CH 27

All of the terrene’s troops were gone overnight.

Roiqan Pilsburg couldn’t believe the outcome, so he just kept glaring at the absurd report.

“What the…”

And there wasn’t even a proper conclusion.

The terrene corps was a group of soldiers that had been conditioned since they were children.

They were famous for their strength, but they had a greater reputation for their loyalty to him.

So, he sent all of the terrene forces to Cardiago without leaving anyone behind.

It was a declaration of war.

“But all of them… All of them deserted?”

THUD!

Roiqan couldn’t overcome his anger and hit his desk.

He already expected to some extent that he would lose this battle.

Duke Cardiago was on his home turf.

But what’s this, army desertion? This wasn’t just a matter of defeat.

It was clear evidence that the grace of the goddess Isis was no longer with the Pilsburg family.

‘What the hell happened in Cardiago that the terrene was dismantled overnight…’

Roiqan was frustrated. He was going crazy. As he had gulped down a cold glass of water, it was then—

“Lord Roiqan, the terrene had finally been captured and was brought in. But there’s only one person…”

“Bring him in. I’ll interrogate him myself.”

Roiqan had declared that he would pay a huge reward to anyone who could capture the terrene’s forces who had deserted their positions, and those that heard about it went on a great search with enthusiasm.

The power of money was amazing. A friend of the terrene soldier, who had been hiding him, sold him to the palace.

With a tone that was half-irritated and half-expectant, Roiqan greeted the terrene soldier who entered slowly.

“Alright. What’s your name?”

“…It is Cain.”

“Cain. Alright… Come now, weren’t you born with faith?”

“Yes, sire. My family has been serving the goddess Isis for many generations.”

The soldier’s face was full of sincerity.

His words expressed that he wasn’t disillusioned by his religion. Neither did it sound like he deserted his post because he was against Isis.

Roiqan sat back in his chair, looking like the noblest man.

“Cain. You were deployed to the Duke of Cardiago’s estate last night. Tell me the truth about what happened there. If you do so, under the name of the goddess Isis, I will not punish you.”

“T-Truly?”

“Yes.”

Roiqan’s smile had the power to bring down anyone’s guards.

Cain happily opened his mouth, thinking that being here was also due to the benevolence of the goddess.

“It was like a dream, sire.”

“…Dream?”

“Yes, sire. When she reached a hand and held the necklace, the blue butterflies of the goddess Isis appeared right then. It’s like an illusion, like a mist…”

“I see.”

“Those butterfly wings that were like blue stained glass beneath the sun’s rays…”

“That’s enough of the butterflies. Then, what’s next?”

Cain sighed in happiness just thinking about what happened last night.

At which part should he start so that he could convey to the devout nobleman in front of him the miracle that he experienced.

“The goddess Isis is with Miss Isabelle.”

“I’ve heard the same words about a hundred times. Tell me specifically. How exactly is she with her?”

“Her blue eyes have the pattern of a butterfly, and on the floor, what appeared was a magic circle that I’ve never seen before. And when the Lady opened her lips, the goddess’ voice overlapped with hers.”

“…What did Isabelle say to you all?”

Cain remembered the moment he heard the goddess’ voice so vividly, then he spoke happily.

“’My little lambs. I send you off beautifully, now kindly piss off.’ It was such a silvery, venerable voice…”

“What?”

“All of the terrene troops were moved by the goddess’ voice, so we all abandoned everything and went to our hometowns.”

“……”

Roiqan was somewhat in disbelief.

He called a subordinate and commanded that the devout Cain would be locked up in the psychiatric ward.

“L-Lord Roiqan! Isn’t this different from what you promised?”

“Only you will know. I no longer believe in the goddess. Most of the imperial family are the same.”

“That’s…! The goddess Isis will…!”

“Goodbye.”

Having Cain removed from his sight, Roiqan was silent for a moment. Then, he giggled as though he’d gone crazy.

From his pendant, a subdued voice could be heard.

「 Roiqan. Are you happy even though you lost your private forces? 」

“That’s right.”

When he heard that the last of the direct lineage was in Cardiego, he thought that she was only blessed by Isis.

Because it was like that with most women from the direct bloodline.

But the goddess herself descended.

Even if he took a hit and lost all the terrene troops in one fell sweep, he managed to get valuable information.

“Isabelle Pilsburg…”

If she were to give birth to his son, he would surely be the next emperor.

If he became the father of the emperor, the plight of the bloodline’s end would be solved.

The traces of it were covered up, but there’s no way he wouldn’t know about the terrene in Cardiago.

There would be a scandal about the raid, so he couldn’t move for the time being. However, the biggest opportunity still remained in his hands.

‘I’m sure you’ll attend the imperial council meeting.’

Roiqan Pilsburg smiled, ambition lacing his expression.

* * *

The Cardiago castle, where it looked as though a storm had passed, was neatly restored in just an hour.

Cleaning up this efficiently was because of Billian’s skill as a butler. Even the reapers, who were still tired from fighting, were also under Bill’s command, and they immediately helped with the cleanup.

