Chapter: 720
The resort where we were staying during our honeymoon was as extravagant and grand as the Gold Duke had boasted.
It overlooked the entire Narvesia, with a view of the bustling docks and the expansive sea. Being the tallest building in Narvesia, it took in everything about the city.
Thank goodness this resort wasn’t located in the city center but on the outskirts. If I were looking down on the city from the center, I might have thought of myself as the governor of Jerano. In fact, even now, half of me feels like I’ve become a governor.
‘It’s a good thing I just came as a regular visitor.’
Even just the thought of it makes me dizzy. If I had arrived in Narvesia on a Leviathan instead of a ship, who would believe that we were a couple on our honeymoon? We’d be seen as conquerors here to seize the city.
To be honest, the Gold Duke proposed taking the Leviathan partly out of consideration for me and partly out of a desire to pressure Jerano again. Using a Leviathan, which is a strategic weapon in itself, just to transport two people? No matter how considerate the Gold Duke is, it’s a huge waste just to move a couple.
“Carl, I’m all cleaned up.”
While I was looking out the window at the sea, Mar, who had gone to the bathroom first, came out in a gown.
“You could’ve joined me.”
“No way. It’s a long night. I can’t relax in the bathroom already!”
Seeing Mar’s response, I playfully sighed in disappointment, and she returned a subtle joke with a mischievous smile.
Actually, it might not just be a joke; it could be pure honesty. Considering the rich food we’ve been having at the mansion for days, it can’t just be a joke.
“Well, wouldn’t it have been better to relax a bit in the bathroom?”
So I gently wrapped my arms around Mar’s waist, whispering into her ear. That choice wasn’t the best of decisions.
Just after we got married, we had shared a long and passionate love. Thanks to that, our precious treasure, Pedi, came into our lives, and using that experience, I managed to acquire other treasures among my wives. All miracles of honeymoon babies.
Afterward, we haven’t shared that kind of love again, opting instead for a more ordinary, gentle one, but it seems Mar has been planning based on that fiery love. It feels like the memories of three years ago flew away.
‘Then I need to remind her.’
The reason I’ve been holding back until now was that there was no need to push it. There were no plans for a second child, so why exert myself unnecessarily?
But now, that’s not the case. The gentlemanly agreement made for my wives ended the moment Mary was born.
“How about naming the second child Narl?”
Narl – derived from the first part of Narvesia. It has a similar pronunciation to Mar, making it perfect for a baby name.
“…Huh?”
At my polite declaration, Mar blinked her eyes in confusion, seeming somewhat dazed.
Unfortunately, it seems memories from three years ago are just starting to resurface.
“Pedi resembles me a lot, so it would be nice if Narl turns out to resemble you, right?”
“C-Carl? It’s still too early for that!”
“Is that really important?”
With Mar trying to retreat, I pulled her in closer. Before I knew it, my hands began to loosen the gown’s waist tie.
It doesn’t matter if it’s before or after dinner, day or night.
Either way, I’m planning to run until the morning.
—
Narvesia is a city that belongs to the Irabika Count’s territory.
Although it’s not the central city where the Irabika Count resides, it is one of the top cities in the kingdom, thriving in its own right. The Irabika Count has not granted Narvesia to a vassal but has kept it as a direct domain.
And the Delo Resort, which has become the symbol of Narvesia, changed ownership to the Gold Duke a few months ago due to the Leviathan incident that shook the kingdom.
‘If only the Irabika Count still owned it, I could have gone in.’
Thanks to that, even knowing the continent’s greatest swordmaster is inside, I can’t just waltz into the resort.
Before the ownership changed, it was already known as the best resort in the kingdom. With renovations under the Gold Duke’s hand, it’s no surprise that reservations are overflowing. As a person trying to stay incognito, there’s absolutely no way for me to access it.
‘If it hadn’t been taken away…’
Such regret! Alas, even though I’d only be able to observe from a distance inside the resort, there’s a sense that being in a building associated with the greatest swordmaster would somehow bring me comfort. Just a bit of consolation.
Despite the cravings bubbling up, I forced myself to suppress them. As a royal, barging into a resort without a reservation is just undignified. Even if I could endure the shame, a princess of Jerano can’t create a scene at an imperial duke’s resort.
So I waited. Until the moment the continent’s greatest swordmaster walked out of the resort. Until morning comes, before we set out for travel again.
“Beril.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Why aren’t they coming out?”
“I don’t know either.”
But patience and waiting betrayed me. The continent’s greatest swordmaster and his wife did not emerge from the resort even after two days.
At first, I thought they were just resting from their journey from the empire to here. Spending a day relaxed at the resort seems fine.
But two days stuck inside the resort? Even if they booked a long honeymoon, wouldn’t they want to go see the sights rather than hang out in the resort all day?
“Could something have happened?”
Anxiety stirred within me. The probability is low, but what if the continent’s greatest swordmaster couldn’t adapt to our food and water? People who rarely venture outside their homes often struggle with new water sources.
