The Survival Strategy of the Contract Duchess - Chapter 48

The Emperor and Sasha both turned their eyes toward Kyler, who sat between them. As he was quietly eating, he noticed their gaze and paused his chewing for a moment, slipping into thought.

To clear his head, he let his eyes wander around the room.

When the large doors opened earlier, the banquet hall revealed its grand appearance. The space stretched wide without a single pillar obstructing the view.

Even though the room wasn’t overly decorated, it was still breathtakingly beautiful. It wasn’t his first time here, but the sight still impressed him every time.

As he looked around the hall, his gaze naturally returned to Sasha. It wasn’t as if she had anything particularly flashy or attention-grabbing, yet somehow, his eyes always found her. It was strange, even to him.

“I know how much you have done for the Empire,” the Emperor said. “And I believe we should accommodate you. Don’t you all agree?”

He directed the comment at Kyler, who looked like he was lost in thought. The nobles who had been watching quickly nodded in agreement.

Whatever they thought of Kyler personally didn’t matter. He clearly did difficult and thankless work, and they could all acknowledge that.

At first, Sasha had seemed overly concerned. After all, this was something Kyler had done many times. Monster hunting was nothing new. The banquet was scheduled for the next day. All he had to do was attend and eat.

But thinking back to how she had suddenly gotten upset yesterday when Kyler casually said he would come, he knew he couldn’t just brush it off anymore.

Kyler turned to the Emperor and finally spoke.

“I am tired.”

The Emperor chuckled softly.

Strangely, after saying it out loud, Kyler really did begin to feel the fatigue settle into his body.

Maybe he had been pushing through the exhaustion with sheer willpower, convincing himself he was fine and continuing to move without rest. And it was the woman sitting beside him, who was now eating happily and speaking her thoughts so freely to the Emperor, who had made him realize it.

The woman who carried his name. His person.

It was a feeling slightly different from the loyalty and camaraderie he shared with the Emperor.

“Tired, you say. Very well. If you have returned from a long expedition, there is no need to attend banquets or gatherings right away,” the Emperor said, clearly satisfied with the answer.

Sasha, who had been bracing herself to argue further, looked up at the Emperor in surprise.

“Really? You mean it’s alright?”

“Yes. Kyler doesn’t have any official duties here today, does he? Then it should be fine.”

He knew that fighting monsters was far more exhausting than political matters. It was clear even capturing criminals was a heavy burden, and monsters would be far worse.

Thinking it over now, it made sense. The expeditions were completely left in Kyler’s hands. Whenever something serious happened, he would be the one dispatched, even if it was sudden or outside a set schedule.

Kyler didn’t argue with the Emperor’s decision. He accepted it without fuss.

Monsters had become more dangerous lately, even more than rebels. The threats to the Empire were many, and even if one problem was dealt with, peace never lasted long for him.

Sometimes, the trouble came like a natural disaster. The noise, the unpredictability—there was no way to prepare for it.

That was why Kyler continued to respond to the Emperor’s summons. He knew these threats couldn’t be controlled, and no one could fully predict them.

Still, all he wanted now was to return. Just three days apart, and yet he hadn’t realized how much he would miss her.

Now that he had a bit of time, it was a relief to know he could be by her side for a while.

“In that case, let’s keep today to lunch only,” the Emperor announced. “Everyone can take the rest of the day to rest.”

“Your Majesty,” Midienna said sharply, startled by his decision as she turned toward him.

The banquet was not just for food and conversation. It was a place to observe every noble. Who sat next to whom, what conversations were shared, who supported the Emperor’s opinions—it was a way to understand the entire court.

Kyler, in particular, played an important role. Sometimes, his presence was intimidating. Other times, it helped maintain balance. No one openly acted foolish here, but a few had made mistakes in the past. His presence kept things in check.

These gatherings were not just for socializing. They were meant to show the Emperor’s authority.

But today, the Emperor willingly let it go. As he calmly began to rise from his seat, Midienna stared at him in disbelief. Lydian watched her silently.

“Is something wrong?” the Emperor asked.

There were many things wrong, but the real issue was that these were problems only from Midienna’s perspective.

She had no other opportunity to see Kyler. There was never a private setting arranged between them. These gatherings were her only chance to speak with him or even make eye contact.

