If You Wish For A Married Couple’s Duties - Chapter 12
Episode 12. The Naughty Prince (1)
***
“What’s going on?”
“That, that…”
The servant, who had been catching his breath for a while, continued speaking with a bewildered face as if announcing the invasion of the enemy.
“His Highness, the Fourth Prince, is coming.”
At the arrival announcement of the Fourth Prince, the faces of the attendants gathered in the dining room became pale.
As if they’ve heard something they’d rather not have heard.
Who was the 4th Prince?
Dooha tilted her head slightly and looked at the Duke.
Leonhart, with his brows furrowed deeply, was also unhappy with the news of the prince’s visit.
It seemed to be the visit of a person who didn’t get along with Esbaden.
***
“He’s a total mess.”
That evening, Dooha’s eyes narrowed, like she was looking at something in the air, when she heard those words.
“He is a mess?”
Layla quickly spoke, as she stopped sewing and turned to look at her master.
“Yes. I asked the maids who work here… the Fourth Prince seems to be very famous. That b*stard.”
The Fourth Prince, Justin Von Bentrum, was a 23 year old young man who was famous for his ferocious temper, which contrasted his attractive appearance that resembled his mother’s.
A b*stard who enjoyed killing animals for no reason, torturing his servants, and drinking and gambling.
Such was the public’s opinion of the Fourth Prince, Justin.
“How could such a person come to the Duke’s residence?”
“I heard he’s quite close to the Duke.”
Dooha raised her eyebrows as she recalled the Duke’s face she had seen at lunch.
No matter how much she looked at him, his face didn’t seem to be welcoming of the visit of someone he’s supposed to be ‘quite close’ with.
“Even so, he is second in line to the throne. Isn’t that why the Duke is friendly with such an idiot?”
“He has a high rank for the Fourth Prince.”
“It was lucky for him that all three of his older brothers died. Thanks to that, I heard that the Princess, who is first in line for the succession to the throne, is his enemy.”
Lucky for him indeed, an arrogant prince who had risen in rank without any effort.
When Dooha heard about the man, she didn’t want to face such a man ever in her life.
“The maid said he was coming to congratulate the Duke and his wife on their marriage.”
“The Prince himself? He doesn’t have to do that.”
Since it was a political marriage for an alliance, it was the Duchess who had to go to the Imperial Palace to greet the emperor.
It was still not too late to greet him, but it was strange that the Prince was personally coming to a place that was near the border.
“It is said that the support of the Duke is important for the succession to the throne. Is it because he’s the leader and head of the nobility guarding the frontier? I didn’t know that the Duke is such an important person.”
Layla felt worried for her precious master and grumbled over and over again that she didn’t like the Duke’s harsh treatment of her master.
“What’s the big deal about the Duke? My princess is recognized by all of Bashal-”
“Layla, did you find out more about the Fourth Prince?”
“Um, yes! They said he was very pathetic as a lover.”
“A lover?”
“Yes. After his first wife died in an accident, he had a second wife, but she also died in an accident, and so he has been single ever since.”
A man of integrity was a scoundrel.
This was incredibly humbling for his character.
“He seems nice, but he also seems to have a rough temper and a specific type in ladies. He’s violent, especially in terms of romance… It’s funny, isn’t it?”
It wasn’t very valuable information, but Dooha nodded her head in satisfaction and stood up.
“Yeah. Now that I know what type of person he is, I need to get ready.”
“Get ready? What are you getting ready for?”
“What am I getting ready for? Of course, to meet His Highness, the Prince.”
No matter how foolish he was, the prince was a prince.
It is said that if the prince of the Empire traveled somewhere to celebrate a marriage, the receiving side should prepare accordingly.
“Lyla, call over the head maid. We should ask how to entertain our guests according to the Empire’s standards.”
***
“I don’t want you to leave the bedroom tomorrow.”
Dooha slowly blinked her eyes at her husband’s incomprehensible words.
After thinking for a while, she slowly opened her mouth.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You don’t have to come out of this room tomorrow.”
“But tomorrow is the day the Fourth Prince will come, right?”
She had been preparing to greet guests for 15 days, learning one-on-one with the maid. She was afraid that she might dampen the mood of the fourth prince, who was well-known for his temper.
She even studied harder about the imperial culture and imperial etiquette in order to prevent her being from Bashal to be considered a weakness.
