Special Story 10

“Don’t rush yourself too much. This is the land where the Grand Duchess will live from now on. It won’t be too late to get to know it slowly.”

“The land where I will live.”

Those words left a footprint on Yvonne’s heart. Lowering her gaze with trembling eyes, Yvonne answered with a faint smile.

“That’s right. Thank you.”

“Yvonne.”

Right on cue, a deep voice rang out from the doorway. Now used to these surprise visits, the maids giggled and burst into laughter.

“Oh my, the Grand Duke has already come to look for her.”

“He’s going to head right back out as soon as her styling is done, but he apparently couldn’t even bear to wait that short time.”

“My, oh my.”

Still unaccustomed to being teased, Yvonne flushed her cheeks bright red in embarrassment. To give the two some privacy, the maids gathered up their hair-accessory baskets and laundry, adding a word each as they left.

“Why don’t you try going around here and there with the Grand Duke? Seeing things for yourself will be much more accurate than just listening to explanations.”

“And you two can spend some quiet, intimate time together, too.”

“I-intimate.”

It felt like they were already sticking together plenty; could they possibly get any closer? More importantly, everyone seemed entirely earnest about teasing her—was she the only one overthinking this?

Passing right by the maids as they exited, Dante walked in and, as naturally as breathing, kissed Yvonne’s cheek. The voice calling her name was as sweet as sugar.

“Yvonne.”

“Dante.”

Yvonne shrunk her shoulders. Even though she thought she had grown completely used to such skinship, every time it happened again, her whole body tingled with a nervous itch.

Standing beside Yvonne, Dante played with a strand of her long hair and asked,

“What were you two talking about?”

“About how the specialty crop of the Christopher Territory is beans. But I’ve never actually seen how beans grow, so I was curious.”

“Ah, is that so? Actually, I’ve never seen them either, so I suppose I can’t tell you much.”

Dante rubbed his sturdy chin with his large hand. Watching his furrowed brow with a steady gaze, Yvonne asked on an impulse.

“Shall we go out and see them together, then?”

“Together?”

“Just the two of us.”

It was thanks to the suggestion the maids had made earlier about going out together.

‘Since Dante is going to teach me how to swim, too! Today is the perfect chance.’

Dante nodded broadly.

“That sounds like a great idea.”

Delighted that the person she loved had the exact same thought as her, Yvonne beamed brightly.

***

“Since we’re heading out, we’re planning to stop by the lake as well. Please pack our swimsuits and towels.”

“I figured you would, so I’ve already packed them right here.”

The head maid handed over the pre-packed bag with a knowing, quick-witted expression.

The territory manager also smiled cheerfully and warmly welcomed the couple’s outing. He was an elderly grandfather as aged as the butler at the capital mansion, which perhaps explained why he gave off the distinct impression of a doting grandpa who would fret over not being able to hand every good thing he had to his grandson.

“Are you not taking any knights with you?”

Dante brushed off the manager’s concern in a single phrase.

“What other knights could possibly be needed when I’m going with her?”

“Ah, I’ve needlessly worried. Indeed. When the master of this land is going forth, who could dare block the way?”

Given that Dante’s combat prowess was already a legend rumored across the entire Empire, nobody dared raise any further objections.

Amidst everyone’s enthusiastic send-off, the two of them mounted a single horse side-by-side and rode out of the castle gates.

“I will make sure not a single stray ant dares linger around the lake.”

“Have a safe and pleasant journey.”

The send-off was so grand that it made her feel like a deeply cherished young child beloved by all the elders of the village.

Sensing that she wasn’t the only one feeling that way, Dante gave a sheepish look, scratched his cheek with his index finger, and grumbled,

“Everyone really is full of endless words.”

Seeing Dante act so self-conscious was endearing, which made Yvonne chuckle softly. At the same time, she tightened her arms wrapped around his waist and replied,

“Because Dante is someone precious. Without Dante, there wouldn’t even be the Christopher Grand Duchy.”

“Now we have you, though.”

Even if Yvonne’s family name had become Christopher, she couldn’t replace Dante. Still, it made her happy that he called her part of the household too.

The two led their horse around to various places. Strolling through the bustling streets of the Christopher Territory, they stopped by a bakery to buy some light snacks to eat while swimming, and then picked up fresh apples from a fruit stand right next door.

What delighted Yvonne the most, however, was when they dropped by a small handicraft and sewing shop.

