“She really wants to marry Marquis Shinjere?”
“Baron, Agatha Nobilis’ husband changed twice more after that.”
The mustache told him that Agatha, who divorced Marquis Shinjere, became Duchess Neuta, and had recently become Marchioness Aratus.
Henry was suspicious of Agatha's actions, as she divorced him, married, divorced, and married again.
“Why didn’t I suspect Agatha?”
The mustache followed the wine he had brought to Henry.
“Perhaps she knew that the Baron alone would not readily consent to a divorce.”
“That’s right. I had absolutely no reason to get a divorce.”
Unlike the Margrave of Shinjere or the Duke of Neuta, Henry would have been reduced to a minor nobleman if he divorced.
“If it weren’t for the false accusation, I would never have divorced.”
“I think so too.”
Henry, who had taken a sip of the wine that Moustache had given him, turned his head toward the capital with bloodshot eyes.
“Agatha Nobilis. How dare you do this to me?”
The anger and malice that had been building up for six years began to turn towards Agatha.
“Hey. Can you run one errand for me?”
Henry looked at the unidentifiable mustache with glaring eyes.
“Please feel free to tell me.”
“Just send me a few letters.”
Having married Agatha Nobilis and lived in the Nobilis household, Henry knew her enemies well.
“I must get revenge.”
Letters from the northern exile found their way to some of the surviving Nobilis relatives and to those who were dissatisfied with Agatha.
After a while, the gathered forces declared war on the territory.
The target is the Duchy of Nobilis.
It was Agatha, now the Marchioness of Aratus.
After the hunting festival ended.
Agatha was enjoying peaceful days.
After the Neuta family became like that, there was no one in the palace or in the social circle who was hostile to her.
Because even the clan that had always sent assassins was swept away in large numbers, there was even freedom of movement.
The Mainukor Empire delegation, including Prince Ferdinand, was still staying at the palace, but the Emperor was keeping them under tight control.
“Madam, this is the invitation that arrived this morning.”
Agatha, who had been gently stroking her hair, looked up. Her maids were holding trays filled with letters that looked like small hills.
Agatha opened the invitation that was placed at the very top.
“It’s an invitation from the Kepania family.”
The Count Kepania family was a family that had not had much contact with Agatha.
“I heard that Countess Kepania’s birthday banquet is coming up soon.”
As Agatha's status rose, so did the number of invitations that poured in.
“I’ll take a closer look at the invitation when I return from the palace.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Today was the regular training day for the Knights of Aratus.
Of course, Enoch was there too.
While the mansion was empty, Agatha planned to go see the Crown Prince.
It was also to keep an eye on the palace's activities and to openly show off their friendship with Anthony, who had helped them so much.
“Enoch?”
“The Marquis is still in his office.”
Agatha went to see Enoch before going out. The knights standing guard in front of the office naturally knocked on the door.
“My lord, Her Grace has arrived.”
“Take her in.”
As Agatha entered, Enoch put down the papers he was looking at and stood up.
"Enoch."
“Agatha. Didn’t you say you were going to the palace?”
“I stopped by before I left. I wanted to check when you’ll be back today.”
“I won’t be doing night training, so I plan on returning to the mansion before nightfall.”
He took out the training plan and looked through it as he spoke.
"Yes."
He says that, but when he trains, it seems like it will be much later than that.
Agatha decided to schedule a separate evening appointment so Enoch could move around more comfortably.
“I think I’ll have dinner at the palace and come back. I’ll prepare a separate dinner for you and the knights, so don’t skip your meals, and have a nice trip.”
"All right."
Enoch, despite his busy schedule, took her to the front of the carriage.
“Then I’ll be back.”
“Have a nice time, Agatha.”
As always, the First Vice-Captain, Leon Takran, and the knights of Aratus were escorting the carriage.
Upon entering the palace, Agatha was able to meet the Crown Prince, Anthony Roxiba, who was somehow awake.
“Even if you call in advance and make an appointment, what’s the matter with someone who is sleeping?”
“I was just thinking about happy worries.”
Anthony smiled and gently stroked her platinum hair.
It looked quite stylish, matched with the nice outer leather.
“I guess there’s something you’d like to ask me?”
It was an impossible task for Agatha.
