Chapter 50

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 50

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

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Large, pure white snowflakes poured down from the sky.

The mansion grounds were lit by bonfires.

The chill of the winter air kept the bonfire flames from melting the snow—they only made it sparkle.

A soft glow seemed to blanket the area around the mansion.

"You've returned."

Emil, a knight of the Crimson Delroz knight barracks, bowed deeply to Den.

Aden had entered the mansion late at night, close to dawn.

He dismissed the knights and headed straight into Crimson Delroz territory with only Ijis and Emil in tow.

"Anything to report?"

"Yes, first—"

"Make it quick."

Aden started up the stairs toward his office.

He'd stopped by briefly before, but hadn't handled any mansion affairs, rushing straight off to Luminous Ello territory instead. There was sure to be a mountain of work piled up.

Emil, grasping the situation, skipped all the details.

"We've dispatched knights to the Luminous Ello section of the mansion."

Aden's steps halted.

"What?"

Emil flinched at the rare sharp question.

Ijis shot him a puzzled look as well.

A nod urged him to explain further.

"Lady Ilrin instructed us to guard it, since the Luminous Ello knights who were stationed here all rushed back to their headquarters, leaving it exposed."

There was only one person who could give 'instructions' to the knights.

Aden tilted his head.

"Ilrin?"

"Yes. She ordered us to fortify the mansion's defenses and gather intelligence on Luminous Ello."

"Ah."

Aden understood immediately.

He parted his lips slightly.

A new thought.

Guarding Luminous Ello's territory in their stead was a fine excuse on the surface.

It was also a position only Crimson Delroz—the ruling faction—could claim.

Stepping in to cover their sudden vacancy without demanding compensation would count as a favor from the leader.

But the real goal was elsewhere.

Intelligence gathering was a bonus if it worked, no loss if it didn't.

Above all, it set a precedent for deploying Crimson Delroz forces to another faction's territory without the elders' informal approval.

"Be extra careful not to provoke Luminous Ello's maids."

Aden's lips curved into a smile.

Emil bowed politely.

"We're already being cautious, per Madam's orders."

Aden's smile deepened at his words.

Of course. That's Ilrin for you.

"We've been reporting the gathered intel to Madam first, but starting tonight, we'll send it straight to you, Knight Commander."

"No."

Aden raised a hand to stop him as he quickened his pace.

"Leave Ilrin's orders as Ilrin's orders."

He couldn't steal her credit.

Aden chuckled.

"Anything else?"

"Yes. Verdant Mille requests an audience with Your Grace."

Mille? Aden tilted his head again.

"Who from Mille?"

"The elder's daughter, Ripo de Mille."

"In April?"

"Yes. And..."

As soon as they reached the seventh floor—Crimson Delroz's domain—Emil dropped to his knees.

"Please, kill me!"

Aden stopped again at the sudden apology.

Emil kept his head bowed as he spoke.

"I failed to stop her from breaking into Madam's room!"

Aden wasn't listening to Emil's report anymore.

"Ilrin?"

His quick steps halted in front of her door.

He'd run without catching his breath, finally prying his hand from the doorknob.

He wanted nothing more than to burst in and check on her.

Even the time to ask if she was safe felt wasted.

Emil tried to continue his report, but Ijis stopped him.

There was no sign of life from inside the room.

Aden pressed his lips into a thin line.

"Your Grace, Madam is—"

"Your Grace!"

Emil missed his timing again.

The rigid knight struggled with sudden crises.

A passing Crimson Delroz maid cut off Emil's quiet voice.

Spotting Aden, she instantly knew who he was looking for.

"Madam is receiving a visitor on the sixth floor."

...A visitor? Aden headed straight down to the sixth floor.

Guests received on the sixth floor were noble visitors from other factions—not Crimson Delroz.

That meant the Mille lady who'd intruded had somehow become her guest.

Questioning the knights could wait; confirming her safety came first.

"Il—"

"Your Grace."

Ijis stopped Aden just before he called her name at the parlor door.

Only then did Aden exhale deeply.

Right. If there are others inside, I have to be Knight Commander Den.

He'd been so rattled he'd nearly forgotten his seamless double life.

"Madam, it's Knight Commander Den."

"Den?"

A slightly surprised voice echoed from within.

Aden's expression finally softened with relief.

Though the look he shot back at Emil was icy.

Emil had faced the Duke of Biplten's gaze without flinching for over a decade, but even he felt his throat go dry, his body stiffening.

"Ripo, may I let the Crimson Delroz Knight Commander in for a moment?"

"Oh, yes. Of course."

Aden listened silently to the voices from inside.

Ripo's movements made a commotion.

Nothing like Ilrin's endearing presence.

"...I actually came to see that Knight Commander."

Me? More like business with the one proxying for Crimson Delroz's leader.

Aden narrowed his eyes.

Click.

Etra opened the door.

She bowed briefly.

"A moment with Madam, please."

The brief instant it took for her to bow felt endlessly long to Aden.

