“The competition today was a really great opportunity to see close combat techniques, but I was too full and sleepy to watch it properly.”

Katya said regretfully as she leaned her face against the window.

Her puked-up cheeks were pressed together like a squirrel’s, making her unintentionally cute.

“So why did you give me so much for lunch?”

“I thought you’d enjoy it if you were full.”

“If you leave something delicious, you’ll go to hell.”

“Then I guess it’s my fault.”

Nikolai meekly admitted his guilt.

“I am guilty of making too much delicious food and causing you to feel full and tired. I accept any punishment that comes my way.”

“Please invite me again next time.”

“If you ever want to see me, feel free to come anytime.”

“Grand Duke, there’s actually something I’d like to ask.”

Katya turned away from the window and quickly adopted a serious expression.

She clasped her hands together and her bright eyes began to sparkle.

Only one side of her cheek, which had been pressed against the window, was stained with a cherry color.

The plea that came out of her mouth had a cuteness that would make it impossible for anyone to refuse.

“What kind of request is it?”

“Promise me you won’t refuse first.”

“I promise.”

“Swear on your pinky finger.”

The southern strawberry said as she waved her ring finger.

Nikolai hooked his pinky finger as she asked.

Katya grabbed his intertwined fingers and bumped her thumb against his.

“We’ve sealed the deal.”

“Was that necessary?”

“It was something my mother taught me. She insisted that we should always stamp an agreement.”

“So, why does our dear Tia want this so badly?”

In response to his question, Katya tightly held both of his hands.

“Teach me swordsmanship.”

“What?”

“I’m pretty good with a gun, at least, but I can’t seem to get any better with a sword, no matter how much I practice on my own. My thrusts are weak, and once I’m swinging with power, I can’t deflect them quickly enough.”

She honestly revealed the shortcomings she had felt during her diligent training following the textbooks.

Nikolai just stared at her in silence.

“Are you thinking of refusing?”

“No, I was just thinking about how to teach you.”

“You’re not against it? Earlier, you were talking about my frail arms and small stature.”

“Of course, I have concerns, but how could I stop you from doing something you want to do? I won’t be persistent about it. Since you want to learn, I thought it would be better if you learn from me.”

Nikolai couldn’t bear the thought of Katya getting hurt while he wasn’t looking. The mere imagination was unbearable for him. If he couldn’t stop her, he believed that teaching her while being as cautious as possible was the best option.

“But, teacher, do I really have potential?”

“You have some basic skills, so you’ll catch up quickly.”

“Really?”

Her delighted expression, like a rabbit that had found a tasty lettuce leaf, made Nikolai inadvertently smile.

“Threatening me with that heavy sword is never easy.”

“Don’t you think it’s an unsuitable hobby for a woman?”

“You don’t need to follow what people think suits you. If you want to do it, do it. As long as you don’t get hurt, you can learn.”

“But it involves using weapons, how can I not get hurt?”

“That’s why I’ll always be by your side, so you won’t get hurt.”

When it came to combat-related matters, Nikolai couldn’t entrust Katya’s training to anyone else. He was the one who cared more about her safety than anyone else.

“Thank you, Grand Duke.”

Katya politely bowed with her hands neatly placed on her stomach while sitting.

“No, I should call you ‘master’ now.”

Upon hearing that, Nikolai narrowed his eyes, seeming somewhat dissatisfied.

He had tried so hard to get away from the title of ‘Grand Duke,’ but now it’s ‘master’?

The person who bothered him with titles was just innocently smiling without a care.

While Katya was looking at the scenery outside the window, she sensed something strange and turned her head to Nikolai.

“Huh? Isn’t this about where the Duke’s residence is?”

“Right.”

“Then why isn’t the carriage stopping?”

The carriage they were in simply passed by the neighborhood with an inn.

“We’ll go to the Duke’s place together.”

“My home?”

“The Duke invited me to dinner tonight. As a monarch, I can’t ignore my subject’s sincerity.”

“My father?”

“Then you must return to your quarters immediately after dinner. Do you understand?”

Katya said with a suspicious look in her eyes.

Although he was her prospective husband, he was the most dangerous man in the world.

She couldn’t trust him completely. Could there be some hidden agenda?

“Of course. Why, do you want me to stay the night?”

“It’s the opposite, okay? I’d love for you to go home, wipe your feet, and go to bed.”

“Such a controlling wife, making sure I come home on the right time.”

“Do you regret marrying me right now?”

Katya pouted and wrinkled her eyebrows.

“I’m fine with it. Keep controlling me like that. I’ll throw away my state affairs and whatever else, and I’ll come to you.”

“It sounds like we’re talking about different things. I just want you, Grand Duke, to leave my home quickly. And once we’re married, you can come home as late as you want.”

“How can I leave you alone if I’m worried about you?”

“Because the Grand Duke is the most dangerous.”

