Chapter 3
***
“His highness has been through a long war. He had a lot of horrible experiences that none of us can ever understand. His squad was ambushed during the night, and he was the only one who survived. He says he has nightmares from the battlefield. After he falls asleep, he wakes up in a sword-wielding frenzy.”
The corners of the maid’s eyes slanted.
“His highness has worked very hard. He met all the famous therapists in the Empire, and even tried tying his hands and feet while sleeping. On the battlefield, the knights could stop him… but they can’t do that in the mansion. He can’t bring knights into his room.”
Amarion’s cheeks suddenly turned red. Only the Duke and his wife could approach the bedroom at night. If the knights had alternated, the rumors would have been absurd.
Amarion sighed deeply.
“After spending a few months like that, he finally returned, alone. We were foolish to ask him if there was any way we could keep his highness from waking up…”
She closed her mouth. That was the reason for their marriage. She was a knight who knew how to wield a sword, and female. However, she still thought it was strange.
Weren’t there too many weapons in the room?
“Can’t you hide his weapons?”
Sumona quietly answered her question.
“Madame, his highness is suffering from the aftereffects of war. He cannot sleep without a sword, or in an open place.”
In the old maid’s tone, there was indescribable pity for her master.
She was truly sad.
Even in Amarion’s hometown, there were many people who were maimed by monsters and suffered from psychological aftereffects. Without a sword, they could not leave the house at all, and there were people who could never leave the village.
But what she experienced was unfair in another sense.
Wasn’t this the same as releasing a leashed monster without any precautions?
Last night she was really scared.
Sumona repeatedly apologized.
“I’m really sorry, madame.”
“No… I want to sleep more, so you may leave.”
She pushed her plate away with no energy.
She wondered if there was any use in criticizing those who were not involved.
The maids quickly cleared her empty plate and closed the curtains without making a sound.
It was perfect workmanship, worthy of the name of ‘servant of the Grand Duke’.
Before leaving, Sumona asked, hesitatingly,
“Madame, sorry to bother you, but can I ask just one thing?”
“Please go ahead.”
“How did you put Your Highness to sleep? No one has been able to do it before.”
Amarion answered honestly.
“I knocked him out with a sword.”
“What?”
“I dueled the Grand Duke and put him to sleep.”
A look of surprise appeared on the woman’s face.
***
It was evening when she woke up again. She got out of bed and stretched.
She ate well and slept well, so her whole body was relaxed.
It was a luxury she had never imagined. The white bedding was as soft as a cloud.
In the northern kingdom where she lived, cotton blankets were precious.
She rang the attendants and ate dinner in bed. While she was washing her face after eating, the bedroom door opened.
“Are you awake?”
It was the Grand Duke.
When she saw him, she had a million things to ask.
She swallowed her questions several times, but finally one slipped out.
“You should have given me more information.”
“I thought you would run away if you knew.”
“Where would I go? There is nowhere to run to.”
He looked at her for a moment, then silently took off his coat and hung it on a chair.
His body was smooth with no scars.
“It couldn’t have been easy to avoid my sword without getting hurt. You did great.”
This wasn’t a story she brought up to get praise for her swordsmanship!
She bit her lips.
Although she was praised by the best swordsman on the continent, she was not happy at all. Even if she fought the real god of death, she wouldn’t be as surprised as she was yesterday.
There was a big difference between consenting to fighting, and being ambushed.
However, he didn’t seem to care about that, perhaps because his life so far had been so painful.
He lay down on the bed.
“Don’t stay up all night and go to sleep when you’re done. I’ve never woken up more than once in a single night.”
***
While the attendants drew the curtains, she went to the dressing room to change her clothes. A little while ago, she had asked the maids to bring her a pair of pants and a shirt.
Last night, she realized how difficult it was to fight in thin pajamas. The clothes she was given were a bit large because they belonged to male attendants, but she didn’t mind. She simply rolled up the hem of the shirt and went back to the bedroom.
The Grand Duke was asleep as if he were dead.
She grabbed her sword and sat next to him. Being up all night and relying on minimal light made her insanely bored. It wasn’t much different from keeping watch on her estate.
Yesterday, he woke up in less than an hour. She held her breath and drew her sword.
Now that she knew what was going on, she decided to change her strategy.
Wouldn’t it be better to put him to sleep before he went wild? She snuck behind his back. He was still deeply asleep.
But suddenly, he picked up an axe next to him with lightning speed. She panicked and avoided it as it flew at her with unexpected speed.
‘Even a sword is heavy. How strong is he?’
In the end, it was only after she managed to block him a few times that she could see a gap. She pushed him with her elbow and then jabbed him on the back of the neck, barely knocking him out. Then she carried his body to bed.
When she was done with her work, she had lost all strength in her body. She was exhausted and sat down on the bed. She didn’t want to sleep next to the Duke, but the temptation of the soft duvet was stronger than she had imagined.
She finally gave in and laid down on the edge of the bed. She curled into a ball, just in case he could see her.
An unimaginable night passed by.
***
Someone shook her shoulder and woke her up. The dazzling sunlight pierced her eyelids. She opened her eyes with much difficulty.
“Wife.”
Victor was looking down at her. His jewel-like amber eyes gleamed with interest.
“Did you sleep like this?”
His eyes swept over the baggy pants and shirt she was wearing, then the sword in her arms.
Bewildered, she hugged her sword a little tighter.
Who was this all because of?
He laughed when she shot him a glare. His smile was so beautiful that she forgot to glare at him for a moment and could only look at him blankly.
He got up with a soft smile on his face.
“Anyway, it looks like you are fine again today.”
“…Yes, your highness.”
“Have breakfast with me.”
He left the bedroom in his robe.
Not long after, her maids came in and served her. With their help, she showered, combed her hair, and changed into a comfortable dress. The dresses brought by the maids were more colorful and softer than those worn in her kingdom.
After getting ready, she looked at herself in the large, luxurious mirror. It was funny how her skinny, scarred body was wearing such a beautiful dress. She felt awkward, as if she was wearing someone else’s clothes. She reluctantly headed to the dining hall.
Breakfast was already prepared in the dining hall. There was freshly baked bread, vegetable soup, and crispy roast duck. The food was warm, plentiful, and smelled fragrant.
Again, she had to work very hard not to overeat.
The Grand Duke, seated at the head of the table, elegantly cut the duck with a knife and put it in his mouth.
“Take a look around the mansion today. I have to go to the Imperial Palace, so my butler will guide you.”
The butler standing next to him bowed his head.
“Hello, madame. I’m Diederik.”
“Oh, hello.”
Diederik was a middle-aged gentleman with gray hair.
His well-groomed hair and beard seemed to reflect his determined personality. Looking at him, she realized that the dining hall was full of servants.
Did something happen?
The Grand Duke got up first, perhaps noticing her trying to eat slowly to look as elegant as possible.
“I have to go. Eat well.”
“Ah, I’ll see you off.”
“It’s okay. I’m not going far.”
He bowed lightly and left the dining hall.
She looked to Sumona for guidance. Sumona whispered that it was okay with a little nod.
Amarion was confused. She was told that a lady should see her husband off when he left.
She thought for a moment and then pulled the plate of duck towards her.
Since she had a hard time last night, she felt like it didn’t matter if she looked elegant or not.