WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Ceaseless

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◈ The Northern Grand Duke’s Mad Son-in-Law ◈

Chapter 62: Unboxing

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“Galahad! Come!”

Galahad smiled at the goateed man’s call.

This was the man who had called him “imperial bastard” to the bitter end before. Now he called him Galahad.

Absurdly, the change meant more to him than a salute.

“Put this on! Sweep your hair back!”

The clothes the goateed man held out were a suit entirely in red. They looked to be of fine quality, but the color was far too vivid.

“Every color suits me, but I prefer black.”

“Put it on! It’s His Grace the Grand Duke’s command!”

“Then I have no choice.”

Galahad obediently changed clothes.

“But why red?”

The goateed man answered as if Galahad had asked something obvious.

“Blood won’t show on it!”

“Hmm. Could you call Adrianna for a moment?”

Unfortunately, Adrianna refused Galahad’s request.

The Grand Duke had ordered a private audience.

There was no changing Adrianna’s mind when she believed she was right.

‘Hmm. Blood really won’t show.’

Looking down at the red clothes, Galahad let out a low hum.

It seemed like a convincing reason.

“Go on!”

Once he was ready and stepped out of the room, Theodore was waiting for him.

“It suits you well.”

“Clothes have always looked good on me.”

Galahad replied while touching the back of his neck. Theodore made a faintly disgusted face.

“This way.”

Galahad followed Theodore.

“I think very highly of Captain Galahad’s accomplishments. I look forward to working with you. I hope you return safely.”

Before long, Theodore stopped before a thick door.

Adrianna was nowhere to be seen. Clicking his tongue softly, Galahad entered the Grand Duke’s room alone.

Just as during his previous visit, the Grand Duke’s room was still horrible.

Stuffed Monsters and Demonkin filled every inch of the room.

Now that he was here for the second time, Galahad noticed things he had missed before.

‘He tore them apart himself.’

Every edge of the taxidermied creatures was rough, as if they had been ripped apart by hand.

The Monsters that had seemed to roar viciously during his last visit looked different now. They looked as though they were barking in terror at a beast.

The farther inward the displays went, the larger and more intimidating the stuffed Monsters became.

At the very end stood the Grand Duke.

Galahad let out a low hum when he saw him.

Though they were in the North, the Grand Duke’s bare upper body looked closer to that of a Monster than a human’s. His massive muscles rippled constantly as if they were alive.

He was a man who tore Monsters apart with an axe without using aura.

He had already gone beyond the bounds of humanity.

The Grand Duke stroked the handle of his enormous axe.

“It is an honor to meet the ruler of the North.”

Galahad bowed in greeting.

“The Princess sent a letter.”

The Grand Duke spoke as though tossing out the words. Galahad swallowed a groan.

“She was looking for you.”

“I’m exceptionally capable, so I’m sought after in all sorts of places.”

Galahad answered as calmly as he could.

The corner of the Grand Duke’s mouth rose.

Usually, a smile softened someone’s face. The Grand Duke was the opposite. His expression only became fiercer.

He looked like a beast before tearing into the nape of its prey.

How had Adrianna come from that Monster? His wife must have been an exceptionally beautiful woman.

“Yes, because of your ability?”

The Grand Duke asked in a low voice. The question sounded like an interrogation, and Galahad’s mind raced.

Had the Princess openly pulled some mad stunt? The other party was the Grand Duke. The messenger she sent would surely have been searched upon leaving the Imperial Palace.

There could not have been anything private in the letter.

Once he had finished calculating, Galahad smiled.

“It’s all because I’m capable and handsome.”

A low laugh escaped the Grand Duke’s mouth. Strangely, the atmosphere became even sharper.

His back prickled for no reason, and his throat felt dry. It was like sticking his face into a beast’s jaws.

Galahad casually circulated mana through his body, preparing for anything that might happen.

Once he had prepared for every possibility, Galahad quietly looked up at the Grand Duke.

“I see.”

The Grand Duke rose from his seat. The room had a very high ceiling, but when the Grand Duke stood, it felt full.

He was truly enormous.

The Grand Duke approached Galahad. With every step, Galahad circulated mana. His smile grew increasingly strained.

Before long, the Grand Duke stood close to him, exactly close enough to reach Galahad with an outstretched arm.

His hair stood on end, but Galahad lowered his hand as if nothing were wrong.

The Grand Duke, now standing directly before him, stared silently at Galahad. His eyes were so hot that Galahad felt as if his own were burning, but he did not look away.

Could he kill him...?

His old professional instincts resurfaced.

‘It would be difficult.’

Just as Galahad began reconsidering his calculations, the Grand Duke spoke.

“Adultery is punishable by death.”

The Grand Duke’s voice was firm. His eyes shifted to the side.

There was an empty spot between the head of a dragon-like Monster and the head of a bear-like Monster.

The displays became more important the farther inward they went.

That space, right beside the Grand Duke, had to be extremely important.

