Chapter 23

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 23

Chapter Title: As Expected

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‘As expected.’

Though the official documents hadn’t arrived yet, Agatha had a hunch that her ex-husband would be among the envoys from Mainucor.

It was an informal meeting, and even if foreign delegates were entering their territorial waters, there was no reason for the commander himself to move out.

“What’s wrong, Agatha? Is there a problem?”

“No, not really.”

Agatha glanced briefly at Enoch sitting across from her before flipping through the papers.

“It says the Eastern Fleet commander will be accompanying this escort mission.”

“……”

The man, who had spent ten years rolling in the battlefields yet retained his noble instincts undimmed, immediately sensed something off.

“It seems a high-ranking figure is included in the Mainucor delegation this time.”

“It’s not certain, but I heard the Second Prince might be coming in His Highness the Crown Prince’s stead.”

The Second Prince of the Mainucor Empire, Fernando Mainumconti.

For a brief moment, the man’s gaze turned toward Agatha. She was swept up in conflicting emotions.

She felt uneasy about how her newlywed husband might react to meeting her ex-husband, yet at the same time, she harbored a vague hope.

Maybe he’ll get jealous.

It was a hope that had bloomed despite knowing this was a political marriage aligned with their mutual interests.

“I see.”

The man looked away and casually turned to the next page of the document. Agatha, who had been clutching the hem of her dress tightly for a moment, reached for another set of papers.

What was I even hoping for?

They had held the ceremony, spent the night together, and he treated her kindly, but they were still newlyweds who had been married for less than two months.

I mustn’t delude myself.

The consideration he showed was merely the respect he had promised her before marriage, as his wife.

At that moment, a gentle hand approached and brushed her cheek. Startled, she looked up to find the man’s face close to hers.

“Your complexion still doesn’t look good.”

“……”

This isn’t right.

Without realizing it, Agatha leaned her cheek into his hand. Her own hand wrapped around the back of his large, slightly rough one.

“I’ll be fine soon. Now that we’ve arrived at the castle.”

“I’ll handle the meeting with the navy side, so why don’t you head to the inn and rest first?”

“The commander might be difficult. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

Though Agatha had called in the Noblesse subordinate navy, it was truly just for escort purposes.

The imperial navy would handle formalities like greeting the delegation with full protocol, so there could be a power struggle over command from the commander’s side.

“I’m not that easy to deal with, my lady.”

For a fleeting instant, the man’s sharp eyes softened slightly. Agatha stared into his deep gaze as if entranced.

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

Snapping back to her senses, Agatha lowered her eyes.

“Then I’ll leave the military matters to you, and once the ship supplies are restocked, I’ll head straight to the inn.”

“No helping it. You won’t listen if I say more……”

He reached out with his other hand, taking the Noblesse navy roster and ship interior maps, and whispered softly.

“Don’t push yourself.”

“……”

With a small nod, Agatha suppressed the greed suddenly welling up inside her.

Her heart fluttered so much from mere respect as his wife.

How happy would I be if this man started to like me?

But there were times when imaginations had to remain just that—imaginations.

“Take care, Enoch.”

The man withdrew their overlapping hands and pressed a deep kiss to the back of hers. Soon, the carriage arrived at the harbor.

Descending from the carriage, Agatha led her first aide, Esel Maso, and her close attendant maids toward the Noblesse ships.

Enoch signaled subtly to the second vice-captain of knights, Huber Carwen.

- Don’t let her out of your sight.

He and the Aratus knights had long noticed the recent gazes upon them.

There was no killing intent, but the stares were secretive.

The first suspects that came to mind were relatives of Noblesse or Aratus.

They didn’t seem intent on immediate harm, but complacency was forbidden.

Huber saluted and followed behind her with dozens of knights.

Having secured his wife’s safety, he swept a hand over his stern face.

So the odd feelings lately were because of the Second Prince.

The Second Prince of the Mainucor Empire, Fernando Mainumconti.

The second prince’s scoundrel nature was infamous across the continent.

