Chapter 87

The Grand Duchy of Epherne, Arblis.

One of the few breadbaskets of the Grastea Empire.

And the master of this fertile land was none other than the Second Prince—the Grand Duke of Epherne.

But he rarely mingled with other royals or nobles, and was said to live like an idle aristocrat, leaving the management of his territory entirely to his vassal, Baron Cleman.

He seldom appeared at official functions and was notoriously reclusive, so only a handful of people even knew what the Grand Duke looked like.

‘Which is probably why Kabil—heir to such a powerful house and all—didn’t recognize his face.’

Lycian’s face practically shimmered as he smiled brightly at me.

S-so dazzling….

Was this what they meant by beauty that glowed on its own?

‘It’s a face you’d never forget after seeing it once.’

Just how much of a layabout had he been living as, for both Kabil and Raul to fail to recognize him?

“Huh—what is this?! Where are we?!”

“W-What just happened?”

“I thought someone cast a teleportation spell, but….”

Meanwhile, the people who had rushed out of the guild branch looked around in utter shock.

I was about to open my mouth to explain, but Dante spoke first.

“No need to panic. The entire building was simply relocated. We’re still within the Grastea Empire.”

“Huh? Then… wait. That castle over there….”

Daphne’s eyes widened when she spotted the white fortress perched on the distant high ground.

“The Grand Duke of Epherne’s castle?”

“…And its master is standing right here. Show some proper respect.”

At Dante’s introduction, everyone except Nikke and Mikhail stood there with their mouths hanging open.

“…I figured as much, but to think he’s really someone this incredible.”

Lucas nodded blankly at Daphne’s mutter.

“Lycian oppa! You’re really important!”

Nikke, rather than looking shocked, simply marveled in pure admiration.

And Mikhail—

“…I’ve seen his face before. I already knew.”

He murmured calmly, without the slightest trace of surprise or awe.

“What? You’ve seen him before? When?”

When Allen asked, Mikhail scratched his cheek awkwardly.

“About ten years ago. Back then… no, never mind. Let’s leave it at that.”

“What? What is it? Tell us too!”

Daphne pressed him, but Mikhail sealed his lips and said nothing more.

Watching silently, a question surfaced in my mind.

‘Lycian and Mikhail have met before?’

I cast Lycian a subtle sidelong glance, wondering if I could hear more—

But he wore nothing but a sharp, almost feral smile. He didn’t look like he intended to explain.

Leaving the mystery behind, we headed toward the white ancient castle in the distance.

They said the fortress had stood there for a thousand years, unchanged.

Its master had changed several times over generations, but one fact remained constant—it had always belonged to imperial blood.

Lycian and I walked side by side at the very front, along the uphill path paved neatly with pale gray bricks.

In truth, Lycian was matching his pace to mine. I felt both grateful and guilty.

‘I’ve built up some stamina, but I’m still weak… this useless body….’

I let out a small sigh when Daphne’s voice floated up from behind us, filled with awe.

“Wow…. I’ve never been somewhere like this.”

“It’s a thousand years old—how is it so clean? Do they maintain it with magic?”

“Right. It’s sustained by magic. The living power source is standing right here, isn’t he?”

Dante answered Tierra’s question. The “living power source,” of course, meant Lycian.

Walking beside me, he glanced at the eight people following us and promptly lost interest.

But when it came to me, he looked over almost every three seconds, repeating the same question tirelessly.

“Muriel, are you tired?”

“I’m fine. For now….”

“If you are, tell me. I’ll carry you.”

“P-People are watching—don’t embarrass me…!”

“Embarrassed? At this point?”

After repeating some variation of that exchange more than five times and walking for about ten minutes—

The castle entrance finally came into view.

‘Wow, finally….’

Just a little farther…!

But by then, I was completely exhausted. Of all things, it had to be uphill—might as well have been a hiking trail.

With stamina as trash-tier as mine, this was pushing it.

In the end, I surrendered and tugged lightly at Lycian’s hand.

