Betrayal of Dignity - Chapter 2

02. Awkward First Encounter


Three years ago from now.

A small fiefdom in the southwest of the kingdom of Swanton suddenly became busy. The third royal army retreated from the war and stayed there to reorganize its ranks. The lord of the small castle, Viscount Verdier, willingly opened the gates to the soldiers and commanders.

The soldiers were extremely tired from the war that lasted longer than expected, and they were nervous and rough because the battle was difficult. The wounded could be heard groaning continuously in the castle, and even the healthy ones walked around the castle with half-lost faces and threatened their opponents. In the castle of Verdier, which suddenly became a hospital and barracks, the Viscount provided them with as much supplies and food as he could.

The Viscount had two daughters. The younger, Alice, was studying at a monastery in the capital city of Swanton, but the older, Chloe, was sick and had never left the castle since childhood. Along with the Viscount, who was kind and tried to help the soldiers as much as possible, Chloe also volunteered to nurse the wounded soldiers.

The wounded soldiers mistook her for a servant, who spared no effort in doing dirty work, and occasionally spat harsh words at her. When someone called her a 'lame', Gray, the servant who was helping Chloe, grabbed the soldier by the collar.

“Don’t be like that, Gray. It’s not like it’s not true.”

The reason Chloe stopped him was not only because those who spoke sharply were sick and sensitive patients. Her mother had emphasized to her before she passed away, 'It is the duty of a noble to help the poor and the sick, Chloe.' Although she was physically ill, Chloe had learned the manners of a noblelady since childhood and had learned how to hide her emotional turmoil and remain calm.

“Chloe, how about leaving the nursing to the other servants?”

But when Viscount Verdier spoke cautiously with a complicated expression, she decided to follow her father's words. It was heartbreaking to see her father's expression darken noticeably when he heard the soldiers' words ignoring her.

The army stayed in the castle for about two weeks. The last five days of those were spent in quiet reading in her bedroom. She couldn't concentrate because she couldn't completely block out the loud noise outside. Sometimes, when she heard a dirty word about the enemy or a sexy joke that made Chloe blush, she would close the curtains and play the piano.

That night.

The night she first saw the Duke of Tisse was an exceptionally quiet night. Normally, the barracks would be noisy until the bonfires kept burning to keep out the cold at night went out, but for some reason, from noon on that day, an odd silence began to flow among the soldiers.

“Everyone, pay attention!”

Chloe, who was reading a book by the window, also raised her head at the sound of someone shouting. She slightly lifted the curtain and looked out the window, and saw someone walking out of the backyard of the castle, lit by torches.

“Salute to the Commander!”

The wounded, bandaged here and there, also gathered in formation and saluted the man. Chloe, who had only been to the barracks where the wounded were, was seeing the commander in person for the first time. The tall blond man was dressed so neatly that it seemed as if he had just attended a ceremony at the palace. Chloe quietly blinked and secretly opened the curtains a little more.

“I heard the news of the death of the commander of the 1st Army, who was moving south, this afternoon.”

The space where loud noises were always heard was quiet. The sound of a cuckoo perched on a tree was loud enough to be heard.

“As you all know, the commander of the First Army of the Kingdom is my father, Duke William von Tisse.”

Chloe held her breath for a moment and then let it out softly. Her hands that were holding the curtains twitched.

“It is said that he was beheaded by the enemy and his head was hung on the wall.”

There was no wavering in his voice as he told of his father's brutal death. The man who had risen to the rank of commander in a five-year war was said to be twenty-two years old. Chloe held her breath, involuntarily overwhelmed by the calmness of a man who was only three years older than her.

“Do you want to go home?”

The soldier who was suddenly asked a question by his superior could not answer easily. The commander took a step closer to him and asked again.

“Does that mean you don’t want to go back?”

“...I want to go back!!!”

The soldier, who had finished hesitating, shouted loudly at the top of his lungs.

“Why?”

The soldier answered the obvious question asked by the commander.

“My wife, who was pregnant when I left for the campaign, is waiting for me at home. She gave birth to my son alone, and I have never seen him born!!!”

“I see. Do you want to go back too?”

“Yes!!!”

After being asked the question, the soldier raised his voice even louder.

“Why?”

“I feel bad about leaving my sick mother alone. Without me... she can’t even move on her own.”

