"Get out of the castle."
His tone was cold, as he weighed the usefulness of his precious life.
That's why the nanny's heart changed a little.
Until now, he had been worried that someone like her who didn't care about him and was easy on the tongue would get involved in this matter and cause some trouble for Valquiterre.
Originally, she was suited to taking care of children, so she ended up taking care of the twin Princesses, who were considered the treasures of the kingdom, and Valquiterre.
However, the Prince she loved so much and the King in front of her felt like completely different people.
Her human instinct to protect the baby who had not yet shed its bloody uterus overtook her thoughts of following Valquiterre's orders.
She unconsciously hugged the sleeping baby closer to her.
"If we leave it any longer, Claudel might go crazy."
At his words, Count Makie took the nanny who had become speechless, and disappeared from the baby's room that had been temporarily set up. Valquiterre left the place with a much lighter heart.
“The bastard is finally out of Claudel’s heart.”
He felt a sense of accomplishment at having done something he had been waiting for.
This time, he had been incredibly lucky.
He had to bribe quite a few workers in the castle to cause discord between Claudel and Kaian in Rowen, far away in the capital.
However, Valquiterre did not feel sorry or guilty about it.
If their relationship had been strong, they would not have been affected by all the rumors.
Like a sand castle that breaks apart when the waves hit it. Their relationship collapsed so easily that it was almost absurd.
“I can see what the old fox of the north is thinking.”
He must have deliberately given his daughter enough time to escape after detaining her, saying that he had to personally go see her sister’s troubles.
It was right when the vassals were begging him to accept Claudel’s death and take a new Duchess.
Claudel was a pitiful woman with no one to rely on. It was strange that her cousin, the step-sister, was quite trustworthy, even though she was treated as a thing to be sent away for the family if there were decent conditions from her uncle, the Duke of Vermont.
“They say that couples resemble each other. They’re both fools.”
The cousin was a big deal.
Kaian trusted him, and Claudel trusted Irena.
Trusting someone only ends up being a weakness that can be exploited.
While Claudel was staying in the palace, Valquiterre was able to have quite a few conversations with her. She hadn’t completely given up on Kaian.
That’s why she bit the bait that he had pierced.
Wouldn’t she be able to talk to Kaian again when the baby is born? Wouldn’t they be able to live together like before?
He encouraged Claudel to naturally fall into such thoughts. He told her the voice of her heart that she didn’t want to admit easily, but couldn’t help but yearn for. She probably couldn’t have known on her own that it was a noose that would strangle her.
It was a shame that nothing happened between Irena and Kaian, but it didn’t really matter.
It was enough that he could have fabricated as much as he had done so far.
He had just made her maids babble about the situation in the Rowen estate. So it was enough for Claudel to be upset or disappointed with Kaian.
“That shock really made her give birth prematurely.”
Valquiterre exclaimed in delight.
“Thanks to that, we can now easily resolve the matter.”
While pretending not to want to return to Kaian, Claudel was thinking of asking Irena for help if she really did give birth to a child who resembled Vermont. Even if she couldn’t help them right away, she would eventually take in a husband who was the successor to the Duke of Vermont and make Irena the mistress of the Castle of Valmonde. The northern rule was unique, so even though the land belonged to the Kingdom of Oberon, it was difficult for Valquiterre to reach it.
That was how great the power of the Duke of Vermont was, and also, due to the nature of the frozen land, the power of the mistress was stronger than that of other noble families.
In other words, a baby born of Vermont’s bloodline might be a headache right away, but someday, with Irena’s help, she might be able to register the child in Vermont.
After all, Claudel was the daughter of the Duke of Vermont.
Then, she would have to leave the palace anyway.
So, he had to completely cut off Irena’s help so that she wouldn’t be able to do anything.
He must have deliberately given his daughter enough time to escape after detaining her, saying that he had to personally go see her sister’s troubles.
It was right when the vassals were begging him to accept Claudel’s death and take a new Duchess.
Claudel was a pitiful woman with no one to rely on. It was strange that her cousin, the step-sister, was quite trustworthy, even though she was treated as a thing to be sent away for the family if there were decent conditions from her uncle, the Duke of Vermont.
“They say that couples resemble each other. They’re both fools.”
The cousin was a big deal.
Kaian trusted him, and Claudel trusted Irena.
