Several days passed. Rublion and the twins were getting along quite well.

Or to be more precise, it would be correct to say he was playing with the twins. Rambermon and Riena fought like siblings, swinging fists and pulling hair, while Rublion skillfully played the role of leader, breaking up fights and keeping them in line.

The advantage was that the children acted more childlike and became cuter, while the disadvantage was that it consumed a lot of energy, causing him to collapse by early evening.

Askal, who left work early for the first time in a while, quietly observed Rublion sleeping exhaustedly.

After the twins arrived, he seemed to use a lot of energy, so he ate more and slept longer and deeper, according to the butler. Askal added a word not to overdo it as he closed the door.

“Where is the young lady?”

“She is in conversation with Lady Rieta.”

“Hmm…”

It seemed she was spending a lot of time with her lately. Askal didn’t like that.

‘I feel left out.’

It was a typical evening. Schmidt welcomed him in the lobby when he returned from work, and they exchanged greetings warmly as usual. Though nothing was different from normal, he felt strangely off.

He turned his steps to meet Schmidt. He just planned to check on her briefly. He thought he might have a chance to be alone with her if he was lucky.

Entering the wide open room, only Rieta was sitting at the tea table, as Schmidt had stepped out momentarily.

“Are you alone?”

“D-Duke?”

Startled by the unexpected voice, Rieta flinched. Then she rolled her confused eyes around before abruptly standing up. And without a word, she rushed out as if escaping.

Schmidt approached the puzzled Askal who didn’t understand what happened. She seemed to have just washed her hands in the bathroom.

“Ah, Rieta left.”

“I didn’t do anything. I just asked if she was alone.”

He said preemptively, worried there might be a misunderstanding. Schmidt shrugged nonchalantly and said,

“I earnestly requested that she not be alone with you, Duke.”

“…”

It took time to interpret the hidden meaning in these brief words. Askal barely held back a laugh. His chest tingled.

‘Is she jealous?’

Is that why she said not to be alone together? The corners of his mouth twitched. Schmidt looked at him quizzically, but he paid no mind.

Askal gestured with his chin towards where Rieta had disappeared. Schmidt poked her head out into the hallway to check, then closed the door.

“There’s tea left, would you like some?”

“If it’s alright with the young lady.”

He sat down in the chair politely. It was impossible to turn away from this adorable woman before him.

Bang.

After hearing the knight’s report, Maybelle slammed her fist on the desk. Then she slowly turned her neck to prevent her blood pressure from rising.

“What… did you just say? Say it again.”

“Teravita’s illegitimate children are at the Artenbach mansion.”

The knight had a terrified look on his face. Knowing well the cruelty of the master he served, he feared becoming the scapegoat for her emotions.

“There’s no way those kids would have gone there on their own. How dare they so boldly… Ha!”

Maybelle crushed the cigar in her hand with a crunch.

“What should we do?”

“I don’t know about anything else, but we absolutely can’t touch the Artenbach mansion. I know that well.”

It was a place guarded flawlessly by iron-fortress level security and skilled Artenbach knights. It wasn’t for nothing that it had the nickname of ‘fortress without walls’.

“Bring that bastard to me. He must pay for daring to toy with me.”

She combed her hair with her fingers, lips curled in a sneer. Just as the knights were about to leave after receiving orders.

“I did not toy with you.”

Ranson appeared with Roompuss’s butler. Maybelle glared at him as if she would kill him for showing up on his own.

“How dare you steal what’s mine?”

“You seem to be misunderstanding something, but the Duke never had my siblings, so he didn’t steal them.”

“Shut up!”

A bundle of cigars fell at Ranson’s feet. She had thrown it.

“Duke Roompuss, think carefully. My siblings will do anything I tell them to.”

“So what…”

Maybelle’s mouth that was about to rage shut tightly. Only the ticking of the clock pendulum could be heard.

After some time passed.

Having finished assessing the situation, she soon smiled faintly as if pleased.

“Go on, illegitimate child of Teravita.”

Her fingers tapping on the desk showed expectation.

“My siblings will bring back very good information from the Artenbach mansion. It’s like building a bridge to the fortress without walls.”

“Askal wouldn’t let others into the mansion so easily.”

Ranson said as he sat on the sofa with a relaxed demeanor.

“He’s weak to children. It was unexpected.”

Maybelle snickered.

“Are you telling me to believe that?”

“Didn’t you say you’d make me a duke?”

Ranson’s brown eyes shook, full of ambition.

“Literally, we’re walking the same path with different destinations. So at least for the moment we’re walking together, I’m trying my best.”