“I have to work so my little brother doesn’t go hungry!!!”

Chloe could clearly hear the voices of those who had been questioned answering one after another, filled with tears. Her eyes also became moist. The commander, who had listened to the story of the last soldier, finally raised his voice.

“There are so many reasons why we must end the war and return home, and I am no different. It means that I too must take up arms without even being able to collect my father’s body, let alone hold a funeral.”

Here and there, the sound of soldiers taking small gasps as if swallowing their tears could be heard.

“Two days later, we cross the mountains again. We are exhausted, wounded, cold, and hungry, but we take up arms. Is it for our country? No! It is to protect what is precious!”

The commander's words seemed to resonate throughout the castle. Chloe unconsciously felt her heart pounding loudly, and she gently placed a hand on her chest. The man's words had the power to make the audience listen.

“Are you desperate? Do you want to go back?”

"Yes!"

“How desperately.”

“I want it so badly I’d give my heart to it!!!”

The youngest-looking soldier, with his arms wrapped in bandages, shouted at the top of his lungs. His face was a mess of tears.

“Winning or losing a war is not God’s will. If we lose this war, it will only mean one thing! It will be proof that we were more desperate.”

“That can’t be true!!!”

The soldiers now shouted for their lives. Their cries of fighting to the death shook the castle.

“I will not retreat. I will not allow my soldiers to be defeated. I will add one more victorious banner to the House of Tisse in the name of my dead father. Not for the sake of my country. Only for myself!”

It was dangerous for a commander in chief of the royal army to say such things, but no one could object to him, for the sincerity in his eyes and voice was evident.

“No commander is better than me. I have proven that at every moment, and this time will be no different. I will do whatever it takes to bring victory to my army. That is the pride and dignity of Tisde. So now it is your turn to prove the earnestness you spoke of to me.”

Now the mood among the soldiers had completely changed. The eyes that had been filled with despair and resignation were now shining with a single-minded determination for victory. The voices of soldiers pledging their loyalty echoed here and there.

'Is this... a speech...?'

Chloe had read in books that great leaders are eloquent speakers, but she had never actually experienced it. In this situation, there was one thing Chloe could clearly recognize.

That guy is serious.

Chloe's always pale cheeks were flushed with heat. Without realizing it, Chloe had opened all the curtains and even the window, concentrating on him.

“Let us return home with the proud banner of victory on our chests. People will praise the great soldiers who won the hardest battle, and your family will be honored for generations to come. So will I!”

“Wow!!!”

The soldiers raised their fists and chanted his name. Chloe watched the man slowly turn his head, making eye contact with each soldier he saw.

Ah.

"Ha...!"

His eyes met. Chloe was startled by the way he looked at her, as if he knew the hidden audience from the beginning, and fell from the window. She leaned back against the wall next to the window and gasped for breath, but belatedly realized that she hadn't turned off the lamp on the table, so she bit her lip.

It was only natural that the room with the lights on would look bright in the dark. Chloe barely managed to draw the curtains with her arms outstretched, then limped over to the table and blew out the lamp.

Darkness descended on the room, but her heart still pounded. Chloe carefully sat down on the bed. She lifted her strong leg first, then pulled up her weak right leg with her arms, and lay down on the bed. One of her bare, unattractive legs was revealed through her disheveled poplin nightgown.

Chloe took off her clothes, straightened her appearance, and blinked quietly in the darkness. Outside, the soldiers could now be heard moving briskly. The noise became even louder when someone brought a late meal.

Damian Ernst von Tisse.

'He is a great person.'

This was Chloe's first impression of the commander. He was a man who was calm and strong even in a crisis and had an energy that overwhelmed the audience. If it were her, would she have said something like that after hearing the news that her father had died? Haa. Just imagining her father dying was so terrifying that it made Chloe shiver.

She closed her eyes tightly and lay down to sleep, but she couldn't fall asleep. Chloe finally opened her eyes slowly and sat up. Outside the window, she could still hear the bonfire crackling and the soldiers talking. The man had probably gone back into the barracks. He must be trying to prove what he said there.

“Please... help us win. So that the soldiers can definitely return home... so that we can protect what’s precious...”

Even though evening prayers had long since ended, Chloe clasped her hands together again and prayed fervently for everyone to return to their peaceful daily lives.

