looked into Crimson Delroz's expedition schedule..."

As she sank into thought, Etra spoke cautiously.

Ilrin nodded slightly.

"What did you find? Any departures soon?"

"Yes."

Etra glanced at the map before her and continued.

"I can't give the exact date, but there is an expedition planned."

Of course, leaks could be disastrous, so the precise timing was secret.

But with her precognitive dream as a clue, she could narrow it down.

Ilrin unfolded a map of Biplten territory.

Knights reading tactical maps would pinpoint it instantly, but matching her dream landscape to the terrain took her some time.

Etra waited silently beside her, holding her breath like she wasn't even there.

An effort not to burden her lady.

"Is it to the west, by any chance?"

After a long while, Ilrin pointed to the red Molri Tribe camps stretching west from Biplten Castle.

"Yes."

Etra looked mildly surprised.

Her confirmation muddled Ilrin's thoughts further.

Should I warn them?

Even if I do, they won't believe me.

But still... even familiar knights couldn't dodge an unforeseen avalanche.

"I heard His Grace is joining the expedition," Etra whispered softly, putting an end to Ilrin's deliberations.

Ilrin moved to a room on the seventh floor that evening.

No sooner had she settled in than Crimson Delroz's chief physician visited, confirmed her condition had improved greatly, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Tonics for recovery? Excellent."

This grandfatherly physician always wore a kindly smile.

"But something like nened might not agree with you, so I'd recommend starting with milder ones from the sunlands. Even if there's a reaction, a strong body can overcome it."

His long explanations felt less like lectures and more like gentle pats of reassurance.

Ilrin wondered if this was really the man who'd scolded the Azure Noz maids.

"Oh, and I'll hurry and inform His Grace that Madam is recovering well."

He didn't forget to say this on his way out.

Ilrin wondered why bother when the report would go up anyway—until his next words turned her face tomato-red.

"If His Grace is ever inconsiderate, be sure to tell me. Alright?"

Half seemed like a joke, but the other half rang true.

According to Etra, Physician Beth was one of the few in Crimson Delroz who could scold the Duke.

The atmosphere on the seventh floor was definitely different.

Ilrin sat in her bedroom.

Fortunately, Biplten liquor suited her—no adverse reactions.

Knowing this, the Delroz maids laid out various bottles for her.

"This one's strongly peachy. High proof, but it goes down like a drink."

High proof yet like a beverage—daunting aftereffects loomed.

Still, perfect for sipping alone in bed at night.

Who knew when the lights might go out?

Ilrin twirled a small glass of liquor before tilting it back.

The burn down her throat was familiar, but it spread like a smooth, proofless cordial.

Then her tongue was enveloped in pure, sweet peach.

"My goodness."

Delicious! Ilrin, uncharacteristically, poured another few glasses.

Clack.

The lights went out then.

Ilrin paused mid-pour.

"Do you enjoy drinking?"

Something warm touched her hand.

Its owner took the bottle from her as if he could see perfectly, placing it gently on the table.

Ilrin started to look toward the voice, then dropped her gaze.

Eyes meeting would freeze you... Whether rumor or truth, she didn't want to test it.

Even if just gossip, meeting his eyes could still be awkward.

Besides, the Duke surely knew the rumors about himself.

Letting them persist meant they served a purpose.

Challenging them head-on gained nothing.

"No."

"Then, did this one please you?"

The sound of a bottle tilting.

Plop, plop, plop—liquid filling a glass.

Ilrin felt fingers tapping the hand holding her glass.

She released it, and the filled glass vanished somewhere.

Did sounds sharpen in the dark?

Ilrin listened quietly to the Duke swallow his drink.

Suddenly, she realized sitting still was rude and stood.

Clack—his glass set down.

"Peach-scented."

The fragrance wafted close.

Ilrin froze in place.

The Duke leaned in and softly kissed her cheek.

"Your cheeks are flushed."

"...Can you see?"

Ilrin whispered softly.

In her eyes, there was only impenetrable darkness—she couldn't even tell if they were open or closed.