As Julian stepped forward, Knight Chris, seemingly flustered, gripped the reins tightly. Chris immediately dismounted and saluted the knight.
“I am Chris Jenna, a knight of the Imperial Army, and I greet Your Highness, the Duke of Duchzan.”
“You’re not that polite to my wife.”
Julian looked down at him coldly from his horse and spoke. Only then did Knight Chris bow to me politely.
“...Hello, Your Highness, the Grand Duchess.”
There was a hint of humiliation in that voice, so it was a greeting I couldn't accept.
I didn't help him get up. Julian stood there, as if guarding me, and spoke in a still, cold voice.
“What’s going on here in the middle of the night? Bringing the imperial army out and causing a commotion.”
Without Julian's permission to get up, Chris had no choice but to answer while still kneeling on the floor.
"I heard a report from someone. It said that Count Winsley was leading his troops and acting suspiciously. As the report said, when I arrived here, there was indeed an army, and it seemed like they were doing something in a group..."
Julian laughed, as if he found it absurd. The snort from someone who usually kept his emotions to himself was incredibly chilling. Even I, watching from the sidelines, felt like I was walking on thin ice.
"Victor Merlin failed to provide proper supplies to the Count of Winsley's army. It must have been so unfair that Heira heard about it and sent supplies here. I'm currently sorting out that stuff, and you're telling me not to do that?"
“...I cannot judge based solely on what Your Highness the Grand Duke says.”
"Then let's check it out. But only you can come in. We've been treated unfairly, so shouldn't you be treated just as unfairly?"
Julian referred to Count Winsley's forces as "we." He drew no line between Count Winsley and the Grand Duke of Duchzan.
I held back a smirk and kept my face stiff.
“I will check.”
Chris insisted on checking. Seeing him do that, he clearly wasn't the type of person who dared to do so. He got up and began checking the items we were sorting through.
There were no dangerous or suspicious items, mostly dried meat, clothing, or blankets. These were truly everyday necessities.
“Is there anything suspicious?”
Julian asked in an arrogant voice, and Chris had no choice but to close his eyes tightly and answer.
"No."
“It was all a misunderstanding.”
"Yes."
“Then tell me about that reckless reporter.”
Chris's fingertips trembled at Julian's command. But, as expected of a middle-aged knight, he wasn't an easy opponent. When he opened his mouth, his voice came out clear and unwavering.
“I don’t know because it was an anonymous report.”
“Then that means you framed the Count of Winsley based on a report you don’t even know who sent it.”
"That..."
"Sowing discord among allies? And framing Margrave Winsley, whom even His Majesty the Emperor deeply trusts, is an act that cannot be overlooked. I will personally report it to the Imperial Family."
“Your Highness!”
Chris called out urgently to Julian. But Julian ignored him and walked out of the forest. He had nothing left to do.
Before I followed him, I turned to Chris. He had his head down, seemingly dejected. I smiled and left.
Julian waited until I came to his side and then turned his head.
“There are many enemies.”
“That’s right. If Garon hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known.”
“Garon?”
"I'm talking about the knight who stole credit from his fellow comrades. He was Princess Abigail's man. Surprisingly, he'd been around for ten years. But what happened to him over the past ten years...? He pretended to be a swindler and told me everything. He even said his role was to lead the Winsley Army here. I needed to confirm if Garon's words were true. I needed to know how far Princess Abigail had infiltrated."
“I see.”
Julian said, looking out over the vast plain.
“It seems the real enemy here isn’t the demon.”
I wholeheartedly agreed with that statement. The battle with the demons could be ended if it meant risking one's life.
But people hid in the shadows, and the more we confronted the demons head-on, the more likely we were to be stabbed in the back. That's why people were more dangerous and fearsome than demons.
The next day, a joint meeting was held to discuss the Demonic Beast Suppression Campaign. It was attended only by key figures from each clan and the imperial family. From the imperial family, the chief executive and several knights, including Chris, the knight I had met yesterday, were in attendance.
The Count of Sasha's house was similar to the royal family, but the Marquis of Eriant and our Count of Winsley differed in that the children of each family attended together.
