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Our White Marriage Is in Its Third Year: In Other Words, There Are Only Seven Days Left Until I Can Legally Leave You, My Lord

My Husband’s POV (2)

Translated by: ME

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*****

「Husband.」

「Lotus. The outcome?」

「No problems at all. The dark guild and assassins involved in this incident have all been dealt with.」

「I see. ...I hope this finally sweeps away all those who would target Franca.」

「Now that you are truly husband and wife, Madam is undeniably your weakness. We should thicken the guard even further.」

「Yes. ...I want to see Franca.」

「And so, your secrets from Madam have increased yet again. How do you intend to handle it?」

The man who was once our kingdom's finest **assassin**—**Lotus**—certainly knows how to hit where it hurts. In the past, every time a secret was added to the pile, I would **agonize** over whether she would hate me for it. But now, it’s a little different.

「In the old days, I likely would have said I'd hide this secret to my grave just to protect her—but I have already told Franca the truth. And despite that, she told me she would stay by my side... She really said it.」

「My Lord.」

「Yes, I want to see my wife as soon as possible...」

Just thinking about her filled me with an irrepressible urge to see her. I wanted to get home quickly and hear her say, 「Welcome home.」 Then I wanted to hold her, feel her warmth, and hear her lovely voice. I wanted to see that smile of hers, as cheerful as moonlight. I pulled out the pocket watch with the intricate glasswork she had given me and checked the time.

If I hurried back now, would I have time to stop by the estate?

「Since the cleanup is complete, let us head back. I believe Madam mentioned she would be making mille-feuille for you today.」

「In that case, we must return at once.」

「However... do you not have to return that blue jewel magic tool to His Majesty the King first?」

「Ah, that’s right. ...Wait, weren't you the one who borrowed that on your own authority, Lotus? You should be the one to return it...」

「I requested it of His Majesty as your proxy, so I believe the return would be better received coming from you, Husband.」

「Ugh... but...」

「Let us go and return it quickly.」

When Lotus gets like this, there is no use arguing. I promptly began the journey back to our great kingdom. I wanted to see Franca as soon as humanly possible—and I wanted to eat those sweets...

---

Reluctantly, I headed toward the royal office to return the blue jewel bracelet to His Majesty. Perhaps because I looked so utterly dejected, Lotus apparently arranged for Franca to bring refreshments to the Finance Department. What a capable butler he is.

I’ll have to give Lotus a generous bonus later.

I entered the office feeling much more cheerful, only to find Crown Prince Alfred there as well.

「I am real-ly, real-ly, real-ly, real-ly sorry.」

「While there is a great need for Prince Alfred to bow his head, you did lend us a divine royal relic, so we'll call it even.」

「Dominic!」

「—I'm not doing that, so let's settle on three days of combat training instead.」

「Whoa... you’re actually angry.」

「Of course I am. If things had gone poorly, I might have lost Franca.」

「But surely it was just a little spice to confirm the strength of your true love?」

「The training is now five days.」

「Ehh? I truly believe that true love is only understood after passing through trials.」

「You are welcome to hold whatever ideologies you wish, Your Highness, but do not involve me in them.」

「I refuse.」

「Your Majesty. I am terribly sorry, but may I punch your son?」

「Ah—well. I understand the feeling, but there's a party coming up, so please wait until after it’s over.」

With his tall build, blonde hair, and sky-blue eyes, Crown Prince Alfred is the picture-perfect image of the "ideal prince" that young ladies adore. However, his insides are black as coal and his personality is twisted. I truly feel sorry for the future Queen who caught Alfred’s eye. To be the object of obsession for such a terrible man...

How did His Majesty, a man known as a Wise King, give birth to such a monster? It's a mystery.

「You were just thinking something incredibly rude, weren't you?」

「Perish the thought. I was merely reflecting on reality.」

「Sigh, Dominic is so harsh.」

Prince Alfred is impeccable as a politician and a Crown Prince, but when it comes to his views on romance, he holds some nonsensical theory that "true love cannot be proven unless obstacles are overcome!" He says a lot of plausible-sounding things about how one won't appreciate what they have if it's obtained too easily, but the truth is simply that he has a bad personality.

