They Say an Age Gap Like This Doesn’t Even Need Matching - Chapter 110

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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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They say an age difference of a few years doesn’t even warrant checking compatibility.
Chapter 110
With that level of vitality, he seemed capable of dashing about at any moment.
“Your Majesty… getting married….”
The Border Count muttered with a vacant expression.
At that reaction, Elhart let out a hollow laugh.
“Is it really so surprising?”
“Well…!”
The Border Count’s gaze darted frantically between me and Elhart.
“Your Majesty showed absolutely no interest in women. You’ve complained more than once that they were bothersome….”
“That never happened. Bothersome, indeed.”
“It certainly did. I tried to arrange meetings for you several times, and Your Majesty….”
The Border Count faltered mid-sentence and fell silent.
Despite being carried on his back, he seemed to have read Elhart’s mood.
Right now, Elhart looked as though he wanted to hurl the Border Count across the room.
“I simply avoided it due to being occupied with duties. I was never discourteous to the lady.”
Elhart hastily defended himself.
“Yes, well. At tea time, you downed that scalding tea in one gulp and left, and at the ball, you brought a mountain of documents and stacked them beside you to review.”
Good heavens.
He really did that?
I widened my eyes and stared at Elhart.
“Lord Roenval.”
The Border Count belatedly sensed the tension and spoke.
“You’ll surely treat the Princess well, won’t you?”
I glanced briefly at the flustered Elhart before speaking.
“It seems there were no shortage of ladies who coveted His Majesty.”
“Countless, truly. Some even sought him out on the battlefield itself.”
“Impressive, really?”
The front lines with the Cradion Empire were always fierce, so even a brief visit required risking one’s life.
Yet they came to meet Elhart regardless.
“But His Majesty refused to meet a single one and sent them all away.”
“That seems rather harsh.”
“Doesn’t it?”
Elhart’s expression grew increasingly dark.
I covered my mouth with my palm to stifle my laughter.
“Perhaps one day he’ll treat me with equal coldness.”
“No. That will never happen.”
Elhart spoke urgently.
“I wonder. Once the honeymoon ends, I’ll spend tea time alone in solitude, and at balls, I won’t dance even once before returning home.”
“Ser.”
Elhart finally stopped in his tracks and seized my hand.
“How could I ever do such a thing? You’re not just anyone.”
The moment those words left his lips, my eyes met the Border Count’s, who was still clinging to his back.
In the end, the Border Count and I could no longer contain ourselves and burst into laughter.
“…?”
Why did he look so endearing with that bewildered expression on his face?
“The ladies are quite fortunate.”
After laughing for a while, I spoke with perfect composure.
“Fortunate? What do you mean, my lady?”
I answered the Border Count’s question with a faint smile.
“If anyone had spread rumors about my husband, I wouldn’t have let it slide.”
“…!”
Watching the Border Count’s startled reaction, I shrugged my shoulders.
“I jest.”
“Ha ha… I see.”
The Border Count seemed to believe my claim that it was merely a joke.
‘How fortunate that he’s so naive.’
Thinking this to myself, I resumed walking, but I felt Elhart’s gaze studying my face intently.
‘As expected, he doesn’t believe me.’
His jealousy toward those who knew sides of Elhart I was unaware of.
While the Border Count remained oblivious, Elhart’s eyes had clearly betrayed this emotion.
‘Now this is truly absurd….’
I was astounded at myself.
Having led the Border Count out of the Underground Dungeon, we infiltrated the Lord’s Castle.
In the deep darkness of night, no one could have detected us, and we succeeded in entering through the Third Floor Terrace.
“I’ve been dragged here several times before. Marquis Ramon was quite fond of this room.”
It was Marquis Ramon’s bedroom, and the chamber, now bereft of its master, was naturally empty.
We first laid the Border Count comfortably on the bed and had him drink a healing potion.
“You should regain your strength soon.”
The minor scratches vanished without a trace, and color swiftly returned to his pallid complexion.
“What on earth is this?”
“A treasure of our house. Quite effective, wouldn’t you say?”
The startled Border Count spoke, his hand trembling as he held the bottle.
“To think you would use something so precious on an old man at death’s door…”
“It’s fine. We have plenty.”
Though the potion was crafted three hundred years ago, we could produce more whenever we wished if we had the proper facilities.
After all, we had Pope Karteus, whose divine power overflowed abundantly.
Once the Border Count seemed to have recovered somewhat, Elhart spoke.
“Could you explain how matters came to this pass?”
Though I had interrogated Marquis Ramon and learned the full account of events, he had said nothing regarding Roenval, the Border Count.
“It happened after His Majesty departed for the Cradion Empire as a hostage.”
The Border Count exhaled softly before continuing.
All battles along every front bordering the Cradion Empire had entered a lull.
In a sense, it was little different from an armistice.
Then one day, an order suddenly arrived from the Capital—disband the armies.
“Disband the armies? Who in the world would issue such a command…?”
The Imperial Army remained in place; if only one side withdrew, what would become of us?
The fiefdom’s people living on the Border lived in constant fear, never knowing when the Imperial Army might invade.
Naturally, the Border lords, including Roenval the Border Count, protested and sent letters to the Royal Palace requesting reconsideration.
Not long after, a summons to the Capital was issued to Roenval the Border Count.
At the mention of a royal command, he harbored no suspicion.
“I thought it was an opportunity to meet His Majesty in person and explain the situation.”
But on his way to the Capital, he was ambushed and thrown into prison.
“Marquis Ramon told me—His Majesty believes I’ve committed treason.”
Marquis Ramon and his faction, along with Marquis Libran, had framed him.
They claimed he intended to lead the Border forces toward the Capital.
“Such an absurd accusation…!”
Elhart clenched his teeth in fury.
“I suspect the other lords find themselves in similar circumstances. Control of the armies has likely passed into their hands as well.”
I pressed my forehead with my palm, feeling dizzy.
If the Border Count spoke truly, Bardia’s Border Forces were as good as neutralized.
Should the Imperial Army attack, we’d likely yield without resistance rather than mount a defense.
I watched Elhart rubbing his eyes with the heel of his hand in frustration, then turned to the Border Count.
“Would you accept a difficult request?”
“I’m uncertain how useful an old man might be, but speak freely.”
“You’ll need to assume temporary command of the Border Forces.”
“Myself, you say?”
The Border Count blinked, staring at me.
“The Prince is currently believed to be dead—both Cradion and Bardia believe this.”
“So you cannot step forward openly.”
“Exactly.”
I nodded.
“We’ll help you seize control of the armies while we remain hidden.”
“But… this could be construed as treason.”
“You’ll receive an appointment bearing the King’s seal—what concern is there?”
At my confident words, the Border Count’s eyes widened.
Elhart, too, finally composed himself and supported my words.
“She’s right. Since His Majesty entrusted the imperial seal to us, there’s no problem.”
Those who would ignore a royal command and harm the Border Count were the true problem, but with Elhart and me at his side, we could handle them cleanly.
“We can simply pose as your honor guard.”
Elhart regarded me and the Count with a serious expression before speaking.
“Paired knights.”
“…Yes, paired knights who guard the Border Count.”
As I added the word at his request, he nodded with satisfaction.
“She possesses far more exceptional skill than I do.”
“Is that… even possible?”
The Border Count stared at me with wide eyes.
When I merely shrugged, Elhart spoke with even greater confidence.
“You’ll understand in time just how perfectly matched a pair I’ve found.”

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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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