“Hubert.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“I will divide the force into two.”
Fortunately, Jennings was a small territory. Even if he split his forces in two, he still had a good chance of winning.
“You go into Jennings Estate.”
“Is this a solo operation?”
“Yes. You don’t have to join after the operation is successful.”
Enoch ordered Hubert to attack the territories of the other families that participated in the war, starting with Jennings.
“After I hit Getin Jennings, I’ll go straight to Nobilis.”
It was decided to carry out a diversionary operation, trusting in the experience and capabilities of the Knights of Aratus.
After making a thorough detailed plan, it was time to divide the army and advance.
Enoch's gaze turned sharply outside the barracks. A familiar carrier pigeon bearing the insignia of House Nobilis was flying in the sky.
“Take a break.”
A warm feeling spread across the knights' faces. Enoch, who went out without paying any attention, extended his arm.
Whoosh-
At a short whistle, the heron landed on his arm.
He was more nervous than usual because the last letter they exchanged contained something about Agatha's fourth ex-husband's suspicious behavior.
She said she would take care of it, but still.
Enoch, who was just about to break the seal on the letter, made a strange expression.
Instead of Agatha's signature purple statis, it simply had the Nobilis symbol on it.
Enoch opened the letter and his face hardened.
"This is Leon Takran. Madam has been kidnapped and her whereabouts are unknown.
It was confirmed that behind this was Baron Henry Insidio, who had learned the details of the fourth divorce.
After making contact with the Insidio faction, which is opposed to the Baron's actions, it seems that the Baron, who escaped from exile, kidnapped Madame intending to demand his release from exile and compensation for the time spent.
It is said that he instigated the land war to drive the lord away from Madam.
I request an expedited judgment on this matter.”
“...”
Even after Enoch finished reading the letter, he continued to look down at the paper for a long time.
The moment when the momentum that had been slowly building up exploded.
The terrified knights rushed out of the barracks.
“My lord, what is the matter?”
“No, why all of a sudden-”
“Agatha has been kidnapped.”
"Yes?"
Enoch pushed his way through the knights who were momentarily speechless from shock and returned to the barracks.
Only then did those who came to their senses hurriedly follow Enoch into the barracks.
“My lord, what did you just say?”
“Is it possible that the letter was forged-”
Enoch silently placed the letter Leon had sent on the table.
The second vice-captain, Hubert, and other knights quickly read the letter and asked, stammering.
“Fourth, what is the full story of your divorce, my lord?”
“He plotted to kill Agatha when she gave birth to an heir. Agatha found out first, and had Marquis Leonard Shinjele frame him for blasphemy and got rid of him first.”
"Ah...!"
It's definitely Leon's handwriting. There's no mistake, not to mention the manipulation.
Whether to stay here and protect the Nobilis estate or return to the capital to find Agatha was a question that didn't need to be agonized over.
“Second Vice-Captain, Hubert Carwen.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Hubert reacted immediately and saluted.
“I will return with some of the knights. You will continue the war as a temporary commander until I return.”
The knights of Aratus were not weak.
Even though Enoch was away for a while, he was still able to wage war.
“Just leave it to me. I will show them in detail how Aratus has been victorious so far.”
“I don’t believe it.”
Enoch immediately sent off the roughly written letter, hanging it on a postcard.
Most of the troops were left behind in the battle for the Nobilis Territory.
A fifth of the Knights were scheduled to follow Enoch back to the capital.
Enoch divided his authority among his vassals and then led his knights out.
The destination was the capital.
As she was wondering how to escape, the sky began to brighten.
Agatha heard noises outside, so she closed the curtains again and returned to the place where she had first woken up.
“Yeah. Have you thought about it?”
The person who opened the door and came in was Henry, holding a candle like yesterday.
Agatha sat up straight in silence and stared up at Henry.
Yesterday, when she panicked and ran away, it seemed like she had come to terms with reality a little today.
Whatever the truth, Henry has now kidnapped Agatha.
Now, no matter what, he had no choice but to get Agatha to release him from exile and pay compensation.
“Hmm, I didn’t think you’d admit it in one night.”
Henry came closer, placed a lit candle nearby, and pulled back the curtain.
Chook-
The dust in the old room floated under the dim dawn light. He spoke shamelessly.
