Chapter 150

No matter how much of a honeymoon mood we were in, we couldn’t just ignore the sound of a baby crying.

I quickly changed my clothes, then laced my fingers with Esadien’s and went looking for the child.

“Could someone have abandoned it? In this weather?”

“The knights should be patrolling nearby… but then again, with this fog so thick, it wouldn’t be strange if there were blind spots.”

It was a strange fog. It filled the surroundings with a heavy weight even when it was scattered by the wind. Maybe that’s why the crying sounded as if it came from every direction at once, making it impossible to tell where.

But I had all-purpose Esadien at my side!

“…I believe it’s this way.”

He looked troubled, but only briefly. Then he squeezed my hand firmly and led me toward the deck that stretched over the lake.

In this fog, we couldn’t even guess where the deck ended; one misstep and we’d plunge straight into the lake.

But as I prepared myself to walk through the fog, a mysterious force created the strongest gust of wind I’ve ever seen.

Whoosh!

For a moment the fog cleared, and Esadien’s sharp gaze swept the area.

“…It’s on the boat.”

“What? On a boat?”

Who in the world would leave a baby there? If the weather turned worse and the boat capsized…?

‘Well, anyone who abandons a child isn’t in their right mind anyway.’

I bit my lip, anxiety twisting in me. I hadn’t even seen a strand of the baby’s hair yet, and already I was unconsciously projecting my past life onto it.

“Minuelle.”

Esadien’s voice snapped me out of it. He was already holding the baby, though in an awkward position.

“Pfft.”

His expression was even more awkward than his stance, and I couldn’t help laughing. Just like that, the shadows of my past life vanished.

“You have to support the neck like this.”

“L-like this?”

“That’s right. See? My husband catches on so quickly.”

After fixing his hold, I peered into the bundle cradled in his arms.

“Hee-ung.”

The baby was… well, I hated to say it about a real person, but really, it was beautiful—like a porcelain doll.

Soft, fluffy silver hair like a puff of cloud, eyes and nose red from crying, deep green irises. And the baby carried a fresh rosemary-like fragrance, as cool as those eyes.

If it hadn’t gurgled and blinked at me, I might have believed it truly was a doll.

“Doesn’t seem shy at all.”

The baby, who moments ago had cried its lungs out, was now docile. When I stroked its hair and cheek, it cooed as if smiling, then closed its eyes.

“Was there a note or anything?”

“No. Nothing in the swaddling, either.”

The baby’s breathing was soft and even now. Had it already fallen asleep?

“…This doesn’t sit right with me.”

It was the first time I’d seen this child, yet it didn’t feel unfamiliar.

How could its fingernails be so tiny? I traced its minuscule fingers lightly and sighed.

‘We’ll have to… send it somewhere safe, right? Maybe the temple of Plendena in Sermender?’

Just then, I heard people approaching—armor clinking. The knights, probably. I had pressed the call device before stepping outside.

“You’ve had a hard time in this fog.”

Esadien and I stepped closer, and sure enough, familiar knights bowed their heads.

“Your Highness the Prince, Your Highness the Princess.”

The unfamiliar title still made me flinch. Esadien squeezed my hand tighter.

With our marriage, we had received not only the marquisate but also the honorific “Your Highness.” Esadien had been just “Prince” before, and I a mere duke’s daughter. Now: “His Highness the Prince, Her Highness the Princess.”

But to us, it felt like an ill-fitting label, tacked on overnight.

When the commander noticed the bundle in Esadien’s arms, he tilted his head.

“Just as well—we came with orders. A decree has arrived.”

“From His Majesty?”

The sealed envelope bore the Emperor’s own seal. Though our honeymoon was supposed to last far longer, clearly something urgent had come up.

I hurriedly broke the seal and read. The contents made me freeze.

Glancing at Esadien beside me, I saw his eyes trembling just as mine were.

“To govern… Nantier? But Nantier is this very region. What does he mean, suddenly?”

“This land belongs directly to His Majesty.”

No wonder no nobles had sent us invitations. I’d thought Esadien was simply blocking them off like a wall, but it turned out there weren’t any nobles here to begin with.

Esadien swallowed a groan. No matter how much he revered the Emperor, being saddled with work in the middle of our honeymoon was hardly welcome.

I hastily spun up hopeful theories.

“Ah—maybe it’s just temporary?”

“Could be. Perhaps the steward vacated the post suddenly…”

But then another envelope was handed to us, this one bearing the Emperor’s personal handwriting.

“…A surprise wedding gift… he’s just giving it to us? We’re the lords now? All of a sudden?”

“Grand Duchess… my mother also agreed without hesitation, it says.”

I pressed my brow.

The letter even said we could keep the Karnian name. A stunning favor, showing the Emperor’s faith in the Karnian family.

“…Who knew Father-in-law liked surprises so much.”

My mind spun with the endless tasks of managing an estate. I’d delegated my other lands to stewards, but the reports still landed on my desk.

So the work itself wasn’t wholly foreign—but being directly responsible for people was daunting.

