Count Jellisto finally understood the meaning behind the apology.

It wasn’t an apology for proposing when Elena wanted to be with her father. It was an apology for being unable to accommodate her desire despite understanding it.

‘He only looks forward and charges ahead.’

Like a wild horse, or perhaps a racehorse.

Though it seemed hasty, he believed Elena would handle it well.

“Grand Duke Rudfelix.”

“Yes.”

“As long as Elena is happy, that’s all that matters.”

If his daughter was happy, he could endure any amount of longing.

Soon after, Rudfelix rose from his seat and bowed respectfully to Count Jellisto.

“I pledge everything I have to ensure Elena’s happiness.”

“Then I have nothing more to wish for.”

Count Jellisto smiled as he roughly wiped away his tears. He didn’t understand why tears came at a time when he should be smiling. Perhaps it was because he was getting older.

Even using a handkerchief, the tears wouldn’t stop easily. So Count Jellisto said playfully,

“Please be understanding even when Elena causes trouble.”

“……I will.”

“Hmm? Why do you look like that?”

Rudfelix shifted his eyes away from the Count’s question.

For the Count, if Elena caused trouble, he would probably just say “Oh my, my daughter!” and handle it.

But for himself……

‘How would he react if I told him I encouraged her?’

When Elena had suggested a way to stop Viscount Tozille, he had readily approved it, but he couldn’t bring himself to say this.

Rudfelix had no choice but to hide his dry lips behind his cup. His Adam’s apple rose and fell as he drank the completely cooled tea like water.

Putting down the empty cup, he said with moistened lips:

“I will make her happy.”

Isn’t doing whatever she wants also happiness!

And so Rudfelix awkwardly changed the subject.

***

“We must be careful from here on.”

The knight in charge of guiding the way to the Grand Duchy pulled the reins. As a member of the imperial Silver Knight Order, he turned to look at Viscount Tozille.

Viscount Tozille gazed at the mountain. The mountain path that Grand Duke Raion always took when coming to the capital was still bumpy and uneven, as Elena hadn’t yet fixed it.

“The mountain path will slow us down, but can we cross it today?”

In response to Tozille’s question, the commander of the Silver Knight Order rode his horse alongside him.

“There are demonic beasts in this mountain.”

“I’ve heard about the bearwolves. With you here, Commander, what difference will a couple of bearwolves make?”

By order of the Crown Prince, the entire Silver Knight Order was escorting Viscount Tozille. This demonstrated the Crown Prince’s power extending from the imperial palace. The Silver Knight Order, personally selected by Suharto, wasn’t as established as Rudfelix’s Imperial Guard Knights, but it was quickly taking shape.

The Silver Knight Commander nodded slightly. Then he ordered the knight at the front to proceed.

“Commander, something seems strange.”

A knight surveyed the mountain. Though they had traveled this mountain path many times before, the trees were unusually dense, making the interior dark. They had hurried to cross the mountain during daylight, but the glimpses of the mountain path appeared dim.

“The mountain is very dark.”

“The trees are blocking all the sunlight. But that’s no reason not to proceed.”

“Even so, we can already hear the cries of demonic beasts.”

“We’ll need to cross the mountain quickly.”

The Silver Knight Commander chose to push through rapidly rather than retreat. But the knight looked at the mountain with anxious eyes. Bearwolves were demonic beasts with strong wolf characteristics that typically hid deep in the mountains. It was ominous to hear bearwolf sounds from the entrance.

“Wouldn’t it be better to send someone ahead to check the situation inside?”

When the knight suggested the safest approach, both the Silver Knight Commander and Viscount Tozille’s faces hardened.

“We don’t have time for that.”

Emphasizing that moving quickly was the only option, the Silver Knight Commander took the lead position and urged his horse forward.

“Just follow my back.”

At the commander’s instruction, all knights except the guide placed their hands on their chests. They maintained formation around Viscount Tozille and charged toward the mountain, following their commander.

