I Became The Wife Of The Cursed Grand Duke Chapter 95

His golden eyes looked at her, tinged with suspicion.

 

Whenever he looked at her that way, Evelyn felt like she was being followed by something.

 

Like he was reading her mind.

 

But the unease was short-lived, and he soon lowered his eyes to his plate and raised an eyebrow.

 

“Well, I’ll have to think about it,” he said, “I’m not the only one who’s going to get hurt if I make a weird wish.”

 

Then he smirked, as if it were a joke.

 

“Okay, one wish, I suppose.”

 

The corners of his mouth, which had been stiff ever since she’d asked for the terms of the Babel’s sealing, twitched upwards in a graceful manner.

 

“I look forward to it, then. I can’t wait to see what you ask of me.”

 

Evelyn smiled brightly in response.

 

Now she vaguely understood. That it would please him to have her ask for something.

 

Evelyn continued to eat, resolving to wait as long as possible to make her wish.

 

 

* * *

 

 

As they chatted, the hardened atmosphere softened again.

 

When they had finished the carrot cake for dessert in a relaxed atmosphere, he stood up with a look of satisfaction.

 

“Let’s walk for a while.”

 

Evelyn was a little surprised by his suggestion that they take a tour of the estate, having assumed they’d be heading straight back to the castle.

 

She didn’t show it, of course.

 

“Okay.”

 

Even though it was quite late, the streets were bustling with people.

 

Families out for a stroll after dinner, couples on dates, and merchants out to clear the snow.

 

“Good evening, Your Highness.”

 

“It’s an honour to meet you. Your Highness.”

 

They thanked Evelyn over and over again, mentioning the fresh supply of vegetables and the opportunity to sell the byproducts of their creatures.

 

And the two of them blended seamlessly into the crowd of greeting folk.

 

After a few steps, he removed his cloak and draped it around Evelyn’s shoulders.

 

His perfect body pressed against hers, a body so perfect that she admired it every time she looked at it.

 

She was about to pull away, feeling a little warmer, when he lifted her hand, which he held firmly in his, and shook his head.

 

“I’ve been wondering, what the hell is this ring?”

 

Evelyn looked down at the ring he’d given her, which she wore like a guard ring.

 

“Oh, a memento from my mother.”

 

“A memento? I don’t think she was wearing anything at first.”

 

She hadn’t paid her any attention then.

 

Evelyn pursed her lips at his unnecessary glare.

 

“Actually, it was given to me by a girl I met at the temple. I think my mother… already knew I was coming.”

 

It was a far-fetched story. But instead of laughing, he took her seriously.

 

“I’m glad you were able to find it, because I have yet to find any of my father’s mementos.”

 

Evelyn’s brow furrowed.

 

“Did your father leave you any mementos?”

 

“Well… I don’t know if I’d call it a relic, but it’s something I’m supposed to keep, so I suppose it is.”

 

He hasn’t found it yet, but it’s his to keep.

 

Evelyn remembered Ines’s mention that Helene’s relic might be stored somewhere in the Grand Duchy.

 

‘I wonder if that relic might be Helene’s…’

 

But she wondered if she was asking the wrong thing and making him uncomfortable again. He’d been tight-lipped about the terms of the Babel’s sealing.

 

“You look like you have something to say.”

 

He stopped abruptly and looked down at Evelyn, his face tense with concern.

 

A trace of worry crossed her face, and it must have caught Kalian’s eye.

 

“You wear your emotions on your sleeve, and I hope you don’t keep anything inside if you have something to tell me.”

 

Evelyn sighed inwardly at his seemingly all-encompassing attitude.

 

It had been on her mind for days.

 

Should she jokingly mention Helene’s holy relic, what would he say if she told him it might be in the Grand Duchy?

 

She was deep in thought.

 

“Ahem!”

 

With a swift outstretched arm, Kalian grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into his arms.

 

She opened her eyes wide in panic as he pressed his body against hers, the sound of boisterous children’s laughter echoing behind her.

 

Evelyn realised what had happened when she saw the children, who looked to be about seven years old, running away.

 

‘They didn’t want me to run into them and cause an accident,’ she realised.

 

She was impressed by his attentiveness when he asked her out of the blue.

 

“Do you like children…?”

 

Of course she likes children.

 

Not just children, but life in general, whether it be animals or plants, and she doesn’t know why, but it’s in her nature.

 

But Evelyn was unable to bear his child. She didn’t think he would like it if she told him she liked children, knowing all the circumstances.

 

Evelyn smiled, as if she had no reason to worry.

 

“They’re cute to look at, but that’s it.”

