The spring in Rowen that Kaian boasted about showing them passed by in the blink of an eye.
Since he had been away during the busy farming season to visit Valmonde, as soon as he returned to Rowen, Kaian went to various places in the estate almost every day.
As if the lord's face was the sun.
It seemed as if the Rowen people believed that the year's farming would be good only when the lord came and shone his face.
Even though they were busy with many things to take care of, they usually went to the farmers' association at least once to tell them that they were working hard and that there would be a good harvest this year as well, and they were satisfied and drank a lot of alcohol before returning to the land they came from.
When the busyness of the sowing season passed and they had some free time in their minds to 'feel the beauty of the spring flowers', another wave hit Rowen.
Today, strangers filled the place where the vassals of Temnes used to sit around and have a meeting.
They were all of noble status, although their attire was not uniform.
The lords of the lands close to Rowen had sent their successors in person. Some had come with their grown sons, who were the elder lords, and sat next to them.
Kaian and Claudel, who were sitting next to each other at the head table, looked at them with a calm expression.
“We will support Rowen if you become independent.”
The eldest of the old nobles among them spoke in a hoarse voice.
“I am completely fed up with the insane rule of the Oberon royal family.”
As soon as they could speak, the other lords added their own words.
“Civil war? Fighting a ridiculous war while nitpicking and destroying other people’s lands.”
“They said they would compensate for the damages caused by their passing army, but when King Valquiterre stepped down, it all came to nothing.”
The path Valquiterre took from the capital to Rowen could not have been as smooth as a children’s picnic.
In places where they stopped and rested, numerous barracks were set up, meals were prepared, and fires were lit to warm the night air.
The temporary horse tethering places were devastated by horses that could not even hear the hay they brought in, biting all the grass that had sprouted after winter.
While tens of thousands of soldiers marched for over a month, the towns they passed through were devastated.
It was a stark contrast to the capital that suffered no damage. However, even putting aside the enormous matter of a change in the King of a country, there was no way to compensate generously for a lost war.
“In the first place, it makes no sense to confiscate the title and lands of the Duke of Temnes.”
Although Kaian’s bloodline was half royal, the disgruntled nobles paid no attention.
“Now that Valmonde has become independent and has become a duchy, this is the opportunity.”
“Didn’t the serfs of Pagos, whom we liberated, rise up and fight Oberon first?”
The outcome was uncertain, but it was true that the fact that the serfs fought the Oberon Kingdom army first in Pagos worked to Kaian's advantage.
Because of this, the Kingdom army had difficulty in securing food and arrived at Rowen with a broken spirit.
"I understand your intentions."
Kaian said with an indifferent and cold face. The lords could not read his mind, so they all stared at Kaian's face. Their eyes were as eager as a dog waiting for its master with a bone in its hand.
"Times flow and change."
Kaian looked at Claudel, who was sitting next to him.
"When I inherited the title, I never thought I would take a bride from Vermont as my wife."
When he said jokingly, the tense atmosphere of the other lords relaxed.
"Hehe. That's right."
"With such a strong heir. Who would have thought you would be doing so well?"
“Wasn’t it because of Temnes’s full support that Valmonde became independent?”
Vermont had always been like a hunting dog on a leash, unable to procure food from his enemies without the mediation of the Oberon royal family.
As time went by, Temnes could have taken control of Vermont’s livelihood, but at least not this time, when Claudel was sitting in the position of Duchess.
“I will seriously consider your request, so get some rest today since you came a long way. We will have dinner together in the evening and talk again.”
When Kaian left, everyone disappeared with bright faces.
When Claudel got up, Kaian sighed and reached out to her.
When she approached and gave him a light hug, he chuckled.
“If you’re going to do it, do it with kindness.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Everyone came to see you and waited for you.”
Since the lords’ visit was sudden, Kaian was going to be busy the whole time.
His hands regretfully touched the string of the skirt wrapped around Claudel’s slender waist.
“It’ll be hard to have lunch with you today.”
“I’m busy, so don’t worry too much.”
When Claudel kissed his cheek blandly and disappeared, Kaian felt very sorry.
It was good that she had found stability and gotten used to life in Rowen, but sometimes he felt like he was the only one who was anxious and longing for Claudel.
