A short while after the honeymoon.
Clyde was slowly leaving the Knights’ headquarters while waiting for Beatrice when he stopped in his tracks at a familiar voice from behind.
“Well, look who it is. Our very own Sir Clyde Dalton, who’s been so busy doting on his wife that it’s hard to even see his face.”
Turning around, he saw a handsome man with silver hair that clearly displayed his Imperial lineage and purple eyes that were the spitting image of the Empress.
Including his past life, this was the superior and friend he had served for a very long time: Crown Prince Crowell Halo Ronia Edvane.
“Your Highness Crowell.”
“Yes, it’s me.”
Rebuking him for acting as if his title was something new, the Crown Prince tapped Clyde on the back and continued.
“So, tell me, are you enjoying your time with that lovely wife of yours? The rumors are rampant throughout the Knights. They say you’ve been completely swept up in the joys of newlywed life lately.”
At the question Crown Prince Crowell posed with a playful smirk, Clyde let out a light chuckle and nodded.
“Ah, those rumors.”
“What’s this? Judging by the way you say that, I suppose they’ve reached your ears as well?”
“Haha, well, yes.”
It would be troublesome if they hadn’t reached his ears.
Because the two of them were working quite desperately to appear as a lovey-dovey couple who couldn’t live without each other.
Since their marital home was still under construction and they were living separately in their respective family estates, they had to be even more careful.
‘Going to pick each other up right on time, sticking together at every gathering, making a show of sharing food in crowded places….’
To exaggerate a little, the amount of time he had spent physically glued to Beatrice over the past few weeks was roughly equal to all the time they had spent together in their entire lives.
Even Beatrice, who had been disgusted by the cringeworthy pet names right after the wedding, could now say ‘Darling’ even in her sleep.
The fortunate thing was that they could now gradually utilize clever tricks, treating all of this as part of the learning experience.
‘The trick we used at the banquet yesterday was truly convenient.’
It was the trick where they loudly announced they wanted to go for a walk in the garden because they were full, and then intentionally disheveled their clothes before returning.
This was because they didn’t need to worry about others’ gazes; they just had to pass the time casually in some secluded spot before heading back inside.
Right around the time he was recalling their tearful efforts to slowly gnaw away at Valoa Crawford’s nerves, the Crown Prince hitched up one eyebrow slightly and replied.
“…To think you’d answer so meekly. I didn’t expect this kind of reaction from Sir Dalton?”
“Because it’s the truth. That my wife is lovely, that I enjoy my time with her, and that I am thoroughly smitten with the joys of newlywed life. It’s a truth that wells up from the bottom of my heart, so why would I deny it?”
“Ha! Why don’t you stop right there? I feel like I’ll genuinely get goosebumps if I hear any more.”
“Oh dear.”
Clyde, drooping his eyes as if in pity, gave a nonchalant smile and offered a greeting.
“Ah, come to think of it, I’m late with my thanks, Your Highness. Thank you very much for taking such an interest in my marriage. To think you’d send gifts almost every single day. One room is barely enough to hold them all.”
“Don’t mention it! Keep them. As you know, Clyde, I felt a great deal of regret for not being able to attend the wedding. I intend to pay more attention from now on.”
“Haha, the thought alone is enough. I cannot impose such a burden on Your busy Highness.”
“Is that so? Haha! Then you should have given me some advance notice. It’s not as if a busy man like me would have interfered with the two of you.”
The Crown Prince, who parried Clyde’s words without giving an inch, lowered his voice slightly and continued.
“Not just me, but Mother was also quite disappointed. It’s only natural, given that your partner was the Hartwell lady. She mentioned that even if she expected it from the Count, she didn’t expect Jedaric, the lady’s father, to hide such an important matter when they are from the same kingdom.”
“Ah, that is……”
Clyde scratched the back of his head awkwardly and spoke with a troubled expression.
“I’m sure Count Hartwell had no intention of hiding it from Her Majesty. Even Lord Jedaric was unaware.”
“Unaware? Of what?”
