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nChapter 74

nProofreader: somnium

nCedric, who was left behind, sat for a while without saying anything.

nLysia stood up from her seat, not knowing what to do.

nCedric asked her.

n“What did I do wrong?”

n“I don’t know.”

nHe didn’t know how many times this was.

nCedric didn’t seem to have spoken properly with Artizea these days.

nIs it because she has a lady-in-waiting to be left behind? Cedric thought, rubbing his eyebrows with his index finger.

nOr, did he say something that had disappointed her without knowing?

nLysia said.

n“Wouldn’t it be nice to follow after her, instead of worrying about it?”

n“I should.”

nCedric stood up.

nLysia briefly wondered if it was because of her.

n“Surely.”

nNo matter how much she thought about it, there was nothing to be misunderstood about her relationship with Cedric. She thought the idea was too self-centered and she forgot it.

n***

nArtizea was in the library.

nIt was true that she had several documents to write. She wanted to get her plans in order before the winter was over.

nShe thought it was a decent break, but it wasn’t. She had so many things to do as she went back, but her mind was irritated.

nShe had no craving appetite. She’s got a few sweet pieces of cookies, and even that didn’t go down well. Artizea knew that she couldn’t eat anything, and she put it down.

nIn Artizea’s mind, she has begun to picture some specific details after all of her work is over.

nIf she luckily doesn’t die, she’d better build a villa somewhere in the eastern, quiet countryside.

nHow about buying all the books she wants to have and putting them together? It would be nice if she walked every day, read books, and wrote letters she couldn’t send.

nShe was thinking about that when the door opened.

nRize said cautiously.

n“Madam, the Master….”

nCedric came through the door without permission and stood there asking.

n“Am I interrupting?”

n“I didn’t tell you that.”

nArtizea sighed a little and sat back.

nCedric knew that she had allowed his entry and stepped inside.

n“Tia.”

n“Do you have anything to say?”

n“If I don’t have anything to say, can’t I join your tea time?”

n“You don’t have to do that.”

n“Tia.”

n“If you have nothing to say, I have to do my job.”

n“Tia.”

nHe called in a stern voice. Artizea raised her eyes.

nCedric thought that it had been a long time since his and her eyes made contact.

nBut even if he matched her eyes like this, there wasn’t much difference from when it wasn’t.

nHer eyes, which had always had a deep color, were now as emotionless as blue jewels.

nArtizea put her eyes down again.

n“If you have any business, please tell me. I will listen.”

nCedric finally sighed.

n“I just wanted to talk to you.”

n“Do it later when I have time. You don’t have to make me spoiled. Lysia is taking good care of the snacks these days.”

nIf she said this while turning away, Cedric couldn’t speak any more.

n“Okay, I won’t disturb you anymore.”

n“Sorry.”

n“I’m going to the hunt early tomorrow morning.”

n“Yes, I know. You said it was like a New Year’s event.”

nWinter hunting has been around since the time when food was scarce in the middle of winter. It is for an intermediate replenishment of food.

nHowever, winter hunting is dangerous, so when there is a place where a lot of knights gather, there is a custom of going out hunting together.

nNaturally, it was immediately after the New Year’s banquet. Again, for unity, a hunting plan was scheduled for several days.

n“Maybe it will be about 5 days to a week. It could be longer if the weather conditions are good.”

nArtizea nodded at Cedric’s words.

n“It seems to be very dangerous because it is right after it snows, please be careful.”

n“Tia.”

n“Although I think the knights know much better than me.”

nCedric reached out. However, his hand could not reach Artizea. This is because Artizea preemptively avoided his hand.

n“…..Do you have anything else to say?”

nCedric asked.

nThere was no way there would be, but Artizea did not know.

nCedric looked at her fingertips. So Artizea held her hand together and hid her cold fingertips.

n“Okay.”

n“Yes.”

n“I’m leaving tomorrow early in the morning, so I probably won’t have time to say hello. It’s going to be a few days away, so please take care.”

n“Yes, don’t worry about it, have a safe trip.”

nCedric eventually couldn’t hold her hand or kiss the back of her hand.

nHe turned his back and went outside.

nArtizea looked at his back for a while, then lowered her head when the door closed.

n***

nIt was fussing at dawn. The butler tried to quietly lead the hunting procession away, but that couldn’t be done.

nThe excited dog barked, and the knights shouted as they lined up the soldiers.

nArtizea barely slept that night.

nHer heart was restless. She heard the sound of a cold wind as if she had a hole deep in her heart by an awl.

nShe kept thinking of the hand that Cedric had stretched out.

nShe knew that his heart was inclined quite a bit to her. She knows that if she reaches out her hand, he may hold her.

nThat was the most painful. She thinks she’ll fall for the temptation.

nBut it shouldn’t have been.

nArtizea came down from bed. She tucked her feet into the fluffy fur slippers on the floor and found her gown.

n“Huh? Madam?”

nAlice, crouched asleep on the couch, spoke sleepily, but she was startled and tried to get up.

