The soldier, who had been speaking in a flurry of words as if reciting a script, closed his mouth. Julian tilted his head, crossed his arms, and looked at him. Seeing the soldier's inability to open his mouth, Julian asked again with a mocking smile.
“I asked Duchzan how it was.”
“Du, Duchzan army... They tried to keep their composure and minimize the damage.”
“What efforts have they made to minimize the damage?”
“I was out of my mind too...”
"You were out of your mind, but you saw Winsley so well, and you don't know what Duchzan did, but they kept their composure? Is that what you're saying?"
"...Yes."
The answer, "Yes," was so ridiculous I almost burst out laughing. Julian, still so expressionless, was truly remarkable. Julian opened his eyes lazily, surveyed his surroundings, and then exhaled.
"I know best what Duchzan did. Duchzan went along with whatever Winsley did."
A look of bewilderment crossed Marker's face at those words. It was as if Grand Duke Duchzan had personally tied the fate of the Winsley family to that of the Duchzan family. Marker bit his lip in embarrassment before speaking.
"Your Highness, Grand Duke of Duchzan, please reconsider. This is not a light matter."
"Sir Marker, you know this is no small matter, so why are you acting so hastily? Are you truly His Majesty's knight?"
“...I am undoubtedly His Majesty’s knight. Even if you are His Royal Highness the Duchzan, that question is rude!”
"If you're His Majesty's knight, act like His Majesty's knight. Count Winsley is the head of a family that has been more loyal to His Majesty than anyone else. Handle your affairs with the utmost care."
Princess Abigail would have prepared more witnesses to this incident. The remaining soldiers would have been licking their lips with all sorts of dirty lies. But with Julian's arrival, they were left speechless.
If Count Winsley committed treason, Grand Duke Duchzan also committed treason. If the charge of treason is proven false, who will bear the full burden of the false accusation?
In my previous life, Julian hadn't been here. If he hadn't, everyone, including Marker, would have branded Winsley a traitor, and things would have gone smoothly.
I stared at Julian's back as he stepped forward, then closed my eyes. Even beneath my eyelids, I could clearly see Julian's red cloak.
My legs trembled as I thought about the tragedy that would have unfolded if Julian hadn't been there. But because Julian was here, and because his child was in my womb, I was able to brace myself and hold on.
Yes, I could endure anything as long as Julian was with me.
Julian turned and headed straight for me. I held out a hand, and he took it and lifted it to his lips. Watching him kiss the back of my hand, I said,
“I love you, Julian.”
Julian's eyes widened at the sudden confession of love, but soon he smiled.
“Me too.”
Julian embraced me and carried me into the barracks. There was no reason for Julian and me to stay here anymore. Even without us, no one would dare treat Winsley carelessly.
The Imperial Army stayed at Lord Melin's castle and interrogated all the Imperial forces present, including Sasha's army. However, after Grand Duke Duchzan's statement that "Duchzan participated in everything Winsley did" became known, no one dared speak up.
Marker seemed increasingly impatient as the days went by. He seemed desperate to get something done, but couldn't.
Looking at him, I was certain. He was definitely related to Princess Abigail. He seemed more vulnerable and helpless than loyal to the Princess.
Marker, who had been wandering around, finally decided to focus on something else. He led his men to Winsley's barracks.
Until then, we were all sitting around with our family, talking about the baby, so there were no uninvited guests. Adam didn't even bother to openly grumble or hide his discontent.
“I was naming the baby, and it was annoying.”
I pinched Adam's side hard, and he screamed silently.
“What’s going on?”
My father asked, relaxed and untroubled. As the days went by, he seemed to be shedding his old-fashioned attitude and focusing on his family. Perhaps he had learned something from the imperial army disrespectful attitude.
No matter how loyal you are, you must have realized the hard way that the royal family will not step forward to defend the Winsley family.
Marker seemed displeased, perhaps realizing that the Count of Winsley was treating him like an intruder, but he couldn't argue further. Above all, Julian was standing firm beside me.