“Of the relationship between us. To put it more bluntly, I believe the day Her Majesty heard the news of our marriage and the day my father heard our marriage declaration were only a few days apart.”
How much was it, exactly…? Three days?
Listening to Clyde, the Crown Prince scanned him with an expression that asked how such a thing could happen.
“Oh, Your Highness. Please don’t look at me like that. We had our own circumstances as well.”
“Circumstances? I heard you’ve been dating since your Academy days, so what on earth could be the reason to hide it so thoroughly…. Ah. It certainly would have caused quite a stir in many ways if it had been known.”
Even though the two of them were the youngest daughter and second son with no real power in their families, the union of the Houses of Hartwell and Dalton was a significant event.
The Count Hartwell family was a household wealthy enough to produce staple grains amounting to 10% of the Empire’s food supply generation after generation, and the Duke Dalton family was a founding contributor that had famously drunk the dragon’s blood alongside the Imperial Family back when the Empire was established long ago.
This alone was enough to cause a stir, but…
‘Given that the husband of the Countess of Hartwell comes from where he does, the traditionalists would have certainly come at us with everything they had if we had revealed it back then.’
Of course, now that his older sister, Princess Elodie, was officially betrothed to the eldest son of the Duke Dalton family, no one was adding any further commentary.
“Well, when I think about it that way, it is understandable, but even so, hiding it even from your own families is a bit excessive.”
“Haha, that’s just one of the ‘youngest child’s’ circumstances…”
Slyly fabricating a reason, Clyde quickly brought the topic to a close.
“I will visit Her Majesty to pay our respects with my wife soon. If I am busy with my duties, I will ask Bea to go first.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I’m sure Mother’s heart will soften once she sees the two of you in person. Oh, and……”
“Is there something else?”
“No, speaking of noisy, I was reminded of Valoa Crawford. Are you alright?”
“Well……”
“I heard about the incident where she crashed your wedding, of course, and how she ran to Father afterward to throw a fit and demand the marriage be annulled.”
That was true. After saying, ‘If it cannot be undone because the Emperor approved it, then you must separate if the Emperor orders it,’ Valoa had run straight to the Emperor.
Then, she had boldly thrown a fit in front of him, saying she wanted Clyde and demanding he annul the marriage and hand him over.
If Valoa had been an ordinary noble, it was a matter for which she would have been dragged away and turned into the dew of the execution grounds immediately.
Fortunately for her, however, Valoa was a daughter Archduke Alec cherished dearly, and while the Emperor had been furious and scolded her, he didn’t punish his niece.
“Father is quite soft when it comes to matters involving my uncle.”
The Crown Prince, who clicked his tongue lightly as if dissatisfied, tapped him on the shoulder.
“If you ever need my help, just say the word. I’ll help you.”
“Haha!”
The fact that Valoa walked out of the Emperor’s presence unscathed was certainly annoying, but for a moment, Clyde let out a genuine laugh.
Because unlike the past, seeing Crown Prince Crowell standing firmly in his place and receiving his goodwill was simply a joy.
“What is it? That unpleasant smile?”
“Unpleasant? This is because I am deeply moved by Your Highness’s words…”
“Nonsense. Since when were you ever so loyal?”
‘…I wonder that myself.’
As he was murmuring words he couldn’t say out loud while recalling the past, Beatrice’s platinum-blonde hair came into his sight from afar at the perfect timing.
“Bea! Darling! I’m over here with His Highness!”
Having caught her attention beforehand to prevent her from calling out to him or treating him as she usually did, he spoke to the Crown Prince in a low voice.
“Actually, there is one thing I would like to seek Your Highness’s help with regarding that.”
“Hmm?”
“As Your Highness knows, rumors about how much we love each other have spread quite far. Given Lady Crawford’s temperament, I’m worried she might try to harm my wife.”
Beatrice paused the moment she heard his greeting and instantly changed her sour expression.
Without taking his eyes off her as she smiled brightly and even began to run toward them, Clyde calmly spoke his main point.
“So, about that, Your Highness. Do you happen to have some time tomorrow?”
If you have time, how about attending the masquerade ball in the evening?
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