Aden de Biflten did not need improvisation, unless it was on the battlefield, as he now had the power of being the head of the Biflten. However, a problem like this could not be solved with this power.

‘Why is he like that?’ Milo mouthed the words to Idith silently as Aden had excellent hearing and luckily his master didn’t seem to notice.

“Can’t Your Highness appear as yourself before her?” Milo’s solution was simple, as the frail bride would not be able to notice a skilled swordsman like Aden if he chose to hide his status.

Aden didn’t answer, and Idith hit Milo’s arm when the merchant had been about to speak again while keeping his eyes on the Duke. He was thinking of an improbable possibility. Why had his master gone there?

Idith thought of his master standing in front of his bride and the conversation he’d overheard. Aden had entered the room as the Duke but pretended to be the knight’s leader in front of Ilyin. He’d wanted to talk to her face to face and had even made a flimsy excuse for being there, which was definitely unlike him. Idith thought that he knew how things stood and felt that he was a step ahead of his master this time.

While the servants whispered about how Aden preferred women of the Empire, Idith didn’t think of it as a bad thing, if that was who he chose.action

His master didn’t like the wintry lands that had swallowed his mother from his childhood, as Idith had been around him from that time, and knew what had happened. Aden wanted to eradicate the cold. And while he abhorred the three families, he raised his sword to protect the north. That was enough for Idith, and he didn’t care why Aden loved his bride. He sounded like a young man in love rather than the bloody ruler of the wintry lands.

“How about letting her know?” Milo added with a cold sweat, as Aden had remained silent.

Aden finally looked up to Milo, “Let her know?”

“Yes, the mistress won’t be able to get out of the manor anyway.”

Ilyin was surrounded only by the Delrose maids and didn’t seem to like the maids from the other families. She had tried to take off the blue cloth, knowing that it belonged to the Blue North, but it was bitter cold.

“Your Highness has deceived her from the beginning,” Milo remarked bravely and Idith blinked in shock.

He didn’t seem to see what the problem was until Idith gave him a death stare. Milo’s eyes widened as he mouthed silently, asking whether his assumption was correct. However, Idith had no intention of answering as Milo had been the one to create this situation.

Idith had ordered the Delrose knights, on the day of his master’s visit, to enter the bride’s room if they needed to convey any messages. He couldn’t explain further what his master was thinking of the incredulous knights. However, he added that they must ask for the bride’s permission, which was all he could say. Milo had not been there, as he was outside, and he should’ve been quick-witted enough to step back if he felt that something weird was going on, instead of saying things outright.

“Use Milo instead,” Idith suggested, and Aden folded his arms and leaned back. It was a sign that Idith should explain further. Milo’s eyes nearly popped out but Idith ignored the man standing next to him while he spoke.

***

Questions filled Aden’s mind constantly. Why was he acting like this? That particular question came back to him in a different way after he’d walked down the same corridor four times. What made him act so unlike himself? As the mollies seemed to be plotting something outside of the castle walls, he had a lot more important things to think about.

Since he’d destroyed most of the herd, he had time on his hands. However, he could destroy the rest of them easily if he jumped at this opportunity, but he was procrastinating. Instead, he was walking around while waiting for his bride to walk by, as he wanted her to think that their meeting was by chance. He didn’t understand himself and had been about to turn around when she appeared in front of him, like an illusion. Ilyin seemed as much surprised as he was.

“Hello.” His voice was deep and mellow.

Ilyin held a hand to stop him as he approached her, “Can you stop there for a moment?” She seemed like a wary small animal, and Aden halted, even though she wasn’t the slightest bit threatening. “I’ve heard different things from what you told me before,” she said bluntly.

Her knack of getting straight to the point made Aden think of her letter, which made him smile. Ilyin tilted her head as Aden waited for her to speak. “I do not know much about Biflten yet.”

“I know.” Aden carefully listened to her words.

“However, a strange man coming into my room seemed to be something out of the ordinary.”