Chapter 28
I got out of the carriage and looked blankly at the castle.
The inner wall, which was built of pure white stone, looked as if it was made of ice.
The castle was stunningly attractive and impressive, its age incredible enough to rival the age of the Empire.
They approached the Barbican*. In front of the gate, dozens of servants were waiting for them.
[* E/N: A barbican is a fortified outpost or fortified gate, such as the outer defense perimeter of a city or castle.]
“Welcome back, Grand Duke.”
A man who looked like a chief of staff bowed deeply, looking sullen.
Victor looked at him with an indifferent expression.
“You must have suffered a lot while I was gone.”
“It is not so. It is a pleasure to serve Your Highness.”…
“Is my wife’s room ready?”
Victor didn't listen to his answer and started walking inside, his arms wrapped around her.
She was surprised, but she had no choice but to hurriedly follow him.
***
As they walked into the castle, the attendants looked strangely stiff.
The atmosphere was much worse than when she met the servants of the Capital Palace.
After breaking up with Victor, she went to the Duchess's room and realized that the door was cold.
“What's wrong with everything?”
She wanted to ask, but Victor wasn't with her, and she didn't feel comfortable enough with the servants to bother them.
The hostess's room had been empty for a long time, so she felt dead and lifeless inside.
However, the golden furniture, pure white walls and dazzling white carpet created an elegant atmosphere that seemed out of this world.
I sat on the couch.
The servants who followed her quickly unloaded her luggage.
They didn't make a sound while unpacking and organizing multiple dresses and accessories.
I watched them from a distance.
Unlike her maids in the capital, who were always talkative, these servants had a cold air, leaving no room for conversation or pleasantries.
“Are they busy?”
Suddenly, she was snapped from her thoughts by a sharp noise.
"Yes!"
One of the maids fell due to the weight of the dress.
It was a huge winter dress that was difficult for her to carry alone.
I quickly jumped in to help.
As she approached, the maid knelt down.
“I'm sorry, ma'am!”
She took a step back in surprise.
“Why are you doing this?”
The maid was trembling.
The same goes for the other maids in the room.
Everyone stopped what they were doing at once.
I realized.
They were afraid.
Terrified even.
But she didn't understand.
Their lord was a hero and lord of the empire, and she was their wife and hostess.
A reputable knight like Victor wouldn't do anything to them.
“Why are they so afraid?”
She took the maid's hand and helped her get up.
“Are you injured?”
The maid, who looked like she was about to cry, took a deep breath and replied in a soft voice that she was fine.
Omarion gave her a hot drink and left her to sit on the couch to recover.
The servants crept in, looked at her, and continued to hurriedly unload.
I felt strange.
The strange feeling continued to grow.
***
Soon it was the night of the great banquet.
Since it was also a victory banquet, all the vassals of the Grand Duchy would be attending.
After getting ready with the help of her silent maids, she awkwardly chose her dress.
She couldn't figure out which of the dresses she had brought along with Morty's banquet etiquette was appropriate, and she couldn't ask her frightened maids.
She finally settled on a plain, long-sleeved summer dress embroidered with pearls.
The maids looked carefully through her jewelry box and took out an opal necklace that matched the dress.
"Thank you"
When I thanked them, they bowed their heads in shock.
She was impatient to wait for Victor, and left for the banquet hall alone.
The banquet hall was ridiculously spacious.
The long tables were covered with white tablecloths decorated with beautiful candlesticks and elaborate cutlery.
Deidrick had kept his promise, having cooked a large number of large turkeys and small bird dishes.
As soon as she saw the food, her nervousness melted away.
Victor approached her.
He was wearing the same handsome robe she had seen him wearing in the capital.
Smile softly.
“I think you're tired of hearing this, but you're really beautiful.”
“I'm tired of it, but it's nice, so I don't mind.”
She looked around the room to avoid his gaze, her ears burning.
The knights were seated on the right side of the room, and the vassals, on the left.
Unlike the knights, who looked very happy, the vassals seemed impassive.
“Why?”
“Is it because it has been a long time since they have seen their master?”
While she was lost in thought, Victor announced the start of the banquet with a short speech.
“I pay tribute to the vassals who governed my lands while I was away, and the knights who fought with me on the battlefield. Let us eat and drink heartily in their honor.”
Once he was seated, the attendants cut up the turkey.
She put all her thoughts aside and picked up a fork.