Or it could be that it’s the wife who’s unwell, not the swordmaster. The swordmaster is robust, but his wife is just an ordinary noblewoman.
No, being the steel-blooded lord’s daughter, she’s not just ordinary, right?
‘They can’t be sick…’
Anyway, whether the continent’s greatest swordmaster or his wife is sick is not a good situation at all.
Not being able to converse with my idol? It’s heart-wrenching, but I can understand it. However, I won’t accept it if my idol, who came all the way to Jerano, suffers and goes back without creating a good memory—
“Your Highness, they’re coming out!”
Beril’s words jolted me, and I quickly turned to the resort’s entrance.
Indeed! The continent’s greatest swordmaster is finally out of the resort. It was odd that he was alone without his wife, but at least I confirmed he looked fine.
‘So does that mean his wife is sick?’
What should I do? Should I sneak in medicine or something?
No, that’d be inappropriate. I have no idea what’s wrong, so how could I just willy-nilly drop medicine? Besides, the continent’s greatest swordmaster is not someone who couldn’t procure his own medicine.
Then should I just go to the church and pray? But the continent’s greatest swordmaster is a living saint. Wouldn’t his prayers be much more effective than mine?
‘That’s useless.’
In an instant, I felt a sense of inadequacy. My revered hero is struggling, and I can’t do anything about it. It feels like without the title of a princess, I’d have nothing to my name.
‘…Huh?’
Just as I was considering whether to return to the palace, an unexpected variable arose.
The swordmaster is coming towards the café where we were. It’s not just a passing route; he’s definitely moving in a straight line towards us.
“Be, Beril! What should we do?”
“Stay put. If we move now, it’ll be even more suspicious. We’ll act like ordinary guests at the café.”
As I urgently whispered, Beril offered a perfectly rational answer.
That’s right. The swordmaster doesn’t know who we are. In that situation, retreating would only raise suspicions—
“Can we chat for a minute?”
“Eek.”
The swordmaster spoke to me.
What do I do now?
—
Mar collapsed again, even faster than three years ago.
This was, in fact, the expected outcome. She had made the mistake of feeding her enemies with her own hands for days. The foods provided at the mansion were so lavish that even the faintest of sickly patients could walk around.
As a result, we decided to remain at the resort until Mar regained her strength, and—
‘What the?’
While looking at the city views, I spotted something strange.
At the café in front of the resort, a duo of blond and silver-haired women sat blankly on the terrace. They looked to be around Erich’s age.
It’s not unusual for young women to be spotted at tourist attractions, but it is indeed strange for those two to be here.
‘Were they still following us?’
The two presences that had trailed us. Initially, I had just recognized that someone was following us, but having taken the time to enjoy the sights, I confirmed their faces. Those two are without a doubt the ones who had been tailing Mar and me.
‘Why?’
It was perplexing. There wasn’t any overt hostility, yet they were still hanging around in front of the resort waiting indefinitely? What could they be aiming for?
It’s not entirely incomprehensible. If a significant figure from a foreign nation is present in their country, it’s reasonable for them to keep an eye out. Assigning people to monitor for unexpected events falls within acceptable parameters.
But if they were appointed to be discreet, wouldn’t they need to be a bit more elusive…?
“Mind if we chat for a minute?”
So I headed down to the café while Mar slept. I was planning to overlook the situation, but given this bizarre tail, I simply couldn’t ignore it.
What sort of stalker operates like this? If a person like that exists within the Information Department, I would’ve crushed them myself.
“Uh, um, so…”
As I approached, the blond woman stammered, her eyes darting around.
“Um, so…”
“What is it?”
Encouraging the hesitant blond, she shut her eyes tightly and suddenly bent forward.
“It’s an honor! I get to meet the one who has reached the pinnacle of the sword so closely! I’m Alice Newdue! It’s the glory of my life!”
With a booming voice too.
‘Newdue?’
Simultaneously, my mind began racing.
If it’s Newdue, isn’t that from the Jerano royal family? Alice is indeed the name of Jerano’s first princess.
…
‘Crap.’
Why did I even come down? I should’ve stuck to my plan of ignoring everything.
“U-um, I heard that the greatest swordmaster is in Narvesia, so I wanted to meet the one who has reached the pinnacle. I’m so sorry if I was a bother!”
Meanwhile, Alice, still bent over, cried out in desperation. Like a devotee confessing sins.
“If you wanted to see me so badly, why didn’t you just say something instead of watching from afar?”
“I-I felt it would be disrespectful to disturb a couple’s time…”
That was surprisingly sensible, causing me to chuckle.
This is someone who dashed from the royal palace to Narvesia to track me down, pursuing me all day long, and guarding the café for two days straight. And yet, now that she’s here, she’s concerned about interrupting my time together with Mar? Is this normal or some kind of eccentric behavior?
‘Interesting person.’
Surprisingly, I didn’t feel particularly angry or uncomfortable.
Maybe I had already adapted to that spicy prince back in Armeine, as this felt mild in comparison.
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