Barcas, who had left the high priest's residence, led his men straight out of the city gate.
As they passed the gently sloping hills and climbed the undulating hills, the large and small villages scattered around the castle walls came into view.
He began to tour each village, starting with the largest. Outwardly, they seemed peaceful, but he couldn't know what was really going on.
Village officials and administrators tended to minimize the problems occurring within their jurisdictions, and the sheriffs tended to condone minor corruption and crimes within the village. Even if, as the High Priest had claimed, heretical ideas were beginning to spread among the residents, they might have been covered up until now.
"We will gather information by asking around with those who know the inside story of each village, and we will also dispatch a trustworthy investigator to get a closer look at the situation of the heretics."
"Do you believe what the High Priest said is true?"
As he followed quietly, Beirov cautiously asked questions.
Barcas looked thoughtfully at the wooden buildings lining the wide dirt road on either side, and the neatly arranged rectangular rear quarters.
He felt the farmers pulling weeds outside glancing at him.
It was common for commoners to fear their lords. But Barcas could detect in their eyes a wariness that was more than fear.
Barcas frowned, feeling his temples tingle from the strange air that was lingering in his mind.
"There may have been some confusion, but since the High Priest himself mentioned it, it can't be the first rumor without any basis."
Even if it was just the nonsense of an old man with a lot of money, he had to at least pretend to follow the rhythm.
The high priest of the East was a powerful figure who governed a large diocese, one of the few among the countless high-ranking clergy.
If that old man were determined to accuse the Grand Duchess of heresy, it wouldn't be easy for him to quell it. Above all, there was the possibility that Gareth would aggressively pursue Thalia's suspicions of apostasy. He had to somehow contain this situation before it leaked out.
"We will dispatch additional security guards to various parts of the town and announce that all gatherings must obtain prior permission."
Barcas added, turning his head.
"I plan to form a punitive force soon and conduct a large-scale search of the area around Kalmor. Issue an order to the mounted warriors to be subdued."
"All right."
Having explored all the small towns of the suburbs, Barcas soon lost his way to Raedgo Castle.
As they approached the fortress, surrounded by sand and walls across a wide hill and field, the gatekeeper immediately raised the bars of the gate.
After passing through the magnificent arched gate, Barcas jumped down from his saddle and asked questions to the eleven soldiers near the training ground.
"Where is the Grand Duchess?"
One of the guards answered with a face full of emotion.
"Her Highness is resting in the garden."
He threw the reins to the attendant who followed him and immediately crossed the parade ground.
As he passed through the inner gate, a garden overgrown with deep green shrubs and flowers filled his vision. As he traversed it at a steady pace, Barcas stopped in his tracks when he spotted the back of Thalia sitting beneath a white marble pavilion.
She was always with that huge beast.
The woman who had been chattering something to the gray beast crouching at her feet turned her head as if sensing his presence.
Barcas, who was about to confirm with her the truth of what he had heard from the high priest, suddenly felt himself at a loss for words. A smile of delight appeared on her lips.
"Did the story go well?"
Barcas, who had been quietly looking down at that brightly smiling face, eventually swallowed the question about the suspicion of heresy.
He didn't want to upset her by expressing such absurd suspicions.
"There will be no more sermons aimed at Your Highness."
“Was there anything else to talk about?”
She scratched the wolf's ear and asked,
Barcas narrowed his eyes, sensing a hint of exploration in the cautious voice.
She was studying him with a suspicious gaze, wondering what he was worried about, when a growling sound was heard nearby. Barcas absentmindedly turned his gaze, frowning at the sight of the beast surrounded by flowers.
“Then I can’t use it.”
Thalia, who had scolded the wolf harshly, added as if watching his expression.
"I guess he's upset because I left him alone all morning. He's just throwing a tantrum; he doesn't mean to be dangerous."
He just stared blankly at the dire wolf without saying anything.
The wolf, wearing a crown of roses and cornflowers and a necklace of marigolds, had a distinct look of humiliation in his blue eyes.
She spoke proudly, stroking the wolf's neck as if she didn't notice it.
“Isn’t it so cute?”
He didn't miss the wolf's ears twitching.
Whenever he was next to his new owner, he would always hang his tail down and fold his ears, looking exactly like a pet that had lost its way.
Barcas, who had been staring blankly at the sight, calmly expressed his agreement.
"Yes."
The wolf's eyes lit up, as if he understood what he was saying. He added, feigning ignorance.
"If you keep doing this, I think the people around you will be a little less scared."
"Right? I'll continue to decorate like this in the future."
In stark contrast to the wolf's ears drooping further, a relieved smile spread across her lips.
It seems like she was waiting to show him this ridiculously decorated thing.
The moment he realized that, a complex emotion churned in his stomach. She seemed genuinely worried that he might try to force the beast away.
Barcas felt a bitter taste in his mouth and changed the subject.
"More than that, there's something I'd like to ask you."
"What is it?"
She asked with a smile on her face.
After a moment's pause, Barcas continued, choosing his words carefully.
"I heard that the Ain tribe has begun to run rampant around Kalmor. I would like you to refrain from going out, at least until all the raiders have been driven away."
"...until when?"
The woman, who had been staring at her wolf with her shadowy blue eyes, asked a question cautiously.
Her two arms unconsciously wrapped around the wolf's neck. He stared blankly at her, half-buried in the beast's massive body, before pulling his lips away.
"It won't be that long."
"It shouldn't be more than two months. Khan gets frustrated just being in the castle."
It didn't matter to him whether the beast was frustrated or not. Her safety was the most important thing to him.
But instead of saying that, Barcas simply nodded in agreement.
“I’ll finish it in that time.”
"...After that, I can take Khan and go anywhere freely, right?"
She looked up at him and asked.
After a moment of hesitation, Barcas nodded. A soft smile appeared on her lips.
“Then that’s enough.”
Then she added in a small voice.
“I trust you.”
For a moment, it felt like a blade of ice had passed through his chest.
"I will never trust you again."
One day, the words she had uttered like a curse echoed in his ears. He averted his gaze to the side as if to unfold them, swallowing saliva through his constricted throat.
A surprisingly calm voice flowed out to his ears, unrelated to the commotion in his chest.
"Even though it's early summer, the evening air is chilly. Let's go inside now."
"...My legs hurt so much I can't walk."
The woman who had been fiddling with the hem of her skirt with her mouth tightly shut suddenly blurted out in a complaining tone.
He had a serious look on his face.
"I'll bring a healer right away."
Then, as he was about to turn towards the main palace, she suddenly grabbed the hem of his clothes and pulled.
When he looked back, he saw a sharp gaze flying towards him.
"I don't want to wait. I want to go to bed right now, so you carry me."
He looked down at her, his body stiff.
Now it was impossible to interpret her intentions any other way.
This woman was trying to seduce him now.
But why?
Did the vassals pressure her about the succession issue?
As he was forming unpleasant assumptions in his head, she pulled at him hem a little harder.
"Why? You don't like it?"
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