Chapter 34

Michael gave Roberta another order.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Then what should we do about Viscountess Lintz?”

At Roberta’s words, Michael’s gaze shifted to Dostern’s corpse. Among the few pieces of information extracted from the uncooperative man was a plan: “Use Viscountess Lintz to lure the Duke of Rosenheim.”

The Duke of Rosenheim had recovered with the help of Viscountess Lintz and had been ordered to investigate the incident.

In truth, the initial command given to them had been both an investigation order and a gesture of support for Erhen, who had barely survived an ambush while on a secret mission and sought refuge with his former wife.

Together, they had successfully captured members of the organization during the banquet at the Earl of Friesland’s estate. The Earl and his son, who had assisted in the operation, were recognized for their cooperation and promoted by two ranks.

After a moment of thought, Michael murmured to himself.

“The time of Tyche’s Moon is near.”

His gaze swept over the bloody inscription on the wall once more.

‘For the freedom of the people.’ Freedom. Liberalism.

It was the ideology spreading rapidly across the continent, starting with the Republic of Singred, and the reason for the upheaval in many nations. While Rohadin had remained relatively calm thanks to the efforts of Michael and his followers, the wave was bound to reach Rohadin someday.

Perhaps Viscountess Lintz—just as she had once helped him as the former Marchioness of Rosenheim—might hold a clue, given her knowledge of this world. If it could prevent further bloodshed in Rohadin, Michael would use any means necessary.

The king issued another command.

“Tell Viscountess Lintz to come to the capital before the moon rises. There’s a mission for her to carry out.”

It felt as though he was expanding the stage for their meeting to include the capital.

And Michael’s guess was spot on.

***

Charlotte and Erhen walked along the long, gray pier.

It was a sunny holiday, and with no ships docked, the usually bustling area was unusually quiet. The season was transitioning from winter. The gently lapping waves sounded refreshing, and the horizon, where the sea met the sky, gleamed white and brilliant.

As they strolled along the cobblestone path, enjoying the gentle sea breeze, Charlotte broke the silence.

“By the way, how is Danielle doing?”

Danielle was Erhen’s niece, the Lady of Rosenheim.

Erhen, surprised by Charlotte’s sudden inquiry about his niece, thought back to the last time he had seen Danielle before leaving on his mission. He smiled faintly at the memory. In her pajamas, Danielle had glared at him with wide eyes and kicked his shin as he returned late one evening from the royal research institute.

Neither his kind older brother nor his delicate sister-in-law had ever been so spirited. It was curious. Perhaps it was because…

Erhen glanced at Charlotte and said,

“She’s doing well. Thanks to someone’s influence, she’s become quite the troublemaker.”

“Who?”

“Who else?”

Charlotte rolled her eyes at Erhen’s teasing tone.

Given the significant impact Charlotte had during her two years at Rosenheim, it wasn’t surprising that Erhen thought so. However, Charlotte seemed to have had a different intention behind her question. Clearing her throat, she adjusted her expression.

“Anyway. It feels like just yesterday that I was playing with Danielle in the ducal garden. But it’s been over a year since I last saw her after moving to Heringen following the divorce.”

Looking out at the distant horizon, Charlotte continued with a wistful expression. Her voice carried a touch of melancholy.

“I miss her. And since there’s no way to exchange letters, I have no idea how she’s doing.”

At Charlotte’s sudden shift to a melancholy tone, Erhen, walking beside her, frowned in confusion.

“You exchange letters with Danielle, don’t you?”

Got you! 

Charlotte smirked, one corner of her mouth curling upward as she glanced slyly at Erhen.

“Knew it.”

Ah. It was a trap.

Realizing he’d been caught, Erhen closed his eyes in resignation. It was a moment that made his title as the “King’s Shield” feel a little embarrassing. Above him, Charlotte’s playful voice rang out.

“So that’s how you knew where my house in Heringen was.”

