If I Disobey the Duke

d of her head in embarrassment, but quickly noticed something.

Lily pulled down the blanket and sat back on the bed.
Her fine silver hair was messed up here and there.
She brushed the strands of her hair away from her face.

The bedroom was quiet as the table setting was finished.
Lily reached out her hand and rolled up the curtains.

“Sir Talin, I want to ask you something.”

Even though the room was so quiet that she could even hear the dust rolling, she lowered her voice habitually.

Although Vlad had been teaching her personally over the past few days that what she had believed was a lie.

Her faith, which had become her habit, could not be lost so easily.

She has been married three times.
She felt like a thunderbolt of senses she had never felt before.
Only because of Vlad.

Talin looked a little nervous.

It is said she had witnessed the kidnapping of women from the Isles.
Is she finally…

“About… Marital relationships… I have a question.
W-who may I ask…?”

“…” Talin paused for a moment.

In response to that reaction, Lily remained silent.
Since she never heard of Sir Talin getting married.

What can I ask from an unmarried woman?

“What are you curious about? With the honor of a knight, I will answer in as much detail as possible!” Talin clenched her fists, thinking that the future inside and outside the duchy might rest on her own shoulders.

* * *

“…Did something happen? Lily?” Vlad, standing tall by the bedroom door, frowned slightly.

He looked the same as always.
Neatly brushed black hair and thick eyebrows.
From his features that looked like they were cut with a sharp carving knife and the uniform that looked tailored to every groove of his form.

Despite running around day and night, there was no sign of exhaustion.

Lily was buried in her spacious, velvet-finished chair.
Her legs were still trembling.
“N-nothing happened.
Your work… Are you done?” Her slender fingers were fiddling with her robe over her pajamas.

It was difficult to face him, so she turned her attention to the round wooden table brought in by the servants.

The table was full of plates with domed tin lids.
For breakfast for two, it just looked too much.

“Because the servants come and go throughout the meal, it’s bustling.
They told me they’ll come once but…” Vlad paused as he was washing his hands on the silver tray that the servant had prepared for him at the doorstep.
He pulled his handkerchief out of his inner pocket and turned his head slightly.
“If you don’t like it, I’ll ask them to make it again.”

The dishes just kept piling up.
He might think it was not proper for a lady…

“N-no.
It isn’t that.” Lily fiddled with her hair, braided to one side.
She glanced into his eyes and then turned her gaze back to the table.

Vlad frowned.

It’s a strange reaction…?