A Stranger Wearing the Name of Your Wife - Chapter 10

It would take a few days for the report from the temple to arrive. While there was no issue with getting involved with a temple in another country, the physical distance made things difficult. Even if someone rode a fast horse, a same-day reply was impossible. I had already hinted to the temple in the Kingdom of Addison that the marriage registration hadn’t been filed, so perhaps they were investigating it now.

By the time my uncle contacted us, the High Priest of Addison should have had the results of that investigation. When I explained this, Brother Eck nodded with satisfaction. While drinking tea in the nursery where little Ingrid was sleeping, he leaned back on the sofa.

“As expected of you, Tria.”

“Thank you, Brother Eck.”

Brother Eck, who could understand everything from a single word, gracefully tilted his teacup. Instead of floral tea, he enjoyed green tea. Floral tea, when consumed in large amounts, can upset the stomach. It’s best enjoyed in small amounts and not as a daily drink.

Temples value simplicity and frugality. Other than one cup of tea a day, they only drink water. That’s probably why they prefer floral tea. Maybe I’ll send Uncle some high-quality white floral tea as a gift.

“Fort picked up something interesting.”

Among the three of them, Brother Eck was the sharpest. The most brutal one, though, would be Brother Fort. Being a man of the battlefield, his senses were very different from those of peaceful nobles.

“Oh? Is it a nice story?”

“I’d say it’s more in the ‘ridiculous’ category. They caught a man trying to cross the border without permission. He resisted, so they shot him with two or three arrows.”

He spoke as if it were someone else’s problem, but it was clearly about Duke Stuart. Otherwise, Brother Eck wouldn’t bother telling me. I slowly opened my fan and covered the lower half of my face. I couldn’t help but smile—so I gently hid it.

“Such a wild intruder.”

“Or you could say barbaric. Right now, the border with the Kingdom of Addison is under temporary inspection. With the security tightened, not even the captain of the knights could get through alone… ah, whoops, I misspoke.”

He said it on purpose, yet tried to cover it up—meaning there might be something interesting behind that slip. I moved my fan with a flick of the wrist and tightened my smiling lips.

“He came alone?”

“That seems to be the case.”

He didn’t bring the army. Not even the knights. Acting alone—what did it mean?
The one I’d asked Uncle to investigate was the person who hid the marriage registration.
Duke Stuart? The former queen? The King of Addison?
Or… someone else?

Who had stained my honor, and disgraced the face of the empire?
To judge how much they should be punished—I still didn’t have enough information.

“Uwaaaaah…”

Ingrid raised her voice, trying to get my attention. I folded my fan, stood up, and looked into the crib. Because I had asked for privacy, Anna and Elise were waiting in the next room.

“What is it, Ingrid?”

“Awaa!”
When I reached out my finger, her soft baby skin clung to it and squeezed tight. Ingrid blinked her round eyes. She was so precious. This child truly was my salvation.

“Perhaps she’s worried about you? Babies are said to be very sensitive.”

“I suppose so,” I answered Brother Eck as I slid my arm under Ingrid and picked her up. I thought she smiled at me. It was probably just a reflex, but it was still too adorable.

“Where is Brother Fort now?”

“I received a report that he happily rode off to the border.”

As I took Ingrid over to Brother Eck, she happily reached out and grabbed the decorative cord on his clothes, refusing to let go.
We talked closely.

Because once we have all the information, it’ll be too late to act.