“I….”

“Mm? Want me to carry you?”

I hadn’t even finished my sentence before he hit the mark.

My face burned with embarrassment. I averted my eyes, mumbling.

“Y-yeah….”

“Alright. Come here.”

Lycian immediately bent his knees and crouched.

Trying very hard not to imagine the expressions on the people behind us, I carefully climbed onto his back.

If only I had the kind of shameless personality that could handle this without dying inside.

Still, thanks to riding on Lycian’s back, I made it comfortably to the castle gates.

The problem came after that.

“Who—huh?! Your Grace?!”

“Y-Your Grace!”

“It really is His Grace!”

“His Grace has returned!”

The guards stationed at the gates recognized Lycian and erupted into chaos—only to freeze when they noticed me on his back.

Then the questions bloomed across their faces.

‘What…?’

‘Who is she?’

‘Why is she on His Grace’s back? How? Why?!’

At this point, I wanted to crawl into a mouse hole and disappear.

Out of sight, I pounded my fists lightly against Lycian’s back and whispered urgently.

“Lycian, put me down! I’ll walk from here.”

But he remained silent.

“Lycian…! Put me down!”

“…….”

“I said put me down. Can’t you hear me?”

“…….”

“Hey! Are you seriously ignoring me?”

“…….”

No matter how many times I said it—ten times, at least—he didn’t even pretend to listen.

He strode straight through the open gates and snapped sharply at the guards.

“Stop making a fuss. You’re loud.”

“Y-Your Grace….”

“We’re just so relieved you returned safely…!”

The guards were clearly dying to know who I was, but under the glare of their temperamental lord, they dared not ask.

Head lowered, teeth clenched, I finally growled in what I hoped was a threatening voice.

“I’ve told you over ten ti—”

Lycian ignored me effortlessly.

“Just stay there. Your legs hurt.”

“They don’t! What am I, a newborn? It’s embarrassing for people to see me like this!”

“Not a newborn, no. But you are as weak as one, aren’t you?”

“That’s an exaggeration!”

I felt strange looks raining down on the two of us as we bickered.

I flinched and quickly shut my mouth, burying my face in his shoulder.

‘Damn it, you wicked fox!’

His laugh, far too pleased with himself, tickled my ear.

---

Baron Arthur Cleman, vassal to the Grand Duke of Epherne, looked gentle and kind at first glance.

‘He looks like one of those sincere, mild-mannered middle-aged men who do regular volunteer work….’

He had rushed out barefoot from the main building—one shoe missing—and the moment he saw Lycian, tears poured down his face.

He sobbed so miserably that the handkerchief in his right hand was already soaked.

“Y-Your Grace…! You’ve finally return—kh, h-hic—!”

In contrast, Lycian behaved like an emotionless tin robot.

“Stop crying. The territory?”

“Of-of course, everything is running smoothly! You may rest assured…!”

“Good. Keep it that way.”

“W-Wait, Your Grace! Since you’ve returned after so long, you must review the accumulated documents!”

“You can handle it yourself, Baron. Why drag me into it?”

“But! There are matters that require Your Grace’s personal confirmation…!”

Even as he sniffled, Baron Cleman kept stealing glances at me, and despite Lycian’s coldness, he said everything that needed to be said.

It was clear why territorial management fell under his charge.

‘He looks soft-hearted, but he’s firm when it comes to work!’

Still carrying me, Lycian let out a sigh.

“Fine. Bring them to my office.”

“Y-Yes! Thank you, Your Grace!”

‘Is that something to be thankful for…?’

Isn’t that just part of being a lord?

I lifted my head slightly and shot Lycian a covert glare.

This brat was an absolute menace.

“Um, Y-Your Grace…. I understand the people following you, but… the lady you’re carrying…?”

Baron Cleman asked cautiously, gauging Lycian’s mood.

Lycian glanced at him once and replied, as calmly as if stating an unquestionable truth of the universe—

“My wife.”