MY lord husband always praises me for my athleticism, and lately I can even wield human magic without a nosebleed. I try to imitate his movements when he spars with the guards every morning, and I think I’ve gotten good at that too.
Of course, I tire easily because my body as Abigail is still quite weak. That’s why I can’t join the military as a soldier, he says. Maybe sometime in the future, but not currently.
I figured I’d be fine if I joined as a healer, because Wendy is weak as well. I don’t have as many arms and legs as when I was Monster King but I’m still stronger than her. If I can learn healing magic, I’ll surely be able to follow my lord husband. Or so I thought.
“I’m ten centimeters away… I won’t be able to gain that until next year, probably…” I murmur sadly, gripping the socks in my hands.
My lord husband is facing away from me, one hand to his mouth. After a moment, he turns back and gently pries my fingers open. He smooths out the socks before placing them on the table, then wraps his arms around me, engulfing me in a hug. I lean back against him. He feels so sturdy and perfect.
“You’ll protect our home as the viscountess while I’m away on assignment, okay?”
“Of course! I’ll do it perfectly! But that’s not the problem!”
He chuckles. “No, it’s not. I don’t like leaving without you either.”
“…But it’s your job, so you can’t help it.”
“Exactly. My wife is so understanding.”
A soft sensation feathers the top of my head and I know he is kissing me.
Why didn’t I think to join him on last year’s assignment? He was just as kind, always giving me the first strawberry, so maybe the reason is that he didn’t kiss me as often back then. Though he sometimes patted my head, he never held me unless I developed a stomachache and he had to carry me to bed, which wasn’t often. What changed?
He twirls a lock of my hair around a finger, releases it, twirls it again. “There’s a village in Longhurst. The one you pointed out this morning. It’s not on any map, and I received a letter from the fourth prince today saying it’s the hometown of both your birth mother and stepmother… It’s also the hometown of the former earl’s assistant.”
“I guess so. I’d heard that the earl’s family had a connection to that village.”
“I see. You don’t sound very interested to hear more.”
“No.”
“The assistant held a noble title he bought with money. Your birth mother’s family was the same, acquiring the title of baronet several generations ago. It must have been a way for them to forge closer ties with the earldom, and I think they kept their hometown a secret because of its association with the Monster King.”
“I knew the village was unmarked, but it didn’t bother me. I didn’t know it was purposefully hidden.” I assisted the earl with documents and paperwork. He and his assistant were the ones who actually interacted with locals and communicated with other territories and merchants. I spoke to no one and, since I knew everything I wanted to know, didn’t trouble with much else.
And that was before my lord husband and Tabitha taught me how fun secrets can be. I didn’t know that when I worked for the earl. Maybe he enjoyed keeping them to himself.
I rise from my seat on the carpet between my lord husband’s legs and climb into his lap. I nuzzle my cheek against him, basking in his warmth.
“The Drewett staff and I have each researched Longhurst and found no record of that village. That means they’ve been hiding it very carefully. Your stepmother, Brianna, the former countess of Longhurst, disappeared after the family’s ruin, so there’s a chance she could have returned there.”
“Yes.”
“Most of the villagers have come to the administrative manor to escape the floods, and Brianna was not among the refugees. There are rumors that she separated from the group while they were heading into the city… Abby?” He holds my face in his hands and gazes into my eyes. I do the same. “I’ll be leaving all the guards with you. I doubt this will happen, but should Brianna make her way here, please don’t grant her an audience… And while I’m away, will you stay indoors and protect our home?”
“Can I go into the garden?”
“Yes, as long as the guards are with you.”
“That’s what we’ve always done! Leave it to me!”
He laughs before heaving a sigh. “I really don’t want to go…”
“But work is important.”
“Yes… Oh, Ethan is strong too, so if there’s an emergency, make sure you hide behind him.”
“Ethan is strong?!”
“When I was a kid, he was the one who taught me the basics of swordsmanship.”
Unbelievable! I didn’t know that! Maybe he’ll instruct me in secret if I ask nicely.
“You’re thinking of asking him to teach you, aren’t you? He specializes in concealed weaponr—”
I press a swift kiss to his pouting lips.
I’ve learned kisses help before a request!