The Final Task of the Forsaken Saint: A Command to Marry the Barbarian Count - Chapter 14

After Cook hurriedly left, the dining room fell into a quiet stillness. The only sounds were the clinking of cutlery as both Lord Teodoric and I continued eating our meal.

Although the food was so delicious that I could have kept eating forever, there was something I wanted to ask. I was curious about why he was treating me so warmly.

“Um,” I started.

“You were going to ask something?” Lord Teodoric responded, his voice sounding thoughtful.

We both spoke at once, and I immediately looked up at him, unsure of what to do.

“Please, you go first,” I said.

Lord Teodoric furrowed his brow slightly, a look of dissatisfaction crossing his face.

“Isn’t the way you’re addressing me a bit too formal?”
“Addressing you?” I blinked, confused.

“Yes. We may be married in name, but that doesn’t mean we should be formal with each other. After all, you are a saintess and a landowner as well, correct? We will be equals, so this level of formality might not be necessary.”

“Oh… you’re right,” I said, a little surprised. I had forgotten that I, too, held a title as a landowner.

I smiled a little at the thought but then became unsure of how to address him. As I furrowed my brow in thought, Lord Teodoric spoke again.

“What’s on your mind?”

“Well, I wasn’t sure what to call you. Do you know how we’re supposed to address each other?” I asked, looking at him earnestly.

His expression stiffened for a moment, and the atmosphere seemed to shift. He was pondering something seriously. I, however, was just trying to make the relationship seem more familiar, and I hoped that by doing so, things might be easier for both of us.

“I… don’t know either,” he admitted after a long pause.

I was taken aback. “You don’t know either?”

“Well, maybe we should just use our names to call each other,” he suggested. “No need for formalities. You can call me ‘Teodoric’ or, if you prefer something shorter, ‘Dirk.’ As for me, I’ll call you ‘Lebel,’ if that’s acceptable.”

“Dirk…?” The way my name sounded when he said it sent a strange, tickling sensation deep in my chest. I couldn’t help but blush slightly.

Seeing my reaction, Lord Teodoric raised an eyebrow. “Is something wrong?”

“I guess it’s just… it’s the first time someone’s called me by my name in a long time,” I said, somewhat embarrassed. “It feels kind of nice.”

I had been so used to being called “Saintess” that I hadn’t even realized how strange it was not to hear my actual name.

Lord Teodoric raised his eyebrows at me, but then his face softened, and he returned to eating. He probably didn’t understand why I was so flustered by it, but his smile made it easier to continue.

“Well then, what was it you wanted to ask me about?” he asked, seeming to notice the tension lift from the conversation.

For a moment, I hesitated. This was the perfect opportunity to ask about the warm welcome, but it felt strange to do so with someone I had just met. What should I ask first?

Then, an idea crossed my mind.

“What should I do as your wife?” I asked, making sure to keep my tone light.

Lord Teodoric, who had been about to take a drink, choked and began coughing.

“Are you okay?!” I asked quickly, concerned.

“I’m fine,” he replied, coughing into the napkin his servant handed him. “But what do you mean by that?”

“Well, since we’re technically going to be married, even if it’s just in name for now, I thought it would be good to figure out what I should do. I don’t really know what a noblewoman’s duties are… What do you need from me?”

He seemed to consider this for a moment, his expression thoughtful.

“Before you act as a wife, I think the first thing would be for you to get used to life here. You’ve already experienced some of the hardships of life in Rostock, especially for someone who practices magic. This land isn’t exactly welcoming to magic users,” he began.

“But I’ve been doing just fine here!” I said, cutting in. “The food is great, the people are lively, and the land is full of pride. The soldiers are strong, and the servants work hard. I really like it here. Honestly, everyone treats me kindly, even though I know I’ve been somewhat of a difficult guest.”

Lord Teodoric glanced at me, his expression hardening slightly, but his voice remained calm.

“I suppose you’ve gotten used to it quicker than most. But… I’d like you to take your time here. Get used to things slowly, and do what you feel is right. As for your duties, I’d suggest we figure them out as we go along.”

I nodded, impressed by how thoughtfully he considered everything.

“Thank you. And I’ve been meaning to ask about the lands I’ve inherited, too. What can you tell me about them?”

Lord Teodoric’s demeanor shifted slightly. He seemed a little tense.

“I know that Rostock has been managing Calbuncs for some time now,” I continued, noticing his discomfort. “And I’m fine with that. I understand it’s in your hands now, and I don’t want to interfere. But I would like to know if I could have permission to establish a house in Calbuncs. I’ll pay for it myself, of course.”

Lord Teodoric seemed to hesitate, his brow furrowing. “You want a house there?”

“Yes, since it’s my land, it makes sense that I should have a place to live there, doesn’t it?”

He paused, then nodded slowly. “I see. In that case, I’ll arrange for you to take over one of the houses we own there—a small hunting lodge by the Dead Forest. It might not be the best place to settle permanently, though. The area is dangerous, so it might be safer to have a house built elsewhere. It’ll take some time, but I’ll make it happen.”

“A house in the Dead Forest?” I blinked. “Why would I want to live there? I can handle magic beasts just fine, but a house in that area sounds dangerous.”

He hesitated for a moment. “The hunting lodge might be… difficult for you, considering the proximity to the monsters. But you can stay there for now, or we can arrange for something else.”

“Thank you. I’ll be happy with that for now,” I said, sensing that he was trying to be considerate.

“Of course,” he replied, then his face softened slightly. “Just make sure you’re comfortable. I’ll handle the rest.”

“Thanks, I really appreciate it.”

I was starting to get used to how much effort Lord Teodoric was putting into making me feel welcome. It was a nice change, and it made me feel a lot more at ease in this foreign land.
Just then, the door knocked again, and the sound of Cook’s voice filled the room.

“Your second servings are ready!”

“Yay! Thank you!” I cheered as the cart with the second servings arrived.

As I continued my meal with Lord Teodoric, I couldn’t help but feel more at home than I had ever expected.