Chapter 9

However, Scheuer was content with the current situation. Her goal was to help him recover his emotions, and this could be a step in that direction. Without hesitation, she stamped her seal on the marriage certificate, putting everything else aside. The fact that she now shared the same surname with him was reason enough to celebrate, and she gazed proudly at their names side by side.

“Am I really allowed to do anything I want?” she asked.

“Yes,”

he replied, his voice still somewhat detached, considering he had just filled out a marriage certificate. Scheuer picked up the fountain pen from the table confidently.

“In that case, let’s exchange this fountain pen and the shirt,” she said boldly, extending the items toward him.

“…”

Raygrain let out a short sigh in response, almost involuntarily, before he could even process any emotions.

“His Grace accepted the proposal,” Scheuer declared.

In the midst of the training ground, some of the knights who had been swinging their swords all came to a sudden halt. The wind, as if responding to the imminent clash of blades, swept across the vast training ground. Jess, who was leading them, contorted his face as if he had just heard nonsense. His pallid complexion, drained of all color, seemed even paler against the backdrop of the bleak north.

Scheuer spoke nonchalantly as if it were no big deal.

“We’re planning to submit the declaration to the royal palace next week.”

A brief silence passed, and then, “Wow! Congratulations!” Cheers and congratulations resounded through the training ground. Of course, Jess remained conspicuously silent. The line of well-wishers grew longer, and even the steward, Patton, and the housekeeper, Josephina, rushed out of the mansion, having belatedly grasped the situation. They were more delighted than the knights, embracing each other and offering their congratulations.

“Finally, we’re getting a mistress at Blangar, isn’t that right?” Patton exclaimed.

“We never thought about a marriage with someone who doesn’t have emotions…Thank you, Lady Scheuer!” Josephina clasped Scheuer’s hand and nodded repeatedly, her head bobbing like a cheerful bird.

Leading the charge, the knights gathered around Scheuer.

“Have you finally succeeded?”

“I knew it from the moment you started staying at the mansion.”

“Scheuer, could you please shake hands with me?”

Scheuer shook hands one by one, smiling gracefully.

“It’s all thanks to everyone’s help.”

During the three days when Raygrain was absent from the mansion, Scheuer had traveled around, getting to know the people who took care of him and becoming friendly with them.

The courtiers, along with Blenca’s knights, took the lead. Initially, even those who had kept a distance from the unfamiliar Southern martial artist, gradually let down their guard as they conversed with her and Raygrain. The knights, in particular, found it easier to engage in conversation.

One of the groups among the crowd, extending their hands for a handshake, asked her, “Should we start calling you the Duchess now?”

At that moment, Jes, with a troubled expression, tapped the ground with his scabbard, grabbing everyone’s attention.

“The official marriage announcement hasn’t been made yet. Stop idle chatter and focus on your training!”

Scheuer, evading the uneasy-looking Jes, shrugged her shoulders and said, “Can’t we just call me that for now? Besides, Jes, won’t His Grace be visiting the training grounds today?”

“He’ll be here soon. He didn’t want to disrupt the training.”

“But they say His Grace looks so impressive when he wields a sword. I can’t just miss seeing that.”

For some reason, Jes, upon hearing her response, seemed to have even darker circles under his eyes. Despite appearing as if he could collapse at any moment, he calmly spoke.

“Even if he comes, he won’t be wielding a sword himself.”

“Not even just to swing it?”

Not wielding a sword? Scheuer appeared disappointed, and her lips pouted as if she found it regrettable. Despite having one face, she displayed a variety of expressions. Perhaps it was because she was used to seeing the emotionless Duke, but the people in the training ground gazed at her with curious eyes, fascinated by this rare display of diverse emotions.

“That should be a perfect martial art form. His Grace excels in every aspect of his actions, even without the ‘ki’ energy,” Scheuer reassured herself. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her trembling heart as she looked forward to witnessing the swordsmanship she had only read about in novels.

“Right. I used to say that because of my anxiety, but in reality, not having a sword spirit shouldn’t be a big problem for the Duke,” she replied.

“Wow, that’s impressive.”

“It is, isn’t it? Out of everyone I’ve seen, His Grace is the only one who hasn’t made a single mistake.”

Jes stammered out the words before abruptly closing his mouth, He seemed to have realized he was saying too much. He had a great deal of pride in his loyalty to Duke.

Scheuer grinned widely, her lips stretching.

“If Jes praises him so highly, he must truly be exceptional, don’t you think?”

“Even if that’s not the case, he’s still exceptional. So, don’t try to tease me and go inside. You might regret it later when it gets cold.”

Jes turned his head, pretending not to care, and gave a gruff response. Scheuer blinked her eyes playfully and asked,

“Can I decline?”

“If you stay here like this, the other knights won’t be able to concentrate properly because they’ll be worrying about you!”

“Just think of me as not being here.”

“But you are here.”

“Then think of me as a large weed.”

Behind Jes, who looked like he might collapse at any moment, a voice with a steady tone echoed from the back of the training ground.

“For someone from the South, enduring the cold of the North must be difficult. Why are you here at the training ground?”

“Your Grace, have you arrived?”

Jes, who had been frowning just moments ago, suddenly lowered his head deferentially. Following him, many knights behind him also stopped their actions and paid their respects. Lord Reiygrain, dressed in his training attire, looked perfectly composed, even in the frigid Northern air. He strode purposefully toward Scheuer and stood before her. His sharp gaze was fixed on her, and she felt its intensity.

“Smile Love”