Yet such an important spot was empty.

‘It was definitely filled when I came last time.’

Galahad’s memory could not have been wrong, so the space must have been newly made.

Why make an empty spot and point it out to him?

The intention was obvious.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Galahad replied, touching his suddenly cold neck.

The corner of the Grand Duke’s mouth rose viciously again.

“You will handle the Princess.”

After speaking in a low voice, the Grand Duke returned to his seat.

Once seated, he slowly closed his eyes.

It seemed the meeting was wrapping up.

Galahad headed for the door.

Before leaving, he spoke up.

“But we haven’t even had a wedding or engagement ceremony yet, have we?”

“What?”

At the Grand Duke’s wide-eyed glare, Galahad hurriedly shut the door.

Fortunately, it did not open again.

Galahad slowly released the breath he had been holding.

‘The Grand Duke thinks about his daughter a lot.’

Adrianna was his only child, so it was only natural. Still, the Grand Duke had risen to his position through the blood of his own siblings and relatives.

He had never taken any particular action for Adrianna, so it had been unclear whether he cherished her.

Adrianna had risen through her own ability. In truth, she had practically been left to fend for herself.

Yet the Grand Duke had summoned Galahad to warn him.

‘Adrianna is the Grand Duke’s weakness.’

It was an occupational hazard.

Galahad muttered bitterly and put a cigarette in his mouth.

By putting the Princess in Galahad’s hands, the Grand Duke meant for him to deal with her himself.

‘Deal with her...’

His thoughts were complicated.

Then steady footsteps sounded behind him. It was the sound of metal striking metal, yet refined and light. Whoever it was had to be a highly skilled knight.

When he turned, he saw a dignified knight in thick silver armor.

It was Liam, commander of the Second Battalion.

‘They said he was the most influential commander.’

Galahad recalled what he had heard.

The Grand Duke never left the castle, and Adrianna only hunted Demonkin at the border.

That made the commander of the Second Battalion the one considered to hold the greatest real power.

Excluding the Fifth, Seventh, and First Battalions connected to Galahad, it would not be an exaggeration to say every battalion fell under the Second Battalion.

Some even said Liam’s skill rivaled Adrianna’s.

Before Galahad arrived, Liam had also been considered a leading candidate to become Adrianna’s husband.

Because of that, Galahad naturally expected Liam to pick a fight.

Contrary to his expectations, Liam greeted him first.

“Good to meet you, Captain Galahad.”

Liam casually removed his gauntlet and held out his hand.

His eyes were clear.

They were a knight’s eyes.

“Good to meet you, Liam.”

When Galahad clasped his hand, it was firm and covered in calluses. It was a rough hand, no less than Gilbert’s.

Out of habit, Galahad let mana flow through their clasped hands. Liam’s mana was entirely ordinary.

“Your hands are soft like a woman’s.”

“Your hands are rough like a Monster’s.”

“They are the hands of the North.”

Galahad had expected a contest of strength, but Liam unexpectedly let go gently.

“I heard of what you’ve accomplished recently. You prevented a crisis that could’ve greatly harmed the North. Impressive.”

The next words were also unlike what Galahad had expected: a blunt compliment.

“I only did what I had to.”

“I see. I heard you’ll be taking part in the duel with the Empire.”

“That’s right.”

“You are also a commander of the North. Losing to the Empire would be disgraceful, so do your best.”

“I appreciate the concern, but you should worry about yourself. The Empire’s knights are no pushovers.”

“Good confidence.”

Liam nodded at Galahad without showing any offense.

“Still, as a commander of the North, I will not lose to an imperial bastard.”

“Good luck.”

With that brief remark, Liam passed Galahad.

For a moment, Galahad reflected on their conversation.

Liam’s eyes were clear, and his confidence overflowed. In that brief exchange, he had mentioned the North four times.

‘He’s crazy about the North.’

Clicking his tongue, Galahad shook out his hand.

The Princess was his biggest problem now.

Galahad turned to look beyond the window.

‘Should I get rid of her cleanly?’

His eyes darkened.

* * *

The Grand Duke’s castle was thrown into chaos by the news of the Princess’s arrival.

The fact that the pretext was a duel created an odd tension.

As always, the Grand Duke gave no orders.

Still, they could not simply welcome the Princess without preparation.

Everyone moved on their own to show that the North remained strong.

Before long, the Grand Duke’s castle was filled with tension.

When the sun was at its highest, a faint sound came from somewhere.

It was music. Turning toward the sound, a golden carriage came into view in the distance.

Made of gold and shining extravagantly, the carriage looked as though the sun itself had melted.

Knights in golden armor escorted it from the front. The armor’s magnificent quality went without saying, and their horses gleamed with health.

Then the music grew louder. It came from behind the carriage. An open carriage followed the golden one.

Various musicians were in the carriage, their hands moving busily over different instruments.

A pleasant melody spread through the air.

A carriage accompanied by knights in golden armor and music in the desolate North... The soldiers’ expressions became strange.

