“Do you like it here?”
The voice came from a short distance away.
As soon as I turned my head in surprise at the male voice heard so close, my eyes met with eyes that resembled the sky.
Underneath the soft-looking light yellow-blonde hair, neat eyebrows that seemed to have been drawn with a brush on pure white skin, and golden eyelashes spread thin like a fan came into view.
“Do you want to go in?”
For a man who speaks kindly and politely in an elegant tone, I felt like I had seen red lips somewhere before.
This is the portrait of Madame Elise, the previous Duchess, that hangs large in the center of the Rowen Castle lobby. I quickly bowed and bowed.
As soon as I turned my head in surprise at the male voice heard so close, my eyes met with eyes that resembled the sky.
Underneath the soft-looking light yellow-blonde hair, neat eyebrows that seemed to have been drawn with a brush on pure white skin, and golden eyelashes spread thin like a fan came into view.
“Do you want to go in?”
For a man who speaks kindly and politely in an elegant tone, I felt like I had seen red lips somewhere before.
This is the portrait of Madame Elise, the previous Duchess, that hangs large in the center of the Rowen Castle lobby. I quickly bowed and bowed.
“I salute the majesty of the Kingdom of Oberon. Ouch."
But Valquiterre was standing too close and I hit my head on his chest.
"Excuse me, Your Majesty the King.”
I, who took a step back, quickly lowered my head in embarrassment and waited for the King to say something.
'Oh my god, I can't believe I made such a mistake.'
My mind went blank.
“Hehe.”
However, instead of being scolded for being rude, laughter was heard.
“Raise your head.”
When I hesitated and raised my head, the brighter sunlight illuminated Valquiterre's face even brighter. It seemed as if light was pouring out of him.
Valquiterre took out a large golden key from his chest and unlocked the bars.
Valquiterre held out his hand as if to escort me. But I, who was nervous, kept my hands neatly clasped below my navel, watched him, and stepped into the hanging garden.
Looking at me like that, Valquiter withdrew his hand and said.
“It shouldn’t be that difficult. Aren’t you very close to me?”
As I blinked, Valquiterre asked kindly.
“Doesn’t he talk about me?”
It was only then that I broke the awkward atmosphere and smiled at the injection, which I assumed would have been natural, and also referred to Kaian as 'that guy' in a very friendly manner.
“The Duke also said so.”
“As expected, it was like that. What does he say about me behind my back?”
“You are the person he trusts the most in the world.”
"I called my brother and he became my loyal subject.”
Valquiterre, who was joking, didn't seem like a person I'd seen for the first time.
'I'm so used to it.'
The rumored King Oberon, Valquiterre, and Kaian were half cousins with twin Princesses as mothers.
I had heard rumors that they looked quite similar, as they both looked after their mother.
‘Do they look alike? No, I don't think it's that similar. Is it similar?'
Without realizing it, I began to look for aspects of Valquiterre's face that resembled my husband's.
However, perhaps because of Valquiterre's color, which seemed to have come alive from the familiar portrait of Princess Elise that I see every day, it did not feel like he resembled Kaian.
'I can't imagine him speaking in such a friendly manner.'
As soon as I saw Kaian, the first image I felt was that it was cold and scary.
One day, I showed Kaian a mirror and said, 'You always make an angry expression,' but at the time, he didn't seem to be aware that he was making that expression.
He would often speak sarcastically or scold me, and he would often just say what he had to say as if my answer was not important.
After he started taking care of me, saying I was his benefactor during the crocodile hunt after my Herzol got better and I opened my heart to him little by little, things were better than before, but even now, it wasn't much different.
The difference is that while I had taken his words as painfully as a dagger back then, now I was trying to do so because I believed that that person was naturally that kind of person and did not mean what he said in a bad way.
Valquiterre, who was once said to resemble Kaian due to his twin mother, was even considered the complete opposite of Kaian.
“I thought he would have cleared up my gossip with the Duchess.”
“Not at all. The Duke truly respects His Majesty the King.”
“I heard a Vermont priest defend Temnes, so I guess it must be true.”
"Yes? Ha ha ha."
I smiled awkwardly. It was customary to retort to the King's jokes. But something in my heart was bothering me.
'I am here as the Duchess of Temnes, so do he really need to say Vermont here?'
Yesterday, Kaian told the occupants of the castle that they would be scolded if he heard Vermont's voice one more time.
It bothered me a little, but it occurred to me that this young King of Oberon was the one who ordered the marriage of Vermont and Temnes in the name of reconciliation.
'Thanks to him I married Kaian.'
As soon as my thoughts reached that point, the discomfort disappeared in an instant, and only a feeling of gratitude remained.
Valquiterre slowly walked through the Hanging Gardens.
I followed behind without a word.
After walking for a while, Valquiterre suddenly looked back.
“We met before.”
"Yes?"
I blinked.
The Daughters of Vermont were not active in the capital's social circles.
