Chapter 3 – Part 1

Olivia woke up early in the morning. She couldn’t remember the dream, but it seemed to have been quite unpleasant. Unable to fall back asleep, she decided to head out to the training ground early.

On her way, she passed by the underground prison where John, one of Harry Palmer’s henchmen, was imprisoned.

Her heart raced. Finally, she would be able to lock up those noble scoundrels who had behaved like dogs in a larger prison! Olivia was already excited at the thought.

At the training ground, she found Commander Glenn personally instructing the trainee knights.

“You’re early today, too, Marchioness.”

As time passed, people began to accept that Olivia had genuinely changed.

The trainee knights, who had only recently joined the Charbert household and met Olivia, had no prior biases against her. Coming from faraway places, either from the capital or the border regions, they had never heard any rumors about her. Thus, they saluted her with respect.

“You’re up early too, Commander. It’s chilly in the morning, being early spring. Don’t overdo it,” Olivia remarked.

Glenn looked at Olivia with a complex expression as she greeted him calmly. She was no longer the person who used to avoid eye contact and make everyone uncomfortable.

“Isn’t it difficult to handle both your duties and training?”

“That’s not something you should say to a border master, Glenn,” Olivia replied, picking up a wooden sword with a precise movement.

“I need to be well-prepared. Soon, I’ll be heading to the inner castle.”

“You haven’t been at the estate for long,” Glenn said, his voice deepening. The inner castle at the main stronghold served as the base for border defense, while the Charbert mansion was merely a country residence.

“As you know, staying idle could get me killed. You saw it happen before,” Olivia said.

Glenn lowered his gaze. He had known Harry Palmer since he was a boy and was aware of how wicked he was, just like his father.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” he offered.

“Oh?” Olivia’s surprised exclamation made Glenn feel a bit awkward. The head of the Charbert household had become more expressive with her emotions.

“Well, let me say this – if I ever start acting like a pushover again, can you just give me a good smack on the head…”

Her language had also become quite rough. What kind of words had she picked up in the past six months?

“Just kidding. How about a sparring match with me?” Olivia suggested, wearing a mischievous smile as she readied her sword.

Screeeech.

A dragging sound came from behind. Olivia didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. Glenn’s expression, as if he had seen a crushed cockroach, was enough of a clue. Olivia turned around, stifling a laugh.

“Marchioness Charbert.”

A man, supported and walking feebly, approached. It was Harry Palmer.

“It’s nauseating,” Olivia muttered.

“I feel the same,” Glenn agreed.

Harry, hearing their exchange, scowled.

“Are you talking about me?” he asked.

“Yes, we are,” Olivia responded bluntly.

Harry couldn’t believe it. A woman like Olivia would talk to him like this. Normally, she would have bowed and sought him out first.

Harry pushed away the person supporting him and limped forward. Olivia crossed her arms, daring him to come closer.

“Still not recovered? You should eat more calcium and less fatty foods, Harry. What will you do if your bones are already deteriorating?”

Harry’s face flushed with humiliation. From his perspective, Olivia was acting recklessly and not thinking clearly.

“I’ve summoned you several times, but you didn’t come. So I had to come myself. It seems I’ve been too lenient. Your manners have gotten quite bad,” Harry said.

The trainee knights gasped. Though new to the knight order, they knew who Harry Palmer was. How could a vassal speak so rudely to his master?

While the knights were shocked, Glenn watched with disillusionment. It wasn’t that he forgot that Olivia had changed. It was a weariness born from accumulated disappointments.

“That’s a contradiction. I came back from the brink of death. How could I have gone soft?” Olivia retorted.

Harry’s head throbbed. The recently returned Olivia was unpredictable. He had no idea how she would respond.

“You came at the right time. John, the man you sent to spy on the imperial palace, is currently in sentence negotiations,” Olivia said.

“Sentence negotiations…? I don’t know any John,” Harry quickly denied, having been momentarily shaken. He knew John had been captured by Olivia at the palace. Having been caught, John had already crossed a point of no return.

Harry didn’t care what happened to John in the end, but it was troublesome if John mentioned his name. That’s why Harry had warned John sternly that if he ever mentioned his name, he would face a fate worse than death.