But now he was telling her to not come out of the room on the day the guest comes?
It was completely incomprehensible.
Meanwhile, Leonhart, who called her to his study, repeated the same words over and over again with his usual cold face.
“I told you, don’t come out tomorrow.”
“So why do I have to do that…?”
“I wouldn’t be in a position to convince him.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“That you are no longer a princess, but my wife.”
Dooha’s cheeks instantly reddened when he clarified the subject.
She couldn’t think of anything to say back to him and felt incompetent for the first time in a very long time.
Leonhart continued talking, his gaze fixed on the papers as if he didn’t care about her feelings.
“I’ll tell the Crown Prince that you are sick, so don’t leave your room tomorrow.”
“I am fine.”
“Don’t worry. You don’t have to be fine tomorrow.”
“…Is it because I’m from Bashal? Is it because you’re embarrassed to be with me in front of the royal family?”
Leonhart finally raised his head at the voice that had subsided.
He said dryly, whilst looking at his wife with emotionless blue eyes,
“Our marriage was directly organized by His Majesty, the Emperor. Why should I be ashamed to stand before the imperial family with you?”
“Then, what are you thinking while telling me to do so?”
“You don’t need to know what I’m thinking, do you?”
“That’s true. But, I need to know what you’re thinking while giving such an unjust order.”
“I would say that there was no reason good enough to convince you.”
“No, you will have to convince me.”
Dooha continued with a voice filled with anger.
“Is it because I am not suited to be the ‘duchess’, although I have had been preparing for this day for a long time?”
She didn’t want all of her hard work and effort, especially as she devoted entire days for this one day, to be in vain because of his single order.
Although she didn’t want to be a Duchess, it was nonetheless her first task since she ascended to the position of Duchess.
It was unimaginable for Dooha to give up in such a position.
However, Leonhart also seemed to have no intention of changing his mind.
He looked at Dooha for a long time before simply uttering the same words as before.
“Tomorrow, I hope we won’t see each other face to face.”
“…You’re very unpleasant.”
Dooha left his study with a cold face, having had nothing more to say.
Unlike a while ago, the gaze of the Duke following Dooha’s back was somewhat dizzy.
Seemingly representing his complicated feelings.
***
The day the Fourth Prince was supposed to come has come.
The Duchy of Esbaden had been busy since dawn to welcome the royal guests.
However, amidst the busyness, there was a lot of clutter and gossip going around the servants.
This was probably because the duchess, who had been instructing around the castle for today, did not even show her face.
Instead, it was Sylvia, the maid, who filled the Duchess’ vacancy.
“The congratulatory delegation is coming, so prepare more food so that we don’t run out.”
“Yes, head maid.”
“When the Fourth Prince arrives, I will take care of him myself. Maids who are still clumsy with their work should never show up before him. Do you understand?”
The Fourth Prince, Justin, was a ticking time bomb that could explode when he was even the tiniest bit annoyed.
The reason why the head maid was to attend to him directly was to prevent the inexperienced maids from making mistakes in front of him.
“His Highness is arriving!”
At the moment an attendant announced the arrival of the Fourth Prince, the servants of the ducal family, including Sylvia, gathered in two rows in the lobby.
Meanwhile, the Duke of Esbaden, while dressed in uniform, stood tall.
Finally, the door opened, and a man entered with a cheerful walk.
“Wow, how long has it been?”
The cheerful man with dark scarlet hair and light brown eyes smiled brightly at the Duke.
“How have you been?”
“I greet you, Your Highness, the Fourth Prince.”
“Oh my gosh, you’re acting so uncomfortable again. Take it easy, take it easy! Between us…”
Justin, the man who was the Fourth Prince, put his hand on the Duke’s shoulder without any hesitation.
Duke Leonhart’s expression was slightly distorted, but Justin continued to smile, not caring at all.
“The Duke is the savior of my life, isn’t he?”
Leonhart paused for a moment when he called him his savior, and soon changed his words, gently pulling his shoulder away from the prince’s hand.
“I prepared dinner for you. Let’s move.”
“Oh, yeah. Just in time, I was getting hungry. But…”
Justin looked around as he pat his empty stomach.
“Where is the new Duchess?”
The fierce eyes of the Duke standing taller than the Prince bent in half, unpleased.
“As there were talks of marriage between us first, I’d like to say hello.”
