Barbaric Spouse, Descry the Night's Lure-Chapter 70: Scene LXX

Every other day, a question would be asked to the Castle’s warden. Through some other... she would skip the inquiry as she could see the reluctance of the man to repeat his answers.

"... His Illustrious Grace... How has he been? Are his duties yet to be solved?"

"His grace is doing well... It has become a troublesome matter as you are aware."

"... Is it still advisable not to visit his work stances?"

"..... I am afraid that is the case, Madame."

"... I understand. It ought to be urgent for him to shut his presence."

"... Do you wish for me to..."

"There will not be a message sent to him today either... Blessed thee Earth, Uth. For replying to obvious answers again..."

A repeated conversation with enhanced dejection was all left for Ewelina to do. Reluctant to send a second message that would be ignored, she would finish the exchange with the warden under a heavy mood she had thought had stayed behind... In those days she would wait to meet her Spouse for the first time.

’It is upsetting.’ — The composed woman thought while eating her breakfast in the dining hall.

It had been a sudden decision Ewelina had taken. Tired of having her meals in the solitude of her private chambers, which were so near her husband and herself had tangled and rested together, the young Madame changed location to find some ease in her core... As well as hope similar to that one she held after their first night to fortuitously meet the man as she moved throughout their castle for every meal.

However, annoyance at the impatience this wait caused had been stressing the woman as she felt unconfident of the last behaviour she had shown her Husband.

’Did I do something upsetting?... Was it that he disliked my low energy?...’

"..."

’Has he come to despise my cowardice at his display of violence?...’

"... I am going to the stables." — Dismissing her thoughts, she announced. Standing decided from her seat at the table.

"Before Lunch, Ma’am?"

"Yes. Can you tell those in the kitchen that some vegetables will arrive soon... The children... They said they would collect some for dinner."

"Yes..."

"Ah, before I forget." — Halting her steps as she was to leave, Ewelina remembered to ask the warden. — "Uth, the tea I brought along, there shouldn’t be much left. May I ask you to see for restock?"

"..... Is the tea you refer to, this you have drunk?"

"Yes. It is one I came to like... a friend had let me taste it." — Finally happy to recall Kelly, Ewelina gently smiled. Only to smile wider at Uth’s response.

"... Madame, the tea you brought has been gone for a long time. Thankfully, this leaf also grows in these lands, although far. We took notice and have been serving it to you. There is no need to seek more."

"! Is that how it is? That is wonderful! I had thought it would be difficult to get being in the isolated Sortnafeigr... That is a relief."

"... I am glad to hear that." — Uth said, much composed.

The woman then said her farewell and turned to resume her path that would lead to the place that would calm her further.

Usually, it would be at noon that a visit to her bestial friends would be given. However, it was not solely an impulse that had made her go earlier.

A man she was sceptical of his intentions, Gilead. She had crossed paths with him often. Running into him even in those stables, sleeping in the straws meant for the horses yet just as she once had done at her previous household.

Ewelina wished to avoid his presence, which was doubtful and distasteful once recalling the hazardous route she took under his unmannered guard. And furthermore by the distasteful lord who had probably ordered him to do so.

Nonetheless, even when this decision had been taken so she wouldn’t meet him, it took only one step into the stables to learn her intention had failed.

"Good day." — Gilead saluted, indifferent to show politeness to the Archduchess.

"... Good morning."

Reticent, she answered. Pacing inside, annoyed that reaching peace in her solitude would not be possible with his presence. However, this feeling would soon start to fade.

Somehow during their other encounters, little talk had been made. Whether it was about how she felt in these new lands, how they always met in such a place or a little comment grumbling about the difficult weather that the skies over Sortnafeigr granted, Gilead would say something to Ewelina at least once so she could ignore him with a simple answer and continue her doings.

It has become a custom. And so... Today’s uninterrupted silence seemed rare.

For once, she glanced at the man who had seated to eat an apple along the horse he was feeding and to the leisurely poise of the man, it was Ewelina who this time decided to speak first.

"... Why are you here?" — Without stalling into a useless conversation, the woman asked directly to the young guard about what she did want to know.

"I’m taking care of the horse."

"I am sure you are aware that such is not what I asked." — Unfazed by the lazy response she received from Gilead Ewelina continued, raising from the seat she also had taken to pace calmly yet prominent towards him.

"Why. Are you here." — Looking down at him she repeated. — "I am sure with such attitude Sortnafeigr isn’t a place you would choose to stay in. Why did you remain here?"

"Attitude?"

"You are... unfit for these lands."

"That you shouldn’t say miss."

"Archduchess. Simply by not showing basic respect, you prove my point, lad."

"... Right. Archduchess. ’Her Illustrious Grace’ was it? Even though you’re no less than a peasant like any other–"

"Gilead. Mind your words... I believe you are forgetting whose grounds you’re standing on."

A fierce glare enhanced their menacing encounter as he who diminished her position with fake notion also posed threatening with his height.

"Hah. You were a simple maid and now you believe you’re someone? The Baron even made you appear as his daughter–"

"Are you not only unfit in strength but also ignorant? That man you serve. Do you believe he has the blood of the Orteu? Do you even know who it is that you serve, Gilead?"

"What are you implying?"

"I am not implying. I am directly conveying it to you. Within that man, not a drop of the Orteu’s flows in his blood. Neither in his child nor his wife. This simple maid you say I am... I am the only one left from the Orteu. While those holding my family’s honour are no less than the true ’peasants’, Gilead."

"......"

"You are a young guard. You probably just... Roamed around searching for a lord to serve and disgracefully found an unworthy one who you didn’t even care to learn his roots... Quite befitting, I ought to say."

"... That’s right. ’cause I don’t care as long I have bread, maid."

"I shall return those words. I did not care to be thought as a maid for I could have bread, shallow man." — Her displeasure at her current abandonment and Gilead’s disrespectful manners had been the source of braveness that let Ewelina stand tall against a wider man.

Without shrinking to her truth, she gracefully corrected the guard of his self-centred beliefs that only demonstrated his ignorance. Prominent and elegant no step was given back even when his ruthless presence could have intimidated the woman.