Received the Obsession of a Chaste Dark Lord (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 7

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Oh, miss, no—Your Highness Vi. Why did you arrive so quickly?

As I returned to my room with the contract in hand, Betty rushed over, her face startled, while busily packing her belongings.

All the maids, who had been moving with precision, suddenly stopped and bowed their heads to me.

I gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

It was important to learn about the maids who would serve me from now on, but right now, I wanted to speak privately with Betty.

“Let’s defer formal introductions for later. Betty, come with me for a moment.”

“Huh? Miss—no, Your Highness Vi. I still need to finish packing…”

“Just a moment, Betty.”

To my surprise, it was Betty who jumped in shock at my words.

But I lightly brushed it off and walked past the maids, who had resumed their tasks, leading her to a corner of the room.

“Oh dear, Your Highness Vi, I’m the only maid sent from the Saga. I really should get back.”

“I know. When you’re done packing, send this to Guild Master Hailey. She needs to authenticate it.”

“Authenticate? What is this?”

As I handed her the neatly folded contract, Betty’s eyes widened in astonishment.

It was no surprise she reacted so strongly—I had asked her to contact Hailey, who rarely bothered with trivial matters.

Moreover, it was odd enough that someone who had just returned from her wedding night would suddenly produce a contract.

But I merely shook my head and slipped the folded contract into Betty’s pocket.

“Do not let anyone else see its contents. Tell them to keep it in my study for now.”

“But—how can someone who just spent a romantic night suddenly be talking about work?”

“Romantic or not, it’s a secret from everyone else. Understood?”

“Understood. Ugh, fine. Then you’d better start preparing for your honeymoon, Your Highness Vi.”

“Understood. Please keep the service to a minimum.”

“Of course, of course. I’ve already informed the head maid of Your Highness Vi’s chambers, so don’t worry.”

Betty nodded as she pushed the contract deeper into her pocket.

Then she spun around and pointed to a few of the bustling maids.

“Mari, Tilda—the Highness wishes to bathe. Has the tub and warm water been prepared?”

The maids named Mari and Tilda nodded and hurried off to the bath.

They had served me in my previous life, but now, they were supposed to be complete strangers to me.

How on earth had we become so close overnight?

I gave Betty a questioning look, and she merely shrugged with her signature “What’s the problem?” expression.

Her expression was so familiar—and so dear—that I couldn’t help laughing out loud.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Amelia.”

“…”

“Ria.”

“…”

“Amelia Reinhardt.”

“Oh, yes, Your Highness? You called?”

Startled, I turned my head from gazing blankly out the window.

Either last night had been too exhausting, or the bathwater had been too perfect—I felt utterly languid.

I nearly fell asleep while bathing, and still drowsy, I finished my grooming and boarded the carriage for our honeymoon.

I was so dazed that, while making sure each maid packed my belongings, I didn’t wait for Leopric—who had come to escort me—and he simply climbed into the carriage on his own.

His face, when he arrived moments later, was clearly displeased, but I deliberately looked away.

Without asking where we were going or saying another word, I kept staring out the window.

Perhaps the silence annoyed him, for when he looked at me with dazed eyes after calling my name, his expression seemed distinctly irritated.

“Is the outside really that fascinating?”

“…Huh?”

“I’ve noticed you haven’t once looked at me since we departed. What’s out there that holds your gaze so tightly?”

“Oh, that’s…”

I hadn’t been unable to look away—I simply hadn’t thought to look away.

Trending

But I couldn’t just tell him I was tired, not when he seemed so put out.

I forced a small smile and shook my head.

“It’s not particularly interesting. I suppose I’m just curious—I rarely leave the capital.”

“You’ve never left the capital?”

I replied casually, and Leopric’s eyes widened in genuine shock.

It was me who was surprised by his reaction.

“Is it so astonishing that I’ve never left the capital? Most noble ladies probably haven’t either.”

“But you manage the Trading Company.”

“Even without visiting the regions personally, one can manage the company effectively with capable assistants and proper knowledge.”

A foolish mind burdens the body.

Since childhood, I had learned from my father: handle court affairs in the capital, and send trusted agents to the provinces to report back.

“There’s plenty to do in the capital—I can’t possibly visit every location myself.”

