The Ugly Wife of the Shady Duke

lives of the orphanage would become more abundant.

‘That’s fortunate.’

Feeling pleased about that fact, Grace’s lips curled up slightly.
Somewhere, a faint sound of suppressed breathing could be heard.

Grace’s clouded mind cleared up a little at last.

“…Where were you going, Your Highness?”

“I was just on my way back from the gate management office.”

Benjamin answered Grace’s question with a playful tone, and then quickly added, as if he had just remembered.

“It’s not because of you that my work has piled up.
Since the last time, it was mentioned that the gate management office needed expansion, so gate maintenance workers and magic tool craftsmen have been coming back and forth for inspections.”

Benjamin explained various gate-related terms that Grace couldn’t understand, eventually struggling and scratching his neck.

Somehow, his ears seemed red.

“…So, today, I was curious if they were all inside for inspections.
Since there have been cases where people with a lot of magical power or those who have been exposed to it tend to become confused when they’re close to the magic formula.”

Grace nodded her head, not fully understanding what Benjamin was saying but deciding to go along with it.

Anyway, it seemed like the gate management administration was indeed engaged in gate inspections, just as Grace had thought.

Benjamin, who had been fidgeting with his neck for a while, lowered his hand and hesitated before speaking to her.

“And I know this may be a topic you don’t want to discuss… It’s about the Saintess.”

“The Saintess?”

“Yes, if you allow me, I would like to talk about her.”

Benjamin was asking for Grace’s permission with a very polite attitude.

Grace swallowed her dry saliva and pressed her lips together.

“…Just as friends, I suppose.”

“To be more honest, we are not friends yet.
Not yet, that is.”

‘Not yet?’

“A friend is someone you can casually invite to your house without any reservations.
Regardless of status.
So…”

As Benjamin explained further, he observed Grace’s condition.

Grace’s face was still flushed due to the fever, and the glimmer in her eyes was clearly visible even in the darkness.

“…You’re probably not feeling well, so let’s continue the conversation after you recover.”

“No, I want to hear it.”

“The wind is chilling.
If you keep facing the wind, you’ll only worsen your condition.”

Benjamin’s words may have been out of concern for Grace, but from her perspective, it seemed more likely to lead to misunderstandings.