Chapter 5: Between Friendship and Love (1)
“Mom, my butt hurts. When are we going to arrive?”
After traveling by carriage for eight days and nine nights,
Abel had started whining frequently.
At least they had departed from the capital residence.
If they had left from Blanchett territory,
They would have needed one more full day of travel.
“Our little knight, does your butt hurt a lot? Do you want to come sit on Mommy’s lap?”
Abel hesitated—
torn between his dignity as a “knight”
and the pain in his backside—
then quickly climbed into her arms.
Knock, knock.
At that moment,
Aiden Hume,
the captain of the Blanchett knights,
tapped on the carriage window.
Abel, who trained under him,
jumped in surprise
and scrambled off Chloe’s lap.
Chloe had to suppress a smile.
“Yes, Sir Hume. What is it?”
She opened the window.
still unable to hide her amusement.
Abel—
was her greatest comfort.
“We will be arriving at Anata Castle soon. You’ve endured a long journey, my lady.”
“It’s not me who worked hard. The knights who followed this sudden schedule did.”
Chloe looked at the knights surrounding the carriage.
Most of the Blanchett knights—
key members included—
had accompanied them.
She had told her husband it was excessive—
But he wouldn’t let her go otherwise.
“Please thank them for me. Thanks to them, we arrived safely.”
“Protecting you and the young master is our honor. We will escort you safely to the end.”
Aiden answered firmly.
“Protect them with your lives.”
He remembered Gerard’s warning before departure.
* * *
“Chloeeeee!”
The moment Chloe stepped out of the carriage,
someone ran toward her—
and threw their arms around her neck.
“…Leila?”
“It’s been so long! The last time we saw each other was the year-end ball—so it’s been over a year and a half!”
The one greeting her so energetically—
was none other than
Leila.
The very source of everything.
Chloe still felt resentment—
but at the same time,
She was genuinely happy to see her.
Leila probably didn’t mean anything bad by it…
Maybe because she knew
how much Leila liked her—
Her heart softened.
“It really has been a while. But are you okay running around like this? How’s your health?”
The reason they hadn’t met for a year—
was Leila’s pregnancy.
She had just given birth earlier this year.
“I’m perfectly fine! I feel so good I could even join the hunting tournament!”
Still as lively as ever—
and already a mother of three.
Time really flew.
“As if.”
A low, stern voice cut in.
It was Frederick de Anata.
Chloe bowed politely.
“I greet Your Grace, the eternal lord of the North.”
“It’s been a while, Marchioness Blanchett.”
When he replied,
Chloe lifted her head.
She hadn’t expected him to come personally.
Then—
He frowned slightly.
“Your husband is still the same, I see.”
“…Pardon?”
Frederick glanced at the knights lined up behind her.
Most of their main forces were present.
“Anyone would think you came to wage a territorial war.”
Of course,
twenty knights weren’t enough for that—
But it was still excessive for an escort.
Probably a warning.
To bandits.
To lords along the way.
Or—
to him.
Still an unpleasant man.
“My husband must have been overly worried about sending us alone. I hope you will understand.”
Chloe spoke gracefully.
Frederick was displeased—
but decided to be generous.
He gave a slight nod.
Chloe felt relieved.
At that moment—
A small hand tugged at her skirt.
Abel stepped forward.
Just like his father.
Frederick thought.
Not only in appearance—
but in protecting his mother.
“Abel, say hello. This is the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Anata.”
“…Hello. I am Abel Blanchett.”
He gave a short introduction.
“Oh my, Abel! You’ve grown so much. You look just like Gerard when he was young.”
Leila ruffled his hair warmly.
Abel smiled brightly—
pleased.
“Do you remember me? I’m Leila, your parents’ friend. Welcome to our castle!”
“It’s been a while, young lord. I am Frederick de Anata.”
“Oh! I should introduce my children!”
Leila turned.
Renesia and Endnoah—
were clinging to Frederick’s legs.
“Come on, say hello.”
“Hello! I am Renesia de Anata, eldest daughter!”
A cheerful girl with short black hair
and a red ribbon spoke confidently.
“H-Hello… I am Endnoah de Anata…”
The boy spoke shyly.
Chloe smiled warmly.
“It’s been a while. You’ve grown so much.”
Endnoah hid again.
But Renesia kept glancing at Abel—
curious.
“Oh my, I think my daughter likes your son.”
“Mom!!”
Renesia shouted in embarrassment.
Leila teased her.
Frederick watched fondly.
holding his son.
A happy family scene—
but—
Chloe felt uneasy.
She saw herself—
in Renesia.
Why does she always expose others’ feelings like that…
The warmth she felt earlier—
vanished.
Then Frederick said:
“No chance. My daughter will stay with me forever.”
A complete “doting father” remark.
Unbelievable—
for someone once called the “Ice Duke.”
Chloe gently comforted Renesia.
“Thank you for liking my son. Abel was very excited to meet children his age. Please play together while we’re here.”
Renesia nodded.
“I approve of this relationship!” Leila joked. “Anyway, let’s go inside! The chef worked hard—we can’t let the food get cold.”
She led them inside cheerfully.
The welcome was lively—
But Chloe’s heart was unsettled.
* * *
“Humming~”
Creak.
“…Eek!”
Anton,
vice-captain of the First Knights,
froze in shock.
Gerard—
was still in his office.
“…”
Gerard stared at him coldly.
“I—Commander, you’re still here? I thought you would’ve left already…”
“So opening the door without knocking is acceptable?”
“N-No! I apologize!”
Gerard looked at him with disdain
and returned to his paperwork.
Anton approached carefully.
“…These are approval documents.”
Gerard placed them aside.
Anton was confused.
Why is he still working?
This was unlike him.
Recently—
He had been staying late.
“…Commander… why aren’t you going home these days? You used to leave right on time…”
A mistake.
Anton would regret asking that—
very soon.
