The banquet prepared by the servants of the Grand Duke's castle for the past few days was magnificent. The banquet hall, rarely used, was bright and airy, with every single chandelier spot wiped clean and the curtains and carpets replaced with new ones. A cool night breeze streamed in through the half-open windows, pleasantly cooling the heat of the slightly intoxicated attendees.
True to Hessengard's abundance, the table was laden with dishes made from fresh ingredients brought from all over. Exhausted from their long journey, the Havand delegation happily devoured the food given to them.
In the midst of this, the Marquis of Carnarvon was flustered.
“The Marquis is silent. It seems Hessengard’s cuisine doesn’t suit his taste very well.”
As the Marquis of Carnarvon stared blankly at the table, someone spoke to him from the side. The Marquis of Carnarvon answered with a strained smile.
“How could that be, Princess? Thank you for your lavish hospitality...”
"Marquis."
“...”
“It seems that in the Marquis’s eyes, I still look like a child from long ago.”
At Erna's words, the Marquis of Carnarvon fell silent. Then, as if asking how long he would stay like that, Erna rested her chin on one hand and stared intently at him. Naturally, the eyes of the people sitting nearby turned to the two of them.
"I am not trying to blame you. It is only natural, considering it has been so long since I last saw you."
Feeling the gaze, Erna smiled and shook her head as if it were nothing. At this, the rest of the delegation smiled in relief and resumed their meal. In the midst of the warm and friendly atmosphere, the Marquis of Carnarvon asked a question.
'This isn't right...'
Marquis of Carnarvon remembered what happened when he left Havand.
For the past ten years, Havand had continued a protracted war with its neighbor, Kelon. Since a peace treaty was finally signed this year to enter a ceasefire, it could not be said that either side had won, but everyone knew that Havand had suffered greater losses. This was because all the battles with Kelon took place in Havand's major granaries.
Nevertheless, the reason Havand—or more precisely, the Havand royal family—was able to maintain a prosperous life was thanks to the tribute sent from Hessengard.
Hessengard, which had suffered from severe crop failures for several years following the death of the previous Grand Duke, experienced miraculously abundant harvests every year after the appointment of a new Grand Duke. Come to think of it, Hessengard was indeed a country on the continent that had uniquely avoided natural disasters.
With the war halted and internal affairs settled, the Havand royal family turned their attention to Hessengard. Hessengard had been quietly stable for ten years. In that case, couldn't they squeeze out a little more for the revival of Havand? Whenever those who had visited Hessengard remarked, "Hessengard is wealthy and peaceful," the Havand royal family felt a bitter pang in their hearts, like people whose possessions had been stolen.
It is a country ruled by a member of their own royal family who has become a Grand Duke. Therefore, Hessengard is a vassal state of Havand, and it was a place that ought to make some sacrifices for the revival of Havand.
'That's why they applied on purpose...'
Marquis Carnarvon's territory was located on the border with Cellon and had been devastated by war, so he was unable to pay proper taxes. For this reason, Marquis Carnarvon volunteered even more enthusiastically to join the delegation this time. He was confident that he could squeeze Hessengard dry for the sake of Havand, or more precisely, for his own selfish desires.
However, there were many others besides the Marquis of Carnarvon who coveted the prosperity of Hessengard. So, Carnarvon brought up a story from the past.
"Did I not escort Princess Erna? It has been a long time since I last saw her, so I miss her dearly. She followed me so well back then... She will surely be delighted to see me again."
It was a blatant lie, but no one present knew that the Marquis of Carnarvon was lying. In the end, King Havand once again appointed the Marquis of Carnarvon as the head of the delegation.
In fact, even then, the Marquis of Carnarvon did not gather information about Hessengard. He thought that it wouldn't be too late to figure it out, even if he went there. And he recalled the Erna he remembered.
A young and unattractive Princess who sobbed uncontrollably and could not even cling to her ladies-in-waiting. Though he had no idea how on earth Hessengard had packaged her, lower-ranking nobles who occasionally returned just to deliver personal letters would speak of her as beautiful. It was a mystery. Furthermore, Carnarvon simply laughed off the story about the formation of a wizard order.