“…”

“I can’t believe the aloof Duke would stoop to reading his niece’s letters.”

Erhen immediately denied it.

“I didn’t read them. It was for Danielle’s safety.”

“So you did read them.”

“I didn’t.”

As Erhen claimed, he hadn’t intentionally read the letters exchanged between Danielle and Charlotte.

In truth, he had no reason to personally sift through the countless letters addressed to the Duke’s estate. The only correspondence he ever dealt with were documents copied from the royal library or business papers related to the ducal family’s enterprises. Invitations to unnecessary banquets or parties were discarded without a second thought, often by his steward, Liam, before they even reached him. Other letters were handled by the household staff under the guise of security checks.

Thus, it was purely by chance that Charlotte’s letters to Danielle ended up in Erhen’s office. And upon seeing traces of Charlotte, he had instinctively opened one. Her address had been etched into his memory ever since.

But Charlotte, of course, was unaware of this.

“You’re adorable, my Duke.”

Charlotte clasped Erhen’s hand with both of hers, her smile as radiant as the sun.

Seeing this, Erhen decided to stop denying it. Instead, he gazed at her as she walked backward, holding his hand. Then, in a slightly lower voice, he called her name.

“Charlotte.”

His tone, more serious than before, made Charlotte look up at him. Her backward steps began to slow as she noticed his brief silence, as if he were gathering his thoughts.

The sound of waves, which she hadn’t noticed earlier while teasing him, grew louder. Finally, he spoke.

“This morning, I received a royal decree. I’m to return to the capital.”

Ah. 

Charlotte stopped in her tracks. Her startled expression betrayed her unfiltered emotions.

Erhen’s return to the capital. She had suspected that the existing royal decree would be rescinded eventually, ever since she had proposed their contract relationship.

It had already been a season since she had found her bloodied ex-husband at her doorstep.

During that time, under her watchful care, Erhen had recovered significantly. With the Arbiter’s insight, it had become clear that Kopenbach was the one targeting Erhen’s life. The banquet at the Earl of Friesland’s estate had led to the capture of the organization’s tail. She had thought everything would be resolved once Erhen’s safety was ensured after their separation in a month.

So she hadn’t expected a royal summons for Erhen less than a week after they started dating.

Really, if she were to think positively, Erhen’s return to the capital could serve as an excuse for a long-distance breakup, allowing her to fulfill the Arbiter’s timeline without issue.

“Ah… I…”

Her lips parted, but no coherent sentence formed.

The feeling of an unprepared farewell was unwelcome. She didn’t want to let Erhen go. Yet no words came to mind that she could say aloud.

Seeing her dazed expression, Erhen tightened his grip on her hand and pulled her closer to his chest. Charlotte’s confusion deepened.

Erhen spoke.

“And you’re to come to the capital with me.”

“Me?”

Charlotte’s reflexive response came out in a high-pitched voice, startled by the unexpected news.

What? Me? Why me?

Like Erhen, her cooperation with Michael had ended the day she was granted the title of Viscountess and moved to Heringen. She had no further information from the original story to offer Michael, who had successfully taken the throne after the rebellion. The events after the conclusion were entirely the protagonist’s responsibility.

Still bewildered, Charlotte looked at Erhen as he spoke again.

“You’ll find out after we meet His Majesty.”

The previous command from Michael—to investigate the organization alongside Viscountess Lintz—had been rescinded.

According to Philip, who had brought the new royal decree early that morning, Dostern was dead. While officially ruled a suicide, the circumstances suggested foul play.

Given the situation, Erhen couldn’t deduce why Michael had summoned Charlotte to the capital as well. But just as the previous order had bound him to her side, he assumed this was a continuation of that arrangement.

Because he still wanted to stay by Charlotte’s side.

“Charlotte.”

Meeting her still-confused gaze, Erhen spoke plainly.

“Let’s go together. To Hamern.”

Because he still wanted to remain by her side.