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nCedric entered the capital and first stopped at the Imperial Palace.

nBut the Emperor did not meet him. The chief attendant came out with an apologetic face and said politely.

n“His Majesty is resting right now.”

n“I see.”

n“It’s only been a few weeks since His Majesty could properly rest. Please understand that His Majesty did not mean to undermine Grand Duke Evron.”

nOriginally, he didn’t have any temper thinking that this hurt his pride. And in fact, even if the Emperor did it on purpose, Cedric wasn’t in a position to criticize it.

nThe chief attendant said.

n“I will tell His Majesty that Grand Duke Evron has arrived. If there is nothing urgent, maybe the Grand Duke would like to go back to the Grand Duke’s residence and rest today?”

n“I would be grateful if I could.”

n“Yes. If His Majesty allows, I will ask to schedule an audience for tomorrow or the day after tomorrow and let you know.”

nCedric nodded his head and turned around.

nHe didn’t even have anything to report. He simply stayed in the camp of the Southern Conquest Army, upheld the discipline and watched the training.

nHe didn’t really have much to do as they were already an elite soldier and Gayan already had the system in place.

nSo he thought it was rather good.

nAs he left the palace early, his lieutenant asked:

n“Didn’t you meet His Majesty?”

n“It seems that the Emperor is not in a good condition.”

nThen the lieutenant kept his mouth shut.

nCedric smiled bitterly. If it had been Freil, he would have spoken plainly and complained about the Emperor in a few words.

nAlthough he always rebuked him not to do it, he realized again that he had been quite amused by that attitude.

n“Go to the integrated command and report that the shift was successful. I will go back first.”

n“Yes.”

nThe lieutenant made a military salute. Cedric also responded with a military salute and got on the horse.

n***

nArtizea was in the garden when Cedric arrived at the Grand Duke’s residence.

nThe guards caught Cedric at the front door and informed him. They were afraid that the sound of horseshoes would surprise the mistress who was pregnant.

nCedric got off the horse on the spot. He ordered his men to disband.

nHe walked into the garden alone.

nThe garden, which the gardener put great effort into, had become quite beautiful within a year.

nCedric felt it all over again. It seems like yesterday that Artizea tripped her foot in a mound of grass and almost fell.

nArtizea was plucking the flowers.

nBeside her, one of the maids was following her with a large basket. The other maid shaded her with a large embroidered parasol.

nCedric, deliberately not showing himself, stood for a moment and watched her.

nHe hasn’t seen her in a few weeks and her stomach has been very swollen. At the time he left, he wouldn’t have noticed if she was wearing loose-fitting clothes, but now anyone could tell she was pregnant.

nArtizea cut some of the flower stalks with pruning shears and threw the flowers into the basket.

nThen she straightened her back and tilted her upper body, and let out a long sigh.

nHer appearance seemed peaceful, and his heart was pounding.

nCedric was overcome with strange emotions.

nHe thought about when he first got all his memories back.

nHe wished it was his side that had the memories return first. No, it would have been better for Artizea not to have the memories back at all.

nIf so, he would have saved her before she touched the harm. Before she came to believe that profit and loss rather than good and evil make relationships, and before she came to believe that love only brings profit.

nHad he done so, there would have been no need to pay the price for this serenity.

nCedric let out a long sigh. And he approached Artizea’s side.

n“Ah.”

nArtizea heard the footsteps and turned her head. And she was surprised.

n“Lord Cedric.”

n“…….”

nCedric swallowed his words once, as he had no idea what to say.

nAnd he said.

n“I’m back.”

nHe didn’t say anything much.

nArtizea herself didn’t know why it made her ears tingle.

nShe already knew that he would arrive either today or tomorrow.

nIt was thanks to the fact that Cedric had sent people ahead of time before he began handing over to the new commander of the Southern Conquest Army.

nBut it was very new. The fact that Cedric is here. As if there was no time apart.

nCedric reached out and took the pruning shears from her hand. And he handed it over to the maid.

nArtizea’s fingertips, which were cold, warmed up a little. It was vivid.

n“Should you do this?”

n“It’s hard to walk without any purpose. Now that I’m in a stable phase, they say it’s good to move my body a little for a while.”

nArtizea lowered her gaze slightly. Not only did she say this, she thought she should greet him, but she seldom spoke easily.

nMisunderstanding that, Cedric asked.

n“Isn’t it hard on your body?”

n“It’s okay. I can’t walk long, but it’s natural. The baby too…… it’s growing well.”

nCedric looked shy.

n“I think it’s very active.”

n“That’s a relief. You and the baby are healthy.”

n“Yes…….”

nThe maid with the basket bowed her head and walked away without speaking. The maid holding the parasol hesitated for a moment, but soon retreated as she folded the parasol.

nArtizea didn’t care.