“Still, I hope you appreciate the fact that we were once a couple, Agatha. I will not abuse you or torment you.”
Agatha looked down at her wrists in silence. The delicate skin was scraped and bleeding from the rough rope.
This time, he averted his gaze and coughed in vain. Then he opened the door.
“Come in.”
A man who looked like a knight came in carrying a tray of bread, cheese, and water.
“Look, they even prepare meals like this.”
Henry took the tray from the stranger and placed it directly in front of Agatha.
“Yes, eat. I can’t give you candles because it might cause a fire. From now on, you can at least open the curtains.”
Then he patted Agatha's shoulder and laughed.
“Let’s eat and talk slowly.”
Agatha cut the bread Henry offered in half.
The bread, placed on a cold wooden tray, was dry and slightly hard on the outside, but still soft on the inside.
It was the state of the bread she had made just yesterday morning. It was definitely not as far from the capital as she had hoped.
'If there had been a separate maid, the knight wouldn't have brought out the food himself.'
So, this means that all the people here are men of knight status or higher.
There was no way that the man standing firmly in front of the door, let alone Henry could have the talent to make bread himself.
'If we want to eat in the future, we'll have to continue to airlift food from somewhere.'
Agatha quietly collected her thoughts and chewed on a bit of bread she had torn off.
It seems that he was sincere in saying that he would not harm anyone, as there was no poison in either the cheese or the water. However, it was not a taste that she would want to continue eating.
“Are you sure you’re not going to stop eating?”
When Agatha silently withdrew her hand, Henry twisted his mouth and groaned.
“I was grateful for this kind of food in exile. Of course, you wouldn’t be able to imagine it since you’ve never lived that kind of life.”
Well.
Agatha raised her head slightly and looked at Henry.
“I know how you’ve been doing because I’ve been receiving reports from you for several years.”
“...You received the report?”
“Even though we broke up like that, we had a pretty good married life, didn’t we? I couldn’t do anything for fear of getting His Majesty’s displeasure, but I did check on you from time to time.”
In reality, she did it because she was worried that her ex-husband would notice something and do something.
In any case, during the three years he was in exile, Henry regularly had groceries delivered to him from a store outside his place of exile.
“But did you really live on such twisted food?”
“...”
Henry's face turned bright red. Agatha quietly pushed the tray away.
“I’ll stop eating. I can’t take it.”
“Agatha.”
Agatha quietly turned her head to the side, a clear sign of refusal.
Henry was momentarily angry, but he couldn't turn his temper around.
After yesterday's conversation, she sometimes wondered if there had been a misunderstanding.
Even in this situation, Agatha's dignified demeanor, which was not easily provoked, was putting the brakes on his actions.
It was 'that' Agatha Nobilis. Someone that even the Emperor could not do anything about.
“Damn it. Then don’t eat it.”
Henry threw the tray aside and crouched down on the spot.
“If you don’t like being considered, then there’s nothing I can do. Then shall we have a proper talk?”
Henry's eyes flashed as he stood so close that he could feel her breath.
“Agatha. Please pray to His Majesty to clear me of the guilt you have placed on me.”
“...”
“And pay me back for the time I was locked up for the past six years.”
Agatha blinked slowly and let out a long breath.
"Henry."
Henry's body flinched for a moment at the elegant tone.
“Didn’t I tell you that it was impossible?”
“... If you don’t accept my demands, you’ll be locked in this room forever, eating only this kind of food. Even though they know you’ve been kidnapped, no one will know that I kidnapped you.”
I guess so.
So, Agatha could not back down anymore.
If she stalls for time and creates a trail, won't someone notice and come to her rescue?
It was time for negotiation. Agatha gazed at him elegantly.
“Yes, Henry. I don’t know how much you want to pay me to treat you like this since yesterday. Do you have an amount in mind?”
When she showed that she would listen to his demands, the reaction was violent.
Henry's face, suppressing his emotions that were about to explode with joy, was vividly recalled.
Agatha turned her head without showing any sign of being noticed and looked at the man standing behind her.
Unlike Henry, whose true feelings were completely exposed, the man was standing silently guarding the door, no matter how his lord reacted.
Is it actually the other side that is the obstacle to escape?
While he was doing that calculation, Henry cleared his throat and vomited out the amount.