“Embroidery or knitting shouldn’t be a problem here either, then.”

“You could even teach people if you wanted.”

Dante couldn’t understand even half of the chatter pouring out of Yvonne’s mouth, but seeing her looking so happy put him in a good mood, so he nodded along.

After chatting with the territory residents and stepping back outside, they found a vast field filled with lush, green grass stretching out before them. Dante pointed it out to Yvonne.

“That over there is the bean field.”

“Hmm.”

Yvonne couldn’t help but wrinkle her nose in subtle disappointment.

‘Honestly, a wheat field would look much better.’

Beans were low-growing crops that rose only a tiny bit higher than Yvonne’s ankles. So even when they filled a wide-open field, it somehow looked strangely barren and empty.

‘Are those fully grown? Do the beans just sprout like that and then it’s over?’

Just as Yvonne was agonizing with a troubled expression over something quite different from what she had anticipated, Dante spoke up, as if he had already read her mind.

“Beans look a bit too plain to make a proper festival out of them, don’t they? The plants are short, and the flowers they bloom aren’t particularly pretty either.”

“Ah, did you already figure out what I was thinking about regarding the beans?”

“Of course.”

She had wanted to come up with a brilliant idea and surprise Dante. The fact that he had already seen right through her left Yvonne unable to hide her shy embarrassment.

“You have no idea how glad I am that you always listen so earnestly to what I have to say.”

“I-isn’t that a given? It makes me shy when you praise me like that.”

“It’s not just a given. That’s why you’re someone special to me.”

Dante gently wrapped his hand over the back of her hand and said, “Thank you for readily following me all the way to the Christopher Territory, too.”

“Dante.”

With her eyes growing misty from emotion, Yvonne rested her forehead against Dante’s back. Then, she pulled out the true feelings she had kept hidden inside.

“……It’s actually I who should thank you for listening to whatever I have to say.”

“Is there anything I wouldn’t listen to?”

“I never even received proper mistress training, you know. The subordinates might have resented a mistress who didn’t know anything.”

“There isn’t a single person in this world who dislikes you. I wasn’t worried for even a second.”

“You’re just saying that because it’s me.”

Grumbling softly, Yvonne chuckled anyway. She didn’t dislike Dante’s unconditional faith in her at all.

“So I suppose we’ve both been thanking each other all this time, then.”

“Because we’re an affectionate couple.”

“We truly are.”

“Ah, the lake is coming into view over there.”

“Wow.”

As they chatted, the bean field came to an end, revealing the much-fabled clear and transparent lake.

“It’s huge!”

“Right? Not only is the water clean, but all the fish living in it are tiny things no bigger than a fingernail, so there’s no danger at all.”

“I see.”

A lake as clear and transparent as glass spread out as wide as the sea. Eager to submerge her body in the water right away, Yvonne dismounted from the horse and hurriedly changed into her swimsuit.

The swimsuit was a simple design featuring a white fabric with blue trimming only along the edges. The chest area was extra thickly padded so she wouldn’t feel awkward even without wearing undergarments underneath.

‘It’s short!’

It was a length that didn’t even cover half of her thighs.

Unaccustomed to having her bare legs completely exposed, Yvonne instinctively shrank her body.

‘Of course it’s short, otherwise the fabric would tangle up the moment it gets wet.’

It was completely natural, so there was no need to feel embarrassed! Forcing her instinctively cowering body to straighten out, Yvonne stepped outside.

Dante, who had been waiting for Yvonne to finish changing and come out, widened his eyes the moment he saw her stepping out from beyond the trees.

“Dante? Your face is red.”

“Is there anyone else around?”

“Pardon? No, no one.”

After quickly scanning their surroundings, Dante whispered into Yvonne’s ear with a beet-red face.

“Seeing you in a short skirt like that is excessively provocative.”

“……?!”

Yvonne’s face flushed a matching bright crimson as well.

The sunlight was warm, and the breeze was cool. And their honeymoon in the Christopher Territory was only just beginning.

〈End of Story〉

That’s the end of the story, everyone! Thank you for going along with me. I’ve read a lot of naive heroines before but this is probably the first time I’ve ever been flabbergasted or perhaps even frustrated with one. That being said, her kindness is lovely as well. I wish the author showed the villains’ ends more clearly instead of making it off screen but oh well. See you in the next story!