* * *
He’s never outright commented on his own little performance.
I closed my eyes tightly, suppressing the boiling anger inside me.
Swallowing down the rising emotions, I slowly opened my eyes.
Since things have come to this, maybe it’s a good opportunity to dig deeper into what he’s really thinking — with a little added irritation, of course.
“What you want… is just a naive, harmless partner who smiles even when people look down on him, isn’t it?”
“I don’t intend to look harmless. You can just think I lack the ability to become a Count. And besides…”
He stopped walking and stepped in close.
Uncomfortably close.
His lips brushed my ear, warm breath tickling my skin.
A chill ran down my spine, making me instinctively pull my neck back.
“I’m just planting the idea in their heads — that for the sake of my beloved spouse, I’ll sometimes act recklessly.”
“…Why?”
“Isn’t it easier for you to move around that way?”
“…”
If they won’t listen to me, Klen will take matters into his own hands.
And if there’s a rumor going around that he’s acting unpredictably, unlike his usual self — then, like today, they won’t dare reject my requests so easily.
Come to think of it, Klen’s always been forceful when it comes to things related to me.
Until now, it was just small things — trivial outings, food preferences.
“…”
So… this whole annoying situation started because of me?
Before I knew it, the irritation that had flared up inside me seemed to scatter away on the wind.
After all, how could I stay mad at someone willing to go through such trouble for me?
The place Klen took me, saying he had somewhere to go, was the entrance to the forest.
Even though the trees around here were dense, it was called an “entrance” because you had to pass through the valley carved into the rocky mountain ahead.
Beyond that valley stretched an endless forest, far larger than anything here — the territory of sacred beasts and spirits.
Two knights standing guard at the entrance widened their eyes as they spotted us, quickly running over.
“Lord Klen!”
“And even Lord Adrian… Welcome.”
They halted right in front of us and offered a polite greeting, then cautiously asked,
“What brings you here?”
“I wanted to show my wife the forest.”
Klen’s face, brimming with innocent affection as he grinned, perfectly embodied the term ‘lovesick fool.’
If he were one of my subordinates, I’d tease him every time I saw that look.
“You know entry is forbidden, don’t you?”
But the well-trained knights didn’t let their true feelings show.
Their serious expressions as they gave their formal warning were commendably professional.
“It’s fine. We’ll just look from afar.”
“Ah, if that’s the case…”
The knight’s light reply suddenly cut off unnaturally, as though a silence spell had been cast.
I looked at his mouth, but his lips didn’t move at all — it wasn’t that he couldn’t speak, but that his lips refused to move.
If it had been petrification magic, we’d be under attack by now.
So no external magic then.
I raised my gaze, meeting the knight’s eyes.
His glance quickly darted from me to Klen.
‘Ah.’
That alone told me everything going through the knight’s head.
He was about to mention I’d been here before, but stopped himself just in time.
Only a few seconds passed as the knight wordlessly calculated the situation.
But even in that short moment, Klen smiled faintly, as if he understood everything.
Just as Klen opened his mouth to speak, the knight, his eyes flashing with realization, jabbed his companion in the side and moved swiftly.
They must’ve worked together for a long time — even their abrupt movements were perfectly in sync.
The two knights placed hands over their hearts, bowing formally once more.
“If it’s just that, you’re welcome anytime!”
“An honor to meet you! We are the knights guarding the forest entrance.”
Their booming voices clearly implied this was their first time seeing me.
I merely nodded without much reaction.
The last time I visited here, I had warned them I’d personally check how tight-lipped the forest guards were.
Maybe they took that advice more seriously than I expected.
Looks like they decided it’s safer to prioritize my words from now on.
…If that was their plan, they shouldn’t have shouted my name the moment they saw me.
Still, it’s not strange for knights guarding the territory to know the name and face of the lord’s spouse.
Even if suspicious, it’s easy to brush aside.
They came up with a little play of their own in those few short seconds.
“…I’m Adrian Valuncio.”
Might as well play along.
I replied casually as if it were truly our first meeting, and from beside me, I heard Klen let out a quiet snicker.
‘You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?’
I get it.
Watching this awkward little act unfold, already knowing the full story, probably is entertaining.
As if to hide his laughter, Klen brightened his expression further.
“Haha, no need to be nervous. We’ll just look around a bit and leave, so focus on guarding the area.”
“Yes, sir!”
Klen waved lightly, and the knights returned to their posts.
They huddled with nearby comrades, hurriedly explaining the situation.
Watching that for a moment, I was about to turn away when the knights suddenly lined up in formation, saluting us sharply.
“…”
I told them not to mind us, yet now it felt like we were drawing even more attention.
But I suppose — it’s not every day the lord’s son and his spouse visit.
Of course, they wouldn’t just ignore us and go about their duties.
We waved briefly in response and quickly moved away.
“Looks like it’s better to visit the entrance another day.”
“Agreed.”
Maybe I should submit an official visit request next time.
They’d still be cautious, but at least it’d be better than showing up unannounced like today.
Once we were far enough that the knights couldn’t see us clearly, Klen stopped walking.
He rummaged through his coat, pulling out a small flute that fit neatly in his palm, and handed it to me.
“What’s this?”
Instead of answering, he gestured for me to try playing it.
His silent urging made me raise the flute to my lips and blow.
But all that came out was a faint, airy hiss — so soft you had to strain to hear it.
I adjusted the angle, varied my breath strength, tried again and again, but it was the same.
“Is it broken?”
When I looked up, Klen’s face wore that playful expression — observing me as if thoroughly amused.
I realized immediately — that look wasn’t part of his usual act.
He was messing with me again.
Just as I furrowed my brows to demand an explanation—
“…?!”
A presence appeared out of nowhere — so sudden I couldn’t sense it until now.
Alarmed, I quickly shoved Klen behind me, reaching for my waist… but only empty air met my hand.
Clicking my tongue low, I cursed the absence of my weapon.
While staying alert to my surroundings, I cautiously reached behind me, feeling along Klen’s waist.
I didn’t inspect thoroughly.
But if he had planned to come here from the start, surely he would’ve brought a weapon.
Even with the urgency in my touch, he calmly patted my shoulder, as if to reassure me.
Rustle—
A gust of wind swept through, shaking the leaves, and a shadow dropped in front of us.
At the same moment, my hand landed on Klen’s sword.
“……!”
But before I could even draw the shining blade, he grabbed my wrist.
* * *