‘She’s still the same.’

Galahad clicked his tongue as he looked over the procession.

Most were imperial knights, but one familiar face stood among them.

It was a man with a splendid mustache and several long banners fixed to his back.

Knowing who he was, Galahad let out a low hum.

“Do you know that knight?”

Gilbert asked, pointing at the man. Galahad nodded.

“That is Sir Paul Verian, a duel specialist whose hobby is taking his opponents’ banners.”

“Is he strong?”

“Count the banners on his back.”

At Galahad’s question, Gilbert narrowed his eyes.

“There are only ten.”

“The lowest one belongs to a count’s house.”

Gilbert pressed his lips together. Competitive spirit blazed in his eyes.

‘Paul Verian...’

Galahad muttered as he looked at the familiar banners.

He expected the Princess to prepare thoroughly, but she had brought someone even more troublesome than expected.

She must have lured him here using northern knights as bait. He was a knight driven by competitive spirit. Still, Paul Verian had another master. He could not be moved so easily.

‘Could it be...?’

As the carriage approached, the music grew louder.

The music quickened and swelled.

The musicians’ faces were drenched in sweat. They plucked and struck their instruments madly, as if they would die if they stopped playing.

That bizarre desperation filled the melody.

An odd tension settled over the area.

At the very moment the swelling performance abruptly stopped...

The carriage came to a halt.

Galahad frowned at the sound of Gilbert swallowing.

A familiar knight approached the carriage.

‘Deban.’

It was Deban, the Princess’s knight. Deban was a fairly good knight. He respectfully opened the carriage door.

A long, pale leg emerged from the carriage.

Exclamations rose from all around.

Then a red-haired woman slowly stepped down. She was only getting out of a carriage, yet she was graceful and dignified, the embodiment of elegance. There was not the slightest flaw in her movements.

As the Princess descended from the carriage, more exclamations burst out.

Calmly accepting the gazes pouring in from every direction, the Princess looked around.

She seemed to be searching for something, and Galahad frowned.

Then the Princess looked directly at Galahad. She found him among the countless people without the slightest pause, making his throat feel rough for no reason.

The Princess smiled when she saw him.

Cheers erupted once more. Those who had treated the Empire as something to be killed before her arrival now stood with their mouths open in admiration.

“Sir Gilbert, close your mouth.”

“...Huh?”

Clicking his tongue, Galahad stepped forward.

The Princess was already walking toward him. She did not blink even once.

Everyone was watching.

The Grand Duke was surely watching too, though he pretended otherwise.

Above all, Adrianna stood right beside him.

If the Princess caused trouble here, things would become extremely bothersome.

But the Princess was not someone who cared about such things.

She was a member of the imperial family.

When the Princess stopped before him, she smiled broadly.

Her smile was in full bloom. A thick floral fragrance wafted through the air.

Before the Princess’s blood-red lips could part, Galahad snapped his fingers.

A thin barrier surrounded them.

Adrianna was the problem.

“Thank you for visiting the North. I am Galahad, assigned to guide you.”

Galahad said, glancing sideways at Adrianna.

“It has been a long time, Your Highness. I am Adrianna.”

Adrianna greeted her, but the Princess’s eyes never left Galahad.

The Princess’s eyes were bloodshot.

It was because she had not blinked once since seeing Galahad.

Then the Princess’s lips slowly parted.

Her first words were...

“I missed you.”

They were blunt words that did not suit her.

Adrianna’s eyebrows trembled fiercely.

Without realizing it, Adrianna turned her gaze toward Galahad.

The usual ease on his face had been replaced by a faint frown.

“I didn’t miss you very much.”

At the irritation in his voice, Adrianna was startled.

The other person was an imperial Princess. How could he speak so roughly to her?

“You’re still the same. That’s a relief.”

The Princess smiled even more deeply.

“You’re still the same too. Damnably so.”

Adrianna’s eyes widened at the rough words that did not suit Galahad.

The Princess laughed aloud, but her eyes did not smile.

“A duel for the sake of friendship. Have you finally found a place to die?”

“Didn’t I tell you? You’ll be buried with me.”

“I clearly refused.”

“I said refusal was not allowed.”

Their sharp exchange continued.

Adrianna unconsciously took a step back.

“Bring the gift.”

At the Princess’s command, a knight moved.

Soon, the knight carefully brought out a box.

It was lavishly wrapped with red ribbon.

“A gift? I don’t need it.”

“You’ll like it.”

Galahad’s expression darkened further.

The Princess handed him the gift. Galahad irritably tore open the box.

Standing beside him, Adrianna unconsciously peeked inside.

It held a finger that appeared to belong to a man.

One wearing a ring.

Adrianna’s eyes widened at the sight.

Then Galahad...

“Oh my.”

He smiled brightly.

Watching the two face each other, Adrianna felt a strange distance between them.

‘A ring...?’

Adrianna’s eyebrows lowered.

Footnotes:

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