Episode 39
“You said you’d never marry.”
“Did I?”
“Don’t dodge, Kaiden. This is huge. Marrying a royal, of all people—it’s not like you.”
“It wasn’t because she’s a royal. It was because she’s Reina.”
“Even so, that doesn’t make Her Highness any less royal. Face reality. No matter how much she came here for you, in a critical moment, she’ll choose the Empire over the North.”
“She’s not Her Highness. She’s Your Grace.”
“What?”
“Fix your address. She’s your mistress now.”
“…I don’t accept it.”
It felt like just yesterday when Rose came to congratulate his return, only to complain about Reina.
Now, she called her “Your Grace” with rigid discipline.
‘What happened in that parlor?’
Kaiden hadn’t seen Rose this tense in ages.
He’d planned to scold her if she called Reina “Her Highness” again, but it seemed unnecessary now.
He glanced at Reina.
Rose was a potential suspect in the incident.
Even though Lady Mary was the culprit, the map issue remained unresolved.
Despite her claims of innocence, evidence made it hard to fully clear her.
Kaiden didn’t think Rose was lying.
She was sharp, critical, headstrong, and biased, but not the type to harm others.
Still, Reina, meeting her for the first time here, had reason to be wary.
Yet, keeping Rose close despite that impressed him.
After some small talk, Dahlia left for her lessons.
Alone, Kaiden asked.
“I heard you disciplined Lady Mary. Are you okay?”
“Hm, my arm’s a bit sore.”
Reina rubbed her arm casually.
That wasn’t what he meant, and Kaiden sighed softly.
She clearly didn’t want to elaborate.
He realized he knew little about her.
And he wanted to know more.
Taking her arm to massage it, he said.
“Do what you want with Lady Mary. Even without my input, that was humiliating enough.”
“I wanted it to end well.”
Reina’s face fell, and as he looked at her silently, she continued.
“She took care of Dahlia for so long. I wanted to show her that respect. But I failed.”
She looked like a child awaiting punishment.
When Kaiden said nothing, she met his eyes and asked.
“Are you disappointed in me?”
He was baffled and countered.
“Disappointed?”
For what?
He couldn’t grasp her intent.
Reina spoke like a sinner.
“I said I’d handle it, but I made things worse.”
Ah, that’s what she meant.
She was worrying more than he’d expected.
She was always too hard on herself.
The premise was wrong.
Lady Mary caused the mess, not her.
If he didn’t correct this, she’d keep digging herself into a hole.
Kaiden asked quietly.
“Did you know Lady Mary was that bold?”
“No, but…”
“Then why do you act like you’re the worst offender?”
His blunt words made Reina’s lips twitch.
She knew she was overly self-critical.
But knowing didn’t change it easily.
Stubbornly, she said.
“My indecision nearly got Dahlia hurt.”
“You really think that?”
“I didn’t want Dahlia to get hurt.”
During tea, Dahlia had watched Reina cautiously.
By tomorrow, she’d know Lady Mary was gone.
The woman who’d cared for her all her life, especially after her mother’s death, was a pillar.
Her sudden absence would confuse the girl.
Reina worried it might scar Dahlia.
Kaiden spoke.
“People live with wounds. No one grows up unscathed.”
“…”
“Don’t look so grim over a wound you didn’t cause. It’s Dahlia’s to bear. It’s better you removed that woman quickly.”
His words were harsh.
She wanted to argue how he could say that about his niece.
But a realization calmed her.
She’d been projecting her own wounded childhood onto Dahlia, wanting her to be happy.
That was selfish projection, and self-disgust crept in again until Kaiden spoke.
“You’re too hard on yourself.”
“Hard?”
“Look at this. Your hands are a mess.”
Her glove was off, revealing blistered palms.
Kaiden frowned, poking them gently.
Feeling the pain, Reina winced.
“Ouch.”
He chided her, half-annoyed.
“You’ve never swung a sword properly, yet you whipped her how many times?”
“Just fifty.”
Kaiden scoffed, incredulous.
“Insane. Apologize to your palms for abusing them.”
“Don’t treat me like a child.”
“Who’s acting childish? Why do it yourself? Dive or Celine could’ve handled it.”
“I wanted fewer witnesses. It’d keep Lady Mary quiet.”
“Planning scenarios even then. Plenty saw her limping out.”
“Oh.”
Reina sighed, realizing she hadn’t accounted for that.
“Impressive. I married a remarkable woman.”
Kaiden teased with a displeased look.
He fetched a first-aid kit and applied ointment and bandages to her hands.
Reina stayed quiet, wary of more scolding.
She’d forgotten the pain until he mentioned it.
After calming down, she’d focused on Dahlia.
Hiding the blisters with gloves, she planned to treat them later, but they’d burst, stinging.
Not even feeling her pain.
As he said, she was too harsh on herself.
‘Strange.’
His few words calmed her remarkably.
Her hidden turmoil subsided.
It felt like reaching a safety zone.
Perhaps that’s why she mumbled her inner thoughts.
“I’m just glad Dahlia wasn’t hurt.”
“Glad? Look at how hurt you are.”
I love them together so much. They communicate REALLY well for a novel couple. Usually the couple had me pulling my hair out sometimes, but not only do they really click, but they talk things out like normal people