episode_0009

Episode 9

Inside the carriage heading to the palace, Leila repeated the same words she had said several times today.

“Edward. I will explain everything to His Majesty later, so let’s just…”

“Stop it. Why do you keep talking after all this preparation?”

Leila felt a sense of unease at Edward’s unusually firm attitude, unlike his usual self.

During the day, the two of them traveled around the kingdom in preparation for the evening ball.

Stimulated by the gossip among the nobles, her husband, who had become passionate, enthusiastically dressed her up. Most of the time was spent shopping to adorn Leila, but even Edward was different from usual.

Unable to handle his loosening cheek any longer.

“He doesn’t even know how to act like a typical man!”

Normally, a man might consider dressing up a woman as merely a way to show off. However, Edward was completely different.

He thought of himself as an accessory to showcase Leila and didn’t consider that she might look different.

Although she didn’t complain about being treated as an accessory, Leila was simply afraid of attracting unwanted attention.

“Let’s go, Leila.”

Edward naturally got off the carriage first and offered his hand to her. Despite being in a position where he should have escorted her, he escorted Leila instead.

For some reason, Leila held her husband’s hand with a troubled heart, despite his behavior being completely contrary to common sense.

As the doors of the ballroom opened, signaling their arrival, everyone inside took a sharp breath.

“I knew it!”

Leila thought that if there were no one around, people would have turned their heads. Until now, she had attended balls in armor, showing only her face before leaving.

But this time was different. The moment she and Edward entered, they immediately captured everyone’s attention.

“Hmph.”

Edward’s expression as he surveyed the now-silent ballroom could be interpreted as saying, “My wife, whom you thought was rustic, is actually incredibly beautiful, you fools!”

In other words, he believed that the nobles in the ballroom were mesmerized by Leila.

“No, Edward, that’s not it!”

Leila was always beautiful. While dressing up enhanced her beauty, it didn’t change her appearance or add any new charm.

On the other hand, Edward was a novelty among the noblewomen.

Suppressing the urge to flee, Leila tightly held onto Edward’s arm. She expressed through her actions that this man belonged to her and she wouldn’t give him to anyone, while subtly scanning the surroundings with a hint of possessiveness in her eyes.

Some felt fear under her gaze and turned away, but many couldn’t help but continue staring at Edward or sneak glances at him.

“This is insane! You can’t flaunt your wealth so openly, especially in the presence of Her Majesty!”

It should be noted that even Her Majesty was looking at Edward with a strange gaze, but Leila decided to trust in the power of the Duchess of Holly von Bell.

“Pussy cat! Don’t mess with me! He’s mine!”

Despite Leila’s efforts to remain calm and vigilant without making a sound, the nobles of the kingdom continued to gaze at Edward without turning away.

Noble men glared with jealousy, while noble women found Edward’s appearance and behavior different from the men around them.

It is natural that in the borderlands, battling monsters is a daily occurrence. Those who can fight wield weapons to protect their homes regardless of age or gender.

Among them, Edward stood out. He was strong enough to protect women, yet graceful, exuding a sense of superiority unlike the other noble men.

Even in the Bell territory, it was evident how he would appear to the royal women of Wardour. The reversal of common knowledge between men and women added a unique charm.

There were even women who openly displayed their desires without restraint.

“Get lost! All of you, get lost!”

Amidst a situation where tension deviated from the usual social gatherings, a confrontation unknown to Edward unfolded.

While the situation did not change drastically, someone unable to control their desires was present.

“It’s been a while, Lady Laila Bell. Would you kindly introduce the fine gentleman accompanying you?”

In an instant, as Laila struggled to swallow her words questioning why she should introduce her husband to the speaker, tensions rose.

Women who sensed the imbalance abandoned their partners and rushed towards the two like a swarm.

—

“Quite a struggle.”

Queen Penelope King Devereux, the sole ruler of the Devereux Kingdom, sipped her drink while watching a friend’s daughter fighting to protect her husband amidst the crowd.

Observing nobles lacking basic manners trying to seduce other women’s husbands, Penelope felt a hint of understanding this time.

“I’ve always felt he was unique since childhood.”

Bold and distinctive, Edward was truly exceptional. Penelope herself might have called him to her chambers if he hadn’t been her friend’s daughter’s husband.