“Three million karls. I think that should be enough.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“I will divide the force into two.”
Fortunately, Jennings was a small territory. Even if he split his forces in two, he still had a good chance of winning.
“You go into Jennings Estate.”
“Is this a solo operation?”
“Yes. You don’t have to join after the operation is successful.”
Enoch ordered Hubert to attack the territories of the other families that participated in the war, starting with Jennings.
“After I hit Getin Jennings, I’ll go straight to Nobilis.”
It was decided to carry out a diversionary operation, trusting in the experience and capabilities of the Knights of Aratus.
After making a thorough detailed plan, it was time to divide the army and advance.
Enoch's gaze turned sharply outside the barracks. A familiar carrier pigeon bearing the insignia of House Nobilis was flying in the sky.
“Take a break.”
A warm feeling spread across the knights' faces. Enoch, who went out without paying any attention, extended his arm.
Whoosh-
At a short whistle, the heron landed on his arm.
He was more nervous than usual because the last letter they exchanged contained something about Agatha's fourth ex-husband's suspicious behavior.
She said she would take care of it, but still.
Enoch, who was just about to break the seal on the letter, made a strange expression.
Instead of Agatha's signature purple statis, it simply had the Nobilis symbol on it.
Enoch opened the letter and his face hardened.
"This is Leon Takran. Madam has been kidnapped and her whereabouts are unknown.
It was confirmed that behind this was Baron Henry Insidio, who had learned the details of the fourth divorce.
After making contact with the Insidio faction, which is opposed to the Baron's actions, it seems that the Baron, who escaped from exile, kidnapped Madame intending to demand his release from exile and compensation for the time spent.
It is said that he instigated the land war to drive the lord away from Madam.
I request an expedited judgment on this matter.”
“...”
Even after Enoch finished reading the letter, he continued to look down at the paper for a long time.
The moment when the momentum that had been slowly building up exploded.
The terrified knights rushed out of the barracks.
“My lord, what is the matter?”
“No, why all of a sudden-”
“Agatha has been kidnapped.”
"Yes?"
Enoch pushed his way through the knights who were momentarily speechless from shock and returned to the barracks.
Only then did those who came to their senses hurriedly follow Enoch into the barracks.
“My lord, what did you just say?”
“Is it possible that the letter was forged-”
Enoch silently placed the letter Leon had sent on the table.
The second vice-captain, Hubert, and other knights quickly read the letter and asked, stammering.
“Fourth, what is the full story of your divorce, my lord?”
“He plotted to kill Agatha when she gave birth to an heir. Agatha found out first, and had Marquis Leonard Shinjele frame him for blasphemy and got rid of him first.”
"Ah...!"
It's definitely Leon's handwriting. There's no mistake, not to mention the manipulation.
Whether to stay here and protect the Nobilis estate or return to the capital to find Agatha was a question that didn't need to be agonized over.
“Second Vice-Captain, Hubert Carwen.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Hubert reacted immediately and saluted.
“I will return with some of the knights. You will continue the war as a temporary commander until I return.”
The knights of Aratus were not weak.
Even though Enoch was away for a while, he was still able to wage war.
“Just leave it to me. I will show them in detail how Aratus has been victorious so far.”
“I don’t believe it.”
Enoch immediately sent off the roughly written letter, hanging it on a postcard.
Most of the troops were left behind in the battle for the Nobilis Territory.
A fifth of the Knights were scheduled to follow Enoch back to the capital.
Enoch divided his authority among his vassals and then led his knights out.
The destination was the capital.
***
As she was wondering how to escape, the sky began to brighten.
Agatha heard noises outside, so she closed the curtains again and returned to the place where she had first woken up.
“Yeah. Have you thought about it?”
The person who opened the door and came in was Henry, holding a candle like yesterday.
Agatha sat up straight in silence and stared up at Henry.
Yesterday, when she panicked and ran away, it seemed like she had come to terms with reality a little today.
Whatever the truth, Henry has now kidnapped Agatha.
Now, no matter what, he had no choice but to get Agatha to release him from exile and pay compensation.
“Hmm, I didn’t think you’d admit it in one night.”
Henry came closer, placed a lit candle nearby, and pulled back the curtain.
Chook-
The dust in the old room floated under the dim dawn light. He spoke shamelessly.
