Chapter 10 – The Master of the Northern Social Circle (Part 8)

Reubellina examined the red stone. Holding it up to the flickering torchlight, it was just a red stone with no transparency. She wanted to see what pattern was on it.

The pattern on the stone was a star-like design, just as she had hoped. This meant that blue stones might have similar patterns.

‘It’s not an exact star shape, but people tend to see what they want to see.’

It wasn’t bad. If she crafted a good story around it, she could make quite a profit. The people of the Freynante Empire loved stars so much that the best woman in society was called Stella.

“It seems like we can get out if we break through here.”

“Oh? Really?”

“But this place might collapse.”

“Then, um, can we look around here a bit more?”

“Look around? This place?”

“I want to find more stones like this.”

Reubellina showed Tartenon the red stone in her hand. It was just a red stone, but the pattern inside was unique.

“A stone with a strange pattern.”

“Right?”

“It looks like a sword mark.”

“What?”

At Tartenon’s words, Reubellina examined the red stone again. No matter how she looked at it, it seemed like a star, but he said it looked like a sword mark.

‘A cross-shaped mark is a sword mark?’

It seemed that, as a knight who always carried a sword, he saw everything as related to swords.

“Oh? Wait!”

A sword mark.

‘Then if I tell women it’s a star pattern and tell men it protects them from swords…’

It was an idea that came to her mind but seemed really good. Reubellina praised herself while patting her head. At her strange behavior, Tartenon moved his hand.

Reubellina, surprised by the sudden touch on her hair, looked up. Tartenon was patting her head just as she had done.

“What, what are you doing?”

“You seemed to be asking for praise.”

Even as he answered her, Tartenon’s hand did not leave her head.

Reubellina couldn’t move because Tartenon kept patting her head. She liked it.

It had been a long time since someone patted her head. Even her father couldn’t easily touch the head of the socialite star she was. It was the first time since her mother had passed away.

“Well, that’s…”

“Right?”

“Yes.”

When she nodded, Tartenon continued to pat her head. Her heart fluttered, and her face turned red, but Reubellina didn’t say anything.

However, it was only for a moment. As time passed, she eventually said it was enough. Only then did Tartenon’s hand leave her head.

‘Somehow, I feel disappointed.’

“Shall we go out now?”

“Oh, yes!”

She couldn’t tell how much time had passed. Reubellina nodded at Tartenon’s question, and his sword flashed like lightning. As the stone wall crumbled, Reubellina endured the dust and strong wind that blew in.

It was dark around them. The fresh scent of grass filled her lungs. Reubellina blinked to see in the darkness that obscured her vision.

Tartenon was busy checking for any potential threats. After thoroughly examining the surroundings, he realized there was no one and wrapped his arms around Reubellina’s shoulders.

“There’s no one here.”

“Do the knights not know about this passage?”

“The noise was quite loud, so they might come to investigate.”

“Then what should we do? Should we go that way?”

“No.”

When Reubellina asked if they should go back to the mine, Tartenon said there was no need. They could send a carrier pigeon to those in the mine. They had to return to Speraum Castle immediately to prevent Viverna from making a move.

“We need to head straight to the castle.”

***

Reubellina and Tartenon ran without rest. They mounted the horses that came at Tartenon’s whistle and retraced their steps. To conceal their identities, Tartenon pulled up the hood of his cloak, and Reubellina leaned against him as much as possible.

Her whole body ached, but she couldn’t utter a word of complaint. Tartenon’s expression was quite serious.

She had witnessed others’ deaths and encountered those who tried to kill her. They were trapped in a mine, and although they found what they wanted, she was exhausted. Reubellina struggled to overcome her mental fatigue.

Tartenon covered the distance they had traveled over several days in just one day. It was an achievement made possible by the map they had.

As Speraum Castle came into view in the distance, the tension eased. Reubellina leaned against Tartenon’s chest and closed her eyes.

“Reubellina!”

She heard Tartenon calling her name, but her eyelids were too heavy. Despite his calls, Reubellina couldn’t open her eyes.

“It’s, it’s His Grace the Grand Duke!”

A soldier managing the outer walls of Speraum shouted. Tartenon, gesturing lightly to the soldier, didn’t stop his horse and shouted.

“Open the outer gate immediately!”

The soldiers managing the gate hurriedly opened it, allowing Tartenon to pass through the narrow opening without slowing down. He headed straight inside. As he passed through the village, he saw the people of Speraum bowing, but he couldn’t pay attention to them. He needed to get the limp Reubellina in his arms to rest as soon as possible.

As Tartenon rode quickly, the sound of bells ringing could be heard in the distance. The bells announced Tartenon’s return. It seemed the soldiers had rung them to quickly convey the news to the inner castle.

When his horse finally reached the main castle after passing through the inner walls, Paddington was already there.

“Your Grace!”

“Call a healer immediately!”

Paddington, who had received news of Tartenon’s disappearance, sighed in relief when he appeared safely. But seeing the unconscious Reubellina in his arms, Paddington’s voice grew louder.

“Lady Reubellina!”

“Quickly, fetch a healer!”

Tartenon, who had jumped off the horse with Reubellina in his arms, ran. He rushed to her bedroom and laid her on the bed. Her forehead was hot. Tartenon placed his hand on her feverish forehead.

“She has a fever.”

It was only natural. They had been trapped in the mine for quite a while. It was only then that he realized how Reubellina had endured without a single complaint while navigating the mine with him. Tartenon clenched his fist tightly.

‘I should have noticed.’

Yes, Reubellina rarely expressed discomfort to avoid burdening others. It had been the same when they first headed north. He had noticed then but was only remembering it now. Tartenon closed his eyes tightly, then opened them.

He wanted to protect her. Knowing she would continue to get hurt in the capital, he had brought up the idea of a contract marriage to bring her to the North. Reubellina had agreed, calling it a reasonable contract, but it wasn’t so for Tartenon.

It was a contract that was entirely beneficial to him. The North gained money through the contract with Reubellina, and Tartenon gained a person. He held in his hands the Reubellina Asillious he had longed for.

‘Am I making things harder for you instead?’

He wanted to treat her preciously. He wanted to cherish her. He wanted to provide a safe place for her. He brought her to the North to give her a place where she could rest, but things turned out this way.

‘Why didn’t I realize that Reubellina, who had nowhere to lean on and couldn’t say she was struggling, was suffering?’

Tartenon bit his lip as he looked at the unconscious Reubellina. His eyes, which he had tightly closed and then opened, were filled only with emotions of regret.

“Your Grace! The healer is here!”

Paddington burst through the door. At Speraum Castle, there was always a healer specifically for the Grand Duchess. Summoned by Tartenon, the healer hurriedly attended to the unconscious Reubellina.

Tartenon quietly watched from the side, but had to move when the Marquis of Istorium arrived urgently.

“Your Grace!”

The Marquis of Istorium, who had received unexpected news, visited the main castle. He couldn’t stay still after hearing that Viverna had departed for Speraum Castle.

However, he also realized that without Tartenon, there was no other way. Tartenon was the only one who could stop Viverna, a member of the Speraum bloodline.

He was startled to hear of Tartenon’s safe return. Having heard the news from Paddington, the Marquis of Istorium rushed to relay the current situation to Tartenon.

“Let’s talk outside.”

Seeing his stern expression, Tartenon was convinced. Viverna had made a move.

“Paddington.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Send a messenger pigeon to the Bego Mine.”

“Understood.”

“Hide the fact that I have returned and only report that barbarians have invaded. And ensure that man is brought back alive.”

“Who do you mean by that person…?”

“Just convey it like that, they’ll understand.”

“Understood.”