Chapter 9

Heila could not bring herself to meet Heinrich’s eyes even after finishing her words.

As her guard, there was no need for him to involve himself in such a matter.

Unlike remaining at the estate to protect a noble lady, a subjugation campaign was a harsh task that required enduring discomfort and risking one’s life.

However, if those she had brought participated in the subjugation and earned merit, the people of the territory would feel gratitude toward her.

This would surely help build her reputation and strengthen her position.

“Is that why you looked so tense? Your expression was so serious, I thought something terrible had happened.”

Heinrich said with a relaxed smile, lightly thumping his chest.

“Please don’t worry. If it helps you, my lady, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do. Besides, dealing with bandits is nothing at all. I’ll just consider it earning my keep and finish it quickly before returning.”

His confident words made him seem utterly dependable.

But Heila’s expression as she looked at him remained dark.

Without a trace of a smile, she spoke firmly.

“No. Whatever excuse you must use—refuse it. You must.”

The men her father had sent out of concern for her would all die, one after another.

Heinrich and the knights were meant to be the first sacrifices.

“My lady… why are you saying this? Are you alright?”

Seeing her pale face, Heinrich asked with concern.

The confusion in his expression slowly faded into something darker.

“I’m fine.”

Heinrich, who had once joined the subjugation without the slightest complaint for her sake, had left with that same spirited confidence…

…unlike then, he returned as a corpse.

That day had been Uriel’s birthday banquet.

When she rushed out upon hearing the subjugation force had returned, what greeted her was his severed head inside a box.

She collapsed at the sight and was bedridden for an entire week.

Kersian, despite already knowing the news of their deaths, had her prepare for Uriel’s birthday banquet.

And while she lay unconscious, Uriel came and went freely through the ducal estate without restraint.

The moment she woke, she heard from multiple people that the two had been openly affectionate with each other.

Heila’s lips parted as if to speak, but she could not bring herself to say any of it.

Instead, she turned away, hiding her reddened eyes.

“Your duty is to guard me—not the ducal house. The same goes for the other knights who came with me.”

Though she was the mistress of the ducal house, telling them to ignore its affairs would be enough for others to criticize her.

Yet Heinrich did not show disappointment—only a questioning look.

Her small frame, already delicate, seemed to shrink further as if frightened by something, making her appear fragile.

“To me, you are as precious as Marlin. I don’t want to lose you. So please… promise me.”

Heinrich was a righteous man, with a strong sense of pride.

He was not someone who could turn a blind eye to people dying before him.

She could not feel at ease until she heard his answer.

“I understand.”

“We must put our safety first and be careful not to get entangled in unnecessary matters. And here… do not trust anyone easily.”

“I will do as you say. But my lady, could you not tell me what is going on?”

“I had an ominous dream… and the feeling is too unsettling.”

“I see. Understood. Please call for me if you have any further orders.”

Heinrich might seem slow, but he was not oblivious.

Having watched over her since childhood, he must have sensed something was wrong no matter how much she tried to hide it.

Yet, just as always, he yielded to her without pressing further.

It was the same this time.

Feeling both sorry and grateful toward Heinrich, Heila left as if fleeing.

She believed herself to be a sinner to many, blaming herself for everything that had happened.

That thought had not changed—but not all of it was hers to bear.

There were others who truly deserved punishment.

Determined never to forget that again, she wiped at the corners of her eyes—when someone’s uniform came into view before her.

“Your Highness?”

When she looked up, she saw a boy wearing a white shirt and black trousers, a rough sword hanging at his waist.

Beads of sweat trailed down his mysterious silver hair, dampening his shirt.

His lean yet firm build, along with his delicate, almost feminine features, brought back a once-faded memory with clarity.

Smaller than the other knights, his skin unusually pale despite training just as hard—he was Heinrich’s apprentice.

“Sir Elliot, are you returning from an errand?”

“Yes.”

He hesitated for a moment, then held something out to her.

“I washed this earlier. It’s clean now—I thought you might need it.”

Whether his words were true or not, the handkerchief still held moisture, clearly wrung out not long ago.

Elliot extended it, then seemed to regret it, lowering his gaze as he cautiously watched her reaction.

“But… if it bothers you, you don’t have to use it.”

“Thank you. I’ll wash it and return it to you.”

Before he could pull his hand back, Heila quickly reached out and took the handkerchief from him.

