Chapter 33
The summer sun set quickly.
I had dinner with Victor, changed, and headed to their bedroom early.
Volume 2 was on the table.
She sat on the bed and happily opened the book.
Dordovin, who had been asked to bring Gorgon Venom to Flamberg, was in the midst of his mission.
[The Gorgon shouted as Dordovin stomped on his foot.
“You crazy knight! What is this?”
“I'm sorry, I was trying to draw the venom from the snake on the back of your head.”
“You'll just have to ask me, you idiot!”
[As Gorgon said, Dordovin became confused.]
I laughed.
Dordovin was truly ignorant! The sound of her door opening made her look up.
It was Victor.
“You're early.”
“I was tired.”
He threw off his robe and went straight to bed.
He closed his eyes.
He usually goes to bed after talking to her for a bit.
“Does he have any fears?”
I sat quietly next to him.
Victor looked at the ceiling and asked suddenly.
“How did you deal with thieves on your land?”
She thought for a moment before answering.
“There were no thieves in my land. Everyone was so poor that we had to share in order to survive through the winter. We gathered all the supplies we had and distributed them as needed. It was all to survive another day.”
Her hometown, Amari, is a community of complete worth.
When the monsters came, children and the elderly were hidden in the basement of the palace and protected, as were the sick and orphans.
It was normal.
This way, soldiers can leave their families behind and fight with confidence.
All life in Amari has adapted to its harsh, arid environment.
Victor's eyes were staring at her.
She quickly changed the subject.
“Why? Do you have to punish a thief?”
“I think so.”
“Can't you deal with them according to the law? What does the law say about theft in Morte?”
“The thief must compensate 7 times the amount they stole and cut off their hands.”
“This is so cruel!”
When she exclaimed in surprise, Victor smiled slightly.
“You were the one who told me to follow the law.”
“But it's too much. How can you punish someone so harshly when they don't hurt others?”
“That is why the former Grand Duke always punished them with a fine and detention.”
I looked at Victor.
He looked tired from being tired every day.
Even when his face was distorted with pain, it was beautiful, but now was not the time to think like that.
I spoke honestly.
“I think you will make a wise decision, Victor, because you are a great knight and I am sure you know mercy.”
Victor's gaze slowly turned to her. His expression, illuminated by the swaying candlelight, was unfamiliar.
He whispered sincerely.
“You make me weak”
She quickly turned her head to hide her reddened cheeks.
After he summoned a servant, the candles were extinguished one by one.
She closed her book and took her sword.
“Goodnight. I have to deal with you, who is really weak.”
Victor smiled and closed his eyes.
***
Their daily routine has not changed.
Every day was the same.
After that night, she wondered if Victor would punish anyone, but he didn't seem to have any plans.
She was curious for a moment, but then turned her attention elsewhere, thinking that Victor took care of her.
Life in the castle was too enjoyable to worry about anything else.
She had been living in the castle for nearly a month now.
She read books in the library and visited the concert room to practice the harp.
She didn't enjoy embroidery, so she learned how to knit instead.
Her maids said she could make a big blanket by weaving and stretching threads.
The maids knitted, ate snacks, and sometimes took tea with Sir Raoul.
It was really fun.
This was the first time she had been inside for so long, and it was truly enjoyable, beyond her imagination.
The maids asked her if she wanted to go out frequently, but she really didn't.
Because that's what she wanted her whole life.
No accidents, just a peaceful life.
The only thing that bothered her was that she still didn't know why the maids were afraid of Victor.
I asked them why they were so afraid the first day she came, but they kept their mouths shut.
Mary explained quickly.
“Before their Highnesses came, the Grand Duke sent several letters to the castle, asking us to serve him and his wife properly. Nothing should be neglected so we were just nervous. I’m sorry if we made you anxious, my lady.”
"Oh"...
She waved her hands as if asking them not to worry.
The fact that Victor's letter scared them...
