Marriage With A Suspiciously Demure Husband - Chapter 97

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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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Chapter 97

After Tene left, Kailas stood frozen, unable to return to his work.
He’d kept his composure, but his insides churned.
It was good that Tene, who was like another parent to him, had taken such a liking to Hazel. It was good that she’d handed over the key on his behalf, laying the groundwork. And yet…….
He understood why she hadn’t given him the Bunker Key.
One year.
Because of the one-year contract—barely enough to keep her here.
Truth was, Kailas had felt an inexplicable hope lately.
The relief that Hazel’s coldness was thawing slightly, that she seemed to trust him.
The belief that their bond could improve as it once had, that his sincerity would touch her deeper still, drawing her closer.
The conviction that with just a little more effort, Hazel would soon open her heart to him again.
Yet each time he glimpsed the walls around her heart, it felt like swallowing ice.
His mind kept telling him he had no choice but to try harder, but his heart couldn’t follow.
It felt as bleak as if a ball of fire had swept through his chest and gutted it.
The anxiety that she could leave anytime clung to his back, clawing at his mind, trying to take hold.
“Am I being too impatient?”
It had only been days.
There was only one remedy for this.
To see Hazel’s face.
Kailas had no reason to linger.

* * *

“Kailas.”
Before he could reach Hazel, he’d washed up and stepped out when a familiar voice called from nearby.
“Hazel.”
Kailas’s eyes widened in surprise.
She’d sought him out before he could even go to the Study.
“You didn’t mention you were coming.”
His heart swelled in that instant, though he strived to keep his composure.
“…I heard you were in the Study. I asked everyone not to disturb you.”
“So that’s why it was so quiet. You said you’d be late, so I took my time coming down, but then someone told me you’d arrived.”
“I was just about to head over anyway. So you visited the Greenhouse today?”
Kailas naturally turned to walk in her direction.
“Oh, you heard? Yes, Tene showed me. I had no idea there was something that large in the center of the castle.”
“Did you like it?”
Hazel truly had enjoyed it—she smiled and nodded.
“It’s nice for having tea.”
“Shall we have tea there this weekend?”
“Well, that wouldn’t be so bad…….”
At his subtle invitation to join him, Hazel glanced sideways at him with a slight frown.
Kailas answered with a smile.
“We can have dessert together too.”
“…Hmm. Well, I’ll think about it.”
“It’s worth seeing at night as well.”
“At night too?”
Hazel’s eyes gleamed. Kailas didn’t miss that moment.
“What if we went now? I can tell you about my inspection.”
“Um.”
Hazel seemed to hesitate, her lips pressing together thoughtfully.
“You’ll like it.”
Come on, come on, come on, he begged silently.
Kailas chanted a spell he’d never uttered in all his life.
“…All right then.”
“Have tea brought in.”
The gods were on his side.

The nighttime greenhouse blazed with light along every edge of its ceiling, where instead of sunlight, the open sky shone through.
Hazel broke into an even brighter smile the moment she stepped inside.
She had assumed the greenhouse would naturally be dark at night since the sky showed through directly, but she confessed that was a gross miscalculation.
The small lanterns scattered throughout the greenhouse looked just like fireflies when viewed from a distance, and she delighted in them.
“You were right.”
“Do you like it?”
“Very much. I’ve never seen anything like this, even in the Imperial Court.”
“I’m glad. Shall we sit?”
Instead of heading toward the chairs by the table, Kailas turned toward the sofa where they could sit side by side.
He wanted to be closer to Hazel.
“Why are you heading there?”
“The view is better from here.”
…….
Hazel fixed him with a suspicious gaze.
Unlike the table chairs, the sofa required them to sit beside each other.
Kailas wore an innocent smile, as though he understood nothing, and thought to himself:
I should have asked them to bring a narrower sofa, not a two-seater.
“Trust me. You can see the night sky better from here. Really.”
Kailas coaxed her gently, the way one might lure a wary cat.
“It better be true.”
After a long moment of hesitation, Hazel reluctantly came to sit beside him.
Once seated on the sofa and leaning back against it, she looked up at the ceiling and fell quiet.
“I was right, wasn’t I?”
“…Be quiet.”
Kailas let out a soft laugh.
The exhaustion that had accumulated throughout the day seemed to melt away entirely.
He’d asked for tea to be brought in an hour, so he would spend that time with Hazel in unhurried peace.
“So how was the inspection?”
“Better than expected. I’ve checked all the defensive barriers thoroughly.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“But you were right—the frequency is significantly higher than the reports we received last year. We’re getting more spoils because of it, but that’s not entirely good.”
“What about the Corrupted Land?”
“It seems the priests’ Purification is enough to handle it for now. I’ve ordered continued patrols of the area, so if anything else comes up, I’ll let you know.”
“I see… hmm.”
Hazel bit her lip as if caught in some deep deliberation.
As he always did, Kailas moved to stop her habit, sliding his finger gently between her lips.
“Just to be safe, I think we should continue stockpiling Purification Stones from the Northern Temple.”
“I’ll do as you say. I’ll have more priests stationed at the temple so you won’t worry.”
Only then did Hazel’s furrowed brow ease slightly.

