Chapter 44
“Your Grace. No one would think to rest just because you’re climbing the Snowy Mountains.”
As the Grand Duchess left the office, Sophia opened her mouth.
“There’s no one to interrupt, and all you have to do is climb a mountain, right? There won’t be any documents, so it’s not a hard job.”
After hearing the Grand Duke’s reply, Sophia gave up trying to understand the unique standards of this couple.
She decided she’d better inform Albert and properly prepare for the climb up the Snowy Mountains.
Even with three full days of preparation, it wouldn’t be enough to gather everything they needed: the tent for the couple to stay in, the supplies…
“Sophia, make sure to pack as many subspace pouches as you can.”
Elliot planned to collect as many monster by-products as possible on this trip. These by-products were some of the most commonly purchased materials by the Mage Tower.
‘Since we’re going up the Snowy Mountains, I might as well get my hands on things the Mage Tower will want.’
He recalled how Evelyn had recently been fascinated by the training devices at the Mage Tower.
Elliot, full of plans to tighten the leash on the Mage Tower, processed his paperwork while devising a strategy to wipe out as many monsters as possible.
Evelyn, too, had resolved not to leave her desk until she finished all the documents by evening.
Since Albert and Sophia would be taking over their duties during the honeymoon, she wanted to tidy up as much as possible so they would have an easier time.
“Lady Evelyn.”
As she sat there for quite a while working, Tinya approached in a subtle voice while the other maids were away.
“Yes?”
“Are you really going on the honeymoon just the two of you?”
When Evelyn returned to the office, she summoned the maids and informed them of their departure.
She kept the part about the Snowy Mountains a secret.
The announcement that only she and the Grand Duke would be going had shocked them all, but they eventually had no choice but to accept it.
Tinya, in particular, seemed suspicious—she was clearly nervous but also strangely excited.
“You made that decision after reading that book, didn’t you?”
Evelyn paused at Tinya’s sly smile.
Book?
Tinya had indeed brought her a strange book some time ago.
[Even a Contract Marriage Can Be Happy]
[A Happy Married Life]
Titles so unappealing Evelyn had shoved them aside without a second thought.
“I haven’t read them yet. Haven’t had the time.”
“Then how about starting with those?”
“Are they important?”
At her puzzled question, Tinya gave a mysterious expression.
“Well, it depends on how you see it, but I think it could be important to you.”
Even if it was a contract marriage—still!
If you had a swordmaster as your duchess, shouldn’t you at least spend the wedding night together and start working on an heir?
Tinya had been fuming at the Grand Duke’s lack of tact.
Seril had told her that the Grand Duke had no experience with romance, so it was up to her lady to make the first move.
‘I thought she made this decision after reading the book!’
The book recommended a secret trip for just the couple as a way to deepen intimacy.
Taking only one or two attendants while keeping their identities hidden would allow them to see a more relaxed, candid side of each other—creating butterflies, according to the book.
Tinya, determined by the stoic yet affectionate couple, felt her resolve ignite.
Her lady was so beautiful!
She was slightly embarrassed, but she figured Evelyn must not have found the earlier romance novel interesting.
Otherwise, there’s no way she would’ve skipped the wedding night.
So she had prepared a spicier, more “useful” book this time… and Evelyn still hadn’t read it!
Tinya was disappointed.
“Why would we need something like that on a honeymoon?”
Ah… she really has no idea. Isn’t a bride’s first night supposed to be thrilling and full of anticipation?!
“You haven’t even spent your first night together yet!”
They were both so sweet and innocent—and now Evelyn looked like she was wondering, “So what?”
Tinya clenched her fists as if she expected this.
“Let’s start your special training immediately!”
“We haven’t even talked about an heir yet.”
Evelyn didn’t expect they ever would.
“Do you need to talk about that?! You’re young and healthy!”
Please.
Evelyn shook her head at Tinya’s passionate words. If they were actually at that stage in their relationship, it might be different.
But Elliot was clearly not thinking about anything of the sort. They’d be waking up at dawn and moving until late every day while searching for ruins in the snow.
