The Grand Duke's castle was literally upside down.
When Callion set off, he thought it was just another monster hunt, no different from usual.
However, on the afternoon of the day Callion left, everyone was puzzled when Erna followed along, saying she was worried since it was a flying monster. After all, Erna had never interfered in a monster hunt that Callion had already left for in that way.
Regardless of what people said or did, Erna rode the fastest horse in the Grand Duke's castle and led the wizards into the Forest of Irgis.
Since the greatest wizard had rushed to where the greatest knight of Hessengard had gone, they thought they would settle things and return within a day, but the news that flew into the Grand Duke's castle the next day was a shock in itself.
Two Grand Dukes are missing. It is presumed they were caught in a passageway within ancient ruins, which have now vanished.
To think two Grand Dukes disappeared at the same time. And to think the passageway vanished after they entered the ancient ruins.
Those who knew the characteristics of the ruins froze in place. Among them, Council Chairwoman Vanessa turned even paler.
“All remaining wizards, head to the Forest of Irgis! The Council’s forces depart as well! Look for any potential passages in the surrounding area!”
Vanessa, uncharacteristically losing her composure, shouted, and the forces that amounted to most of the Grand Duke's castle headed toward Irgis's Forest.
It was something that would never normally happen. After all, the principle was to leave behind a minimum number of troops to defend the Grand Duke's castle under any circumstances.
However, Vanessa was completely disregarding such principles, as if the Grand Duke's castle were not the issue at the moment. Several council members cautiously spoke up, asking if this wasn't going too far, but faced with Vanessa's piercing gaze, they had no choice but to turn away, leaving only a wish for the Grand Dukes' safe return.
Seeing her unable to sleep in the council meeting room, waiting anxiously for news, her secretary said.
"It would have been nice if at least one person had remained."
The secretary remembered Hessengard from the time when the position of Grand Duke had remained vacant.
Rampant monsters and two kingdoms ceaselessly invade. A time of chaos when people feared the Duchy might disappear completely.
Just as she was trembling with fear, wondering if those days were returning, she heard Vanessa muttering.
“No, it has to be the two of you...”
Just as she was about to ask what that meant, she heard the sound of someone running down the hallway.
“I received word from Lieutenant Orpheus. She says they found the two of them! They are on their way to the Grand Duke’s castle right now, but Grand Duke Erna has lost consciousness, so she asked me to bring in the doctors...”
"Get ready right now!"
Vanessa jumped up, shouted, and ran out of the conference room.
The maids came and went in Erna's room, ready to rest when she returned, and all the doctors in the Grand Duke's castle also waited anxiously for the Grand Duke to come back.
Havand's delegation protested, saying, "The doctor to care for Marquis Carnarvon has not returned," but the people of the Grand Duke's castle merely replied half-heartedly that they would look into it and did not send a doctor in that direction.
After waiting for several hours with everyone anxiously, a trumpet sounded from the gate of the Grand Duke's castle.
The Grand Dukes are returning.
As soon as the gate opened, a horse galloped madly into the Grand Duke's castle. People knew that it was the horse Callion always rode.
“Grand Duke Callion!”
As Callion arrived in front of the main castle of the Grand Duke's castle, members of the council, including Vanessa, greeted him.
Callion looked a mess as he dismounted from his horse.
Callion was someone who always washed up and walked around neatly dressed in his ceremonial robes after training with the Knights. He was a man who never let his guard down, except when he encountered Erna.
However, now Callion had been exposed to the wind, his hair disheveled, and his clothes were a mess of sweat and dust. His face was haggard from not eating or sleeping properly, but his bloodshot eyes were terrifying.
As everyone who saw Callion was bewildered and didn't know what to do, he shouted.
“The doctor!”
Although Callion would normally have at least offered a brief greeting, he looked for a doctor while completely ignoring the others.
“They're in Erna’s room!”
As Vanessa, who had hurriedly followed Callion, shouted, he immediately ran upwards.
As Callion entered Erna's room, the maids took her and laid her on the bed, and the doctors immediately examined Erna.
Callion asked the oldest woman among the doctors in a pressing tone.
“Why is she in pain? What kind of illness is this!”
