I’ve Probably Made a Mistake in Getting Married

Chapter 36. I can’t understand.

(Three days before the gathering.)

“The biggest threat of this meeting is Balhail. There is no way he would miss such a good opportunity.”

Pavel advised Altair with all seriousness. However, Altair only focused on reviewing the paperwork nonchalantly, as if he had not listened to a single word Pavel had said.

“My lord.”

Frustrated, Pavel urged with a sigh, only then did Altair put the papers down and looked at him.

“I know. He’s good at dirty tricks, so he certainly won’t miss this good opportunity.”

“And you are this carefree despite knowing that? There’s no way my lord will be threatened by Balhail, but the madame has lived a peaceful life, it would be difficult for her to deal with it.”

At Pavel’s words, Altair leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms, and, squinted his eyes, scanning him up and down.

“Now that I see it, you’re only worried about Nadia but not me?”

“Anyone from Aylesford would be the same. Who cares about the lord?”

Altair was strong. The people of Aylesford all knew that better than anyone. It was also their pride. The fact that they had a lord who was stronger than anyone else as their owner allowed them to live with ease. Even so, Altair let out a snort.

“…There is someone that worries about me.”

This time Pavel narrowed his eyes, as the way he spoke was ostentatious.

“Are you talking about the madame?”

“…”

“That’s because the madame hasn’t seen the lord fighting the beasts.”

“…I will never show her anything like that.”

Altair grumbled and nervously brought the next document in front of him.

“And if my memory serves me right, when I intended to go catch the dragon, didn’t you whine about how dangerous it was and insisted that I shouldn’t go?”

“…I didn’t whine.”

When Pavel protested in a mumble and avoided Altair’s gaze, a wry smile appeared on Altair’s face.

“Oh? Then who ran to Nadia and told her about the dragon hunt request?”

“That’s-…well…”

Embarrassed, Pavel cleared his throat and hurriedly changed the subject.

“Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that we have to come up with measures for Balhail. He’s the one who aimed at the madame on the day of the wedding, so he’ll definitely make a move this time too.”

“Of course he will.”

Altair responded calmly and signed the paper. The sight made Pavel’s eyes spark.

“You… have already come up with a plan, haven’t you?”

“Balhail has been active in social activities for a long time, so he has many allies. The easterns have a tight grip, so if we mess with him recklessly, it could actually get us into trouble. So this meeting is an opportunity.”

“This gathering is actually an opportunity, you say?”

“Yes. Because outsiders are attending.”

“By an outsider, you mean…”

There was only one person. The third Prince Orca! Pavel, who came to realise this, widened his eyes in surprise.

“The prince… You want to use him?”

“Exactly.”

“The person in question would be quite upset if he found out about it.”

“That’s why the other person should not know. It will all end without him knowing that he’s being taken advantage of.”

“Then…”

“It doesn’t matter who Balhail is trying to kill, but that guy will be the traitor who dared to kill the prince on the day of the gathering.”

“There is a lack of motive though. There is no contact between the prince and Balhail….”

“Sure that may be the case, but a motive is not really needed.”

Pavel frowned at Altair’s assertion. It might be possible to accuse Balhail of treason on the spot. However, further investigation would quickly reveal holes, and that he was embroiled in a strange conspiracy. From then on, Altair, who dared to use the name of the imperial family to harm his personal enemy, would be in danger.

“Do not worry. The emperor will execute Balhail without further investigation.”

“Do you…have something in mind?”

“I’ve sent Blan to the capital. Thanks to that, I was able to have a grasp on the news and atmosphere there. They say that the emperor and nobles are on edge over tax issues these days. As the imperial power weakens by the day, the influence of the aristocrats grows stronger…If we leave it as it is, the tax rate will drop, and the aristocrats will claim.”

“… From the emperor’s point of view, he needs an opportunity to strengthen the imperial power.”

“Well then, wouldn’t it be good for the emperor to run rampant as much as he wants if it’s a treason case? Sure, the emperor might investigate the truth behind the scenes. He might find out that Balhail isn’t really a traitor, and that it was Aylesford who set it up that way. He might even call me to the capital after everything is over.”

At an unexpected development, Pavel opened his mouth.

“Do you … do you have to get the Emperor’s attention in that way?”

Getting the emperor’s attention was both an honour and a risk. Pavel gulped at the already rising tension, but Altair just continued talking nonchalantly.

“Nadia’s family, the Marquis of Vine, has been an imperial faction for generations. They got the Emperor’s firm protection, so it’s hard to find any flaw in them. We need an ally to use the central power, and there is no ally stronger than the emperor…I will have to take this risk.”

Pavel couldn’t find anything to say about the bigger plan than Altair had in mind so he kept his mouth shut. He had always wanted the poor Aylesford to become wealthy, and the neglected Aylesford to be mighty. But what was coming out of Altair’s mouth was beyond what he had hoped for.

“… You are trying to get to the centre?”

That much for the madame? 

Although the latter words were omitted, Altair was still able to notice Pavel’s hidden questions.

