Meanwhile, at that time, a meeting of nobles, including the Emperor, was held in the palace.
"Your Majesty, don't worry too much. The Grand Duke of Colesburg has gone with the search party, so His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will surely be safe."
The agenda was, of course, for David and Karina to be captured by a new monster in the center of the capital. However, regarding that agenda, only a few words were said about the Crown Prince's safety at the beginning of the meeting. Their concern was that the Emperor's faction's power would suffer a little bit of damage due to the monster that appeared in the capital.
"It is fortunate that the people of the empire are not greatly anxious about this matter."
"That's right. I was worried that a monster might appear in the capital and cause great chaos, but my worries were for nothing."
"Isn't this all thanks to Your Majesty's grace? You have always contributed greatly to the peace of the empire, and the people of the empire are all aware of this."
"I can only admire Your Majesty's leadership and governing ability that leads the empire!"
"Hahahahaha."
The so-called imperial faction nobles were busy flattering the indifferent Emperor by whispering only pleasant words.
'Ha.'
The white-haired Count Strict, who had attended the meeting as Jeremiah's representative from the North, clicked his tongue inwardly at the ridiculous sight.
'Are you really acting like this because you don't know what the appearance of a monster in the capital means?'
The appearance of demons in the capital meant that the capital was no longer safe from demons.
'Those pathetic guys who are only concerned with pleasing the Emperor and do not care about such important matters!'
Even the Crown Prince, who was considered the next Emperor, and the archduchess of the north were captured. How could they have such an attitude at a time like this when their safety was not guaranteed?
He wanted to snap at them that a person who only cared about his own interests was not qualified to be in this position. However, Count Strict, who was as experienced as he looked, did not show his true feelings on the outside. In particular, this was not the north, but the capital palace. It meant that it was the headquarters of the capital nobles who rejected and despised the north. Bringing up the subject would only allow the nobles of the capital to attack the north.
For example, the northern nobles would look down on them, saying that they did not know the capital well, or they would mock them, saying that they were too sensitive and strange because they were stuck in the north where there was nothing to do. Furthermore, it was obvious that they would drive it into a pointless fight, saying that they were ignoring the central knights who protected the capital and the palace and making such remarks. This had already happened several times in the past. In order not to get caught, it was better to be careful with every word they said.
Count Strict decided to focus on observing the situation as it unfolded.
"Still, it seems that the Grand Duke of Colesburg's loyalty is outstanding. As soon as he heard the news, he headed to the Cursed Forest to rescue His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Isn't it extraordinary that you went on your own before His Majesty even gave you the order?"
Amidst the noisy nobles, the green-haired man who had been sitting quietly until now opened his mouth.
"I heard that not only the Crown Prince but also the Grand Duchess was taken away. What husband would be able to stay still when his wife was taken away?"
The green-haired man who said so spoke to Marquis Millainer.
"The Archduchess has been captured, and Marquis Millainer must be very worried, but don't worry too much. It is none other than the Archduke of Colesberg who has gone, and there is no one more suitable for the job."
"Yes. Who better than the Archduke of Colesburg to deal with demons? Just trust and wait."
Several nobles agreed and comforted Marquis Milliner. Marquis Milliner, who outwardly showed that he cared for Karina terribly, simply smiled bitterly. However, unlike his expression, his true feelings were Incomprehensible and he could only feel frustrated. In fact, the Marquis had planned to send Jeremiah to the Cursed Forest from the beginning. Even if Jeremiah refused, he intended to send him by force under the pretext of rescuing the Crown Prince, using the imperial order.
In preparation for such a time, he had specially instructed that when he sent people behind his back to spread rumors, public opinion would be formed negatively toward Jeremiah. He downplayed the appearance of monsters and exaggerated the story of the union of the Archduke and his wife. The plan seemed to be progressing smoothly. Searching for the Crown Prince, whose life or death was unknown, in the Cursed Forest teeming with monsters would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
'Go and fight those monsters until you die!'
For him, Jeremiah's actions in going to the Cursed Forest on his own were even more puzzling. He could not have thought that Jeremiah had gone to save Karina as they said.
'What on earth was the guy thinking when he refused on the first night? Or did he change his mind after one night of marriage?"
No way.
Marquis Milliner immediately denied his thoughts. How many men in the world would change their minds after one union?
Rather than believing that Jeremiah went to rescue Karina, it seemed more realistic to think that he had contact with the Crown Prince and went to rescue him. However, he had never heard any reports of Jeremiah and David being in contact.
Unanswered questions followed one after another. However, the Marquis' thoughts could not last long. The attendant standing behind the Emperor cautiously walked over and whispered something in the Emperor's ear. The Emperor, who had heard something from the attendant, narrowed his eyes for a moment and opened his mouth heavily.
"It seems like holding a meeting like this and talking about it won't really get us anywhere."
All the nobles present stopped talking and focused their attention on the Emperor.