***

The next morning, Chloe got up from her bed with a light heart. She opened the curtains and checked the sky, which was a bright blue. The sky color at dawn was also Chloe's favorite color. It was a darkness that held brightness, different from the night sky. Sometimes, on clear days, the sky was so beautiful that she could hold her breath and stare blankly at the purple dawn.

Squeak.

Chloe got ready and hurried out of the room. She had to move quickly because if the head maid Mary woke up, there would be trouble. She carefully passed the dormitory next to the stairs where the tired servants were sleeping soundly, and then passed through the kitchens and left the castle. The barracks were full of soldiers, so it was better to use the side road next to the stables.

“...Miss Chloe.”

Gray opened his mouth to see her next to the stable. It had been a long time since Uncle Chester had brought the child from the market, and Chloe couldn't remember. Gray's only flaw was that he was quiet and woke up earlier than anyone else in the morning.

“Hello, Gray. Good morning.”

“What’s going on in the forest so early in the morning?”

“I’m going to go pick some herbs.”

“If it’s medicinal herbs, I’ll pick them for you.”

Gray looked at her and opened his mouth politely. It had been a long time since he had spoken informally to Chloe and gotten a big scolding from Uncle Chester, and now he was treating Chloe with respect as if he were a complete servant.

“Hey. Are you planning to surprise me by picking some silverbell leaves again?”

Gray's face turned slightly red as he recalled the past when he had picked poisonous plants that resembled medicinal herbs instead.

“Not anymore.”

“I feel more comfortable going in person, Mr. Gray Wilson.”

“But it would still be dangerous. The dawn air is still cold.”

Chloe cleared her throat, looking at Gray, who was hesitating with a worried expression. This was the reason why she had moved so early without the servants knowing. The servants in the Verdier Castle were very worried about the frail young lady. Especially the boy with the black eyes in front of her.

“Gray. But did you finish all the homework I gave you?”

"... Yes."

Gray nodded. When he first wore it, it came down to below his waist, but now it was so big that Chloe felt envious. She was the same age as her younger sister Alice, but both Alice and Gray were growing taller like new shoots beside her.

“Shall I show you your homework?”

“Yes. But can I take a test right now?”

Gray's face, unable to answer, was now red up to his ears. Chloe muttered to herself, "Sorry," as she passed by Gray, who was avoiding eye contact as if he still wasn't confident about the exam. If he hesitated, the sun would rise, and then he would have more opportunities to be noticed.

“Then I’ll be back. It’ll be a secret from everyone. Got it?”

“...Miss Chloe.”

Gray opened his mouth behind Chloe, who was walking slowly through the fence. Chloe turned around to look at him, her cane resting on the ground.

“Yeah. Why?”

“Mr. Chester bought my horse. He’s in the stables now. I’ve been to the woods a few times.”

The reason Mr. Chester, who was known for being a miser, bought Gray a horse was probably so that he could use him more, but it was a good thing for him anyway. Chloe smiled brightly, glad that Gray, who was known for being a quiet man, was talking a lot for once.

“That’s good. Alice has learned horseback riding, so we can ride together later. She’s a bit clumsy, so I think she’ll feel safer with you by her side.”

"Excuse me..."

"Yes?"

“No. Take care on your way.”

Chloe left Gray behind, who hesitated as if he had something to say and headed into the forest. It was a congratulatory thing that Gray had a horse, but she couldn't help but feel envious.

With her bad legs, she couldn't go out, let alone ride a horse. No servants liked seeing her staggering and walking unsteadily. She didn't want to bother the servants who were visibly nervous in case something happened. Her father, Viscount Verdier, was also worried about her. Alice, an active tomboy, had been visiting relatives here and there since she was young and had broadened her horizons, but Chloe could only quietly stay in the castle and devote herself to embroidery or the piano.

...She wants to be someone who is at least a little useful.

Since her mother passed away last year, Chloe's aspirations have grown a little stronger. In fact, as the eldest daughter of a Viscount, the greatest thing she could do for her family was to take bride lessons and marry a decent and well-off nobleman. However, she had given up on this early on because of her poor health.

Rustle. Swish. Rustle.