In the end, all their fear was because of Victor.
Her question still stands.
Why were the residents of the estate afraid of Victor?
She walked up the stairs, thinking about her unanswered questions.
Today, she was alone.
The knights she was close to were training, so she left her room alone.
I headed to the mail room, where the birds were collected.
She received a response from Catalina.
“Her response arrived quickly.”
Yesterday evening, Catalina sent her a message.
It was delivered by a bronze dove.
The bronze pigeon was an intelligent bird that was close to a beast in the wild, but when tamed, it could deliver a message to a specific recipient rather than a place that was expensive, but perhaps this was not a problem for Catalina.
Her letter included her regards and a brief update on her life.
-Dear Omarion,
This is in response to the message I sent when I left. Have you reached Morty? How are you?
The social season is coming to an end, unfortunately, and there haven't been many incidents that you might care about.
Oh! Nanael Welsh is still hiding in her mansion.
I know you're going to scold me for this, but honestly, a little gossip never hurt anyone.
I will be leaving the capital soon. I have a deal with the Eastern Kingdom, so I am traveling to the northern border.
Yes, near Morty.
Can I visit you soon? If you don't mind, I'd like to see you and have tea.
I will wait for your reply.
I wish you good health.
~Your friend Catalina
As soon as I read the letter, I got excited and wrote a response.
“Catalina is coming!”
You will always be welcome.
Morty is so beautiful! These days, at Victor's request, I've been staying inside the castle... It's so fun and relaxing! I'll be waiting for you, so have a safe trip.
She was in a hurry to leave her room as soon as morning came with the letter she had written.
As soon as she entered the mailroom, the bronze dove approached her as if waiting.
She tied the letter to her foot and hit the little bird's beak.
“Deliver this to your mistress.”
The pigeon flew through the open window.
I left the mail room and headed to the kitchen.
When she was in the capital, she visited the kitchen every day, but there was so much to do here that she didn't visit often.
Since you're out, you should at least come in and say hello.
“I'll ask if there's anything they need, and if there are any cookies left, I'll get some.”
As she was excitedly descending the stairs, she suddenly heard a loud roar.
“I knew it. His Highness couldn’t keep his promise!”
“Are you saying he will cut off our hands?!”
It was a group of followers.
She was startled and hid behind a pillar.
This was the first time she had seen the subordinates since the welcome banquet, so she was naturally very nervous.
As if they did not notice her, they walked towards her, whispering to each other and speaking in small voices, but they were loud enough to catch her sensitive ears.
“You manage all the budget books yourself. This is certainly overwhelming. Isn’t budget execution our authority?”
The white-haired pair rolled his eyes anxiously.
What's wrong? Did he notice anything?
“That sounds funny. Would he have stayed calm if he really noticed that?”
The big-bellied henchman sighed.
He was the man who greeted Victor when they first arrived at Morte. He spoke while holding his mustache.
“He doesn't know yet. So you must quickly erase the traces before we get caught. He came back earlier than expected because of that woman, but “…
“On the other hand, isn’t that a relief? Thanks to her not being able to manage the books, we have time to play around with her.”
Her heart dropped.
She covered her mouth with her hand and listened.
Their voices, tinged with dissatisfaction, overlapped with each other.
“Will you keep that humble woman in the position of Grand Duchess?”
“Haven't you heard about the Welsh family? If we pushed another little girl in, our necks would have exploded.”
“I thought it was cruel and not meaningless.”
“The only talent he has is with the sword, so why should we support him as the Grand Duke...?”
Every word she cut deep, embeds itself in her mind.
Another follower let out an exaggerated sigh.
“I've told you this many times. This wouldn't have happened if Mortheon had been here.”
“I know. We should have supported him more strongly.”
“It's very bad.”
The henchmen moved to the other side of the hall.
Omarion stood there for a long time, clutching her chest.
***
• End of chapter •
To be continued •••
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