If I Disobey the Duke

Sowed (6)

“I thought about it, and it would be good to bring the most skilled artisans to Cadis. Cadis also has a lot of metal-related engineers, so it’ll be good for us.”

Vlad, who had listened quite seriously, nodded slightly. “That’s a great idea. It will be a good opportunity for the residents of Cadis.”

Lily laughed shyly. It was embarrassing to hear his praise, and she felt good. “I’ll have to send someone I can trust to pick up the finest gemstones as well. In the future, I think it would be good to make a route from the mine to this place.”

It would be quite expensive, but in the long run, it would bring tremendous benefits to the Cadis economy. Even if it was a bit of a loss right now, it was well worth the investment.

“If you want to go ahead with it now, do it. I will sign the authorization as soon as I enter the office.”

Although Lily would run the business, the owner was Vlad anyway. In order to pursue what Lily wanted, even formally, his permission was required.

She chuckled at him. “Thank you.”

As they entered the Templar building, they heard loud gunshots. Lily was a little startled, but fortunately, she wasn’t clinging to him as before.

Lily entered the office and approached the window.

The training ground could be seen through the window. As she had seen before, the soldiers were lined up in the rectangular training ground.

Lily put the tip of her nose close to the window. “I think they’re in shooting training.”

“That’s right. Talin is in command today.”

Lily’s eyes widened. She turned to her husband. “Sir Talin?”

“She excels in shooting, and Ivan is the best at horseback riding. If you also want to learn…” He stopped by the door and shut his mouth. He seemed to ponder for a moment, and then he spoke calmly. “Tell me.”

Lily tilted her head. Wasn’t it the correct order to tell Talin and Ivan first?

The question lingered for a while but then disappeared. Perhaps it means that Vlad himself was far superior to the two of them.

He was in a position to direct the two, so it was understandable enough.

Lily turned her back from the window and faced him. “Then, will you teach me how to shoot? You said last time you were developing a gun for me. I’m curious about that too.”

Instead of answering, Vlad bit his mouth. He pondered for a moment.

The Isles condition review was a sit-down job. It couldn’t be compared to weapon training in the windy outdoors.

But Lily wanted it so much…

He muttered slowly, finding a way in his head, “All right. I will teach you how to hold and keep a posture little by little every day in the room. Loading and shooting training is only when you get a little better.”

Then he opened the ivory box he had placed in the corner of the table.

Lily walked up to her table with excitement. As she peered into her box, her eyes widened. “Oh my goodness.” Her eyes sparkled more than when she looked at any dazzling jewel. When she saw something new, she was filled with unique curiosity and excitement. “It’s such a small thing… Is it a gun? I want it to fit in my handbag.”

It was a little over the length of her handspan. It was a structure that continued in a curved line from the barrel to the base, and unlike the previous one, which was metal, it was a firearm that used both wood and metal.

“Due to the reduced size, it only fires up to two feet. The shorter the barrel, the shorter the range… It’s difficult to use on the battlefield, but it’s good enough for self-defense.” Vlad handed the gun to Lily.

She accepted it hesitantly. It had a heavy feeling, but it was definitely easier to lift than the last time.

Looking at his wife, who couldn’t take her eyes off the gun, Vlad rubbed the back of his neck for nothing. He didn’t know she would be so satisfied.

He looked into his wife’s eyes and suggested, “Give it a name. As knights do with swords.”

“I… Like the knights?”

He nodded his head slightly.

Lily averted her gaze to her own gun. Even the awkward feeling of it being wrapped in her hands was thrilling.

A one-of-a-kind thing made just for her.

She looked back at her husband and smiled softly. “Thank you. I always receive so much from you.”

“…”

She wished she could give him something too. After all, everything she had was his, so there was nothing she could do. Lily was a little bitter.

Her hands lost strength. She put the gun back into the ivory box before she dropped it.

As if reading her mind, a hazy light flashed through his gray eyes. He licked his lips as if hesitating to say something, and then lowered his head.

“Lily. I wanted to ask you before.” His low-pitched voice was even more subdued. He looked at the table uncomfortably, his hand trembling. “A child… Would you like to have one?”

Lily held her breath. It was a topic that was hard to believe even after hearing that he was talking about it.

Tension thickened the air. A memory suddenly came to mind.

The sound of his father’s voice cut through his heart.

[What would happen if the duke, who loves you, found out that you were married for his seed?]

It was clear that Vlad had heard that.