Throughout the meeting, Shuan looked at me several times.
I sensed it, but I didn't bother to look at him or notice it. Instead, Julian seemed displeased. During a brief break in the meeting, Julian vented his frustrations to me.
“Young Master Eriant keeps looking at you.”
“That’s not it.”
"Or not?"
When I looked at Julian as if I didn't know, he sighed.
“I don’t know if you’re quick or slow.”
Only then did I understand what Julian meant. I smiled and asked playfully.
"That story again? What if Young Master Eriant really likes me? Is it because you're afraid I'll go crazy?"
“I won’t send you.”
Julian was more resolute than I expected. He was so gentle with me, so seeing him like this made my heart pound. I deliberately said something I didn't mean, hoping to provoke him.
“But what if I go anyway?”
“Does my wife want to tease me?”
“Ahaha.”
I laughed heartily, not hiding my true feelings. Julian found me cute. He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear and smiled. It was a smile so vivid that I could almost see the lines of his lips hidden behind the mask.
“I’ll make it come back. Somehow.”
The break ended while we were immersed in sweet whispers. The meeting resumed, and the next goal and the necessary preparations were set.
After the meeting, Julian and I were about to leave the conference room.
Shuan, who had been watching us throughout the meeting, came up to us from the stairs leading outside the building and called us.
“Your Highness, Your Highness the Grand Duchess. Greetings.”
Julian stood in front of me, guarding me, wary of Shuan. But Shuan was looking at Julian, not me.
“Your Highness, may I speak with you for a moment?”
At Shuan's suggestion, Julian looked at me as if asking for permission. I nodded, and Shuan led Julian to one side of the building. While the two talked, I nodded.
'See? It's not like Shuan likes me.'
Talking to the Grand Duke must have been nerve-wracking. I waited for Julian with my arms crossed, and soon their conversation ended.
As Julian approached me, Shuan gave me a brief greeting and then walked away. I nodded and took Julian's hand.
“What did you talk about?”
I asked with concern, seeing Julian's face somewhat serious. I wondered if he'd said something serious, or if that rascal had been harassing Julian.
I had complete confidence that Julian would share his conversation with me, but contrary to my expectations, Julian shook his head.
"Next time."
“Huh? You’re not going to tell me?”
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t tell you. Next time.”
Julian simply said, "Next." When I stood up, feeling a little embarrassed, Julian tried to pick me up.
I ran away in terror, and Julian followed with long, brisk strides. I circled around him, trying to avoid being caught, and burst out laughing.
The subjugation battle that terrified me wasn't even over yet, but the mere presence of Julian allowed me to laugh and chatter like this. Whenever I stood face to face with him, I felt free, as if I'd never experienced despair.
Around lunchtime, Marian came by and told me that some of the supplies were left over. Most of them were food that would spoil over time.
It had to all be taken care of before it rotted, but it was not something that could be forced upon the soldiers, and if left as it was, it would have to be thrown away in a few days.
After much deliberation, I decided to transport food to the village furthest from my territory. The nearest village had already gained some liveliness thanks to the cheap sales of surplus supplies.
It seemed like a good idea to offer help to a distant village that had so far failed to receive assistance. The village most in dire need was Duran.
So I took Julian, Hela, and a few soldiers and headed to Duran Village. Duran was located at the northernmost point of the Melin Territory, and the temperature was relatively low.
I silently covered myself with the blanket Julian had given me and checked the list of supplies to be distributed.
“I guess I should have brought more blankets.”
“After the expedition is over, all the items the soldiers used can be left behind.”
“That’s a good idea.”
Julian and I were riding in a carriage, talking about supplies.
There were people riding horses and donkeys rushing out from the village. I gave Hela instructions, and she ran toward them and spoke to them.
Hela quickly approached the carriage and reported.
“Your Highness, I hear that demons have attacked Duran Village!”
The demons were quiet for a while! They seemed to be moving toward the village. I sent one of my soldiers back toward the main castle and instructed him to request reinforcements.
And I told the rest of the soldiers to hurry as quickly as possible. There was no way civilians could handle the demons. I was growing impatient.