Sensing my tension, Esadien stroked my hand with his thumb.

“Nantier isn’t large. We can manage it well, Minuelle.”

Yes. We were “we” now.

That thought alone made my shoulders lighten. I smiled at Esadien, and he, about to lean down reflexively for a kiss, froze.

“Ahem.”

“Honestly.”

We turned our heads away in mutual embarrassment.

The commander, pretending he’d seen nothing, continued.

“The lord’s manor is already prepared. You may move in immediately.”

“Immediately?”

“And by command, all of us in the escort will now serve as the knights of House Karnian. We pledge our loyalty.”

The knights behind him moved in unison to salute. The commander even knelt, offering his sword with both hands.

‘Oh, come on.’

Our escort was a mix of imperial guards and Karnian retainers, about half and half.

This “transfer” was really just redeployment. A small fief hardly needed this many armed men.

But to accept it so smoothly? Clearly they’d all been told in advance, and agreed. The Emperor giving us this land wasn’t impulsive at all.

‘So that’s why Elga kept training Esadien so hard—so he wouldn’t be underestimated as a commander…? Ha. Everyone’s so obsessed with surprises.’

Most likely, we’d even find familiar faces among the manor staff.

While I was mulling, Esadien set his hand on the commander’s sword. It was a “gift,” yes, but ultimately an imperial command we couldn’t refuse.

“Minuelle. Place your hand with mine.”

“I join too?”

“I don’t consider myself the sole lord here.”

He always had such pretty words. Smiling wryly, I placed my hand over his, and together we accepted the knights’ oath of loyalty.

“But, Your Highness—the child…?”

Once the solemn moment had passed, the commander asked the question clearly burning in him.

“Someone abandoned it. Perhaps even stolen or kidnapped. Take it and try to find the parents.”

“Understood.”

I felt strangely hollow. I hadn’t considered the possibility the child was stolen. But even aside from that—though I’d only known the baby for minutes, the thought of parting left me oddly bereft.

And then, as the commander lifted the infant, its eyes snapped open.

“WAAAAAAAAAH!!”

Before I could react, the baby let loose a cry that rattled the very air, straight from the diaphragm.

It was so deafening that everyone but the commander clapped their hands over their ears. The poor man looked like his soul was leaking out.

I quickly took the child back and rocked it.

“There, there. Good baby.”

At once, the tears vanished, replaced by babbling.

“Maah. Myaah.”

“Yes, yes. Don’t scare the uncles like that.”

“Bba!”

That calmed it—for me, anyway. But every time the commander tried to hold it again, the wailing returned. Over and over, until we were all worn out.

“…This is odd.”

Could it instinctively recognize authority?

With Esadien or me, the baby was fine. But the moment we tried handing it to anyone else, it shrieked like clockwork.

“…It seems we’ll have to keep the child for now.”

Sighing, Esadien took the baby into his arms again. Then he said we should pack our things and drew me back inside the villa.

I looked around wistfully.

‘I liked this place…’

Already, we were leaving. Such a shame.

Esadien noticed and seated me on the sofa.

“We’ll preserve the villa as is. Will you come here often with me?”

“…You noticed I was sulking? Silly of me. His Majesty gave us such a gift.”

“I said it because I’m the one sulking—so I’m the bigger fool.”

“No you’re not. You’re the one I love.”

He smiled softly.

“Minuelle, whether here or elsewhere, I’ll never give up our time together.”

He always seemed to know exactly what I was thinking. How could he… always say just what I longed to hear?

His breath tickled my nose as he leaned closer.

“Minuelle.”

Kiss, kiss.

Like a parched man, he pressed his lips to mine again and again, sweet and unrelenting. My heart thudded as if it were our very first kiss. I clung to him—

But then a thought jolted through me, and I gasped, pushing him away.

“Minuelle?”

“The baby. Where’s the baby?”

Why did his arms feel so empty?

“…Right here.”

The child was lying peacefully on a single-seat sofa. Relief flooded me, while Esadien chuckled wryly.

“So calm. Perhaps it doesn’t need to be held constantly.”

As if hearing him, the baby turned its eyes to us.

“Bbaah!”

Too cute. I tapped its little nose.

“Where did you come from, little one?”

Of course there was no answer. The baby only smiled innocently.

“So beautiful…”

The words slipped from me in awe. The scent of herbs instead of milk was odd, but what could the child know of that? It was innocent.

Esadien wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

“Shall we protect it until the parents appear? To send it off right now would be too cruel.”

“…Huh?”

My startled gaze made him stammer.

“If we can’t find the parents and must entrust it elsewhere, well… the way it cries, no one else could raise it anyway. If it stays with us, perhaps it will grow used to people bit by bit.”

I answered gravely.

“Esadien. Take off your clothes.”

“…What?”

“You’re really an angel, aren’t you? I must’ve missed the scars from your wings.”

“Such…”

Flustered, he finally pulled me into a crushing embrace. I laughed softly and hugged him back.