Chapter 278 - My Dragon Wife… Wants to Do Spicy Things!

Chloe Evenhart:

The dinner continued, and the table I was at was surrounded by several nobles. It was an event to bring the duchies closer, and soon the traveling ship would arrive, bringing some of the treasures from the families.

I took a sip of wine, trying to avoid getting too involved in the conversation. Some of the nobles present had already tried flirting with me, which was starting to get annoying.

"You look beautiful," said a boy as he approached me.

"Thank you, Viktor," I replied politely, without much enthusiasm.

From across the room, I saw my mother talking to some dukes, with my aunt Katherine beside her. Before I could get distracted any further, Viktor spoke again.

"Would you like another drink? I noticed your glass is empty. I could get it for you... or maybe we could go together," he suggested with a suggestive smile.

"Lady Chloe already has someone to do that for her. If she needs anything, I’ll get it myself," Kinue, who was next to me, cut in, stopping the conversation.

Viktor looked at her with disdain.

"I was talking to her, not you, you plebeian servant," he shot back arrogantly.

I was about to respond sharply when I noticed some familiar faces approaching. Our friends had arrived, and their presence broke the tension in the air.

"This event is really beautiful," Edmund commented.

"I agree, the ice decorations are stunning. These statues your mother made are perfect," Princess Melina said, admiring the surroundings.

My mother had really outdone herself, creating several ice statues and ornaments that adorned the place. Each duke had contributed in some way to the event.

"Where’s Nathan?" Edmund asked, curious.

"He’s... working," Kinue responded, hesitating slightly.

They looked at us with confused expressions.

"Working? Shouldn’t he be enjoying the party with us?" Melina asked, surprised.

Kinue visibly blushed, and I struggled to stay calm and not blush myself. Nathan was participating in the logistics team on a ship, overseeing the entry of merchants and treasures arriving at the traveling museum. The main ship went through all eight duchies collecting treasures. This was a task only trusted people from the dukes’ families could handle, and each had to assign a reliable team. He wanted to join, my mother thought it would be a good idea for him to gain more administrative experience, and he’d even be paid for it, courtesy of the dukes’ alliance.

Nathan had mentioned that he wanted to buy the engagement rings with his own earnings, which I found incredibly sweet and romantic.

Sometimes, he knows how to be so adorable...

"Nathan is leading our team on one of the ships," I said.

"Or maybe he’s out there with some women," Viktor commented, laughing.

What an idiot...

"Master Nathan is not that kind of man," Kinue responded firmly.

Our engagement was still a secret, as was his relationship with Kinue. He could only officially propose to her after marrying me, since my position in the kingdom was superior to hers, and she couldn’t officially be bound to him before me. For now, they were just secret lovers.

"But he will be here for the exhibition, just a little late," I explained, trying to maintain my composure.

"When he arrives, I’ll show you some of the valuable items from my family’s vault. The ship should dock soon," Viktor said, still laughing at his own unfunny joke.

I continued talking to our friends, trying to ignore the unease in my chest.

Where are you, Nate? I hope everything’s going well with your work.

Marquess Laurence:

It had been some time since I was promoted to Marquess, taking control of Nikolaus Wolves' former faction. From Count, I had risen to Marquess, becoming the kingdom's intermediary for monitoring the Evenhart Duchy. That night, I was attending an exclusive event, reserved for the highest echelons of the nobility.

The dinner was being held outdoors, in a special hall set up at the harbor. It was a grand event, organized by the dukes to symbolize their unity while showcasing their precious treasures. The military dukes, in particular, were eager to display some of their collections, ranging from powerful spells to enchanted relics.

Meanwhile, a few noble friends from other duchies and I gathered in a private room of a building connected to the main hall. The place functioned as a hotel, but on this night, it was transformed into an exclusive meeting and gathering area for the most influential nobles.

Among us, I was the only Marquess, and they constantly tried to approach me, hoping to gain favors from the higher nobility. Only the Marquess held the privilege of freely contacting a superior noble. The others weren’t worthy of stepping into their castles without being properly invited. However, I was nervous and anxious, as I feared the family I served.

