How to Survive as the Wife of the Monster Duke - Chapter 227

Ilyin gestured towards the bottom of the letter, and Aden nodded slightly.

“Are you going to participate?” he asked.

Ilyin turned to look at him, and Aden smiled playfully.

“I’m not sure what the intention behind the invitation is,” Aden said as he neatly folded the letter and placed it on the desk. He tapped the desk a few times, and Aegis entered the room silently.

“Tell them I’ll participate,” Aden said.

“Understood,” Aegis replied.

After Aegis left, Aden leaned in and kissed Ilyin’s hand.

“Biflten doesn’t decline a challenge.”

****

Contrary to Amid’s expectations, the people in the North were skilled equestrians. The North was vast, and monster speeds made it impossible to travel by carriage alone. If the knights had had to rely solely on carriages due to snowstorms, humans would have gone extinct in Biflten long ago.

“I didn’t know there were knights here,” Ilyin said with a hint of worry in her voice.

Before heading to the South for the equestrian competition, the two of them were at Del Rose Manor’s knight’s quarters.

“It was built similarly to Biflten’s mansion,” Aden chuckled. Ilyin looked around at the knights organized under Aegis’s command and glanced at the horses that were playfully trotting nearby.

Naturally, the horses here under the sun were different from the winter horses on the snowy plains.

“The difference lies in the breed,” Aden said, nodding slightly.

“That’s why they’ll choose someone skilled in handling sun horses,” Ilyin replied.

Of course, Del Rosee’s selection process was in line with their standard support approach. Following Aegis’s voluntary participation, a few more knights volunteered. The problem was whether the horses would listen to them or not.

It was when Ilyin looked at Aden with worried eyes.

“Hee-hee-hee!”

The horse suddenly lifted its front legs high in the air, startling Ilyin, who grabbed Aden’s hand tightly. At that moment, Ilyin saw Aegis approaching the horse. She didn’t know what he did, but the horse instantly calmed down.

“…?”

Beside the puzzled Ilyin, Etra chuckled with a mischievous grin.

“They also value their lives,” she said.

In response, Ilyin chuckled softly. “Still, please don’t handle them too harshly.”

“Of course,” Aden replied.

There were no knights among them who would treat their horses harshly. However, it seemed that the horses were a bit nervous.

“What about Lady Etra? Will you participate too?”

Suddenly, a conversation emerged among the knights. However, it was quickly drowned out by the many hands covering the speaker’s mouth.

Ilyin smiled mischievously and turned to Etra. Etra was her personal maidservant, and with Ilyin’s permission, she could participate in the equestrian competition.

“If you wish, you can go,” Ilyin said.

“It’s alright, my lady,” Etra replied, bowing deeply. She had no intention of leaving her lady’s side.

“If you ever change your mind, feel free to let me know,” Ilyin said gently. Although Etra had declined without hesitation, her gaze toward the horses seemed complex.

“Thank you,” Etra replied, bowing deeply once more.

****

Del Rose Manor was not close to the South. Biflten’s base near the South was the Blue Nose Manor, but Del Rose seemed to move as if they didn’t exist. It was a procession where the Lord and Lady themselves were moving. Any impurity could be troublesome.

The equestrian competition, hosted by Duke Roen, was held every other year against the backdrop of Duke Roen’s vast meadows. If one’s identity was confirmed, even independent inspectors from nearby domains could participate. Occasionally, those who caught the eye of nobles would enter noble families as knights.

However, most of the time, due to the knights of noble families who had been riding for a long time in vast places, there were hardly any cases of such promotions due to differences in skill.

“I didn’t know they would participate from the North as well.”

“That carriage…”

Biflten’s emblem was noticeable anywhere on the vast meadows. Especially after what happened at Amid’s birthday party, the rumors had already spread far and wide.

Considering the large scale of the event, it was expected.

“It seems they didn’t have a host, and they don’t seem to know how to handle things outside,” someone commented.

Ilyin didn’t know, but the words reached the ears of her companions clearly. Of course, no one turned their gaze openly towards the source of the words, but each found a way to discreetly identify the speaker.

Which family are they from? Del Rose never forgets a grudge.

Since it was an equestrian competition that showcased skills, there would soon be an opportunity to settle scores. Moreover, following the equestrian competition, a martial arts match was scheduled where bloodshed was acceptable. It was when the knights had their swords in their hearts.

“I didn’t know you would invite us like this,” Ilyin’s voice was louder than what her companions were used to, and everyone turned to look at her. She stood in front of him.

“I had a great time at the last event thanks to you,” she said, showing him the letter. It was a letter sent by Duke Roen’s household.

[To Amyd von Loen from Roen]

Good knights should be able to read those characters well enough. Ilyin smiled mischievously.

“You invited us personally with such an open heart. I had no choice but to come.”

Although the North was far away, the fact that they had been personally invited spoke volumes. Moreover, in a noble society, this statement held a different meaning.

“Oh, you invited us in person.”

Word began to spread subtly among the nobles that Amid von Loen of the Roen family had dealt with the situation generously. Despite the unfavorable incident at the previous grand event, he had extended a personal invitation.