“...Are you aware of the fact that all demons have disappeared?”
“How could I not know?”
"Where have all the demons gone? Why is the Duchzan Army stationed at Lake Iris?"
This made it clear. Marker wasn't loyal to Princess Abigail. If Marker knew so much, he wouldn't have stirred up the issue of the Demon's disappearance.
This must have been the result of a cornered Marker desperately trying to get something from Princess Abigail.
My laughter echoed through the quiet room, and Marker looked at me with a displeased expression.
“Why are you laughing, Your Highness the Grand Duchess Duchzan?”
“No. Please continue.”
"The one who must continue is Count Winsley! All the demons you were supposed to subdue have disappeared, so why haven't you reported it? Isn't it related to the sudden appearance of the demons?"
My father tried to say something, but I shook my head, holding his hand. Marker, seeing my gesture, stared at me openly.
"Your Highness, if you know anything, you must speak up. This is a very serious matter!"
I faced Marker but said nothing. If I told him what we saw or what we were investigating, he'd likely sense something was off and report it to Princess Abigail.
But if we remained silent, it would be considered treason and reported to the Emperor. Whatever happened, it was more important for the Emperor to know before Princess Abigail.
As everyone else in the room, including me, fell silent, Marker's face turned pale. I don't know what weakness he had caught on Princess Abigail, but it was definitely worth his life, or something more valuable than life itself. And because of that, Marker seemed determined to stake his life on this matter.
“Your Highness, Grand Duchess Duchzan, you must come with us.”
Marker tried to speak calmly, but his words trembled violently. He knew what it would be like to take away the Grand Duchess Duchzan. Nevertheless, he decided he had to take me.
If the Imperial Army came out like that, would it be right to follow them? This was a separate matter from the harm they had done to the Imperial Army and the Sasha army. Since we had kept silent about the demon beasts during the battle to subdue them, this arrest wasn't entirely without merit.
Is it right to follow? Is it right not to follow? That was the moment I thought about it.
“You’re crazy.”
A fierce, gnashing voice came from beside me. I raised my head and saw Julian glaring at Marker with fierce eyes.
“You dare take my wife from before me?”
Even I felt the tension in his voice, as if he were standing on thin ice. Even if I had considered cooperating with the arrest, I doubted even I would be able to remain calm. I could only keep my mouth shut and watch Julian's actions.
Marker knelt on one knee and bowed his head deeply.
"Your Highness, we are the Imperial forces here to investigate the treason. There is testimony against Winsley, and the whereabouts of the demon are unknown. However, Her Highness the Grand Duchess Duchan is trying to cover up this matter, even silencing the Margrave of Winsley."
“Shut up.”
“But Your Highness!”
Slurrung. No one here expected Julian to draw his sword. But he did, and the sword aimed at Marker's bowed head.
Marker could only tremble, unable to raise his head. Was Julian going to cut off his neck like this?
Julian could do it. No one here could, but Julian alone deserved it. But I put my hand on Julian's arm.
“Julian.”
When I called his name softly, Julian slowly shifted his gaze to look at me. I shook my head very slightly. I could kill Marker, but there was no benefit to killing him.
Finally, Julian put away his sword, and Marker gasped.
Julian opened his mouth as he sheathed his sword.
"All present, including the Grand Duchess of Duchzan, are to go to the Grand Duke's residence. If you wish to confirm the charges of treason, you must formally visit the Grand Duke's residence. You cannot take my wife away like a street thief."
Once Julian had said so, no one could stop him. It wasn't that he wouldn't be questioned. He even said he wouldn't block the visit if it went through the proper procedures. Marker closed his eyes tightly, as if he realized there was no other way.
“...Take a few knights from the Imperial Army with you. No one from Winsley County can escape anywhere else.”
Julian didn't answer. But he didn't stop Marker from selecting a few Imperial Knights. His attitude, however, was closer to dismissive than compliant. What, really, could those few Knights possibly do?
“Madam, let’s go.”
