[CHAPTER 99]
Yulias added small requests such as asking Harvich to deliver news to his sister when they met, but he did not refute any of Harvich’s demands.
That was not all.
Yulias even handed him the imperial seal that symbolized the Emperor’s authority.
“Keep it in the Duchy until the end of the agreement period.”
Harvich stared at the golden imperial ring and felt something indescribable.
If things were going to end this easily, then why had the North suffered so much suppression and pressure until now?
Unable to make sense of it, Harvich grew wary and asked.
“Why are you yielding so easily?”
“Because I want my sister to understand my intentions.”
Yulias’s face looked more serious than ever.
When the Duchy’s independence, which had been close to a debt, was granted so easily, Harvich felt not relief but anxiety.
It was as if Yulias wanted him to return to the North as quickly as possible.
Something felt deeply wrong, and that feeling grew stronger with time.
If Lincia had truly collapsed, he would have been informed in some way long ago.
But Harvich had received no such news.
The most recent letters only said she was staying comfortably at the villa.
…Am I missing something?
Harvich summoned a knight and ordered him to bring news about the Grand Duchess.
The knight returned soon after, his face pale.
“It appears someone has been stealing the letters. The courier who delivered them was found dead. It is likely the letters we sent were never delivered either.”
“Send knights immediately.”
He had never told Lincia about the war, but she had always sent him messages asking how he was doing.
When had the letters stopped?
His head throbbed.
Did Yulias pull something again?
But he could not grasp any leads.
Yulias was the only one who could benefit from such actions, yet he was calmly writing documents right in front of him.
Harvich grew even more confused.
He wanted to drop everything and return to Lincia immediately.
But relying solely on the suspicious man’s words and rushing to her now could ruin everything.
A similar situation had happened in the past, and afterward the Duchy had suffered greatly, so he had to stay cautious.
If he rushed to Lincia out of worry and the negotiations collapsed, the gentle woman would blame herself for something that wasn’t her fault.
Harvich never wanted Lincia to suffer further because of the Duchy’s situation.
So until he was certain the matter was settled, he could not move.
It was the rational choice, even if his insides were burning.
And the suspicion that Yulias might be plotting something gradually faded over time.
Which meant it was likely someone from the inside…
“Love nothing. The North is a land where nothing survives.”
For some reason, his father’s dying words resurfaced.
While Harvich was lost in thought, Yulias finished drafting the document and handed him the papers.
“Check it.”
The hastily written letters were different from Yulias’s usual neat handwriting.
Harvich narrowed his eyes, struggling to read the blurred words.
Seeing him repeatedly frown, Yulias watched him carefully.
“I included everything you asked for. Do you need anything else?”
“No, nothing.”
At Harvich’s reply, Yulias pulled the document back to his side and stamped it with the imperial seal.
“The remaining procedures will be handled through a representative.”
Harvich informed him one-sidedly and rose from his seat.
Yulias did not stop him.
* * *
Some of the Duchy’s knights remained in the imperial palace, while the rest returned to the temporary base.
It was a place they had used as temporary lodgings whenever they were dispatched to another territory.
Derek, who had been resting there, stood up when a senior knight gathered the men.
“An urgent order has been issued. The courier who delivered the letters was found dead. Track the culprit’s traces and retrieve the missing letters.”
“Nothing is confirmed yet, so stay alert.”
The knights grabbed their weapons and left the base.
Some stayed behind to guard the area just in case.
Derek was one of them.
“You will monitor Count Chaester.”
“Yes.”
Derek looked toward the quarters where Ethan lay unconscious.
A man who feared blood.
Everyone in the Duchy knew the story of Count Chaester, who became terrified of blood after losing someone he loved.
Even if he was a count, bringing someone so useless to the battlefield and then ordering a guard assignment that was closer to surveillance made no sense.
Why?
The Grand Duchess was close to giving birth.
There was no reason to bring Ethan, her personal physician, to the war.
Derek had suffered greatly while assisting Ethan throughout the war.
Because of the overwhelming difference in power, bloodshed occurred every time they advanced.
Each time, Ethan vomited, fainted several times atop his horse, and even fell off and injured himself.
At one point, Derek had grown so frustrated that he ended up sharing a horse with him.
Orders were orders, but understanding the Grand Duke’s intentions was nearly impossible.
“Count, excuse me. Are you all right?”
Derek asked politely as he entered the count’s quarters.
But the man he expected to find lying under the blanket was nowhere in sight.
Even then, Derek did not sense the severity of the situation.
Ethan’s complexion had been terrible, so he assumed the man was outside vomiting.
A trail of Ethan’s footprints led out of the quarters.
Strangely, the footprints continued far from the base without stopping.
“My lord?”
Should he call the others?
If imperial knights were nearby…
Unease crept in, and Derek moved to leave the area.
But.
It happened in an instant.
Derek saw a blade slice across his throat.
* * *
“The missing letters have suddenly been returned.”
“Y-yes. Suddenly.”
These were people who hadn’t even realized the letters were stolen.
He never imagined they could find them in such a short time.
But they were not “found.”
They were “returned.”
“How long do you think I will tolerate your incompetence?”
They were unmatched in combat, but expecting administrative skill from them was pointless.
Harvich stared at the large pile of letters in his quarters.
“And Derek?”
“T-the knight… is missing. He disappeared along with the report about the stolen letters.”
What on earth was happening?
“Count Chaester was still in his quarters.”
It felt like a tangled thread that only knotted further the more he tried to unravel it.
Harvich had no idea what the people of the Duchy wanted from him to create such a disaster.
He checked the “returned” letters.
He didn’t know when they had been stolen, but the number of letters was considerable.
And it was different from before.
Whoever stole them last time had returned them flawlessly, leaving no signs.
This time, the letters had clearly been opened and resealed without care.
Harvich forced himself to swallow his rage and read.
[ Her Highness the Grand Duchess is doing well. The warm climate of the estate seems to help her greatly. ]
The early letters from the midwife were no different from before.
But in what seemed to be recent letters, Lincia’s condition worsened drastically.
[ Her Highness has begun bleeding. Signs of premature labor are present. ]
The midwife’s report, and Lincia’s own letter…
[ To my beloved husband.
I’m sorry for writing about this when you haven’t replied at all.
I heard you started a war.
Since I haven’t heard from you, I’m worried.
Are you really all right?
I’m so worried about you. ]
Even while unwell, her letter was full of concern for Harvich.
[ I miss you.
You promised to be by my side when our child is born. ]
Harvich’s hands trembled as he opened the next letter.
[ Her Highness the Grand Duchess is in critical condition. ]
Harvich’s heart plummeted.