They of course didn’t forget to sprinkle petals in the matrimonial bedroom and prepared some sweet wine.

It was only obvious.

Something major like an enemy infiltration broke out, but this night was still the first night of the ducal couple.

So they had to make it perfect.

“Since the three-syllable lady has finished her bath, let’s wrap it up here.”

“What do you mean, three-syllable lad? You should now call her Duchess Cardiago.”

The reapers and employees quickly left the room with smiles on their lips.

Riggs entered the bedroom before Isabelle.

“……”

Looking around, he quickly cleaned up the annoying things here.

Some time ago, while Isabelle was reading a novel, she complained that if there were any candles here, she would be annoyed and she wouldn’t be able to focus on anything.

Fwick—

After extinguishing the candles, Riggs half-opened the curtains.

The moonlight flowed in, making the atmosphere in the bedroom even more mysterious. After fixing up a few more places, Riggs sat on the bed.

Then, as though it was rehearsed, the door opened at the right moment. Isabelle came in.

She was wearing a chemise dress that looked more comfortable than the slip dress that she was wearing before.

His adam’s apple moved visibly, but she couldn’t see this.

This was because her entire body, as it glowed beneath the moonlight, entered Riggs’ sight.

As he was sitting on the bed, Riggs’ thick thighs were revealed.

Seeing his muscles and firm legs, Isabelle was taken aback.

‘W-Why are you wearing only a towel around your waist?’

Earlier, he said he didn’t have time to dress up.

It was understandable since he rushed to her side the moment he heard about the infiltration while he was taking a bath.

But he had plenty of time now.

Isabelle walked closer to the bed, her expression full of questions. As if he could read her mind, he spoke first.

“You know. It’s because it’s uncomfortable while I’m sleeping.”

He spoke offhandedly.

So that’s why. The male protagonists in the novels she read also didn’t wear much at night while sleeping.

And more than that, Isabelle had just accepted Isis’ power, so she was very tired. All Isabelle could focus on right now was that spot next to Riggs, on that very comfy looking bed.

Lightly tapping a hand over her lips as she yawned, Isabelle climbed on the bed.

Lying down and closing her eyes, she felt better already just taking in the sweet scent from his body.

“Why are you smiling?”

“It’s nice here on your bed, Riggs.”

“…You like it?”

“Yeah. The bed in my room isn’t so different from the hard ground. This is really soft.”

Isabelle caressed the soft sheets to her heart’s content.

Maybe it was just a trick of the light that it looked like Riggs was glaring at the bed for a second.

Soon, she lay down next to him.

Isabelle was lying down with her back to the window, so the moonlight was illuminating Riggs.

“You must be tired, too, Riggs. You used up a lot of your power from the underworld earlier.”

“……”

He made no comment either way.

While slowly succumbing to her drowsiness, Isabelle covered him with a blanket.

“If you’re unclothed like this, you’ll catch a cold, Riggs.”

His arms were as hard as sandbags.

She felt it back then, but when she saw him holding a sword, it suited him very much and it looked like he was the strongest man in the empire.

Isabelle thought that it was fortunate that Riggs wasn’t an enemy but rather an ally. But as she was drifting off to sleep, her eyes suddenly flitted open.

Why did such a strong person get beat up when he was younger?

Even if he wasn’t as bulky as he was now, Riggs said that he could beat Kiel by sheer force at the age of seven.

If that’s the case, then most of the boys in the neighborhood wouldn’t have been a problem for him.

‘And Riggs said that he’s always seen me as a woman…’

With a sudden sharpness behind her gaze, Isabelle calmly gulped down dryly.

“Riggs. Why did you get beaten up by the neighborhood kids?”

“……”

“You got hit on purpose even though you could win, right?”

He avoided her gaze for a moment, but he soon replied shamelessly.

“Who knows. I was tempted to mop the floor with them, but I like it more when you apply medicine on me—ouch!”

Slap—!

Isabelle’s quick hand hit his forearm.

Her eyes were burning with anger.

“I was seriously worried about you, but you let yourself be hit on purpose?”

“Isabelle, calm down fir—”

Slap—!

Once again, her quick hand landed a hit. Rubbing his stinging forearm, Riggs thought for a moment.

Isabelle’s hands were heavy. If it was another man getting hit like this, he’d have run out of the house crying.

But he had an extraordinary tolerance to pain.

‘That’s why I’m the only one who can live with you… ack!’

The hit this time was a little heavier.

Isabelle picked up a goose-feather pillow.

“I can’t let this go. You’ve even deceived me about your identity until now.”

“Isabelle, let go of that first and…”

“Shut up!”

“Ah, ah! Isabelle, do it gently… ugh!”

Riggs was beaten by Isabelle until the goose-feather pillow burst.

Hearing the sounds from outside, not knowing what was really happening, the reapers were in a state of shock.

‘Why do I hear only Milord’s moans?’

‘Don’t tell me, Milady is the one, towards Milord…’

‘As expected, Milady is the one wearing the pants in this relationship…’

The reapers covered their mouths with both hands, expressing their sympathy silently.