Chapter 16

I began visiting the palace regularly.

Apparently, it’s not good for a married daughter to visit her parents’ home too often.

—It’s fine, I’m not here to see Father.

I walked down the familiar corridor of the outer palace, holding Eidan’s hand.

“Papa, chi?”

“Yes, that’s right. Eidan has memorized the way.”

Eidan pulled my hand, leading the way.

He is keeping his promise not to let go of my hand in the palace.

Eidan’s activities have increased, so he occasionally comes along on errands to the palace, under the pretext of delivering something to Rias.

Although he can get enough exercise in the palace gardens, going out seems to be especially exciting for him, and he is very happy.

I would like to take him shopping, but Rias firmly refused.

I also don’t know how dangerous it is, so I don’t think it’s worth pushing.

Just around the corner is Rias’s office, the Knight Commander’s room—today, I met someone unusually there.

Since it’s near the knights’ quarters, it’s not very popular with people other than the palace knights.

The palace knights and soldiers wear black uniforms, so the dress that suddenly appeared was very noticeable.

She is a beautiful woman. Our eyes met, and she bowed politely.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

“—You’re greeting me incorrectly.”

I recognized her face.

She is the daughter of the wealthy Guedas Earl. I believe she is not much older than me, but she is not yet married.

She wears a striking purple dress, but her beauty is not overshadowed by it. Her figure is also not hidden by the dress, which shows off her curves.

I stopped wearing a corset due to postpartum health issues, so her slim waist is... incredibly impressive.

“Excuse me. —Duchess.”

“You are Reila Guedas, aren’t you?”

“I am honored that you remember me.”

“Do you have business with the knights today?”

I believe her older brother is a knight.

“—Yes.”

Reila smiled smugly.

What? She seems unusually confrontational.

“I came to see Lord Rias.”

This... I hid Eidan behind me.

“Is that so? Is your husband here to see him?”

“Yes... hahaha.”

Her tone was suggestive.

If it were a while ago, I might have thought, ‘Oh, is this the type of woman my husband likes?’

But after being whispered to sweetly every day, I don’t think there’s any room for her to get in.

“If you have business, please go ahead.”

“No... not at all. I will wait since you are here.”

“...”

So, she doesn’t have any real business here, does she?

It’s a mystery.

I decided to ignore her and walk past.

“—Duchess, please tell the Duke that I am available anytime.”

Huh?

I want to praise myself for not breaking my smile. I think getting angry here would be exactly what she wants.

I restrained myself in front of the child. Reila... I realized she is a very unpleasant woman.

Well, yes. Rias was here all the time until Eidan turned one.

—Anytime...?

Huh...

“Papa!”

Eidan opened the door and ran towards the desk.

I told him he can let go of my hand in the office, so he quickly ran away.

After hugging Rias once, he quickly lost interest and came back.

“Cynthia. Thank you for coming.”

Rias’s face, as always, looked happy.

Today, seeing that face made me angry.

“—Cynthia? Is something wrong?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your... expression.”

Was my frustration showing on my face?

Because, we don’t exactly confirm our love, but we are married. There should be some basic courtesy.

If he was going to cheat, couldn’t he have found a more decent woman?

“What’s wrong with my face?”

“Are you angry?”

“No.”

“But... no. You are beautiful and charming, but...”

Even if he says it with a blush, the words feel hollow now.

“I’ve been thinking for a while.”

“Yes?”

“You seem very familiar with such lines.”

Rias’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Please don’t have children outside of marriage.”

Illegitimate children are looked down upon in the noble world. It’s wrong to create such unhappy children.

“—What are you talking about!”

Rias hurriedly came over.

“Didn’t you know that I only see you?”

“Now you do, but—”

He stopped speaking.

Why are we arguing about this?

“I’m sorry. —I need to cool off.”

I called out to Eidan to let him know we’re leaving and reached for the door—Rias’s large hand blocked the doorknob.

“—Wait. Can you tell me what’s wrong...?”

He whispered in my ear, and I looked at him. Our eyes met close up.

Usually, I would blush and step back, but today Rias didn’t move away. He looked at me as if searching for something.

—Yes, ever since I started coming to the palace, I couldn’t help but hear it.

The most promising candidate, the capable Duke. His loyalty from the knights is strong, and he has the trust of the king. The greatest contributor to the last war. The undefeated commander.

Plus, he is handsome and young.

Their marriage is cold, and the wife is a temperamental recluse—so the Duke is having affairs outside.

Frustrated by my silence, Rias glanced at the guard.

I can’t see his face, but it’s turning pale.

“Just now, Reila Guedas was here.”

His voice is trembling. What kind of scary face is he making?

“Cynthia, it’s a misunderstanding.”

“—I’m not thinking anything.”

“That young lady was just wandering around here on her own.”

“On her own...?”

Is that possible? A high-ranking noble’s daughter, just wandering around?

“By the way, she asked me to deliver a message. —She said she is available anytime.”

“Huh...?”

Rias made a strange sound.

“I don’t understand at all.”

“A woman you are not interested in is wandering the corridors of the knights and even delivers such a message to me, your wife. —Reila seems quite unusual.”

“Well, I did escort her at a party.”

What?

“I was asked by the Guedas Earl. —I had a little interaction with his eldest son, so I didn’t think much of it...”

“Was that after you got married?”

It’s not normal for a married man to escort an unmarried woman.

“That... yes. I was wrong.”

I don’t want to hear it, but I do.

“Exactly which party?”

“...”

“Rias?”

“Ah, that...”

It wasn’t recently. I was going back and forth between work and home. Since Eidan turned one.

“Probably when you were not returning home much, when Eidan was a baby. —Oh, could it be when I was on the brink of death...”

“No. It was before Eidan was born.”

His voice is low. Is he feeling guilty?

If you were at a party while I was on the brink of death, I might have given up on you.

But, that means you got Eidan pregnant soon after we got married.

“Were you pregnant at the time?”

“...Yes.”

Huh. Hmm.

“...Cynthia”

“...”

Rias knelt down, took my hand, and pressed it to his forehead as if in prayer.

“I was foolish. Please don’t give up on me.”

“Stop it, in front of Eidan.”

Fortunately, the guard is playing with him, so he isn’t paying attention, but he might hear.

“I’m leaving.”

“Cynthia.”

“Let go.”

“Cynthia, please.”

“I can only ask you to be quiet. Let go.”

Saying it again, Rias slowly let go of my hand.