"Are you still looking for a doctor?"
"I've been trying to find a female physician with extensive experience, so it's been taking a while."
He had already secured the most skilled physician in the territory, but Dane was not satisfied and kept searching for another.
It was a manifestation of his resolve to never again go through what had happened with Joel.
Basak.
Dane picked up a cracker and popped it into his mouth. Then he leaned in close to Rose.
"—!"
Rose realized what he was up to and couldn't help but smile.
Who would have thought the man before her was Dane Schmaichel?
Her finest, most perfect masterpiece. The brilliant silver radiance that flickered only before her was endlessly satisfying.
Wajak.
Rose leaned in and bit off half the cracker from Dane's lips. A cracker that should have been completely tasteless was incredibly sweet and savory.
"……."
Affection that poured forth without being demanded. A smile that always waited for her, as if it had been there all along whenever she turned her head.
At some point, she realized there was no longer any need to bind him under the pretext of addiction.
Though to be precise, it was more accurate to say that she had been so diligent about the detoxification that it had concluded sooner than expected.
'Now….'
Rose carefully stroked her belly.
She carried half of him within her body, and she knew this would become the most binding shackle and brand of all.
Dane would never be able to escape her.
Never.
"We'll need to find a midwife too, though."
Rose said with a satisfied smile.
"I know. Selma is doing her best to find one."
Even though Rose's morning sickness restricted what she could eat, Dane followed those dietary restrictions without complaint.
Not only did he not voice any dissatisfaction, he only ever concerned himself with whether Rose was feeling alright.
"You seem to have gotten too thin."
Dane murmured with concern as he stroked Rose's cheek with the back of his hand.
"I'm sleepy."
Rose murmured, nuzzling her cheek against the back of his hand.
Strangely, ever since she conceived, even the slightest movement sent waves of drowsiness over her. It wouldn't have been an exaggeration to say she spent more than half the day asleep.
That was also why Dane was all the more intent on finding a good physician.
"Shall we head back?"
Dane immediately gathered Rose into his arms and lifted her.
It was a restrained and careful movement, ensuring Rose's body wouldn't be jostled.
"……."
Rose wrapped her arms around Dane's neck and buried her face against it.
His warm, broad embrace was so comfortable. Basking in that warmth, she drifted off to sleep before she knew it.
Without any idea of the guests that would soon arrive.
**
The castle study.
"…Hmm."
I held a quill pen in hand and stared intently at the documents before me.
A layette and linen cloth… an amulet in the shape of a silver-wrapped necklace….
They were all items for the soon-to-be-born baby.
[50 bolts of finest linen, 20 coral amulets, 12 sets of silver spoons.]
The numbers scrawled next to each item were quantities that the entire household of the ducal family couldn't use up in a whole year.
Since I didn't even know the baby's gender yet, I was just scooping up everything that caught my eye for now.
Pallang.
The next sheet was a cradle blueprint drawn and sent by a guild artisan.
Perhaps because I had selected only guilds with proven skill, the craftsmanship in rendering the Schmaichel coat of arms was exquisite.
"Mmm…."
Frowning, I chose carefully and then chose some more.
After a long while, I picked the most promising guild and set its blueprint aside separately.
'Should I build a new wing to the castle while I'm at it.'
I needed to prepare a nursery, and I was seriously considering whether it might be better to build a new addition rather than carve out space from existing rooms. Right at that moment—
Ttok, ttok.
A knock came at the door, and
"Your Grace, I apologize. May I come in for a moment?"
Bill's voice came through.
His voice, which rarely showed alarm, was noticeably agitated.
"Come in."
Bill entered the moment permission was granted and spoke urgently.
"A royal messenger just arrived."
"…What?"
"The little sun and moon of the kingdom will be visiting soon. They have brought His Majesty the King's royal decree."
"Not a royal delegation, but those two themselves are coming?"
"Yes."
I had expected the royal family to make some gesture after I settled the family affairs.
But to send Arikx and Beatrice of all people.
'This is going to be troublesome.'
If it were just an ordinary envoy, that would be one thing, but one couldn't treat the future crown prince carelessly.
And not just Arikx, but the noisy Beatrice was coming along too.
'This won't be good for the pregnancy.'
Just thinking about Rose having to entertain these two made me dread it already. I needed to handle their business and send these two black panthers packing as quickly as possible.
"Clean the castle, and the rooms… yes, prepare the west wing rooms."
"Yes, Your Grace."
"I'll wait at the castle gate. Where did you say they were?"
"Your Grace, I humbly beg to report…."
Bill bowed his head with a deeply apologetic expression.
"The little sun and moon of the kingdom have already arrived at the castle gate."
"……."
Damn them.
Sure enough, Bill was right.
I hurriedly changed into formal attire and went out to the castle gate, and there—
"Oh? Who do we have here?"
Beatrice was sitting on horseback with her arms crossed.
"Isn't this Duke Schmaichel, who hasn't contacted us once since the harvest festival?"
At her deliberately loud monologue—question mark—meant for me to hear, I simply snorted.
"Duke, it's been a while."
Arikx, sitting on horseback beside her, smiled wryly.
"When the little sun of the kingdom descends to the earth without warning, the brilliance blinds one so that one cannot prepare a proper reception."
I rattled it off like reciting from an etiquette book, my face utterly expressionless.
