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"Because marrying that child to Philod Achen would have been definitively the wrong thing to do."
Definitively the wrong thing.
To Rahan, it didn't seem that way. The world was full of young ladies forced into unhappy marriages.
Was there any particular reason why this young girl alone should be protected in such a manner, even at the cost of tarnishing someone else's reputation?
Of course, Rahan possessed enough discretion not to say that out loud, so he kept his mouth shut. Abbot Wilbert also didn't seem to expect an answer from Rahan.
He called out to Iris.
"Iris."
Iris, who had been standing as if hiding behind Rahan, answered with a start.
"Y-yes?"
"Do not be too pleased. It is becoming quite embarrassing."
Rahan blinked and looked back. He had no idea what the girl he had carried on his back was so pleased about.
Unexpectedly, Iris Achen replied with a bright red face.
"...Was it that obvious?"
"Very much so."
Abbot Wilbert pressed a hand to his forehead. Iris answered hesitantly.
"I-I'm just glad that I get to stay at Wind Rock Monastery..."
Only after a bit more conversation did Rahan realize what this was about.
"For the next three months, you are not permitted to venture beyond a radius of two thousand cubits from this Wind Rock Monastery."
So, when Riet had told Rahan that, Iris Achen must have been jumping for joy behind him.
Because Rahan Norwich being exiled to Wind Rock Monastery meant that she, as his wife, would not have to leave the monastery either.
Ha. He let out a hollow laugh of sheer absurdity.
'Should I call this cute, or just childish?'
Unaware of Rahan's inner thoughts, Abbot Wilbert sighed.
"I had originally planned to send you to the Grand Duchy, but I don't know how things ended up like this."
It was only natural for a married woman to move to the city where her husband lived.
Thus, Iris Achen was originally meant to go to the Grand Duchy of Lacheize after being kidnapped by Rahan Norwich and having their marital status recognized.
But the plan had fallen through. It seemed even Abbot Wilbert hadn't expected Grand Duke Lacheize to act this way. Of course, Rahan hadn't expected it either.
'I got married because she told me to, and now she shoves me into the middle of nowhere?'
"...Her Highness Grand Duke Lacheize likely did not want her Highness's ambitions for the throne to be revealed by having this young lady protected within the Grand Duchy."
He had almost accidentally called her the 'damn' Grand Duke Lacheize. Unaware of Rahan's inner turmoil, Abbot Wilbert lamented.
"I understand. But in this manner..."
Hesitating, Abbot Wilbert asked again.
"Is it true that the Grand Duke injured her eye?"
"It is true."
"Oh, Eridrahan..."
The lamentation continued, but not for long.
"Surely she didn't do this because of this incident?"
"No. The Grand Duke injured her eye during an attack several months ago. She had been keeping it a secret, but it seems she decided to reveal it on this occasion."
Abbot Wilbert was someone who knew better than anyone the power struggles between candidates for the throne, backed by the Electors.
After whispering a short prayer for Grand Duke Lacheize, who used even a single eyeball efficiently in the struggle for the throne, he spoke.
"It cannot be helped. For the time being, Sir Norwich and Iris must remain at Wind Rock Monastery."
Aha. He could clearly see the silver-haired girl secretly clenching her fists behind him. She hadn't been able to hide it from the eyes of Rahan, a renowned knight.
Rahan laughed in disbelief.
Did she really like this countryside that much?
Well, it was a beautiful place.
However... Rahan sighed as he recalled the meals he had eaten at the inns in Vandel. He had been the person who contributed most to the Grand Duke's famous hobby of gourmet dining.
'How long do they expect me to stay in a neighborhood where it's probably hard to even buy pepper?'
They said the married life wouldn't be long.
For some reason, his vision felt blurred.
* * *
Although they were told to stay at Wind Rock Monastery, a newlywed couple couldn't actually live inside the monastery.
After all, the monastery was a place for priests to serve the one god, Eridrahan, to pray and train.
Abbot Wilbert decided to give the two of them a cottage next to the wheat field just below the monastery. As it happened, the wheat field was entering a fallow period starting this summer, leaving the cottage vacant.
Of course, that was starting tomorrow.
"It is late, so sleep at the monastery tonight and move down tomorrow."
The sun was already setting. Although the monastery had been in an uproar because of Iris's marriage, the priests did not forget their evening prayers.
The Abbot advised the two of them to rest for now. For Rahan, this was welcome news. He had climbed a cliff to kidnap his bride since morning and had even gotten into a scuffle with Philod. He wanted to rest immediately.
"Oh, then... will Rahan-nim be sleeping in my room?"
At Iris's question, Rahan's drooping eyes snapped open.
What on earth is she talking about?