“…I don’t trust anyone but myself.”

“Do as you like. I’ve decided to trust you.”

Maybelle’s face hardened coldly. She was staring at Ranson with a terrifying expression as if she would draw her sword at any moment.

As if she could see right through his true intentions.

“Hey, illegitimate child of Teravita.”

“What.”

It was Maybelle who broke the long silence first.

“Don’t try to pull anything on me. I will never trust you.”

Instead of answering, Ranson got up and picked up the cigar that had fallen on the floor. Then he took out a matchbox from his pocket and tossed it onto the desk where she was sitting.

Finally, the long-awaited day arrived. Since we weren’t having a ceremony, I thought I’d just dress casually, but early in the morning the butler brought a large box, saying I must wear this dress, and left it.

Anna opened the box to show me the dress. The pink wedding dress, similar to my hair color, was clearly not something that could be worn easily just by glancing at it.

‘It’s burdensome.’

It was an outfit that should be worn for the ceremony, but I decided to wear it out of consideration for the person who prepared it.

The preparations proceeded smoothly. Decorations were pinned to my elaborately styled hair, and I wore the necklace Askal had given me before.

“It’s done, my lady.”

Anna brought over a full-length mirror to show me. The reflection of myself was truly beautiful. To exaggerate a bit, I looked like a fairy.

“…You look like a fairy.”

Rieta said as if enchanted. Feeling embarrassed for no reason, I waved my hand in response.

The Duke who came to my room was dressed in a tailcoat. The handkerchief pinned to his chest looked as if it was made from the same fabric as my dress, cut to match exactly.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes, shall we go now?”

I had clearly intended to go lightly and just make the marriage declaration. I didn’t plan to go wearing such an elaborate dress.

The important thing is, when my outfit changed, so did my thoughts. The me in the mirror was pretty even to my own eyes, and shone like a spring bride.

During the carriage ride to the cathedral, the Duke was silent. He just alternated between looking out the window and at me.

“You can look comfortably.”

Honestly, I felt a bit confident about my appearance. That’s why I gathered the courage to say it, but…

“Thank you for your consideration.”

After answering like that, the Duke only looked out the window. I wondered if he had misunderstood my words that it was okay to look.

The carriage soon arrived at the cathedral. The cardinal and people who would be witnesses were already there.

“Mom!”

Rublion saw me and waved his hand big. Rambermon and Riena who came out with him had their mouths wide open, looking around the magnificent interior of the cathedral.

“My lady, I’ve brought the person who will be your witness.”

The butler pointed to a chair. Baroness Tirel was sitting there.

“I heard from my husband that you’re doing the marriage declaration first because of the beast subjugation.”

“Yes, circumstances were such that it couldn’t be helped.”

“I heard you postponed the wedding for Artenbach’s sake? You, no, the Duchess is truly an example for everyone.”

“You flatter me, Baroness.”

“Ohohoho.”

Baroness Tirel called me Duchess. It felt strange.

“Now, please come this way.”

The cardinal on the platform spoke to us. Askal held out his hand for me to take.

It felt a bit awkward, so my mind went blank to the point where I wasn’t sure if I was walking properly. Even though it was a simple procedure, it hit me hard.

“First, I will read the marriage declaration.”

The cardinal, who only had hair on the sides, had a falsetto voice despite his large build and age. He first read the marriage declaration, then briefly advised on the mindset a married couple should have. Then we exchanged the rings we were going to use at the wedding ceremony and stood facing each other.

“Are we really going to kiss?”

I asked quietly so only Askal could hear.

“If my wife doesn’t want to, we can just pretend.”

To someone who doesn’t know, it would look like we’re whispering sweetly to each other.

I glanced at Rublion sitting in the witness seat with sparkling eyes. I didn’t want to just pretend for this moment of becoming a perfect family.

Then I belatedly realized that Askal’s way of speaking had changed.

“Did you just call me ‘wife’? And why the sudden formal speech… Please speak comfortably.”

“Is it burdensome?”

“A little.”

My heart was pounding. Whether it was because of his way of speaking or not, he who had always seemed scary looked especially kind and handsome today.

“Try to get used to it. I’ll also try to get used to speaking formally.”

My heart dropped to the floor. I felt like I would be enchanted by his gaze looking at me.

Askal held my head. Then he tilted his head slightly and came closer.

My lips felt parched. My breath quickened and my mind grew hazy.

I could hear his breathing right in front of me. Without realizing, I tightly closed my eyes.

Imagining his lips beyond the warm breath made my fingers tingle.

That’s when.

“May I?”

His moist voice was so thrilling it sent my reason far away.