Chapter 13: Escorting a Princess is an Adventurer’s Dream
ㅤ”Good morning.”
ㅤ”G-good morning.”
ㅤ
ㅤAt the breakfast table the next day. I’m pretending everything is normal, but I can tell. Danna-sama is acting awkward, unlike usual.
ㅤNormally, he would sit down without even looking at me, but today, he glanced at me before taking his seat. His face is also vacant and lacking its usual sharpness. Is he perhaps bewildered by his own feelings? In any case, after a night’s sleep, it seems his feelings have calmed down a bit.
ㅤ
ㅤ’Well, at least it doesn’t seem like the punchline is going to be him realizing I’m actually his wife.’
ㅤ
ㅤDanna-sama, who has fallen head over heels for the adventurer Tempest. If you just directed your gaze this way, you would see me! I’m right here!
ㅤ
ㅤHowever, despite acting suspiciously by dropping his fork and spilling his tea, he never looks at me.
ㅤ
ㅤ’Guilt~?’
ㅤ
ㅤIt’s laughable that he’s feeling such an emotion now. What’s even more laughable is that he doesn’t actually need to feel guilty towards me. I couldn’t help but smirk, realizing the wickedness of my own character.
ㅤ……Perhaps I received this punishment because I used to mock other people’s feelings.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Lord Duke……”
ㅤ
ㅤVictor, who had hurried into the dining hall, whispered something to Danna-sama, and then……
ㅤ
ㅤ”My apologies. I must excuse myself early today.”
ㅤ
ㅤHe said it in a tone as if he were speaking to a business associate, and then left the dining hall in a hurry. He seemed to have been suddenly pulled back to reality. He returned to his usual grumpy lord mode.
ㅤAt that time, I was simply naively imagining that perhaps the thieves from yesterday had confessed something important……
ㅤ
ㅤ”Madam…… I have a request for you.”
ㅤ
ㅤJust as I was about to change into my adventurer’s attire in my room, Victor, Danna-sama’s attendant, appeared with a desperate look on his face.
ㅤ
ㅤ”……What is it?”
ㅤ
ㅤ’Why does he have this expression that screams bad news~!’
ㅤ
ㅤIt’s not me who’s clenching their fists tightly. It’s Victor. Does he hate asking me for a favor this much? If he does, I’d really appreciate it if he would just leave through that door!?
ㅤ
ㅤ”Would it be possible for you to attend the evening party tomorrow night……?”
ㅤ
ㅤ’Nooooooooooo!’
ㅤ
ㅤNo way! Or rather, I absolutely hate it. It’s something I’ve been avoiding even before getting married. I ran and ran, and this is where I ended up.
ㅤSince he said I could be free, and more importantly, since he knows about his master’s infidelity towards me, this must be a request he’s making out of obligation.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Sorry, but I’ll have to refu……”
ㅤ”Will Lord Duke be attending as well!?”
ㅤ
ㅤBefore I could finish my refusal, Ellis interjected with a loud voice. She’s confirming whether he’s just pushing his troublesome tasks onto his neglected wife.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Of course!”
ㅤ
ㅤThis reply is directed at Ellis, not me. He’s pretending he didn’t hear my previous word of refusal.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Lady Christina will be there.”
ㅤ”Oh my! That!”
ㅤ”Yes! That Lady Christina! ……Even though she’s getting married to the neighboring country soon…… she said she wants to see you one last time……”
ㅤ
ㅤSpeaking of Lady Christina, she’s the King’s niece who is rumored to have been deeply in love with Danna-sama. In other words, a princess.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Well, even so……”
ㅤ
ㅤI’m going to refuse, no matter who it is. Just as I was about to say that, Victor cut me off with a rapid-fire explanation.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Originally, Lord Duke himself intended to come and ask you in person, but since it concerns Lady Christina, he’s currently busy running around making urgent calls, laying the groundwork, and preparing everything. Therefore, I, his right-hand man, have come to ask you in his stead, and I implore you to forgive him and be understanding……”
ㅤ
ㅤ’What!? What did he say!? Did he just call himself his right-hand man in the midst of all that!?’
ㅤ
ㅤOverwhelmed by Victor’s unprecedented momentum as he continued to talk without taking a breath, Ellis launched a follow-up attack. On me.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Madam! This is where you show your magnanimity!”
