Chapter 7.1 – Duty Of A Married Couple

The knights waited outside the guest room for Shuden. They were not dressed as the Knight Order of Garth, but as the Knight Order of the Kingdom, making for a foreign sight. Shuden gave the uniforms a once-over. The kingdom’s white armor overly emphasized aesthetics, forgoing some practicality on the bloody battlefield, but the colorful blue mantle wasn’t too bad.

‘She was wearing that kind of blue mantle too.’

Shuden, whose thoughts naturally turned to Valia, gestured with his chin towards the room.

“Sean. Get the cooperation of the temple and protect this room.”

“Yes, My Lord,” Sean answered with a bow of his head. Shuden walked ahead, but then paused when he passed the young knight he saw earlier.

“Robin, was it?” Shuden said in a passing tone. “You did well earlier. You must protect this place with Sean too.”

“Thank you! I will put my life on the line and protect My Lady!” Robin answered boisterously. He was not ashamed of himself, even as the knights around him snickered at his overly formal reply. He was ecstatic at having been praised by the Lord he admired.

Shuden chuckled. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“Yes, My Lord!”

Shuden walked away, leaving Robin behind. Valia would remain here at the temple for a while. It was unbecoming to have an unmarried woman stay at his residence. Such details wouldn’t matter if she was a lover or a concubine, but she was the woman who would officially be Madame Garth, wife to Marquis Garth. He had to prevent any possible gossip—not because he was afraid of rumors, but because it was more beneficial for her. It was a small consideration that didn’t require a thank-you.

[Ermmm, God is watching.]

The words Valia spoke earlier sprang into his mind. Her meaning was obvious. This temple was a place where it was inappropriate, even taboo, for men and women to interact.

Shuden didn’t have any ulterior motives, and he didn’t think much when he was about to give her his clothes. However, she was dressed in a way that could cause wrong ideas.

‘It’s interesting though.’

He found it refreshing that this was the first time someone refused his attention. What piqued his interest the most was the reason why she volunteered for the princess selection. There were two reasons that Shuden could think of.

The first was that her life turned around like a mundane wheel, and so she volunteered in hopes of deviating from it. That, or her faith was devout. However, it didn’t seem like she leaned to either side. In fact, Shuden still did not know the reason why she volunteered for the princess recruitment, and he vaguely guessed that she wouldn’t tell him so easily.

“Your Excellency.”

Shuden’s train of thoughts did not last long, and he blinked and looked upward. The Great Holy Priest was waiting for him at the entrance with the other priests. His face was lined with a sullen and serious expression.

‘He’s worried that I won’t marry her.’

But Shuden had already told Valia that they would wed. He paused for a short moment. Should he keep his mouth zipped until dawn tomorrow and let the Great Holy Priest squirm, or should he speak frankly now? He quickly reached a decision.

“Just in time. It’s good to see you, Great Holy Priest. I have something to say,” Shuden said in a formal tone.

“Please speak.”

Shuden could sense waves of anxiety radiating from the Great Holy Priest. That wasn’t too bad of a compensation, considering that the Great Holy Priest had pestered him all this while. He decided to collect the rest in material form.

“I’m extending an invitation to you for the Garth’s wedding, Great Holy Priest.”

“Huh?”

The Great Holy Priest blinked as if he heard wrong. The corners of Shuden’s lips lifted slightly.

“What I’m saying is, I’m going to marry Lady Dean.”