How to Survive as the Wife of the Monster Duke - Chapter 220

Aden’s hand rested on Ilyn’s chest, and she looked at him with surprise. No matter how much people outside can see or not, they are in the carriage!

Her face turned bright red. At that moment, Etra turned her gaze outside, and her gaze met with Etrama, who slightly adjusted the carriage away from the Grand Palace.

“What were you thinking?” Aden asked.

Ilyn’s heart began to pound a bit harder. Aden smiled mischievously, unable to resist teasing her, even knowing the other reason she was nervous. Ilyn had always been the one to make him mischievous.

He seated Ilyn on his lap. At a much closer distance than before, their eyes met. Sensing Aden’s presence, Ilyn felt shy and covered her face with both hands.

Aden’s long and beautiful fingers gently brushed against Ilyn’s silver eyelashes revealed between her fingers. Tickled by the sensation, Ilyn burst into laughter.

“What makes Ilyn more excited than me?” Aden playfully growled. Ilyn unconsciously replied.

“The mansion.”

She had spoken her mind, believing that Delrose Manor was better than the Grand Palace. Aden narrowed his eyes.

“It seems like Delrose is more charming than me, according to Ilyn.”

Ilyn slyly opened her eyes and studied his face. Seeing his expression, she couldn’t help but smile in bewilderment.

“So, you’re jealous even though you’re from Delrose!”

—Thud.

The sound of the carriage door closing was heard. Ilyn unconsciously turned her head towards the door.

Etra, who should have been there, was nowhere to be seen outside the carriage. Beyond the window, she saw Etra riding a horse, escorting the carriage.

“When did she leave?”

“It seems to be real,” Aden said as he reached out and lowered the carriage blind. The carriage interior darkened instantly without any light coming in.

“To be more loved, you have to make an effort,” he said.

The carriage shook.

The astute Etrama had taken them to a quiet place far from the Grand Palace.

“Goodness, it’s already afternoon!”

The sun was already setting. Ilyn, dressed in a gown inside the carriage, received Aden’s escort and stepped out of the carriage.

“Don’t noble and royal folks prefer late hours?”

It was true that nobles and royals often held parties late at night, but she knew it was just an excuse. Ilyn squinted her eyes and double-checked her attire.

“No need to worry.”

Aden lifted a strand of Ilyn’s silver hair and kissed the tip of it. Right in front of the Hwangseong!

Blushing, Ilyn gently lowered her hand. Aden smiled mischievously and guided her gently.

“Are you the Duke of Bilften?”

A knight from the Grand Palace, who saw their carriage from a distance, came to greet them. Aden nodded briefly.

“And the lady next to you…?”

The knight looked at Ilyn, and she tilted her head slightly. We came to Hwang Seong after receiving a letter from the palace. But why doesn’t he know who I am?

“You must know why I came to Hwang Seong.”

The knight was taken aback by Aden’s words. He gestured to the knight inside the carriage. The knight who received the gesture quickly disappeared into Hwang Seong.

At that moment, Ilyn sensed that something was amiss.

“The lady cannot enter Hwang Seong.”

The knight pointed at Ilyn.

Could it be because we are late?

That was her first thought.

Or was it because they had sent for me but refused my entrance? But that was strange.

More than anything, why is Aden allowed to enter, but not me?

“Please present your identification badge that confirms your status.”

An identification badge?

The identification badge was an item that was no longer needed when leaving the Arlen estate. It was not commonly used, and influential nobles rarely had to reveal their status in such a manner. In other words, asking for the identification badge was practically an insult, indicating that the person asking considered you an unknown nobody.

“We don’t need to go through the identification process,” Aden’s voice became dissatisfied. Even Etra and Etrama looked at the knight with narrowed eyes.

“We cannot allow someone whose status is unclear to accompany us. Could this be one of your maids—”

“Shut up.”

Aegis interrupted the knight’s words in a low voice. It was obvious that the knight was asking if Ilyn was a maid, a clear insult. As a knight of the palace, it was evident that he must have received orders from someone if he acted so provocatively.

Ilyn stared silently at the knight. When nobles entered the palace for a royal wedding, they naturally brought their future brides along. However, the antiquated custom had long been abandoned.

After all, when Ilyn left the palace, she would no longer be the Princess of Bilften but the wife of another family. There was no reason for the knights of the palace, who welcomed nobles, to dislike her. Why use such an archaic tradition to provoke Bilften?

Just as Ilyn squinted her eyes, Aden spoke up, “In that case—”

His voice was low, and the knight froze in place.

“We will turn back,” Aden said as he gently grabbed Ilyn’s hand. Ilyn turned with him, but the unease remained. She had come to the palace for a royal wedding, and the refusal of entry and the insult were naturally unpleasant.

But her worry didn’t end there. If they turned back like this, would there be no consequences for Bilften? The thought sprang up before her annoyance.

“Are you alright?”

“Of course,” Aden’s answer was swift. His voice softened, unlike when he faced the knight earlier.

“A knight who mocks someone without knowing who they are will pay a price.”

Calling Delrose’s most noble lady a maid? Aden couldn’t help but give a dry laugh.

“Are you concerned about something else related to Bilften?”

Her worries were always there. Aden pulled her hand closer and gave her a brief kiss.

Shouldn’t she be more concerned about Aden than that arrogant person?

Aren’t he upset with him?

“Do you think there is anything Bilften can do as a maximum revenge against the palace?”

Revenge…? Ilyn tilted her head slightly at his question.

Throughout its long history, many noble families have incurred the wrath of the palace and faced various penalties, with the most common charge being insulting the palace.

“The crime of insulting the palace…” Aden chuckled.

“Let’s assume the charge of insulting the palace stands. What kind of punishment do you think Bilften will receive?” Ilyn couldn’t bring herself to speak. She was always cautious about expressing negative thoughts, recalling the incident when she foresaw Seed’s death.

“They might confiscate our property, strip us of our territorial rights,” Aden said, looking back at Ilyn from the front of the carriage.

“Do you think they might even take my life?”

Those were words she couldn’t bring herself to say. The punishment for insulting the palace varied depending on its severity. The judgment of severity was made by the palace itself.

It depended on how offended they were. That was a story from the time when the power of the palace was absolute, but it was a law that couldn’t ignore precedent.

“Don’t say such ominous things.” Ilyn firmly held his hand, and Aden chuckled.

“Even if that were to happen, Bilften will be fine.” Etra quietly opened the carriage door. Aden glanced back at the palace.

“With people who need to wear outerwear even in this weather, they won’t be able to do much in the winter region.”