As Claudia dragged her fully grown younger brother down a hallway lined with antique paintings, she suddenly threw Lexion into the wide-open office.
No one was surprised to see him crash noisily to the floor with a loud thud. The servants and aides merely stepped aside as if this were routine.
The problem child of the family — Lexion Silbert’s entrances were never ordinary.
The man seated at the head of the office desk, diligently working with a quill pen, sighed and opened his mouth.
“You’re here.”
Archer Fluid — the acting head of the household and the one managing affairs — looked up at the two siblings through his glasses, brushing his brown hair back.
Claudia stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at her brother. Lexion slowly got up and dusted himself off.
“Did you at least greet the Duke?”
“Nope. My sister dragged me here like she was hunting a wild boar.”
“Did you just use me as an excuse?”
As the Silbert siblings started bickering again, the gentle-looking Archer let out a deeper sigh. He felt the dark circles under his eyes deepen. Couldn’t they at least take their fighting outside? It was as if they were blind to the mountain of paperwork stacked in front of him.
“What the hell are you thinking?”
“About what?”
“Sending a notice that you got married, out of nowhere! Bringing in a woman with a kid, like you’re trying to ruin some noble lady’s life! Explain yourself. I swear, if you don’t give me a proper answer, you’re dead.”
Claudia cracked her knuckles menacingly, proving she wasn’t bluffing. Lexion clucked his tongue, unfazed by his sister’s tendency to solve things with violence.
“Don’t you think you’re being a bit harsh? Everyone was so worried I wouldn’t ever get married. Now that I am, they’re making a fuss.”
Claudia’s expression soured at her brother’s sulky voice. There was nothing cute about Lexion acting cutesy. In fact, it was downright creepy.
“Lexion Silbert. Don’t think we don’t know you. There’s got to be a reason for this sudden behavior.”
He married without even greeting the family. Just brought a woman in — one who had a child! — and kept her hidden until now? Claudia thought he’d seriously crossed a line.
She was absolutely furious. What made it worse was her disappointment in him. He wasn’t the type to act this recklessly. How did he end up like this?
“Because I love her.”
“What?”
Claudia had been trying to measure when her brother started rebelling, but now she thought she’d misheard.
“What did you just say?”
“I married Milena because I love her. It was a bit rushed, but I had no choice. Please try to understand.”
“…”
Was this really Lexion Silbert — the guy who trusted no one? The same Lexion who used to scoff at love and marriage? Claudia’s jaw dropped.
“And she just got carriage sick for a moment — she’s not pregnant. The kid’s her nephew. Happy now?”
Before the stunned Claudia could respond, Archer Fluid, still seated as acting head, stepped in.
“We’ve got work piling up. Can you begin right away?”
“…You know I’m in love, right?”
Lexion winked playfully. Archer frowned slightly.
“Master Lexion.”
“Come on, just call me by my name.”
Archer let out a long, practiced sigh and removed his glasses. With a serious tone, he continued — causing Lexion’s joking demeanor to disappear.
“Sir, I can’t keep handling the Duke’s work forever. It’s time to give up and accept your position as the next Duke—”
“Archer Fluid.”
Lexion’s eyes turned cold, the mischief gone in an instant.
“The Duke is still alive. Don’t talk nonsense. If my brother can’t take over, then it should be my sister. Not me. Claudia should become the Duke. As long as the Duke remains the head, this discussion is— GAH!”
A loud smack cut off his words as his head snapped forward — Claudia had struck the back of his head.
“You little punk. Did you just threaten my husband?”
“Claudia! Please!”
“Hey, you libertine of the century. Who’s the freest person here right now?”
Still rubbing the back of his head with teary eyes, Lexion pointed to himself.
“Me?”
“Exactly. The Duke can’t work unless it’s a critical issue. I’m busy running the knight order. So the freest one should be taking care of this mess, right?”
Claudia Fluid — who oversaw all five major knight orders — was no longer in the Silbert family’s direct line, having taken her husband’s name. She was now a member of the Fluid family.
“I’m not good with brain work. I prefer using my body.”
“You’re still the most qualified—”
Claudia immediately cut him off.
“I took my husband’s name. Why would I run the ducal household? I’m not even part of this family anymore. I’m a salaried commander of the knights. And could you please stop overworking my husband? Do you know how many nights he’s lost sleep because of your laziness?”
“My answer hasn’t changed.”
Lexion’s stance was firm as always — he absolutely refused to take over the household.
“I’m leaving. Brother-in-law, hang in there a bit longer. The Duke will be back on his feet soon.”
Lexion gave a small wave and disappeared, swallowing his bitterness.
He never took care of the family’s affairs in the open. He always worked in the shadows, helping without anyone knowing. Claudia let out a deep sigh as she watched him go.
“That stubborn mule.”
“Darling, don’t be too harsh on him.”
Her husband gently comforted her. Claudia, tall and strong, leaned softly into her delicate husband’s arms. Archer Fluid, though a former civil officer, had a surprisingly sturdy frame for someone who worked indoors.
Lean, but with well-toned muscles shaped to his wife’s tastes. Claudia knew he’d sacrificed his time to exercise just to please her.
But now the dark shadows under her beloved husband’s eyes were painfully visible. She grabbed his face tightly.
“Dear?”
Claudia’s blue eyes welled up with tears. It broke her heart every time.
“You’re too soft on Lexion! How could I not nag him when my sweet bunny of a husband is being worked to the bone? You barely get any sleep!”
Archer tilted his head slightly and smiled gently.
“Well, I still save some energy for nighttime, don’t I?”
“Ahem. That’s… that’s different from being overworked!”
Blushing furiously, Claudia looked nothing like the fearsome knight commander. Her subordinates would faint if they saw her like this. But to Archer, she just looked adorable.
He gently pulled her hands away and kissed her briefly before casually changing the subject.
“Will Master Lexion be attending the next noble assembly?”
“What do you expect from someone who runs away every time? Why? Are there still people disrespecting you? You’re the one with full authority over the household now.”
“Yes, that’s true. More than I deserve.”
The title of acting Duke was heavy. But Archer had no intention of shirking the duty. Over the past ten years, Duke Silbert hadn’t shown his face at any meeting, party, or even the emperor’s summons.
With the Duke in seclusion, the surrounding noble families had begun to show their greed — shameless, like packs of wolves.
And it was Archer Fluid’s role to crush their arrogance.
Meanwhile…
“Ash, are you bored?”
“Huh? No.”
“I’m bored, though.”
“You are?”
Ashdel looked up from the large book on his lap, which was big enough to cover his entire thigh.
It had already been three days. Milena was still lying in bed. For some reason, the ducal family was being overly protective. While she was relieved not to be treated like an intruder, this was excessive.
Her stomach was fine, her condition better than ever, yet she wasn’t allowed out of bed. They insisted she rest and recover from the long journey from the north — as if she were pregnant.
The maids were no help either, assuming she was expecting.
“Young madam! Are you bored?”
Yeah… this one maid was especially persistent. Even after learning Milena wasn’t pregnant and Ashdel wasn’t her son, she still doted on her like she was.
“Jenny, I’m fine. Just sit down.”
“Ah, yes!”
The young maid, who had been sewing by the window, sat down right away. She had braided red hair and a youthful face, introducing herself as Gerard’s younger sister.