* * *

“What do you think of holding a ball?”
“A ball?”
“To take the measure of the nobles staying in these lands, if I may offer the suggestion.”
A fortnight had passed since arriving in the Northern Territory.
In that time, she’d received word once from the Imperial Court and had been settling in.
A week ago, monsters broke through and she’d ventured out briefly to handle them.
That had led to another clash with Kailas, but aside from that, there had been no serious trouble.
But a ball…….
Tene’s counsel gave her pause.
As a Duchess, she ought to host one.
She had heard that though the Northern Territory was smaller in scale, balls were held far more frequently than in the Capital.
It was said to be because the place was so bleak and fraught with danger that gatherings helped ease the anxiety. Kailas rarely attended them, though.
“How large have they been so far?”
“Compared to the Capital, it’s considerably fewer, so it shouldn’t be too much of a burden. A standard ball typically draws around fifty to seventy pairs, and during year-end, New Year, or to mark some occasion of celebration, it can double.”
I’d assumed that even though the Duchy was large, its desolate atmosphere would mean few nobles stayed here—but the scale turned out to be quite substantial.
And if they’re held frequently… the numbers are bigger than I anticipated.
“I see…”
At my expression of surprise, Tene smiled softly.
“The nobles within the territory do attend, but because we have so many monsters in this region, a great number of knights participate as well—bringing their families. Thanks to that, we can conduct the balls far more safely.”
“Ah, that makes sense. I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
“I hadn’t mentioned it, after all.”
Tene laughed once more.
So I couldn’t dismiss the Northern Territory’s balls lightly.
If I didn’t appear, rumors about me would grow troublesome—especially with all the current chatter about my identity as Duchess.
Tene seemed to be offering me this subtle advice with exactly that in mind.
I was the one who’d promised Kailas I’d fulfill the role of Duchess, so there was no getting around it.
Though this would be my first time hosting a ball directly…
“Hmm, I’ll need to think about it.”
“I’ll help ensure you face as few difficulties as possible. Unlike the Capital, people here are more inclined toward genuine greetings and enjoying food and company rather than appearances.”
“…I really do like the sound of that.”
“I thought you might.”
Tene seemed to be a complete veteran in this regard as well.
It made sense—she’d hosted numerous balls in the Duke’s name alongside the head steward even during Kailas’s absences, so unlike me, she could probably prepare one with her eyes closed.
“Um, ma’am—if we start preparing now, how long would it take?”
“A week is possible if we move quickly. If you’d prefer to prepare more leisurely, I’d say ten days should suffice.”
“Understood. I’ll discuss it first with Kailas—I mean, the Duke.”
“Very well, madam.”
A ball, whatever—I’ll just throw myself into it.
After my conversation with Tene, I stepped outside under the pretense of wanting to visit the Greenhouse.
Once I confirmed there were no people nearby, I slowed my pace.
“Hisan.”
“Yes, madam.”
“There’s just one thing I wanted to ask.”
At that moment, Hisan suddenly bowed her head.
“It was indeed Annie who sent me, madam.”
She read my mind and answered before I could even ask—I nearly hiccupped in surprise.
“As I thought.”
Hisan smiled warmly.
“You may use the Communication Tool Annie provided, or if there’s anything you need to send or receive, you can go through me. Of course, that applies when you leave here as well.”
So a year from now…
I nodded.
“I see. Have you been working for the Duchy long? You were there when I was still in the Capital.”
“I joined the Duchy when Annie took on your commission and began her work in earnest.”
I understood now.
That’s how Annie was able to receive information so quickly.
Suddenly everything clicked into place.
I’d wondered how Annie’s associate, skilled as she was, could know things so instantly.
It was yet another moment to marvel at Annie’s competence.
Even though I’d paid her fee, the admiration was a separate matter entirely.
“Then I look forward to working with you from now on.”
“Of course, madam.”
Hisan smiled warmly again.
“Well, my walk is finished, so I should head back.”
At this point, there was no risk of Kailas discovering Hisan.
Besides, there wouldn’t be any more sneaking away from him from now on.
I could finally let myself breathe easier than before.

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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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