Of course, I understood that accurate decisions required accurate knowledge of local conditions.

But my father, worried I would become too absorbed in company affairs at a young age, had agreed that until my marriage, I would delegate provincial matters to my assistants.

“I was shortsighted. I assumed you had traveled extensively and knew the best places better than I do.”

“I understand. Most people think that way.”

I nodded dismissively.

Leopric wasn’t the only one.

Indeed, many assumed that because I managed the Trading Company, I had seen far more than others.

But sadly, having failed to meet my father’s conditions, I was still a frog in a well.

Still, that was the usual story everyone told, so I didn’t care much—until his next words made the lingering drowsiness vanish entirely.

“I thought we’d go to Waince rather than the nearby Hameln—it has more sights to offer.”

“…But wasn’t our honeymoon already decided to be Hameln?”

Waince? Suddenly Waince?

Our honeymoon destination had been one of the matters settled before the wedding by his assistant, who had acted on my behalf while I was busy.

He had argued—given his busy schedule—that we should keep the trip as close as possible, for appearances’ sake.

I, having no desire to spend much time with him, had nodded without protest.

His assistant agreed it would suit him well, and I had replied it sounded fine enough—and that was the end of it.

Now, out of nowhere?

“Either way, Hameln and Waince are only a few days apart.”

I blinked at him in surprise, and he gave an awkward smile, meeting my gaze.

“Hameln is just open fields—there’s nothing to see. I thought Waince, a port trading city, would be more enjoyable for you.”

“But Your Highness, this trip was planned before the wedding. The Lord of Hameln is surely waiting for us.”

“I’ve already sent Arnold ahead. He’ll explain everything.”

Wait—someone who claimed to be too busy to spare time even for his assistant now changed the destination by sending his assistant?

Waince was at least three full days farther than Hameln.

From the capital to Waince took four days total—four days there, four days back. There’d be little time to stay.

Even for a honeymoon, he was the Crown Prince—he must return to the capital.

Only yesterday, he had firmly insisted that anywhere more than a day from the capital was too difficult due to his schedule.

What sudden whim was this?

…Or perhaps, had something urgent arisen in Waince?

As I pondered the sudden change in destination, I reached my own conclusion.

There must be some political reason he could not—or had not yet—shared with me.

Otherwise, there was no reason to alter the destination so abruptly.

I exhaled softly, accepting this.

“You should have told me sooner. I fear I haven’t packed enough.”

“I’ve already informed your maids. Don’t worry.”

And you can purchase anything you need in Waince.

Leopric smiled faintly and tilted his head slightly.

His expression was so clearly “I’m very wealthy” that I couldn’t help smiling.

ads

Did all men feel the need to flaunt such things?

Recalling an anonymous nobleman at a ball who had once boasted of his riches to me, I gave a quiet chuckle.

“If you told Betty beforehand, that would be fine. She’ll probably have everything prepared.”

“But you might find something you like there.”

He smiled again, gently.

Sunlight streamed through the carriage window, glinting off his golden hair, and his red eyes—softly curved toward me—seemed almost deliberately alluring.

I shook my head.

“I’m not impulsive about purchases. Besides, I may not have time to stroll leisurely.”

“Buying something suitable isn’t impulsive. And it’s a honeymoon—why wouldn’t you have time to stroll?”

His voice had grown even calmer.

No—lower, almost.

It sounded exactly like the voice he had used last night, when he had offered me impossible temptations, and I shivered slightly.

“Isn’t that obvious, Your Highness? You are the Crown Prince.”

I replied as casually as I could, and for the first time, confusion flickered across Leopric’s face.

“You mean nobles will flock to Waince just because I’m there?”

“Yes. I imagine numerous noble houses will send invitations to parties and dinners as soon as we arrive.”

It always happened.

Wherever a higher-ranking person appeared, there were always those who would never miss the chance to pay their respects.

And even though I didn’t fully understand the capital’s politics, I knew noble families were surely already waiting in Waince, eager to court favor.

In my previous life, I remembered how crowds never left him once he became Crown Prince.

So why, now, did he look as if he hadn’t even considered it?

And he, the one who changed our destination for some political reason he hadn’t told me.

Rather than me looking confused, he let out a quiet, exasperated hum.

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