“What kind of crazy thoughts are you thinking? If Claudel were to run away from her unstable life, I’d go crazy.”
Kaian restrained himself and straightened his shoulders.
As they left the conference room, the butler bowed his head as if he had been waiting.
“Your Highness. The parade for the young master’s event is ready. Come and take a look.”
Julien’s first birthday was less than a month away.
Kaian was constantly worried because he hadn’t been able to properly celebrate the grand celebration that he should have had when the boy was born as the heir.
So, since he planned to celebrate Julien's first birthday as grandly as the birth of his successor, he had been preparing after much deliberation as soon as he returned from Valmonde.
“I’ll go now.”
“This way.”
The men who supported Rowen, like pillars, walked together hurriedly toward the knights’ training grounds.
In the room where the oil lamps were dimly dimmed, the music box sang a lullaby in place of a mother’s voice.
I looked into Julien’s face, which was sleeping comfortably.
Soon, Julien’s first birthday would come.
It was hard to believe that he had been born prematurely before he had even reached ten months, but he had grown taller and stronger. Whenever I saw his chubby arms and thighs, my heart felt at ease and calm.
Snap.
When the last string of the music box plucked and the tune stopped, I heard a sound at the door.
I quickly went to open the door.
“Are you here?”
I said softly, and Kaian lightly kissed my forehead.
“And Julien?”
“Don’t you know it’s quiet?”
He approached the crib with quiet steps and took a look at his little one’s sleeping face.
A soft smile appeared on the corner of his mouth as he stared at Julien, who was deeply asleep.
Kaian left the nursery, holding my hand.
When he entered my bedroom, he held me in his arms as usual, took a deep breath, and exhaled.
It was a strange habit.
As if I were his lungs.
Or as if there were some unknown organ hidden in his human body for breathing, like gills.
He could only breathe deeply enough to clear his mind and relieve his fatigue by burying his nose in my body and inhaling my scent.
“It tickles.”
As if the lord's face was the sun.
It seemed as if the Rowen people believed that the year's farming would be good only when the lord came and shone his face.
Even though they were busy with many things to take care of, they usually went to the farmers' association at least once to tell them that they were working hard and that there would be a good harvest this year as well, and they were satisfied and drank a lot of alcohol before returning to the land they came from.
When the busyness of the sowing season passed and they had some free time in their minds to 'feel the beauty of the spring flowers', another wave hit Rowen.
Today, strangers filled the place where the vassals of Temnes used to sit around and have a meeting.
They were all of noble status, although their attire was not uniform.
The lords of the lands close to Rowen had sent their successors in person. Some had come with their grown sons, who were the elder lords, and sat next to them.
Kaian and Claudel, who were sitting next to each other at the head table, looked at them with a calm expression.
“We will support Rowen if you become independent.”
The eldest of the old nobles among them spoke in a hoarse voice.
“I am completely fed up with the insane rule of the Oberon royal family.”
As soon as they could speak, the other lords added their own words.
“Civil war? Fighting a ridiculous war while nitpicking and destroying other people’s lands.”
“They said they would compensate for the damages caused by their passing army, but when King Valquiterre stepped down, it all came to nothing.”
The path Valquiterre took from the capital to Rowen could not have been as smooth as a children’s picnic.
In places where they stopped and rested, numerous barracks were set up, meals were prepared, and fires were lit to warm the night air.
The temporary horse tethering places were devastated by horses that could not even hear the hay they brought in, biting all the grass that had sprouted after winter.
While tens of thousands of soldiers marched for over a month, the towns they passed through were devastated.
It was a stark contrast to the capital that suffered no damage. However, even putting aside the enormous matter of a change in the King of a country, there was no way to compensate generously for a lost war.
“In the first place, it makes no sense to confiscate the title and lands of the Duke of Temnes.”
Although Kaian’s bloodline was half royal, the disgruntled nobles paid no attention.
“Now that Valmonde has become independent and has become a duchy, this is the opportunity.”
“Didn’t the serfs of Pagos, whom we liberated, rise up and fight Oberon first?”
The outcome was uncertain, but it was true that the fact that the serfs fought the Oberon Kingdom army first in Pagos worked to Kaian's advantage.