A man like Edward, unlike others from rough territories, seemed remarkably different.

While individual preferences vary, generally, women instinctively desire to dominate men. Men are no different; they often wish to be dominated by women.

However, Edward Bell was an exception. He evoked a desire in women to be dominated by him.

Even Penelope, a woman of power, momentarily felt such an impulse. For the promiscuous women of Wardour, yielding to such impulses wouldn’t be unusual.

“He’s a man who stands out no matter who looks at him. Being Halle’s son, his eye for detail is impressive.”

If he were a nobleman of Wardour, she would have made him her husband without hesitation. In fact, anyone who first discovered him would likely have claimed him.

Though it may not be impossible even now.

“I can’t turn the next head of the Bell family and Halle into enemies, so I have no choice.”

Penelope, briefly contemplating, resolved to set aside personal desires for the kingdom’s peace.

As Laila and Edward approached to greet her, Penelope responded, feeling the weight behind their words.

“…It’s a very pleasant gathering. Thank you for inviting me, Your Highness.”

Despite her response, the usual composure was absent. Her eyes kept drifting sideways, and her face flushed.

Perhaps more than just her face.

“This is troublesome, isn’t it?”

I thought I would get caught like this, but it was needless worry. I was already caught from the beginning.

Realizing where the queen’s gaze was directed, Leila spoke with an extremely cold voice, “Unfortunately, due to my husband’s poor condition, we must leave the castle now. Please have a good night.”

“Ah… cough. So be it.”

Penelope, who sighed unknowingly, bid farewell to her friend’s daughter-in-law with a fake cough.

Until the two of them left the meeting room and disappeared, no one could look away.

—

“Leila. It hurts. It’s good, but it hurts.”

“Be quiet.”

As soon as we returned to the hotel in the royal capital, Leila rushed to me and began to bite and suck on my body.

When I asked what she was doing, she said she was marking. I couldn’t understand why Leila was angry with me.

“So let me ask. Why are you angry?”

“Because you smile at anyone!”

It’s unfair. I wish she wouldn’t speak to me like I’m just some frivolous man. I was trying to do my best for her as her husband, a noble knight, even though I didn’t really want to.

“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to. No, don’t do it at all. Who told you to play that role? Don’t smile or talk to other women like that.”

I see. I understand now. Leila wasn’t angry with me; she was angry with the noblewomen who were relentlessly pursuing her.

I had only encountered the Bell family as nobles, so I initially thought that society was like that, but it seems not.

“Of course. Even though we’re nobles in the royal capital, it’s not like we have nine lives. If this atmosphere continues, there might be bloodshed.”

“Come to think of it, you’re right… Hey, Leila? My neck hurts a bit.”

“Stay still. It’ll be over soon.”

It didn’t end quickly. Leila got aroused while marking, and I got excited too, leading to our married life continuing.

The next morning.

Even though we both exerted ourselves equally, my wife, who was fresher than me in the morning, strongly urged me not to go outside the hotel due to security measures for the queen’s escort.

“Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely, absolutely, absolutely, absolutely, absolutely do not go outside the hotel.”

“Okay.”

Seeing the radiant glow of her skin, I felt like all my vitality had gone there.

I woke up early to see off my wife, but when I woke up again, it was already afternoon.

“…I’m hungry.”

If she were truly a noble, I should have called for breakfast at times like this, but high-ranking nobles don’t just casually go out alone with their husbands.

Ignoring such common sense, I almost came to Wangdo practically naked and booked a hotel as our accommodation, which was quite unusual.

“As long as we don’t go outside the hotel, it should be fine.”

However, this was the finest hotel in Wangdo. On the first floor, there was a buffet available anytime. Feeling hungry, I quickly showered, changed clothes, and went downstairs. As I entered the restaurant, a fragrant and savory smell stimulated my stomach.

“?”

Rushing to fill my plate with food, I then realized that people were focused on one particular spot. Following their gaze, I saw a woman chewing on a pile of meat down to the bone.

Thinking about how well it must taste, I lowered my head with the food I brought, but I had to raise it back up immediately.

“Do you need something from me?”

“….”

The woman with the meat suddenly approached, looking at me with bones in her mouth.