Then the doctor clicked her tongue briefly and said to Carillon.
“We will have to examine that from now on to find out. So, Grand Duke, please leave.”
"What?"
“Do you think constantly shouting is good for the patient? Besides, staying in such a filthy state can cause illnesses you didn't have before. It appears that Grand Duke Callion also needs treatment and rest. So, please go out, wash up, and get some good rest before returning.”
“What the...!”
While Callion was standing there dumbfounded, Cedric and Orpheus, who had followed him, came into the room panting.
The doctor gestured to them and said.
"Please help the Grand Duke rest comfortably."
It meant to drag him away. Cedric and Orpheus quickly understood the doctor's words. Cedric grabbed Callion from behind and dragged him.
“Grand Duke! Please go wash up first!”
"I can't let go!"
Normally, Cedric would have been blown away by a single strike from Callion, but Callion, having not been able to rest properly for a long time, was exhausted. Furthermore, ever since he handed Erna over to the people, he had let his guard down and could exert even less strength.
Only when not only Cedric but also the rest of the knights who had followed swarmed in, grabbed Callion by the limbs, and dragged him out, did Erna's room finally fall silent.
The maids quickly stripped Erna of her clothes and wiped her face and body with a clean wet towel.
Because of that, the red marks still remaining on her body were visible.
The doctors, the maids, and even Orpheus cleared their throats briefly, pretended not to see, dressed Erna in clean clothes, and examined her. Orpheus, too, looked at the lying Erna with a worried expression. Then, suddenly, something occurred to her.
“Um, actually, I have a hunch...”
Click.
The bathroom door opened, and Callion came out dripping water from his wet hair.
As he washed his body, which had been dirty for a while, under the warm water, his tense muscles relaxed languidly. He dried the water from his hair with a towel and slumped onto the sofa as if collapsing.
'It's been two days.'
Fortunately, there didn't seem to be much difference between time inside the ancient ruins and time in reality.
It was said that the campsite was also attacked while the two were being attacked by monsters. Therefore, even though sounds were heard, they could not come directly to the two.
Fortunately, most of the monsters swarmed Erna and Callion, and only two came to the campsite.
Perhaps it was thanks to the practice they had engaged in by traveling back and forth between each other's training grounds since Lake City. Under Orpheus's command, the wizards captured the monsters attempting to escape into the sky and dragged them back down to the earth, while the knights swung their swords without hesitation.
What was so difficult to deal with when only knights were present became a trivial matter with the help of wizards.
After quickly clearing out the monsters at the campsite, they headed toward the source of the loud popping sounds.
In any case, they weren't worried about Erna and Callion. The only concern was the atmosphere between the two as they left the campsite.
“Surely that isn’t the sound of Grand Duke Callion exploding, is it...?”
Orpheus could not answer Cedric’s remark, which was laced with laughter, and averted her gaze. Orpheus knew all too well how terrifying and long-lasting Erna’s anger was once it set in. And to top it all off, it was a matter of a woman. There was no way that proud Erna would let it slide quietly.
“Our Grand Duke... is it going to explode?”
“Maybe that could be the case...”
Cedric's face turned pale as not only Orpheus but all the wizards cleared their throats and averted their gaze.
Cedric quickened his pace as he headed toward the source of the sound.
Before they arrived, the loud explosions and the monster's screams faded away. It was clear that the two of them had dealt with everything remaining. Or perhaps Erna had taken care of Callion along with the monster.
Just then, Callion's voice was heard from afar.
“Erna!”
And a short scream followed a moment later.
Orpheus and Cedric looked at each other and then ran toward the source of the sound.
“Grand Duke!”
“Grand Duke!”
Where the two ran, calling out to their respective Grand Dukes, there was a passageway through a massive ancient ruin.
They were surprised by its unfamiliar size for a moment, but it shrank in an instant and soon disappeared.
All that remained were the rolling corpses of monsters.
'I told you that I've been searching the Irgis Forest diligently ever since then.'
They said that everyone scrambled through the forest, not knowing what to do in this situation, but naturally, no other passage was visible.
Then, just before Cedric and Orpheus were about to truly go insane, the two of them reappeared.