Chloe's forehead began to bead with sweat as she walked forward with a cane. Just because she had a bad leg doesn't mean she couldn't do anything as people thought. Her tutor, Ms. Wharton, was a doctor, so Chloe learned a lot about first aid from her.

Of course, it was for her mother who had been sick in bed for a long time, but she was also happy that she could be of some help to the soldiers this time. In the end, Chloe couldn't help them until the end because of her father's worries, but she wanted to give a small gift to the soldiers who were leaving for battle the next day.

“Oh, it’s over there.”

Chloe diligently picked out the leaves that shone with the morning dew and put them in her basket. They were herbs that were used as medicine because they had the effect of reducing inflammation when chewed and swallowed. She also picked wildflowers that she occasionally saw while looking for herbs to give to the soldiers. After her mother passed away last year, the flower decorations in the castle were completely reduced to nothing since the gardener was sent away. So sometimes, she would sneak out for a walk and pick fresh wildflowers, and just putting a single flower on the table made her feel good.

"Ha..."

When the basket was half full, she felt a little thirsty. At that moment, a small stream hidden in the forest appeared. It was a place where Chloe always rested when she went for a walk without telling the servants. This mountain was Verdier's private property, so no one was allowed to enter, and this spring in particular was a secret place that only she knew about.

The small stream of water, which flowed coldly all year round, sparkled under the stars at night and under the sunlight during the day. When she sat still and watched the water flowing down the rocks, she felt as if her heart was being purified. The problem was that an uninvited guest, whom she had never expected, had already taken her place.

He was standing in a spring so cold that his hands would freeze even in summer.

What the hell are you doing?

Even though he was turned around, she couldn't help but notice who he was. His perfectly neat uniform betrayed his rank. Chloe turned around stealthily so as not to be caught by the commander. She was much lower in rank than him, so she couldn't have pretended to know him first, and the time and place weren't suitable for self-introductions. Plus... she had a strong instinctive feeling that she shouldn't interrupt him.

Let's go back quietly. Chloe made a decision and decided to disappear as quickly as possible, but she was in such a hurry that she ended up tripping. She barely avoided falling, but the problem was what happened next.

"What?"

A sharp voice that noticed the presence grabbed the back of her head. Chloe squeezed her eyes shut, opened them, and slowly turned around while leaning on her cane. The commander she had seen through the window last night, Duke Tisse, had a splendid appearance that was hard to take her eyes off of up close. However, what made him feel even more overwhelmed was the cool and cold aura emanating from his entire body.

“I asked what it was.”

He asked as he walked out of the water. Chloe, who had been blankly staring at the water dripping from her boots into the tall grass, belatedly came to her senses and bowed.

“I’m late in introducing myself. I’m Chloe, Verdier’s daughter. Your Excellency.”

The moment she bowed politely, her legs gave out because of her body's inability to move. She thought she would fall down without being able to move, but the Duke was right in front of her. She held on to him tightly and avoided falling, but the problem was that he held her so tightly that her arms were tingling.

"Ah...!"

Luckily, he let go of her arm and Chloe took a small step back, tightening her grip on the cane.

“Is the eldest daughter of the Viscount of Verdier’s hobby of spying on people like a rat?”

Chloe's eyes opened slightly. His gaze, staring straight at her, unable to hide his expression of resentment, remained unwavering.

“It was like that last night, and it is like that now.”

Chloe's lips trembled silently as she tried to protest.

“I sincerely apologize if I offended you. But I swear I didn’t sneak a peek at you today.”

“So that’s what happened yesterday.”

As the Duke snorted faintly and spat out, Chloe's neat eyebrows gathered between her eyebrows as she lowered her gaze. Although she had never run before, her heart pounded as if she had. She had never been outside the castle, so she had no chance to meet other nobles. Was it normal for a Duke to speak so rudely?

“What are you doing here at this hour?”

Finally, a question that could be properly answered came flying in. Chloe opened her mouth as calmly as she could, slightly extending her other hand, which was holding the basket, forward.

“I was picking some herbs when I heard that you were leaving for battle tomorrow.”

“For me?”

Chloe blinked a couple of times before continuing.

“For all the soldiers who fought in the war.”

The Duke snorted softly and came closer. His eyes narrowed as he glanced inside the basket.

“Your efforts are admirable. It’s amazing to see you running around the dangerous forest at this hour of the morning.”