What Tinya was hoping for wasn’t going to happen—even by accident, let alone on purpose.
Evelyn shook her head again, trying to rid herself of such unseemly thoughts.
“It’s okay. If it ever becomes necessary, I’m sure he’ll bring it up.”
“Still… are you sure it’s fine to go without us? Where are you going that you’re leaving all the staff behind?”
Evelyn assured her once more it was fine, and Tinya reluctantly dropped the topic of heirs.
But the next question made Evelyn tense again.
“Elliot wanted it to be just the two of us.”
Just imagining bringing attendants up the snowy mountain made Evelyn shiver.
Thinking about having to protect the staff while fighting monsters already felt exhausting.
Tinya, seeing her delighted reaction, covered her mouth.
Just how wild is this place for her to look that excited?!
The misunderstanding deepened.
“Well, anyway, don’t worry. I’m really looking forward to it.”
“There’s no danger with the Grand Duke around.”
“Exactly.”
Now all she had to do was focus on finding the hero’s legacy hidden in the snowy mountains.
With growing anticipation, Evelyn smiled.
They passed the lower peaks and entered a snow-covered forest.
“I talked with Raven, and we think the Holy Sword might need to defeat monsters to recover its true form.”
Once inside the Snowy Mountains, Evelyn shared her theory with Elliot.
The Holy Sword, which had been left neglected in the ducal garden for years, was now quite worn down.
“That sounds like a reasonable idea.”
Elliot nodded.
Vrrrmmm—
As it emerged from the subspace pouch and hit the cold mountain air, the sword gave a deep hum.
But its strength was weak, and the sound quickly faded.
“Still, its aura is intense, right?”
“I wonder if it can even take down one monster.”
At her admiration, Elliot raised an eyebrow and looked at the sword with clear skepticism.
“I think even a cat might be better at killing monsters than that sword.”
Vrrrrmmm.
“If you say things like that, it might get sulky.”
“What’s a sword going to do if it gets sulky? Let’s speed up and check the surroundings.”
Ignoring the sword’s protest, Elliot kicked his horse into a gallop.
“Wait, wait! I’m coming too!”
Evelyn ran after him. The sword, hanging at her waist, emitted an indignant hum at Elliot.
She had wanted to keep it in its sheath, but it seemed to hate it so much it had split every sheath she tried. So she had no choice but to carry it in her subspace pouch most of the time.
The two expanded their senses, chasing traces of mana that felt strange—not from monsters.
If they felt anything odd at all, they went to check.
“Huff… Did the Hero seriously not leave any notes about the location of the legacy?”
Elliot stroked his weary horse and nodded.
No matter how many ancient documents from their ancestors they searched, nothing mentioned the hero’s legacy.
“Maybe they thought this was supposed to be a kind of training.”
Evelyn ran a hand through her hair in frustration.
After scattering aura in all directions and running until sunset, her body was burning up and soaked in sweat.
“Perhaps. Or maybe, since there was no snow here in the past, it’s now buried underneath.”
“…”
Evelyn bit back a curse. So they really did have to comb through the entire mountain?
She suddenly felt the urge to grab the old hero by the collar and shake them.
“For now, let’s rest here tonight.”
Elliot pulled out a shovel and dug out a snow cave. Evelyn tended to the horses.
Their tent was spacious and wide. Since they couldn’t tie the horses outside, they had even ordered a custom portable stable from the Mage Tower.
Planning for a long journey with no night watch shifts, they had invested an enormous amount of money.
“It’s like bringing the mansion with us.”
Hot water poured out of the taps, and the bed was huge. Evelyn’s jaw dropped.
From the outside, the tent blended into the landscape, looking like nothing more than part of the mountain.
Magical wards of confusion and protection kept monsters away.
“This is the first time I’ve used such expensive artifacts.”
Compared to this, her earlier preparations for climbing the Snowy Mountains had been like cheap military gear.
As she looked around, Evelyn let out a spontaneous gasp.
Elliot burst into laughter at her reaction.