nHer hand was still in Cedric’s.

nShe thought she shouldn’t pull it out, but she didn’t yet have the courage to face him.

nArtizea hesitated, she said.

n“I hope…..you had a good trip?”

nIt was a greeting no different from before.

nBut it was different.

nWhen she said it before, it was a word that asked for meaningful information.

nShe was wondering if there was an incident that had an impact on the future situation or anything that happened in the place he went to visit.

nBut what she said now was because she wanted to.

nWhen asked whether he had a good trip or not, she greeted him like an ordinary family.

nCedric smiled. He bowed his head. Artizea’s face turned red.

nTheir lips met.

nCedric’s hand wrapped around her back.

n＊＊＊

nThe news of Cedric’s arrival soon spread to many places.

nThe same was true for Grand Duke Roygar.

n“What about the news of the Southern Conquest Army?”

n“I heard that Grand Duke Evron’s lieutenant has issued a detailed report, so we will soon find out. By now, they should have started marching south.”

nIn that regard, Grand Duke Roygar had no authority to intervene.

nHowever, since he is the Emperor’s envoy to the South, he was also able to receive news through the official line.

nUntil now, Grand Duke Roygar had little to do with the military. The Emperor held the central army very tightly, and he had never been involved in the military himself.

nHe used unofficial routes, and he always paid a fair amount of bribes and heard only one step late.

nThe military will take care and bring the news on their own. The practical utility was also useful, but the satisfaction was also great.

nThere were also key personnel who were able to be recruited through this event.

n“Good. Very good.”

nGrand Duke Roygar said with satisfaction.

nAnd he pushed the thick paperwork he had been reviewing since last night to his secretary.

nIt was a list of attendants to follow along his southbound trip.

nAs the Emperor’s special envoy, he will go to the center of trade with other countries. Opportunities like this were rare, even if it was not for trade issues. Even if it was one attendant, he was able to hold a fairly high level of authority.

nIt was an opportunity to borrow the power of the Empire to negotiate trade.

nSo, among the top ranks in Grand Duke Roygar’s faction, there was no one that did not want to play a part.

nIf the upper statesmen were in a position to speak with Grand Duke Roygar, they would come in person and ask for a favor.

nOtherwise, if it was a small business lord or a small noble, they would request it through his secretary or butler.

nThe bribes piled up like that were pretty good too, so Grand Duke Roygar was smirking every day.

nHe, of course, did not decide his attendant on the bribe alone.

n“The proportion of silk items is too high. They say they’re going to make contact with the Kingdom of Iantz, but I don’t know how they all think like that.”

n“I’m sorry.”

n“Try to reduce it to about 60 percent, and fill the vacant space with small enterprises and nobles. If you think about the future, you have to think about diversifying the trade sector.”

n“Yes.”

n“If anyone brings an interesting proposition, I will meet them in person.”

nGrand Duke Roygar said.

nThat was then.

nA knock was heard. It was the maid chief.

n“What’s going on?”

n“The Madam said that she must see the master…….”

nThe maid was at loss.

nGrand Duke Roygar sighed and stood up from his seat, and told the secretary.

n“Don’t wait, go and do your job.”

n“Yes.”

nThe secretary stood up after him and bowed his head politely.

nGrand Duke Roygar kicked his tongue and headed towards the Grand Duchess’ place.

n“Garnet, it’s me.”

nThe place was flipped upside down.

nCushions were thrown here and there, and there were vases and clothes scattered. The maids sat around, each kneeling.

nMarchioness Camellia was standing in the corner with her head bowed.

nGrand Duchess Roygar sat in an armchair, huffing with a blushed face.

nGrand Duke Roygar sighed inside.

n“What’s wrong, Garnet? What made you spout horns again?”

n“I will go too.”

n“Garnet……. I’m not going to play…….”

n“I heard you were going to solve the Ford family problems.”

nGrand Duchess Roygar said sharply.

n“Did I not explain it? It was done to dispel rumors and persuade His Majesty.”

n“So, it might take a few months or even half a year, but you’re going alone?”

nGrand Duke Roygar glanced at Marchioness Camellia. Marchioness Camellia shook her head slightly so as not to be noticed by the Grand Duchess.

nShe meant that she couldn’t stop it herself.

n“There’s no reason why I can’t go with you unless you’re going to do something suspicious.”

n“I’m going to do things that aren’t fun for you.”

nThe Grand Duchess said sternly.

n“Am I a child? You’re busy with work, are you afraid that I’ll hold onto you and ask you to play?”

n“It’s not like that…….”

n“I can’t let you go alone.”

nGrand Duchess Roygar declared.

nShe had been living as if she had forgotten about it for quite some time, but in fact, she hasn’t.

nHow could she have forgotten that her husband, who she only knew to love her, had his eyes on another woman.

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