Chloe felt increasingly strange. No, to be precise, she felt bad. The Duke threw another unexpected remark at Chloe, who was not saying anything.

“You seem so naive, but your ambitions are seething. Did your father order you to throw yourself at me and seduce me?”

“...That’s not right.”

Chloe raised her face, looked at him with trembling eyes, and raised her voice. The admiration she had felt for him the night before disappeared like smoke, and only her displeasure towards the young and arrogant commander rose.

“Isn’t that why you personally cared for the wounded, whose flesh was rotting and oozing with pus? No matter how humble your family is, it’s too much for a noble lady to do. Especially with your body like that.”

Chloe couldn't stand the way he looked her up and down as he evaluated her, and the words he added clearly at the end, but what made her even more intolerable was his baseless misunderstanding.

“I never thought that in a wartime situation, my title would be an obstacle to helping soldiers who had gone off to protect their families. My late mother emphasized that no matter how humble our family was, it was natural for us to help those in need as nobles. That is the attitude of a noble that I learned.”

The Duke's blue eyes resembled the cold light of dawn just before it broke. Chloe thought that she would never be able to like the dawn sky anymore. His perfectly symmetrical lips slowly curved upward.

“You’re serious, you.”

Chloe met his gaze with wide eyes. Her heart was pounding as if it was going to burst, but she hated it even more when he misunderstood her strangely.

“Of course.”

“I believe in Young Lady's belief that you want to protect the pride of the nobility.”

Chloe barely resisted the urge to shoot him a message saying that she didn't really want his faith. Alice might have said that too. But the person she was talking to was the heir to the Tisse family, or rather, the Duke of Tisse.

“Thank you for trusting me.”

As she bowed her head in greeting, the Duke looked at her and slowly opened his mouth.

“But you know.”

“...”

“Have you ever thought that doing something beyond your ability is greedy and a nuisance?”

“Why do you say that?”

No matter how much Chloe thought about it, she had never been greedy. She had tried so hard not to bother others. Her lips trembled in frustration.

“For example, when Young Lady limped through the streets treating the wounded, would you still be able to talk about nobleman behavior in front of me, knowing what kind of low-quality jokes were exchanged between some soldiers’ beds that night?”

Chloe's expression hardened. Her hair blew in the morning breeze, brushing her pale cheeks.

“What would have happened if the Viscount had heard that? If I were the Viscount, I would have cut off the heads of the soldiers who had insulted my daughter with their dirty mouths.”

The Duke did not stop talking even though he saw Chloe's face turn pale right before his eyes.

“War is no joke. It is certainly not a tool to satisfy Young Lady’s petty charity. It is only natural that those who witnessed a bullet hole in the forehead of a fellow soldier they were talking to just a moment ago would be half-asleep. Shall I give you another example?”

“Enough is enough.”

Chloe shook her head as her mouth felt dry, but the Duke simply ignored her words.

“If something dangerous happens while a woman is wandering alone in the forest at dawn when the darkness is still there, who should be held responsible?”

Chloe barely opened her trembling lips. Chloe wasn't stupid enough not to think of that.

“This forest has been the private property of the Verdiers since before I was born. It is a safe place where no one without permission can enter.”

“Haha. Safe?”

The Duke laughed at her this time, loudly. His voice was cold. Behind the Duke, the sky was turning purple.

“Yes! It’s safe...!”

“I wonder if you can still say something like that.”

The moment the Duke snatched her staff away, Chloe's eyes widened in shock. What is he doing? An instinctive fear surged through her as his shadow, a head taller than hers, loomed over her.

“Hey, what are you doing now?”

The Duke struck the ground with the staff he had taken from her. Chloe instinctively lowered her gaze at the sound of an animal hissing and was startled to the point of fainting. Her staff had pierced right below the head of a large snake.

The snake that came toward her with its head raised was camouflaged in the color of tree roots. The attacked beast twisted its body with its mouth wide open. Even the sight of something sticky dripping from its sharp teeth was vivid.

Chloe was startled and stepped back, eventually falling to the ground. The poisonous snake, whose body had been impaled on the staff, was still moving its body with all its might, just before it died. The sound of the snake’s body sweeping across the dirt was even more vivid.

“Ugh...”

