• Chapter 18

She had already heard about it. She had even gone out of her way to investigate.

Lubliee stared once more at the dead birds. For the first time, she began to understand what it meant when people said the presence of an evil spirit had passed through.

So this is what it feels like. A mass death of birds alone might not be enough to call it a major disaster, but…

There was a lingering sense of unease, a prickling discomfort tucked deep in her chest. It was the kind of eerie omen one rarely encountered in everyday life. Ominous, even.

“Shall we inform the local diocese?”

Her lieutenant asked for permission.

“…I’ve seen it with my own eyes. That’s enough. We’ll dismount, take care of this, and move on.”

At Lubliee’s command, the Holy Knights dug a pit and buried the bird corpses.

Her heart moved faster than her feet. It already felt like she had arrived.

At the Holy Capital, where the Pope resided.

And at the newlywed home where Satin was waiting.

Lubliee turned her horse around.

“Milady, milady!”

Lari came rushing in, calling for Satin.

Satin had been sitting by the window, watching the ranch. It was another peaceful, uneventful day.

Since she’d decided to avoid social gatherings until the scandal quieted down, her days mostly consisted of walks or light household activities.

Watching the evening sky, the grazing goats, and the calm, pastoral scenery brought her an almost surreal sense of peace.

Every day passed in a quiet tranquility that felt almost unreal. So when Lari burst in like that, it was actually kind of refreshing.

Satin tilted her head. “What is it?”

“They raised the banner on the city walls! The Holy Knights have returned!”

“What?”

Her heart plummeted.

Honestly, it was a bit late to be saying “Already?” Lubliee had promised a short trip, but she’d been gone for over two and a half months—longer than expected.

“Well, shouldn’t we be celebrating her return?”

Satin was still processing the sudden news, while the servants bustled with excitement. Tension crept across Satin’s face.

Of course, it was only natural that Lubliee would return home after completing her mission. But… today?

This was way too sudden. I’m not mentally prepared to face her yet!

Satin froze.

While the other servants were oblivious, Lari, who had cared for Satin for years, immediately sensed her anxiety.

“I’ll go draw a bath to help you relax, milady.”

Longtime maids were the best at this. They could read your mood without a word and knew exactly what to do.

“…Okay.”

Lari hurried off, giving instructions to a few servants. Though dinner had just ended, the kitchen grew busy again. Soon, the staff carried steaming water into the bath.

“Milady, everything’s ready. Come with me.”

Lari beckoned. Satin followed her in slow, hesitant steps.

“What’s this?”

“Goat milk. It’s good for your skin.”

Satin, who had been soaking comfortably in the warm bath, jolted upright when Lari suddenly poured milk over her shoulders and back.

The whole room filled with a rich, creamy scent. Lari explained further.

“The ranch nearby really does have the best milk.”

“Really?”

Satin didn’t drink milk, so she never cared about its quality. She rested her chin on her arm, stretched out along the edge of the tub.

Lari’s gentle scrubbing started to lull her into drowsiness.

She massaged Satin’s scalp and carefully combed through her hair over and over again, making sure not a single strand got tangled.

Satin dozed off for a moment. When she woke, her skin looked suspiciously radiant.

“You’ll be heading to bed soon anyway, so I’ll dress you in something light.”

“Okay.”

But the outfit Lari brought was too light. Satin raised the fabric with an incredulous expression, pinching it carefully with just her fingertips, afraid it might tear. The flimsy material clung to her body.

“Is this even fabric, or a veil?”

She hadn’t even known this kind of slip existed in the house. Satin frowned. Lari quickly draped a thin robe over her shoulders.

“You can just wear this over it.”

“Doesn’t seem like it’ll help much.”

“It’s enough.”

“Why are you dressing me like this today of all days?”

She’d always been dressed in plain nightgowns. But today, of all days, when Lubliee was coming home, the clothes got sheer, soft, and short.

What did Lari think Lubliee was—a bear in heat?

Satin huffed. “Change it, Lari.”

Lari’s face drooped in disappointment.

“There’s no faster way for a married couple to get close.”

“What are you talking about?!”

“Do you hate it that much?”

“I do!”

“Paladin Lubliee doesn’t seem like a bad person, though…”

“….”

Satin didn’t think Lubliee was a bad person, either. Just… someone who didn’t suit her.

Lari sighed softly.

“If milady truly dislikes it, I guess there’s no helping it… I’ll go find something else. Will you wait here?”

