A Blend of Romance and Fantasy - Chapter 87

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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87.
“Oh dear, Mother’s in quite the mood again~!”
Lilith spoke to Leonard Blake with a nasal lilt to her voice.
Of course, Leonard Blake remained utterly unmoved.
He continued to gaze with an unchanged expression at Charlotte and Empress Consort Katrina entering the castle.
Seeing Leonard Blake offer her not a shred of attention, Lilith’s hands clenched slightly into fists.
“…Brother, that’s precisely why I sent that letter! I asked you to entrust my new sister to me. Then I could have protected her from Mother.”
At that moment, a familiar voice came from behind.
“You’d entrust your wife to your sister-in-law? And to you, no less.”
A handsome man wearing a wide-brimmed hat clicked his tongue. Lilith’s beautiful face twisted into a scowl.
“Brother Alex, what are you doing in our territory?”
“That’s none of your concern. Just head inside the castle.”
Alex answered curtly, then brushed past Lilith and approached Leonard Blake.
At that, Lilith’s eyes grew misty as she grasped the hem of Leonard Blake’s sleeve.
“Brother Leonard Blake! Isn’t Brother Alex being too cruel?”
Her violet eyes brimmed with tears, gleaming like amethysts. An ordinary gentleman would have fumbled for a handkerchief in desperation.
But Leonard Blake simply raised his arm and withdrew his sleeve. Then he brushed the hem as though dust had settled upon it.
“Lilith, Alex has always been mischievous.”
Then he laughed.
Yet there was no warmth in his eyes.
“Go inside. My wife must be struggling while waiting for you.”
“…Hmph!”
Watching Lilith turn away with a huff, Alex rubbed his throbbing temples.
“My lord, why not simply frighten her as you do the Adjutants? Then she’d never take a liking to you again.”
“No, if I did that, she’d threaten to expose secrets. That girl desires my position as well.”
Such as the matter concerning James, for instance.
He could kill her and be done with it, but to Leonard Blake, Lilith still possessed value in remaining alive.
“Enough of these trivial matters. Will you report on the task I assigned you?”
“Ah, yes.”
Alex withdrew a single parchment from his breast and lowered his voice.
“My lord, that informant… we still haven’t found them. I apologize.”
“It can’t be helped. I know better than anyone that you’re doing your best. But is it true that monsters have appeared in the forest?”
“Yes. Demian didn’t cause the rift. This time it’s a natural Monster Break phenomenon.”
“I see… the time has come. I’m actually relieved it didn’t happen while I was away.”
Leonard Blake turned to gaze at the carriage behind him. His beloved sword, which had seen little use recently, would be packed in a chest.
He would have to sortie.
In the not-distant future. Leaving his wife alone in the Tiger’s Den.
“….”
As that reality struck him, Leonard Blake’s lips pressed into a thin line.
Noticing his sudden silence, Alex’s fists clenched tightly.
“Brother, you cannot leave. It is not merely for the Sixth Prince’s reputation, but for the people of Blackwood’s territory. If we do not eliminate the monsters, who knows when they might emerge from the forest? Though we conducted a first sweep, it is far from over….”
He then pointed to the brooch on the cloak Leonard wore.
“We are princes. We must fulfill the duties that come with our crests.”
“I know.”
The answer flowed without hesitation.
“And Charlotte would tell me the same. She is a woman who finds men tedious when they forget their responsibilities.”
“…Ha.”
Alex laughed awkwardly at the unexpected response.
“The problem, however, is myself.”
“What do you mean by that?”
A brief silence fell.
Then Leonard slowly caressed the Blackwood ring upon his finger.
I always think it—cold and heavy. Sometimes my fingers feel so crushed beneath its weight that I wish to remove it.
Just as I do now.
“…It means I could forget my duty as a prince and rush here instead.”
* * *
Tea time ended swiftly with little conversation.
The hour was late, and when Leonard mentioned his exhaustion, the people of Blackwood obediently rose.