The second Ilrin acknowledged the greeting, he strode straight to her.

"I heard the report. Are you all right?"

"Of course. No issues at all."

Ilrin immediately noticed how rattled he was.

She spread her hands and smiled to reassure him.

"I heard you came to see me."

On the surface, Ripo de Mille held no official position.

But as direct kin of House Mille, the Crimson Delroz Knight Commander had no choice but to use formal speech, willing or not.

Aden continued stiffly.

"We'll hold House Mille accountable for bypassing protocol—especially intruding into Madam's private quarters."

"Den, it's fine."

Ilrin raised her hand again to calm him.

Ripo de Mille knew plenty about the Crimson Delroz Knight Commander.

Proxy for the Winter Duke.

Just as cold and unyielding as the man he served, openly repulsed by anything against Crimson Delroz's interests.

Yet the man before her eyes was... different.

As she watched the Knight Commander regain his composure at Ilrin's gesture, Ripo felt an indescribable emotion.

After much thought, she settled on a crude word for it.

It's like... a fierce beast leashed tight.

No.

There was no leash.

Ilrin, the lady of Crimson Delroz, simply knew how to handle beasts.

"Den. For now, she's a guest of Crimson Delroz."

Ilrin spoke calmly.

If she could address Den as the Duke, she'd have phrased it more carefully.

But right now, he was 'Knight Commander Den of Crimson Delroz.' He had to follow her decisions.

Ilrin worried he might resent it.

"..."

Aden turned to Ilrin.

As Knight Commander, he kept his head bowed, but it was clear he disliked this Mille guest.

Still, it was Ilrin's choice.

He didn't think she'd make one without reason.

Explanations could wait.

Like how a Mille intruder had ended up playing guest in a VIP room on the sixth floor.

A chill ran through Aden's mind.

"I already apologized to the lady first... but I wanted to apologize to Crimson Delroz once more. I didn't want to come in like this... so aggressively."

Ripo spoke cautiously.

Aden nodded curtly.

"If Madam has forgiven you, I have no authority to press further."

Still stiff words.

Ripo nodded in understanding.

"...But I couldn't let Mille's knights spot me."

Aden narrowed his eyes at her words.

Much of it didn't add up.

Emil had said, 'I failed to stop her from breaking into Madam's room.'

She'd come straight to Ilrin's room to avoid Mille knights? Meaning she couldn't use the main entrance.

But the only way into the seventh floor—Crimson Delroz territory—was scaling the outer wall.

In the freezing April blizzard, climb a seventh-story wall?

Even if warmer than usual, April was still April.

And the outer guards hadn't noticed her presence while she climbed?

If true, Emil's kneeling wouldn't cut it.

He'd have to forfeit his head.

The offense was that grave.

"It's because of this..."

Ripo extended her hand, then hesitated.

She glanced reflexively at Ilrin.

Remembering she'd entrusted the Mille relic to her earlier.

"Verdant Mille's Setos."

Ilrin spoke up.

"Do you know what this relic does?"

"Sorry. No known details."

Aden shook his head.

Luminous Ello's dazzling relic and Azure Noz's blue veil had visible effects, so their powers were common knowledge.

Not so for Verdant Mille's or Crimson Delroz's.

"Then, let's do this."

Ilrin picked up the Mille relic—the crimson everblooming flower Setos—and stood.

She gripped it tightly with both hands, looking at Aden.

"Like this, right?"

"...Yes."

Ripo answered softly.

Sharing how to use the relic? Aden watched them closely.

Ilrin closed her eyes, focusing on Setos.

A faint light burst between her hands.

Aden recognized it.

No one knew that light better than he did.

It was the light of divine power.

"How's that?"

Aden tilted his head slightly.

The moment he wondered what had changed—

Ilrin stepped forward right before his eyes.

Aden's eyes widened.

It was like a painting coming to life.

Her flowing silver hair swayed in the wind of her swift movement.

He could see the Winter Lands boots—high-heeled to keep from sinking in snow—touching the floor.

But that was it.

No sound.

Not a single noise.

"...It erases your presence."

Aden murmured.

Even her dear little voice was completely masked by the relic's power.

His heart turned cold.

She'd practically vanished before his eyes.

Unconsciously, he clenched his fists.

"Exactly."

Ilrin set Setos down on the table.

Her presence flooded back.

Aden finally relaxed his grip.

"So how did you get to Madam's room?"

He got that she'd used Setos.

But erasing presence didn't erase visibility.

Ripo pointed to the window at his question.

"...You really scaled the wall?"

It was utterly unconvincing.

Aden narrowed his eyes.

Ripo's cheeks flushed.

"...From the roof."

"..."

Easier than climbing up, but from the roof...? Was that even possible? Biplten Mansion's roofs were steeply pitched to shed heavy snow.

"If you doubt it, I can demonstrate right now..."

Ripo added quietly. Aden waved it off.

"More importantly, state your business."

He spoke in a chilling tone.

"Make it quick."