Julius Manor, Arthur’s private parlor.

Arthur summoned several of his trusted knights and Tristan to speak.

“The Sanctuary door is too easily breached.”

Complaining that visitors kept knocking and barging in, even when he didn’t want them to, Arthur expressed his desire to his subordinates that such things should no longer happen.

“Make sure it doesn’t.”

“Understood.”

“Leave it to us.”

His subordinates growled with stern faces.

The fact that such an incident occurred meant that Arthur, the rolling stone, was not securely established in the duchy, implying vulnerability.

Insisting on the need to establish Arthur as an heir and ruler who commands his own respected area within the duchy, they decided to bring in Arthur’s knights and establish their territory in the manor.

The purpose was to have Arthur’s people wander within the manor, naturally displaying knights holding their positions, and familiarize the manor folks with the rightful heir.

“Good.”

Arthur gave a slight smile.

“As you all know, we have to go to the capital. In the meantime, prepare well so my place here doesn’t get messy.”

“Do not worry.”

Before they leave their positions, he must be recognized as a firm heir in this duchy, not a guest.

Leaving the manor and visiting the capital should not be seen as a guest’s outing.

Arthur needs to establish himself as the ruler of the house, equal to the Duke, as quickly as possible.

If not, it would be twice as hard for him to regain his place in Julius when he returned.

The knight, who was a mercenary, Lucan grumbled.

“It’s still uneasy even with the contract guaranteed by the royal palace.”

Another knight, Assistant K, flipping the notebook in his hand, spoke.

“We can’t help it. The position of the heir who came in as a soninlaw is unstable.”

The explanation continued.

“Look at the historical precedents of other families. Nullified for the lack of a wedding night, nullified for the death of a daughter, even nullified for a unilateral divorce, there are plenty of soninlaws who’ve been messed up for all sorts of reasons.”

Lucan, who had been listening quietly, puckered his lips and suddenly asked Arthur.

“Your Highness. You’ve surely done the marriage contract, right? And the others too.”

Arthur did not answer the implied question. Instead, K answered.

“Fortunately, thanks to the royal family, you did not get your nose cut off with the contract. If you participate in the war under the name of Julius for more than six months, unilateral divorce from Julius’ side is impossible. If you participate for more than two years, even if ‘Christina’ dies or goes missing, your rights as an heir are recognized.”

Flipping the page of the notebook that exactly copied the contents of the contract, K continued his words.

“And if you make a significant contribution to the battlefield under the name ‘Julius’, you will be recognized as having equal joint ruling rights with the ‘Family Head’. ……This is such a favorable clause that it’s too much from the royal palace. I wonder how the Duke accepted this clause.”

The knights were excitedly chewing gum.

“He must have thought he wouldn’t come back alive.”

“He worked so hard to die, but he proudly made a ‘significant contribution’ and came back. How embarrassed he must have been.”

K flipped the page leisurely with a smirk.

“Of course, ‘significant contribution’ is open to interpretation, but for now, well……”

Enjoying the thrilling aftertaste on the knights’ faces, K spoke again leisurely.

“In the event of a noble death, the marriage is as if it never happened, and the dowry is fully refunded. This clause is a bit disappointing, but now it’s already an irrelevant clause.”

The knights laughed like little devils as if it was a joke.

While consolidating Arthur’s position as a ‘joint ruler’ equal to the Duke in this mansion, it was followed by a discussion that legal advice on the marriage contract should be received once more.

“……”

On the other hand, Tristan, who was letting the knights’ talk go in one ear and out the other, was thinking a little differently.

A little while ago.

Even though he was talking about such an unpleasant incident, Arthur oddly didn’t seem to be in such a bad mood.

Of course, whether he was happy or upset, whether he was persuading or threatening, Arthur always smiled.

Tristan, who had been with him for a long time, tended to feel Arthur’s mood relatively accurately.

‘……Why is he in a good mood?’

Tristan suspiciously looked at the door leading to the sanctuary behind Arthur.

“The lady will stay by my side for a while.”

“Treat her with the utmost courtesy too.”

Tristan hardened his gaze with a serious face.

“To match the status of Christina Julius.”

“……”

I was thinking that you must have a purpose….

Could this be… a dangerous situation?

An alarm rang in my heart.

I told you to be careful because she’s a woman with a manly edge….

Should I have spoken more explicitly and directly?

She could be a woman trying to fleece you.