Moreover, even though I was called the debutante of the North, I was a person who did not receive attention because I was a sideshow in an event where Irena was the main character and ran the event haphazardly.
'Kaian said the Queen used to come and stay at Rowen from time to time.'
The reason is that the Duchess of Temnes was the biological sister of Queen Silvia.
To escape the cold midwinter kingdom of Oberon, the Queen headed to Rowen instead of her winter villa.
In fact, the fact that the scales of power tilted toward Temnes was related to the Queen's actions. The Duke of Vermont was very dissatisfied with him.
It is impossible to invite the Queen to Valmonde, which is frozen for half of the year.
As far as I remembered, the Crown Prince of Oberon or Queen Silvia had never visited Valmonde.
“Don’t you remember?”
"Sorry. I am weak, so even if I meet someone precious, I cannot remember them.”
After walking for a while, Valquiterre suddenly looked back.
“We met before.”
"Yes?"
I blinked.
The Daughters of Vermont were not active in the capital's social circles.
Moreover, even though I was called the debutante of the North, I was a person who did not receive attention because I was a sideshow in an event where Irena was the main character and ran the event haphazardly.
'Kaian said the Queen used to come and stay at Rowen from time to time.'
The reason is that the Duchess of Temnes was the biological sister of Queen Silvia.
To escape the cold midwinter kingdom of Oberon, the Queen headed to Rowen instead of her winter villa.
In fact, the fact that the scales of power tilted toward Temnes was related to the Queen's actions. The Duke of Vermont was very dissatisfied with him.
It is impossible to invite the Queen to Valmonde, which is frozen for half of the year.
As far as I remembered, the Crown Prince of Oberon or Queen Silvia had never visited Valmonde.
“Don’t you remember?”
"Sorry. I am weak, so even if I meet someone precious, I cannot remember them.”
I felt unfair as I offered my routine apology.
If I saw a person like Valquiterre, I would never be able to remember him.
“At the patronage of Rowen Castle last month.”
"Yes?"
I opened my eyes wide.
“I saw you swimming at dawn.”
“...Ah."
A man I met while swimming at dawn?
I barely remembered.
'I am... It's called Bark. May I ask for your name?'
A strange man wearing a wide-brimmed brown hat and a cloak of the same color.
I was caught off guard because Kaian did not allow anyone to approach the support, and I was so shocked that my heart almost stopped.
“I didn’t know that the King was about to die.”
“You didn’t tell me your name. Quinn.”
When he did not hide his disappointment, I unconsciously answered as if making an excuse.
“Because you are far away and you are wearing a hat. I did not recognize His Majesty the King.”
“Why didn’t you tell me the name Claudel? Sometimes I think about it.”
“I was embarrassed because no one knew that I was a Duchess, but you asked my name.”
Soon I felt that the flow of conversation was strange.
'I don't think I should be questioned.'
Except that Valquiterre was King, I did nothing wrong.
I was the mistress of Rowen Castle, and my patronage was the lord Kaian, who was away on a hunting ground for a while, where he personally ordered that no one but me should enter.
While I was resting and catching my breath there, I ran into Valquiterre, so he was literally an intruder from outside. I felt like I had offended the King for some reason, and as I gave various reasons, I felt like I had committed a big mistake.
'I didn't do anything wrong, so why am I like this?'
I came to my senses and asked Valquiterre.
“Your Majesty, what were you doing at Rowen Kastle at that time?”
“You mean me?”
“The Duke went hunting at Promhunt under the King’s orders and returned without seeing His Majesty.”
As I asked the question clearly, Valquiterre widened his eyes a little and started laughing.
'He seems like a strange person.'
I don't know why he was laughing or where the funny part was, but Valquiterre shook his shoulders and laughed for a long time as if he had just heard something very funny.
"Ha ha ha."
The man's pleasant sound of laughter rang brightly in the cool morning air of the garden.
"Alright. Is the Duchess offended?”
"No."
"Yes. You must keep my going there a secret from Kaian.”
“Why did you come there alone?”
Valquiterre laughed and ran a hand through his disheveled hair.
“Rowen Castle is a place where I have many childhood memories.”
"Yes. The Duke also said so.”
“After calling Kaian to go hunting at Promhunt, I really missed Rowen Castle while I was waiting. As I went down the road, I thought I would meet up with the guy who started in the middle, but I didn't know where we crossed paths.”
He had a soft expression as if he was recalling his memories.
“I arrived at a castle with no owner and felt regretful about heading back, so I stopped by at least for a moment.”
“I see.”
“But you must keep that a secret from Kaian. I’m sure he’ll be angry.”
“I will follow Your Majesty’s orders.”
The first royal commission I received in my life was to help the King lie to my husband.
Although I felt a little upset, I lowered my head. Then Valquiterre waved his hand.
“It’s nothing special. You were a very good swimmer than that. I understand it’s an environment you can’t enjoy in the North.”
“The Duke taught me.”
“That guy? Kaian has often played there since he was young.”
What I said a little while ago wasn't the King's order.
So, can we face secrets with secrets?
