CHAPTER TWO.

A New Hope

Rumors spread that the Duchess of Cardius had offended the Duke and was confined to the castle.

As soon as Lahart’s aide heard the rumor, he visited the Duke’s study.

“Make your report short.”

Lahart said, his gaze fixed on the documents. His indifferent and brusque attitude seemed normal, but the experienced aide sensed a subtly different atmosphere.

Is he in a good mood or not? It was not easy to gauge the mood of the master he served just by looking at him. The fierce northern blizzards and the even harsher times had chilled his warm blood.

After carefully observing Lahart for a short time, the aide noticed the pen moving on the paper. The tip of the pen swayed cheerfully and lightly.

‘He doesn’t seem to be in a bad mood. It should be safe to bring up the topic of the Duchess.’

“There are rumors spreading within the territory about the Duchess. I thought it would be best to inform you.”

“Go on.”

Although Lahart did not lift his head, the speed at which his pen moved noticeably slowed down. The aide briefly summarized the rumors he heard from various sources.

“Mostly, it is said that the Duchess entered a forbidden area without the Duke’s permission to collect poisonous herbs.”

“There is hardly anything wrong.”

The precious thing that Iren brought was a flower used for medicinal purposes, but it didn’t matter enough to make a difference.

Whether it was a medicinal herb or a poisonous herb, the point was the same since they both caused annoying headaches.

Lahart finished signing the document and passed it on.

“But recently, the rumors have been gaining strange traction. That her gathering poisonous plants is just a pretext, and the real reason the duchess went to the forest was to lure a man…”

“A man?”

“Yes. Secretly meeting with a man to fill the love she did not receive from the duke. And on that day too, to take advantage of the duke’s absence…”

“So.”

Interrupting his aide’s words, Lahart continued speaking without stopping his pen-holding hand.

“Iren, my wife, is having an affair.”

“It seems that the fact the duchess took a hunter as a guide has leaked out.”

“Your thoughts.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m asking you what you think.”

Lahart finally lifted his eyes. The moment he made eye contact with him, cold sweat ran down the aide’s back. It was because the eyes of a murderer who had called upon numerous deaths on the battlefield were looking at him chillingly.

Even though he wasn’t exuding any murderous intent and was just quietly looking, the aide’s jaw trembled uncontrollably.

If he gave him a wrong answer, his head would be cut off at that moment.

The aide squeezed out his voice.

“I think it’s an absurd rumor. Isn’t someone trying to tarnish the duchess’ reputation and bringing down the duke’s honor?”

The answer that came out was not solely due to the survival instinct.

Lahart was an impregnable fortress of a being. The closest confidant to the current emperor, whose only claim to the throne was his lineage.

The ruler of the barren yet vast Sirencia. A swordsman who transcended human limits with his formidable skills.

If one were to point out the only weakness of Lahart, who held power, wealth, and military force in his hands, it would be his wife.

The aide’s answer was a rational one given the circumstances.

Despite hearing the answer, Lahart showed no reaction. Scratch scratch. Only the eerie sound of the pen leaving letters on paper pierced their ears.

Beads of sweat from the aide’s forehead dripped down to his chin.

His back was drenched with cold sweat when Lahart twisted his neatly set mouth.

“Bring me the maid you locked up in prison.”

* * *

Iren fiddled with the petals spread out in the shade. The well-dried petals rustled at her fingertips.

‘It’s a relief that it’s a flower that can be used dry.’

Iren carefully packed the petals into a pouch so they wouldn’t crumble. Since the fragrance had faded with the loss of moisture, there was no longer any reason to spread the petals open.

She couldn’t afford to catch Lahart’s eye and lose the flowers she had worked hard to pick.

She placed the pouch under the table, and covered the table with a cloth,

Having finished her work, Iren headed towards the door leading to the balcony.

The glass door was firmly locked. A bitter smile flickered across Iren’s face for a moment.

Not just the balcony door. But from the entrance to the windows, every door was locked. Iren examined her own arms.

Under the pouring warm sunlight, there were still marks on her wrists that looked like bruises. They were left when Lahart grabbed her.

Her skin was naturally sensitive, and she suffered side effects from long-term consumption of various poisons and antidotes.

‘It seemed like he wanted to tie me down.’

It had been a week since she had been locked in this couple’s bedroom. After the second day, Lahart no longer gripped her wrists tightly or pressed down on them. But when he returned after finishing his work, he would embrace her without fail.

