This Marriage Will Surely Succeed

Chapter 213

Recently, the two of them had been using untouched wine as a pretense to slip away unnoticed for nighttime escapades.

The reason was simple.

They had come to the North to uncover the connection between the Empress and the Nant Tribe. For Iona, sitting idly and receiving reports was never her style—she was more accustomed to taking matters into her own hands.

Iona prided herself on her expertise in handling such affairs, believing there were few as knowledgeable as her in this area.

In fact, she had previously traveled to the North on an assignment under the orders of Richard.

Of course, that trip had not been for dealing with the Nant Tribe.

The problem lay in the fact that Leroy couldn’t agree with Iona’s reasoning at all.

In his view, there were subordinates perfectly capable of conducting the investigation. Why should she put herself in danger unnecessarily?

Although he could have urged caution and tried to dissuade her, Leroy chose not to dismiss his wife’s opinion outright. Instead, he accepted it on one condition:

He would accompany her on this clandestine outing.

By staying close to her, he could ease his worry that she might get hurt in some remote place without him knowing.

And so, the two of them had once again dressed up discreetly for another secret venture.

Stripping off her silk gown, Iona put on plain clothing made of coarse fabric, similar to what Leroy wore.

She tied her hair back and tucked it under a hat, concealing any distinguishing features.

Since the moonlight was dim tonight, once they reached an unlit area, even their silhouettes would be hard to spot.

“Are you ready?”

At Iona’s question, Leroy nodded and extended his hand toward her.

With a faint smile, Iona took his hand.

*****

After riding for some time, they arrived at a small plain near the Bilfaud Territory.

Compared to the rugged terrain of the surrounding area, the elevation here was gentler. However, the soil was barren, making it unsuitable for farming.

As a result, the land had no proper owner and was left abandoned, serving only as a pathway to the Bilfaud Territory.

“This is usually where battles with the Nant Tribe occur. They sometimes raid nearby villages to loot valuables, but I’ve heard that recently Archduke Ernst has strengthened defenses, forcing them to retreat. Instead, they’ve taken to ambushing people entering or leaving the Bilfaud Territory,” Iona explained as she dismounted her horse.

Even where they stood, traces of past skirmishes were visible. The ground was stained with dark, rusty patches of blood in scattered spots.

Stomping on the ground a couple of times as if to test its firmness, Iona continued.

“They rob travelers here and—”

Her gaze lifted toward the mountains facing the Bilfaud Territory.

Leroy followed her line of sight to the same direction.

“When soldiers come out to suppress them, they flee into the mountains on the opposite side.”

“No wonder Archduke Ernst is having a hard time,” Leroy murmured sympathetically.

But instead of sitting, Leroy simply stared at the spot she had indicated without saying a word.

Puzzled, Iona tilted her head and looked up at him.

“What’s wrong?”

“...I don’t even know where to begin pointing out what’s wrong.”

“Is it the embroidery? Do you dislike the pattern?” she asked, genuinely confused.

She had randomly guessed the embroidery as the issue, but she knew Leroy wasn’t the type to complain about something so trivial.

While Iona was pondering the cause, Leroy suddenly wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to him.

Caught off guard, her face ended up buried in his chest. She darted her eyes around in surprise.

She had thought she’d grown used to his sudden displays of affection, but perhaps she hadn’t.

Her heart began to race from the unexpected embrace.

“...Your Grace?”

“Do you keep treating me like a superior on purpose?”

His voice, tinged with exasperation, tickled her ears.

Iona placed her hands on his chest and gently pushed, creating some distance between them so she could look up at him.

At first, she thought it was just a joke, but the seriousness in his expression told her otherwise.

Leroy added, his tone earnest, “You don’t need to treat me the same way you treated your former lord.”

“My former lord...”

Iona repeated his words under her breath, as though turning them over in her mind.

Had she truly been treating Leroy the same way she treated Richard?

As she reflected on her past behavior, her brow furrowed slightly.

Then, with a firm tone, she said, “I have no memory of showing this kind of kindness out of pure goodwill.”

“......”

“I simply want Your Grace to eat well, wear the best clothes, and see only beautiful things. That’s all it is.”

Glancing at the handkerchief she had laid out, she added, “I didn’t want you to sit on the dirt floor, so I thought this was the least I could do.”

After finishing her explanation, Iona cautiously looked up at Leroy to gauge his reaction.

She was startled by what she saw.

Even under the faint moonlight, it was clear that his face had turned a deep shade of red.

--- End Of The Chapter ----

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