No shame, no honor, and illegitimate children born from his tangled affairs with women.

Agatha was uncomfortable meeting him and was also mindful of her husband’s reaction.

Frankly, it wasn’t pleasant for him either.

But Enoch wasn’t so immature as to show it outwardly.

Even if my displeasure is directed at the second prince and the emperor who arranged this, it wouldn’t do her any good.

She had been an exemplary marchioness wife so far. Even if some indefinable irritation scratched at his gut, Enoch had no intention of letting it show.

If anything, he was worried about his wife.

He felt nothing particular, but she might end up anxious on her own.

And her health isn’t great either.

Recalling her still-pale complexion from the long carriage journey, Enoch’s demeanor sharpened subtly.

“I need to wrap this up quickly and go. Let’s move.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Enoch handed the documents in his hand to his adjutant and stepped toward the interim lord deputy who was approaching, along with the naval group beside him.

He hadn’t yet realized that his displeasure had vanished without a trace the moment it might have touched Agatha.

Nor that the emotion had been jealousy.

Bwoooong—

“Set sail!”

With a resounding trumpet blast, the ships unfurled their sails fully and cut swiftly through the sea.

It was the Noblesse fleet and the Roxiba Empire’s Eastern Fleet.

The journey from the harbor to Palavi Island would take another ten days.

Before departure, Agatha received an official document from the interim lord deputy, Baron Solano.

The first page bore the name of the head of the Mainucor delegation.

「Second Prince Fernando Mainumconti」

The Crown Prince Antoni Roxiba’s hint at the banquet had become reality.

Time flew by relentlessly, and after roughly nine nights……

Regardless of Agatha’s complicated feelings, the Noblesse ships, three warships, and the Roxiba navy entered Palavi Island’s waters.

Jessie, the close attendant maid who often came up to the deck, brought joyful news.

“My lady, the island’s in sight!”

“Really? We arrived sooner than expected.”

She had predicted delays from the rough waves a few days prior. Fortunately, they reached the island without exceeding the schedule.

Stepping onto the deck for the first time in a while, Agatha gazed at the distant island.

“So that’s Palavi Island.”

After coming of age, she had visited the island exactly once during her territory tour.

It hadn’t left much impression back then.

Yet the unfamiliar island, with trees densely covering the rocks, was more beautiful than she’d thought. A harbor lay at the end of the flatland surrounded by mountains.

“Even though the island’s visible, it’ll take a few more hours to anchor.”

“I see.”

Agatha stood on the deck, admiring the island until the ship docked.

“The island’s pretty.”

It was a fairly large volcanic island.

A conical castle towered on the central highlands, with spiral forests, farmlands, and villages below.

The harbor was most visible right away, with three usable piers nearby.

The rest were still under construction to expand the harbor.

“The pier construction is scheduled to finish within two weeks.”

Her aide, Esel, who had come up to the deck, spoke up.

“What about the trading post building?”

“They’re putting up the roof now.”

As the island drew nearer, she could vaguely make out the buildings under construction where Esel pointed.

Once official trade began, they’d need places for sailors to rest, offices for foreign officials, and spots for unloading and inspecting goods.

Agatha nodded, seeing the construction sites nearing completion under her approval.

“Let’s tour the sites before heading to the castle.”

“Yes, I’ll make the arrangements.”

As Esel stepped away, a familiar voice drifted from beside her.

“Straight to the construction sites?”

Enoch stood there, though she hadn’t noticed his approach.

“I heard the Mainucor delegation is close. I need to check the sites first to prepare countermeasures.”

Enoch’s gaze shifted to his adjutant, Ched, standing beside him.

“They’ll arrive in three days. The scouting naval ship spotted the Mainumconti imperial flag.”

“Already?”

Agatha pondered the faster-than-expected arrival. Time was tight.

Of course, Enoch would handle greeting the delegation.

But to inspect the sites before negotiations, prepare the welcome ceremony and banquet, they needed to move quickly.