BSPC 04

Chapter 4

Tamia had assumed that the paper rustling around inside her clothes was obviously the certificate.

But when she pulled it out, it turned out to be a scrap of the magazine instead.

“AAAH! I think I forgot to bring the certificate, husband!”

“Here.”

Leon casually pulled the marriage certificate from inside his clothes and handed it to the government employee.

“You dropped it, so I kept it safe.”

“…You get a hundred points.”

Tamia gave Leon a thumbs-up.

She had thought he was merely incredibly strong, but apparently he had excellent common sense, too.

“Now I can participate in the tournament, right? There’s no problem, is there?!”

“There’s no problem, but…”

Just like the priest before him, the employee’s face gradually turned pale as he accepted the marriage certificate.

“J-just how could someone like this…”

“Shh.”

Leon glared menacingly at the employee, who immediately shut his mouth with a nervous hiccup.

“Hic.”

“Well, since we have to participate in the tournament, you should go home early and get some rest.”

“You’re even worried about my condition? Thank you so much. I really did pick a good husband!”

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning at the entrance to the tournament grounds. You should go.”

“Okay! Take care of yourself too, husband, and get plenty of rest. Oh, right! I have to go find my horse!”

Tamia waved at Leon and quickly disappeared.

Leon let out a deep sigh before approaching the government employee, who was still standing stiffly in place.

“If word gets out that a prince is participating in the tournament, I’ll hold you responsible.”

A pair of crimson eyes glowed with terrifying killing intent beneath the black hood.

“Y-yes, Your Highness!”

The employee could do nothing but nod frantically, his face on the verge of tears.

The day of the tournament had finally arrived.

Tamia carefully brushed her long hair and tied it high on her head before putting on a comfortable riding uniform that allowed for easy movement.

She also strapped the sword she had purchased from Rippel’s forge a few days earlier to her waist.

A familiar bow was slung across her back, and she had brought a generous supply of arrows as well.

“This should be enough.”

Worried that she might be late for the tournament, Tamia headed straight for the hunting grounds on the outskirts of the capital immediately after breakfast.

“Maybe my husband overslept or something… Oh, there he is!”

Leon had arrived even earlier than Tamia and was waiting for her at the entrance to the tournament grounds.

Even from a distance, his tall, striking figure was impossible to miss, along with the muscles he had built through years of training.

Unfortunately, that impressive physique was hidden beneath a shabby black robe.

“What’s with you? Are you some kind of criminal? Why do you keep covering your face?”

Tamia walked closer and poked Leon in the side.

“If I were a criminal, would you call off the marriage?”

“I wouldn’t care even if you were a professional assassin. You’re still my husband.”

Tamia was confident that she could subdue him in an instant even if her husband turned out to be an elite assassin sent by an enemy nation.

Besides, her husband’s identity wasn’t important right now.

The most important thing was the prize money!

The prize money!

“All right, then! Let’s go earn those 2,000 der!”

Excited, Tamia grabbed Leon firmly by the wrist and strode into the tournament grounds.

“Why do you keep grabbing my wrist? Do you normally just grab any man by the wrist like this?”

“What are you talking about? You’re my husband.”

“Even so, we’re going to be divorced in just a few hours…”

“Oh! That must be the waiting area.”

Before Leon could say anything else, Tamia dragged him away.

If Kallen, his aide, had seen the scene, he would have been horrified.

Your Highness! Aaah! Is your wrist all right?! Even if physical contact with other people makes you uncomfortable, please don’t do anything extreme like cutting off your wrist or burning it!

Leon chuckled.

If another noble lady had behaved toward him the way Tamia did, Kallen’s fears might actually have become reality.

Leon Ignatz Valentius, the Second Prince of the Empire, had a condition.

A severe aversion to women.

An extremely severe one.

His statement that he would never marry a woman who couldn’t exchange at least five blows with him was not an exaggeration.

He genuinely had no desire to even be face-to-face with a woman who wasn’t that strong.

And yet, for some reason, he didn’t dislike Tamia touching him.

She hadn’t merely brushed against him.

She had grabbed his wrist so tightly that it felt as though she might break it.