Fortunately, Abbot Wilbert let out a bewildered laugh.
"Iris. Isn't the bed in your room far too small?"
Priest Wilbert then added, looking at Rahan.
"Iris is a child who intended to take the priestly vows. Because of that, she uses a room much smaller than the other priests."
"But the bed is actually quite decent..."
"That 'quite decent' bed is one Iris made when she was fourteen. Sir Norwich would have to cut off his ankles to sleep in that bed."
"Oh, honestly! Father!"
Excuse me. What about my opinion?
Regardless, seeing how the bright-eyed girl named Iris didn't actually argue with the Abbot despite her protests, it seemed the room was indeed cramped.
Rahan replied bluntly.
"I never thought a man and a woman could share a room in a monastery."
"That works out. Sir Norwich, you shall sleep in the guest room next to the prayer room with the people from the Grand Duchy of Lacheize."
Iris rolled her eyes in disappointment, but Priest Wilbert strictly disciplined her.
"Iris. Today has been a very long day. Why don't you discuss things as a couple tomorrow?"
"Yes..."
'Discuss things as a couple,' he said.
Rahan instinctively tried to look at Iris again, but as she turned toward him, he snapped his head away.
For some reason, it felt embarrassing to meet the girl's eyes.
However, Iris seemed unaware of Rahan's mood and gave a polite nod. Rahan reluctantly nodded back.
Then, guided by another priest, Rahan headed to the guest room.
The priest guiding him seemed to have many questions about the day's events, but perhaps because Abbot Wilbert had told them to keep quiet, he led him to the room without saying much and disappeared.
Click. As soon as he opened the door, whistles and jeers flew in.
"My, my, the groom has arrived."
"Did you get scolded well?"
It was Harris and Riet. Rahan snapped back.
"Shut up, you lot."
They must have arrived first.
Rahan looked around. Even though it was a guest room, it was just a slightly enlarged version of the priests' rooms, so it was very modest.
Three chairs, three wooden beds.
Rahan sat on the edge of an empty bed. Riet handed him a small birdcage.
"Here is your pet, Sir."
Rahan frowned deeply.
"Why did you bring this? I left it at the Ducal Palace."
The creature inside the cage let out a 'quack' as if protesting. It was a small pink axolotl.
Its body resembled a lizard, but its face strangely resembled a rabbit, making it look very peculiar. The six deep-pink fins where ears should be looked almost like feathers.
It was a small animal that had been by Rahan's side since some point during the expedition, and Riet had brought it along when Rahan was sent into this fake exile.
"How annoying."
At Rahan's words, Harris booed.
"Abandoning a pet? You're too much, even as a joke."
"I'm not joking. I really abandoned it."
"Captain, what happened to your personality?"
Riet cut in with a smirk.
"He's a really strange fellow. He's clearly a water-dweller, but he wouldn't go in the water the whole way here, even when we put him in."
"I'm so touched I could cry."
Without further elaboration, Rahan placed the cage on the desk and spoke to Riet.
"Explain."
"Oh, what's there to explain? It's exactly as you heard."
Riet shrugged.
"It seems the Grand Duke intends to keep the Captain stuck in this neighborhood for a while. She said to think of it as a vacation."
"Damn it."
Rahan sighed. Harris chuckled.
"Well, it's been hard serving Her Highness even after the expedition. Captain, why don't you take this chance to recuperate? Must be nice."
"You brat, if it's so nice, you do it."
"I have to return to the Grand Duchy. Oh, how heartbreaking."
Though he didn't feel that way at all, Harris pretended to cry.
Rahan glared at Harris, but seeing his grinning face, he seemed genuinely excited.
Both of them had been with Rahan throughout that long expedition. They were practically family.
'More like disobedient younger siblings, though.'
They were people who had protected Rahan when he set out on the expedition at a young age, and later, people who owed their lives to him.
Despite their words, they had felt quite stifled watching Rahan unable to rest for a single day after the expedition.
If the Grand Duke had simply told him to take a break after a long time, Rahan would have certainly welcomed it.
The only reason he was bewildered now was that this absurd marriage vacation was called 'exile.'
"I've become a complete bastard in the eyes of the entire Empire now, haven't I?"
At his question, his two subordinates giggled.
"Why even ask?"
A rogue who plucked an eyeball out of the Grand Duke's face and kidnapped an Elector's daughter to marry her.
His notoriety was poised to shake the entire continent.
Just as Rahan was sighing, his head aching at the thought...
"Captain, there's something I'm really curious about. Can I ask?"
Riet raised her hand. Rahan narrowed his eyes.
"Speak."
"Did you actually do it?"
Rahan's brow furrowed.
In other words, she was asking if he had actually spent the 'wedding night.'
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