This Life, I Will Save The Duke (20 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 4
“Edward, please purchase the Malaba territory in the southern part of the Empire—in Elia Camelon’s name.”
Edward was the court mage of Retiana, but he was also a noble of the Cladeos Empire. His family name happened to be Camelon, and Ariel had fabricated a false identity for herself as his younger sister.
Elia Camelon.
“Ariel, this land is abandoned. It’s far too hot and humid—not suitable for people to live.”
Ariel’s eyes sparkled.
“I know that well, Edward. I have my reasons. Here’s the certificate for the Tris vault. Please use this to make the payment.”
It was the only money Ariel currently possessed. Since her homeland was poor, even members of the royal family received only minimal allowances for daily expenses.
Whether it was saving Kaius or avoiding Ludvian, both required substantial funds—and Ariel knew exactly how to earn money. During her previous life, while searching for plants suitable for greenhouse cultivation, she had learned about pepper. Right now, no one knew the value of this plant, so she could buy the Malaba territory in southern Cladeos—where pepper grew—at a bargain price.
Meanwhile, Ariel had begun subscribing to Cladeos Empire’s news gazettes, even tracking down back issues from the royal archives dating five years prior.
Kaius von Elbaltan—she needed to understand him better. Though he had been her husband in her past life, she actually knew very little about him. They had shared a house for only six months, nothing more.
[Young Duke of House Elbaltan—top graduate of Cladeos Imperial Knight Academy.]He had been remarkably intelligent since childhood.
Five years ago, the demon realm launched its invasion of the Mazerath continent.
[Duke Elbaltan fell in battle against the demon realm.] [Kaius von Elbaltan inherits the dukedom at twenty years of age.] [Cladeos Imperial Palace invaded by monsters—Emperor and Empress deceased.] [Hart von Cladeos ascends the imperial throne.] [Breaking News—Kaius von Elbaltan leads the five-year war against the demon realm to victory.] [Breaking News—Mazerath Continent—sudden armistice agreement signed with the demon realm.] [Hero of the Century—Reincarnation of a Celestial God: Kaius von Elbaltan.]By age twenty-five, Kaius had become the hero who vanquished the demon realm—precisely why Ludvian targeted him.
Half a year after Ariel began cultivating demon realm flowers, news arrived as expected: marriage negotiations had commenced between Kaius and Lady Catherine von Lantiano. However, in just one month’s time, Emperor Hart would forcibly order Kaius to marry Ariel instead—and Lady Lantiano was destined to wed Emperor Hart herself and become Empress.
Right about now, Kaius would be exhausted both mentally and physically from relentless battles against unpredictable monster attacks. Should she write him a letter warning him to watch his food? Or perhaps advise him to replace all his servants? She pondered fiercely but found no viable solution. Any new servants would swiftly become Ludvian’s spies, and sending letters was far too risky.
Moreover, whenever Ariel ventured even slightly away from the palace, Ludvian would soon appear, blocking her path and insisting they move together.
Just as Ariel closed the gazette detailing the marriage talks between Kaius and Lady Lantiano, Anna entered.
“I’m back. Here’s a new artifact.”
Anna held out the artifact she’d received from Edward.
Her hair had become slightly darker gray; her eyes a touch browner—subtle changes, made gradually so no one would notice.
“Why on earth are you changing your beautiful eyes and hair?”
Ariel gave Anna a gentle smile and replied softly,
“I’ll tell you when the time comes.”
***
A month after Zaphros bloomed, Ariel received some utterly shocking news.
“Father, what does this mean? Lord Beloas—a marquis now?”
Having overheard the maids gossiping, Ariel rushed straight to her father’s office in astonishment.
“Ariel, you see—Marquis Beloas discovered a mana crystal mine and a gold mine in the Kelly Mountains.”
The Kelly Mountains were so deep and treacherous that ancestors had conducted numerous surveys over generations yet discovered nothing.
“But that place is too dangerous for laborers to enter! If it can’t be developed, it’s useless!”
“Actually, Marquis Beloas also found a passable route into the mountains. Turns out there was an unexpected path into that previously inaccessible terrain.”
In that moment, she fully understood how he’d earned a marquis title. Seeing the smile on her father’s lips, Ariel was left speechless. Given the kingdom’s dire financial state, she could understand her father’s reasoning.
“Still, isn’t gratitude enough? A baron’s title would’ve sufficed for such a contribution—normally, purchased titles don’t go beyond baron, right?”
“These two mines contain massive reserves. Besides, although we granted him a marquisate, it’s an honorary title—no territory attached, non-hereditary. So don’t worry too much.”
Though Ariel couldn’t know precisely why Ludvian revealed that information or sought a marquis title, she could guess. He clearly already had her father’s trust—and would now enjoy even freer access to the palace than before.
“Father, still… he’s a foreigner. Please don’t get too close to him.”
***
At that very moment when Ariel met her father, in the Cladeos Empire…
Spring had fully arrived at Tris territory in the north, belonging to Duke Elbaltan. Warm sunlight, clear skies and lakes, fresh forest scents, and busy servants moving about—all signaled peaceful daily life.
Yet amid this calm, only one person—the master of the ducal manor, Kaius—wore a cold expression. In his hand lay the Emperor’s letter urging him to hurry with his marriage to Princess Retiana. Emperor Hart was clearly desperate to wed him off to the princess of a poor kingdom.
Though the betrothal with Princess Retiana had been finalized a month ago, Kaius hadn’t moved. It wasn’t even a matter of liking or disliking the marriage.
Ever since monster attacks began six months ago, marriage was the last thing on his mind. The monsters appeared within barriers, and until every last one was slain, he couldn’t leave. Only Kaius could pass through those barriers.