It is difficult to hire even one wizard. Moreover, most of them belong to magic towers, making it hard to recruit them, so a division? It was clearly just a grandiose name given to two or three idiotic wizards gathered together.
And now, at the banquet hall, the Marquis of Carnarvon realized that all his expectations had been shattered.
'I thought I could control it without any problems...'
He thought she would cling to him while crying, just like before. He thought she would be terrified. With that appearance, with that stubbornness. That she could be loved by anyone. He thought that even though she had come to use magic, she was still just an invader in Hessengard, so he assumed Erna would be thoroughly isolated. But the Erna standing before him now was a completely different person.
“...I apologize, Grand Duke. Since it has been a long time since my last visit, I seem to have made a mistake. I ask for your generous understanding.”
"It's okay. Don't worry about it. It's been a while since we last saw each other, so it's understandable."
Marquis Carnarvon felt a surge of emotion at the sight of Erna naturally treating him with contempt. He then recalled the true purpose of his visit. The night before the Marquis left Havand, the King of Havand summoned him privately and spoke to him.
“She still hasn’t been able to conceive. I hear that the two Grand Dukes are on very bad terms. To think that such an inadequate woman cannot even have a child. Honestly, I wonder if there is something wrong with her. Of course, the problem might lie with the royal family of Ether, but... Furthermore, instead of sending more tribute to her homeland, she is showing mercy to the people of Hessengard, allowing them to live well-fed. How can she be called a Princess of Havand if she acts like that? While the people of her own country are struggling so hard.”
“Those words are...”
Marquis of Carnarvon quickly realized the King's true intentions. The King wanted more from Hessengard. And he wanted Hessengard to become a complete colony of Havand.
“We might be able to replace the Grand Duke a little sooner than planned. I heard she went to Hesengard and became a mage, didn't she? Quite a powerful one at that. In that case, it would be best to bring her back and send a Princess to Hesengard to bear an heir immediately and teach the child not to forget that he is of the royal family of Havand.”
Recalling his conversation with the King, Marquis Carnarvon looked at Erna. Certainly, as the King said, it would be in Havand's best interest to summon Erna to Havand and send the new Princess as Grand Duke.
He had no intention of revealing this fact at this moment. However, seeing Erna acting so nonchalantly in front of him, the Marquis of Carnarvon felt twisted, and he eventually could not hold back and blurted it out.
"Come to think of it, His Majesty King Havand was curious about news of the Grand Duke. He seemed particularly worried that there was still no joyous news."
When the topic of the successor came up, Callion could see Erna's face stiffen slightly.
“If you are alright, Your Highness, I would like to bring renowned doctors from Havand here. I will examine you to ensure there are no issues, and depending on the situation, I recommend that you go to Havand for treatment. You must have missed your homeland greatly, so a brief visit would not be a bad idea. In fact, that is the very reason I came this time...”
At that moment, an arm wrapped around Erna's waist from behind.
“...!”
At the sudden event, Erna and the Marquis of Carnarvon were also surprised and looked at the owner of the arm.
"There is no problem with Erna."
“G-Grand Duke Callion...”
Carnarvon held his breath at the look in Callion's eyes, which seemed ready to devour him.
“As you know, Marquis, Hessengard has been busy recovering lately. Monsters are still appearing frequently here and there. Because of this, Erna has been busy overseeing internal affairs at the Grand Duke’s castle, while I have been busy hunting them down. And only now have we finally managed to spend time together. Therefore, I ask that you wait a little longer for the news you and the Havand Royal Family are hoping to hear.”
The content of the words themselves was polite, but Callion's voice was menacing, as if to say that he would not let it slide if he wasn't shut up immediately.
“I see. Seeing His Majesty the King so often must have made me anxious. In that case, I will be waiting for good news.”
