HSFCWH 53

Chapter 53

“Just pretend I didn’t hear anything, so stop it already.”

“What, I can’t even worry? It’s just weird! She happened to get hurt right next to him.”

The stableman, Tom, spoke with a troubled expression. No matter how he looked at it, dark clouds were clearly gathering over the Grand Duke’s household.

The prestigious family, descended from the Hero and continuing its glorious legacy, might soon be stained.

A new Hero could be born from the union of two Sword Masters—but before that, wouldn’t the Grand Duchy fall because of the Grand Duchess’s curse?

She nearly caused her own brother’s death. Things may seem calm now—no, they weren’t even calm now.

Since the Grand Duchess came to the North, ten people had already been injured. Eight of them were hurt in places where the Grand Duchess wasn’t even present, but the number was still growing.

Tom had gotten insider information from someone well-informed in the capital: the curse only manifested near the Grand Duchess.

Two people had been hurt in just a few days. There was no telling how many more would follow.

“I don’t want to get involved. I’m out. Stop with the wild guesses.”

His colleague, looking horrified, fled the scene, saying he wanted no part of this.

“Coward,” Tom muttered, watching his departing companion.

He wanted to shake the heads of those foolish servants who liked the Grand Duchess just because the Grand Duke had married her.

How could they be happy that the Grand Duke—handsome, capable—had married a cursed Count’s daughter?

Such a waste of a man.

I guess I’ll have to dig into the Grand Duchess’s past.

As he returned to work, Tom resolved that he must take action to protect the Grand Duchy from misfortune.

For a true Hero to be born, not even the slightest blemish could be allowed on the Grand Duke’s household. His faith in the Hero and the gods burned stronger than ever.

***

[No. I’m not coming. I’m busy.]

Evelyn trembled with fury after reading Raven’s long-winded letter filled with excuses.

Despite all the bait she’d thrown, that was the final response.

He had no intention of helping the Hero.

“Don’t tell me you got rejected again?”

Tinya asked, barely holding back laughter as she noticed Evelyn’s face change every second.

She had seen the two bicker since they were young, so she thought this would pass easily too.

Back when they lived in the capital, Evelyn would storm into the Magic Tower herself. But they were in the North now.

Surely she wouldn’t go there over this.

“I’ll have to go to the Magic Tower.”

“…What?”

Tinya’s prediction missed the mark completely. Evelyn looked like she was going to explode.

“But the snowfield subjugation is next week!”

When Tinya asked in alarm, Evelyn’s eyes burned with determination.

“I’ll just use a teleportation circle!”

“Absolutely not! And even if you go, how will you participate in the subjugation?!”

Tinya stumbled back as Evelyn radiated something close to murderous energy toward her “friend.”

“Not even to help set up the garden’s magic circle?”

“Nope. He said he’d send another mage and told me to work with them.”

Evelyn slapped Raven’s letter onto the desk with a loud smack.

If she couldn’t go now, she’d rush to the tower right after the subjugation.

The Hero of the past also did whatever it took to recruit talented individuals.

Raven was a genius among geniuses.

She finally understood the Tower Master wasn’t just boasting about his disciple.

If she could just capture that one, she’d secure a magical—no, hardworking—no, an excellent ally. The united forces of humanity would gain access to all the conveniences magic offered.

Raven specialized in magic circles. If he set up protective ones around the Grand Duchy, they could handle open warfare with far less worry.

As Evelyn’s brain spun with plans for defeating the Evil God, Tinya poured her a cup of tea with a fragrant aroma.

“This smells different from usual.”

“It’s a warming tea.”

When Evelyn sniffed the cup and asked suspiciously, Tinya smiled and replied.

“I prefer something more bitter.”

Evelyn liked to steep strong, bitter leaves, add lots of sugar and milk—just the kind of comforting drink that wiped away a whole day’s fatigue.

Especially when she was angry like now, it was the perfect tea. But this light and clear one felt out of place, and she blinked.

“It’s supposed to calm your heart and energize the body.”

“So why would I need that?”

She could wake up at six in the morning and train till four in the afternoon without even breaking a sweat.

If her energy increased any more, she’d be unstoppable.

Her body had already adapted to the grueling training. Compared to the beginning, she felt light as air.

She even took the place of Elliot in leading the knights’ formation training—playing the role of the monster.

Every time the knights charged at her with battle cries, she felt herself growing stronger and actually enjoyed it.

“Well…”

Tinya glanced around, her cheeks flushing red. Evelyn mouthed silently, What?

There was no one else around, but Tinya looked so cautious that Evelyn felt the need to be careful too.

Tinya leaned in slowly.

“This is, um…”

“Why are you blushing?! What are you imagining?!”

Evelyn recoiled in horror, scrambling to the far end of the room.

Tinya looked like she’d cry, feeling wronged.

“I did this all for your sake!”

“Judging by that sly look in your eye, you put something weird in the tea again, didn’t you?!”

Tinya cupped her cheeks as if trying to hide her expression, and Evelyn’s gut told her everything.

She spiked it again!

“Oh? Was my expression really that sly? Ufufufu.”

“What are you trying to feed me this time?!”

“Something good for your health.”

Tinya’s eyes turned deadly serious as she insisted Evelyn had to drink it.

Evelyn started looking for an escape.

“It’s something weird, isn’t it?! We’re in the North now—you probably got some monster parts. Just admit it! Is it from a monster? At least say which part!”

“It’s not!”

Tinya shouted, horrified by Evelyn’s disgusted face.

“What do you take me for?! It’s just regular tea!”

“What?!”

Knock knock.

A voice came from behind the door.

“Excuse me. Everything okay in there?”

“Help me! Yes, yes! Please save me!”

Evelyn flailed her arms toward the knight guard, while Tinya shook her head as if nothing was wrong.

The knight tilted his head, confused by the Grand Duchess’s serious expression.

“What’s the problem?”

He was about to leave, but Evelyn motioned for him to come in.

“That’s the problem.”

She pointed at the desk. The knight slowly looked over.

Nothing seemed unusual—just a teacup, and a stack of paperwork.

“That tea.”

At Evelyn’s words, he picked up the cup and sniffed it.

“Smells nice.”

“It’s poison.”

“…What?!”

He nearly dropped the cup and stared at Tinya.

“It’s not!!”

“She definitely heard it was good for the body and brewed something weird again!”

Tinya looked heartbroken at Evelyn’s confident tone.

“You really don’t trust me, do you? This tea is actually…”

“…Actually?”

“…It helps with fertility.”

…Fertility?

Evelyn and the knight stared blankly at Tinya.

“I asked the physician at the Grand Castle and had it specially prepared. It’s for you and the Grand Duke.”

Tinya blushed, and the knight awkwardly bowed out, mumbling, “Good luck.”

“T-Tinya?”

“Yes?”

“What’s this about fertility all of a sudden?”

Fertility?

They didn’t even have enough time to train, let alone—

Pregnancy?!