The court was a place where rumors. traveled quickly.
It is said that Millea can control the words that go around in the palace, but no one can stop the words that go around in the central palace where all kinds of people come and go.
Rumors were rife that Bridget and Julian's relationship was on the brink of collapse.
After that day, Julian did not see Bridget for more than three days.
Chancellor Langston, who had belatedly noticed that Bridget had a great influence on Julian and politics, did not miss this opportunity.
"The bedchamber is a palace for His Majesty the King. Everything, Including the security, budget, and personnel is managed according to His Majesty the King. It is absurd for His Majesty to avoid living in the bedchamber because of an uncomfortable relationship with the government."
Until now, he had never cared whether Julian went out of the palace or where he slept, but now he was picking on Julian for avoiding bedtime because of Bridget.
Bridget had no choice but to move.
The place she moved to, at the insistence of Chancellor Langston, was the Palace of Serus.
Serus meant twilight in an ancient language.
It was a palace with a history where a Princess who was hated by a past King was imprisoned.
From then on, it became a place where women who had incurred the hatred of Kings went for generations.
At one time, it was the home of a Princess born to a maid, at another time it was the home of a government official who had lost the King's favor, and at another time it was the home of a Queen who did not get along well with the King.
Although Bridget gave a long and detailed explanation as to why she had to go to the Palace of Serus, Chancellor Langston's intentions were clear.
You are an abandoned woman.
Millea persuaded Bridget to protest to the Ministry of the Interior.
"It's unreasonable to send you there out of all the palaces there are. None of the reasons that Chancellor Langston gave are acceptable."
But Bridget stopped Millea.
"It would be better to move to an abandoned palace than to be kicked out of the palace like this."
"Bridget, don't act so hastily. Hold on a little longer. It's only been three days. His Majesty will soon calm down and come looking for Bridget."
But Bridget wasn't confident.
There was a desperate sense of betrayal in Julian's voice as he cried out, asking why she was protecting those who were trying to kill him.
Julian was afraid.
The contempt and ridicule of Chancellor Langston could not harm Bridget.
What she was so afraid of was Julian's indifference.
That stabbed Bridget so hard that it was difficult for her to hold out in the dungeon filled with memories of Julian.
"The Serus Palace suits me."
Going there was the most courage Bridget could muster.
She will not leave the palace.
There was still work to be done.
If Julian does not forgive her even after he has sorted out all those things, then she will leave the palace on her own.
'If I stay in the Serus Palace, the new royal faction will lose power.'
The newly formed royal family still had no proper focal point.
They were united not by loyalty to Julian but by hatred for the Duke of Linchester, and so they needed another support to solidify their unity.
Bridget decided that it was Duke Elias.
"Has there been any news from Duke Elias yet?"
Bridget had been sending Duke Elias several gifts and letters in an attempt to get him back into politics.
But so far, she has only received a polite greeting or a written reply from Duke Elias. It was as good as no response.
Millea shook her head.
Bridget decided that she had no choice but to resort to a last resort.
***
Northern Duchy of Elias.
Duke Elias, clad in pitch-black armor, swung her sword in the air, shaking off the blood.
She had high, silver hair and fierce, gray eyes the color of a snowy mountain.
It was right after they had cleared out a group of bandits.
People who became refugees because of the war became bandits or pirates and wandered around, harming innocent civilians.
The North was particularly hard hit.
This was because the border of the Kingdom of Felons, which had been at war with the Kingdom of Baltak for a long time, was close to Duke Elias' territory.
"These guys are from the Kingdom of Felons, and yet they came all the way here to harm my people."
Duke Elias clicked her tongue with a fierce expression and sharpened her sword.
Now 52 years old, she had the look of a seasoned and strong warrior.
"The people who will clean up the scene will stay behind, and the rest will return with me."
"Yes, my lord!"
When she gave orders to her subordinates, they all moved in unison.
Duke Elias was the only one in the Kingdom of Baltak who had the authority to directly appoint knights.
Her personal knights were those she had personally trained and raised.
Not only that, she also had the authority to lead private soldiers.
Such powers were obtained as a result of the numerous invasions of the northern territories by the Kingdom of Felons.
Carrying them on her back, the Duke walked through the battlefield as a general rather than a lady.
Now that the war has ended thanks to Julian's exploits, they still trek through these rugged mountain paths, clearing away the remnants of the battlefield, such as bandits.
Duke Elias returned to the ducal castle after running for two full days without showing any sign of fatigue.
And so, what greeted her at the Duke's castle upon her arrival was none other than a letter from Millea.
"Your Excellency, another letter has arrived from the palace."
"You might have given up at this point. but you don't even get tired."
Duke Elias frowned as if she was displeased.
Gifts and letters continued to arrive In the name of Milea Spencer, but Duke Elias also knew that Bridget was behind them.
"The government and all."
At first, it was ignored.
When she first found out through a reliable source that this was sent by Brigitte and not Millea, she was shocked.
But later it became interesting.
"The government or something?"
Duke Elias had seen Julian before. It was on the battlefield.
At that time, he was nothing more than an Insensitive, emotionless killer.
He was just a murderer who killed anyone he came across. It seemed like he was taking his anger out on something.
Julian's shadow knight felt more human than Julian himself.
Would it be more accurate to say that he was like a grim reaper who felt hatred towards humans and came to mercilessly trample on the life on this earth?
She was surprised to hear that such a King welcomed the government.
'Does that mean that even a man can be horny towards a woman?'
She felt like the government was about to die.
But surprisingly, Bridget lasted a long time.
There were even rumors that the King was very fond of her.
'What kind of woman is she?'
Shr was curious, but that was it.
Duke Elias was busy restoring the territories devastated by the war.
It had been a long time since she had paid any attention to the affairs of central politics.
After inheriting the title after her father's ordeal with the Duke of Linchester, she had a brief period in politics.
It was a time when she was burning with a desire for revenge against the Duke of Linchester.
But she soon realized that she could not stop Josephine and the Duke of Linchester.
The palace was rife with all sorts of plots and betrayals. Corruption was rampant and unjust deaths were endless.
In her struggle against the Duke of Linchester, Duke Elias lost many friends and acquaintances, either through betrayal or death.
She was young at the time and left politics in shock.
She decided that she would not care whether the kingdom fell or a new dynasty was established.
It was thought that it would be best to govern the northern territories well.
To forget her desire for revenge, she went to the battlefield herself, commanded the army, and lived by taking care of the civilians in the field.
Of course, she was subjected to numerous taxes and treated unfairly by Josephine, who disliked her.
Then, after Julian appeared, the central and northern Elias duchies were virtually cut off.
But then suddenly Bridget begs her to return to politics.
'What kind of woman is she? What does she want from me?'
Bridget sent Duke Ellas a sword and an invitation to a banquet.
A blank invitation signified an invitation to politics.
It also meant that she wanted to become a knight who would protect the Black King.
'There is a rumor that the King has overcome the curse and will not die. Why do you need a sword for the King?'
If it's about strength, who can surpass Julian?
Naturally, she took it to mean that it was to become a sword with political significance.
"What useless stuff did you send me this time?"
"The King's portrait has arrived."
The portrait was a sign of solidarity.
It means that the royal family values Duke Elias.
"This is ridiculous. Since when has the royal family cared about our family?"
"But I think you'll have to see it for yourself."
The adjutant's expression was unusual.
Duke Elias went straight to the reception room where the gift had been placed, checked it, and then paused.
There was a discolored portrait.
It hinted at the King's death.
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