Postponing the tour of the castle until tomorrow, I followed the head maidservant’s guidance toward the bedroom.
It was naturally a room we would share.
Yet I was tired, and Leonard’s expression was so rigid that the peculiar atmosphere of before never materialized.
Grateful for this, I surrendered to deep sleep.
* * *
When I opened my eyes, the first thing that entered my vision was light.
Morning sunlight seeping through the curtain gaps slowly bathed the room.
High ceiling, pale walls, furniture arranged in perfect order.
Leonard sat at the edge of the bed. His hair, caught in the morning light, shone softly.
So different from usual, it felt unfamiliar, and yet overwhelmingly beautiful.
He gazed at me with a quiet expression, like a man just beginning his day.
“You are awake?”
“Ah, yes!”
I answered reflexively. For words tumbling out the moment I opened my eyes, they were far too clear.
“You… woke up early.”
Truly, opening one’s eyes in the same bed is an awkward affair.
Of course, since the location remained constant, I had grown accustomed to it well enough, but the change felt strange.
Moreover, I had not noticed last night… the slip I wore was a matching set.
My face grew hot for no reason, and I rose from the bed, fanning myself.
“Do you not practice sword training in your own mansion?”
“Since I have a wife, I must wake with her.”
He spoke as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Ah, my… wife.”
I mumbled the word as though chewing it, turning my head away. I still hadn’t grown accustomed to that title.
“There is something I must tell you.”
He suddenly straightened his posture.
“Why are you suddenly setting such a serious tone? You’re frightening me.”
I attempted a light laugh, though inwardly I tensed. His expression had grown somewhat rigid.
“I must depart for Blackwood Forest at once. A Monster Break has occurred, and creatures have emerged.”
“…Pardon?”
Wait a moment.
He’s leaving somewhere today, right now?
Before I could fully comprehend his words, he continued slowly and deliberately.
“In truth, I teleported there and back last night after you fell asleep. However, I cannot exterminate them all in a single expedition. I must remain in the forest for at least a week—perhaps a month at the longest.”
“…”
“Will you… permit my departure?”
Faced with this sudden announcement of his departure, I found myself speechless. He hastily amended his words.
“I can delay it for a day.”
“A day?”
“Commander Nicholas is exceptionally skilled. It is a role I always entrust to him during my absence.”
He can postpone it? Isn’t this dangerous?
As I fell into thought, the silence grew grave. Leonard then gripped my shoulder firmly.
“…”
When I released a faint whimper beneath his forceful grip, he declared loudly and abruptly.
“Four days!”
“What?”
“I will postpone it for four days. I can send Alex as temporary commander in my stead.”
Upon hearing this, I
struck his chest with both fists in exasperation. Thwack!
“Excuse me! My Lord, you should have gone immediately upon arrival yesterday! What were you doing?”
No wonder his expression had been so rigid all day yesterday. William had also remained glued to his side like a pursuer.
“Go now, at once!”
I pushed Leonard’s back repeatedly. Of course, he didn’t budge at all, though he seemed flustered.
Leonard turned around and seized both my arms.
“Wait. Surely I must dress properly before departing? Besides, the current situation is manageable. The creatures’ activity drops significantly during morning hours.”
“Even so, you must leave as soon as possible!”
My voice echoed through the bedroom. It was quite loud, for murmurs sounded from outside.
Startled, I lowered my voice and spoke to him.
“I don’t know what’s made you hesitant, but you should have gone the moment you heard the news.”
“…Do you truly not understand why I didn’t want to leave?”
“Well, that is…”
In truth, my face had been burning with embarrassment since earlier, though I had pretended not to notice.
No wonder—William and his Knight Order must have been pacing anxiously.
I turned my head sharply while held fast in his arms.
“I haven’t the faintest idea about any of that, so hurry back!”
“…Very well.”
There was something almost amused in his tone, though I was likely imagining it.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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