Chloe tried to get up, but couldn't. The cane was still stuck in the floor, where it had stuck the snake, and her whole body was numb from shock.

“Please... help me.”

Chloe barely managed to open her mouth to face the Duke, who was watching her with his arms crossed.

“You said it wasn’t dangerous.”

Chloe bit her lips as she heard what he had said. No matter how high the position of the Duke, this kind of treatment was not right.

“Then... please give me back my cane.”

“Young Lady, don’t you have hands? The snake is already dead.”

Swallowing her fear, she glanced over with blurry eyes and saw that, just as he had said, the viper had stopped wriggling and was lying down. However, Chloe couldn't pull out her staff. Even if she crawled over and barely managed to grab the staff, what was she going to do with the corpse? Just looking at the viper’s eyes, biting its tongue, made her feel goosebumps and her stomach churn. Chloe put both hands on the dirt floor and got up from her seat with all her might. The Duke, who had arrived late, pulled out her staff and swung it once, sending the corpse flying.

“It’s broken.”

The cane had been cracked in the middle, showing how hard it had been struck.

“You can use it until you return to the castle.”

“I will decline.”

Chloe turned her pale face away from the Duke who was offering her the broken cane.

“...Can I excuse myself now? As the Duke said, I think we should stop our dangerous walks.”

“You seem to have a good temper since you know how to be funny. It’s surprising how different you are from your appearance. It’s refreshing.”

Chloe looked at him, who was smiling faintly, and before she knew it, she started to cry and vomit.

“...I would like to return this to Your Excellency.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you can’t judge the content of a book just by looking at its cover.”

Her heart was pounding so hard that her ribs were starting to hurt. White breath spread out from the Duke's red lips. The eastern sky, which had been dyed a deep purple, was now slowly brightening. The Duke looked at her with a smiling face.

“I can understand the feelings of the Viscount who made his ill daughter appear in front of me.”

“Your Excellency.”

“He praised you so much that his mouth was watering. He said that if only your leg hadn’t been sore, you would have done well even if you had been sent to the palace. He even had tears in his eyes.”

Chloe felt a rare sense of pure malice toward another person as she watched the Duke continue his cold words. It was the first time since her childhood when she had seen a maid secretly touching her sick mother's belongings that she had felt disgusted with people themselves.

“Lift up your skirt.”

"... Yes?"

“Look at the condition of your legs. Is it hereditary?”

Even though she knew that her opponent was the commander of the royal army and a Duke, that didn't mean he could be rude to her like this. Attacking someone's weaknesses meant he was not practicing basic human behavior. Chloe's voice trembled as she barely opened her mouth.

“Why are you being so rude to me?”

Damien took a step closer to her and smiled even brighter.

“It’s a delusion to think that asking a question is an attack.”

Chloe's face was now pale, almost bloodless. She really hated him. Her hands were sweating profusely, and her heart was pounding so hard that it could no longer beat as hard as it could.

“If you plan your strategy emotionally, you’re bound to lose. Likewise, if you don’t respond emotionally to orders, you can’t win a fight.”

Chloe whispered, her eyes wide and watery.

“I am not a soldier of war, Your Excellency.”

He approached her, stepping on the wildflowers, and lowered his head to meet her eyes. It was the first time that the bright sun behind him had felt so unwelcome. Chloe wanted to hide herself in the darkness if she could. She didn't want to show her expression as she was barely holding back tears.

“From the moment you are born, life itself is a war. Especially for someone like you.”

The glassy, ​​cold eyes slowly scanned her body up and down again. It felt like the dead snake had come back to life and was wrapping itself around her body. Yes. This person was a golden snake. Chloe held onto the hem of her skirt tightly to keep herself from falling.

“Even if that is true, Your Excellency has no reason to meddle in my life.”

“Meddling? I know you must be quite upset since you don’t even say thank you when I give you advice on purpose.”

Chloe had the illusion that the color of the Duke's eyes had become even more mysterious. Even in the morning, his perfectly groomed blond hair, his aristocratic white skin, and his clear lips were as beautiful as a work of art, but he looked like a devil with an angel's face.

“Thank you for your valuable advice to a humble Viscount’s daughter.”

“Now that I look at it, you’re really high-level at being sarcastic.”

