Chapter 47: The Real Xavier

Why am I seeing things?

I’ve been thinking about him since earlier.

But as our boat got closer to the lakeside, that man looked more and more distinctly like Xavier.

Rubbing my eyes with both hands, I asked Maya in a daze.

“Maya, I think my eyes are going bad. I can see Xavier.”

“My lady, your eyes are working fine. That is indeed the Duke.”

“I can see him too.”

Rosetta chimed in, making a visor with her palm above her eyes, squinting and widening them.

“What?”

I jumped up in surprise. The boat rocked and water splashed violently. At the same time, as the bow touched land, I lost my balance.

“My lady, that’s dangerous!”

“My lady!”

I heard the urgent voices of my two maids as my body tilted forward. I was about to hit my head on the ground.

“Ahhh! Xavier!”

This is definitely going to hurt.

It’s going to hurt.

“Oops, Duchess.”

“Huh?”

Someone caught me effortlessly in a princess carry.

“Did you call for me?”

“…Xavier?”

“Yes, I’m here.”

It really was Xavier.

The man who should have been traveling by carriage on the Imperial Road was right in front of my eyes, meeting my gaze.

“This is impossible. How are you here? I was just wishing you were here…”

Oops, I accidentally spoke my thoughts out loud.

I shut my mouth like I’d eaten honey.

“And then? I want to hear the rest, why did you stop?”

“Hmph, there is no ‘then.'”

“Well then. Should I put you down?”

Xavier raised his eyebrow and made a gesture as if to put me down on the ground.

I reflexively shook my head vigorously without thinking.

I gasped, but it was already too late.

“Hehe. It seems my wife was thinking of me a little, so my rushing here wasn’t in vain.”

“Oh my!”

Xavier lifted me up in his arms again. As a result, I ended up clinging to his neck, which was as beautiful and strong as a stag’s.

At the same time, heat started rising from within me.

I could see Maya and Rosetta getting off the boat with the boatman’s help belatedly.

Xavier carried me past the muddy shore to where there was soft grass.

Thankfully it was sunset. If they saw my face now, those two would tease me for days.

Meanwhile, I had no choice but to bury my face in his shoulder. The scent of man tickled my nose.

While being carried like that, I made eye contact with the two maids over his shoulder.

Rosetta clenched both fists and mouthed:

‘My lady, fighting!’

Then Maya pulled on Rosetta’s arm.

“My lady, we’ll be going ahead.”

“Huh? Oh.”

Maya dragged Rosetta, who was still looking my way, and walked briskly toward the park entrance.

“Your maids are quite perceptive.”

“…Yes. They are.”

My face flushed more at Xavier’s words.

They didn’t need to give us space like that. They’re already out of sight.

“Your face against my shoulder is hot.”

“Ah, sorry.”

I quickly pulled my face away in surprise. I also removed my arms from around his neck.

Xavier’s voice came from right beside me as he carried me.

“Stay as you were.”

“Why? Isn’t it hot?”

“Because I like it, so stay as you were.”

The tips of his ears were red too.

“How long are you going to carry me like this?”

The boat was visible in the distance. We were already walking on the park path. Though it was late afternoon and most people had left, there were still some eyes watching.

“Until my wife says she doesn’t like it.”

This person is so good at saying embarrassing things.

“Pfft.”

But I couldn’t say I didn’t like it either. I wanted to listen to his heartbeat a little longer.

“Ahem. But how did this happen?”

“I borrowed the Emperor’s portal.”

“A portal?”

In this world, there are no mages. Unlike other novels, there are no magic towers, and at most there are only magic stones containing magical power. And I heard there were portals for point-to-point movement using those magic stones.

“Yes, I asked to use it just once to go to the ducal residence. When I arrived at the house entrance, Albert told me you would be here, so I rode here like mad.”

“Why go to such lengths? Isn’t using a portal expensive because it requires lots of magic stones?”

“Not that expensive. And when I say I want to see my wife, even the Emperor can’t stop me.”

Ah, I know that better than anyone.

Xavier stroked my back and whispered softly.

“I came because I wanted to see you.”

I could feel his heart beating strongly, and my heart started racing too.

“That’s treason, you know. Using a state portal recklessly because of your wife.”

“Huh. Is that so?”