“Yes… then…”

As Heila wiped her tears, Elliot stood awkwardly, as if unsure what to do, then gave a small bow and hurried away as if fleeing.

Watching his retreating figure, a faint smile formed on Heila’s lips.

He was the complete opposite of the bold and easygoing Heinrich—just as timid and shy as before.

He, too, had died alongside Heinrich during the subjugation.

But this time, she would protect him.

Him as well…

***

Kersian stepped down from the carriage and headed toward his office.

Just as he was about to climb the stairs, he stopped and turned, making his way toward the room where Uriel was staying.

Before he could open the door, a maid came out from inside, sniffling.

Startled upon seeing Kersian, she quickly wiped her tears.

“Greetings, Your Grace.”

Ignoring her, Kersian stepped inside.

The room was strangely quiet.

He even checked the bedroom, but she—who would usually be waiting, neatly dressed—was nowhere to be seen.

“My lady left earlier this afternoon.”

The maid, who had followed him in, spoke.

“Without even informing me?”

Kersian asked, puzzled.

“She likely didn’t have the chance.”

“Didn’t have the chance? What happened?”

“My lady did not leave of her own will—she was driven out.”

At those words, Kersian doubted his own ears.

“What do you mean?”

“My lady was resting quietly in her room, but somehow, the mistress found out and sent someone to summon her. My lady could not refuse the summons, so she went… and after a long while, she returned with her face swollen.”

“She left in tears, as if fleeing.”

It was something impossible to believe.

Yet, seeing the maid’s face filled with grievance, it did not seem like a lie.

“I was concerned about the handprint left on my lady’s face, so I asked the other servants… It seems the mistress summoned both the count and my lady and had them beaten.”

At that moment, the butler, having heard of Kersian’s return, arrived.

“Your Grace, you’ve returned.”

With a glance, the butler grasped the situation in the room.

Kersian turned his gaze away from the maid and gave a cold command.

“Explain what happened.”

“It seems the count visited earlier today and encountered the mistress. Somehow, the mistress found out and summoned both Lady Uriel and the count to her room. They did not come out for quite some time.”

The butler recounted everything that had happened earlier in detail.

By the time he finished, Kersian’s face had completely hardened.

The maid who remained saw his expression, lowered her gaze in fear, and trembled.

As soon as the butler finished speaking, Kersian headed off without a word.

The butler, guessing where he was going, let out a quiet sigh, while the maid, once he disappeared from sight, relaxed and secretly curled her lips upward.

***

Heila, having finished preparing for bed, sat on the edge of the bed, gazing at the fireplace.

As she watched the red and gold flames intertwine, a certain person came to mind.

One day, at a banquet, Kersian had abandoned her—his partner—to dance with Uriel.

At the time, she had only recently suffered a miscarriage, and unable to bear her complicated emotions, she had fled the banquet hall and sought out a quiet corner.

There, where no one could see her, she had cried silently—when a low, cold voice spoke.

“What are you doing here, looking so pitiful? If His Majesty in the capital were to see this pathetic sight, he would surely shed quite a few tears. I hear his health is already not good.”

The grand duke, who had held great military power at a young age, was someone everyone feared and avoided.

His temperament was blunt, arrogant, and his words were unpleasant.

“Then you shouldn’t have come to a place like this in the first place. Why go out of your way just to lose face?”

At those words, her face burned.

She felt ashamed, miserable, and resented the man before her.

Yet, weighed down by fear and discomfort, she could not bring herself to argue back, swallowing her grievances instead.

Each time, she wished never to see him again—but they crossed paths several more times afterward.

Looking back, he had always approached her in her most difficult moments and offered a hand.

Seeing her disheveled face, he would hand her a handkerchief to wipe her tears, and even had someone escort her back to her room.

Come to think of it, she had seen him more often when she was crying than when she was smiling.

At the time, it irritated her that he kept appearing during moments she wanted to hide in shame.

But if not for those moments, she might have broken down much sooner.

Every time she was about to collapse, the kindness and warmth she had received from him came to mind, allowing her to endure.

Before long, she would meet him again.

The thought made her feel slightly tense.

Just then, without a knock, the door opened, and Kersian entered.

“What brings you here at this hour?”

She met Kersian’s gaze.

The next moment, a sharp sting struck her cheek.