Chapter 12 - Honourifics

In the Eastern Lands, there was no norm for husbands to speak respectfully to their wives or to address them with honorifics. The only time men would speak respectfully and use honorifics towards women was when the woman in question was clearly of older age or station.

However, in the Western lands, it was common for husband and wife to mutually respect and address each other with honorifics. The custom of using honorifics prevailed regardless of class. Amber’s parents, Viscount Liart and his wife referred to each other with honorifics as well.

For Amber, who was raised with such values, it was difficult for her to adapt to how her husband neglected such propriety and values with her. Every time he addressed her without a title, she felt an overwhelming sense of being in a position of lower stature.

Thinking that it’s an obvious thing for husband and wife to call each other by honorifics since she was young, it was difficult for her to adapt to how her husband was not using honorifics with her. And every time he called her without honorifics, she felt an overwhelming sense of being someone simply of lower stature than him.

‘I have no desire to feel like that anymore. Besides, if my husband were to address me respectfully, the one below him would naturally do the same.’

No matter how much Kalix respected Amber, if he were to acquire a mistress without ever coming to her bedchamber, her position of respect within the castle walls would naturally fall. If Kalix were to address her with honorifics, however, even if he were to leave his position vacant, there wouldn’t be many who would treat her unfairly.

Though the necessity of using her husband to make the people around her respect her saddened her, there was no way to deny the effectiveness of such a ploy.

Amber let out a sigh as she stared at the candle that had nearly burnt out.

Kalix had been silent for a while.

‘Yeah, I knew he wouldn’t give in so easily.’ Amber wasn’t disappointed by how he wasn’t willing to accept her request.

Kalix was a true Easterner who had been born and raised with its customs. He was probably just barely holding his anger back. Any other Eastern-born man would have already jumped up from their seat to yell at her for speaking such nonsense.

Right as Amber was thinking so…

“If that is what you want, then fine. I mean, I will do so madam.”

“If that is what you want, then fine. I mean, I will do so, madam.”

“Excuse me?” It was Amber who was surprised this time. Her eyes widened, unable to believe what she had just heard as her red lips parted.

“Is there something wrong?” Kalix asked as he frowned slightly, but Amber couldn’t answer him. She was so stunned that she couldn’t say anything.

‘So easily?’

It was such a quick and easy surrender that she felt ashamed for the worry and anxiety she felt over the request.

Kalix truly didn’t seem to be at all against her request for courtesy.

“Is that all that you require, Madam?”

Only when Kalix questioned her after a period of stunned silence was Amber able to come back to her senses.

“For now, that’s all I need,” Amber answered with a labored, calm tone of voice. ‘This is a good thing. I thought we’d argue for a while over this.’

She comforted herself, trying to adapt to the situation. It wasn’t like it was a bad thing, after all. To have him speak respectfully to her from now on was a very beneficial thing for her.

“Then I will be taking my leave. The knights are waiting for me,” Kalix blew out the flickering flame on the candle.

As he stepped out of the drill hall, the knights that were waiting inside the castle stepped out and greeted Amber and Kalix. Grace stood amongst the knights as well.

Grace couldn’t hide her giddiness as she looked back and forth between Amber and Kalix. Realizing that the mood between the two was quite awkward, she smiled. ‘Of course. I’m sure she must have been harshly scolded by the Duke.’

The fact that Kalix’s expression looked uncomfortable weighed on her mind, but Grace thought that it would be fine if Amber’s confidence could be destroyed here, even if the Duke wasn’t happy.

“Your Excellency, I shall lead Lady Amber back to her chamber,” Grace moved in from between the knights and lowered her head in front of Kalix. “I have given word to Your Excellency’s esteemed mother and she shall be seeing the knights off as they leave for battle in official capacity instead.”