Chapter 7
"…What is it ?"
“Fight me during the day.”
battle?
She tilted her head in amazement.
He might not remember, but they actually fought every day.
“Why do you want to compete with me?”
“I should know what the sword that defeats me every night looks like.”
Smile slowly. Only then did I realize he had said something similar to the joke.
For some reason, her heart fluttered. Honestly, she didn't really enjoy fighting every night, but… it wasn't that she couldn't do it.
When she nodded, the Grand Duke's smile widened. I noticed that he was able to smile more freely these days.
He lay down on the soft bed and looked at her.
“Marion, Grand Duchess.”
Her heart pounded again. She instinctively held her sword tighter.
“You don't know how lucky I am to have you here.”
He asked a servant to put out the fire. It wasn't until the room became very dark that her entire body sank in embarrassment.
“Good night, Victor.”...
***
The clothes I ordered arrived as quickly as requested. One by one, elaborate and, no doubt, expensive dresses were carried into her bedroom. The maids were in awe.
“Madam, they are so beautiful!” Do you like them?"
She stared at the pearl-encrusted ball gown, enchanted. Everything was so delicate and beautiful that it was astonishing to say that it could be worn by humans. She was afraid to touch it for fear of breaking it.
All other clothes were the same. Equestrian robes embroidered with ornate gold patterns, pale yellow evening dresses, and even shirts adorned with elaborate ruffles for ease of movement. You've never seen clothes like this before.
Open her door.
«يبدو أن ملابسك قد وصلت».
“Your Highness.”
The servants stopped and bowed their heads.
He motioned for them to continue and looked at Omarion.
“Why is he in my room during the day?”
“You're going to wear a new dress today, Marion.”
Smile.
“We're going for a walk.”
***
Victor took her to the outskirts of the capital.
She sat in the carriage, wearing her newly made shirt and pants.
"Where are we going now?"
“If we go a little further, there is a training ground for my knights.”
“Don’t all knights train at the estate?”
“Most of them do, but some are still in the capital to accompany them.”
She nodded and looked out the window.
As the carriage crossed a dusty road, I remembered the day I arrived.
The day she leaned against the window and secretly wiped away her tears.
At that time, she was just afraid.
She never imagined that she would go down a similar path again, with this man, smiling.
The cart passed through a forest, over a bumpy gravel road, and finally arrived in front of the training ground.
I heard shouts from afar.
About ten men, who were focusing on training, stopped one by one when they saw a carriage bearing the insignia of the Grand Duke.
The carriage stopped at the entrance, and Victor got out first. The knights raised their swords in unison to pay respect to their master. It was clear that they were well-disciplined knights. Their bodies all seemed properly trained, and there were no flaws in their posture.
With admiration in her heart, she held Victor's outstretched hand as he helped her out of the carriage. She could easily see the surprise in the knight's eyes.
"This is my wife, Omarion."
Victor introduced his wife to them. The curious eyes of the knights were fixed on her. Blood rushed to her face in an instant. She wasn't used to receiving so many looks at once.
Victor whispered encouragement to her.
"Say hello, Marion. These are my knights."
She bowed her head strongly and greeted them with great nervousness.
"Ah, hello. I'm Emarion Morte."
She raised her head, she was even more confused. The knights looked very embarrassed.
“What's wrong with them?”
Looking at Victor anxiously, he raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"What? What's wrong?"
Faris asked her suddenly, almost in a state of panic.
“Are you his knight, His Highness?”
"Ah"...
Then she realized that she received them like a knight. She knew proper etiquette, but her habits as a knight often showed.
Her face burned as if it was about to explode. She quickly bent down and bent her knees awkwardly.
“Uh...well, that was a mistake. I am the Grand Duchess, Omarion Morte.”
“Is it true that you fight His Highness every night?”
Faris suddenly asked.
Victor answered instead.
“Yes, she does.”
“Then the rumors are true!”
Clank!
They dropped their swords and rushed in like a pack of wolves. When the big men surrounded her, she got goosebumps. She was so surprised that she grabbed Victor's sleeve.
Victor shouted in annoyance.
“Can you back off? My wife is surprised!”
“But, Your Highness, we were stuck here and only heard rumours.”
protested the knight who had asked the second question. His fiery red hair was unkempt, sticking out in all directions.
“There are rumors spreading that His Highness the Grand Duke did not let the Duchess out of the bedroom because he was taking care of her. Do you know how curious we were?”
She bowed her head with a red face.
It was clear what the knights were talking about.
Since she wasn't allowed out of the bedroom, of course these kinds of rumors would spread...
Victor scolded him harshly.
“Don't be petty, Carls.”
“Do you know how many shivers we get whenever Your Highness acts like a noble?”
Immediately someone else complained.
This was followed by loud laughter and another rebuke.
Honestly, she couldn't help but be surprised.
He was feared by everyone on the continent, but his relationship with his knights was closer than I expected. The Grand Duke of Death's knights were like a group of friends.
Their eyes quickly returned to her. There was a hint of interest in their eyes as they examined her.
“On the battlefield, when His Highness awoke, the knights had to come to him in large numbers.”
“Such a slender Grand Duchess? Your Highness, aren’t you over the age of marriage?”
“How can you be so rude?!”
I looked at Victor in frustration. But strangely, Victor seemed unfazed.
He looked at her and smiled softly.
“They were curious about you, so I brought you with me.”
"Is this correct ?"
“Yes. Everyone, go!”
The knights cheered and rushed to the edge of the training field.
The field was quickly cleared, giving the two enough space to duel. The knights sat down randomly and shouted as if they were watching a bar fight.
I sighed.
Once again, it's time for the couple to fight.
***
The only difference was that he was sensible and she was dressed for a picnic.
Victor smiled and drew his sword.
“Marion, I won't have it easy during the day.”
"Even when you're asleep, you're not easy, Victor."
She sighed as Victor smiled.
Around the perimeter of the arena there was a lot of commotion. The knights clapped and whistled, almost like gangsters.
What would make these knights, who have undergone such rigorous training, such a crazy bunch?
She drew her sword as she imagined the Grand Duke and his knights roaming the continent.
It's been a long time since I've practiced swordplay during the day. But she was ready.
He didn't ask such a trivial question as, "Are you ready?"
Instead, Victor exhaled happily.
“Ma’am, I will go first.”
The next moment, he came to her.
***
• End of chapter •
To be continued •••
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