Chapter 121

"Do you need me?"

"..."

"Am I... someone that you need, my Husband?"

He couldn't give any response, as if he had malfunctioned at that question.

It was the day the two of them had gone to a festival in another fief.

His wife had accidentally consumed an aphrodisiac that was mixed in their wine. She had asked him the question in her drunken daze.

Kaywhin was silent for a long time. It was only after his wife fell asleep that he replied in a small voice.

"...I'm not sure. Not yet."

Ever since that day, his wife's question lingered in his mind for a long time.

His wife didn't remember that she had asked him that question, but he would often recall the question and think to himself.

Someone that he needs.

Was his wife someone that he needed?

Well, he needed her in the sense that she was the Duchess.

Putting her role as business collateral, which was starting to feel less and less relevant, aside, the castle subjects' opinion on her improved.

Even Ben would say things like, "How fortunate that Madam is the madam of our castle," as if he wanted Kaywhin to hear him.

His wife's existence slowly became more important to the castle. Kaywhin didn't deny that.

...But still, how about her as just his wife, and not the Duchess? Did he need her as his wife?

"Darling, I will be teaching you how to paint from now on. What do you think? It makes for quite the nice hobby, doesn't it?"

Kaywhin had always judged people and objects by whether or not he needed them. If he couldn't find an objective and valid reason that deemed them necessary, he considered them unnecessary.

Going by that method, he didn't really need his wife.

"I've finished the painting, but the result might be a little surprising. But try not to get too overwhelmed."

If his wife were to disappear, his daily life would change, but it would only be reverting to its 'original' state. His daily life that had changed for a few months after meeting his wife would go back to how it was before.

Even before his wife came in the picture, there weren't any problems with Kaywhin's work. Ultimately, it was difficult to say that his wife's absence would have much of an impact.

So he had his answer.

His wife was a good person. He was grateful to her. She was more beautiful than he deserved.

But she wasn't someone he really needed.

"I should secretly stroke his head later, once he's asleep."

'Am I... someone that you need, my Husband?'

So why was it that he couldn't erase that question from his head, despite having his answer?

***

After the festival, regardless of what Kaywhin contemplated on his own, the daily life with his wife at his side carried on as normal.

That day was normal too. There wasn't anything particularly different about that day.

Until Anna's unexpected arrival at the castle, that was.

"Duke, there is a child who says you need to see this... She says she needs to show this to you..."

Anna delivered Yelena's earring to Kaywhin.

The moment the child handed over the single earring that she had been holding tightly in her small hand, Kaywhin's mind momentarily went blank.

Why was this...

Why was this being given to him?

"Y-Your Excellency! Huff, it's an, it's an emergency! Madam...!" Colin burst into the study without permission.

And afterward, Kaywhin's memory was incomplete for a long while.

By the time Kaywhin returned to his senses, Sidrion had already been called to Kaywhin's presence and was examining Yelena's earring.

"Hold on. I'll track her location in no time and send you to where she is."

"...Sidrion."

"What?"

"I'm counting on you."

"...Leave it to me."

In the sorcery world, it was rare that anyone didn't know about Sidrion's talent and skill.

But this time around, he experienced a minor, unpredictable difficulty.

"I'm sure she's around here..."

"What's the exact location? Why is it taking so long?"

"Well, there seems to be an unidentifiable force that's disrupting the detection of the other earring's mana... But I'm almost done, so hold on for a little bit longer. You know me—Hey!"

Kaywhin bolted without letting Sidrion finish.

Sidrion had given her approximate location. Kaywhin would be able to find her if he searched everywhere nearby.

Kaywhin's heart raced with anxiousness. It felt like it was going to burst.

His heart didn't race this fast even when he was in the mountains fighting monsters with a single sword in hand.

Kaywhin knew how to solve his own problems. No matter how pressing the matter was, he would always take a step back, contemplate the situation, make the most rational judgment, and then act, even if his life depended on the matter.

But this time, he could not follow that process.

He acted before thinking. And even after his brain belatedly caught up with his body, he could only think of one thing.

He had to find his wife.

He had to make sure she was safe.

Kaywhin moved as if he was completely dominated by that single thought.

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