Since His Highness had such a hard time catching the Queen, I suspect he wants his friends—me and Durandel—to suffer the same fate. I wish he would stop. As for Prince Durandel, he does it merely to kill time... which is arguably even worse.

In their "board games," they apparently treat the corrupt elements of our kingdom and the Empire as pawns to be crushed against each other. I get the feeling they are both plotting something devious. Not that I want to know the details.

「Ash was Roosevelt’s foster brother. His upbringing was complicated, and the Royal Family owed a debt of gratitude to Ash’s mother. That's why I believed him when he said he was in a relationship with Lady Franca—or rather, the Duchess—and I lent a hand in the engagement inquiries, or perhaps I was used. Durandel likely caught wind of that and drew up the blueprints for this incident. Originally, the information came out of an investigation into narcotic smuggling.」

And so, the two of them enjoyed their board game while keeping me in the dark. Ah, if I could, I would punch them with everything I have. It is a terrifying thought that these two black-hearted men with the worst personalities will eventually stand at the apex of their respective nations. I particularly hope Prince Durandel meets his "person of destiny" soon and becomes a spineless wreck, pouring his massive, heavy affection onto his beloved.

「Sigh. I want to see Franca—my wife—now.」

「I want to see my fiancée too. Have a little patience.」

「No. Finish this in three minutes.」

「I have clearly understood that Dominic’s affection is too heavy. Since the national treasure has been recovered, I’ll send a gift of apology later... but I have an invitation here stating that Durandel is hosting a grand party in the Empire.」

「We won't be attending.」

「My letter said that Dominic and his wife must come as well. The invitation has likely already arrived at your estate.」

「I’d be permitted to fire a **Dragon Breath** toward the Empire, wouldn't I?」

「Wait, wait, wait! Since when did you, the calm and collected 'straight man' of this group, become the one making the jokes? Please go back to being the straight man, otherwise I'm in trouble! If the role of the one who looks at me with cold eyes and says 'Huh? What are you talking about?' disappears, there will be no brakes left!」

「I have no intention of fulfilling such a role!」

「Seriously, stop with the **Breath**. I won't be able to make any excuses about 'accidental fire.'」

「If His Majesty says so...」

「Your attitude toward him is completely different from how you treat me!?」

「I believe it's an appropriate response?」

「Dominic is too biting... no mercy at all.」

I felt a sudden wave of exhaustion. It seems stress really does accumulate when one lacks a source of healing. At any rate, I’ll check on the invitation once I return home. And I want to see Franca’s face. Ah, Franca. Franca... I’m suffering from a Franca deficiency.

「We will treat Ash Forge as having gone missing after defecting to the Empire. As for the imposter who posed as the Third Prince, the Royal Family will handle it.」

「Understood. Please proceed with that as the official story.」

Everyone nodded at the King’s decision.

Ash made my wife suffer tremendously. I could have made his suffering even heavier and more prolonged, but I felt even that time was a waste and disposed of him quickly. The aftermath will be settled through a secret agreement with the Empire. With this, it will be completely buried in the shadows.

If this clears the slate of debts and favors with the Royal Family, then it’s not a bad deal. Now that the talk was over, I had no business here, so I stood up.

A maid who had just finished preparing tea entered the room, but I left without paying her any mind.

「Won't you at least stay for some tea?」

「Thank you, but my wife is supposed to be visiting the Finance Department soon, so I will take my leave.」

「Ah, I see.」

「In that case, I should go and greet Madam Franca as well—」

「Next time.」

「How cruel.」

Prince Alfred was noisy until the very end, but I ignored him and exited the room. I don't think I've ever looked forward to heading to the Finance Department as much as I did today.

—However, at that moment, I didn't pay much attention to the fact that Prince Alfred had backed down so easily. If I had realized why, I would have at least punched him in the stomach. A pity.

*****

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