“Aylesford is different now. We have a manastone mine, and we have also bought a fertile orchard. If we remain powerless like before, those who are greedy will come to seek from us. For that, I need strength.”

In other words, he chose the emperor as the person to lend him that strength. Altair let out a chuckle when he found Pavel staring blankly at him, lost for words.

“If you’re scared, you can get off the running horse.”

In other words, he could always leave and find peace. Those words brought Pavel to his senses.

“Who says so? I quite enjoy speed.”

“Liar. You can’t even ride a horse.”

“It’s not that I can’t. It’s just slower to ride a horse than to walk on two feet.”

“…You just can’t ride it, can you?”

Dumbfounded, Altair let out a sneer while getting up from his seat.

“…All that needs to be done is done now.”

From the paperwork to be processed today, to preparation for the upcoming gathering, they were all finished.

❈❈❈

“…That’s how it happened.”

Nadia paid close attention to the explanation, but her head was still blank. Altair foresaw Balhail’s scheme, and used it to completely plunge him into the abyss. It was a very clever move. If she had read this story as a reader of the novel, she would have admired Altair’s cleverness.

But…

Now she was no longer a reader who got an overview of everything, but Nadia Aylesford who lived and breathed in this very story. She looked in the direction where Balhail had disappeared with a bit of a daze. He threatened her and tried to force her into submission. It was as if Nadia could still feel the heavy pressure on her neck where Balhail had attacked her. The memory of when her breath was choked remained intact.

I know this is the best way.

She knew it well. Yet, something crept up from the depths of her heart. Its identity was easily figured out. It was disappointment.

I’m…hurt.

Nadia bit her lips as she touched the nape of her neck, which Balhail had roughly grabbed with his hand. Altair, noticing that she was in a strange state, moved closer and extended his hand, but she quickly took a step back and avoided his touch. Altair stiffened in the posture of reaching out into the air and slightly frowned.

“… I understand. If you had let me know in advance, I’d definitely… I wouldn’t have made such a mistake… And if it’s Altair, you would use all your power to avoid any risk and danger, and Cain did actually appear to help me, but…”

The more Nadia spoke, the more she felt like crying. She kept her mouth shut and tried to control her emotions. Endure it, suppress it, hold it in. Since her parents passed away, she had always endured it, so she was used to suppressing her emotions. But for some reason, it was not as easy to endure as before. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

“… It’s because too many things happen all of a sudden. With time, I will understand everything. I’ll go back to the carriage and get some rest for now. I have to change my clothes too.”

“Nadia.”

Altair called out to her to say something, but she ignored the sound and walked away. Cain, who was left confused between her and Altair, quickly caught up with her. As she walked back to the carriage, she was infuriated by her stupidity back then. To have a tent in such a dreary place, how could she not think it was strange and just walked right in there? If she had paid a little more attention, it’s a fact that could easily be noticed.

“Excuse me…madame…his lord told me to act immediately if something dangerous were to happen to the madame.”

Cain cautiously spoke up as he walked along her.

“I was going to step in right away, but I thought it would be better to wait as long as possible until the Black Dragon Knights appeared… it was an arbitrary decision… It was my fault for the negligence.”

“No. That was the right decision.”

If Cain had appeared a little earlier, and Balhail had run away, they wouldn’t have been able to arrest him as neatly as they were now.

“The plan was perfect, and you just acted according to the plan, Cain. It’s not that I don’t understand that either. But…I am also a human.”

“Madame…”

“I understand it logically. However, since I got caught up in a plan without knowing why, I can’t help but be sad that the plan came from the head of the person I trusted. Please don’t treat my heart so coldly like that.”

“…yes.”

As Cain hesitantly answered, they had reached the place where the carriages were lined up. Aylesford’s carriage was particularly outstanding among them, and its location was quick to be found. A knight who was guarding the carriage looked at Nadia in surprise as she gave off an unusual mood. Normally, she would reassure him with a smile, but she couldn’t afford to do that now. Nadia opened the carriage door and shut herself inside. She stayed alone in a small space and tried to catch her breath, but her thumping heart did not calm down easily. That sound of her wild heart made her realise…

Right now… I can only feel anger.

Beyond being sad, she was angry at Altair.

Me? Dare to be angry at him?

The fact was so ridiculous that Nadia couldn’t help but scoff.

“Ha. You are the main cause for that, Nadia Aylesford.”

As she rebuked herself, she shut her eyes tight. 

❈❈❈

As a commotion suddenly broke out in the peaceful gathering, Orca quietly summoned his men. And the news delivered was astonishing.

“Your Highness, it is said that the Black Dragon Knights have arrested a person.”

“The Black Dragon Knights? Who?”

“That person is Balhail Aylesford. It seems that he dared to aim at Your Highness.”

“At me? He didn’t seem to have the courage to do that though.”

Orca narrowed his eyes as he recalled Balhail, who had servilely groveled in front of him. It seemed that something was obviously hidden in this case.

And…

“Aylesford again.”

He kept hearing that name these days. An amused expression appeared on Orca’s face, and his smile soon faded.