 

He looked a little tense as he waited for her answer, but then his expression relaxed.

 

“Good, then.”

 

Again, he seemed worried that she might not want children.

 

Suddenly, his sleeping habits, which had changed since their trip to the canyon, grated uncomfortably on her nerves.

 

“Kal, why do you keep ejaculating outside… lately?”

 

“Because it’s hard on you when you’re full inside, and it’s not very hygienic to get it out again.”

 

I knew he wasn’t hiding anything, but for a moment Evelyn blushed. The more she thought about it, the more she realised it didn’t sound like him.

 

“My hands are cold, and I’d hate to catch a cold before an important event, so I’d better get back.”

 

He turned and left, and Evelyn followed, her hand still clasped in his.

 

She tried to shake the thoughts from her head, but the vaguely uncomfortable feeling didn’t go away until they were back at the castle.

 

 

* * *

 

 

Pajik-!

 

As the days went by, the Holy Bolt began to take on a more convincing appearance.

 

The divine sphere of light could now be cast without the need to flick a finger.

 

It wouldn’t be much help in the face of flying and crawling knights, but it was enough to give Evelyn an offensive spell to use in a pinch.

 

Before she knew it, she was sweating profusely, and a low, authoritative voice drifted into her ear.

 

“We’ll end today’s training with a one-on-one sword fight! Divide into teams, centred around Dwayne and Max.”

 

With nowhere else to practice, she was forced to spend the entire day in a corner of the training grounds honing her magic.

 

But she wasn’t complaining. On a lucky day like today, she might even catch a glimpse of Kalian, and she enjoyed her time at the training grounds.

 

“Take it easy.”

 

A voice came from behind Evelyn as she sat on the bench, fixing her hair and tying it up.

 

“You’re going to collapse.”

 

Viktor came over with a cool fruit juice and handed it to her.

 

Even in this cold, most of the knights had removed their tops, perhaps because of their hard training, and he was one of them.

 

“Argh! Thank you.”

 

It wasn’t exactly an awkward sight, but Evelyn accepted the goblet with a lowered gaze out of politeness.

 

She didn’t want to stare at a stranger’s body, no matter how casual.

 

Viktor, however, didn’t mind at all. He was from the Empire, and now he was fully imbued with the North.

 

Flopping down on the bench, Viktor began to praise her growing offensive magic.

 

“I think you could take the lead in clearing out smaller demon colonies in the future, Your Highness.”

 

“Do you think so?”

 

“I’ll give you cover with my life.”

 

“With your life? Then you’ll have to pledge to me.”

 

“I’ll do it right now, if you’ll take it.”

 

It sounds like a pretty serious conversation, but it was Viktor’s trademark joke.

 

It’s just that his stoic appearance and serious demeanour make it seem like no joke at all.

 

Despite his appearance, Viktor had a sense of humour, and he was also very affectionate.

 

He offered her another glass.

 

“Lari said there’s nothing like fruit juice when you’re thirsty.”

 

Lari was Viktor’s wife.

 

“Oh, I heard she had bad morning sickness. How is she?”

 

“She’s feeling much better, thanks to your concern.”

 

Evelyn couldn’t have been more envious of Viktor’s concern for his pregnant wife, calling her by her nickname instead of her real name.

 

“I’ll drink well then.”

 

Her mouth twitched unnecessarily. A quick glance at him and she gulped down the fruit juice.

 

“Welcome, Your Highness.”

 

Suddenly, Viktor jumped to his feet.

 

At the word ‘Your Highness,’ Evelyn wiped the drink from her mouth and turned her head.

 

His eyes were cold, his posture unflinching, his face glowing in the setting sun.

 

Kalian, who had been standing there for who knows how long, stood staring at them.

 

“What are you doing here?”

 

His expression and voice were unchanged, but there was a hint of displeasure in his tone.

 

“You seemed in such good spirits a moment ago, did something bad happen?”

 

Swallowing nervously, Viktor gulped down the drink he’d been holding, then turned to Kalian.

 

“Sir Viktor, please ensure that everyone is in full dress uniform in the theatre from now on.”

 

“Yes, sir!”

 

Without hesitation, Viktor jumped to his feet and ran off, only to turn around to look behind him.

 

“Hic!”

 

His eyes locked with Kalian’s.

 

It was a fierce stare that made her shoulders clench unnecessarily, even though she hadn’t done anything wrong.

 

His golden eyes flashed fiercely at her surprise.

 

“I didn’t realise you had such a lowly hobby.”

 

For a moment, tens of thousands of question marks appeared in her pale green pupils.

 

“What hobby?”