Chapter 213

“What was that? Was I the only one whose heart fluttered just now? Am I the only one whose heart is racing?”

“No, me too…”

“Don’t you think Madam looks more beautiful today for some reason?”

“My thoughts exactly. Of course, she’s always beautiful, but…”

The maids glanced back towards where they came from.

“The duke must be happy…”

“What’s the point in us being envious? Let’s hurry up and get our work done.”

“Yeah, all right.”

The maids scrambled out of the corridor, tightly gripping the laundry so that it wouldn’t fall out.

‘The world is a beautiful place,’ Yelena thought as she looked out the window.

The sun was shining and the crops were thriving. It was a scene she saw every day, but it was particularly magnificent today.

‘I’ve been living in such a beautiful world.’

Yelena, who was looking outside with a mellow gaze, shifted her gaze slightly downward. She recalled the conversation she had with her husband the previous night in the bedroom.

‘I’ll wait 1 year… No, I’ll wait until the end of the year,’ Yelena calculated how much time she had.

The invasion of the demons was 19 years into the future. If Yelena gave birth to the warrior within the next year, the child would be an adult by the time the demons invaded.

‘If he’s an adult by then, he’ll have no problem at all using the Holy Sword to slay the Demon King.’

Yelena rested her chin on her palm, eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“I hope next year will come soon.”

Even a day sooner.

Yelena was already getting anxious. For some reason, this year felt like it was going by incredibly slowly.

“Can’t I use magic to make time go by faster… Probably not, even if I pester Black Tower Owner…” Yelena thought nonsensically by the window. She suddenly blinked.

‘Come to think of it, I don’t feel tired.’

Yelena had fallen asleep very late last night. Her heart had been racing at the thought of the kisses she had shared with her husband, so it was hard for her to fall asleep.

‘But I woke up in the morning feeling super light…’

She had definitely slept less than usual, but her limbs actually felt lighter and she was full of energy. Her eyes were bright and her head was clear.

‘Was I just imagining it? No, it was too…’

Yelena tilted her head.

Then, Merry approached and called out to her. “Madam.”

“Mhm?”

“Sigh, I don’t know how to tell you this…” Merry trailed off with a grimace.

Yelena took a step away from the window and furrowed her brow.

“What’s wrong? What’s the matter?”

“He’s back.”

“He’s back?”

“The marquess,” Merry whispered. She scowled as if she had seen a weed that kept growing back no matter how many times she pulled it out. “He’s at the gate.”

“…Aha.”

“Shall we throw stones at him to chase him out? I happened to see some adequately-sized rocks in the garden…”

“Goodness, no. Must we really chase him out?”

“I beg your pardon?”

Merry stared at Yelena as if the latter had said something strange.

“Bring him to the parlor,” Yelena replied in a relaxed voice.

***

“…I had no idea you would let me in like this.”

Marquess Marco sat in the parlor with an awkward look on his face, eyes shifty. He had made his way to the castle, but he hadn’t expected Yelena to actually meet him.

Yelena put her teacup down in a calm manner.

“It would be a discourtesy if I left a guest who came all the way here outside.”

‘Didn’t you leave me outside yesterday?’

“Sending you back without inviting you in for a cup of tea would be poor etiquette.”

‘You sent me back without tea yesterday though.’

Marquess Marco’s pupils shook like a ship in a storm. He fiddled with his teacup and carefully gauged Yelena’s mood.

‘I might be wrong, but I think something really great must have happened to her last night.’

He was right. Yelena looked at him with warm eyes.

‘I commend you.’

In Yelena’s eyes, Marquess Marco was no different from Cupid.

‘Thanks to you, I got to see my husband get jealous, and…’

“I want to kiss you.”

Yelena’s tone and demeanor was gentle beyond comparison to how she was the previous day.

“So, what brings you to the ducal castle today? Have you come to see me?”

Marquess Marco couldn’t get used to Yelena’s tender demeanor. He rushed to reply.

“Ah, yes. It’s nothing other than… Do you happen to have any beautiful male relatives whom you can introduce me to?”