As the banquet continued, alcohol was served.
It was a wine of good flavor and quality, different from the bitter alcohol I had drunk in Amari.
In the middle of their leisurely meal, she and Victor were dragged to the knights' table under various pretexts.
Perhaps out of fear of future trouble, no subordinates pushed Victor to drink.
Regardless, his knights forced him to do so.
The knights had unloaded barrels of strong wine, and were already completely drunk.
“Our Lady can cut down three wolves with one blow.”
“Do you expect me to believe such a story?”
“That's right! Even if the lady fights with her elbows, she will win.”
Leonard nodded with a serious expression and filled her cup.
I drank scented wine.
She tended to only drink alcohol when she really needed to, but the wine was so delicious that it forced her to keep drinking.
Sir Carls expressed his concern for her in a louder voice than usual.
“Ma’am! Drink slowly, no matter how strong your body is. Alcohol corrupts the mind.”
“Is he so...?”
Omarion examined Sir Carls with a blank expression.
To be honest, she was more worried about him.
Carl's face was as red as his hair.
She scratched her cheek and poured another glass of wine.
In Amari, alcohol was made from fruits and medicinal herbs rather than from valuable grains.
If you put a little alcohol, water and medicinal herbs in a jar and leave it for several years, it will turn into a strong, highly alcoholic and terribly bitter drink.
This alcohol is usually used to clean wounds or to warm the body on a cold day.
The weather in the North could freeze you to death, so most Northerners were alcoholics.
Compared to amari alcohol, the empire was nothing more than a drink.
She sat quietly at the table as the knights passed out, one by one.
In the end, even Sir Raoul, who had lasted the longest, succumbed to his drunkenness.
“Ma’am, what kind of life have you been living...”
He fell with a thump and started snoring.
She emptied her cup and looked around.
She wanted to find Victor, who had disappeared at some point.
She saw that the curtains to the balcony were half open.
I got up and headed there.
... “Victor?”
As expected, she found Victor there.
He looked at her and took a deep breath.
A slight smile appeared on his beautiful face.
“Did you drink to your satisfaction?”
“I didn't drink much.”
I protested lightly and stood next to him.
From the balcony, the entire village below can be seen.
Although it was not as charming as the capital, it was well organized.
Under the cool summer night sky, the lights from every house twinkled like stars.
I looked at Victor.
His amber eyes stared at his land calmly.
“What are you thinking about?”
Victor was particularly quiet today.
When he entered the castle and when he came to the banquet hall, he greeted everyone with a dry smile.
I thought he would be happier to be home.
“Is he unhappy?”
Victor asked suddenly.
“What do you think of the property?”
She opened her eyes in surprise and answered cautiously.
“I think it's a lively place. It's similar to Amari. Of course, everyone is richer here.”
He smiled as if he guessed her answer.
“I'm glad you liked it. Satisfy you”…
He muttered to himself.
“Yes… my land, my land where I can carry you and hide you”…
He looked at her slowly.
I felt an unknown heat in his eyes.
“Is Victor drunk?”
“Victor?”
He approached without hesitation.
His body approached her in an instant and held her in his arms.
A hot whisper tickled her ears.
“Do you know what angers me more than this disease?”
He leaned closer to her ear.
It felt like he was whispering into her soul.
“We didn't get our wedding night.”
‘…!!’
As soon as she realized what he meant, her face burned hot.
Her heart was beating hard.
Under the starry night sky, Victor was looking at her with eyes full of desire.
She turned her head, hiding her bright red cheeks.
Of course, he meant, “We never slept together.”
It was because Victor was sick and she had to keep an eye on him.
In the meantime, he had no energy to do other work.
It was the same today.
Victor's condition worsened, tormenting him throughout their journey.
So... they can think about it later.
I looked at him again.
His eyes were filled with burning longing.
They were uncommon, but very tempting.
She smiled as she tried to clear her dirty thoughts.
“You must be tired, so you'd better sleep.”
“Will you come with me to the bedroom?”
She wanted to answer yes, but she bit her lip instead.
Her answer wasn't meant to be like that.
“I have to watch you sleep.”
“But, Marion.”
He caressed her cheek slowly.
“If you were in my arms, I wouldn’t be afraid of anything, no nightmares, no illness, nothing.”
He whispered gently.
I took a deep breath.
***
• End of chapter •
To be continued •••
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