Chapter 18: A Growing Connection

Fine focused her gaze toward the voices.

“It must be the warriors training at the field.”

“Seems so.”

“My lady, shall we… take a peek?”

“Of course.

I hope he’s there.”

Fine chuckled, and Anna’s cheeks flushed slightly.

Fine had recently learned Anna harbored feelings for a childhood friend among Rosaider’s warriors.

She’d noticed Anna’s demeanor when they chanced upon him training.

Anna called it unrequited, but Fine sensed it wasn’t entirely one-sided.

Fine and Anna peered into the training field from the entrance.

The circular arena had spectator seats around it, with a central area for training.

Dozens of warriors were practicing swordplay.

“Ah!”

Anna let out a small gasp, staring at one spot.

Glancing at her, Fine saw her fixated on someone—likely her crush.

‘Hehe, adorable.

Maybe we’ll linger here a bit.’

A smile crept onto Fine’s face.

One of her recent interests was watching this romance unfold.

Keeping Anna company, Fine observed the training.

The clash of swords rang out with metallic clangs.

‘As expected of battle-hardened warriors.

They might even surpass the capital’s knights.’

The capital’s knight order gathered top swordsmen from across Vittore.

Matching or exceeding them spoke to Rosaider’s elite warriors.

After about ten minutes, a crunch of gravel came from behind.

“Something interesting?”

Startled by the low voice, Fine turned.

“My lord!”

Surprised by Hawk’s sudden appearance, she bowed quickly.

“I was taking a walk to clear my mind from work.

Are you inspecting the training?”

“No, I came to find you.”

“Me?

…Did the flower planting displease you?”

Hawk had never left his duties to seek her out before.

Lacking other guesses, she thought of the flowers.

“Flowers?”

Hawk tilted his head.

“You didn’t come because you disliked the flower seedlings planted around the grounds?”

“Flower seedlings…”

Hawk glanced around, spotting a nearby seedling.

“I see.

You planted these.”

He seemed to notice the flowers for the first time.

‘That’s not it?’

Fine was puzzled.

If not the flowers, she couldn’t fathom why he sought her.

“I told you I’d provide treatment befitting a countess.

That includes authority over the household.

Plant flowers as you like.”

“…Thank you.

Does that authority include personnel decisions?”

“Of course.

Is there someone you dislike?”

“No.”

Fine shook her head.

‘He has a lover in the kitchen, yet he’s giving me personnel authority?’

She worried for him.

What if she fired Sherry?

But she dismissed it as not her concern.

She’d be divorced in two years anyway.

“So, what did you want to discuss?”

“Not here.

Shall we return to the mansion?”

“Understood.”

Fine nodded and turned to Anna.

“Anna, I’ll head back with his lordship.

Take your time.”

“No, I’ll come too.”

“It’s fine.

With his lordship, I won’t get lost.”

Winking, Fine saw Anna blush slightly and bow, saying, “Thank you.”

She likely wanted to stay and watch her crush.

“Let’s go.”

“Alright.”

Hawk offered his arm, and Fine gratefully accepted his escort.

“That maid was quite engrossed in the training.

Does she want to be a warrior?”

“No way.

When a woman stares at a man, there are only two reasons: affection or caution.”

“I see.

I’ll remember that.”

Hawk nodded, intrigued.

“Come to think of it, on our first day as a married couple, you never took your eyes off me.”

“Did I?

I don’t recall.”

“You stared so intensely, yet now you’re so aloof.

It was our first night together.”

“Are you teasing me?”

Glaring at him, Fine saw Hawk’s shoulders shake with a chuckle.

‘I can’t quite figure Hawk-sama out.’

A month and a half into living together, Hawk kept his promise to treat her as befitting a countess.

He never neglected her.

He arranged to dine with her at least once daily and visited her at night.

She’d repeatedly argued there was no need for bedroom visits since they weren’t making children, but he wouldn’t listen.