"I heard the military dukes brought some impressive things. From armor from the last war to private collections of enchanted relics," commented one of the Counts, as we toasted with wine.

Information flowed between us, shared only among those with enough proximity to know the secrets of their respective dukes.

"My Duke Saul brought many valuable items, but one stands out: a supreme-level spell, considered a military secret," revealed a nobleman, leaving us all impressed.

We continued the conversation, exchanging information and speculations, while enjoying the wine of the evening. There was a subtle tension in the air, fueled by the exhibition of treasures and the ambitions of everyone present.

"Do you think there will be any beautiful demi-human or elven slaves here too?" asked one of the nobles, laughing.

"Well, the dukes will show treasures... although a beautiful woman is also a treasure," replied another, and everyone burst into laughter.

Despite the laughter, I kept my attention while one of them described a special spear, a rare piece captured in the last war, clearly a collector's acquisition.

"And you, Laurence? Did your duchess bring anything interesting?" one of them asked, and they all looked at me expectantly.

I sighed inwardly.

"You know how it is... some weapons collected from the last war... and maybe a few old books from the founding days of the family, along with paintings from the era of the old Evenhart Kingdom. Nothing as eye-catching as a military duchy," I replied, trying to steer the conversation away from topics that could compromise me.

"I understand, you’re hiding the surprises from us," said one of the nobles, as I kept a fake smile on my face.

"Isn’t your duchy the one whose heir domesticated a moon panther? An incredible feat! It seems like this generation of theirs was really blessed," said another noble.

At hearing this, I felt an uncomfortable shiver. The memory of the moon panther made my stomach churn.

"Y-yes," I replied, nervously, trying to push away the unwanted memories.

"Laurence, you're the only one among us who is a Marquess, has direct contact with superior nobles, you could introduce us to your duchess’s family," commented another noble, with a smug smile. "I have some unmarried daughters."

He laughed, but his intention was clear.

"Do you know if they plan to expand the family by marrying more wives to the male heir?" he continued, jokingly, but with that unmistakable tone of someone fishing for useful information.

"I-I don’t know..." I replied, trying to hide my discomfort.

"There are only two Evenharts left by blood... They should expand, have more children," another one suggested. "Do you know if the heirs have any suitors or if there's an arranged marriage in place? As a Marquess, I imagine you have access to that kind of information."

"I do," I answered quickly, "but unfortunately, I can’t share that."

"I see. If possible, introduce us to them tonight," he insisted, flashing a friendly smile—but it was clear he was after something more. "I own a land exploration company with earth mages specialized in locating minerals. Maybe the new heirs will be interested in exploiting those famous uncharted forests."

I nodded, trying to appear polite, while my mind wished to be anywhere but here.

The conversation dragged on, each of them throwing in remarks about the duchies and reminiscing about how, millennia ago, today’s events would have been impossible.

"If this were the past, these duchies would be independent kingdoms, mortal enemies of one another," one of them commented. "Constant wars and invasions."

"Among the dukes, the friendliest one seems to be Duchess Margaery," another chimed in, trying to steer the conversation in a different direction.

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"Maybe because she wasn’t raised to be a duchess?" someone suggested.

I barely held back a sigh.

That woman? Friendly? They're talking nonsense…

"Does anyone know who the woman accompanying that duchess is? She's quite beautiful," one of the nobles asked, a sly smile on his face.

"She’s the mother of the male heir," I answered, keeping my tone neutral, though I could already see where this was heading.

"Ah, so she’s single then..." he said, clearly intrigued. "I’ll try to approach her. If I’m not mistaken, she’s just a commoner who served as a surrogate, right?"

"No," I corrected. "She was married to one of the former Lord Evenharts. She was his official wife."

"I see..." He fell silent for a moment before speaking again in a casual tone. "That makes things a bit more difficult. But I think I’ll send her an official dinner invitation anyway."

These guys are insane...