Trusting someone only ends up being a weakness that can be exploited.
While Claudel was staying in the palace, Valquiterre was able to have quite a few conversations with her. She hadn’t completely given up on Kaian.
That’s why she bit the bait that he had pierced.
Wouldn’t she be able to talk to Kaian again when the baby is born? Wouldn’t they be able to live together like before?
He encouraged Claudel to naturally fall into such thoughts. He told her the voice of her heart that she didn’t want to admit easily, but couldn’t help but yearn for. She probably couldn’t have known on her own that it was a noose that would strangle her.
It was a shame that nothing happened between Irena and Kaian, but it didn’t really matter.
It was enough that he could have fabricated as much as he had done so far.
He had just made her maids babble about the situation in the Rowen estate. So it was enough for Claudel to be upset or disappointed with Kaian.
“That shock really made her give birth prematurely.”
Valquiterre exclaimed in delight.
“Thanks to that, we can now easily resolve the matter.”
While pretending not to want to return to Kaian, Claudel was thinking of asking Irena for help if she really did give birth to a child who resembled Vermont. Even if she couldn’t help them right away, she would eventually take in a husband who was the successor to the Duke of Vermont and make Irena the mistress of the Castle of Valmonde. The northern rule was unique, so even though the land belonged to the Kingdom of Oberon, it was difficult for Valquiterre to reach it.
That was how great the power of the Duke of Vermont was, and also, due to the nature of the frozen land, the power of the mistress was stronger than that of other noble families.
In other words, a baby born of Vermont’s bloodline might be a headache right away, but someday, with Irena’s help, she might be able to register the child in Vermont.
After all, Claudel was the daughter of the Duke of Vermont.
Then, she would have to leave the palace anyway.
So, he had to completely cut off Irena’s help so that she wouldn’t be able to do anything.
“It’s good for the Duke of Vermont, but it’s not bad for me either.”
Everything would go as planned.
The days when Kaian had all the luck he could get were over. Now that he had succeeded in taking Claudel away, he was going to get the others back one by one.
“We’ll see each other soon.”
Valquiterre smiled with satisfaction.
The nanny clenched her teeth as she climbed into the carriage holding the child in her arms. She crudely criticized Count Makie.
“What have you been doing until His Majesty the King became like that?”
“Your power was quite great when Queen Silvia was alive.”
Count Makie responded to her words nonchalantly.
“Are you trying to test how much you’ve done now?”
The nanny was speechless, as she was furious at the sight of him threatening to not let her off easy.
“You’ll be punished by heaven.”
“Who will punish me by heaven?”
Count Makie laughed at her words.
“Aren’t you afraid of heaven?”
“You speak as if someone has committed a crime.”
“This is ridiculous...”
The nanny was so frustrated that her chest was about to burst. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, she glared at Count Makie in a low voice, as if the wind was passing by, and spoke her taboo.
“How can you two do such a thing to a woman?”
“Madame Repel.”
When her name was called softly, the old woman cowered in fear.
“Shouldn’t you be careful with your words? Didn’t you just have a grandson?”
“...”
“If you want to urge me to hurry, I won’t stop you. But remember that you won’t be walking the path to the afterlife alone.”
It was a threat that he would harass her family if she got involved. The nanny glared at Count Makie.
“If the Duke of Vermont finds out about this, he won’t stay still.”
“What do you know about politics, you’re the illegitimate daughter of a ruined noble family?”
The nanny’s pride was hurt by the mention of her origin and kept her mouth shut.
“Behave well. Then I’ll take care of you so that you won’t be sad in your old age.”
Count Makie closed the door and started the carriage.
“Let’s go.”
Red hair and bright golden eyes.
The baby’s appearance was so striking.
‘It’s dangerous to leave it in the palace.’
He had already planned to appease Valquiterre and send the baby out of the castle soon, but things were going well.
“Ha.”
Count Makie stood in front of the castle gate and looked down at the capital below.
Since candles and oil lamps were lit here and there even at night, the lights lining the streets created a beautiful nightscape.
“It is possible to inherit power because the will of heaven remains.”
Originally, the position of Palace Count was a position that would change according to the new King’s taste when the owner of the palace changed.
It was common for those who enjoyed power as the King’s closest aide to be pushed out to the position of Margrave, but Makie Palace Count had no intention of simply doing so.
