Chapter 207

 

"I want to go on a honeymoon trip."

 

At Iona's bold declaration, Leroy paused, half-rising from his seat.

 

He had just woken up, having heard his wife's presence early in the morning.

 

Blinking groggily, Leroy quickly realized that what he had just heard was no hallucination.

 

He ran a hand through his bed-mussed hair and asked, "…Is there a particular place you want to go?"

 

"To the Bilfaud Territory."

 

"It doesn't seem like you chose that place for a simple sightseeing trip."

 

The moment Iona answered, Leroy instinctively knew this wasn’t a typical "honeymoon trip."

 

After all, the Bilfaud Territory wasn’t a location suitable for couples seeking a vacation.

 

If she wanted to enjoy the water, the Hortus Coast, famed for its beautiful beaches, would have been a better choice. If she preferred forest bathing, the Tinberg Mountains would be ideal.

 

The Bilfaud Territory, barren and uninviting both as a tourist spot and in terms of distance, was far from an appealing destination.

 

"I have something to confirm there," Iona said, placing her coat on the bed bench.

 

Leroy's gaze briefly fell on the dusty hem of her pants and her boots.

 

Having heard no word from her until late last night, he had assumed she had stayed overnight at the Viscount's estate. However, judging by her appearance and the timing of her return, it seemed she had ridden through the night.

 

The sound of bustling activity came from the bathroom—likely a maid preparing bathwater, as Iona must have instructed her before entering the bedroom.

 

Abandoning his plan to pull Iona into bed, Leroy rose to his feet.

 

"If it’s the Bilfaud Territory, are you planning to meet Duke Ernst?"

 

"I’ll have to see once I get there, but it’s likely to end that way. The Empress hasn’t just been using the Viscount’s estate to move goods. In truth…"

 

"What, is she planning to transport military supplies this time?"

 

Iona's eyes widened slightly at Leroy's sharp question.

 

"How did you know?"

 

"I’ve been investigating the matter myself. I’ve dug up quite a bit from the people who worked under the Viscount. Since you traveled all night, you must be hungry. Let’s eat first, and then we’ll look into it together."

 

With that, Leroy opened the bathroom door.

 

The maid, who had been dissolving salt into the bathwater, quickly stood and bowed.

 

After sending the maid away, Leroy gestured for Iona to enter.

 

Finally, they had an environment suitable for discussing things privately, both officially and personally.

 

Leaning against the bathroom counter, Leroy asked, "So, the Empress has been secretly targeting the Bilfaud Territory?"

 

"…I’m about 90% sure that’s the case."

 

"And the remaining 10%?"

 

"There are always irrational or unexpected situations in the world. That’s the margin for such possibilities."

 

"In other words, there’s no need to give it much thought."

 

Leroy chuckled as he replied.

 

Iona, who had been pulling off her boots, paused with her hands on her shirt.

 

Though she had followed Leroy into the bathroom naturally, the situation of undressing in front of him felt oddly suggestive.

 

Deciding to wait until he left to bathe, Iona stood at attention before him. For now, reporting came first.

 

"During last night’s meeting, I saw the items they plan to deliver next. They looked like old-fashioned bullets, though I can’t be certain. But Bardem isn’t currently at war, nor is there any sign of internal strife. More importantly, they’re not so backward as to require outdated munitions."

 

As Leroy mentally listed the forces near Bardem and Leman, he uttered a name.

 

"But if it’s the Nant Tribe, it might be possible… Is that what you’re thinking?"

 

Leroy quickly grasped why Iona intended to visit the Bilfaud Territory.

 

The Bilfaud Territory, under Duke Ernst’s jurisdiction, frequently suffered raids from the Nant Tribe, who lived near the border.

 

Though they were a mere tribe without a nation, their understanding of the complex terrain and exceptional combat skills compensated for their lack of advanced weaponry.

 

Constant skirmishes left Duke Ernst tied down in the Bilfaud Territory.

 

Iona speculated that this situation was exactly what the Empress intended.

 

"It’s well-known that the Emperor exiled his youngest brother, Archduke Ernst, to the barren Bilfaud Territory out of wariness."

 

"And the Empress, dissatisfied with that, has been inciting the Nant Tribe to continuously threaten the Duke."

 

"The Nant Tribe’s territory borders not just the Bilfaud Territory but also Bardem. They meet the criteria to act as intermediaries."

 

Of course, that probably wasn’t the kind of deal the Archduke would have hoped for.

 

Leroy nodded in understanding.

 

It was certainly an issue significant enough to warrant their personal involvement. There was no more damning political scandal than being caught supporting external forces to attack one’s own nation.

 

The idea of calling it a honeymoon, though… it irked him slightly. It clearly wasn’t about enjoying time together as a couple.

 

‘Well, that all depends on how we approach it.’

 

Leroy was confident he could balance work and romance, even in the Bilfaud Territory. Just like now, accompanying Iona into the bathroom and listening to her report.

 

Straightening from where he had been leaning against the bathroom counter, Leroy slowly approached her.

 

When he reached out cautiously, as he always did, she instinctively allowed herself to lean into him without suspicion.

 

It wasn’t until Leroy began unbuttoning her shirt that a puzzled look crossed her face.

 

Before Iona could raise her hand to stop him, Leroy abruptly asked, "Who showed up at the meeting point? Was it anyone you recognized?"

 

Luckily, the topic seemed serious enough to capture her attention, and Iona’s expression turned grave.

 

Faced with the choice of pushing Leroy away or managing her expression, she unhesitatingly chose the latter.

 

It wasn’t a difficult decision.

 

She couldn’t possibly let Leroy find out that Richard had followed her all the way here.

 

Avoiding Leroy’s gaze, Iona replied, "…I couldn’t tell. Their face was covered, so I didn’t recognize them."

 

The appearance of Richard had greatly influenced Iona’s sudden decision to embark on this so-called honeymoon.

 

She felt the need to relocate somewhere else for the time being to avoid him.

 

‘I can decline the Viscountess’ invitations, but… I can’t refuse a visit from the Crown Prince.’

 

If Richard decided to risk exposing his location and came to the Grand Duchy, there would be no way to avoid him.

 

Iona doubted he would be so reckless, but then again, it didn’t make sense that he had followed her to the Viscount’s estate in the first place.

 

The last thing she wanted was for Leroy and Richard to face each other again.

 

Richard wasn’t exactly a welcome guest to Leroy, nor was he someone who would hold his tongue for the sake of past grievances.

 

If anything, it would be a miracle if they managed to avoid biting at each other with sarcastic remarks.

 

‘Of all things, I never thought I’d trouble my husband with issues involving another man. Life certainly has its twists and turns.’

 

Iona had never considered herself particularly popular with the opposite sex, but ever since returning to the past, she had found herself in many strange situations.

 

Suppressing a sigh, Iona spoke carefully.

 

"I heard their voice during the conversation… but I don’t think it’s anyone I know."

 

"Well, you were never under the Empress’ command, so that makes sense."

 

Leroy’s casual reply sent a pang of guilt through Iona, who had just met with Richard.

 

Fortunately, he didn’t dwell on the topic for long.

 

Not sensing anything suspicious in her response, Leroy swiftly moved on to his next question.

 

"Who do you plan to travel with to the Bilfaud Territory? Have you decided yet?"

 

"No, I haven’t made detailed plans yet."

 

"Will your friend Fin be accompanying you?" Leroy asked, peering into her eyes.

 

Iona, unable to understand why Leroy was so curious about Fin’s whereabouts, replied in a perplexed tone.

 

"No, he’ll be staying here. After all, he has a meeting to attend."

--- End Of The Chapter ----

 

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