Because of this, the Kingdom army had difficulty in securing food and arrived at Rowen with a broken spirit.
"I understand your intentions."
Kaian said with an indifferent and cold face. The lords could not read his mind, so they all stared at Kaian's face. Their eyes were as eager as a dog waiting for its master with a bone in its hand.
"Times flow and change."
Kaian looked at Claudel, who was sitting next to him.
"When I inherited the title, I never thought I would take a bride from Vermont as my wife."
When he said jokingly, the tense atmosphere of the other lords relaxed.
"Hehe. That's right."
"With such a strong heir. Who would have thought you would be doing so well?"
“Wasn’t it because of Temnes’s full support that Valmonde became independent?”
Vermont had always been like a hunting dog on a leash, unable to procure food from his enemies without the mediation of the Oberon royal family.
As time went by, Temnes could have taken control of Vermont’s livelihood, but at least not this time, when Claudel was sitting in the position of Duchess.
“I will seriously consider your request, so get some rest today since you came a long way. We will have dinner together in the evening and talk again.”
When Kaian left, everyone disappeared with bright faces.
When Claudel got up, Kaian sighed and reached out to her.
When she approached and gave him a light hug, he chuckled.
“If you’re going to do it, do it with kindness.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Everyone came to see you and waited for you.”
Since the lords’ visit was sudden, Kaian was going to be busy the whole time.
His hands regretfully touched the string of the skirt wrapped around Claudel’s slender waist.
“It’ll be hard to have lunch with you today.”
“I’m busy, so don’t worry too much.”
When Claudel kissed his cheek blandly and disappeared, Kaian felt very sorry.
It was good that she had found stability and gotten used to life in Rowen, but sometimes he felt like he was the only one who was anxious and longing for Claudel.
“What kind of crazy thoughts are you thinking? If Claudel were to run away from her unstable life, I’d go crazy.”
Kaian restrained himself and straightened his shoulders.
As they left the conference room, the butler bowed his head as if he had been waiting.
“Your Highness. The parade for the young master’s event is ready. Come and take a look.”
Julien’s first birthday was less than a month away.
Kaian was constantly worried because he hadn’t been able to properly celebrate the grand celebration that he should have had when the boy was born as the heir.
So, since he planned to celebrate Julien's first birthday as grandly as the birth of his successor, he had been preparing after much deliberation as soon as he returned from Valmonde.
“I’ll go now.”
“This way.”
The men who supported Rowen, like pillars, walked together hurriedly toward the knights’ training grounds.
***
In the room where the oil lamps were dimly dimmed, the music box sang a lullaby in place of a mother’s voice.
I looked into Julien’s face, which was sleeping comfortably.
Soon, Julien’s first birthday would come.
It was hard to believe that he had been born prematurely before he had even reached ten months, but he had grown taller and stronger. Whenever I saw his chubby arms and thighs, my heart felt at ease and calm.
Snap.
When the last string of the music box plucked and the tune stopped, I heard a sound at the door.
I quickly went to open the door.
“Are you here?”
I said softly, and Kaian lightly kissed my forehead.
“And Julien?”
“Don’t you know it’s quiet?”
He approached the crib with quiet steps and took a look at his little one’s sleeping face.
A soft smile appeared on the corner of his mouth as he stared at Julien, who was deeply asleep.
Kaian left the nursery, holding my hand.
When he entered my bedroom, he held me in his arms as usual, took a deep breath, and exhaled.
It was a strange habit.
As if I were his lungs.
Or as if there were some unknown organ hidden in his human body for breathing, like gills.
He could only breathe deeply enough to clear his mind and relieve his fatigue by burying his nose in my body and inhaling my scent.
“It tickles.”
As I twisted my body in his arms, exerting strength, a similar sensation was stimulated.
But that was that, and Kaian was desperate to talk to me.
These days, he was busy with work, so most days he couldn’t have lunch together with me, as we had done when I was recuperating.
Lately, when he came into the bedroom late at night, I had fallen asleep before Julien.
'How can you live in the same house and not have a meal with your wife or talk to her?'
While other nobles would protest for an increase in the budget for their extravagance, there would be many couples living together, but Kaian was accumulating complaints based on his own standards.