The conversation soon shifted as another noble started showing off his insider knowledge about some items that would be displayed in the museum. I took the chance to excuse myself and leave the room.

I walked quickly to the restroom, shut the door behind me, and locked it. My heart pounded in my chest as I began hyperventilating. Gripping the sink, I struggled to breathe, but the panic took over. My stomach twisted violently, and within seconds, I couldn’t hold it back—I vomited everything I had eaten that night.

Leaning against the sink, I tried to wash my face, but the panic wouldn’t subside.

"Those damn bastards..." I muttered, staring at my reflection in the mirror, my own terrified expression staring back at me. "They have no idea what that family is really like."

My hands started shaking, and my legs felt weak. The fear I had been suppressing for months came rushing back with full force, more alive than ever.

"The Evenharts... they’re monstrous psychopaths," I whispered before collapsing onto the floor, pressing my face against my knees. My body trembled uncontrollably as I rocked back and forth in a futile attempt to calm myself down.

"All of them… they’re evil. None of them hesitate to kill... not a single one." The memories began suffocating me—horrible images I had fought so hard to forget. The vision of the dragon resurfaced in my mind, and I curled up on the floor, choking on my own sobs as hot tears streamed down my face.

"It’s not real..." I whispered to myself, desperately trying to believe it. "It’s not real... the red-winged monster is gone..."

Ever since I saw that creature, not a single night has passed without me thinking the dragon is descending upon my mansion, roaring fiercely as it devours everything and everyone in its path. Fear consumes me. I can no longer sleep with the lights off without the memory of that gray panther’s sinister grin invading my mind. The sound of a skull being crushed between her teeth, as if she were savoring a sweet treat…

After everything was "resolved," the duchess summoned me to her castle. She made me watch for hours as one of her maids tortured Baron Gideon… or what was left of him. I will never forget his face. One of his eyes had been gouged out, replaced by a festering hole filled with maggots that the maid had placed there, devouring him little by little, day after day. He was bound, unable to move, trapped in pure agony.

"Shit..." I suddenly stood up and rushed to the toilet, vomiting what little was left in my stomach.

I placed a hand on my head, desperately trying to pull myself together. I needed to go back to the party. I needed to keep up appearances.

"That family is full of lunatics... even the maids. They all have that empty look, like they see people as nothing more than insects… They’re evil incarnate."

I got up and went to the sink to wash my face. The cold water did nothing to ease the terror consuming me.

"No one knows..." I murmured, staring at my pale, trembling reflection in the mirror. "No one knows, and that makes it even more terrifying. No one realizes they have the power to bring devastation upon this kingdom… and the only reason they haven’t is sheer whim."

My hands shook as I dried my face with a towel, the weight of the truth crushing every last fragment of my sanity.

Kinue:

I was at the event as a personal servant of our family. High nobles had the privilege of bringing a few attendants to such gatherings, and that had always been my "disguise" to accompany them. I was even wearing my maid uniform. The party was dazzling, and my role was to stay close to Chloe, ready to assist her with anything she needed. But in truth, we were simply there as friends, chatting casually.

Over the past few months, Princess Melina had grown closer to us in the dormitory. Among all the high nobles, she was the most timid, and I was relieved to find that she was easy to talk to. It seemed she didn’t particularly enjoy the pressure of being a princess, which made her far more approachable.

"That excursion is coming up," Edmund remarked, taking a sip of his drink. "We’ll finally get to enter the Inverted Tower. I've been hearing stories about that place since before I even joined the academy."

"I hope I end up in the same group as you guys," I said. Since I was two years older than them, there was a chance I’d be assigned as a guide.

"Syvis is excited," Chloe added with a smile. "There are so many ancient relics there, and it even has its own exhibition, almost like a museum of past discoveries."

We all agreed, remembering just how much our elven friend loved anything related to ancient civilizations.

As we talked near the fountain, a few attendants served us drinks and appetizers. The atmosphere was relaxed, and the combination of good conversation and good company made the event feel much lighter.

"Brother?" Princess Melina suddenly said, looking to the side.