“It doesn’t work. That’s right. Come this way.”
Anthony opened up his bedroom. Covered with sofas, couches, and rugs were dozens of well-trimmed pieces of leather.
“What is all this, Your Highness?”
“These are the things that Marquis Aratus gave me. Some were given to me as gifts, and some I caught myself.”
The flower of autumn is hunting. Although the Crown Prince did not enjoy the first hunting festival of autumn, he went hunting diligently afterward and was able to harvest quite a lot.
Anthony smiled as he touched the soft fox fur.
“I was just wondering what I could make with these.”
“Do you really have to do it now?”
“You have good taste. While we’re here, let’s think about it together as blood relatives.”
Agatha was disgusted, but she still sat obediently next to Anthony, offering him her worries and advice.
As a Crown Prince who loved hunting, it must have been disappointing not to have been able to participate in the first hunting festival of autumn.
Of course, she didn't think he'd be that disappointed since he enjoyed the party enough.
“How about making a new pair of boots? I know you like winter hunting.”
“Fox fur boots are nice. Should I make them in different colors?”
“But what’s left, make it into a hat. Since you said you’d make a cloak out of bear skin, it would go well if you made the shoes and hat to match.”
The squire put the leather, the purpose of which he had decided, into the squire's hands.
The finished, well-tanned items will return to the Crown Prince's palace before late autumn.
Time passed quickly after he had roughly decided on the purpose and design of all that leather.
After Anthony took a look around, he prepared some tea himself and secretly looked at Agatha.
“Are you feeling more comfortable these days?”
"Sure."
“Don’t forget that this is all because of my cooperation.”
“I know. Thanks for the help.”
The yellow flowers that had bloomed in the hot water gave off a gentle fragrance.
As they each poured a glass and enjoyed the scent and color, Anthony absentmindedly said something.
“This time, I feel like you really made a good marriage.”
It was a pure sentiment, without any anger or teasing.
“I think so too.”
It was a happy marriage that she found after five years and seven marriages.
“Now all that’s left is to enjoy a comfortable honeymoon like everyone else and have a successor.”
"Your Highness."
Agatha's voice lowered. The sudden mention of succession was a sensitive issue even for Anthony, her childhood friend and cousin.
“It looks like His Majesty is also looking forward to it this time.”
Anthony shrugged and avoided Agatha's glare.
“It makes sense since it seems like you’re on good terms and there’s no trouble. Now it’s time for a real successor.”
“I know that too.”
Agatha took her eyes off Anthony and looked down at the yellow flowers in her teacup.
“But I don’t like being rushed.”
As the atmosphere became awkward, Anthony called his servant.
“You said you were going to eat dinner?”
“Yes, that’s what I was thinking.”
“I told you to prepare what you like today.”
That was a roundabout way of telling her to let off steam.
Agatha slightly relaxed her frown and looked back at the attendant.
“When will the meal be ready?”
“Everything is ready. Would you like to go straight to the restaurant?”
Agatha, however, chose something else instead of answering.
“Your Highness, I would like to have dinner in the greenhouse today.”
The Crown Prince's greenhouse was designed to provide a clear view of the sky.
It was also the most beautiful place to watch the orange sunset vividly through the glass ceiling in the evening.
Anthony obediently followed Agatha's wishes.
“Prepare the meal in the greenhouse.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
While they ate in the warm greenhouse, looking out at the cool-colored sky, Anthony served her a plate of delicious desserts.
Still, she shouldn't come to the palace for a while.
It hadn't even been a year since they got married. She didn't want to hear people nagging her to have a baby.
As she was leaving the Crown Prince's palace and returning to her mansion around dinnertime, Agatha suddenly remembered the excuse she had made to avoid preparing for the first autumn imperial ball.
“Ah. Is that why?”
"If he had been in the capital, wouldn't there have been a successor a long time ago?"
Come to think of it, that was one of the reasons the Emperor was putting in so much effort to keep Prince Ferdinand captive.
“...”
Agatha, who had been thinking for a moment, decided to continue to pretend not to know as usual.
Of course, she wasn't intentionally avoiding this topic.
She also slept with Enoch almost every day.
After the Battle of the Territory, Enoch stayed in Agatha's bedroom except when he was specifically leaving the mansion.
