When The Count’s Illegitimate Daughter Gets Married

at the white landscape outside.

“It seemed to have been snowing at night, but it’s already piled up a lot.
Nothing is interesting about it though.
The Capital receives heavy snowfall compared to other regions.” On his other hand was the milk tea that he was drinking.
Ian was working on a large desk.

Oscar was standing in the room that Ian used as his office.
Even in Oscar’s largest castle, sunlight reached particularly well.

But Ian’s appearance didn’t look too well.
His black hair was a few centimeters longer than usual, reaching under his eyes as well.

Oscar smiled awkwardly.

“When are you going to cut your hair?”

Instead of answering back, Ian returned the congratulatory decree.

“Is everything okay here, Your Majesty?”

“You spent more time working than I do.
In that case, I should hand over the throne to you, right?”

In Oscar’s view, Ian was too much focused on his work.

Meanwhile, Ian developed a habit of relating to Laritte no matter what he did.
He recalled Laritte as he watched Oscar’s milk tea.

It had already been a year since he first met Laritte.
Around this time a year ago, he saw the first snowfall from the villa.
Back then, Laritte used to make him milk tea with only milk.

Oscar noticed his gaze lingering on the cup.

“Do you want it, too? The black tea used tastes great.
It refreshes your mind.
It’s always annoying to see the ministers fighting in front of my eyes at meetings.
In the end, I have to scream to keep them quiet.”

Ian shook his head, refusing Oscar’s recommendation.
Realizing his friend’s thoughts, Oscar smiled, a soft frown creasing his eyebrows.

“You’re thinking of the Duchess again.”

“I wasn’t,” Ian flatly rejected his words.

“No, of course not.”

Oscar sat down at Ian’s desk.
He heard Ian as he reviewed one of the reports.
It contained the details of the Duke’s donation to the academy this year.
It wasn’t important, and Ian never reviewed such a subject before.

“Hire some people to share the work.
You’re looking at the documents all by yourself, so you don’t have the time to sleep.”

“It’s done.”

Oscar sighed.
“It’s been months since you came to the castle…….
Are you not going back to being a Duke?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t understand why you don’t leave to see your wife.
You love the Duchess, don’t you?”

Because of Ian’s behavior, countless rumors were circulating in society.
The most popular rumor among them was, Ian had lost his interest in the illegitimate girl.
However, Ian still allocated an astronomical amount of money to Laritte every month.
Eventually, a theory was formulated that the Duchess’ authority was not taken away from Laritte to hide the fact that Ian and Oscar were interested in each other.

Oscar hoped for Ian to return to the mansion.

“Do you want me to start a scandal with a guy like you? Don’t you dare put a stain on the honor of your great Emperor.”

He said it as a joke but flinched when Ian glared at him.
Oscar shunned his gaze and put down the documents.

“……Is the Duchess doing well? Now that I am not a prince anymore, I can’t go directly to the Duchy, and since the Duchess doesn’t attend any social gatherings, I don’t have a chance to see her.”

“I’m sure she’s doing well.” Ian was updated every week about Laritte through the letters from his employees.
Ordinary people might feel bad, but Ian wanted to hear from Laritte that way.

Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Oscar decided it was better to change the subject.

“According to recent reports, the plague seems to have been spreading in the countryside.”

Due to a serious high fever with no cure, people were dying.

“After the ship was anchored at the north of the kingdom, judging from the fact, it is assumed that the endemic disease has been transmitted from there.
The place of origin is close to the Duchy, so you’d better be careful.”

Ian was also aware of it.

But there was nothing he could do.
He had no choice but to hope that the plague would not reach the Duchy.

Even after Oscar left, Ian kept organizing the documents.
Dipping the pen in ink, he went to sign the papers when he was distracted by a sudden quake of the window panels due to the cold winter wind.
His eyes flew towards the window.

“Haa…..”

Was it because he heard about the plague?

He strangely felt nervous all of a sudden.

Laritte would have to be safe.