Contrary to expectations, the Marquis of Carnarvon hurriedly ended the conversation at the sight of Callion suddenly interrupting and displaying hostility. It was Vanessa, who was dining a short distance away, who broke the sudden chill in the atmosphere. Smiling as if nothing had happened, she raised her glass of wine and stated that the Council of Hessengard would do its utmost to welcome the Havand delegation, who had arrived safely, and ensure their comfortable stay.
The others also raised their glasses and continued her words, and soon the ominous atmosphere between Callion and the Marquis of Carnarvon was forgotten in the spirit of alcohol as the banquet came to an end.
"That's blatant."
"I know."
After the banquet ended, Erna and Callion naturally entered the couple's bedroom together, without anyone having said anything. As soon as they entered, they blurted out their thoughts about the banquet from a moment ago. They had suspected it ever since they received the message to produce an heir within a year, but they never expected them to so blatantly take issue with the lack of children and suggest returning home.
“They said the official schedule is a month, but it looks like he’ll stay longer than that. He’ll likely take this opportunity to report the situation in Hessengard in detail. He’ll lose his mind when he finds out that what was sent to Havand was just a tiny fraction of what he’s been stockpiling...”
Erna sighed and lay down on the bed. She had already finished telling Vanessa how to deceive the eyes and ears of the Havand delegation.
“How can I send him back quickly...”
Just as Erna closed her eyes, suppressing the urge to lock them all up in the basement of the Grand Duke's castle, the bed suddenly swayed. Startled, she opened her eyes to see Callion, who had climbed up before she knew it.
He looked down at Erna, holding her inside him with both arms.
“He said the biggest purpose of this visit was you.”
“Th-that’s right...”
The purpose of the Marquis of Carnarvon's official visit was solely to properly check on the well-being of the daughter King Havand had sent far away, out of concern for her. And that check included monitoring whether Erna was capable of having a child.
"Then it's simple."
Callion raised one hand and placed it on Erna's stomach. Beneath the thin dress she was wearing for the banquet, her flat belly could be felt.
“Can’t we just find a successor as soon as possible?”
He gently stroked the place he would enjoy again from now on.
"So that the Marquis can verify it within a month."
True to Hessengard's abundance, the table was laden with dishes made from fresh ingredients brought from all over. Exhausted from their long journey, the Havand delegation happily devoured the food given to them.
In the midst of this, the Marquis of Carnarvon was flustered.
“The Marquis is silent. It seems Hessengard’s cuisine doesn’t suit his taste very well.”
As the Marquis of Carnarvon stared blankly at the table, someone spoke to him from the side. The Marquis of Carnarvon answered with a strained smile.
“How could that be, Princess? Thank you for your lavish hospitality...”
"Marquis."
“...”
“It seems that in the Marquis’s eyes, I still look like a child from long ago.”
At Erna's words, the Marquis of Carnarvon fell silent. Then, as if asking how long he would stay like that, Erna rested her chin on one hand and stared intently at him. Naturally, the eyes of the people sitting nearby turned to the two of them.
"I am not trying to blame you. It is only natural, considering it has been so long since I last saw you."
Feeling the gaze, Erna smiled and shook her head as if it were nothing. At this, the rest of the delegation smiled in relief and resumed their meal. In the midst of the warm and friendly atmosphere, the Marquis of Carnarvon asked a question.
'This isn't right...'
Marquis of Carnarvon remembered what happened when he left Havand.
For the past ten years, Havand had continued a protracted war with its neighbor, Kelon. Since a peace treaty was finally signed this year to enter a ceasefire, it could not be said that either side had won, but everyone knew that Havand had suffered greater losses. This was because all the battles with Kelon took place in Havand's major granaries.
Nevertheless, the reason Havand—or more precisely, the Havand royal family—was able to maintain a prosperous life was thanks to the tribute sent from Hessengard.
Hessengard, which had suffered from severe crop failures for several years following the death of the previous Grand Duke, experienced miraculously abundant harvests every year after the appointment of a new Grand Duke. Come to think of it, Hessengard was indeed a country on the continent that had uniquely avoided natural disasters.
