Chapter 45
“Your Highness, if Grand Duke Klaus isn’t an option, who will you request support from instead?”
“……”
“You said we could postpone the operation, but even you know that’s not the best idea. If we keep delaying, they’ll catch on.”
“……”
“I came here because I wanted to help you. I won’t beg you to trust my words. But if there’s no other way, isn’t this a request worth trying?”
Khalid’s lips remained tightly shut, but his prolonged silence suggested he was giving my words serious thought.
“Trust me. The Grand Duke will act for Lady Shuruel. Even if not for her sake, simply lending troops temporarily would put the Crown Prince in his debt. The Grand Duke wouldn’t lose anything. What’s happening in Maersen will soon become a headache for the North, too.”
So please. Even now, Shuruel might be suffering.
I put more sincerity into my words and tried to persuade him harder.
It wasn’t a lie. I was sure of it.
Grand Duke Klaus would definitely move for Shuruel’s sake.
‘Sister, once your wedding is over, may I return to the North?’
‘Hm? Why? Is something bothering you? Is it hard being in the knights’ order? Do you want to rest?’
‘That’s not it. It’s just… now that you have someone to lean on and will be happy from now on, I’m relieved. I want to return to where I belong.’
‘So you don’t think you belong here…’
‘There’s someone waiting for me.’
‘Goodness! There is? Who?’
‘I haven’t even told them yet… I’ll tell you later.’
‘Shuruel, my little brother. I guess I can’t stop you.’
Only a handful of people—literally countable on one hand—knew of their relationship.
No one knew Shuruel was the lover of Klaus, the ruler of the North.
The Grand Duke was known to be cold and emotionless—so much so that people said even the god of frost had descended into her.
‘That’s why even Khalid wouldn’t imagine the Grand Duke would make a move to save Shuruel.’
I myself didn’t know until Shuruel told me. Not a single rumor had ever surfaced—who could’ve guessed?
Therefore, the request for support had to go to the Northern Grand Duchy.
Eventually, Khalid rubbed his temples, then finally opened his mouth.
“…Let’s do it.”
“Really?!”
“There are few nobles nearby worth requesting support from, and like you said, if the Grand Duke truly cherishes Shuruel, she’ll respond to the request.”
He didn’t seem to fully believe me, but he looked like he’d made up his mind.
Thank goodness. I only brought it up out of urgency to save Shuruel, so I had no other words prepared to persuade him.
I did worry that their relationship might be exposed later, leading to suspicions, but I’d think about that later.
“Zerman, you’ll go meet the Grand Duke in person.”
“Me, sir?”
“Yes. If you go, she’ll know the information is genuine. The Grand Duke is extremely cautious.”
Hmm. He accepted that a little too easily—it felt suspicious.
Despite my unease, I figured it was okay as long as we could get support and carry out the operation again.
Right now, the top priority was to rescue Shuruel from that nightmarish dog fighting ring as soon as possible.
“But, Your Highness, making a request based on uncertain information is almost like a threat. Wouldn’t it be better to approach differently…?”
“If the young lady of the Marquisate is this confident, I should believe her. She wouldn’t lie about someone she values so dearly.”
For some reason, there was a thorn at the end of his words.
…Was I imagining things?
I felt a slight chill, but Khalid accepted my suggestion.
We planned the support request and drafted a new strategy to carry out once Elbardan joined us. Only when dawn broke did the meeting end.
Zerman had to leave immediately for the North, without even a moment to rest.
Even when I left the room, Khalid was still on the sofa reviewing the documents scattered across the table. Clearly, he hadn’t slept either.
In the end, I was the only one who collapsed and fell asleep from exhaustion.
I woke up around noon.
I was roused from sleep by the knock of a staff member checking if I’d eaten.
I jumped up and hurriedly ordered food for two. The staff member gave me a sympathetic look and went back downstairs.
Apparently, quite a few people mistook me for the pitiful servant of a temperamental young master, so I was used to those looks by now.
They probably thought I’d get beaten for oversleeping.
‘Good thing Khalid acts so well…’
Still, I couldn’t quite get used to seeing him play the part.
Maybe it was because he’d never shown this side of himself while he was “Rivier Arfin.”
Or maybe Khalid just felt like a completely different person since we arrived in Maersen.
Not that I disliked it. Discovering a new side of him I didn’t know before was surprisingly enjoyable—maybe even a little cute.
I hurried to wash up and change, then went to Khalid’s room. He was already neatly dressed, ready to head out.
“After we eat, I plan to go to the dogfighting arena myself.”
He handed me an invitation that looked shady at best.
“Is this a real invitation? Looks like the lunatic act is finally paying off.”
“‘Lunatic,’ huh… Well, a rich nobleman’s son is throwing money around. Of course they couldn’t just ignore that.”
“True. You’ve been spending a ridiculous amount since we came to Maersen.”
He had forged a fairly credible identity as the pampered heir of a minor noble house and played the part to perfection.
A dogfighting operation doesn’t just need slaves—it needs people who indulge in the spectacle. Just like gamblers are necessary for a gambling den.
After receiving a single-use admission ticket, Khalid began spending even more money than before—as if to protest how dare they only give him a one-time ticket.
After a few days of flaunting his wealth, the lord himself, looking apologetic, handed him a new invitation with a chuckle.
It was the VIP pass we’d been waiting for. A pitch-black invitation card with the words Canis Contentio printed on it.
The writing beneath it was filled with flowery language, but it all meant the same thing: dogfighting.
It was definite. This was our ticket into the arena.
“Am I going with you?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not leaving me behind this time.”
“Leaving you alone is more worrisome.”
“‘Worrisome?’ I’m not someone who causes trouble when left alone…”
How unfair. I hadn’t caused any real trouble, and if anything, I’d helped more!
I tried to return the suspicious invitation with a sulky face, but Khalid didn’t take it.
“Keep it. In case we get separated after sneaking in, it’s safer if you carry it.”
“What about you, Your Highness?”
“My face is my identity.”
I gave a small nod. Even disguised, his radiant looks were unmistakable.
No one would think someone that noble-looking was a slave. He’d be fine even inside the dogfighting arena.
‘I’m the problem.’
I glanced at myself nervously.
I was dressed as a male servant, with dull brown-dyed hair and deliberately drawn-on freckles, completely plain and unremarkable.
With my small frame, I looked more like a page boy than a servant—easy to dismiss no matter where I went.
I awkwardly scratched the back of my head, and Khalid’s gaze lingered on me.
“…What is it?”
“Don’t lose that. Keep it safe.”
He reminded me again to take care of the invitation. He must’ve been really worried.
Remembering the hidden pocket inside my shirt, I slipped the small card inside securely.
This way, there’s no way I’d lose it.
Grinning, I patted my chest, and from beside me came the sound of someone choking back laughter.
‘Huh? What’s so funny?’
Was my action that silly? Embarrassed, I patted my chest again—more firmly this time. Another stifled laugh followed.
I turned my head quickly, and sure enough, Khalid had his hand over his mouth, his head bowed.
Just as I was about to ask what was so funny, there was a knock at the door—an inn employee had brought our meal.
“I’ll go get it.”
Khalid must’ve been exhausted from staying up all night reviewing documents and strategies.
I’d at least gotten some sleep, but he hadn’t rested at all.
Worried, I pushed most of the food toward him when the meal arrived.
Whether he understood my intention or not, Khalid ate in silence.
After a quiet meal, just as he said, we headed to the dogfighting arena.
It was time for the showdown.