"Prince Duncan?" Edmund exclaimed in surprise. "I thought only Princess Melina would be representing the royal family at this event," he said, offering the prince a slight bow in greeting.

I discreetly positioned myself behind Chloe, as a commoner like me wasn’t allowed to interact with him directly. The prince acknowledged me with a mere nod, refraining from any physical contact, as was the custom among high nobles when dealing with commoners.

"I was nearby and decided to check out the event," the prince said, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "It looks beautiful."

Viktor approached with a teasing grin. "I bet what really caught your attention was the exhibition," he said, nudging the prince lightly with his elbow.

"Well... I won’t deny it," Prince Duncan replied, laughing along with him.

I remained silent, knowing that, as a servant, I wasn’t supposed to interrupt or engage directly in the conversation. Even though I was friends with Princess Melina and the others, I didn’t know Prince Duncan, so at that moment, I had to act as a proper servant.

"Chloe," I whispered softly, "I’m going to grab something to eat. Do you want anything?"

She thought for a moment before answering.

"I’d love that cake with ice cream," she said with a smile. I nodded and walked away, leaving the group to continue their conversation as I headed toward the buffet table.

The grand buffet table was a sight to behold, offering a wide variety of dishes. It was beautifully decorated with signature foods from each duchy, along with famous recipes from the Royal Capital. I made my way to the dessert section, knowing how much Chloe adored sweets.

I searched for the cake with ice cream she had asked for, but there were so many options that I felt a bit lost, unsure of where to start.

Then, out of nowhere, an image flashed in my mind, and my cheeks grew warm.

"Nathan..." I murmured, feeling a small burst of happiness inside me.

"I’m… dating him..." I whispered to myself, an involuntary smile forming on my lips.

It had been a year since he accepted my feelings, and even now, it still felt surreal. Some mornings, I would wake up, look at myself in the mirror, and wonder if I was dreaming. He had only kissed me once, always being incredibly respectful. Deep down, I wanted more kisses, more closeness, but both Chloe and I had noticed that he moved at his own pace.

It doesn’t matter if it takes a little longer, I thought, my heart warming. I’m his, and that’s enough for me.

I picked up a plate and started selecting a few things for myself, but my thoughts kept drifting back to him. Nathan had taken on a job as part of a logistics team on a ship just to buy a ring for me and Chloe—entirely through his own effort. I had told him he didn’t need to buy me anything, that it was too expensive, but he had firmly insisted that I was his woman. How could I not feel special after something like that?

I sighed, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks again as thoughts of him completely took over my mind.

"He says things like that so effortlessly... and he has no idea how happy it makes me," I muttered to myself, still smiling as I continued selecting food. Finally, I found the cake Chloe wanted.

I prepared both my plate and hers. Just as I turned around, I accidentally bumped into someone.

"S-sorry!" I stammered, flustered.

"It’s fine. Luckily, nothing spilled or got messy. It was just a small bump," replied a familiar voice. My face instantly paled when I saw who it was.

"P-Prince Duncan..." I murmured, feeling the weight of formality pressing down on me. "I didn’t mean to..."

He let out a light chuckle. "You’re my senior at the academy. There’s no need to worry about it," he said with an easygoing smile.

A wave of relief washed over me as I realized he didn’t mind. The last thing I wanted was to embarrass my family.

"Are you looking forward to the excursion?" he asked casually.

"A little. I’ve been there a few times with my class, but now that we’re going with students from different years—including advanced classes—we’ll get to see different areas," I replied, trying to maintain my composure.

He nodded. "I’m a third-year, so I’ll be one of the ‘guides’ for the excursion, though you’ve already been there before," he commented while calmly serving himself.

"Don’t worry, going down into that dungeon is always fun," I said, trying to sound enthusiastic.

His eyes shifted to the two plates I was holding. "Are those for your master?" he asked.

"Yes, I serve the Evenhart family," I explained, remembering that he hadn’t interacted much with us before.

"I didn’t know you were a servant. At the academy, you’re quite famous," he said, chuckling as he continued serving himself.