Xavier’s voice was ticklish.

I pouted and said,

“I’m grateful, but I don’t want to be a traitor’s wife.”

“Alright. I’ll remember that.”

Xavier replied with an amused tone. I felt an indescribably warm feeling.

Although it was a contract marriage, it didn’t seem bad to get along this well.

After walking for a while like that, Xavier said something.

“By the way, Yuria, remember this.”

“What?”

“Look forward to tomorrow’s morning paper. It’ll be our second biggest headline after our victory celebration.”

“What? Put me down!”

Ack, we’re doomed.

Far away, the red flash characteristic of magic stone cameras blinked and disappeared.

*

Margaret sat at the kitchen table, fidgeting with the pouch in her left hand. She could feel two luscious rubies rolling around inside.

‘The Saintess is no ordinary person. I need to be careful, very careful.’

Though she used the excuse of it being the first day after marriage, there was clearly another intention behind giving out the jewels.

While jewels could be used like gold coins or checks, just as checks leave a trail, jewels also leave records of sellers and buyers.

‘If needed, they want to track at a glance where and when the servants use these.’

Idiots would use the jewels without knowing, but not Margaret. Though young, the 4-year veteran spy couldn’t openly spend money due to her occupation. Fortunately, she knew the dark channels.

‘I’ll have to ask a fence¹someone who buys and sells stolen goods I know well.’

She wondered if that stupid Jude had met the fence as written in the note.

How she became a general with that brain is beyond me. Such a frustrating woman. If this job succeeds, she could be adopted into the Willem family’s branch.

‘Ugh, so annoying.’

Margaret grumbled internally as she reached for the bread basket.

It was now the servants’ meal time, and dinner was earlier than usual since the ducal couple was out. A kitchen maid sat down across from Margaret who was eating at the table and made friendly conversation.

“Oh, are you Margaret?”

“Yes, hello. Please take care of me.”

The basics of spying is sociability. Margaret handed over the hot soup she had gotten for herself.

“You must be tired today. Please have this.”

“Oh my, how polite. You’re friends with General Jude?”

“Yes. She was like a guiding light to me during difficult times when I was young.”

“Oh dear, you look so young but must have gone through a lot.”

This time a male servant joined in, sitting down. Then the next servant, and the next, all kindly looked after Margaret. They were all such nice people.

‘It was hard to get in, but they’ll be easy to deceive.’

Margaret tore her bread into small pieces while inwardly sneering.

Just then, the kitchen maid who first greeted her got up from her seat mid-meal.

“Ah, I need to bring water to the master’s bedroom before they return.”

Bedroom? The second floor with the office?

“I-I’ll go! Please tell me where. I’m done eating.”

Margaret showed her empty soup bowl hurriedly.

‘I can’t miss this opportunity.’

Margaret looked around the second floor corridor, muttering to herself while holding the water jug. She wouldn’t miss this chance to enter the Duke’s bedroom on the second floor without arousing suspicion.

From the atmosphere, it seemed the Duke had returned to the mansion briefly before leaving again like the wind. She had already figured out the mansion’s layout by eavesdropping on the servants’ conversations.

This much was basic for spying. Having successfully infiltrated the ducal residence, she needed to accomplish even more than what Count Willem wanted.

Standing in front of the office past the Duke’s second floor bedroom, Margaret solemnly knocked with her small fist.

Knock knock.

No answer.

‘Hehe, as expected, no one’s here.’

When she twisted the doorknob, the door was locked.

She put down the water jug and took a hairpin from her upswept hair. She straightened it with her fingers and inserted it into the keyhole.

The scratching sound grated on her eardrums.

‘Just a little more.’

She could do this with her eyes closed.

“Hey!”

‘Oh my!’

Margaret swallowed a silent scream and quickly dropped the pin, stepping on it.

‘I thought this was the bedroom.’

Margaret deliberately put on a tearful expression and looked toward the corridor to see who had shouted.

But there was no one there.

‘What? I definitely heard someone shout.’

It felt like being haunted by a ghost. She sighed and turned back toward the office door.

“Gasp.”

A woman with eyes as black as night stood with her arms crossed.

The woman flipped her black hair back once and bent down to press her forehead against Margaret’s, asking,

“What are you doing here~?”