How to Survive as the Wife of the Monster Duke - Chapter 235

The breathtakingly lovely person Aden kissed her deeply.

While the two of them shared an intimate moment behind the blackout curtains, Aegis raced ahead to make his appearance at the stadium.

“The dashing Aegis, Viscount Biflten, is taking the lead!” The announcer’s voice echoed, accompanied by the sound of trumpets.

“Bravo!” Aegis, the first to arrive, dismounted his horse and turned towards the Biflten estate’s viewing platform. He proudly held up the necklace Ilyin had given him, the pendant gleaming even from a distance. It was a symbol of his honor and his commitment to Ilyin, as well as his loyalty to the Biflten family.

Applause and cheers erupted.

*****

The day after the equestrian competition, a grand soirée was held. Duke Leon had extended invitations to everyone who had participated in the equestrian event, a departure from the usual exclusivity of such gatherings. Notably, Aegis, the victor of the competition, received a personal invitation.

“I’m fine without attending,” he had initially declined, but Duke Leon’s servant wore a displeased expression.

“But you won the competition this time, didn’t you? Please, come and grace the event with your presence, even if only for a while,” the servant implored.

Aegis felt uneasy. Having lived his whole life as a knight, he was not at ease in social gatherings.

“It would be quite awkward for us if our guest of honor were to disappear,” the servant added, though it was more a matter of Duke Leon’s discomfort than theirs. Nevertheless, with Aden’s consent, Aegis reluctantly attended, appearing at the soirée just in time.

While Aegis garnered attention at the gathering, the hostess of Biflten, Ilyin, remained hidden inside the room provided by Duke Leon.

“Are you feeling any better?” one of Ilyin’s maids fretted, as Ilyin had caught a slight cold. For someone accustomed to winter, a little cold from the sun was a trivial annual event.

“I’m fine.”

Aegis attending the soirée was unavoidable, considering his role as the Biflten family’s knight. Ilyin whispered this to Etra, who was preparing to lie down.

“Still, we can’t let a knight of our family navigate the social scene alone.”

The equestrian competition might have involved knights, but it was ultimately a noble event. While Aegis appeared to be the face of the event, the true heroine was Ilyin, the mistress of the Biflten estate.

“Aegis may find the soirée unfamiliar, but he won’t say anything foolish. I’ve taught him well,” Etra reassured Ilyin.

Ilyin widened her eyes in surprise. “Etra taught Aegis?”

Etra paused for a moment, her words flowing more freely than she intended. Perhaps it was because Lady Madeline had put her at ease. Lady Madeline had a way of disarming others with her warm smile and soft voice. Still, even with Lady Madeline’s charm, Etra couldn’t afford to be too candid about her feelings. She composed herself, unable to evade Lady Madeline’s gently tilted question.

“Once upon a time,” Etra replied with a hint of nostalgia.

There was a noticeable age gap between Etra, who was in her twenties, and Aegis. Considering that most knights hung up their swords after their forties, Etra had already surpassed that age when she had trained Aegis.

“That’s quite impressive,” Ilyin exclaimed, genuinely impressed. Etra responded with a gentle smile.

“You’re making a mountain out of a molehill, praising a lowly servant like this,” Etra said with a playful tone.

Before she knew it, Etra had pulled the covers up to Ilyin’s shoulders, her expression returning to a more serious one.

“But you must rest,” she urged, confident in Aegis’s training. Ilyin eventually yielded to Etra’s request.

“[Absolutely no getting out of bed!]” the note read.

In the end, Ilyin couldn’t leave her bed that day.

Meanwhile, Aegis returned the next day, looking slightly fatigued from the previous night’s banquet. Thankfully, there were plenty of remedies for Ilyin’s illness, and she quickly recovered. Aden had been at her side the entire time.

A few days passed, and then it happened.

[Invitation to Lady Ilyin of Biflten]

Ilyin received an invitation. Her illness had improved significantly, and when she confirmed that it was an invitation to a social gathering, her eyes widened.

It wasn’t from the Countess Danette, of course. It was a letter from Lady Elret, the Marchioness of Elret. The letter began with cautious greetings, expressing a desire to meet and hoping that Ilyin would grace the gathering with her presence.

“Are you going to attend?” Etra asked, noticing Ilyin’s contemplation as she read the letter. Ilyin’s recent dreams had featured the event’s aftermath.

The schedule for the Duke Leon’s equestrian competition extended over three days, including the martial arts competition. If she didn’t attend the social gathering every day, it was likely that the dream she had seen was about this event.

“Do you know this name?” Etra asked when she saw the seriousness in Ilyin’s expression. Ilyin shook her head.

For a moment, she considered attending the gathering. However, she couldn’t help but be bothered by the fact that she had missed the equestrian competition with Aegis just a short time ago. Even if it was due to a mild illness, it felt awkward not to make an appearance at the social event after coming all the way to the southern region.

“I don’t know the name, but I’ll attend,” Ilyin said with a bright smile. Etra lowered her head in acknowledgment. After a brief silence, Ilyin added, “On the way back, we’ll encounter a monster.”

Etra hesitated. It seemed that Lady Madeline’s worries had revolved around this possibility. She had an obligation to ensure Lady Madeline didn’t get distressed.

“I will prepare thoroughly,” she said. After all, she was a member of the Terri clan, and monsters weren’t a formidable threat to them. The real issue was who they would meet while traveling with the clan. Ilyin wore a troubled expression.

“…And you’ll also meet Amid, the lady of Leon Castle.”

“What?”

It was a social gathering for women only…or so Etra thought. Concern flashed across Etra’s face.

“Could it be that the Amid  is being pursued by a monster?” Etra proposed the most plausible scenario, given Lady Amid’s flawed swordsmanship compared to the knights of the Count’s estate.

But the reality was stranger than Etra’s thoughts. Ilyin’s words were as solemn as when she had seen Amid in her dreams.

“…She’s coming to save us.”

Etra’s expression mirrored the one she had seen in her dream.