SWST 58

Chapter 58

From Francesca’s perspective, it was a perfectly natural thing. I understood it too.
“I still don’t know the answer. I don’t know what’s right or wrong. Maybe when the Duke returns, he’ll punish me severely… or perhaps even ask for a divorce.”
“A divorce…? Madam, there’s no need to go that far just to hold a wedding. You could still find another way.”
It wasn’t worth taking such a risk.
If I ever ended up in such a situation, I planned to step forward and honestly explain everything to the Duke myself.
For now, the fastest way was to confront the traitor myself, so there was no choice.

“I agree. No matter how much Dotchef wants you and loves you, formally announcing you as a member of the family to the world is a different matter. But you were the one who told Nikolai about this, right?”
“Yes. That’s correct…”
Apparently, that was somewhat surprising.
“You’re incredible. You persuaded that stubborn kid who takes after his father perfectly. And even Nikolai, who had acted like he’d never want to see me again because you joined the family, came to me in person. He said he recognizes you and Dotchef and that we should hold the wedding. He even asked me to prepare everything.”
Francesca kept expressing her amazement.
I didn’t know how to respond.
“Thank you, Halara. Thanks to you, I was able to reconcile with Nikolai.”

Only then did I understand why Francesca had spent so much money to bring in the madam. She was probably expressing her gratitude in her own way.

“Then that’s a relief. I can’t really say it’s because of me, but yes, this was entirely our problem. With Helbern and now Nikolai accepting this marriage, I no longer have anything to worry about.”
“When the Duke returns, it’ll be a big problem.”
By that time, I planned to quickly apologize and leave this household. Still, I didn’t want Francesca and the Duke’s relationship to be affected because of me.

“Of course. I don’t want to suppress what I want to do or ignore the people I love just to watch my husband’s reactions.”
Francesca’s gaze had become firmer than when I first saw her. Her voice was lively.
“I’ve already caused some trouble anyway.”
“Trouble?”
“If everything goes smoothly, I’ll tell you. I’m telling you, too. Since my husband is taking his time coming back, I have good news for myself.”
She raised her eyebrows and let out a hearty laugh.
“So before he returns, I’ll cause all the trouble I can.”

One of that “trouble” was my wedding.

“Are you sure that’s okay?”
“No. Of course it’s not okay. Now I might be called a ruffian instead of Dotchef.”
Surely the Duke would be furious if he found out, but Francesca seemed to be enjoying it somehow.

“The preparations are finished. Let’s start by taking your measurements!”
At that moment, the madam called me, signaling that everything was ready.
Francesca wrapped her arms around my shoulders and said,
“Don’t worry about any of that. Focus on the wedding. With your body being heavy, how could you handle even more things to worry about?”
“My… body is heavy?” Have I gained weight recently?
I looked at her in surprise, and Francesca, following the house steward, was already leaving the parlor.

“All right, let’s begin!”
Suddenly, I had to endure a whole evening of being pampered and fussed over by the madam. The wedding, which had started as a ruse, had now become an official event.

Meanwhile, in the war-torn region beyond the border.

The negotiations were still ongoing, so the Duke of Bloodymary remained in the borderlands of the Northern Empire, leisurely sipping tea and examining the border lord’s bookshelf.
The war had already ended in victory.
The Duke’s knights were intact, and the Duke himself had led the war to victory without a single scratch.
All that remained was to divide the lands along the border.

However, negotiations with the defeated Northern Empire regarding the treatment of the mines near the border were dragging on.
For a war-seasoned Duke, this was familiar, so he was content to stay in the border lord’s castle, taking his time.
His knights surrounded the castle, and the border lord had no choice but to submit. Or so it seemed.

“The border lord says he’ll only give us a tenth of the land we proposed.”
The Northern Empire’s border lord was still defiant.
“Where is he now?”
“He claims he has the emperor’s permission and refuses to budge. He even brought reinforcements secretly from the imperial army.”
Chris… that rat!
‘So it was all just stalling for reinforcements!’
The Duke cursed under his breath and rolled his eyes. After the border fell and the Northern Empire was defeated, the lord had been under strict surveillance. Yet somehow…

“We should mobilize our forces immediately.”
“Order the entire army to assemble at once!”
The Duke left the border lord’s office with his sword.
Now that the imperial army was involved, victory in this war was essential. If they won, the Northern Empire, having violated international law and brought in the emperor’s army, would have to offer more than just the mines.

“Send word to keep the Second Order ready to deploy at Bloodymary at any time. Make it urgent!”
“Should we also inform the Western Emperor?”
“Not until we assess their strength. Otherwise, it’s no different than relying on the Western imperial army.”
Like the Northern Empire, winning a war by violating international law leaves nothing worthwhile. Everything had to be resolved within Bloodymary’s own power.

“Understood, sir. But may I give you something before that?”
“What is it? Don’t you see this is urgent?”
The subordinate handed over a parchment.
“It’s an urgent message from Prince Nikolai.”
Nikolai’s letter had finally reached here.

“Then why is it like this?”
Although it was an urgent message, most of the parchment was stained dark red, making the first part unreadable.
“The messenger bringing it here was attacked along the way. He barely survived and is currently receiving treatment.”

The incident at the border where Helbern had clashed with an unknown knight had already reached the Duke. The Emperor had sent an investigation team. So the family might have already prepared backup forces.

“As expected of my bloodline.”
The Duke smiled faintly as he opened the parchment. But the smile didn’t last long.

“What nonsense is this…?”
“What does it say?”
“Wait.”
The Duke read aloud the first legible line repeatedly. Then, trembling, he cursed through his parched lips.

“Your Highness?”
Even after reading it again, the content was clear:

“I can’t tolerate this anymore. Please allow Dotchef to be removed from the family registry!
If you give me the authority, I will deal with Dotchef before Father returns.”

He read it over and over, but that was all it said.
His hands shook uncontrollably.

“Damn them! Father is risking his life on the border in the middle of a war, yet here they are fighting among themselves and sending messages like this!?”

A guttural, gravelly growl escaped the Duke’s throat.

He was furious at every single one:

• Nikolai, who had sent the message during wartime.

• Dotchef, who caused this anger.

• Francesca, who didn’t stop the sons from quarreling.

Not one of them pleased him.

“Calm down, Your Highness. You don’t have the full story yet. There must have been circumstances in the family. I’ll send another message.”
“Leave it! I don’t need to see it.”

Dotchef must have gotten into a fight with some unsavory people while drinking.
“For now, blocking the forces heading this way is more important. Once preparations are complete, we march!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”