"The Grand Duke of Colesburg and the palace search party have gone to find the Crown Prince, so let's wait for now."
At the Emperor's words, the nobles nodded and followed his decision. Since there was nothing they could do about the current situation, Count Strict, who had been silently observing the situation, also had no choice but to follow the decision.
***
Marquis Millainer followed the Emperor out of the conference room where the nobles were gathered. He was curious about what he had heard since the meeting had been adjourned as soon as the Emperor received the servant's report. Marquis Millainer followed the Emperor to the Imperial Palace office and asked.
"Your Majesty, what is the matter?"
Since the Emperor's expression was not bad, he thought it would be okay to ask this much.
"They say they got a call from Count Misenrus."
"Count Misenrus?"
The Count of Misenrus was a family that was on the verge of extinction, as the head of the family was over 80 years old and nearing the end of his life, and there was no heir to succeed him. Even without that situation, it was a family that had little power or influence and was therefore a small and insignificant family.
"That's very interesting."
"Huh? What's going on there...?"
The Marquis was about to ask what interesting news he had received from such a humble family when he suddenly remembered something.
"Ah! If you are the Count of Misenrus, Isn't that the family that was designated as the engagement partner of the Grand Duke of Colesburg?"
"Yeah, that's right."
The Emperor smiled, one corner of his mouth raised.
"It is said that the Princess of Colesburg was exiled from the North and went there."
"Yes? Was it true that Princess Colesburg was exiled from the North?"
The Marquis of Millainer could not hide his surprise. It was only a few days ago that he had heard the news that Jeremiah had cruelly banished his older sister, Caroline. But he had soon dismissed it as a rumor.
'There's no way a guy who protects the North and his family like that would do that.'
He thought that since his daughter was involved, they were just giving Caroline a showy punishment to avoid him finding fault. If Caroline hadn't been properly punished, Marquis Millainer was going to use this as an excuse to pressure them into handing over the rights to sell the Northern monster accessories to him. He was waiting for that, but then the Princess of Colesburg was sent to the real Count of Misenrus.
"Marquis."
The Emperor softly called out to Marquis Millainer.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"What do you think?"
"Ah, I..."
The Marquis was unable to answer properly as he was trying to gather his thoughts. The Emperor continued speaking as if he had not particularly expected the Marquis to respond.
"That guy refused to divorce your daughter and went to the Cursed Forest before I could give him the order. I wondered what his plan was... Considering he even abandoned his own family, doesn't it seem like he's quite sincere?"
A bitter smile appeared on the Emperor's face. At that sight, the Marquis brought back the idea that he had dismissed as nonsense in the conference room earlier.
'Could it really be that he changed his mind after the merger? If that's true...'
A sinister smile appeared on the Marquis' lips.
"I will contact Count Misenrus separately."
"Yes, Marquis. Try to do better this time. Isn't this a good opportunity to make up for your mistakes?"
"Just leave it to me, Your Majesty."
The Marquis's eyes gleamed wickedly. As the rustling sound got closer, goosebumps appeared on his body.
***
'Could it be a monster?'
Karina's body tightened with fear. She looked around to see what to do, and then she noticed a thick, long wooden stick on the ground. Karina picked it up and jumped up. She swallowed dry saliva and lit the fire on the tip of the stick. Her legs were shaking, but she held on with all her might.
Meanwhile, the sound of people coming from the forest came right up to her. Inside the thick, dark bushes, she could see something big and black moving.
'This should at least be a threat.'
Karina stared straight ahead, her trembling hands reaching out to hold the lit stick. Her palms were rough against the rough wooden surface, but she had no energy to care.
Karina's heart pounded with nervousness and tension. The moment the black shadow in the bushes revealed itself under the bright sunlight.
"What are you doing now?"
David tilted his head and asked with a puzzled look on his face.
"Ah...!"
Karina, who confirmed that the approaching new model was David, sat down on the spot.
"Archduchess!"
David, surprised by the sight of Karina flowing down as if she had lost all her strength, approached her.
"Are you okay?"
"Your Highness! I was surprised."
"Yes?"
David looked like he had no idea.
"I called you, why didn't you answer? Since you didn't answer, I thought you were a monster!"
A slightly resentful tone came out of Karina's mouth.
"Oh, did you call? Sorry, I didn't hear you."
"Ha."
Still, Karina sighed in relief at the fact that it wasn't a monster. David, with an awkward expression, changed the subject.
"I have good news. The search party that came to find us appears to be not far away."
"Really?"
Karina's expression brightened at David's words.
"I've relayed the location coordinates back to my entourage, so for now, don't move any further and wait here."
"Yes!"
Karina smiled brightly at the thought that her chances of surviving here had increased. David carefully sat down next to Karina, who was smiling brightly. Then he held out his hands, which he had been holding tightly since a while ago, to Karina.
"I saw it nearby so I picked it up."
In David's palm was a handful of bright red raspberries, wrapped in leaves.
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