Chapter 71

The knights stood rigid on both sides of the hallway outside the council room, their eyes on me with puzzled expressions. The Black Wolf Knights holding double axes made sense here, but the First Imperial Knights from the capital were also lined up along one wall with spears.

Their pupils shook like an earthquake, sweat poured down like rain. I half expected them to point those axes and spears at me, interrogating me about what Tessarion and I had done last night.

Tessarion, walking without pause, suddenly stopped in front of the council room door.

“What’s going on, Berieta?”

“…!”

Gasp.
My heart dropped.

I had wondered why the Imperial Knights were here, but there she was—the last person I wanted to see, the person I had to avoid.

A cold silence lingered for a while.

Berieta’s trembling voice rang down the hallway.
“Because I heard Roy was badly hurt…”

How did she even know I was injured?

The spot where my heart had dropped throbbed. My face flushed hot. Today, I had no courage to meet her eyes.

“I heard His Grace the Duke has urgent work and will be late finishing. In the meantime, may I look after Roy? I have the highest-grade healing potion from the capital. Even a serious injury can be healed in a day.”

On any other day, her words would have made me flutter. Now, every word tightened around my throat.
If she saw the marks on my neck and chest, what would she think? Just imagining her shock and disappointment made my vision go dark.

I hated it. I hated myself.

This isn’t what I wanted. This wasn’t supposed to happen…

“Enough. State your business.”

Tessarion cut her off firmly, and Berieta gave a low hum. I could even hear the faint sound of her gripping her clothes.

“Then, may I at least see Roy’s face for a moment? Just to ask if he’s all right.”

“You think he’s fine? If you came just to ask about Roy’s health, don’t loiter at the council door. Leave.”

When Tessarion revealed sharp hostility, Deputy Commander Ibis stepped forward, smiling warmly, to speak gently to Berieta.

“Your Highness. His Grace must attend the main council now. Perhaps after the meeting—”

Thunk, thud!
“How insolent. My conversation with the Duke is not over.”

Berieta tapped her staff twice on the marble floor, her voice heavy with authority. A sudden shift in the mood sent a chill through the air.

“If the Duke is so worried he brings an injured patient into the council chamber, shouldn’t I at least stay by his side to care for the patient?”

This time, the aides and northern nobles following Tessarion burst out in outrage.

“What! This is the Northern State Council!”
“Your Highness, this is overstepping and infringing on the North’s autonomy!”

Criticism poured toward her, but Berieta did not move. As tension grew, the Imperial Knights’ hands went to their weapons. Caught between them, Ibis spread his arms to calm things down, when Berieta continued.

“His Majesty also wishes to hear the loyalty and counsel of the northern nobles. Every rumor and petition reaching the capital speaks only of your complaints and demands for independence, so His Majesty is worried. Surely the northern nobles also wish to know the political situation and the Emperor’s will. Am I wrong?”

Was… was this really Princess Berieta?

Why did her voice and tone feel so unfamiliar?

From her words, it seemed my nursing care was just an excuse—her true goal was attending the council.

“Duke, if you truly wish for peace in the Empire, isn’t it better for me to attend the meeting than Crown Prince Heliot? I’m just a crippled leg, a distant royal relative with a pretty face who got lucky to catch the Emperor’s eye, and a mage who can only add a bit of energy to your heated debates.”

She lowered herself while making it impossible to exclude her—a political move with no rebuttal.

The northern nobles glanced awkwardly at Tessarion. The always gentle and elegant Berieta was gone—she spoke now with the strength of a seasoned orator.

“If you dislike that, then until the meeting ends, I’ll take your servant to my chambers and care for him wholeheartedly. Including his injured wings, of course.”

“Let her in.”

Tessarion frowned deeply as he entered the council chamber. Inside, the northern nobles whispered, then all rose to greet their lord. Every one of them widened their eyes and gasped.

Tessarion radiating dangerous energy.
The patient slung over his shoulder.
And Berieta limping in behind.

No one had expected this kind of crisis, even if they had braced for difficult agendas.

Really, they should have considered the gossip too.

Berieta sighed.

“I’d rather be alone with Roy.”

“Shut your mouth.”

I could feel Berieta’s eyes on me. I bowed my head—no, I pulled my neck in and buried my face into Tessarion’s shoulder.

Tessarion went to the high seat on the platform beyond the large round table where the Senate and noble representatives sat. Three chairs were placed there: the center for the Duke, and the sides for a young duke, duchess, former duke, or a guest of equal power.

I expected him to seat me in one of the empty chairs beside him, with Berieta next to me.

My mouth went dry. It was a seat in full view of everyone—sitting there through the long meeting would feel like torture.

But Tessarion didn’t set me down. He sat in his own seat with me on his lap. Then, he pulled the wolf fur draped over his other shoulder and placed it over my head.

“…!”

Reality vanished into darkness between my fingers. My eyes flew wide.

The room fell silent. In an indifferent voice, he ordered the chairperson,
“Begin.”

The chairperson struck the staff, declaring the meeting open. The first presenter came forward, bowed to Tessarion on the platform, paused, and began.

“The first agenda concerns the imperial decree from the Belletinaum royal family on the first day of the month of Sige, year 531. Clause one: the marriage to Princess Berieta. Clause two: that Duke Claremont assist Crown Prince Heliot in defending the Empire. Additionally—”

Sigh.
Tessarion let out a small breath. Slowly, he took a deep breath in and out, clearly unsettled.

A thought hit me, and I clamped my open mouth shut.

This guy… he’s extremely sensitive about the word “wedding.” Maybe my nursing care excuse was just so he could skip the state council altogether?

Tessarion gripped the armrest so tightly veins stood out on his hands, then released it, over and over. Crack… The sound of his teeth grinding came as his chest swelled and fell.

Looks like my suspicion was right.

The chamber was more chaotic than ever. Berieta, claiming to represent the Emperor, was ignored as shouts rang out.

“Everyone! Even if they are a distant royal, marrying someone with southern blood and handing the northern heir over to the South is violating the order and laws set by the Goddess! Emperor Grioseuteon speaks of peace while committing the crime of upsetting the balance of power! For years, summers have grown longer and drier! And the moment the Crown Prince and Princess arrived, monsters attacked Claremont Castle in broad daylight—not once, but three times!”