The story the emperor brought up was of a completely unexpected kind.

“I heard that the duke and duchess are continuing a good relationship with Joshua.”

I never expected him to show a parent-like aspect here.

This is totally like that.

Parents saying, ‘I heard you’re friends with our child. Please continue to be close with them in the future.’

After pondering for a moment, I obediently nodded my head.

“Yes. That’s correct. Since you visited the mansion before, it became a connection, and we are continuing a good exchange.”

“Hoho. Nothing makes me happier than my beloved son and the couple I cherish being close. So I was thinking, how about staying at the imperial palace during this banquet?”

“…At the imperial palace?”

“Yes. In fact, I’ve already prepared a guest room for the duke and duchess. Haha. Is this what they call a surprise gift?”

Like a boss laughing at his own unfunny joke, the emperor continued to burst into laughter.

The scary thing about this laughter was that it created an atmosphere where the listener couldn’t refuse.

If I were to refuse here, it would mean that the smile on the emperor’s face would disappear.

What could be more dangerous than erasing your boss’s smile?

Moreover, now that it came out of the emperor’s mouth, this was not a mere suggestion.

“Perhaps, you don’t like it?”

An order. Or a threat.

But why is he forcing something like this?

What’s the reason for keeping us at the imperial family’s place for the 3 days of the banquet?

Is he keeping us by his side because he’s worried we’ll run away in the middle?

Whatever the case, reciting once again the dirty ways of the world that you need power to be respected, I showed a smile.

“Of course not. Thank you for your consideration. Right, honey?”

“…Yes. Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Hoho. Then I’ll have my attendant guide you to the room…”

That’s when it happened.

With the sound of someone urgently knocking on the door, a pale attendant came running in.

“Oh my, I was having a conversation with the duke and duchess. What insolence…!”

The emperor, who was loudly rebuking, shut his mouth after hearing the attendant’s whisper. And with his eyes wide open, he asked back to the attendant.

“What did you say? At Langton Strait?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The complexion that darkened in an instant was telling us that something unusual was happening.

What’s going on with him acting like that?

Half curiosity, half not wanting to know.

No. I think it’s better not to know.

“Phew. I see. You may leave now.”

With a sigh, the emperor gestured and the attendant who glanced at us bowed and left.

I sneakily observed the situation.

Is this the timing to leave?

Should I say I’ll get going since he seems busy?

Just as I was about to open my mouth, the emperor spoke first.

“This is serious. Someone has reported spotting a magic beast near Langton Strait in the south.”

“A magic beast was spotted at Langton Strait?”

Dante, who had been silent throughout the conversation, asked back with a serious face.

The emperor, covering his forehead, nodded with a groan.

“Yes. I don’t know how the magic beasts spread that far. Does the duke have any guesses?”

“No. I don’t.”

“Ahem. I see. However, according to the reports you’ve been sending, there have been anomalies in the Ice Lands. Additionally, the appearance of magic beasts has also become relatively frequent.”

What? There were anomalies in the Ice Lands?

At the story I was hearing for the first time, I unconsciously looked up at the side of Dante’s face.

He looked like someone trying hard to hold back a furrowing brow.

“Even if anomalies occurred in the Ice Lands, the place where magic power flows out has always been the Ice Lands. Naturally, the places where magic beasts appear are near the northern forests and Ice Lands. As I mentioned in the letter, the magic beasts discovered in the northern forests were immediately dealt with on the spot.”

“None were let go?”

“None. Even if there were, it’s impossible for magic beasts from the northern forests to reach Langton Strait without leaving a single trace. It’s more likely that the witness saw something else and was mistaken.”

At the answer without any fluff, the emperor nodded his head.

“Yes. That could be the case too. However, it doesn’t hurt to check whether it’s a mistake or not. Don’t you agree, duke?”

“…Are you thinking of sending me?”

“Don’t you know that you are the talent I trust and cherish the most?”

I couldn’t even bring myself to laugh at those words.

