~Chapter 125~
Deputy Knight Commander Arthur Mogens came to find Richard with a heavy face.
Richard, who had not left his office for days, looked even worse now than before he had rescued the Duchess.
For the past few days, the Duke’s estate had been turned upside down in the search for spies. Not only servants but also knights were all investigated. Some suspicious clues were found, and their families and acquaintances were also checked, but nothing came of it.
If there had been any contact with the royal family, there should have been traces — but perhaps they had been erased long ago. No income apart from the official wages from the Duke’s estate was discovered.
Most of the servants returned to their work after the investigation ended, but once even close aides became subjects of questioning, the atmosphere turned terrible.
Even knights who had once followed Richard only because he was strong began to complain. In that mood, a letter from the Imperial Palace was the last thing they wanted.
“Your Grace, a letter has arrived from the palace.”
Arthur handed Richard a sheet of paper — not even sealed, written without care.
Richard only nodded at him to read. Arthur gave weight to every word as he spoke:
“If the northern knights have enough men to stay near the capital without permission, then they must have more than they need. This year’s knight recruitment will not be permitted. We recommend reducing the order’s size by at least ten percent. Any spare men may be sent to the Imperial Palace…”
Arthur clenched his jaw. “Your Grace, they are using this incident as an excuse to strip our knights away.”
The letter was less of a suggestion and more of a command.
This kind of thing happened every few years. In the past, bowing low and giving in to the Emperor’s unreasonable demands had bought them some peace.
But Richard had led his knights all the way east to find Ancia. This time, he could not avoid it.
If it had come from the Crown Prince, Richard might have argued. But since it came from the Emperor, there was no room for negotiation.
The knights were already short-staffed, sent away to guard the annex. He had even planned to hire mercenaries to deal with monsters. To lose even more knights now would be a heavy blow.
Some knights dreamed of becoming Imperial Guards, but most would end up stuck as low-level laborers.
Richard could guess the Emperor’s true intention:
The Emperor wanted to weaken the Duke’s growing power — and he feared bringing such skilled men close in case they were spies.
Richard finally spoke.
“Recruiting new knights will be forbidden. But those who have already earned their lands as squires may be granted positions. The Emperor won’t bother with such details.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“I will personally choose which knights are sent to the palace.”
Arthur blinked. “Eh? You can leave such work to me—”
Richard smirked and tossed the letter onto his desk.
“I’ll send only those so outstanding that even if the Emperor suspects them, he won’t be able to let them go.”
Arthur frowned. “Isn’t that dangerous?”
Richard’s eyes glinted cold.
“I don’t intend to use them as spies. But the Emperor will keep them, unable to trust or release them. That is enough.”
Arthur lowered his head. Even if it was clever, it meant losing some of their best.
After Arthur left, Richard continued working late into the night. Only when the office grew silent did his hand freeze on a new report.
“…Ancia.”
He longed for her.
He knew she was only minutes away, safe in the annex, and received constant reports. Still, he wanted to see her with his own eyes.
The first time he had felt true fear of losing her was during the explosion at the festival building. She had fainted so easily, and he had worried about her weak health. Later she grew stronger, and he found peace.
But after she disappeared, he could no longer calm himself.
Even now, though she was back, a deep fear gnawed at him: that she could still be taken from him at any moment.
So he had rebuilt the annex into a tower, a fortress where no one could approach without notice.
And when the physician and midwife declared she was only three months pregnant, Richard’s torment deepened.
He believed in Ancia — yet every circumstance pointed toward betrayal.
So he locked her in the tower. To protect her from every danger — even from himself.
A messenger soon arrived.
“Your Grace, the Duchess is sleeping soundly.”
“And her meals?”
“She ate the black soup again today.”
“…I see.”
Hearing that she avoided the household food pained Richard. It was as if she were rejecting everything of the Duke’s estate.
And she never once begged to be released. Her silence felt like silent reproach, making him even more afraid to see her face.
If Ancia ever looked at him with eyes of hatred, he felt he would break.
Still, that night, his longing overcame him.
“…I must at least see her sleeping face.”
It was impulsive. For days, he had drowned himself in work, unable to face her. Now he walked toward the annex tower.
The guards straightened at his sudden appearance. Passing them, Richard entered.
The small garden inside had been redecorated, sparkling under glowing magic stones, even at night. Rare glowing flowers twinkled brightly, bought at great cost.
He went up quickly, passing doors and guards, until he reached her room.
Inside, only Ancia was there. Quietly, he stepped to her bed.
Under the dim light, he gazed at her sleeping face for a long time.
His hand trembled as he reached out, finally brushing her cheek. Her skin was soft, her body healthier and more beautiful than before.
But when she stirred slightly, Richard pulled back.
If she woke and looked at him with resentment — he felt he would beg her to punish him, even tear down the tower with his own hands.
Instead, he turned away. Just seeing her tonight was enough to endure a few more days.
He left, whispering to himself:
“Peace… yes, this is enough for now.”
Meanwhile, Ancia enjoyed rare leisure.
At first, she had begged for another physician to prove the truth, but none came. Instead, the same physician and midwife who had been forced into service before now visited daily, checked her condition, and quietly left.
She was relieved they were safe. Ancia did not want others to suffer because of her.
Perhaps Richard refused new doctors because he feared gossip about whose child it might be. With fewer people, it was easier to keep secrets.
The physician now stayed in the tower permanently, also treating the servants’ minor illnesses, creating a friendlier atmosphere.
‘He’s not a bad man,’ Ancia thought. ‘Kind, really. Just caught in a bad situation.’
She decided to treat the physician and midwife comfortably rather than with suspicion.
In the end, once the child was born, all doubts would vanish.
“This might be a good chance to rest,” she whispered.
Ellie grinned. “My lady, I’m happy too! The kitchen is just below, so I can fetch you anything you want to eat right away.”
With only Ancia’s room to clean, Ellie and Bianca had little work. Unlike their time trapped in the mountain village, they could laze about. Ancia lazed with them, enjoying the rare peace.
Ellie, knowing how much they had suffered, only smiled warmly instead of scolding them.