Cedric asked Callion what on earth the ruins were and what had happened inside them, but Callion could not answer any of them.
"Ha..."
His mind was a mess. The fatigue from not being able to sleep hit him all at once, causing him to feel hot and dizzy.
'Is Erna okay?'
He remembered the image of her being carried by the maids and laid on the bed. On the way to the Grand Duke's castle, Erna still hadn't fully regained her senses. Occasionally, she would just mumble that she was in pain and curl up even more.
'I thought her stomach hurt.'
At that moment, a word flashed through his mind. Miscarriage.
However, Callion shook his head. Considering the number of days and times he and Erna had slept together, it was too early for a miscarriage.
Callion finished shaking his hair and changed his clothes.
He was told not to even think about coming near until he was clean. So he returned to his room and washed up in a hurry.
Callion knew better than anyone that he needed to rest, but he felt that he absolutely could not rest comfortably as long as he did not even know what condition Erna was in.
So, just as he was about to open the door to go back to Erna's room, he heard a noise outside followed by the sound of knocking.
"Grand Duke Callion, may I come in?"
The voice was that of the doctor who had ordered him to be dragged out of Erna's room a moment ago.
Callion burst through the door.
“Erna!”
The doctor standing at the door looked at Callion, who seemed ready to run out at any moment, looked around, and asked in a low voice.
“It’s a bit awkward to say this here. May I come in?”
"Come in."
As soon as the doctor entered, Callion quickly closed the door.
He felt an ominous sense of foreboding at the doctor's cautious demeanor as she surveyed her surroundings.
They must have come to report on Erna's condition. But if they have to speak while being wary of others like this...
'What on earth is that disease?'
Callion swallowed hard. His mouth felt parched. Could her life possibly be in danger? Would she even be able to get up?
"I came because I felt I needed to tell you about Grand Duke Erna's condition."
"...Yes."
He tried to answer as calmly as possible, but his voice cracked terribly.
“The reason Grand Duke Erna collapsed like that is...”
The doctor answered with a sigh and a somber expression, as if she understood her pain.
"It's menstrual cramps."
When Callion set off, he thought it was just another monster hunt, no different from usual.
However, on the afternoon of the day Callion left, everyone was puzzled when Erna followed along, saying she was worried since it was a flying monster. After all, Erna had never interfered in a monster hunt that Callion had already left for in that way.
Regardless of what people said or did, Erna rode the fastest horse in the Grand Duke's castle and led the wizards into the Forest of Irgis.
Since the greatest wizard had rushed to where the greatest knight of Hessengard had gone, they thought they would settle things and return within a day, but the news that flew into the Grand Duke's castle the next day was a shock in itself.
Two Grand Dukes are missing. It is presumed they were caught in a passageway within ancient ruins, which have now vanished.
To think two Grand Dukes disappeared at the same time. And to think the passageway vanished after they entered the ancient ruins.
Those who knew the characteristics of the ruins froze in place. Among them, Council Chairwoman Vanessa turned even paler.
“All remaining wizards, head to the Forest of Irgis! The Council’s forces depart as well! Look for any potential passages in the surrounding area!”
Vanessa, uncharacteristically losing her composure, shouted, and the forces that amounted to most of the Grand Duke's castle headed toward Irgis's Forest.
It was something that would never normally happen. After all, the principle was to leave behind a minimum number of troops to defend the Grand Duke's castle under any circumstances.
However, Vanessa was completely disregarding such principles, as if the Grand Duke's castle were not the issue at the moment. Several council members cautiously spoke up, asking if this wasn't going too far, but faced with Vanessa's piercing gaze, they had no choice but to turn away, leaving only a wish for the Grand Dukes' safe return.
Seeing her unable to sleep in the council meeting room, waiting anxiously for news, her secretary said.
"It would have been nice if at least one person had remained."
The secretary remembered Hessengard from the time when the position of Grand Duke had remained vacant.
Rampant monsters and two kingdoms ceaselessly invade. A time of chaos when people feared the Duchy might disappear completely.
Just as she was trembling with fear, wondering if those days were returning, she heard Vanessa muttering.
“No, it has to be the two of you...”