With the war halted and internal affairs settled, the Havand royal family turned their attention to Hessengard. Hessengard had been quietly stable for ten years. In that case, couldn't they squeeze out a little more for the revival of Havand? Whenever those who had visited Hessengard remarked, "Hessengard is wealthy and peaceful," the Havand royal family felt a bitter pang in their hearts, like people whose possessions had been stolen.
It is a country ruled by a member of their own royal family who has become a Grand Duke. Therefore, Hessengard is a vassal state of Havand, and it was a place that ought to make some sacrifices for the revival of Havand.
'That's why they applied on purpose...'
Marquis Carnarvon's territory was located on the border with Cellon and had been devastated by war, so he was unable to pay proper taxes. For this reason, Marquis Carnarvon volunteered even more enthusiastically to join the delegation this time. He was confident that he could squeeze Hessengard dry for the sake of Havand, or more precisely, for his own selfish desires.
However, there were many others besides the Marquis of Carnarvon who coveted the prosperity of Hessengard. So, Carnarvon brought up a story from the past.
"Did I not escort Princess Erna? It has been a long time since I last saw her, so I miss her dearly. She followed me so well back then... She will surely be delighted to see me again."
It was a blatant lie, but no one present knew that the Marquis of Carnarvon was lying. In the end, King Havand once again appointed the Marquis of Carnarvon as the head of the delegation.
In fact, even then, the Marquis of Carnarvon did not gather information about Hessengard. He thought that it wouldn't be too late to figure it out, even if he went there. And he recalled the Erna he remembered.
A young and unattractive Princess who sobbed uncontrollably and could not even cling to her ladies-in-waiting. Though he had no idea how on earth Hessengard had packaged her, lower-ranking nobles who occasionally returned just to deliver personal letters would speak of her as beautiful. It was a mystery. Furthermore, Carnarvon simply laughed off the story about the formation of a wizard order.
It is difficult to hire even one wizard. Moreover, most of them belong to magic towers, making it hard to recruit them, so a division? It was clearly just a grandiose name given to two or three idiotic wizards gathered together.
And now, at the banquet hall, the Marquis of Carnarvon realized that all his expectations had been shattered.
'I thought I could control it without any problems...'
He thought she would cling to him while crying, just like before. He thought she would be terrified. With that appearance, with that stubbornness. That she could be loved by anyone. He thought that even though she had come to use magic, she was still just an invader in Hessengard, so he assumed Erna would be thoroughly isolated. But the Erna standing before him now was a completely different person.
“...I apologize, Grand Duke. Since it has been a long time since my last visit, I seem to have made a mistake. I ask for your generous understanding.”
"It's okay. Don't worry about it. It's been a while since we last saw each other, so it's understandable."
Marquis Carnarvon felt a surge of emotion at the sight of Erna naturally treating him with contempt. He then recalled the true purpose of his visit. The night before the Marquis left Havand, the King of Havand summoned him privately and spoke to him.
“She still hasn’t been able to conceive. I hear that the two Grand Dukes are on very bad terms. To think that such an inadequate woman cannot even have a child. Honestly, I wonder if there is something wrong with her. Of course, the problem might lie with the royal family of Ether, but... Furthermore, instead of sending more tribute to her homeland, she is showing mercy to the people of Hessengard, allowing them to live well-fed. How can she be called a Princess of Havand if she acts like that? While the people of her own country are struggling so hard.”
“Those words are...”
Marquis of Carnarvon quickly realized the King's true intentions. The King wanted more from Hessengard. And he wanted Hessengard to become a complete colony of Havand.
“We might be able to replace the Grand Duke a little sooner than planned. I heard she went to Hesengard and became a mage, didn't she? Quite a powerful one at that. In that case, it would be best to bring her back and send a Princess to Hesengard to bear an heir immediately and teach the child not to forget that he is of the royal family of Havand.”
