Chapter 3
“Your Highness has been through a long war.” He had a lot of terrible experiences that none of us can ever understand. His squad was ambushed during the night, and he was the only one to survive. He says he has nightmares of the battlefield. After he falls asleep, he wakes up madly carrying a sword.”
The corners of the maid's eyes slanted.
“Your Highness has worked hard.” He met all the famous healers in the empire, and even tried to bind his hands and feet while sleeping. On the battlefield, knights could stop him… but they couldn't do that in the palace. "He can't bring knights into his room."
Omarion's cheeks suddenly turned red. Only the Duke and his wife could approach the bedroom at night. If the knights had rotated, the rumors would have been ridiculous.
Omarion sighed deeply.
“After spending a few months like this, he finally came back on his own. It was foolish of us to ask him if there was any way we could prevent His Highness from waking up...”
She closed her mouth. This was the reason for their marriage. She was a knight who knew how to use a sword, and a female. However, she still thought it was strange.
Weren't there a lot of weapons in the room?
"Can't he hide his weapons?"
Sumona calmly answered her question.
"Ma'am, his sky is suffering from the after-effects of war. He can't sleep without a sword, or in an open place."
In the old maid's tone, there was indescribable pity for her master.
She was really sad.
Even in Omarion's hometown, there were many people who had been disfigured by monsters and suffered from the after-effects psychological effects. Without a sword, they could not leave home at all, and there were people who could never leave the village.
But what she faced was unfair in another sense.
Wasn't this the same as releasing a hidden monster without any precautions?
Last night she was really scared.
Sumona apologized again and again.
“I'm really sorry, ma'am.”
“No… I want to sleep more, so you can leave.”
She pushed her plate away without energy.
She wondered whether there was any benefit in criticizing those not involved.
The maids quickly cleaned up her empty plate and closed the curtains without making a sound.
It was an exemplary workmanship, worthy of the name “The Grand Duke’s Servant.”
Before leaving, Sumona asked, hesitating,
“Ma’am, sorry to bother you, but can I ask just one thing?”
"Please come in."
How did you get His Highness to sleep? No one has been able to do that before.”
Omarion answered truthfully.
“I struck him with a sword.”
“What?”
“I dueled the Grand Duke and made him sleep.”
A look of surprise appeared on the woman's face.
***
It was evening when I woke up again. I got out of bed and stretched.
She ate well and slept well, so her whole body was relaxed.
It was a luxury she had never imagined. The white bedding was as soft as a cloud.
In the Northern Kingdom she lived in, cotton blankets were precious.
She called in and had dinner in bed. While she was washing her face after eating, the bedroom door opened.
"Are you awake?"
He was the Grand Duke.
When she saw him, she had a million things to ask him.
She swallowed her questions several times, but finally one slipped out.
"You should have given me more information."
“I thought you would run away if you knew.”
“Where am I going? There is nowhere to go.”
He looked at her for a moment, then silently took off his coat and hung it on a chair.
His body was smooth with no scars.
“It wasn't easy to avoid my sword without getting hurt. You did a great job.”
This wasn't a story she made to get praise for her sword!
She bit her lip.
Even though the best swordsmen on the continent praised her, she was not happy at all. Even if she fought the True God of Death, she wouldn't be as surprised as she was yesterday.
There was a big difference between agreeing to fight and being ambushed.
However, he didn't seem to care about that, probably because his life so far had been so painful.
He lay down on the bed.
“Don't stay up all night and sleep when I'm done. I never wake up more than once in one night.”
***
While the attendants were drawing the curtains, she went to the dressing room to change her clothes. Not long ago, she asked the maids to bring her pants and a shirt.
Last night, I realized how hard it is to fight in thin pajamas. The clothes she gave her were a bit big because they belonged to males, but she didn't mind. She simply wrapped the hem of the shirt and went back to the bedroom.
The Grand Duke was asleep as if dead.
She grabbed her sword and sat next to him. Being up all night and relying on minimal light made her insanely bored. It wasn't much different from monitoring her property.
Yesterday, he woke up in less than an hour. She held her breath and pulled out her sword.
Now that she knew what was going on, she decided to change her strategy.
Wouldn't it be better if I put him to sleep before he gets unruly? I snuck up behind his back. He was still deeply asleep.
But suddenly, he picked up an ax next to him with lightning speed. She panicked and avoided it because it flew at her at an unexpected speed.
Even the sword is heavy. How strong is it?
In the end, she was only able to see a gap after she was able to block him several times. She elbowed him and then hit him on the back of the neck, barely hitting him. Then she carried his body to bed.
When she finished her work, she lost all the strength in her body. She was exhausted and sat on the bed. She didn't want to sleep next to the Duke, but the temptation of the soft comforter was stronger than she could have imagined.
I finally gave up and lay on the edge of the bed. It folded itself up, just in case he could see it.
An unimaginable night passed.
***
Someone shook her shoulder and woke her up. The dazzling sunlight pierced her eyelids. She opened her eyes with great difficulty.
"wife".
Victor was looking at her. His jewel-like amber eyes sparkled with interest.
“Did you sleep like this?”
His eyes swept over the pants and loose shirt she was wearing, then the sword in her arms.
Confused, she hugged her sword tighter.
Who was the reason for all this?
He laughed when she shot him a glare. His smile was so beautiful that she forgot to look at him for a moment and could only look at him frankly.
He stood up with a soft smile on his face.
"Anyway, you seem to be fine again today."
... “Yes, Your Highness.”
“Eat breakfast with me.”
He left the bedroom in his robe.
Not long afterward, her maids came and served her. With their help, she took a shower, combed her hair, and changed into a comfortable dress. The dresses the maids brought were warmer and softer than the ones she wore in her kingdom.
After getting ready, she looked at herself in the large, luxurious mirror. It was funny how her skinny and scarred body was wearing such a beautiful dress. She felt embarrassed, as if she was wearing someone else's clothes. I reluctantly headed to the dining hall.
Breakfast was already prepared in the dining hall. There was fresh bread, vegetable soup and crispy roast duck. The food was warm, plentiful and fragrant.
Once again, she had to work hard not to overeat.
The Grand Duke, sitting at the head of the table, cut the duck with a knife and put it in his mouth.
“Take a look around the palace today, I have to go to the Imperial Palace, so the butler will guide you.”
The butler standing next to him bowed his head.
“Hello, ma’am. I’m Dedric.”
“Oh, hello.”
Daedric was a middle-aged gentleman with gray hair.
His beautiful hair and beard seem to reflect his assertive personality. Looking at him, she realized that the dining hall was full of servants.
Did something happen?
The Grand Duke got up first, probably noticing that she was trying to eat slowly to look as elegant as possible.
“I have to go eat well.”
“Oh, I'll see you.”
“It's okay, I'm not going away.”
He bowed gently and left the dining hall.
I looked to Sumona for guidance. Sumona whispered that it was okay with a small nod.
Amalion was confused. She was told that the lady should see her husband when he left.
She thought for a moment and then pulled the plate of duck towards her.
Since she had a hard time last night, she felt that it didn't matter whether she looked elegant or not.
• End of chapter •
To be continued •••
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