ㅤ”Eh……”
ㅤ
ㅤThe attendant and the maid started getting excited together. These two usually don’t get along. Thanks to Ellis’s love for gossip, their conversation is flowing smoothly without any sarcasm this time.
ㅤ
ㅤ”We must firmly impress upon Lady Christina the existence of Madam! Otherwise, she will never…… ! Even yesterday, she did such a terrible thing……”
ㅤ
ㅤIt seems she let it slip because she thought we didn’t know about it, but we are well aware of yesterday’s incident. The attack by those thieves…… could it be that it was related to Lady Christina……? Victor’s expression hardened as he recalled the event.
ㅤ
ㅤ’Yikes! She’s a dangerous woman!’
ㅤ
ㅤAs the wife of Danna-sama, who is loved to such an extent, am I okay? The thought that she might be holding a grudge against me weighs heavily on my mind.
ㅤ
ㅤ’I don’t want to get involved~!’
ㅤ
ㅤThis is the second time I’ve felt like rolling my eyes since coming to this town.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Understood! Leave it to me!”
ㅤ”W-wait a minute!!?”
ㅤ”The first impression is crucial in these matters. We’ll make a strong impression of Madam’s presence!”
ㅤ”Hold oooooon!!?”
ㅤ”Thank you so much!!!”
ㅤ
ㅤEllis has been ignited. She’s full of motivation, ignoring me, her master. Victor’s face also brightened up in contrast to his previous demeanor.
ㅤIn the end, I was pressured into agreeing to participate in the evening party. Is my authority as the Duchess really non-existent within this mansion!? I was exasperated, but seeing the apprehensive expressions of the other servants, I realized that Victor and Ellis were the irregular ones. Just knowing that is enough for me to consider this a win.
ㅤ
ㅤ’Well, in reality, I can’t just not show my face when royalty is coming……’
ㅤ
ㅤAnything that harms Blood Territory also affects the Adventurer’s Town. So, I can accept it as something I have to do.
ㅤ
ㅤEllis, who usually has a lot of free time, quickly selected makeup tools, jewelry, and a dress, eager to demonstrate her skills as a maid.
ㅤ
ㅤ”I’m eager to get started!”
ㅤ”Please don’t be……”
ㅤ
ㅤMy small scream reached no one’s ears.
ㅤ
ㅤThe next day, after a long time, I was polished from head to toe as a noblewoman. My somewhat muscular body was praised and scolded, and I was treated like a dress-up doll, quietly submitting to everything.
ㅤ
ㅤ’Ellis seems to be enjoying herself…… so it’s fine……’
ㅤ
ㅤIf I wasn’t fulfilled as an adventurer every day, I would have definitely run away from tonight’s evening party. Because I have that daily life, I’m able to stand here right now, barely holding on.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Oh my, Madam! How beautiful you are!”
ㅤ”When did you get this dress!?”
ㅤ
ㅤI was dressed in a stunning dress, the same deep green as Danna-sama’s eyes, with intricate silver embroidery.
ㅤ
ㅤ”You said I could use it as I pleased, didn’t you?”
ㅤ”Ah, yes…… I did say that……”
ㅤ
ㅤBut I had no idea she was making a dress for me with it.
ㅤ
ㅤI’ve been going to the Adventurer’s Town almost every day, so I’ve had a surplus of the allowance I’ve been given each month. Since I didn’t want to return the extra money, I gave half of it to the orphanage. I told Ellis she could use the other half as she pleased. It was a way of compensating for my complete lack of fulfilling my duties as her master. Although it wasn’t money I earned myself.
ㅤI thought she was using it for her own amusement……
ㅤ
◇◇◇

ㅤThe evening party is progressing smoothly. The servants of the Duke’s house must have worked very hard to prepare everything in such a short time.
ㅤ
ㅤ”How beautiful you are!”
ㅤ”My maid worked hard.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”It’s wonderful to see you in good health.”
ㅤ”Thanks to you…… I’ve been able to live freely.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”You have good taste. May I ask where you got it?”
ㅤ”I’ll introduce you later.”
ㅤ
ㅤI’m very popular. Or rather, I’m a spectacle. Since I haven’t been out in society before, everyone is curious about the woman who married the Duke.
ㅤPeople from all over greeted me and introduced themselves. To avoid making any mistakes, I try not to talk as much as possible. I intend to get through the night with the smiles and manners I learned from my family.
