Episode 106. Honeymoon (1)

Instead of a grand wedding, we chose to go on a honeymoon.

Still, considering our positions, we couldn’t just decide and leave immediately, even after getting the Emperor’s permission. We had to bring along bodyguards, handmaidens, and attendants to assist us.

The chamberlain, who heard about our honeymoon plans, asked for a week to prepare. It’s already been five days.

‘Ah, I’m so excited. I want to leave as soon as possible.’

Lying on the bed while the maids attended to me, I propped up my chin and whistled.

‘It was a spur-of-the-moment decision to suggest a honeymoon instead of another wedding ceremony because I felt pressured, but it seems like a pretty good idea.’

Besides, we could travel outside the capital and even visit our territories along the way.

‘Good job, me. You’re smart, me.’

I praised myself enthusiastically. As I did so, the maids smiled warmly and asked,

“Is there anything else you need? Shall I have the chef bake some cookies?”

You’re all determined to keep feeding me, aren’t you?

‘They always offer snacks the moment I look even a little bored.’

Not that I dislike snacks, of course. Snacks are delicious! While I was overworked at the Imperial Palace, at the Stewart estate, I had nothing much to do, so no one minded if I leisurely lazed around with some tea and warm scones.

But today, I wasn’t particularly in the mood for snacks. Instead of nodding, I sat up from the bed and said,

“Could you bring me a map?”

The maid’s eyes widened in surprise.

“A map?”

“Yes. I want to see which cities we’ll pass through during our honeymoon.”

It didn’t suit me to just sit back and wait for Percy to decide where he’d take me on our honeymoon.

When I nodded energetically, the maid’s expression became awkward. After rolling her eyes for a moment, she clenched her fists and responded,

“Maps are classified as top-secret state documents, but if my lady wishes to see one, I’ll risk my life to fetch it.”

“No, that’s not necessary!!”

Why so serious?

I was just asking to see the map to plan our trip, not something that required risking anyone’s life. Feeling a bit suspicious, I narrowed my eyes at the maid. Could she be trying to startle me again?

“Is it really top secret? You’re not just teasing me, right?”

“Who would joke about something like that?”

“Huh.”

But it turned out to be true!

‘Who would have thought that a map could be something worth risking your life for?’

I was relieved that the maids didn’t hold back and told me everything. If they had been too scared to mention that obtaining a map could be life-threatening, and had just gone off to fetch it without telling me, it would have led to quite a mess, wouldn’t it?

On further reflection, it made sense that a map could be considered top-secret.

‘If someone had a map during a war, they could easily conquer a place. Even Kim Satgat got flogged in the Joseon Dynasty for drawing maps.’

But without a map, it’s difficult to plan anything.

As I crossed my arms and groaned, one of the maids offered an alternative.

“The master probably has a map. Shall I ask him to show it to you?”

“No, I don’t need anything that detailed…”

I just wanted to know which regions we’d pass through and what those regions were famous for.

Understanding my intention, the maid clapped her hands together.

“Aha! There might be a general map in the library that doesn’t show detailed locations. Shall I fetch it?”

“Let’s go together.”

It felt like I wouldn’t step outside the room at this rate, so I slipped my feet into my slippers.

‘I appreciate being treated with care, but a person needs to move around.’

The people of the Stewart household were so eager to cater to my whims that I had to make sure to move around on my own.

I led my three personal maids to the library. With the four of us searching together, we quickly found the map book.

“This one should be suitable…”

The maid hesitated as she handed me the map book. It was a map that showed only the rough outlines of the land.

While the terrain was sparse and not very detailed, the map was well-marked with the characteristics of each territory. I nodded in satisfaction.

“This is perfect. This is exactly the kind of information I wanted.”

I was pleased, but the maids didn’t look entirely satisfied. They lowered their heads slightly and said,

“I see. We thought you might have finally set your sights on something grand.”

“What do you mean by something grand?”

“Now that you’ve got the fearsome sword known as Percy Stewart in your hand, we thought you might be planning to wield it with purpose!”

