The Duke’s Daughter Is the Knight Captain’s (62) Young Wife - Chapter 77

Chapter 77

CHAPTER 77: THE MAN NAMED EDWARD

What a surprise . Why was this person here?
Edward-san who was said to be Wilhelm-sama’s acquaintance .
And the enemy who misunderstood the relationship of Wilhelm-sama and I— a harmoniously engaged couple to anyone who looked—as that of a grandfather and his grandchild .

「C-Carol…so you were home? 」

「Yes . I have just returned, Father」

「I-I see . You must be tired from your work . You should go and have a good rest in your room」

「Yes」

Why was he in so much hurry?
I looked to Edward-san as I wondered . Said person had his eyebrows raised in surprise .

「Huh……You are…Wilhelm-san’s granddaughter, are you not? 」

「I am not」

How offending . How on earth did Wilhelm-sama and I look like a grandfather and grandchild to him?
Seriously, what a rude thing to say!
I must introduce myself as a proper lady and clear up the misunderstanding right here .
Though I was dealing with the enemy, I shall greet him in a courteous manner .

「My name is Carol Ambrose」

「You are……Carol? 」

「The name Carol is not uncommon, but Carol of the Ambrose ducal house is I」

「I see……so…that was it……」

Astonished, Edward-san folded his arms together .
What was the matter with me being Carol? In fact, why did Edward-san know me?
It was then that my father hurriedly stepped in between Edward-san and I .

「A-Anyway……please take your leave first」

「Yes……I intended to do so」

「Carol, return to your room」

「Yes……」

My father was humbling himself for some reason .
My father was the head of our ducal house, and there should only be few people to whom he must humble himself to .
Edward Raul .
Who on earth was he?

「Well then, I shall take my leave for today」

「Y-Yes……my sincerest apologies for my lack of hospitality」

「No, not at all . I will come to visit again . At that time, let me talk to Lady Carol」

「I understand, another time then……」

I did not want to talk to him or anything, though .
But then, my father seemed to have his reasons . Since nothing was interfering for now— .

「Your Highness! I apologize for having kept you waiting! 」

「Oops……it seems my retainer has arrived」

「Well then……」

「Yes, until next time . Carol-chan, see you later」

「Yes……」

With a wink, Edward-san turned his back and left .
As I looked at that retreating back, his identity gradually dawned on me .
The words which Edward-san was addressed with just earlier—Your Highness .
That was a title given to the sons of the royal family . Like with His Highness Rayford El Flarekista, as the son of His Majesty Galius El Flarekista .

「I see……」

His Highness Rayford lost his right to the throne, and it was given instead to the King’s younger brother, Prince Raul . Though I had met Prince Raul several times, I had never met his son .
Yes, Prince Raul .
Edward Raul— .
Judging from the circumstantial evidence, he was undoubtedly the son of Prince Raul .
I did not know why he was so close to Wilhelm-sama, though .

Well, it did not concern me .
I no longer had anything going on with His Highness Rayford, so the royal family and I had nothing to do with each other . Edward-san was probably the new heir to the throne and came to greet my father .
The Ambrose ducal house, with our strong connections to the Empire, was an existence which even the royal family could not ignore .

「Natalia, let us go」

「Yes」

「Then, Father, I will take my leave」

「A-All right……」

Either way, it did not change what I was supposed to do .
I shall quickly return to my room and rest for a while . My job as a lecturer has me standing the whole time, so my feet hurt . It was better to sit down and rest in my room than to stand around here .
I turned away from my father and walked back to my room .
It would be dinner soon . Right after the meal, I would move on to making the documents . Should I hire someone who would only have to make the documents?
Or perhaps I should just let Mary make the documents as her morning work……I thought about it for a moment . But then, the documents were not always exactly the same .
I made a lot of changes on a day’s lecture after deliberating on whether a part was hard to understand or not . So, as much as possible, I should take part in making the documents .

「Fu~u……」

I sat down on the bed in my room .
I could not afford to lie down, after all . My clothes would wrinkle, and I would only grow more tired if I fell asleep shortly before dinner .
And so, I simply sat down . But since my feet were tired, it helped a bit .

「Ojou-sama, would you like something to drink? 」

「No, I am fine . It is almost dinner anyway」

「I understand」

I am grateful for Natalia’s concern .
But if I drink something now, I might not be able to each much dinner . I would have to make the documents until late at night, so I must properly eat .
So, I simply sat down . Sat down and rested .
A part of that was chatting with Natalia .

「Is Natalia taking the day off the day after tomorrow? 」

「Yes, that is the plan . If you wish for me to report for work, I shall set it aside」

「No, it is fine . Well then, who shall I have as an escort for that day……? 」

「That…is true……」

Wilhelm-sama took care of me and always sent two knights to escort me in Natalia’s absence .
But I was hesitant to expressly ask the same of Captain Anastasia . Every day, like with Lymrill-san today, knights would be sent to escort me back home but not on the way to the garrison .
Not to mention, there was the previous case with Robert, so going out alone was not an option . Taking along Richard was also not an option .
All that was left was Mary……but I do not think that girl could fight .

「I thought of someone, Ojou-sama . I shall make the arrangement」

「Would they be all right? 」

「Yes, they are skilled . I believe they would be willing to accept if we ask」

「Then, that is great」

If Natalia said so, then I would not be kidnapped by people like those who followed Robert did .
All that was left was to take Mary along as my assistant during the lecture, and then there would be no problems .
A knock sounded at my room’s door .

「Ojou-sama, please excuse me」

「Yes, Mary」

「Dinner has been prepared . Please come to the dining room」

「Yes, I am heading down」

I rose from the bed and walked to the dining room, with Mary in front and Natalia behind me .
To Mary who led the way, I gave my instructions .

「We will work after dinner today as well, so please come」

「Yes, Ojou-sama」

And so, it was time to eat in the dining room .
That was how my daily life went on, still without much of a change— .