Now, if those chances became less frequent, what was she supposed to do?

“Oh, do you like this? I like it too,” Sasha said brightly, unaware of the storm swirling behind her.

Even now, Midienna was growing anxious that he might stand up and leave. And at that moment, a cheerful voice beside her reached her ears.

She slowly lowered her gaze.

Sasha was leaning close to Kyler, whispering to him with a bright tone. Midienna’s eyes narrowed sharply. They had nothing in common, and yet something about the atmosphere felt off.

This was not the Kyler she had known.

He had always been a man who carried the air of a lone wolf, keeping everyone at a distance with a cold, expressionless face.

Young noblewomen who tried to approach him often ended up hurt by his icy demeanor. Even other men found it hard to speak to him comfortably or build any sense of camaraderie.

That was exactly what she had liked most about him. She had never been able to have him, but at least no one else could either.

She had only ever managed to exchange brief words with him, and now that even that was gone, she felt that no one should be allowed to have it.

He had been the perfect example of a man out of reach. It was comforting to think of him as someone she could quietly admire without ever having to confess her feelings.

But now, that man had been taken away. And it was because of this strange woman who had appeared out of nowhere.

“Then here, try this,” Kyler said quietly.

“I didn’t ask for it. You eat it,” Sasha replied, her voice playful but soft.

Their easy conversation continued as if Midienna’s presence meant nothing at all.

Compared to Sasha’s younger sister, Lady Ivern, Midienna had always found Sasha to be more graceful. Her eyes weren’t showy, but they sparkled with a gentle light that left a lasting impression.

Midienna had once believed Sasha’s lively energy wouldn’t match someone like Kyler. But seeing the way he looked at her with such soft, relaxed eyes, she realized her thoughts had been completely wrong. The shock of it hit her harder than she expected.

Even more unsettling was the expression on Kyler’s face. That gentle, relaxed look, shown only to his wife, suited him far too well.

“No issue. None at all,” Midienna finally muttered, biting her lower lip.

She answered the Emperor’s earlier question without even looking at him.

The Emperor smiled slightly, raising the corner of his mouth, and turned to chat with a nobleman across the table. He had already moved on to discussing the next council meeting.

“Already finished eating?” Kyler asked in a low voice.

Midienna heard the voice clearly. She knew it well. But why did it sound so kind?

Earlier, just hearing his voice had annoyed her. But now that she was truly listening, she realized it wasn’t his usual tone.

Her brows furrowed deeply. Her expression began to crumble, and she could no longer hide it.

“Yes, I finished. The food was amazing. I wonder if the palace chefs were behind it?” Sasha said with a cheerful smile.

That smile only made things worse. It was beautiful. Too beautiful. And it made Midienna burn with anger.

She had once spent time wondering how she could sit in that seat. Eventually, she gave up and told herself that the empty space beside Kyler was as good as hers.

Now, she saw how foolish that had been. Her eyes, filled with jealousy, now glowed like embers ready to burst into flame.

“You put on a very convincing act, pretending to be such a loving wife,” Midienna said coldly.

She had finally spoken the words she had been holding back. She would have to deal with the consequences later, but if she could use this moment to stir things up again, it might be worth it.

One noble lady had already begun to waver after watching Elina’s performance at the last event. That was the plan.

If even one person started to question Sasha, and if that person repeated it, the rumor would spread. Even if it began quietly, it would grow stronger over time.

Surprisingly, nothing much had happened yet. It seemed like someone was deliberately keeping the whispers contained.

But that was how rumors always started. With a few doubtful words, slowly growing louder.

Letting the moment pass would only leave her with bottled-up anger. That was something she could not tolerate.

Sasha blinked, startled, and looked across the table toward Midienna. The words were so sudden, so out of place, she couldn’t even be sure if they were meant for her.

But there was no one else Midienna could be addressing. No one else drew that kind of attention from her.

“Your Majesty, are you speaking to me?” Sasha asked calmly.

She could hardly believe Midienna would bring something up like this, especially here. And with Elina not even present?

But there was nothing else she could have meant.

Sasha tried to think logically, but she knew the woman in front of her was not acting with logic anymore. Her fingers tightened slightly around her water glass.

Beneath the table, her left hand was still being held tightly by Kyler. His large hand had not let go of hers for even a moment.

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