Recalling his conversation with the King, Marquis Carnarvon looked at Erna. Certainly, as the King said, it would be in Havand's best interest to summon Erna to Havand and send the new Princess as Grand Duke.
He had no intention of revealing this fact at this moment. However, seeing Erna acting so nonchalantly in front of him, the Marquis of Carnarvon felt twisted, and he eventually could not hold back and blurted it out.
"Come to think of it, His Majesty King Havand was curious about news of the Grand Duke. He seemed particularly worried that there was still no joyous news."
When the topic of the successor came up, Callion could see Erna's face stiffen slightly.
“If you are alright, Your Highness, I would like to bring renowned doctors from Havand here. I will examine you to ensure there are no issues, and depending on the situation, I recommend that you go to Havand for treatment. You must have missed your homeland greatly, so a brief visit would not be a bad idea. In fact, that is the very reason I came this time...”
At that moment, an arm wrapped around Erna's waist from behind.
“...!”
At the sudden event, Erna and the Marquis of Carnarvon were also surprised and looked at the owner of the arm.
"There is no problem with Erna."
“G-Grand Duke Callion...”
Carnarvon held his breath at the look in Callion's eyes, which seemed ready to devour him.
“As you know, Marquis, Hessengard has been busy recovering lately. Monsters are still appearing frequently here and there. Because of this, Erna has been busy overseeing internal affairs at the Grand Duke’s castle, while I have been busy hunting them down. And only now have we finally managed to spend time together. Therefore, I ask that you wait a little longer for the news you and the Havand Royal Family are hoping to hear.”
The content of the words themselves was polite, but Callion's voice was menacing, as if to say that he would not let it slide if he wasn't shut up immediately.
“I see. Seeing His Majesty the King so often must have made me anxious. In that case, I will be waiting for good news.”
Contrary to expectations, the Marquis of Carnarvon hurriedly ended the conversation at the sight of Callion suddenly interrupting and displaying hostility. It was Vanessa, who was dining a short distance away, who broke the sudden chill in the atmosphere. Smiling as if nothing had happened, she raised her glass of wine and stated that the Council of Hessengard would do its utmost to welcome the Havand delegation, who had arrived safely, and ensure their comfortable stay.
The others also raised their glasses and continued her words, and soon the ominous atmosphere between Callion and the Marquis of Carnarvon was forgotten in the spirit of alcohol as the banquet came to an end.
***
"That's blatant."
"I know."
After the banquet ended, Erna and Callion naturally entered the couple's bedroom together, without anyone having said anything. As soon as they entered, they blurted out their thoughts about the banquet from a moment ago. They had suspected it ever since they received the message to produce an heir within a year, but they never expected them to so blatantly take issue with the lack of children and suggest returning home.
“They said the official schedule is a month, but it looks like he’ll stay longer than that. He’ll likely take this opportunity to report the situation in Hessengard in detail. He’ll lose his mind when he finds out that what was sent to Havand was just a tiny fraction of what he’s been stockpiling...”
Erna sighed and lay down on the bed. She had already finished telling Vanessa how to deceive the eyes and ears of the Havand delegation.
“How can I send him back quickly...”
Just as Erna closed her eyes, suppressing the urge to lock them all up in the basement of the Grand Duke's castle, the bed suddenly swayed. Startled, she opened her eyes to see Callion, who had climbed up before she knew it.
He looked down at Erna, holding her inside him with both arms.
“He said the biggest purpose of this visit was you.”
“Th-that’s right...”
The purpose of the Marquis of Carnarvon's official visit was solely to properly check on the well-being of the daughter King Havand had sent far away, out of concern for her. And that check included monitoring whether Erna was capable of having a child.
"Then it's simple."
Callion raised one hand and placed it on Erna's stomach. Beneath the thin dress she was wearing for the banquet, her flat belly could be felt.
“Can’t we just find a successor as soon as possible?”
He gently stroked the place he would enjoy again from now on.
"So that the Marquis can verify it within a month."
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