"Next time, please send the clouds a little earlier. That way, we may avoid the discourtesy of dust touching Your Highness's noble feet."
"Does the sun need permission to rise?"
Arikx replied without so much as a twitch of his eyebrow.
"I appeared without warning and brightly illuminated your castle. Shouldn't you be thanking me instead?"
"Yes. I'm so overcome with emotion I'm at a loss for words, Your Highness."
That was my reply, but my face was plainly written with annoyance.
Noticing that dissonance, Arikx threw his head back in a hearty laugh.
"Now, now, let's drop the formalities. It's been a while, Dane."
"What brings you all the way out here?"
In response to my question, Arikx pointed at his horse's saddle.
A golden cylinder hanging there caught my eye. It undoubtedly contained the king's royal decree.
"Let's head inside first."
Roughly guessing its contents, I began leading the procession standing at the castle gate inside.
Escorting Arikx and Beatrice, along with their sizeable retinue, took quite some time.
By the time we reached the inner castle, the household staff had already come out to welcome them.
Cheolkeang!
Guards lined up in formation before the castle gate. Thanks to the liberal use of oil, their armor gleamed blindingly.
Pureureung!
The horses snorting hot breath were a magnificent sight, and
"Steady."
The knights mounted atop them embodied the very majesty of House Schmaichel.
All the castle servants stood facing each other along both sides of the main road before the inner castle.
"We greet Your Highness."
Bill, at the front, bowed deeply, and everyone else followed suit in unison.
A military force counted among the largest in the kingdom, impeccably disciplined servants. And armor and warhorses that flaunted the family's wealth.
The welcome ceremony that once gave me headaches now served my purposes perfectly.
"……."
Beatrice said nothing, but clear admiration spilled across her eyes.
Even by the standards of a kingdom's princess, it was an impeccable display.
"A grand welcome."
Arikx looked at me and smiled as if pleasantly surprised.
The sudden, unannounced visit was likely intended partly to see me scramble in a panic.
But Schmaichel's foundation was not so easily shaken.
"It wouldn't do to fall short in receiving the little sun of the kingdom."
When I replied impassively, Arikx's lips twisted slightly.
"However… the guards' bearing is remarkably sharp. Someone might get bitten if they're not careful."
"They must have been nervous before your royal presence."
It was an accurate observation, but I deflected it with feigned innocence.
'Pardon? You want us to prepare in defensive formation?'
'That's right. Just like when we welcomed Rose that time.'
'Y-Your Grace. About that incident, please….'
Despite all his stammering, Bill faithfully carried out the task I had entrusted him with.
In other words, he had perfectly prepared a defensive formation masquerading as… a welcome ceremony.
To the sibling pair of Arikx and Beatrice,
'Handle your business and leave quickly.'
That was the message I intended to convey.
"Would you look at this guy. I just got here and you're already trying to kick me out?"
"You haven't changed a bit."
Whether they read my blatant message or not, Beatrice and Arikx repeatedly let out dry chuckles.
"But where's Rose? I assumed she'd come out with you!"
Beatrice, who had been tilting her head in confusion for a while, asked. Then, in an uncharacteristically cautious manner, she added:
"I'm asking just in case, but are you two still in a cold war over that harvest festival incident…?"
"She's asleep."
"Huh? At this hour?"
When guests of this caliber visited, it was proper for the lord and his wife to come out and greet them, but I had no desire to wake the sleeping Rose.
It was indeed a breach of standard etiquette, so I replied curtly.
"She's with child."
"…!"
Not only Beatrice, but even Arikx gaped slightly in surprise.
After a moment, the two looked at each other and blinked, and then—
"Yeehaw!"
"Oh my."
They reacted in completely different ways.
"Yes! I'm going to ride her the moment we get back! My lovely Elizabeth, let's gallop together with your big sister!"
Beatrice raised both hands in the air, giddy with excitement.
"Oh right, orabeoni. Don't forget you promised me the villa. Transfer it to my name right away, will you?"
"…Do as you please."
Arikx laughed through gritted teeth. He looked like he was dying of heartburn.
"I'll have to set aside a separate gift for Dane too. My treasury is going to be utterly ruined."
Watching him, Beatrice was beside herself with amusement.
"I told you, didn't I? Once Dane here loses the reins, he'd go completely mad."
"He must have been busy settling the family affairs. When would he have found the time…."
"Love always blooms more brilliantly in adversity!"
Listening to their conversation, I began to piece things together.
"…Did you two make a bet?"
"That's right, you fool!"
Beatrice giggled and smacked my back.
"Hey, you seriously need to be grateful to the two of us, you know that?"
"What are you talking about."
"Because you kept fumbling around, my orabeoni and I stepped in. During the harvest festival! You still don't get it?"
I frowned as I recalled that day. Meanwhile, Beatrice kept chattering beside me.
"I figured if we left you two alone, you'd keep missing each other. So my orabeoni and I sacrificed ourselves, didn't we."
"……."
"The sight of you storming off and dragging Rose away was so hilarious… Ahahaha. Worked like a charm, didn't it?"
Arikx chimed in from the side.
"I thought I was going to take a glove to the face from you that time."
"I thought every bone in my body was going to break dancing with you, you fool!"
Listening to them, the outline of what had happened that day began to take shape.
So these two black panthers had deliberately….
"…Haa."
In the end, I could only sigh and bury my face in my hands.