Instead of showing an offended expression, the Duke smiled with his white teeth. Chloe glared at him and took a deep breath.

“Don’t you know that I am not a suitable subject for you to taunt me with, Your Excellency?”

“If you want to belittle yourself, write it in a diary.”

“Your Excellency, I know it may be presumptuous of me to ask you just two questions.”

Damian nodded his head as if he found her amusing.

“Go ahead, Lady Chloe.”

“First of all, I would like you to return my broken staff to me as a new one.”

“I should have just let the snake bite you.”

“I don’t think a staff is a more powerful weapon than a sword.”

Chloe straightened her back and gave the Duke a clear gaze on the long sword at his waist. The Duke's eyes lit up and he moistened his lips with his tongue.

“As soon as I return to the barracks, I will call the carpenter to create a top-quality walking stick.”

“No. What I want is a staff made from a birch tree that grows in the Tisse territory.”

"What?"

The Duke looked at her with his eyebrows raised strangely. Chloe flinched slightly at the sudden surge of energy but soon clenched her fists. Her palms were clammy, soaked with sweat from the tension.

“Don’t you know that I’m at war right now?”

The look in the Duke's eyes as he pronounced each syllable precisely proved that he was in a very uncomfortable mood at the moment.

“Can’t you just make it and send it to me after the war is over?”

The Duke stopped talking and looked at her quietly. Chloe calmed herself down once more, then continued in a small but clear voice.

“Last night, the Duke made it clear that you would definitely return from the war victorious. You would send the soldiers home, and that included the Duke.”

"So?"

“After you win and return, please send me the staff after you return to the Tisse Territory.”

The badge on the Duke's uniform sparkled in the morning sunlight. Chloe felt the Duke's hand lightly grip her chin. Damien whispered to her, who was trying to hide her trembling body in fear.

“Shall I give you something even greater than that?”

“No, that will be fine.”

“I think Verdiers, who got angry at me, would want something more.”

“...What are you saying?”

“He took off his shoes and stepped forward to provide rear support that no one else would volunteer to provide because I dared to get involved with one of his two daughters. Of course, he was also sure that I would win this war and return, so he took a gamble.”

Chloe couldn't stand it any longer. She turned her head away from his touch, limping a little to the side.

“Your Excellency, you brought up the second topic yourself.”

“What is that?”

“If my father had said even a single word of praise to the Duke, it would have been from the pure heart of a father. Even a hedgehog loves its own child.”

Chloe continued, ignoring the snickering Duke.

“Apart from the fact that my father loves his two daughters, I am not so unrealistic as to forget that the Verdiers are not a family that dares to be compared to the Duke. Also...”

Chloe swallowed hard and then said:

“It’s not just the Duke who doesn’t want to get involved with a lame woman, it’s the same for all men.”

The Duke's eyes grew long and narrow with a displeased look.

“I told you to do self-deprecation alone.”

Chloe felt an inexplicable sense of pleasure at the feeling of being hit on the spot. Her heart pounded so hard that it felt like it was going to burst out of her throat. The fact that the other person was a Duke didn't seem important. She just wanted to let him know that he was wrong.

“It is not degrading to say what you see as it is. It is your heart that pities me, Duke, but you cannot arbitrarily define my life as unhappy.”

“Then. Are you happy living like that? Your life will never change.”

“Yes. I am happy.”

Chloe didn't hesitate to nod. Watching the smile on Damien's face slowly fade away, Chloe spoke again.

“My happiness is to live my whole life like this, in peace, without anything changing, in this land where I was born. Your Excellency.”

“Something like that?”

“Yes. Something like this.”

Tears welled up in Chloe’s eyes, but they never flowed down. It was fortunate that the cold wind was blowing. The young Duke’s head laughed softly as he watched her, who held back tears with all her might and greeted politely until the end. With the most beautiful and cruel face in the world.

The day after Chloe returned from her walk, long past breakfast time, covered in dirt and grass, and collapsed, the army led by Tisde regrouped and set out. Despite her fever and chills, Chloe was grateful that she did not have to see him off.

The problem was that Chloe was very sick. Even though she was grateful for the diagnosis that it was not pneumonia, her father spent every night in tears, and Alice, who was studying at the monastery, had to return home without ever seeing her sister's face.

Verdier's misfortunes began that winter.

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