“Still, I hope you appreciate the fact that we were once a couple, Agatha. I will not abuse you or torment you.”
Agatha looked down at her wrists in silence. The delicate skin was scraped and bleeding from the rough rope.
This time, he averted his gaze and coughed in vain. Then he opened the door.
“Come in.”
A man who looked like a knight came in carrying a tray of bread, cheese, and water.
“Look, they even prepare meals like this.”
Henry took the tray from the stranger and placed it directly in front of Agatha.
“Yes, eat. I can’t give you candles because it might cause a fire. From now on, you can at least open the curtains.”
Then he patted Agatha's shoulder and laughed.
“Let’s eat and talk slowly.”
Agatha cut the bread Henry offered in half.
The bread, placed on a cold wooden tray, was dry and slightly hard on the outside, but still soft on the inside.
It was the state of the bread she had made just yesterday morning. It was definitely not as far from the capital as she had hoped.
'If there had been a separate maid, the knight wouldn't have brought out the food himself.'
So, this means that all the people here are men of knight status or higher.
There was no way that the man standing firmly in front of the door, let alone Henry could have the talent to make bread himself.
'If we want to eat in the future, we'll have to continue to airlift food from somewhere.'
Agatha quietly collected her thoughts and chewed on a bit of bread she had torn off.
It seems that he was sincere in saying that he would not harm anyone, as there was no poison in either the cheese or the water. However, it was not a taste that she would want to continue eating.
“Are you sure you’re not going to stop eating?”
When Agatha silently withdrew her hand, Henry twisted his mouth and groaned.
“I was grateful for this kind of food in exile. Of course, you wouldn’t be able to imagine it since you’ve never lived that kind of life.”
Well.
Agatha raised her head slightly and looked at Henry.
“I know how you’ve been doing because I’ve been receiving reports from you for several years.”
“...You received the report?”
“Even though we broke up like that, we had a pretty good married life, didn’t we? I couldn’t do anything for fear of getting His Majesty’s displeasure, but I did check on you from time to time.”
In reality, she did it because she was worried that her ex-husband would notice something and do something.
In any case, during the three years he was in exile, Henry regularly had groceries delivered to him from a store outside his place of exile.
“But did you really live on such twisted food?”
“...”
Henry's face turned bright red. Agatha quietly pushed the tray away.
“I’ll stop eating. I can’t take it.”
“Agatha.”
Agatha quietly turned her head to the side, a clear sign of refusal.
Henry was momentarily angry, but he couldn't turn his temper around.
After yesterday's conversation, she sometimes wondered if there had been a misunderstanding.
Even in this situation, Agatha's dignified demeanor, which was not easily provoked, was putting the brakes on his actions.
It was 'that' Agatha Nobilis. Someone that even the Emperor could not do anything about.
“Damn it. Then don’t eat it.”
Henry threw the tray aside and crouched down on the spot.
“If you don’t like being considered, then there’s nothing I can do. Then shall we have a proper talk?”
Henry's eyes flashed as he stood so close that he could feel her breath.
“Agatha. Please pray to His Majesty to clear me of the guilt you have placed on me.”
“...”
“And pay me back for the time I was locked up for the past six years.”
Agatha blinked slowly and let out a long breath.
"Henry."
Henry's body flinched for a moment at the elegant tone.
“Didn’t I tell you that it was impossible?”
“... If you don’t accept my demands, you’ll be locked in this room forever, eating only this kind of food. Even though they know you’ve been kidnapped, no one will know that I kidnapped you.”
I guess so.
So, Agatha could not back down anymore.
If she stalls for time and creates a trail, won't someone notice and come to her rescue?
It was time for negotiation. Agatha gazed at him elegantly.
“Yes, Henry. I don’t know how much you want to pay me to treat you like this since yesterday. Do you have an amount in mind?”
When she showed that she would listen to his demands, the reaction was violent.
Henry's face, suppressing his emotions that were about to explode with joy, was vividly recalled.
Agatha turned her head without showing any sign of being noticed and looked at the man standing behind her.
Unlike Henry, whose true feelings were completely exposed, the man was standing silently guarding the door, no matter how his lord reacted.
Is it actually the other side that is the obstacle to escape?
While he was doing that calculation, Henry cleared his throat and vomited out the amount.
“Three million karls. I think that should be enough.”
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