Chapter 75

“Your Majesty, I cannot possibly agree to that.”

“Ha! That is an imperial order!”

Cali declared boldly with a bright laugh, and Dylan received it with a faintly irritated look. No matter how playful she was, an imperial order was still an imperial order.

Cali hummed a tune as she stood up.

“Dylan, go and change into something nice. I can spar like this as I am.”

“That is nothing to boast about.”

“Enough nagging. Hurry up. If you take too long, you can look forward to seeing how uncomfortable I’ll make your lovely new bride.”

“Ha…”

Dylan exhaled a quiet sigh and turned to Agnes.

“Madam, whatever Her Majesty asks, it is all in jest. You can answer casually. There is no need to take it too seriously.”

Agnes could not bring herself to promise such a thing, so she only smiled faintly.

That seemed enough for Dylan to believe his point was clear, and he turned around to follow the servant out.

Meanwhile, Cali smiled at Agnes and gestured with her chin.

“Let’s head to the sparring grounds first.”

Cali walked ahead confidently, speaking as she passed.

“You look well. Life in the north seems to suit you.”

It was the kind of warm question an older sister might ask her younger brother’s wife, and Agnes smiled softly.

“Of course. The north is a wonderful place. The people are kind, and the scenery is beautiful.”

“Does that child like it too? The boy from Overhen’s family.”

Cali frowned slightly, as if trying to recall Noah’s name. Agnes nodded.

“Yes, my son seems to like the north very much. He made a friend and keeps begging me to visit their house every day.”

“That is good. Having friends is important. The social circles in the provinces are much better for that. They are less judgmental than the ones in the capital.”

Agnes saw no reason to deny that honest opinion.

“Have you ever attended a provincial social gathering, Your Majesty?”

“I have. I once lived in the south. I was fifteen at the time, and when Dylan, four years younger than me, surpassed me in swordsmanship, the late Emperor decided to send me there.”

Cali strode into the large training hall within the Imperial Palace.

It was an enormous space, almost too vast to believe it was indoors. She reached toward the weapon rack without even looking and drew a sword, clearly familiar with the place.

Perhaps because of their conversation, the blade she lifted seemed to glint with a sharp, icy light.

The late Emperor’s reason for sending Cali south had been obvious. He had wanted to separate the siblings before any conflict over succession could lead to bloodshed.

To move the conversation away from such a sensitive subject, Agnes calmly changed topics.

“How was life in the south? I heard Your Majesty met the envoy from the southern kingdom there.”

Cali gripped her sword more comfortably and smiled, easily seeing through Agnes’s attempt to avoid the harsh topic.

Spinning the sword lightly in her hand, she shrugged.

“It wasn’t a bad place. The people there are cheerful and innocent. A perfect place for love to bloom. But that doesn’t mean my marriage had any love in it. Maybe that’s why I’m curious about how happy my brother’s marriage is, since he supposedly married for love.”

Agnes swallowed and tried to respond in the most ordinary tone possible.

“We are spending our days happily.”

“Are you?”

Cali smiled slyly, fixing her sharp blue gaze on Agnes as if piercing right through her.

“I can see that life in the north pleases you. But I wonder if my brother is also making you happy. You never talk about him.”

Agnes drew a sharp breath before she could stop herself.

Cali’s laughter rang out, her shoulders shaking with amusement.

“So he’s not doing well, is he?”

“N-no, that’s not it at all. Absolutely not.”

Flustered, Agnes waved her hands in protest, and Cali laughed even louder, delighted.

“You’re blushing like that. Now it really sounds like he isn’t.”

Agnes gave an awkward smile and brushed back a strand of hair that hadn’t even fallen out of place.

Normally, she would have responded easily to such teasing. She would have smiled perfectly and kept up the façade of a blissful marriage without the slightest tremor.

But this time was different. Why had she become so flustered?

It wasn’t true that Dylan neglected her. Quite the opposite.

Agnes believed he treated her far too well. If giving a little blood every five days was the price for such comfort and respect, anyone would have accepted this marriage without hesitation.

What troubled her was only that Dylan had been avoiding conversations with her lately.

And yet, because of that tiny issue, she had let herself look uneasy before Cali.

Cali studied Agnes’s trembling eyes with quiet amusement. Then she smirked.

“Tell me. What exactly is it that my brother isn’t good at?”

Agnes took a breath and answered in a calmer tone than before.

“Not at all, Your Majesty. I was only flustered to be speaking before someone so distinguished. His Grace is always kind to me. It’s thanks to him that I was able to adapt to the north so quickly. He is thoughtful and never overlooks the smallest detail.”

“Ahaha!”

Cali burst into laughter again. Agnes realized a moment too late that she was being teased.

Her face burned. Dylan had warned her that Cali’s questions would be jokes, that she should simply answer lightly, yet she had failed to do so.

She covered her flushed cheeks with her hand and let out a small sigh.

“I have shown poor manners. Please forgive me.”

“Poor manners? Hardly. I was the one teasing you. No need to be nervous.”

Cali chuckled and shook her head.

“But I’ll tell you this. If he ever upsets you, it’s not because he doesn’t care. He just struggles to express himself.”

It was clear she was defending her brother. She sounded like an affectionate sister who couldn’t bear to see him misunderstood by his wife.

The warmth in that everyday tone left Agnes momentarily speechless.

Cali suddenly lifted her chin and pointed toward the training hall entrance.

“Look there. He’s probably afraid I’ll eat you alive.”

Agnes turned to see Dylan approaching swiftly in training clothes, his eyes flicking between Cali and her.

Cali laughed so hard she had to hold her stomach.

“Hahaha! I’ve never seen that look on his face before.”

Still chuckling, she lightly tapped Agnes’s arm and whispered,

“See? He’s not indifferent to you at all. Stop worrying and just learn how to handle him properly.”

“Handle him…”

Agnes’s eyes widened in surprise, just as Dylan reached them with long strides.

“As expected, Your Majesty has been teasing my wife. Madam, whatever was said, pay it no mind. Her Majesty tends to forget her own words moments later.”

“I was defending you, actually. You’re the one who makes her feel neglected.”

Agnes stared at Cali in shock, while Dylan turned his sharp gaze toward his sister before glancing back at Agnes.

His eyes no longer held any edge. Instead, they were filled with confusion.

“What…”

“N-no, it’s not like that!”

Agnes waved her hands frantically, trying to explain, but Dylan still looked unconvinced.

“Come now. Save your lovers’ quarrel for later. Let’s spar first.”

Cali’s cheerful voice cut in before Agnes could say more. She clearly had no intention of giving them time to clarify.

Dylan sighed, walked to the weapon rack, and picked up a sword at random.

“Madam, I will accompany Her Majesty for a short while. Please make yourself comfortable. We’ll speak later.”

“Yes, of course.”

Agnes nodded and stepped back toward the wall.

Cali moved to the center of the training hall, and Dylan followed behind her, his expression slightly weary.