ICM Chapter 125

“When did you arrive? Have you been waiting long? You should have sent someone.”

 

“Am I really that welcome?”

 

Drushia smiled slightly at the somewhat excited voice.

 

“If you’re that happy to see me, you should have shown your face sooner.”

 

“I’m sorry. I thought you’d be busy too.”

 

“My being busy doesn’t seem to matter much, does it? What’s all this?”

 

“Administrative documents for the Grand Duchy. Reports from the field and financial documents that have come up over time, but there’s so much that it’s taking forever.”

 

All the documents in this room were related to the Grand Duchy. Having accumulated over 40 years, the sheer volume was enormous.

 

Drushia shuddered and turned away from the pile of work. His interest was focused on only one thing.

 

“Isn’t it too long since we’ve been alone together?”

 

“We met just two days ago.”

 

Ashika replied with wide eyes as if asking what he meant.

 

“You just showed your face saying you had business and disappeared.”

 

“We went to the temple four days ago too.”

 

“We went in separate carriages, received blessings, and parted ways. Am I some kind of task to be handled? Really, is this how it’s going to be?”

 

It seemed he had been the only one feeling left out all along. Drushia narrowed his eyes and expressed his disappointment at such a consistently indifferent attitude.

 

“Then maybe we should postpone the wedding date…”

 

“No!”

 

At the firm answer, Ashika let out a deep sigh. None of the threats, internal or external, had been resolved.

 

‘A wedding at a time like this. It really seems unreasonable.’

 

Unlike Ashika, Drushia believed that in such times, they should make the relationship between the two houses clearly public.

 

“Don’t look so serious. Soon, no one in the empire will be unaware that Igraine and Talion are one.”

 

Drushia didn’t seem to consider at all that this might become an even bigger problem. Knowing it would be useless to say anything, Ashika chose to keep quiet.

 

“Ashika, I won’t tell you to take interest in the wedding. But I’d like you not to forget that I’m here.”

 

It was a complaint about an indifferent lover.

 

Ashika felt a little sorry. She had only gone along because it was what Drushia wanted, but it was true that she hadn’t paid attention.

 

Leaving the messily piled documents behind, Ashika took a step toward him.

 

“Shall we take a walk?”

 

“Are you finally paying attention to me?”

 

A smile finally appeared on his disappointed face. Small hands gently grasped Drushia’s outstretched hand.

 

When the two came out of the office holding hands, the passing maids widened their eyes and quickly averted their gazes.

 

‘Good heavens, good heavens.’

 

‘Is that really the Duke Talion we’ve heard about in rumors?’

 

According to rumors, Duke Talion was said to be a nasty man with a terrible temper who never took losses and arbitrarily manipulated people. The Igraine people who had dealt with Duke Talion in the Grand Duchy or at negotiation tables named him as someone they never wanted to clash with again.

 

The sight of such a man walking through the Igraine ducal mansion with a melting, gentle smile while holding Ashika’s hand was truly shocking. Enough to understand why Weive had left the house to avoid seeing such a sight.

 

‘Oh my, to think our young lady would change like this.’

 

Ashika had been as strict as the stern Weive and equally stubborn. Because of her position as young duchess, she had never shown even a slightly disheveled appearance, but she had completely changed with the approaching wedding.

 

‘Still, they look good together, don’t they?’

 

‘Look at the young lady smiling.’

 

Though she tried not to show it, Ashika’s eyes and the corners of her mouth were gently curved. Her jet-black eyes kept turning toward Drushia while pretending otherwise, and the blue eyes looking at her were infinitely deep and affectionate.

 

After walking a little, he brushed away the hair that had fallen across Ashika’s face, and after a few more steps, he caressed her cheek. When leaves scattered in the wind, he blocked them with his body and looked down at her with a soft laugh. As if just looking at her was wonderful, a smile never left Drushia’s lips.

 

In front of the large man with his naturally big frame, solid body trained by swordsmanship, and even threatening shadow, Ashika looked both vibrant and delicate like a tender branch that had just sprouted.

 

The sight of the picture-perfect handsome man treasuring and doting on Ashika as if she were a precious jewel made everyone watching feel their hearts flutter. The maids who turned away were both amazed and envious, blushing among themselves.

 

Ashika’s face grew so warm that the cool late autumn breeze felt refreshing. Even without hearing what the whispering maids in the distance were saying, she could guess.

 

When the two came out to the garden, they could see the main gate opening in the distance. As soon as the gate opened, someone came riding urgently.

 

“Isn’t that Mihail?”

 

Questions arose on Ashika’s face as she recognized the person. What could be urgent enough for him to come all the way here?

 

‘I told them not to disturb us, yet they come anyway.’

 

Drushia furrowed his brow and tightened his grip on Ashika’s hand.

 

Mihail, spotting the two, quickly dismounted from his horse.

 

“Your Grace, it’s urgent.”

 

“I shouldn’t have told them I’d be here.”

 

“Your Grace told us to deliver all urgent news here.”

 

Mihail protested at Drushia’s reproach. Sweat had beaded on his forehead from riding urgently.

 

“So what’s so urgent?”

 

Mihail glanced at Ashika. Drushia gestured that it was fine and to continue the story.

 

“Well, there’s currently a Noble Council meeting in session.”

 

“The Noble Council? For what reason?”

 

Ashika asked in surprise, and Drushia’s face quickly hardened.

 

“A petition has arrived saying the Grand Duke’s castle blockade has been broken.”

 

“They’re targeting Talion.”

 

The backlash had been expected. Considering that Maiheller was behind it, it was only a matter of time before the Grand Duke’s castle issue became prominent.

