The Ugly Wife of the Shady Duke

Should she start with a greeting? Ask if he’s busy? Wish him a good night’s rest?

However, contrary to Grace’s sluggish contemplation, her mouth moved steadfastly.

“…I’m sorry for causing trouble.”

“…”

“I didn’t intend to collapse like that.”

That’s right.

She just wanted to complain a little about her weakness. If she had known she would suffer this much, Grace wouldn’t have even tried.

‘No, did I really not want to?’

Even if that was the only way, would Grace really not choose it? She doubted herself and tightly sealed her lips.

Benjamin looked at Grace with a complex expression.

“It’s not trouble.”

“…But, in reality, it is. I know everyone treats me so considerately, allowing me to do as I please even when I say I want to go out, not even doing household chores…”

Wandering around without purpose, saying that the guards can watch from afar, but she still collapsed like that.

What if she had collapsed among the crowd? What would have happened then? Grace imagined various worst-case scenarios, and her complexion turned pale.

There was no such thing as being a burden.

Benjamin, gripping the windowsill, looked at Grace, who was leaning on it, and spoke.

“…This is about the tea bags you made.”

“Yes?”

“It’s for the orphanage. We decided to purchase them regularly and send them as support supplies to the northern region.”

“….Yes?”

Grace became slightly perplexed by Benjamin’s sudden report.

“Now, they may have become accustomed to dealing with monsters, but it’s always a place filled with danger. We sent luxury goods to boost the morale of the soldiers, but it was difficult to enjoy tea. Thanks to you, their lives have become more enjoyable. Isn’t that fortunate?”

“…That’s a very simple thing. Anyone could have thought of it.”

“But it was My Lady’s idea first. When you really think about it, many things in the world follow simple principles, don’t they?”

“…”

“My Lady is doing such remarkable things outside. Who would dare to stop you? Of course, we should avoid incidents like today.”

Grace knew that Benjamin was praising her to lift her spirits.

Grace believed that if they exclusively sent supplies to the northern region, it would generate substantial, if not immense, profits and the lives of the orphanage would become more abundant.

‘That’s fortunate.’

Feeling pleased about that fact, Grace’s lips curled up slightly. Somewhere, a faint sound of suppressed breathing could be heard.

Grace’s clouded mind cleared up a little at last.

“…Where were you going, Your Highness?”

“I was just on my way back from the gate management office.”

Benjamin answered Grace’s question with a playful tone, and then quickly added, as if he had just remembered.

“It’s not because of you that my work has piled up. Since the last time, it was mentioned that the gate management office needed expansion, so gate maintenance workers and magic tool craftsmen have been coming back and forth for inspections.”

Benjamin explained various gate-related terms that Grace couldn’t understand, eventually struggling and scratching his neck.

Somehow, his ears seemed red.

“…So, today, I was curious if they were all inside for inspections. Since there have been cases where people with a lot of magical power or those who have been exposed to it tend to become confused when they’re close to the magic formula.”

Grace nodded her head, not fully understanding what Benjamin was saying but deciding to go along with it.

Anyway, it seemed like the gate management administration was indeed engaged in gate inspections, just as Grace had thought.

Benjamin, who had been fidgeting with his neck for a while, lowered his hand and hesitated before speaking to her.

“And I know this may be a topic you don’t want to discuss… It’s about the Saintess.”

“The Saintess?”

“Yes, if you allow me, I would like to talk about her.”

Benjamin was asking for Grace’s permission with a very polite attitude.

Grace swallowed her dry saliva and pressed her lips together.

“…Just as friends, I suppose.”

“To be more honest, we are not friends yet. Not yet, that is.”

‘Not yet?’

“A friend is someone you can casually invite to your house without any reservations. Regardless of status. So…”

As Benjamin explained further, he observed Grace’s condition.

Grace’s face was still flushed due to the fever, and the glimmer in her eyes was clearly visible even in the darkness.

“…You’re probably not feeling well, so let’s continue the conversation after you recover.”

“No, I want to hear it.”

“The wind is chilling. If you keep facing the wind, you’ll only worsen your condition.”

Benjamin’s words may have been out of concern for Grace, but from her perspective, it seemed more likely to lead to misunderstandings.