“I am Chris Jenna, a knight of the Imperial Army, and I greet Your Highness, the Duke of Duchzan.”
“You’re not that polite to my wife.”
Julian looked down at him coldly from his horse and spoke. Only then did Knight Chris bow to me politely.
“...Hello, Your Highness, the Grand Duchess.”
There was a hint of humiliation in that voice, so it was a greeting I couldn't accept.
I didn't help him get up. Julian stood there, as if guarding me, and spoke in a still, cold voice.
“What’s going on here in the middle of the night? Bringing the imperial army out and causing a commotion.”
Without Julian's permission to get up, Chris had no choice but to answer while still kneeling on the floor.
"I heard a report from someone. It said that Count Winsley was leading his troops and acting suspiciously. As the report said, when I arrived here, there was indeed an army, and it seemed like they were doing something in a group..."
Julian laughed, as if he found it absurd. The snort from someone who usually kept his emotions to himself was incredibly chilling. Even I, watching from the sidelines, felt like I was walking on thin ice.
"Victor Merlin failed to provide proper supplies to the Count of Winsley's army. It must have been so unfair that Heira heard about it and sent supplies here. I'm currently sorting out that stuff, and you're telling me not to do that?"
“...I cannot judge based solely on what Your Highness the Grand Duke says.”
"Then let's check it out. But only you can come in. We've been treated unfairly, so shouldn't you be treated just as unfairly?"
Julian referred to Count Winsley's forces as "we." He drew no line between Count Winsley and the Grand Duke of Duchzan.
I held back a smirk and kept my face stiff.
“I will check.”
Chris insisted on checking. Seeing him do that, he clearly wasn't the type of person who dared to do so. He got up and began checking the items we were sorting through.
There were no dangerous or suspicious items, mostly dried meat, clothing, or blankets. These were truly everyday necessities.
“Is there anything suspicious?”
Julian asked in an arrogant voice, and Chris had no choice but to close his eyes tightly and answer.
"No."
“It was all a misunderstanding.”
"Yes."
“Then tell me about that reckless reporter.”
Chris's fingertips trembled at Julian's command. But, as expected of a middle-aged knight, he wasn't an easy opponent. When he opened his mouth, his voice came out clear and unwavering.
“I don’t know because it was an anonymous report.”
“Then that means you framed the Count of Winsley based on a report you don’t even know who sent it.”
"That..."
"Sowing discord among allies? And framing Margrave Winsley, whom even His Majesty the Emperor deeply trusts, is an act that cannot be overlooked. I will personally report it to the Imperial Family."
“Your Highness!”
Chris called out urgently to Julian. But Julian ignored him and walked out of the forest. He had nothing left to do.
Before I followed him, I turned to Chris. He had his head down, seemingly dejected. I smiled and left.
Julian waited until I came to his side and then turned his head.
“There are many enemies.”
“That’s right. If Garon hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known.”
“Garon?”
"I'm talking about the knight who stole credit from his fellow comrades. He was Princess Abigail's man. Surprisingly, he'd been around for ten years. But what happened to him over the past ten years...? He pretended to be a swindler and told me everything. He even said his role was to lead the Winsley Army here. I needed to confirm if Garon's words were true. I needed to know how far Princess Abigail had infiltrated."
“I see.”
Julian said, looking out over the vast plain.
“It seems the real enemy here isn’t the demon.”
I wholeheartedly agreed with that statement. The battle with the demons could be ended if it meant risking one's life.
But people hid in the shadows, and the more we confronted the demons head-on, the more likely we were to be stabbed in the back. That's why people were more dangerous and fearsome than demons.
***
The next day, a joint meeting was held to discuss the Demonic Beast Suppression Campaign. It was attended only by key figures from each clan and the imperial family. From the imperial family, the chief executive and several knights, including Chris, the knight I had met yesterday, were in attendance.
The Count of Sasha's house was similar to the royal family, but the Marquis of Eriant and our Count of Winsley differed in that the children of each family attended together.
Throughout the meeting, Shuan looked at me several times.
I sensed it, but I didn't bother to look at him or notice it. Instead, Julian seemed displeased. During a brief break in the meeting, Julian vented his frustrations to me.