Julian extended his arm to me. I placed my hand on his, and he escorted me leisurely out of the barracks.
“I asked Duchzan how it was.”
“Du, Duchzan army... They tried to keep their composure and minimize the damage.”
“What efforts have they made to minimize the damage?”
“I was out of my mind too...”
"You were out of your mind, but you saw Winsley so well, and you don't know what Duchzan did, but they kept their composure? Is that what you're saying?"
"...Yes."
The answer, "Yes," was so ridiculous I almost burst out laughing. Julian, still so expressionless, was truly remarkable. Julian opened his eyes lazily, surveyed his surroundings, and then exhaled.
"I know best what Duchzan did. Duchzan went along with whatever Winsley did."
A look of bewilderment crossed Marker's face at those words. It was as if Grand Duke Duchzan had personally tied the fate of the Winsley family to that of the Duchzan family. Marker bit his lip in embarrassment before speaking.
"Your Highness, Grand Duke of Duchzan, please reconsider. This is not a light matter."
"Sir Marker, you know this is no small matter, so why are you acting so hastily? Are you truly His Majesty's knight?"
“...I am undoubtedly His Majesty’s knight. Even if you are His Royal Highness the Duchzan, that question is rude!”
"If you're His Majesty's knight, act like His Majesty's knight. Count Winsley is the head of a family that has been more loyal to His Majesty than anyone else. Handle your affairs with the utmost care."
Princess Abigail would have prepared more witnesses to this incident. The remaining soldiers would have been licking their lips with all sorts of dirty lies. But with Julian's arrival, they were left speechless.
If Count Winsley committed treason, Grand Duke Duchzan also committed treason. If the charge of treason is proven false, who will bear the full burden of the false accusation?
In my previous life, Julian hadn't been here. If he hadn't, everyone, including Marker, would have branded Winsley a traitor, and things would have gone smoothly.
I stared at Julian's back as he stepped forward, then closed my eyes. Even beneath my eyelids, I could clearly see Julian's red cloak.
My legs trembled as I thought about the tragedy that would have unfolded if Julian hadn't been there. But because Julian was here, and because his child was in my womb, I was able to brace myself and hold on.
Yes, I could endure anything as long as Julian was with me.
Julian turned and headed straight for me. I held out a hand, and he took it and lifted it to his lips. Watching him kiss the back of my hand, I said,
“I love you, Julian.”
Julian's eyes widened at the sudden confession of love, but soon he smiled.
“Me too.”
Julian embraced me and carried me into the barracks. There was no reason for Julian and me to stay here anymore. Even without us, no one would dare treat Winsley carelessly.
***
The Imperial Army stayed at Lord Melin's castle and interrogated all the Imperial forces present, including Sasha's army. However, after Grand Duke Duchzan's statement that "Duchzan participated in everything Winsley did" became known, no one dared speak up.
Marker seemed increasingly impatient as the days went by. He seemed desperate to get something done, but couldn't.
Looking at him, I was certain. He was definitely related to Princess Abigail. He seemed more vulnerable and helpless than loyal to the Princess.
Marker, who had been wandering around, finally decided to focus on something else. He led his men to Winsley's barracks.
Until then, we were all sitting around with our family, talking about the baby, so there were no uninvited guests. Adam didn't even bother to openly grumble or hide his discontent.
“I was naming the baby, and it was annoying.”
I pinched Adam's side hard, and he screamed silently.
“What’s going on?”
My father asked, relaxed and untroubled. As the days went by, he seemed to be shedding his old-fashioned attitude and focusing on his family. Perhaps he had learned something from the imperial army disrespectful attitude.
No matter how loyal you are, you must have realized the hard way that the royal family will not step forward to defend the Winsley family.
Marker seemed displeased, perhaps realizing that the Count of Winsley was treating him like an intruder, but he couldn't argue further. Above all, Julian was standing firm beside me.
“...Are you aware of the fact that all demons have disappeared?”
“How could I not know?”