'I feel like it might happen really soon.'
“Baron, Agatha Nobilis’ husband changed twice more after that.”
The mustache told him that Agatha, who divorced Marquis Shinjere, became Duchess Neuta, and had recently become Marchioness Aratus.
Henry was suspicious of Agatha's actions, as she divorced him, married, divorced, and married again.
“Why didn’t I suspect Agatha?”
The mustache followed the wine he had brought to Henry.
“Perhaps she knew that the Baron alone would not readily consent to a divorce.”
“That’s right. I had absolutely no reason to get a divorce.”
Unlike the Margrave of Shinjere or the Duke of Neuta, Henry would have been reduced to a minor nobleman if he divorced.
“If it weren’t for the false accusation, I would never have divorced.”
“I think so too.”
Henry, who had taken a sip of the wine that Moustache had given him, turned his head toward the capital with bloodshot eyes.
“Agatha Nobilis. How dare you do this to me?”
The anger and malice that had been building up for six years began to turn towards Agatha.
“Hey. Can you run one errand for me?”
Henry looked at the unidentifiable mustache with glaring eyes.
“Please feel free to tell me.”
“Just send me a few letters.”
Having married Agatha Nobilis and lived in the Nobilis household, Henry knew her enemies well.
“I must get revenge.”
Letters from the northern exile found their way to some of the surviving Nobilis relatives and to those who were dissatisfied with Agatha.
After a while, the gathered forces declared war on the territory.
The target is the Duchy of Nobilis.
It was Agatha, now the Marchioness of Aratus.
***
After the hunting festival ended.
Agatha was enjoying peaceful days.
After the Neuta family became like that, there was no one in the palace or in the social circle who was hostile to her.
Because even the clan that had always sent assassins was swept away in large numbers, there was even freedom of movement.
The Mainukor Empire delegation, including Prince Ferdinand, was still staying at the palace, but the Emperor was keeping them under tight control.
“Madam, this is the invitation that arrived this morning.”
Agatha, who had been gently stroking her hair, looked up. Her maids were holding trays filled with letters that looked like small hills.
Agatha opened the invitation that was placed at the very top.
“It’s an invitation from the Kepania family.”
The Count Kepania family was a family that had not had much contact with Agatha.
“I heard that Countess Kepania’s birthday banquet is coming up soon.”
As Agatha's status rose, so did the number of invitations that poured in.
“I’ll take a closer look at the invitation when I return from the palace.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Today was the regular training day for the Knights of Aratus.
Of course, Enoch was there too.
While the mansion was empty, Agatha planned to go see the Crown Prince.
It was also to keep an eye on the palace's activities and to openly show off their friendship with Anthony, who had helped them so much.
“Enoch?”
“The Marquis is still in his office.”
Agatha went to see Enoch before going out. The knights standing guard in front of the office naturally knocked on the door.
“My lord, Her Grace has arrived.”
“Take her in.”
As Agatha entered, Enoch put down the papers he was looking at and stood up.
"Enoch."
“Agatha. Didn’t you say you were going to the palace?”
“I stopped by before I left. I wanted to check when you’ll be back today.”
“I won’t be doing night training, so I plan on returning to the mansion before nightfall.”
He took out the training plan and looked through it as he spoke.
"Yes."
He says that, but when he trains, it seems like it will be much later than that.
Agatha decided to schedule a separate evening appointment so Enoch could move around more comfortably.
“I think I’ll have dinner at the palace and come back. I’ll prepare a separate dinner for you and the knights, so don’t skip your meals, and have a nice trip.”
"All right."
Enoch, despite his busy schedule, took her to the front of the carriage.
“Then I’ll be back.”
“Have a nice time, Agatha.”
As always, the First Vice-Captain, Leon Takran, and the knights of Aratus were escorting the carriage.
Upon entering the palace, Agatha was able to meet the Crown Prince, Anthony Roxiba, who was somehow awake.
“Even if you call in advance and make an appointment, what’s the matter with someone who is sleeping?”
“I was just thinking about happy worries.”
Anthony smiled and gently stroked her platinum hair.
It looked quite stylish, matched with the nice outer leather.
“I guess there’s something you’d like to ask me?”
It was an impossible task for Agatha.
“It doesn’t work. That’s right. Come this way.”