“Mhmm, I expected you to say that. So, I made John a deal. According to previous cases, if a commoner illegally followed a noble or lord, they would be flogged or have their eyes gouged out,” Olivia continued as if discussing everyday matters. Harry’s expression grew darker by the second.

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“Nowadays, they sometimes sentence people to prison depending on the severity of the crime. So, I gave John three options,” Olivia said, holding up three fingers in front of Harry.

“First, he could have his eyes gouged out.” Olivia folded one finger. Harry’s eyes flickered.

“Second, he could be imprisoned for five years according to the Empire’s laws.” Olivia folded another finger. Harry’s eyes wavered even more.

“Third, he could reveal the name of his boss and be imprisoned for one year. During his imprisonment, he would be given time and work to learn a skill, allowing him to reintegrate into society afterward.”

“Did you really go to the imperial palace and talk about prisons and such nonsense?” Harry growled, baring his teeth openly. Glenn’s face hardened with a cold resolve.

“So you bought the facilities Roderick neglected to use as a prison? Are you out of your mind?”

“Now that you mention it, Harry, you’ve never once checked on my well-being since we met again. If you were that kind of person, you wouldn’t have ended up with a broken ankle,” Olivia said, shaking her head.

Harry grew increasingly anxious. Nothing he said seemed to affect Olivia. If words wouldn’t work, then…

“Rumor has it you forgot something,” Harry said, trying to appear relaxed.

“What are you relying on to cause this chaos?” Olivia thought the time had come.

“I’m not interested in knowing why you acted like that towards me all this time,” Olivia continued.

“Really? You’ll regret it. You know why you used to grovel in front of us. Why would you have done that if it was just your loss?”

“Watch your mouth, Mr. Palmer!” Glenn finally shouted, unable to hold back. His eyes reflected a deep-seated grief.

“Are you going to pretend you don’t know forever? Do you really think you can go your whole life without finding out?” Harry sneered, adjusting his stance. Olivia fell silent for a moment.

Surely, she couldn’t ignore this weakness for the rest of her life. Olivia narrowed her eyes.

“Tell me then.”

“Right now?” Harry stammered, losing his earlier composure.

“Why not? What’s stopping you?”

Harry glanced around nervously. Although it was a key to controlling Olivia, he didn’t want the knights to hear it. He straightened his shoulders.

“Marchioness, kindly dismiss them.”

“Alright, Palmer. Act wisely while you can. I don’t need to hear it,” Olivia responded.

“……”

Harry cursed inwardly. Olivia watched him for a moment and then turned to Glenn.

“Sir Miles, could you take the knights and give us some privacy?”

“But!”

“Don’t worry. I’m just concerned he might harm your heads.”

Glenn, about to protest, fell silent. Though he didn’t want to leave, Olivia’s demeanor was completely different from the past. She seemed genuinely ready to deal with Harry.

“Yes, call if you need us.”

Glenn left with the knights, who kept glancing back as they moved as if watching a drama unfold.

A smile crept onto Harry’s lips. Finally, his moment had come.

* * *

“Mr. Palmer, please. I was wrong. I’ll do as you say.”

“Someone who knows they’re wrong wouldn’t act like this. If you really cared about him, you wouldn’t behave this way.”

“Mr. Palmer, I was foolish. I’ll do everything you say. Just please spare him.”

Although Olivia had been trained since childhood, she had her own will. Sometimes she rebelled against Harry, and when she did, he would use that ‘card.’

“I’ll be lenient and forgive you. But you need to sign a few papers. And stay confined to your room until tomorrow morning.”

Olivia was not someone who easily discarded people. Because she wasn’t one to abandon others, she was convenient to use. Harry was sure that aspect hadn’t changed.

“Troy Marsden.”

“……!”

“The Duke you couldn’t erase from your heart.”

Olivia listened quietly. Harry was pleased with the situation.

“If you don’t comply, the Duke will be in great danger. Very much so.”

Olivia didn’t interrupt him. Harry vowed that once this was settled, he would make Olivia suffer even more than he had.

“Don’t you remember anything?”