“…Do you think I’m planning world domination or something? It’s just a honeymoon, a honeymoon!”

They must have thought I was planning to start a war just because I was looking for a map.

‘Come to think of it, these girls probably see me as the most villainous of all.’

You know, like those villainesses in stories who spread out a map, throw a dagger, and demand that everything it lands on be theirs.

Never stepping out of the bedroom, yet always demanding more land. A life that would make a perfect depiction of a classic villainess.

‘Not that Percy would grant such a request even if I made it.’

I sighed softly through my nose. Even if Percy were willing to do it, I would still refuse.

As I flipped through the map book, I explained,

“I just wanted to know what good restaurants there are and what specialties we might find before going on the trip with Percy. It would be nice to eat something delicious, right?”

“You’re not planning to leave the duchy because the food wasn’t good, are you?!”

“…I’m not talking to you all anymore.”

Why do they have to read so much into everything I say? It’s exhausting!

I puffed out my cheeks and grumbled, but the maids just giggled, finding it all too amusing. Then, in warm voices, they explained,

“Please understand, my lady. We’re just preparing ourselves mentally too.”

“Mental preparation? For what?”

I looked up, curious. The maids exchanged glances before whispering as if they were tattling on someone,

“There’s a rumor going around the estate that the master plans to move down to the Stewart duchy permanently during this trip. If that happens, we’ll have to move down to the duchy as well.”

“Percy? He’s planning to move down permanently? He hasn’t mentioned anything like that to me.”

Why is there such a strange rumor going around? Could it be that he’s secretly preparing for independence?

He did bring up the idea of Stewart’s independence a while back. If that’s the reason, it’s possible we really could be moving permanently.

But since he hasn’t mentioned it again, I assumed nothing was happening.

‘Well, I’ll find out when I see him later.’

Percy had been busy lately, coming back to the palace late every night. As a result, I was always half-asleep when I greeted him.

‘Tonight, I’ll stay up and wait for Percy. I need to show him my perfect plan too.’

Thinking that, I hummed a tune as I read and scribbled on the map book. The maids, watching me with pleased expressions, commented,

“If the duke sees you preparing for the honeymoon, he’ll be very happy.”

“I can already imagine him smiling with joy.”

Percy smiling with joy? When he looked at me, he usually smiled with his eyes, but that was still far from a bright smile.

Picturing his cold yet elegant face, I tilted my head.

“Really? I can’t imagine it at all.”

One of the maids quickly chimed in,

“Well, actually, neither can I.”

“…”

These girls are always trying to tease me.

There weren’t many routes from the capital to the Stewart duchy, so there wasn’t much planning needed for the trip. At most, I just needed to decide what to eat and what sights to see.

And there was one more thing I needed to figure out.

‘I told Julius I’d bring him lots of gifts. What on earth should I get him?’

I had to pick out a travel souvenir for Julius.

Now that he’s the Emperor, he’ll have plenty of precious jewels, so I wanted to give him something more unique.

‘A woven bamboo rattan basket? He probably wouldn’t like that. Beaded decorations? Knot crafts? Julius has trouble sleeping, so maybe a dreamcatcher would be a good gift.’

As I racked my brain, one of the maids rolled up her sleeves and said energetically,

“Only two days left. We need to double-check the luggage to make sure nothing’s been left out.”

I shrugged.

“If anything’s missing, we can buy it on the way. Take it easy.”

“Thank you, my lady. But when I see the butler packing, I can’t help but put extra effort into it myself.”

“…?”

Why bring up the butler now?

I tilted my head in confusion but didn’t get an answer. And that night, despite my determination, I fell asleep before Percy came back.

Two days later, on the day of our honeymoon departure…

“Good heavens, Percy Stewart!!”

“What is it, my lady?”

Only then did I understand why the maids had been talking about packing.

“What is all this luggage? Are we moving?”

A mountain of luggage and an endless line of carriages stretched out before my eyes!