Avril’s voice might have grown a little quieter on the “perhaps,” but that shouldn’t have been a problem.

When she finished speaking, Fernand stood there dazed and with his mouth agape. Then, returning to himself, he performed a formal bow. His posture was nearly identical to Samuel’s. His refinement that gave hint of his family background made her eyes widen in astonishment.

“I understand what you are saying very well, Lady Avril.”
“Then, could you please not have anything to do with me ever again?”

Avril’s relief, however, was met with a shocking reply.

“That is something I cannot do.”

“Huh?”

This time, Avril was the one to stand there dumbfounded.  Just as she staggered, Dylan cut in.

“You—”

But Fernand was not listening. He continued to speak only to Avril.

“As expected, you are the woman chosen by Dylan Lanchester… phrasing it like that would be rude, I suppose.  Regardless, you are the first woman I have ever truly desired.”

Did this man genuinely fail to grasp Avril’s position, and the fact that Dylan was standing right in front of him? If he didunderstand and still acted that way, he had to be either incredibly self-confident or hopelessly obtuse. Even Dylan, who had placed himself in the line of fire so as to protect Avril, looked as though he had a headache.

“Very well, enough. Regarding this matter, I shall have my family lodge a formal protest with the House of Marquis Brandner.”

“…If that is the case, then it can’t be helped. I myself am quite bewildered by my own emotions at the moment. Until next time, then.”

Leaving behind those inexplicable final words, Fernand departed from the garden into the night. Left behind, Avril and Dylan were at an utter loss.

“What in the world was that gentleman hoping to achieve…”

“I don’t know. He genuinely seems to like you, though, Avril.”

“But I am your wife, Lord Dylan…”

She spoke with a touch of wistfulness, to which Dylan gave a wry smile. Avril, having no idea what she had said that would make him smile so, tilted her head. Her husband confessed, looking somewhat sheepish.

“The truth is, during that ball, I heard someone say that you and Fernand made a good match, and it made me a bit angry. It is also true that, even now, I let my blood rise to my head and respond in ways unbecoming the head of the family.”

“Huh? Someone said something like that? Why? …Actually, I feel like this is my first time hearing you express such a thing, Lord Dylan.”

“I get jealous as much as anyone else does.”

Avril couldn’t help but chuckle at the choice of words and tone of voice that she rarely heard from him.

The dimly lit garden, illuminated by scattered streetlamps, had finally regained the quiet calm it held moments ago. Remembering the chill in the air, Avril removed the coat Dylan had draped over her shoulders, turned to face him, and placed it back over him.

“In that case… you should wear the coat, too, Lord Dylan.”

“No, but…”

Avril boldly looked up at her husband. He seemed ready to say he wanted her to wear it.

“I’m looking forward to going back to the townhouse and spending time together with one another just as much as you are…!”

“…”

Dylan’s eyes widened in surprise, and he pulled Avril into an embrace. As they had been facing each other from so close, she immediately settled into his arms. Whose heart is it that’s beating so loudly?

Lord Dylan…

While they were like that, a low, sweet voice descended from above her. It came with a tone as though explaining something to her.

“I’ll make sure to tell Grace as well. ‘Even if my wife looks like she wants to run away, tell her to make the proper preparations. Even if there is a cat, don’t let it into the room, and even if the King and Queen happen to visit, don’t announce them or act as an intermediary.’”

“…Isn’t that going a bit too far?”

“But if I don’t do this much, Avril might just go off somewhere… Even though I am thinking that, I want you to praise me for refusing when you tried to invite me into the room earlier.”

“Huh?”

Since she did not really understand what he meant, she raised her face from within her husband’s arms and stared into his blue eyes. Then, he looked away as though to say that he had made a mistake.

“You don’t need to know yet.”

“Ri-right…!”

At once, she was overwhelmed by the strength of his arms, which tightened as if to say, “I won’t let you escape.” Faced with a concrete promise unlike any before, her heart began to race, and the pounding simply refused to stop.

Three days later, the coronation ceremony for the new king, Lawrence, was held without incident.

The following day, the wedding ceremony of the King and Queen and the ceremonies accompanying them were also held. The entire Kingdom of Blanville was wrapped in an atmosphere of celebration.

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