“You must become a tyrant.”
An uncontrolled and flawed monarch would have fewer people by his side.
Count Makie narrowed his eyes and looked at the sleepless city.
Everything would go as planned.
The days when Kaian had all the luck he could get were over. Now that he had succeeded in taking Claudel away, he was going to get the others back one by one.
“We’ll see each other soon.”
Valquiterre smiled with satisfaction.
***
The nanny clenched her teeth as she climbed into the carriage holding the child in her arms. She crudely criticized Count Makie.
“What have you been doing until His Majesty the King became like that?”
“Your power was quite great when Queen Silvia was alive.”
Count Makie responded to her words nonchalantly.
“Are you trying to test how much you’ve done now?”
The nanny was speechless, as she was furious at the sight of him threatening to not let her off easy.
“You’ll be punished by heaven.”
“Who will punish me by heaven?”
Count Makie laughed at her words.
“Aren’t you afraid of heaven?”
“You speak as if someone has committed a crime.”
“This is ridiculous...”
The nanny was so frustrated that her chest was about to burst. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, she glared at Count Makie in a low voice, as if the wind was passing by, and spoke her taboo.
“How can you two do such a thing to a woman?”
“Madame Repel.”
When her name was called softly, the old woman cowered in fear.
“Shouldn’t you be careful with your words? Didn’t you just have a grandson?”
“...”
“If you want to urge me to hurry, I won’t stop you. But remember that you won’t be walking the path to the afterlife alone.”
It was a threat that he would harass her family if she got involved. The nanny glared at Count Makie.
“If the Duke of Vermont finds out about this, he won’t stay still.”
“What do you know about politics, you’re the illegitimate daughter of a ruined noble family?”
The nanny’s pride was hurt by the mention of her origin and kept her mouth shut.
“Behave well. Then I’ll take care of you so that you won’t be sad in your old age.”
Count Makie closed the door and started the carriage.
“Let’s go.”
Red hair and bright golden eyes.
The baby’s appearance was so striking.
‘It’s dangerous to leave it in the palace.’
He had already planned to appease Valquiterre and send the baby out of the castle soon, but things were going well.
“Ha.”
Count Makie stood in front of the castle gate and looked down at the capital below.
Since candles and oil lamps were lit here and there even at night, the lights lining the streets created a beautiful nightscape.
“It is possible to inherit power because the will of heaven remains.”
Originally, the position of Palace Count was a position that would change according to the new King’s taste when the owner of the palace changed.
It was common for those who enjoyed power as the King’s closest aide to be pushed out to the position of Margrave, but Makie Palace Count had no intention of simply doing so.
“You must become a tyrant.”
An uncontrolled and flawed monarch would have fewer people by his side.
Count Makie narrowed his eyes and looked at the sleepless city.
The nanny shed tears as she looked at the baby in her arms in the shaking carriage.
“You will be punished.”
It was a pity that such a beautiful and precious baby had to live a chaotic life due to the mistakes of adults.
She was too old to be a mother for Valquiterre, so her role was a nanny.
She felt even more heartbroken when she thought of Valquiterre as a child when she had to hold him often because he was lonely.
“Oh, God.”
If there was a God, she hoped he would listen to her wish.
She hoped that the child she had raised with love would not commit a great sin.
Vanity. Vanity.
The sound of a chant echoed across the wide lake.
In the early morning, the picturesque place where a hand would slowly run through the thick forest of trees, casting a mist over the water's surface, had been cut down ugly.
It was a mess, with people cutting down trees here and there, cutting branches to make a dam with the trees, and trimming them into neat shapes.
“Oh my. What a mess this is.”
The one who had been sighing deeply from the hard daily labor grumbled.
“Argh. Just think of the trees that are strewn all over Rowen, and they will grow back when it rains, so be thankful that we don’t have to ship all this wood from somewhere.”
“Such wise words.”
The construction to drain the lake finally began.
The lake was formed naturally as the river flowed downstream, and on the other side, it was connected to another tributary that flowed all the way to the sea. They were planning to dig deep to make a place for the water to divert when it rains heavily, and block two culverts leading to the lake to pump the water downstream.
“Did you ever imagine this would happen last year at this time?”