Trust and cherish, he says.

“Duke, please go directly to Langton Strait and thoroughly investigate if there are any magic beasts. I won’t feel at ease unless it’s you, so I’m asking this favor.”

At the emperor’s words, Dante’s expression froze coldly.

Next to his tightly closed lips, the muscles of his jaw protruded.

Despite the extremely disrespectful expression, the emperor showed no reaction.

“Duke. Unfortunately, this is an order from the emperor.”

He only said that as if he was truly sorry.

Suddenly going to Langton Strait.

Dante was so dumbfounded that his head hurt.

He was aware that he needed to manage his expression, but it was absolutely impossible.

Langton Strait in the south was a place that took a full three days just to get there.

And this was assuming a plan where they would travel without rest.

Since he was going to check for magic beasts, he would have to take some knights along.

‘Even if we die, it will take more than three days.’

No matter what, it would take at least four days.

Four days to go. Four days to come back.

The travel time alone would easily exceed eight days.

Even though this long journey was suddenly decided, Dante had no excuse to refuse.

Protecting the empire from magic beasts was a task that the Richters had been in charge of for a long time.

Moreover, now that the emperor had uttered an ‘order’, there was even less of an excuse to refuse.

“…I understand. As you command, I will investigate Langton Strait and return.”

“Yes. The duke always works hard. Just in case, the duchess doesn’t need to worry. I’ll tell them to treat her preciously as my honored guest until you return.”

As if he was going to offer a carrot after the whip.

At the tone that sounded like comforting a crying child, he had to grit his teeth again.

Not long after the Langton trip was decided, a group of knights was formed to travel with him.

The departure was today.

It was a very tight schedule, but when it came to matters related to magic beasts, they had to move quickly, fighting for every moment.

He could barely find time to exchange greetings with Serpina.

“Be careful and come back safely. Don’t get hurt.”

“I’ll be back. Be careful not to catch a cold. Make sure to cover yourself well with the blanket when sleeping, don’t be picky with food, and eat your meals properly.”

“Aye. Am I a child? I’ll be living healthily and vigorously, so don’t worry and just come back safely.”

The two lightly kissed and parted.

“Your Grace. It’s about time to depart.”

Just then, a knight’s call was heard. Dante looked back at Serpina several times with lingering eyes, and only after the knight called him again with an awkward expression did he completely turn his back.

Even so, it seemed like his feet weren’t moving, as he kept hesitating.

“Geez. He’s going to break his neck like that.”

Serpina, who murmured playfully, waved her hand until Dante’s back was out of sight.

But.

In fact, the one whose feet wouldn’t move was herself.

‘He said the travel time alone would take eight days.’

Being apart like this was the first time since Dante left for my sake right after our marriage.

In other words, it was the first long-distance gap we were facing since our relationship improved.

Even after the carriage Dante boarded left, Serpina stood rooted in place for a long time.

The sound of the carriage coming from afar only sounded spiteful to her.

The person who made her move was none other than the emperor.

“His Majesty is looking for the duchess.”

What is this about?

He’s looking for me again?

To be summoned by the emperor twice a day.

Serpina couldn’t hide her bewilderment. Moreover, this time she was going to have an audience with the emperor alone, so she was even more nervous.

‘Having Dante by my side makes a world of difference.’

Trying to settle her trembling heart, she headed to the audience chamber again.

The emperor, who was waiting for her, offered her a seat just like before.

“I only feel sorry for Madam Richter. It’s as if I’ve taken away the husband who should be by your side at the banquet.”

“No, it’s unavoidable given the situation.”

“Still, I feel so sorry I can’t stand it. How can I let the duchess wander around without an escort partner?”

…No, was having a partner that important?

Does something faint-worthy happen at the banquet if you don’t have a partner? Like, getting kicked out?

As she was pondering if there were any rules of high society that she didn’t know about, that moment came.

Knock knock.

At the sound of the knock, the emperor’s gloomy complexion brightened.