There was clearly something behind this.
Otherwise, such a fate wouldn’t fall on him alone. He’d been investigating from every possible angle to uncover the cause—but found nothing. As Kaius let out a quiet sigh and set the Emperor’s letter down, his aide Lemon’s voice reached him.
“Your Grace, Lord Rashid has arrived.”
The office door opened soon after, and his friend Marquis Rashid von Baltesran entered—accompanied by Lemon.
“Kaius, still no new developments. Even the Archpriest said he’s never heard of anything like this.”
Kaius stood up from his desk with another quiet sigh. He’d quietly asked Rashid’s younger sibling, who served at the temple, to investigate—and every month the answer remained the same.
No one knows.
Kaius took a bottle of wine from the display cabinet and sat opposite Rashid on the sofa.
“Your Grace, your wound hasn’t healed yet.”
At Lemon’s worried remark as Kaius raised the wine to his lips, Rashid pulled a small box from his coat.
“I couldn’t secure many potions.”
Inside the box were only three potions. Kaius took one and drank it in one gulp. The wound he’d sustained last night closed, and the pain faded. The monsters grew stronger and more numerous by the day. With no idea how long these attacks would last, enduring them became increasingly difficult.
***
Spring passed at Tris territory, then summer came and went—but Kaius uncovered nothing.
“Your Grace, only one potion remains.”
Kaius had been injured even more frequently since then. Sleep-deprived and exhausted, his already cool temperament grew even more icy. Meanwhile, the Emperor’s monthly letters pressing him to marry kept arriving.
By the time autumn began—roughly six months after Emperor Hart issued the forced engagement decree—Kaius received the Emperor’s final ultimatum:
“Shall I consider your refusal as defiance of imperial command?”
Over the next few days, Kaius investigated Princess Ariel and learned she had another man. Already reluctant about the marriage, he resolved to cancel the engagement and departed for Retiana.
***
[Kaius von Elbaltan finally departs for the Kingdom of Retiana. Is it for his betrothal?]So he’s finally coming. Then she must do everything in her power to change his mind—ensuring they marry even sooner than in her previous life. Just as Ariel set down today’s gazette, Anna entered.
“Lady Ariel, we’ve received another request to meet with the representative of Elia Company.”
Anna rushed in excitedly. Elia Company had been established after purchasing Malaba territory, and was now fully dedicated to cultivating pepper by deploying personnel. Though initially started simply to earn money, Ariel found herself responsible for many more people than anticipated.
Rather than treating them as mere tenant farmers, she employed them as official company staff and offered greater benefits. She’d learned this approach by observing Kaius manage companies in her past life. The Elbaltan dukedom’s solid foundation lay not only in centuries of noble legitimacy but also in its robust economic strength.
Thus, if one learns, one should act.
It had begun as a small endeavor.
Ariel’s mind was filled with only two thoughts: saving Kaius and driving the demons from this land.
“Who contacted us?”
“A company called Caldenbach in the Cladeos Empire. According to Lord Edward, it’s an extremely prominent company there.”
Caldenbach? She was certain she’d heard that name before.
“Oh…”
Suddenly, she recalled Kaius occasionally mentioning that his reason for leaving home was to attend Caldenbach’s board meetings.
When the male lead is punished by carrying the female lead’s child and having periods like a woman
“I’ve given birth to two children for you, yet you still think about him.
Was I nothing but his substitute to you from beginning to end?”
Synopsis:
Meng Huan, a scumbag who has dated countless girlfriends, transmigrates to a female-dominated country.
Day 1: Whether it’s female dominance or not doesn’t matter. The beauties here are passionate and amorous. Isn’t it easier to date them than in modern times?
Day 2: After a night, Meng Huan discovers the differences in the female-dominated world. Men here actually have chastity locks and menstrual cycles. This hinders his ability to perform, damn it!
Day 3: What’s wrong with sleeping around? I don’t want you to marry me. I’m meant to be a playboy. I don’t care about male virtues… What? You want to drown me in a pig cage? Marry, I’ll marry!
Day N: Meng Huan inexplicably vomits and receives the shocking news of his life… He’s pregnant.
_____
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MANGA DISCUSSION
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Chapter Comments (10)
Kaius finally made his appearance! Oh, my heart. This man won’t give in even when he’s injured hahahaha there he was, bleeding out, and on top of that, refusing to let Ariel heal him. But her too… she could have walked in like a normal person instead of a spy out to kill him. Oh well, it is what it is.
I hope she manages to heal him and, that way, convinces him that she’s the best wife he’ll ever have.I’m surprised that she changes her appearance. I still don’t quite understand why she does something like that and why Kaius shouldn’t see it. She’s supposed to want to marry him, so ideally, he should know what her skills are and what she looks like. I guess it will be explained later on.
And I hope she manages to get rid of Ludvian. If she succeeds in marrying the duke, there will be nothing stopping her from saving him.
Finally! So, she changed her appearance because in her past life, Kaius found her looks annoying, but now, he saw her and thought she was beautiful. I feel like he didn’t actually dislike her back then, he was just jealous of other men looking at her.
It also breaks my heart that he rejected her. I wanted them to go to the festival together! And now only that jerk Ludvian is left TwT
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Rahzel Everlasting
Wow, I’m surprised by how much smarter Ariel is than I expected. And that she remembers so many things from her past life. It’s so refreshing to see how she operates and sets her own foundations to get everything she wants.
I love Kaius; not only did he kick the Emperor to the curb, but he even called off the engagement. I hope Ariel does everything she can to win him over.