Nikolai smiled wordlessly at that, as if in approval.

When the carriage arrived at the Duke’s residence, the surroundings were already dark.

After the eldest daughter of the Duke had left for her outing, the people at the Duke’s place were anxiously waiting in front of the main gate.

As Katya passed through the main gate, she apologized with a sorry expression to the servants she could see outside the window. Only then did they relax and return to their respective positions.

Once all the knights of the Duke’s family had dismounted their horses and entered, the door to Duke Smirnov’s residence was closed.

Katya had just descended from the carriage with Nikolai as her escort.

Upon hearing the news of the Duke’s arrival, Duke Smirnov rushed out of the front entrance.

“No, Your Highness, what are you doing at this hour……?”

Contrary to Nikolai’s words, the Duke seemed completely unaware of his visit.

Before Katya could sense anything strange, Nikolai took the lead.

“I came because I wondered if I could join you for dinner tonight.”

“What?”

“On the way back from training, my knights are quite exhausted and tired as we had a hasty lunch outside. The inn is quite far away, so I took the liberty of coming here instead.”

Katya looked at him incredulously at his blatant lie.

Wait, didn’t we just pass by here? The inn they are staying is closer to the training grounds!

“No need to apologize. It’s not a bother at all! Please, Your Highness, come inside.”

And just like that, an impromptu invitation was made.

As Nikolai followed the butler’s guidance to enter, Katya grabbed his sleeve and blinked her eyes as she whispered.

“Grand Duke, didn’t you say you were invited?”

In that short sentence, there was a lot of meaning implied.

She felt the need for an explanation.

“Oh, did I say it in the past tense? I should have used the future tense. Hersen’s grammar is quite tricky, isn’t it?”

“Your Highness, please come inside.”

The voice of his prospective father-in-law made Nikolai smile, and he let go of her hand and entered the house first.

Katya, who had taken a punch, glared at the back of his head with a pout.

“Geez, he acts so audacious!”

Of course, she didn’t say it out loud.

At dinner, everyone gathered around the long dining table in the elegant dining room.

Katya kept her guard up and glanced at the ruffian sitting across from her.

“Sister, have you been on a date until now?”

Excited Bianca whispered into her sister’s ear upon the unexpected visit of her prospective brother-in-law.

“It wasn’t a date.”

“Why are you blushing like that then?”

Her innocent younger sister nudged her arm with her elbow and giggled.

Soon, an elaborate feast was laid out, enough to make anyone’s mouth water.

The Duke’s chef always put great effort into his cooking, but today, with a monarch as a guest, he had pulled out all the stops, showcasing his knowledge and skill.

Despite the abrupt situation, he displayed remarkable culinary prowess.

“We didn’t prepare a feast, but please, eat as much as you like.”

Before the Duke finished speaking, the knights of the Duke’s family quickly began their meal.

“It seems my knights were quite hungry. It’s been a long time since we had a proper meal like this.”

“Is there no food provided at the inn?”

“Oh, it’s not that. It just means that compared to the meals we have at the palace or at the Duke’s residence, it falls slightly short. But there’s no shortage, and we’re doing just fine.”

The Duke asked with concern, and in response, Nikolai smiled and waved his hand.

“I am fine. Though I don’t know what the knights think.”

With that, he turned to Boris.

Reading his master’s intention, the butler exchanged looks with the knights.

Quickly receiving their instructions, the knights began to voice their complaints.

“Oh, please, don’t even get me started. The food served there is like rocks, with tough and hard bread, boiled potatoes, and a soup made from leftovers that you can’t even recognize.”

“Leftovers that have been reheated for days?”

Alyona, who was raised gracefully, and Boris, the Duke’s butler, were shocked at the shocking statement.

“You mean they stored it separately and then boiled it again?”

Alyona couldn’t believe it and denied reality.

“Eh, it’s not like we’re in a fancy hotel or anything. The only thing you can find floating in the pot is a chunk of soup that was stuck to the pot wall, haha.”

“That’s right. It’s fortunate that we can at least feel some texture in it, right?”

“The food is not the main issue. It’s the beds. They are so hard that my shoulders hurt, and when I wake up, my whole body is bruised.”

“Isn’t that because you toss and turn all night?”

“Oh, really? No wonder I felt itchy. Hahaha!”

Bianca, shocked by the unhygienic practices of the inn, accidentally dropped her spoon.

“If it’s like this here, too. I don’t know if Your Highness will be able to stand it.”

“I’m fine, as I said earlier. Isn’t this kind of hardship part of the experience?”

Nikolai laughed and shrugged his shoulders, causing groans and sighs from various people around.

The people who witnessed the suffering monarch had tears in their eyes.

In this atmosphere, Katya, who was not accustomed to such situations, could only blink her eyes.

‘What on earth is going on here?’

Warning! Warning! A trapped situation!

Her instincts were screaming loudly.