I let out a small, shy laugh. I always felt a bit embarrassed about that "fame" at the academy.

"Your name is Kinue, right?" he asked.

"That’s right," I confirmed with a smile.

"Were you bought or hired?" he asked, catching me a little off guard.

Oh, he wants to know if I’m a slave…

I paused for a moment before answering. "I’m hired… I’ve served the family since I was ten," I replied, keeping my tone polite.

He asked me a few more questions about the dungeon, and after that, the conversation naturally came to an end. I couldn’t end the conversation myself—that would be disrespectful—but I felt relieved when one of the event’s attendants approached and began serving the prince, apologizing for not noticing him sooner.

"Phew..." I sighed in relief as I made my way back to Chloe.

From a distance, my eyes found the one person who always made my heart race.

Nathan had finally arrived.

My heart pounded, and a wave of nervousness mixed with excitement washed over me. Even with all the noise and movement of the party, his presence somehow made the entire atmosphere feel lighter.

I smiled discreetly, trying not to seem too eager, but inside, it was impossible not to feel that burst of emotions every time I saw him.

Nathan Evenhart:

As I walked toward our friends, I spotted a gray cat lounging on a chair, her tail lazily swaying from side to side.

"Ah, you’ve finally arrived, my beloved," Cylla said, lifting her head. Her relaxed posture contrasted with the curious glint in her feline eyes.

"How was your work?" she asked casually, though her gaze betrayed a hint of curiosity.

Cylla had stayed with my family in the capital these past few days.

"It was peaceful," I replied, approaching the chair where she lay. "You know how it is—monotonous work."

She narrowed her eyes, clearly skeptical.

"I didn’t interact with any human females," I added quickly, trying to anticipate any potential comments from her. "Just soldiers."

Cylla tilted her head slightly as if evaluating my words. Then, she leaned in closer, sniffing the air around me with delicate precision.

"Alright..." she murmured, settling back into the chair, her eyes gleaming with a hint of satisfaction. "I believe you."

I smiled slightly and moved closer, reaching out to scratch between her ears. Her eyes half-closed, and a low purring sound escaped her—a clear sign of approval.

"And you? Did you keep an eye on my mother and my aunt?" I asked, recalling our little surveillance mission.

"Of course! I did exactly as you asked. I stayed close to them, watching to see if any man dared to try anything funny," Cylla replied seriously, making me chuckle. "In fact, I’m keeping an eye on them right now."

"Excellent. No one is allowed to flirt with my precious girls," I said, satisfied.

There was still the matter of keeping an eye on Kinue and Chloe, but I wasn’t worried. They naturally kept others at a distance because of our relationship. My mother and my aunt, however, were single—but that didn’t mean we’d let just any man get close to them with ulterior motives. Those women were sacred to us.

"This decoration is quite beautiful," Cylla suddenly remarked, an unexpected gleam in her eyes. "I like it."

I stared at her, surprised. Cylla usually didn’t care about things like this. She was practical, direct—this kind of detail seemed irrelevant to her.

"Really?" I asked, still processing her reaction.

Is she developing more human-like preferences?

I remembered when she once asked me to buy her a ribbon to wear on her head. Maybe this was related.

"Yes," she replied with confidence. "At our wedding ceremony, I want something just as beautiful, my beloved."

"W-w-wedding ceremony?" I stammered, completely caught off guard.

Cylla gracefully jumped down from the chair, rubbing her head against my leg in a gesture that was both affectionate and possessive.

"That’s right, our wedding ceremony," she repeated with such conviction that I was left speechless.

"I think… that’s rushing things a little too much..." I muttered, a bizarre image of myself wearing a suit next to a dragon in a wedding dress flashing through my mind.

Cylla lifted her head, her eyes gleaming with an intensity that made me even more nervous.

"My beloved, this isn’t too fast. It’s the perfect time. Now, all that’s left is for me to imagine how our honeymoon night will be together."

"Okay, we’re stopping right there!" I interrupted, waving my hands frantically.