A Way to Confirm Your Husband’s True Feelings - Chapter 2
It had already been ten months since the youngest daughter of the Duchy of Estern and the newly risen nobleman, the Margrave of Valentin, held their grand wedding.
The seasons had passed, the year had changed, and the imperial high society was now anticipating the start of a new season.
Since Beatrice and Caesar had first met at last year’s New Year’s banquet, it had now been exactly one year since their fateful encounter.
The New Year’s banquet, which marked the beginning of the social season, was an event where all the nobles of the empire gathered to pay their respects to the imperial family and exchange greetings with other houses. Naturally, the Margrave and Margravine of Valentin had also set off for the capital a month ago.
They had enjoyed their newlywed life together in their estate for quite some time. While the New Year’s banquet itself was an important event, Beatrice was especially looking forward to this trip to the capital because she would get to see her family after so long.
Due to Caesar’s position as a border lord, they couldn’t travel to the capital every season. However, for the first year of their marriage, he had promised to accompany her, making this journey all the more enjoyable.
What’s more, Caesar had gone as far as to purchase a townhouse in the very heart of the capital for this season.
Beatrice already had a mansion in the capital that she had inherited from her father, and she owned three villas under her own name.
But Caesar had insisted that a husband should gift at least one estate to his wife, and in the end, he handed her the completed contract for the property himself.
Thus, with all their preparations for the season smoothly completed, the couple arrived in the capital yesterday.
Caesar, ever considerate of Beatrice, had chosen only the safest and most comfortable routes, which slightly delayed their arrival by a few days. What awaited them upon reaching the capital was a summons from the emperor, instructing them to present themselves at the palace today.
“What could be so urgent that the emperor is summoning the provincial lords in such haste?”
Muttering lightly about the emperor, whom she had known since childhood and regarded as an elder of sorts, Beatrice stepped into the bedchamber she shared with her husband.
If the audience and the following meetings dragged on, Caesar might not return until late at night.
Wondering how she should spend her time until then, Beatrice’s gaze suddenly landed on a handkerchief sitting atop the bedside table—a man’s handkerchief, embroidered by her own hand not long after their wedding.
It was a small, simple gift, something that could easily have been overlooked, but Caesar had held it in his hands for a long while, wearing an unreadable expression. After murmuring a quiet thanks in his deep voice, he had taken it with him every time he went out ever since.
Judging by how it had never once gotten dirty, he didn’t seem to actually use it. But the sight of him carrying something she had gifted him, keeping it close to him, made her heart warm.
It seemed that today, just before leaving, he had reached for it as usual, only to forget to take it with him.
‘If he hasn’t left through the front gate yet… I could bring it to him, couldn’t I?’
Forgetting the handkerchief wasn’t anything serious, but the pale fabric sitting there by itself looked strangely forlorn. Besides, this was a good excuse to see her husband’s face one more time—there was no reason to pass up the opportunity.
Beatrice didn’t think twice before stepping out of the room. It was a small matter that she could have easily left to a maid, but the thought hadn’t even crossed her mind in her eagerness.
Surely, when he saw her suddenly appear again, Caesar would greet her with a delighted smile.
When she asked a passing servant, she learned that Caesar had left through the front entrance and was now behind the mansion, where the horses had been prepared.
Beatrice, looking forward to seeing her husband once more, quietly made her way there—only to overhear an unexpected conversation.
“—So, does the world really look different after getting married? Come on, answer me, Commander!”
It was a familiar voice. The one speaking in such a casual tone, addressing her husband by his old title, was none other than Dillon Schultz, one of Valentin’s knights.
Sir Schultz had been by Caesar’s side since the very beginning, back when he first formed his mercenary band. He was one of the few trusted aides her husband had.
He was also a rather straightforward man.
While Beatrice was momentarily pleased to hear his voice, she soon found herself unconsciously halting her steps as she listened to the conversation that followed.