 

Ashika’s face also hardened involuntarily. Though she had expected it, she felt a sudden fear that things had escalated much faster than anticipated.

 

“We haven’t received any contact either. How can they exclude both Igraine and Talion?”

 

“Because of the current situation. Even the Noble Council wouldn’t want to face both ducal houses at once.”

 

“Will you go?”

 

Drushia nodded. He was curious to see how much chaos they would create among themselves while excluding the concerned parties. The nobles would try to secure their own interests at this opportunity, and the emperor would likely do the same. This was what Drushia had been waiting for.

 

“Oh, this.”

 

Drushia released Ashika’s hand that he had been holding all along. At the sudden chill she felt, Ashika clenched her now-empty hand.

 

“I’m not sure if this will be a gift or homework.”

 

What he pulled from his coat was a small notebook.

 

“What is this?”

 

“I got it from Shafri. She said she secretly copied it from the Marquis Maiheller’s mansion.”

 

Her black eyes widened. As she was about to receive it and open it immediately, Drushia’s hand gently covered it.

 

“Do the work when I’m not here. How can you not wait even that brief moment.”

 

“That’s not it… Are you leaving right now?”

 

Ashika lowered her hand holding the notebook with an embarrassed face.

 

“I should go show my face before the session ends. That way they won’t be too startled, right?”

 

“Be careful.”

 

“I’ll come back as quickly as possible. Let’s meet at my house this time. The butler is decorating a room, but he’s complaining that the duchess-to-be won’t cooperate. Though we don’t really need that room.”

 

One room would be enough. At the whispered words, Ashika’s face turned completely red.

 

“We’ll see when you return.”

 

“Wait for me.”

 

Her anxious heart flew away with that one sentence that was like a joke but sincere.

 

Drushia chuckled softly and kissed her forehead. Whether from reluctance or sentiment, Drushia’s lips lingered on Ashika’s forehead for quite a while.

 

****

 

A visitor came to the Igraine mansion not long after that. The unexpected visitor caused a small commotion at the mansion’s main gate.

 

“Didn’t I tell you to wait a moment?”

 

“How can you turn away investigators from the imperial palace like this?”

 

“That’s why a servant has gone to the mansion now…”

 

“Open the gate first!”

 

While the gatekeeper was stamping his feet, knights from the training ground began gathering one by one in front of the main gate.

 

“Who is being so unreasonable?”

 

Jeanne wiped the sweat that had profusely appeared on her face and furrowed her brow.

 

“They say they’re investigators from the imperial palace.”

 

The faces of the gathered knights hardened.

 

“Why from the imperial palace?”

 

“Is there some problem?”

 

Jeanne waved her hand at the agitated knights and asked the gatekeeper.

 

“Did they bring His Majesty’s command?”

 

“That’s not it, so I told them to wait just a moment…”

 

They came from the imperial palace but not with the emperor’s command. It meant this wasn’t an official visit. Both Weive and knight commander Pelburn were away.

 

Marilyn, who had gone to the main building to announce the visitor, could be seen running out urgently. When Marilyn’s eyes met Jeanne’s, she shook her head.

 

“Open the gate. It would be troublesome if rumors spread that we turned away people from the imperial palace.”

 

“Yes, understood, Sir Berth.”

 

With permission granted, the main gate opened and a nearby carriage came into view. It was an ordinary rental carriage without any particular crest. Two people who had been waiting beside it approached. They appeared to be around thirty and wore the uniforms of imperial palace staff.

 

“You cannot enter any further.”

 

Jeanne raised her hand to block the strangers from entering the mansion. When Jeanne stepped forward, the other knights formed a circle around them. The two men clicked their tongues at the intimidating knights.

 

“We want to meet the master, so why is everyone so hostile?”

 

“Please state your business.”

 

“We came from the imperial palace. We’re here for preliminary reconnaissance before a formal investigation request comes in, but do we need to explain all this to the knights?”

 

Their gaze scanning the knights blocking their way was rude. The visitors didn’t hide their displeasure.

 

“We should properly receive you, but both masters of the ducal mansion are currently away. Please understand that we cannot let you in because we cannot provide appropriate reception.”

 

Jeanne smoothly explained why the two could not enter.

 

The other party were nobles affiliated with the imperial palace. There was no master to permit the visit, nor a master to receive guests befitting their status. This was the responsibility of those who had barged in without an appointment.

 

“The Young Duchess Igraine is absent?”

 

Suspicious eyes glared at Jeanne. The faces of Jeanne and the other knights were unreadable. They suspected excuses were being made, but they couldn’t push forward blindly anymore.

 

“Then, would it be alright if we waited until Duke Igraine or the Young Duchess arrives?”

 

Profanity almost burst from Jeanne’s mouth.

 

“We cannot invite you inside without the Duke’s permission, but if you insist on waiting outside, we won’t stop you.”

 

By this point, they should have withdrawn. As nobles themselves, didn’t they have dignity? But the other party stiffly raised their heads and walked toward the carriage.

 

“Then we’ll keep waiting in the carriage. It would be even better if you could tell us where they are.”

 

Jeanne’s face crumpled completely. It seemed they had come with determination. Their attitude clearly showed they wouldn’t withdraw easily.

 

Marilyn nervously stepped back while watching the situation.

 

‘This seems to be getting more complicated.’

 

It was Ashika who had given the instruction to tell them to leave since there was no one to receive them. But who would have thought they wouldn’t leave and would persist in front of the main gate? Seeing the visitors retreat to their carriage, Marilyn hurried toward the main building.