Anthony opened up his bedroom. Covered with sofas, couches, and rugs were dozens of well-trimmed pieces of leather.
“What is all this, Your Highness?”
“These are the things that Marquis Aratus gave me. Some were given to me as gifts, and some I caught myself.”
The flower of autumn is hunting. Although the Crown Prince did not enjoy the first hunting festival of autumn, he went hunting diligently afterward and was able to harvest quite a lot.
Anthony smiled as he touched the soft fox fur.
“I was just wondering what I could make with these.”
“Do you really have to do it now?”
“You have good taste. While we’re here, let’s think about it together as blood relatives.”
Agatha was disgusted, but she still sat obediently next to Anthony, offering him her worries and advice.
As a Crown Prince who loved hunting, it must have been disappointing not to have been able to participate in the first hunting festival of autumn.
Of course, she didn't think he'd be that disappointed since he enjoyed the party enough.
“How about making a new pair of boots? I know you like winter hunting.”
“Fox fur boots are nice. Should I make them in different colors?”
“But what’s left, make it into a hat. Since you said you’d make a cloak out of bear skin, it would go well if you made the shoes and hat to match.”
The squire put the leather, the purpose of which he had decided, into the squire's hands.
The finished, well-tanned items will return to the Crown Prince's palace before late autumn.
Time passed quickly after he had roughly decided on the purpose and design of all that leather.
After Anthony took a look around, he prepared some tea himself and secretly looked at Agatha.
“Are you feeling more comfortable these days?”
"Sure."
“Don’t forget that this is all because of my cooperation.”
“I know. Thanks for the help.”
The yellow flowers that had bloomed in the hot water gave off a gentle fragrance.
As they each poured a glass and enjoyed the scent and color, Anthony absentmindedly said something.
“This time, I feel like you really made a good marriage.”
It was a pure sentiment, without any anger or teasing.
“I think so too.”
It was a happy marriage that she found after five years and seven marriages.
“Now all that’s left is to enjoy a comfortable honeymoon like everyone else and have a successor.”
"Your Highness."
Agatha's voice lowered. The sudden mention of succession was a sensitive issue even for Anthony, her childhood friend and cousin.
“It looks like His Majesty is also looking forward to it this time.”
Anthony shrugged and avoided Agatha's glare.
“It makes sense since it seems like you’re on good terms and there’s no trouble. Now it’s time for a real successor.”
“I know that too.”
Agatha took her eyes off Anthony and looked down at the yellow flowers in her teacup.
“But I don’t like being rushed.”
As the atmosphere became awkward, Anthony called his servant.
“You said you were going to eat dinner?”
“Yes, that’s what I was thinking.”
“I told you to prepare what you like today.”
That was a roundabout way of telling her to let off steam.
Agatha slightly relaxed her frown and looked back at the attendant.
“When will the meal be ready?”
“Everything is ready. Would you like to go straight to the restaurant?”
Agatha, however, chose something else instead of answering.
“Your Highness, I would like to have dinner in the greenhouse today.”
The Crown Prince's greenhouse was designed to provide a clear view of the sky.
It was also the most beautiful place to watch the orange sunset vividly through the glass ceiling in the evening.
Anthony obediently followed Agatha's wishes.
“Prepare the meal in the greenhouse.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
While they ate in the warm greenhouse, looking out at the cool-colored sky, Anthony served her a plate of delicious desserts.
Still, she shouldn't come to the palace for a while.
It hadn't even been a year since they got married. She didn't want to hear people nagging her to have a baby.
As she was leaving the Crown Prince's palace and returning to her mansion around dinnertime, Agatha suddenly remembered the excuse she had made to avoid preparing for the first autumn imperial ball.
“Ah. Is that why?”
"If he had been in the capital, wouldn't there have been a successor a long time ago?"
Come to think of it, that was one of the reasons the Emperor was putting in so much effort to keep Prince Ferdinand captive.
“...”
Agatha, who had been thinking for a moment, decided to continue to pretend not to know as usual.
Of course, she wasn't intentionally avoiding this topic.
She also slept with Enoch almost every day.
After the Battle of the Territory, Enoch stayed in Agatha's bedroom except when he was specifically leaving the mansion.
'I feel like it might happen really soon.'
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