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Chapter 2
Heinrich’s nightmare was always the same.
It began with Libenya standing in front of a wide-open window.
Every time the wind blew, loose strands of hair escaped from her neatly pinned hairstyle.
Libenya was someone who valued strict etiquette and would never allow even a single stray hair. But when she was with Heinrich, she looked more relaxed than usual.
‘Hiini, what brings you here? How was your class today?’
She never got close to others beyond a certain distance, but she alone called Heinrich by his affectionate nickname, as if it were something precious.
Even though he knew her warmth was more like affection for a younger sibling than love for a husband, Heinrich still longed for it.
He wanted to become a man worthy of Libenya as quickly as possible, to stand proudly as her husband.
‘My lady, I… I will—’
The moment Heinrich stepped toward her—
Libenya’s body was pushed and fell out the window.
Heinrich rushed to the window in shock. Below it, a large coffin and Libenya’s body, looking far too small beside it, lay there.
“Madam… Madam… Libenya!”
Heinrich screamed her name like a cry as he woke up.
It was that dream again.
Even though ten years had passed since Libenya’s death, Heinrich still couldn’t escape the nightmare.
Knock, knock.
At the sound of someone knocking on his bedroom door, Heinrich turned a sharp gaze.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, he spoke in a low voice.
“Come in.”
The door opened silently, and an old butler entered.
Without even asking if he had a nightmare, the butler simply placed a warm cup of tea on the side table.
Heinrich drank it in one go and let out a breath.
“What time is it?”
“Half past five.”
“Time to get up, then. Any news from last night?”
Heinrich got out of bed immediately. He looked completely fine, as if he hadn’t just been dreaming of a nightmare.
The butler replied while assisting him.
“It seems there is unrest in the border area near Hess territory. Reports say the Hess villagers may be mining coal there.”
“Unacceptable.”
“We have already sent people.”
Meaning it would be handled.
A competent butler.
But Heinrich made a different decision than usual.
“I feel like getting some air.”
He meant he would go himself.
The disturbance was only a few hours away by horse from the Baldwin Ducal Estate.
It was not unusual. Heinrich often rode for hours alone when he had thoughts on his mind.
“I will prepare it.”
Soon, Heinrich left the ducal estate on horseback.
The Baldwin territory was surrounded by a large mountain range. But one part of it was lower, forming the border with Hess territory.
The noise had already been suppressed by the knights. There was no sound of mining tools anymore.
Only dirty miners stood nervously, watching.
Heinrich looked at them and listened to the knight commander’s report.
“They appear to have discovered a mana stone.”
“A mana stone? There was one here?”
“We are also puzzled. It doesn’t seem like they randomly dug here—they specifically targeted this spot. Yet they found it so quickly… Hess is poor and lacks proper equipment.”
“How did they find it?”
“They refuse to answer.”
“…Something is strange.”
Just as Heinrich was thinking—
“A-ah, Lord Baron! Please return to the manor!”
“It’s dangerous! What if the young lady gets hit by a rock? There’s a terrifying man here!”
“Shh! He might hear!”
The miners suddenly became noisy, calling out “Baron” and “young lady.”
Everyone’s attention turned there.
Among the rough miners, a girl stepped forward—completely out of place.
The knight commander whispered behind Heinrich.
“Your Grace, she must be the adopted daughter of Baron Hess. Nadia Hess, I believe.”
She had bright red hair and a small build. Her sharp golden eyes were clear and striking.
She was a rare beauty, but her clothes were too worn to call her a “young lady.”
Her outdated skirt was heavily worn at the knees—proof she spent much time kneeling or had no means for proper clothing.
Yet her posture was unbelievably straight.
Like a queen who had never bowed to anyone.
After speaking briefly with the miners, Nadia turned her gaze toward Heinrich.
Their eyes met—his red, hers gold.
At that moment, her lips parted slightly. Her breath felt moist, almost as if Heinrich could feel it himself. It was strange.
She bit her lower lip, and her eyes became hazy.
Is she holding back tears? Why?
He couldn’t understand why she looked like she was about to cry—or why she was trying to hold it in.
Nadia bowed deeply, proper etiquette for a noble lady.
But to Heinrich, it looked like she was hiding her face.
“I am Nadia of the Hess Baron family, greeting His Grace the Duke of Baldwin.”
Heinrich looked down at her red crown of hair and spoke coldly.
“So the Hess Baron has raised an intelligent foster daughter… I didn’t expect enough courage to mine mana stones right in front of Baldwin territory.”
The miners turned pale with fear.
Nadia lifted her head.
The tearful expression from moments ago was gone. It was hard to believe it had ever existed.
She stepped forward and spoke clearly.
“Your Grace, although this land appears to belong to Baldwin territory, historically it is closer to Hess land. Therefore, we have not committed any disrespect.”
“Explain.”
“This mountain range belongs to the Baldwin Duchy, according to maps. However, 300 years ago, Baldwin and Hess families formed a marriage alliance and gifted this lowest part of the mountains to Hess, hoping for exchange between the two families.”
Her voice was clean and precise. She was not appealing emotionally—she was speaking history.
So Heinrich did not interrupt her.
“Over time, relations between the two families ended, and ownership of this small land became unclear. It was considered worthless and ignored by Hess as well. So while it is assumed to belong to Baldwin, my research shows it is Hess territory. Therefore, Hess has not invaded Baldwin land.”
Now it was clear who had ordered this excavation.
Even Heinrich, trained in strict ducal education, had never heard of this.
If her claim was true, then Baldwin was obstructing an innocent noble house.
If it’s true.
He tapped his forehead lightly.
“So you’re an adopted daughter… yet you know Hess territory history very well. Information no one else seems to know.”
It was a way of saying he could not trust her immediately.
But Baron Hess happily interrupted.
“My daughter loves reading books! She is very smart!”
So naive he couldn’t even sense suspicion.
Nadia gently scolded him.
“…Father! Please, not now!”
The Baron blinked innocently.
Despite his foolishness, Nadia smiled as if he were adorable.
They looked like a close family—far too close for an adopted daughter.
Heinrich looked between them silently.
Arguing further would be a waste of time.
He waved his hand, calling his horse.
“Baron Hess, send detailed maps of your claimed boundary lines and supporting documents to the ducal estate. I will review them and determine whether your claim is valid.”
Without waiting for a reply, he mounted his horse.
“Ah… my heart… Nadia, you should’ve left this to your father… What if you were taken away… my legs are shaking…”
“It’s okay, Father. The Duke of Baldwin doesn’t harm people without reason.”
“But the rumors say—”
“It’s fine. Really. He’s not that kind of person.”
Nadia looked at Heinrich with an inexplicable sense of trust.
As Heinrich rode away, Nadia watched him disappear with lingering eyes.
Then she whispered softly, so no one could hear:
“You grew up so well… Hiini.”