ㅤDanna-sama, standing next to me, still looks grumpy, but I can tell he’s more nervous than usual.
ㅤ
ㅤ(The surrounding nobles and influential people must have had a tough time~)
ㅤ
ㅤThese are the people who had to gather at Lady Christina’s command. The guests are usually in a position to act arrogantly, but that’s impossible with her.
ㅤLady Christina was devastated when her marriage to my Danna-sama didn’t come to fruition, and her marriage to the second prince of the neighboring country was decided. They say she’s allowed a certain degree of selfishness to appease her and see her off.
ㅤ
ㅤ(The neighboring country has a delicate relationship with ours, and there are rumors that the second prince already has a favorite concubine, so I can understand why she’d be upset~)
ㅤ
ㅤI can sympathize with her in that regard. However, she didn’t say she could involve me.
ㅤBefore the evening party, I had a rare opportunity to talk to Danna-sama.
ㅤ
ㅤ”I apologize for not being able to keep my promise.”
ㅤ”Promise?”
ㅤ”The promise to give you freedom. I know you wouldn’t want to attend an evening party.”
ㅤ
ㅤIt seems he had heard a little about what kind of person I am from my parents.
ㅤ
ㅤ”……There are things that can’t be helped.”
ㅤ
ㅤSo, someone please praise me for being mature! Above all, praise me for attending a gathering of nobles, which I hate! Don’t tell me to just do what I have to do because it’s my duty!
ㅤ
ㅤ”Also, don’t leave my side during the evening party.”
ㅤ”Because of Lady Christina?”
ㅤ”……Did you hear about it?”
ㅤ”A little.”
ㅤ
ㅤ(Mostly gossip!)
ㅤ
ㅤSimply put, she’s a passionate stalker obsessed with Danna-sama. She’s said to have physically and socially crushed and driven away many love rivals. A maiden in love is too strong.
ㅤ
ㅤ”I thought she had calmed down now that I’m married.”
ㅤ”How naive. Love drives people mad.”
ㅤ
ㅤYou should know that better than anyone, shouldn’t you!?
ㅤ
ㅤ”……That’s harsh.”
ㅤ
ㅤHe seems to be at a loss for words. He’s unusually dejected.
ㅤ
ㅤ(Is it because beauty is a sin?)
ㅤ
ㅤHis sorrowful eyes are also beautiful.
ㅤ
ㅤ”I hate to scare you, but I’ll be blunt. She’s the type who might do anything out of animosity towards you. Never leave my side.”
ㅤ”Are your other family members alright?”
ㅤ
ㅤIn the end, I hadn’t confirmed whether Truly’s wife actually exists or not…….I had forgotten because I wasn’t interested.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Other? My family consists of you, my mother who refuses to leave the royal capital, and…… a young nephew whom I haven’t introduced yet. That’s all.”
ㅤ”It’s…… an honor to be a part of it.”
ㅤHis voice was somewhat self-deprecating and filled with loneliness, so I ended up giving a sympathetic reply that I didn’t really mean. In this life, I had a large family, and although we often didn’t understand each other, we were close enough to be selfish and complain to each other. I was unfamiliar with loneliness.
ㅤ
ㅤ”……I’m glad to hear that.”
ㅤ
ㅤ’Is this nephew the heir? I wasn’t interested enough to ask anything about him.’
ㅤ
ㅤCome to think of it, Danna-sama’s mother dislikes this territory, so she neglects both him and the land. She didn’t even show up for the wedding. Thanks to that, I’m comfortable, but not having any relatives to rely on might be lonely.
ㅤ
ㅤ”It seems I don’t have much luck with family.”
ㅤ
ㅤ’No, in my case, I’m the one who’s making it that way~!’
ㅤ
ㅤDon’t say that in front of me!? Danna-sama’s unnecessary comment irritates me. I should avoid taking him too seriously and showing him kindness. I’m only doing this because it involves royalty and it might become a national crisis.
ㅤ
ㅤ’It’s because of peace that I can enjoy being an adventurer!’
ㅤ
ㅤLady Christina, the protagonist of tonight’s event, is chatting happily with other young ladies. Her beautifully curled platinum blonde hair and blue eyes sparkle. She doesn’t look like the person with a dark reputation. However, she’s definitely wearing a green dress.
ㅤ
ㅤThe princess, admired by all, was spreading her beautiful smile.