And yet, strangely enough, he actually enjoyed it.

“What are you doing, husband? Why are you so slow?”

Tamia urged Leon on when he failed to move as quickly as she wanted.

“We have to get to the front of the line so we can hunt even one more monster!”

“Haa…”

At that same moment, a deep sigh echoed through the Arderin estate.

“Why on earth is nobody willing to buy these jewels…?”

Several sparkling gemstones lay in Theodore Arderin’s large, rugged hands.

It had already been three days since they had suddenly been confronted with the demand for repayment.

After discussing the matter with his wife, Grita, Theodore had decided to sell some of their jewelry as quickly as possible.

But strangely enough, none of the jewelry would sell.

Ugh, we only sell jewelry. We don’t buy it. Please leave.

Even when he took the jewels to jewelry stores, they all waved him away.

Are these stolen goods? Why are you trying to sell them in such a hurry?

Some people even openly suspected Theodore of being involved in something shady.

As his desperation grew, he eventually went to the underworld, where illegal dealings were commonplace.

But even there, no one was willing to buy the count’s jewels.

“Dear, don’t worry too much. I’ve already asked my family for help since we’re in a bit of a hurry…”

Grita was comforting her husband, Theodore, when—

“Ahem. Is Count Arderin here?”

Someone had come looking for Theodore.

“Why, if it isn’t… Duke Dupont?”

Theodore brightened immediately and hurried outside.

“I heard you moved to the capital, but I’ve been so busy that I haven’t been able to visit. You’ve found yourself a very nice house.”

“Please, come inside.”

“Shall we?”

Theodore led his guest, Duke Alexis Dupont, into the drawing room.

“Your physique hasn’t changed at all. The monsters would probably run away just by seeing you.”

“Haha. I simply make sure not to neglect my training as a warrior.”

“I’ve always been grateful to you. Was it seven years ago already? If you hadn’t helped me back then, I might have been killed by monsters.”

Duke Dupont patted Theodore on the shoulder.

“Not at all. Fighting monsters is my duty.”

Theodore looked embarrassed by the praise.

But then his expression suddenly darkened.

“Er… Duke Dupont. I actually wanted to speak with you.”

“With me?”

The duke raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“Yes. Didn’t you advise me to purchase a townhouse in the capital? You also recommended a financial institution to me.”

“That’s right.”

“But the financial institution you recommended…”

Theodore hesitated.

“It’s rather strange. I had barely borrowed the money when they suddenly notified me that I had to repay 1,000 der immediately.”

Duke Dupont rested his chin on one hand and looked Theodore over with an amused expression.

“Hmm. That doesn’t sound right. Are you sure you haven’t misunderstood something, Count?”

Theodore lowered his head awkwardly.

“No. The creditors have already come to see me. They said they would seize the estate if I don’t repay 1,000 der within a week…”

After hearing the situation, Duke Dupont clicked his tongue.

“That’s quite a difficult situation. As you know, Imperial law is rather strict toward those who owe money. Unfortunately, I think you should find some way to repay the debt as quickly as possible.”

“Could you… help me?”

Theodore swallowed his pride and bowed his head.

“Strangely enough, all my sources of funds seem to have dried up.”

“If that’s the case, Count…”

Duke Dupont gave him a sinister smile before continuing.

“Your daughter is twenty-two this year, isn’t she? Have you considered marrying her off?”

“Marriage?”

Theodore looked up in confusion at the unexpected proposal.

“Ahem. My son, Chris, seems to have taken quite a liking to your daughter.”

“What?”

“I’m suggesting that our families become in-laws. If you agree, I’ll not only pay off the 1,000 der, but also settle the entire debt you incurred when purchasing this townhouse.”

“That…”

Theodore was rendered speechless.

Come to think of it, seven years ago, when he had saved the duke, his son Chris had seemed rather fond of Tamia.

But at the time, they had both been barely fourteen years old, so Theodore hadn’t thought much of it.

“Duke Dupont, I believe that’s something I should discuss with my daughter first.”

When Theodore refused to immediately accept the duke’s proposal, Duke Dupont’s expression turned cold.