~Chapter 41~
‘Did we even have any real guests here? I mean, maybe if you count that pig who doesn’t know his place.’
‘D- Duke!’
‘If you talk about my wife like that again, I can’t guarantee what will happen next.’
I felt a heavy pressure in the air.
Just one careless look from the Duke made it hard to breathe. I couldn’t move a finger.
I must have poked the hornet’s nest. If this keeps going, something really bad will happen.
‘I hope I haven’t kept you waiting too long?’
‘Of course not, my lady. Even waiting for a moment was enjoyable.’
When the Lady returned, the Duke suddenly put on a friendly smile, as if nothing had happened.
The sudden change made the Count feel like he couldn’t breathe again.
They say he’s cold and unfeeling, above all human limits? That’s all nonsense.
He just doesn’t care about anything except what interests him!
The Count’s vassals started thinking hard about the situation.
“Now that I think about it, the Lady has always treated us politely.”
“She never acted rude or caused trouble. Maybe those rumors were wrong after all?”
“It’s possible. We can’t rule it out.”
“What on earth is going on?!”
They couldn’t trust the rumors anymore.
The Duke even seemed to like the Lady—whether as a person or something more.
“If that’s true, maybe she didn’t actually break the contract?”
Everyone just sighed in confusion.
A heavy silence fell over the room.
“Your Grace, could I talk to you for a moment?”
The banquet ended without anything special happening.
The Alnor party left to rest, but I stopped the Duke before he could go.
“This won’t take long.”
“…?”
He looked down at the arm I touched, almost surprised.
Even though I just barely touched him, he reacted more than I expected.
Ever since we returned from the monastery, the Duke sometimes acted more comfortable with me, but now he was nervous again.
If we even barely touched, he would pull away.
Why is he acting like this?
Without a word, he told the servants to leave and sat down.
“Please, speak comfortably.”
“I’d like to ask for some of the mountain guards.”
“The army? That’s not difficult, but can I ask why?”
“Brother Vincent went missing in the mountains. It’s already been days… I’m worried he might have been hurt by a wild animal.”
“…Who?”
The Duke, who had been friendly so far, frowned the moment he heard Vincent’s name.
His change in attitude was so sharp that I wondered if I’d said something wrong.
Was there anything wrong with what I said?
Brother Vincent was a priest sent from Saint Argentbach, the Papal State.
Even if he was just a low-ranked priest, if something bad happened to him, it could cause problems between the Papal State and Lombard.
Getting on the wrong side of the Church was never good, politically or religiously.
The Duke must know this—so why does he look so annoyed?
Did he think I was crossing into his territory?
Because Lombard borders the northern wall, only the Duke can control the military.
Maybe he thought I was stepping out of line.
That’s why I asked so politely—what more can I do?
But I had to keep trying, since it was about Vincent’s safety.
“Brother Vincent is just a weak, timid priest. He might be lost and scared in the mountains. Please have mercy on him.”
“…?”
Even after I pleaded, the Duke looked like he didn’t get it.
“Is it really necessary to search? If we just wait, I think he’ll come back on his own.”
“You’re a war hero, Your Grace. You could handle the mountains alone, but Vincent is different. He’s only ever held a Bible or a pen in his life.”
I was starting to get frustrated.
So before the Duke could say more, I insisted,
“You must send the soldiers. If you don’t, I’ll stop welcoming guests and quit my work in the estate.”
“…That puts me in a difficult spot…”
Was it just my imagination, or did he look a bit sulky?
Still, I ignored it and kept going.
“Madam.”
“Yes?”
“If I went missing, would you act like this? Would you send soldiers and ask others to search for your husband?”
“No?”
He was the strongest man in the Empire, able to defeat even monsters with his bare hands.
Why would I worry about him?
And besides, he was the one who killed me.
“Madam, that’s a little—”
“In that case, I’d worry about the animals, not you.”
“You’re not just anyone, Your Grace. I believe you’d never lose, no matter what happens.”
“No matter what happens, I wouldn’t lose…?”
For some reason, the Duke gave a small, sad smile—then quickly hid it.
“No matter how strong I am, that’s not easy. But I feel proud that you trust me.”
“Oh… yes.”
They say the way you interpret something is more important than what’s said, but I didn’t say it out loud.
His face really did look proud, after all.
As expected, after a moment, the Duke nodded.
“This is the first time you’ve asked me for something. I can’t refuse. For weak, timid Brother Vincent, who’s only ever held a Bible and pen, I’ll send the soldiers.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
“I still don’t think it’s necessary, but…”
I pretended not to hear his last words and thanked him.
I called for Ramon and told him the Duke had given permission to send the mountain search party.
Just as things were wrapping up, the Alnor Count’s group returned.
At the huge negotiating table, the Duke sat at the head.
On his right sat me and Ramon, the administrator. On his left were the Alnor Count and his men.
The Duke turned toward the Count and spoke gently.
“Why are they acting like that?”
“Everyone is like that in front of the Duke. Only you are different, madam.”
Ramon whispered to me.
The Count and his men were sweating nervously. Sometimes they glanced at me, almost like they were asking for help.
But the Duke wasn’t threatening them at all.
He just calmly explained Lombard’s position—that they couldn’t pay compensation for breaking the contract, nor could they release Clayton, the criminal.
If we paid compensation, it would mean admitting fault, no matter what the court decided.
And we couldn’t let go of someone who almost caused a disaster with shoddy construction.
“Is it really that scary?”
“The Duke is feared by all the northern nobles. Not just because of Lombard’s army, but because his own power is beyond imagination.”
“But he’s still human, right?”
“…You’re the only one who thinks that way. In northern Lombard, the Duke is like a god.”
I tilted my head.
I knew the Duke was strong.
I never saw him fight monsters myself, but I’d heard the knights praise him.
But Edwin, the Duke, was just a person.
He liked sweet tea and desserts, got sentimental about his age at the new year, got sulky sometimes but cheered up quickly, and occasionally complained about having to work.
He was just a regular person.
Without thinking, I muttered,
“He must have been lonely.”
“No way, madam. The Duke doesn’t have those kinds of feelings…”
Ramon was whispering right next to me, but suddenly jumped back, startled.
At some point, the Duke was looking right at us.
