He was worried that she would get sick after being in such a cold breeze.
He leaned his shoulder against the windowsill and followed her movements with his eyes.
Her steps were now steadier. When she walked slowly at a steady pace, it was almost impossible to notice that her legs were uncomfortable.
However, the state did not last long. The weakened muscles caused convulsions even with a little straining, and after about ten minutes, her gait became noticeably unnatural. Although she didn't show it on the outside, the pain seemed to still be there.
With his arms crossed and tapping his forearms with his fingertips, Barcas finally picked up the coat he had taken off. Apparently, he had to be by her side to check on her condition and to be relieved.
He circled around the wooden desk and crossed the carpeted room. As he opened the door and went out into the hallway, he ran into Darren coming up the stairs just in time.
"Your Excellency."
A man holding a small piece of paper that looked like a telegram in one hand strode up to him. With a bad premonition, Barcas raised his eyebrows.
"What's going on?"
"The informants dispatched to the north sent urgent letters. It would be better to hold an emergency meeting."
With a firm expression, he held out a piece of paper that had been dried for both of them.
Barcas, who received it, quickly skimmed through the ciphertext, which was a mixture of Eastern script and the official language of the empire.
What was written in the report was clear. The North was preparing for war. It's also quite serious.
"Have you heard from those who have planted them in the capital yet?"
"Yes, not yet."
This meant that the unsettling movements in the north had not reached the capital.
This also meant that the Heimdall family was moving very carefully
He scratched the hair that hung on his forehead rather roughly.
"This alone is not enough information. We must take steps to prevent rumors from spreading until the exact situation is known. Select reliable staff members and call them to the meeting place."
"Do you have any people in mind?"
"Beiroff, Regen, Rabomir.... That would be appropriate."
When he mentioned the names of his subordinates, he always eyed them. Darren nodded, caressing his chin.
"They're all heavy-mouthed. They will handle things carefully. I'll have them wait in the conference room soon."
As the man turned away, Barcas slipped the telegram into the pocket of his coat and went straight down the stairs.
His mind was quickly filled with the precarious situation in the Northeast.
He recalled the number of cases. In principle, the current situation should have been reported to the imperial family. But is that really a wise way to deal with it?
There is no way that the Heimdall family could have started such a dangerous tightrope walk without any guarantees. He likely recruited not only the main officials of the imperial family but also a number of nobles.
If even one traitor emerges from the Empress's family, the order of the empire will collapse in an instant.
Now was the time to gather information and quietly tighten Balto's breath under the water.
He rubbed the corners of his eyes as he felt a tingling sensation spread from his temples to his eyebrows. At that time, a cold beauty was heard from afar.
"Barcas?"
Barcas, who had just left Grace Hall and was heading to the military base, stopped his steps.
Not long ago, his wife, who was walking around the palace, was sitting near the pavilion in front of the main palace.
She jumped up from her seat.
"What's going on at this time? Of course, you're watching official business outside..."
The woman, who was walking impatiently, staggered greatly. He quickly snatched her waist.
When he held her slender body, which barely felt weight, in his arms, his throat constricted tightly, and he felt his mouth dry.
He looked down at her face, which was stained with disapproval.
When a pale flush came into his eyes on the nape of her neck and earlobe, his body reacted unhappily. Ignoring it, he straightened her staggering body.
"Please be careful."
"I'm usually careful. It's not because you suddenly appeared."
She grumbled softly, her eyes down. Her tone was no different from usual, but she seemed to have no energy.
He neatly opened her disheveled collar and lightly touched the back of his hand on her red cheek.
"The fever has not completely disappeared yet. Why are you leaving your room all the time?"
"It was frustrating to be confined to the bedroom. The smell of burning wood makes my throat tingle..."
He narrowed his eyebrows. After she started to hit the fire, she had a persistent cough. It seemed that he would have to prepare a heating device using magic stones sooner or later.
"Don't stay outside for too long, though. The air is full."
"Then when will I use this coat?"
She glanced at him, dumbfounded. After a moment's pause, Barcas retorted.
"Wouldn't you use it when you go out with me?"
Perhaps it was an unexpected answer, but her eyes widened a little to resemble the autumn sky.
She lowered her long eyelashes as if to hide the traces of agitation and said bluntly.
"You're so busy, I don't know when you can make time for it."
"Sooner or later...."
Just as he was about to say that he would give it time, Barcas remembered the news that flew from Balto, and he closed his mouth.
He rubbed his brow with an almost annoyed feeling, but the woman who was observing his expression took a step back and spat out bluntly.
"Yes. You don't have to worry about it, so you can take care of yourself."
Then she turned towards the entrance of the main palace. He held her almost reflexively. His image was captured again in her enlarged eyes.
"I'll take you to your room."
"Yes. I can walk on my...!"
Ignoring her words, he hugged her small body.
The woman, who had been staring at him for a while, immediately leaned her head on his shoulder with a resigned expression. He held her back firmly and nodded to the maid who was standing a little further away.
"Go to the military office and tell them to wait for me because I will be there a bout 1 o'clock."
"Oh, I understand."
As he passed the woman who was bending over with a bewildered face and entered the hall, the eyes of the busy servants flew away.
As Barcas strode up the stairs, ignoring the eyes that seemed to be seeing a rare spectacle, he saw a maid pacing near his bedroom.
"Why are you doing that?"
When Barcas approached her and spoke to her, the young maid who was stamping her feet in front of the door bowed down in surprise.
"I see you, the Grand Duke. In the morning, Her Highness the Grand Duchess wanted to eat fresh fruit, so I hurriedly airlifted goods from the market. However, she seemed to be away for a while, so I was waiting."
He lowered his gaze to the tray in the maid's hand.
Inside the silver bowl was a bunch of Meru grapes and a few pieces of pears with the skin cut off.
Originally, she mainly drank things like fruit or honey-infused drinks. Even then, it was only when a woman called nanny insisted that she would barely touch it. He felt happy because he had never heard her say that she wanted to eat something with her mouth.
He held her in one arm and took the bowl with the other.
"Thank you. I'll take care of it, so step back."
Then he opened the door and entered the bedroom.
"Did you want to eat fruit?"
When he put her down on a chair with a thick cushion and bent down in front of her, Barcas saw an anxious face.
Thalia, who had hardened her mouth as if to hide her feelings, said sharply.
"It's not that kind of fruit that I want to eat."
"Then what did you want to eat?"
The woman couldn't answer quickly, only grabbed the hem of her clothes, and only after a long time did she mumble softly.
"Strawberry..."
He wrinkled his eyes. It was a fruit that had already passed its season.
She hurriedly added as if she was well aware of it.
"I told her to get it if she could find it, but I didn't force it or act like a bad person. It's not an unreasonable instruction to just go out to the market and find out."
"You can do as many errands as you want."
He said in a firm tone.
Her attitude, as if she was paying attention to him, made her feel nervous.
Does she think he's going to be blamed for just that much work? Barcas felt the sensation that was tightening his throat descending into his stomach, and he lifted her chin lightly.
"Do you want strawberries?"
"I just had a sudden idea..."
"It will be difficult today, but I will get it in a few days."
The woman who was avoiding his gaze quietly made eye contact.
He added somewhat impatiently.
"If there's anything else you'd like to eat, please let me know."
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