When the lord suddenly said that he had to take the daughter of his enemy's family as his wife, all those who had been dispatched to the territory were furious and ran wild.
They had to drain the perfectly good lake water to find her whereabouts.
It was truly something that would never happen again, so it was true that after deciding on this, the people's feelings toward Kaian had gotten worse than before.
Originally, the loyalty of the people to Temnes had been blind and without reason.
However, now, in places where Kaian was not watching, distrust and discontent toward him were slowly spreading.
"My lord. Are you coming now?"
"Good day, my lord."
"You've worked hard."
Then, when Kaian appeared, they quietly devoted themselves to the work he had asked them to do as if nothing had happened, so even if it was just this much, the ruling situation was not all that bad.
When Kaian climbed up the watchtower he had temporarily built out of wood, those who had pretended to work hard immediately frowned and grumbled silently.
Kaian was not unaware of the recent evaluation of himself.
Even so, he was sorry that he had to make his beloved residence suffer like this.
“There is no other way.”
When he recalled her last appearance, sinking deep into the water, his heart tightened as if he had a heart disease. It was when he was silently watching the events unfolding here and there.
Clank, clank, clank.
He turned his head at the sound of horses’ hooves galloping toward him.
“Your Highness! Your Highness!”
The messenger who the butler had sent shouted frantically.
“A telegram! A telegram!”
“What is it? Don’t make a fuss.”
However, the moment he jumped halfway down from the watchtower, he froze at the words he heard.
“Ma, a telegram from the madam.”
“You will be punished.”
It was a pity that such a beautiful and precious baby had to live a chaotic life due to the mistakes of adults.
She was too old to be a mother for Valquiterre, so her role was a nanny.
She felt even more heartbroken when she thought of Valquiterre as a child when she had to hold him often because he was lonely.
“Oh, God.”
If there was a God, she hoped he would listen to her wish.
She hoped that the child she had raised with love would not commit a great sin.
***
Vanity. Vanity.
The sound of a chant echoed across the wide lake.
In the early morning, the picturesque place where a hand would slowly run through the thick forest of trees, casting a mist over the water's surface, had been cut down ugly.
It was a mess, with people cutting down trees here and there, cutting branches to make a dam with the trees, and trimming them into neat shapes.
“Oh my. What a mess this is.”
The one who had been sighing deeply from the hard daily labor grumbled.
“Argh. Just think of the trees that are strewn all over Rowen, and they will grow back when it rains, so be thankful that we don’t have to ship all this wood from somewhere.”
“Such wise words.”
The construction to drain the lake finally began.
The lake was formed naturally as the river flowed downstream, and on the other side, it was connected to another tributary that flowed all the way to the sea. They were planning to dig deep to make a place for the water to divert when it rains heavily, and block two culverts leading to the lake to pump the water downstream.
“Did you ever imagine this would happen last year at this time?”
When the lord suddenly said that he had to take the daughter of his enemy's family as his wife, all those who had been dispatched to the territory were furious and ran wild.
They had to drain the perfectly good lake water to find her whereabouts.
It was truly something that would never happen again, so it was true that after deciding on this, the people's feelings toward Kaian had gotten worse than before.
Originally, the loyalty of the people to Temnes had been blind and without reason.
However, now, in places where Kaian was not watching, distrust and discontent toward him were slowly spreading.
"My lord. Are you coming now?"
"Good day, my lord."
"You've worked hard."
Then, when Kaian appeared, they quietly devoted themselves to the work he had asked them to do as if nothing had happened, so even if it was just this much, the ruling situation was not all that bad.
When Kaian climbed up the watchtower he had temporarily built out of wood, those who had pretended to work hard immediately frowned and grumbled silently.
Kaian was not unaware of the recent evaluation of himself.
Even so, he was sorry that he had to make his beloved residence suffer like this.
“There is no other way.”
When he recalled her last appearance, sinking deep into the water, his heart tightened as if he had a heart disease. It was when he was silently watching the events unfolding here and there.
Clank, clank, clank.
He turned his head at the sound of horses’ hooves galloping toward him.
“Your Highness! Your Highness!”
The messenger who the butler had sent shouted frantically.
“A telegram! A telegram!”
“What is it? Don’t make a fuss.”
However, the moment he jumped halfway down from the watchtower, he froze at the words he heard.
“Ma, a telegram from the madam.”
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