Sometimes under the risen moon at nights, other times, during the afternoons while the sun shone brightly.

Each time, Iren would pass out, and when she woke up, her body was cleanly washed. Then, as if Lahart had been waiting for that, he would leave the bedroom.

‘He seems to hate even looking at me… Why does he keep coming back.’

Iren sat by the window where the sunlight streamed in. Her bedroom was situated high up in the castle that was perched atop a highland. Because of that, when she looked down through the window, she could see the entire landscape of Sirencia at a glance.

Outside, preparations for farming were in full swing. Under the clear sky, the people tilling the land were full of vitality. A trace of envy flashed in Iren’s eyes.

A place to live and return to, having a place to call home, that must be such a comfortable life.

It was a life she had never experienced, except perhaps in her childhood. Although, it might have been the same even then.

The love her father and mother had given her was not for their ‘daughter,’ but for the ‘asset to lift the family’s status.’ She only realized that after Lahart was poisoned by her family’s own poison.

It was too late by then.

But even if she had realized it sooner, nothing would have changed.

She would have fallen in love with Lahart and she would have been by his side at the moment he ingested the poison.

She would have been dragged away by her father and locked up in the mansion’s basement, trampled and crushed in the darkness, all the while praying desperately that Lahart would be safe.

“Did you think you were something special because Father doted on you? Look at how that turned out.”

“Such a detestable b*tch. I tolerated your arrogant antics, and this is how you repay me?”

“Useless thing! Don’t even think about dying comfortably. I will make use of your beloved antidote by testing it on your body.”

The times stained with countless whippings, and with various poisons and antidotes she had to take instead of meals.

Amidst all that, Iren reached out her hand quietly towards the sunlight.

Despite the years that passed, her life hadn’t changed much from those times. The only difference was that she was now trapped in a lofty castle instead of a dark, dank basement.

She never had a place to return to from the start. No place to put down roots and live.

Suddenly, she was afraid. It felt as if the ground beneath her feet would give way into an abyss. Iren clenched her hand, but of course, she couldn’t grasp the sunlight.

The bright light was far, far away. Much like Lahart’s heart.

Knock, knock, knock. Someone knocked on the door, pulling Iren out of her past. She looked for something to wear instead of a shawl and found a coat that Lahart had taken off and thrown aside.

Iren’s touch was cautious as she handled the shoulder of Lahart’s coat.

She was reluctant to touch his belongings… But she was wearing something close to pajamas, a thin dress that was not suitable to go out in.

The only people who would come to this place, and those who would knock on the door, were the butler and the head maid or a few experienced maids under their command.

Lahart was like a fierce northerly wind, he would enter without knocking.

Iren draped Lahart’s coat over her shoulders like a shawl. The generously sized coat hung over her slender frame with plenty to spare, and Lahart’s scent was deeply embedded in it.

I felt as though I was being hugged by him. It was a natural response. The only thing I could do after being locked in was to wait for him, who might never return, or to be with him when he did return.

What the hell am I thinking.

Iren shook her head and quickly approached the door. But she couldn’t open the door. The door was locked from the outside as Lahart had commanded

“Madam, it’s Susan. May I come in?”

She heard Susan’s voice, just as she expected. Before Iren could even answer, the door opened. The maid holding cleaning tools slightly bowed her head.

“I’ve brought lunch. Would you like me to help with the cleaning?”

It was an announcement rather than a question. But Iren just nodded and stepped aside from the door.

“It’s ready. Please have a seat and eat, madam.”

The lunch on the table was pitiful. Bread, lukewarm soup, and a small piece of steak lacking in juice.

Compared to the luxurious meal prepared when Lahart was here last night, it could be considered leftovers.

Iren said with a pale face,

“I’m sorry, Susan, after all the effort you put into preparing it, but I don’t think I can eat it. I don’t feel well. Would you mind clearing it away?”

Her stomach churned. It was not because the food was bad, but because the malice in the food was too obvious.

As soon as Iren finished speaking, the maid who had been smiling formally all along distorted her face.

“You’re really too much. How many times has this happened? All you have to do is stay here comfortably, saying you don’t feel well or that you don’t have an appetite. That’s enough for you, Madam. But that’s not the case for us maids. We have to carry heavy dishes and utensils all the way here.”

“…I’m sorry. I was thoughtless.”

“I hope you realize that our efforts become useless with just one word from you, Madam. Because of your mood. If you had told me beforehand, I wouldn’t have wasted my time and energy.”