Judging from how sluggishly Lari dragged her feet as she left, it felt like this might take a while. If she ended up bumping into Lubliee like this, it would be a complete disaster.

Satin hesitated, then quickly followed after her.

Surely she hasn’t arrived yet, right?

Even if the Holy Knights were back in the capital, Lubliee would need to report to the Vatican first. That would take time. She’d probably come home in the middle of the night or at dawn. Satin would be asleep by then.

Their reunion could easily be pushed to tomorrow. Better to change clothes and head to bed early, claiming to be too tired.

With that plan in mind, Satin tiptoed toward the dressing room near the bedroom—just as the door to the adjacent room opened.

Lubliee, now in comfortable indoor clothes, stepped out.

Oh no. Speak of the devil and she appears.

Satin froze and rolled her eyes.

A paper-thin slip. A silky robe sliding halfway off her shoulder. Her legs felt particularly exposed today. No—her whole body felt exposed.

She raised her arms, then flinched. Her already pale skin looked even whiter.

Probably the milk’s fault. Damn that milk.

She inched backward like a sparrow, watching Lubliee’s reaction, but her tiny steps didn’t get her far. She froze in place.

The silence was deafening.

It was so still that Satin couldn’t even move.

She stayed quiet.

Lubliee said nothing, either.

Not a single servant passed by. Lari had completely vanished into the dressing room.

Then, finally, Lubliee moved. His head tilted slightly, an odd expression on his face—surprised, curious… but otherwise unreadable.

A faint smirk tugged at his lips.

“…Little one.”

“….”

“I thought you still weren’t ready, but maybe I was wrong?”

What the hell does that mean?

Oh god. Oh god.

Satin screamed internally.

Face burning in embarrassment, she bolted into her room. Lubliee, meanwhile, strolled back into his own, calmly closing the door behind him.

He leaned against the wall and exhaled a faint chuckle.

Little one.

He’d started calling her that because she reminded him of a squirrel—always darting around, small and full of energy. The name stuck over the years.

But now, even after marriage, it seemed he hadn’t moved on from that habit.

“…I really can’t keep calling her that anymore.”

Language shapes thought.

It was time to shed old habits if he truly wanted things to change. He couldn’t stay stuck in the Academy days now that they were married.

She wasn’t a little girl anymore. She was a grown woman—his wife.

Yet both of them were still bound by their past.

Lubliee sat down on his bed, then slowly laid back.

“Satin.”

He looked toward her room, softly whispering her name. Of course, there was no answer.

“I’m not Giyorne. I’m your husband. Isn’t that right?”

She might’ve spent 21 years as Giyorne’s fiancée, but the man who stood by her side at the altar was him.

Overwhelmed by that truth, he’d failed to move forward.

Foolishly.

Lubliee raised his hand, running it over his face like washing away sleep, then rested his wrist on his forehead.

His feelings had grown too large to hide, especially with her so close now.

Yet he’d acted like an awkward schoolboy the whole time.

I won’t lie and say I’m satisfied just having you near.

I want more—and I’m going to say it.

He rolled to his side, facing her room.

Even with his eyes open, her image lingered in his vision. But when he closed them, she became even clearer.

He chose to close them.

Tonight was going to be a long night.

‘I thought you still weren’t ready, but maybe I was wrong?’

If Lubliee had a restless night, Satin’s was worse. She buried herself under the covers all the way to her head.

Ugh. Seriously!

The Lubliee she remembered was mostly from the Academy. Naturally, the old Lubliee came to mind.

Yeah, that’s right. He’s always been the type to put people on the spot.

Of course, she didn’t expect him to turn around and pretend he hadn’t seen her. If he were that considerate, they wouldn’t have had such a rocky relationship in the first place.

He’d always teased her, calling her “little one.” And it wasn’t just her—anyone who got caught in his whirlwind ended up suffering.

Even Giyorne once got humiliated during a fencing tournament when a ticked-off Lubliee went all out on him, ignoring their skill difference.

Looking back, that fencing match actually felt a little satisfying. As if past Lubliee had avenged her against future Giyorne’s betrayal.

Satin was briefly tempted to reconsider her opinion of him—but then immediately shook her head.

That was just dumb luck. She wasn’t about to start rooting for Lubliee because of one fluke.

He just happened to be the cow that stepped back and crushed a rat.

And besides, today’s Lubliee felt exactly like the 12-year-old Lubliee from the past.

Satin thrashed under the covers.

“What the hell was that supposed to mean?!”