Just as she was about to ask what that meant, she heard the sound of someone running down the hallway.
“I received word from Lieutenant Orpheus. She says they found the two of them! They are on their way to the Grand Duke’s castle right now, but Grand Duke Erna has lost consciousness, so she asked me to bring in the doctors...”
"Get ready right now!"
Vanessa jumped up, shouted, and ran out of the conference room.
The maids came and went in Erna's room, ready to rest when she returned, and all the doctors in the Grand Duke's castle also waited anxiously for the Grand Duke to come back.
Havand's delegation protested, saying, "The doctor to care for Marquis Carnarvon has not returned," but the people of the Grand Duke's castle merely replied half-heartedly that they would look into it and did not send a doctor in that direction.
After waiting for several hours with everyone anxiously, a trumpet sounded from the gate of the Grand Duke's castle.
The Grand Dukes are returning.
As soon as the gate opened, a horse galloped madly into the Grand Duke's castle. People knew that it was the horse Callion always rode.
“Grand Duke Callion!”
As Callion arrived in front of the main castle of the Grand Duke's castle, members of the council, including Vanessa, greeted him.
Callion looked a mess as he dismounted from his horse.
Callion was someone who always washed up and walked around neatly dressed in his ceremonial robes after training with the Knights. He was a man who never let his guard down, except when he encountered Erna.
However, now Callion had been exposed to the wind, his hair disheveled, and his clothes were a mess of sweat and dust. His face was haggard from not eating or sleeping properly, but his bloodshot eyes were terrifying.
As everyone who saw Callion was bewildered and didn't know what to do, he shouted.
“The doctor!”
Although Callion would normally have at least offered a brief greeting, he looked for a doctor while completely ignoring the others.
“They're in Erna’s room!”
As Vanessa, who had hurriedly followed Callion, shouted, he immediately ran upwards.
As Callion entered Erna's room, the maids took her and laid her on the bed, and the doctors immediately examined Erna.
Callion asked the oldest woman among the doctors in a pressing tone.
“Why is she in pain? What kind of illness is this!”
Then the doctor clicked her tongue briefly and said to Carillon.
“We will have to examine that from now on to find out. So, Grand Duke, please leave.”
"What?"
“Do you think constantly shouting is good for the patient? Besides, staying in such a filthy state can cause illnesses you didn't have before. It appears that Grand Duke Callion also needs treatment and rest. So, please go out, wash up, and get some good rest before returning.”
“What the...!”
While Callion was standing there dumbfounded, Cedric and Orpheus, who had followed him, came into the room panting.
The doctor gestured to them and said.
"Please help the Grand Duke rest comfortably."
It meant to drag him away. Cedric and Orpheus quickly understood the doctor's words. Cedric grabbed Callion from behind and dragged him.
“Grand Duke! Please go wash up first!”
"I can't let go!"
Normally, Cedric would have been blown away by a single strike from Callion, but Callion, having not been able to rest properly for a long time, was exhausted. Furthermore, ever since he handed Erna over to the people, he had let his guard down and could exert even less strength.
Only when not only Cedric but also the rest of the knights who had followed swarmed in, grabbed Callion by the limbs, and dragged him out, did Erna's room finally fall silent.
The maids quickly stripped Erna of her clothes and wiped her face and body with a clean wet towel.
Because of that, the red marks still remaining on her body were visible.
The doctors, the maids, and even Orpheus cleared their throats briefly, pretended not to see, dressed Erna in clean clothes, and examined her. Orpheus, too, looked at the lying Erna with a worried expression. Then, suddenly, something occurred to her.
“Um, actually, I have a hunch...”
***
Click.
The bathroom door opened, and Callion came out dripping water from his wet hair.
As he washed his body, which had been dirty for a while, under the warm water, his tense muscles relaxed languidly. He dried the water from his hair with a towel and slumped onto the sofa as if collapsing.
'It's been two days.'
Fortunately, there didn't seem to be much difference between time inside the ancient ruins and time in reality.
It was said that the campsite was also attacked while the two were being attacked by monsters. Therefore, even though sounds were heard, they could not come directly to the two.