"Where have all the demons gone? Why is the Duchzan Army stationed at Lake Iris?"
This made it clear. Marker wasn't loyal to Princess Abigail. If Marker knew so much, he wouldn't have stirred up the issue of the Demon's disappearance.
This must have been the result of a cornered Marker desperately trying to get something from Princess Abigail.
My laughter echoed through the quiet room, and Marker looked at me with a displeased expression.
“Why are you laughing, Your Highness the Grand Duchess Duchzan?”
“No. Please continue.”
"The one who must continue is Count Winsley! All the demons you were supposed to subdue have disappeared, so why haven't you reported it? Isn't it related to the sudden appearance of the demons?"
My father tried to say something, but I shook my head, holding his hand. Marker, seeing my gesture, stared at me openly.
"Your Highness, if you know anything, you must speak up. This is a very serious matter!"
I faced Marker but said nothing. If I told him what we saw or what we were investigating, he'd likely sense something was off and report it to Princess Abigail.
But if we remained silent, it would be considered treason and reported to the Emperor. Whatever happened, it was more important for the Emperor to know before Princess Abigail.
As everyone else in the room, including me, fell silent, Marker's face turned pale. I don't know what weakness he had caught on Princess Abigail, but it was definitely worth his life, or something more valuable than life itself. And because of that, Marker seemed determined to stake his life on this matter.
“Your Highness, Grand Duchess Duchzan, you must come with us.”
Marker tried to speak calmly, but his words trembled violently. He knew what it would be like to take away the Grand Duchess Duchzan. Nevertheless, he decided he had to take me.
If the Imperial Army came out like that, would it be right to follow them? This was a separate matter from the harm they had done to the Imperial Army and the Sasha army. Since we had kept silent about the demon beasts during the battle to subdue them, this arrest wasn't entirely without merit.
Is it right to follow? Is it right not to follow? That was the moment I thought about it.
“You’re crazy.”
A fierce, gnashing voice came from beside me. I raised my head and saw Julian glaring at Marker with fierce eyes.
“You dare take my wife from before me?”
Even I felt the tension in his voice, as if he were standing on thin ice. Even if I had considered cooperating with the arrest, I doubted even I would be able to remain calm. I could only keep my mouth shut and watch Julian's actions.
Marker knelt on one knee and bowed his head deeply.
"Your Highness, we are the Imperial forces here to investigate the treason. There is testimony against Winsley, and the whereabouts of the demon are unknown. However, Her Highness the Grand Duchess Duchan is trying to cover up this matter, even silencing the Margrave of Winsley."
“Shut up.”
“But Your Highness!”
Slurrung. No one here expected Julian to draw his sword. But he did, and the sword aimed at Marker's bowed head.
Marker could only tremble, unable to raise his head. Was Julian going to cut off his neck like this?
Julian could do it. No one here could, but Julian alone deserved it. But I put my hand on Julian's arm.
“Julian.”
When I called his name softly, Julian slowly shifted his gaze to look at me. I shook my head very slightly. I could kill Marker, but there was no benefit to killing him.
Finally, Julian put away his sword, and Marker gasped.
Julian opened his mouth as he sheathed his sword.
"All present, including the Grand Duchess of Duchzan, are to go to the Grand Duke's residence. If you wish to confirm the charges of treason, you must formally visit the Grand Duke's residence. You cannot take my wife away like a street thief."
Once Julian had said so, no one could stop him. It wasn't that he wouldn't be questioned. He even said he wouldn't block the visit if it went through the proper procedures. Marker closed his eyes tightly, as if he realized there was no other way.
“...Take a few knights from the Imperial Army with you. No one from Winsley County can escape anywhere else.”
Julian didn't answer. But he didn't stop Marker from selecting a few Imperial Knights. His attitude, however, was closer to dismissive than compliant. What, really, could those few Knights possibly do?
“Madam, let’s go.”
Julian extended his arm to me. I placed my hand on his, and he escorted me leisurely out of the barracks.
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