"Kaian."
It was obvious what Claudel was going to say.
Let me go. Shouldn't I change my clothes? Or else, you must be tired, so wash up and rest quickly.
'You used to be so cheeky.'
Kaian wondered why she felt so mean to him these days.
Claudel was becoming a virtuous lord.
The basic task was to take care of her children, who were the heirs, but since the estate was so large, many things required her permission to take care of the castle in earnest.
Naturally, the civil war that had been taking place while Kaian was away led to her taking on the major tasks of the castle, and Baron Colon, who had no hands, focused more on assisting Kaian.
It was a big deal that the surrounding territories were integrating into Rowen and becoming independent from Oberon.
Today was the first time that the lords had visited in person, but there had already been a lot of letters exchanged in advance.
Even Queen Bianque had been officially notified.
As a result, Claudel had a lot of things to do as the lord’s wife, and she no longer acted clumsily or hesitantly like before.
Her desirable change also affected their relationship, and instead of being dragged around helplessly like before when Kaian was sloppy, she often drew the line when he wasn’t.
“Why are you being so stingy?”
“Yes?”
Every time Claudel widened her golden eyes and made a face that seemed to show that she didn’t know what was wrong, Kaian felt his insides burning.
“Don’t you think you’ve been too cold to me lately?”
“No.”
When Claudel tried to avoid eye contact, Kaian grabbed her chin.
“You used to be so loud like you were demanding that I hand over what you had entrusted to you.”
“Well, you’ve been busy lately. You need to rest quickly.”
“Don’t you know what’s more important to me?”
She crouched down in surprise before their eyes met.
“Look at this. I’ve never known my husband’s tastes like this before.”
Kaian felt more selfish every time Claudel flinched or trembled like cornered prey.
“Answer me. Don’t act like you don’t know.”
When he asked her, leaning closer, Claudel answered quietly.
“Me.”
But that was that, and Kaian was desperate to talk to me.
These days, he was busy with work, so most days he couldn’t have lunch together with me, as we had done when I was recuperating.
Lately, when he came into the bedroom late at night, I had fallen asleep before Julien.
'How can you live in the same house and not have a meal with your wife or talk to her?'
While other nobles would protest for an increase in the budget for their extravagance, there would be many couples living together, but Kaian was accumulating complaints based on his own standards.
"Kaian."
It was obvious what Claudel was going to say.
Let me go. Shouldn't I change my clothes? Or else, you must be tired, so wash up and rest quickly.
'You used to be so cheeky.'
Kaian wondered why she felt so mean to him these days.
Claudel was becoming a virtuous lord.
The basic task was to take care of her children, who were the heirs, but since the estate was so large, many things required her permission to take care of the castle in earnest.
Naturally, the civil war that had been taking place while Kaian was away led to her taking on the major tasks of the castle, and Baron Colon, who had no hands, focused more on assisting Kaian.
It was a big deal that the surrounding territories were integrating into Rowen and becoming independent from Oberon.
Today was the first time that the lords had visited in person, but there had already been a lot of letters exchanged in advance.
Even Queen Bianque had been officially notified.
As a result, Claudel had a lot of things to do as the lord’s wife, and she no longer acted clumsily or hesitantly like before.
Her desirable change also affected their relationship, and instead of being dragged around helplessly like before when Kaian was sloppy, she often drew the line when he wasn’t.
“Why are you being so stingy?”
“Yes?”
Every time Claudel widened her golden eyes and made a face that seemed to show that she didn’t know what was wrong, Kaian felt his insides burning.
“Don’t you think you’ve been too cold to me lately?”
“No.”
When Claudel tried to avoid eye contact, Kaian grabbed her chin.
“You used to be so loud like you were demanding that I hand over what you had entrusted to you.”
“Well, you’ve been busy lately. You need to rest quickly.”
“Don’t you know what’s more important to me?”
She crouched down in surprise before their eyes met.
“Look at this. I’ve never known my husband’s tastes like this before.”
Kaian felt more selfish every time Claudel flinched or trembled like cornered prey.
“Answer me. Don’t act like you don’t know.”
When he asked her, leaning closer, Claudel answered quietly.
“Me.”
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