Fortunately, most of the monsters swarmed Erna and Callion, and only two came to the campsite.
Perhaps it was thanks to the practice they had engaged in by traveling back and forth between each other's training grounds since Lake City. Under Orpheus's command, the wizards captured the monsters attempting to escape into the sky and dragged them back down to the earth, while the knights swung their swords without hesitation.
What was so difficult to deal with when only knights were present became a trivial matter with the help of wizards.
After quickly clearing out the monsters at the campsite, they headed toward the source of the loud popping sounds.
In any case, they weren't worried about Erna and Callion. The only concern was the atmosphere between the two as they left the campsite.
“Surely that isn’t the sound of Grand Duke Callion exploding, is it...?”
Orpheus could not answer Cedric’s remark, which was laced with laughter, and averted her gaze. Orpheus knew all too well how terrifying and long-lasting Erna’s anger was once it set in. And to top it all off, it was a matter of a woman. There was no way that proud Erna would let it slide quietly.
“Our Grand Duke... is it going to explode?”
“Maybe that could be the case...”
Cedric's face turned pale as not only Orpheus but all the wizards cleared their throats and averted their gaze.
Cedric quickened his pace as he headed toward the source of the sound.
Before they arrived, the loud explosions and the monster's screams faded away. It was clear that the two of them had dealt with everything remaining. Or perhaps Erna had taken care of Callion along with the monster.
Just then, Callion's voice was heard from afar.
“Erna!”
And a short scream followed a moment later.
Orpheus and Cedric looked at each other and then ran toward the source of the sound.
“Grand Duke!”
“Grand Duke!”
Where the two ran, calling out to their respective Grand Dukes, there was a passageway through a massive ancient ruin.
They were surprised by its unfamiliar size for a moment, but it shrank in an instant and soon disappeared.
All that remained were the rolling corpses of monsters.
'I told you that I've been searching the Irgis Forest diligently ever since then.'
They said that everyone scrambled through the forest, not knowing what to do in this situation, but naturally, no other passage was visible.
Then, just before Cedric and Orpheus were about to truly go insane, the two of them reappeared.
Cedric asked Callion what on earth the ruins were and what had happened inside them, but Callion could not answer any of them.
"Ha..."
His mind was a mess. The fatigue from not being able to sleep hit him all at once, causing him to feel hot and dizzy.
'Is Erna okay?'
He remembered the image of her being carried by the maids and laid on the bed. On the way to the Grand Duke's castle, Erna still hadn't fully regained her senses. Occasionally, she would just mumble that she was in pain and curl up even more.
'I thought her stomach hurt.'
At that moment, a word flashed through his mind. Miscarriage.
However, Callion shook his head. Considering the number of days and times he and Erna had slept together, it was too early for a miscarriage.
Callion finished shaking his hair and changed his clothes.
He was told not to even think about coming near until he was clean. So he returned to his room and washed up in a hurry.
Callion knew better than anyone that he needed to rest, but he felt that he absolutely could not rest comfortably as long as he did not even know what condition Erna was in.
So, just as he was about to open the door to go back to Erna's room, he heard a noise outside followed by the sound of knocking.
"Grand Duke Callion, may I come in?"
The voice was that of the doctor who had ordered him to be dragged out of Erna's room a moment ago.
Callion burst through the door.
“Erna!”
The doctor standing at the door looked at Callion, who seemed ready to run out at any moment, looked around, and asked in a low voice.
“It’s a bit awkward to say this here. May I come in?”
"Come in."
As soon as the doctor entered, Callion quickly closed the door.
He felt an ominous sense of foreboding at the doctor's cautious demeanor as she surveyed her surroundings.
They must have come to report on Erna's condition. But if they have to speak while being wary of others like this...
'What on earth is that disease?'
Callion swallowed hard. His mouth felt parched. Could her life possibly be in danger? Would she even be able to get up?
"I came because I felt I needed to tell you about Grand Duke Erna's condition."
"...Yes."
He tried to answer as calmly as possible, but his voice cracked terribly.
“The reason Grand Duke Erna collapsed like that is...”
The doctor answered with a sigh and a somber expression, as if she understood her pain.
"It's menstrual cramps."
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