I said to Valquiterre.
“Please keep it a secret from the Duke that I practiced swimming there.”
“Why?”
“I wanted to surprise him by practicing secretly.”
"Alright. He just taught you, but he hasn’t seen you swim yet?”
If I saw a person like Valquiterre, I would never be able to remember him.
“At the patronage of Rowen Castle last month.”
"Yes?"
I opened my eyes wide.
“I saw you swimming at dawn.”
“...Ah."
A man I met while swimming at dawn?
I barely remembered.
'I am... It's called Bark. May I ask for your name?'
A strange man wearing a wide-brimmed brown hat and a cloak of the same color.
I was caught off guard because Kaian did not allow anyone to approach the support, and I was so shocked that my heart almost stopped.
“I didn’t know that the King was about to die.”
“You didn’t tell me your name. Quinn.”
When he did not hide his disappointment, I unconsciously answered as if making an excuse.
“Because you are far away and you are wearing a hat. I did not recognize His Majesty the King.”
“Why didn’t you tell me the name Claudel? Sometimes I think about it.”
“I was embarrassed because no one knew that I was a Duchess, but you asked my name.”
Soon I felt that the flow of conversation was strange.
'I don't think I should be questioned.'
Except that Valquiterre was King, I did nothing wrong.
I was the mistress of Rowen Castle, and my patronage was the lord Kaian, who was away on a hunting ground for a while, where he personally ordered that no one but me should enter.
While I was resting and catching my breath there, I ran into Valquiterre, so he was literally an intruder from outside. I felt like I had offended the King for some reason, and as I gave various reasons, I felt like I had committed a big mistake.
'I didn't do anything wrong, so why am I like this?'
I came to my senses and asked Valquiterre.
“Your Majesty, what were you doing at Rowen Kastle at that time?”
“You mean me?”
“The Duke went hunting at Promhunt under the King’s orders and returned without seeing His Majesty.”
As I asked the question clearly, Valquiterre widened his eyes a little and started laughing.
'He seems like a strange person.'
I don't know why he was laughing or where the funny part was, but Valquiterre shook his shoulders and laughed for a long time as if he had just heard something very funny.
"Ha ha ha."
The man's pleasant sound of laughter rang brightly in the cool morning air of the garden.
"Alright. Is the Duchess offended?”
"No."
"Yes. You must keep my going there a secret from Kaian.”
“Why did you come there alone?”
Valquiterre laughed and ran a hand through his disheveled hair.
“Rowen Castle is a place where I have many childhood memories.”
"Yes. The Duke also said so.”
“After calling Kaian to go hunting at Promhunt, I really missed Rowen Castle while I was waiting. As I went down the road, I thought I would meet up with the guy who started in the middle, but I didn't know where we crossed paths.”
He had a soft expression as if he was recalling his memories.
“I arrived at a castle with no owner and felt regretful about heading back, so I stopped by at least for a moment.”
“I see.”
“But you must keep that a secret from Kaian. I’m sure he’ll be angry.”
“I will follow Your Majesty’s orders.”
The first royal commission I received in my life was to help the King lie to my husband.
Although I felt a little upset, I lowered my head. Then Valquiterre waved his hand.
“It’s nothing special. You were a very good swimmer than that. I understand it’s an environment you can’t enjoy in the North.”
“The Duke taught me.”
“That guy? Kaian has often played there since he was young.”
What I said a little while ago wasn't the King's order.
So, can we face secrets with secrets?
I said to Valquiterre.
“Please keep it a secret from the Duke that I practiced swimming there.”
“Why?”
“I wanted to surprise him by practicing secretly.”
"Alright. He just taught you, but he hasn’t seen you swim yet?”
"Yes."
Then Valquiterre nodded his head with a bright face.
"Great. Let’s exchange secrets for secrets.”
Valquiterre seemed really close to Kaian.
He's the only one who can call Kaian by his first name.
He also lost his parents at an early age and became the head of the family at a young age, so after I married, it was the first time I saw a man who called the lord of Rowen and the Duke of Temnes, calling him 'Kaian'.
Isn't he also the one who gave Kaian permission to call him by his name?
So I felt like the King of Oberon, whom I was seeing for the first time, or rather, the King I was seeing for the second time, was someone close to me.
“You can call me Bark too. Of course, only if there are no nags.”
"That...”
It was when I thought that this might not be possible.
“I was wondering where you had been since early in the morning.”
A large hand pulled me into his arms.
“Kaian.”
I almost laughed out of joy, but then frowned.
“You must say hello to His Majesty the King.”
It was against the etiquette to address me first in front of the King.
“Do you want to tell me that I broke the rules of etiquette? Since His Majesty the King broke the rules of etiquette first, wouldn’t you please look at this much?”
I didn't know what to do when I heard Kaian's words.
“He talks to someone else’s wife, whom he has never formally greeted, in the absence of her husband.”
Valquiterre responded calmly to his words.
“Someone else’s wife. Are I a stranger?”
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