“Young Master Eriant keeps looking at you.”
“What kind of capricious thoughts are you having now? Whether to pay back the debt or not. What should he pay with to lessen his guilt, I wonder?”
"Or not?"
When I looked at Julian as if I didn't know, he sighed.
“I don’t know if you’re quick or slow.”
Only then did I understand what Julian meant. I smiled and asked playfully.
"That story again? What if Young Master Eriant really likes me? Is it because you're afraid I'll go crazy?"
“I won’t send you.”
Julian was more resolute than I expected. He was so gentle with me, so seeing him like this made my heart pound. I deliberately said something I didn't mean, hoping to provoke him.
“But what if I go anyway?”
“Does my wife want to tease me?”
“Ahaha.”
I laughed heartily, not hiding my true feelings. Julian found me cute. He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear and smiled. It was a smile so vivid that I could almost see the lines of his lips hidden behind the mask.
“I’ll make it come back. Somehow.”
The break ended while we were immersed in sweet whispers. The meeting resumed, and the next goal and the necessary preparations were set.
After the meeting, Julian and I were about to leave the conference room.
Shuan, who had been watching us throughout the meeting, came up to us from the stairs leading outside the building and called us.
“Your Highness, Your Highness the Grand Duchess. Greetings.”
Julian stood in front of me, guarding me, wary of Shuan. But Shuan was looking at Julian, not me.
“Your Highness, may I speak with you for a moment?”
At Shuan's suggestion, Julian looked at me as if asking for permission. I nodded, and Shuan led Julian to one side of the building. While the two talked, I nodded.
'See? It's not like Shuan likes me.'
Talking to the Grand Duke must have been nerve-wracking. I waited for Julian with my arms crossed, and soon their conversation ended.
As Julian approached me, Shuan gave me a brief greeting and then walked away. I nodded and took Julian's hand.
“What did you talk about?”
I asked with concern, seeing Julian's face somewhat serious. I wondered if he'd said something serious, or if that rascal had been harassing Julian.
I had complete confidence that Julian would share his conversation with me, but contrary to my expectations, Julian shook his head.
"Next time."
“Huh? You’re not going to tell me?”
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t tell you. Next time.”
Julian simply said, "Next." When I stood up, feeling a little embarrassed, Julian tried to pick me up.
I ran away in terror, and Julian followed with long, brisk strides. I circled around him, trying to avoid being caught, and burst out laughing.
The subjugation battle that terrified me wasn't even over yet, but the mere presence of Julian allowed me to laugh and chatter like this. Whenever I stood face to face with him, I felt free, as if I'd never experienced despair.
***
Around lunchtime, Marian came by and told me that some of the supplies were left over. Most of them were food that would spoil over time.
It had to all be taken care of before it rotted, but it was not something that could be forced upon the soldiers, and if left as it was, it would have to be thrown away in a few days.
After much deliberation, I decided to transport food to the village furthest from my territory. The nearest village had already gained some liveliness thanks to the cheap sales of surplus supplies.
It seemed like a good idea to offer help to a distant village that had so far failed to receive assistance. The village most in dire need was Duran.
So I took Julian, Hela, and a few soldiers and headed to Duran Village. Duran was located at the northernmost point of the Melin Territory, and the temperature was relatively low.
I silently covered myself with the blanket Julian had given me and checked the list of supplies to be distributed.
“I guess I should have brought more blankets.”
“After the expedition is over, all the items the soldiers used can be left behind.”
“That’s a good idea.”
Julian and I were riding in a carriage, talking about supplies.
There were people riding horses and donkeys rushing out from the village. I gave Hela instructions, and she ran toward them and spoke to them.
Hela quickly approached the carriage and reported.
“Your Highness, I hear that demons have attacked Duran Village!”
The demons were quiet for a while! They seemed to be moving toward the village. I sent one of my soldiers back toward the main castle and instructed him to request reinforcements.
And I told the rest of the soldiers to hurry as quickly as possible. There was no way civilians could handle the demons. I was growing impatient.
Comments
Post a Comment