nArtizea shook her head.

n“It’s okay.”

n“Shall I get you water? Or…”

n“Just sleep.”

nLooking for a gown over her pajamas, she opened the door to Cedric’s bedroom.

nCedric never locked the door on his side. If Artizea wanted to open it, she could open it anytime.

nIt’s been a long time since the owner of the bedroom had already left, so the room was bleak. It was after the servants finished all tidying up.

nStill, it wasn’t without human traces. Artizea briefly looked around the room and sat down on the bed.

nShe heard the sound of a horn in the distance.

nArtizea stood up and approached the window. When she opened the shutter slightly, the torch of the hunting procession was already far away.

nThe wind was so cold she quickly closed the window. And she came back to her room.

nWhat if she had opened this door when he was there?

nIt’s meaningless even if she thinks about it.

nShe was a vicious woman. She was generally as vicious to everyone, but she was more vicious to Evron.

nShe shouldn’t forget that. Artizea locked the door again. And she crawled back into bed.

nIn the meantime, her hands and feet were sore as if her body temperature had dropped. She covered the blanket all the way to the end of her head, but her breath formed like dew on her limbs and made it colder.

nArtizea suddenly realized that she was still wearing the diamond bracelet.

n‘This….’

nShe had been wearing it from the time she was proposed, so she forgot.

nShe pulled it out and put it down on the side table.

nHer sleep was unlikely to come again.

n***

nIt was two days later that a guest came.

n“From the South Sea, a leather dealer?”

nAt the words of the treasurer in charge, Artizea was quite surprised.

n“Yes, it’s said to be a small business of the Eimmel Kingdom. It took so long to check the identity card, that’s why I’ve only got to post it now.”

nSaid the treasurer with a regretful face.

n“In this season?”

n“They didn’t know that the sea would be frozen, so they came up, but I guess their feet were tied up. Sometimes fishing boats from the mainland do the same.”

n“Where are they staying now?”

n“At first, they stayed at an inn, but in winter, the inn also closed its business…. Now it seems that the temple is taking care of them. There are many empty rooms.”

nIt wasn’t common, but it wasn’t something that had never happened before, so the treasurer said without doubt.

n“It’s been said that Evron leather was being received through the business of the mainland so far. Middleman traders have raised the price unacceptably, and now they want to trade directly.”

n“I see.”

n“Previously, when Her Grace’s secretary was negotiating with the leather dealer, it didn’t go well. They said that they want to meet in person.”

n“Okay. I think it’s possible. Let’s meet.”

nArtizea nodded her head. It was an opportunity to see how much profiteering the middleman traders had been making.

nThere was nothing to delay, so the merchants were called in that very afternoon.

nArtizea decided to meet them in the reception room of the Grand Duchy.

nPrivately, Cedric entrusted her with full power. However, she did not want to give the impression that she had just married and that the Grand Duchess took over the official office.

nLysia sits by her side, and Alphonse stands behind her. Four financiers took seats on the left and right.

nThe entrance to the reception room was bustling.

nMerchants who had been called entered the reception room.

n“I heard that everyone is a sailor, but the physique is quite…..”

nOne of the treasurers mumbled.

nArtizea wasn’t listening to that.

nShe stood up in astonishment when she saw the red-haired man who came in at the forefront.

n“Ah…!”

nBut she couldn’t put the name out of her mouth.

nIt was because at this point in time, as a normal person, she didn’t know.

nThe man laughed.

n“It’s been a long time, Marchioness Rosan. How long has it been? You probably haven’t forgotten me already?”

nThe eyes and expression were bright.

nThen, she realized that he already knew her.

n“His Highness Cadriol of Eimmel.”

n“I’m relieved you remember. My head is still tingling after I got hit by you.”

nAlphonse felt a strange hint and moved.

nHowever, Cadriol’s men were faster.

nA man spit out a knife thinner than a finger from his mouth. And with it, he poked his companion’s belly next to him and pulled out a round object from his stomach.

nAlphonse, who noticed the strange feeling, was already running at him.

nLysia screamed.

n“No, Sir Alphonse! Her Grace’s side!”

nBut both were already late.

nThe smoke bomb exploded and the room was filled with sticky purple smoke.

nThe smoke bomb was a melee weapon that Eimmel’s navy was proud of.

nAll of Cadriol’s subordinates were elite among the elite of the Eimmel Kingdom, and through the smoke, they could see ahead like in broad daylight.

nHowever, there was only one Alphonse from the Evron Knight.

nThe guards plunged into the room, but couldn’t find their direction in the dark smoke.

nCadriol ran to Artizea and snatched her.

nAlphonse ran after him with his senses alone. Six blades blocked his way.

nHe broke the blade in his way and cut the neck of his opponent.

nHowever, he did not get Artizea back from Cadriol’s hand.

nLysia went out by touching the wall.

nSmoke bombs exploded in succession. Soon the hall was full of smoke.

n“Call the knights! Close all doors of the stronghold! “

nLysia shouted out loud.

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