“That knight is quite fearful.”

Viscount Tozille glanced at the knight who reluctantly followed at the back. The Silver Knight Commander opened his mouth to respond but froze and looked around.

“Wait.”

The sound of rustling leaves echoed eerily and desolately. Trees with unusually long stems were noticeable in various places. They seemed to mark the mountain’s boundaries.

The Silver Knight Commander shifted the reins to one hand and drew his sword.

“Bearwolves will appear. Everyone prepare for battle.”

At his words, the sound of swords being drawn cut through the mountain air with razor-sharp clarity.

Viscount Tozille also drew his sword and waited for the bearwolves. He was confident that no matter how many gathered, they couldn’t match the imperial knights.

‘His Highness said he saw about 20 bearwolves.’

He had deliberately brought all 70 members of the Silver Knight Order. With this many, they could cut through 20 bearwolves in an instant.

With this mindset, they were gradually entering deeper into the mountain.

Wolves the size of bears began to appear one by one. As someone muttered “Bearwolves,” Viscount Tozille gripped his sword tightly.

“Commander, what are you doing! Hurry……”

Viscount Tozille, who had been about to say “clear them out and let’s go,” suddenly couldn’t continue.

The bearwolves, which he had thought would number at most 20, kept appearing endlessly.

Truly…… endlessly.

***

The howling of bearwolves seemed to echo from somewhere. At that moment, Elena clutched her stomach and rolled over, laughing hysterically. As her body was about to fall, Rudfelix supported her back with his right hand. Half-lying down, she laughed so hard her eyes nearly closed.

Rudfelix rested his chin on his left hand, which wasn’t supporting Elena, tilting his head to the side.

Using the laughter resonating in the carriage as background music, he quietly gazed at Elena’s face.

The result created by his lover’s small feet working diligently. The more he looked at her……

“Are you having fun?”

She was such a mischief-maker.

Following the plan to delay Viscount Tozille by greatly increasing the number of bearwolves, Elena had moved quickly.

First, she went to Fatie and returned with two types of practice papers in large quantities.

One set was meant to increase the number of bearwolves.

The other was to prevent bearwolves from coming down the mountain.

Before Viscount Tozille arrived, Elena attached the practice papers to trees around the mountain. With each one, stems sprouted and wrapped tightly around the area. Rudfelix and Quiet joined in, and together they completed the stem barrier. After that, entering the mountain became much easier.

[Please help me.]

Elena handed the practice papers to Rudfelix. It was a frightening request—to attach them directly to the bearwolves—but she asked with confidence. Because it was Rudfelix.

[Even if Viscount Tozille has strong determination, we’ll create an army that he absolutely cannot pass through.]

Elena turned to leave, saying she would wait outside, but not before making this request. Rudfelix spent an entire day attaching all the papers he was holding.

“You said you would pave the road, but instead you increased the number of bearwolves.”

Rudfelix flicked Elena’s nostril. She had made a fuss about the rough road from the capital to the Grand Duchy, but she had made it even worse. She had turned the mountain leading to the Grand Duchy into a forbidden zone that absolutely should not be entered, and she seemed so pleased about it.

Elena wiped away tears of laughter and turned her head. When her eyes met Rudfelix’s, she smiled brightly.

“You knew and approved it.”

Rudfelix’s mouth clamped shut at her follow-up comment: “My father would have fainted if it were him.” Unlike Count Jellisto, Rudfelix had given Elena opportunities to actively implement her ideas, so he had nothing to say.

“We’re accomplices.”

Elena’s eyes narrowed and her voice became secretive.

The idea of breeding bearwolves to block Viscount Tozille was certainly not ordinary. Count Jellisto would never have permitted it, fearing that stopping Viscount Tozille might lead to other sacrifices. Elena, raised with the Count’s care, also valued human life, but her occasional eccentricity was the problem.