1.

Lorendis straightened his uniform and stood up, while Tessler recalled increasingly fading memories.

“You look exactly like the former duke.”

“He was Your Majesty’s brother.”

“I still remember that stubborn head of his. Such a foolish man who wandered battlefields without valuing his life until he went missing.”

Tessler leaned back crookedly and ordered him to leave. A stiff and upright bloodline that might never bow its head, foolishly rushing into danger. That was Helen.

“Have you still not found your father’s body?”

“No. Not yet.”

“How unfortunate, all of you. Stop fixating on that matter. While recovering a fallen warrior’s remains is important, you who are alive matter more.”

So you should also stop wandering battlefields.

Tessler sighed and murmured.

“You seem like someone being hunted. I don’t misunderstand your feelings, but you could afford to let go a little more.”

After Duke Helen went missing, Lorendis inherited the title at nineteen.

Helen in midwinter was known for its harshness. People often went missing, buried under avalanches or heavy snowfall, and it was already notorious for its treacherous conditions.

Still, the disappearance of Duke Helen carried a different weight. He shouldn’t have met such an end.

A man who wandered battlefields from his youth, then went missing at an age when he should have settled into family life, passing his title to his son—that was the former Duke Helen, that foolish man.

“Even though there was no need to do so……”

“If Father were here now, he would only be more of a threat to imperial authority. He was sacrificed in the harsh Helen territory, and that’s why my father is now hailed as a hero.”

From the moment of his birth in the imperial family, they were destined to threaten each other, and it was Duke Helen who chose the north for himself.

When his wife’s family threatened his brother and demanded succession rights, he voluntarily gave up his own right to succession.

In his youth, Tessler had sent that child to the north to keep him away because he was irritating; in old age, he had tried to persuade him it was enough; and now it was too late.

“My sin runs deep.”

“Please don’t worry about it.”

Seeing the same kind of men continuing the same kind of lives before his eyes made him feel terrible.

“How is it that both my brother and my nephew vex me in exactly the same way?”

“What good would it do if I remained in the capital? I would only be a threat to Your Majesty. Even the empress openly regards Helen with suspicion.”

Tessler pressed his temples firmly as if his head was throbbing.

Lorendis scratched the back of his neck and smiled faintly. A few years after Duke Helen went missing, Viscount Milden also disappeared.

“But usually Helen’s hounds recover them…… Why can’t they find them?”

“Your Majesty. I shall take my leave now.”

Lorendis avoided staying there any longer, as if he had no desire to remain in the capital.

“Helen is a harsh place.”

He knew that the reason he lingered on that treacherous battlefield for so long was to find his father and his cherished vassal. Nevertheless, Tessler couldn’t help but disapprove.

The knights of Helen had already finished preparing to leave. Their swift attitude suggested they had never even considered staying in the capital for long.

Lorendis put on his robe and mounted his horse. His gray robe fluttered, revealing the wide laurel pattern. The knights seemed to realize their vacation was over. Each mounted their horses, flaunting their rugged energy.

* * *

“His Grace has arrived at the outer fortress. He should reach the inner fortress soon.”

The inner fortress became busy. Word arrived that Lorendis had reached the outer fortress, and the inner fortress hurried to prepare for his reception.

“He has returned earlier than expected this time as well.”

Catherine sat at her dressing table, fiddling with her long hair, when Nancy approached and patted her shoulder.

“Are you nervous?”

“Do I look a bit pale? I seem the same as usual……”

“You look beautiful. Or, shall I help you with your appearance? I’ve brought cosmetics, so you could apply some for a change of mood.”

Catherine neatly secured her hair, which was braided and tied with ribbons. This made her slender nape stand out noticeably.

Catherine smiled as she absently touched her nape, and Nancy hurried to help with her appearance.

“Could you make my skin look a bit darker?”

“My lady. This much is already quite vibrant. You look very lovely now.”

“Then please do my lips. And make my cheeks look more like a shy maiden’s.”

Despite Catherine’s meaningful request, Nancy skillfully extracted its meaning.

‘After sending His Grace to the battlefield just once, your longing has grown so much after not seeing him for just a few days.’

Nancy took out a brush and delicately fixed her makeup. Her reddish cheeks looked youthful like a young girl’s.

Perhaps due to her delicate frame, she looked so fragile that it seemed almost inappropriate to call her the mistress of the north. Yet a noble dignity emanated from her—perhaps that was possible precisely because she was the mistress of the north.

Nancy put down her makeup tools, saying she was finished. Catherine gathered her dress. While waiting for him at the entrance to the inner fortress, a cloud of dust rose in the distance. Several horses were galloping toward the inner fortress. It was the party that had gone to the capital.

“I hope Lorendis is less angry today.”

“Why would the master be angry when you’re reuniting after so long? He will surely welcome you gladly.”

Though she hadn’t committed any sin, she felt a pang of guilt.

All matters would soon crash down like the aftermath of a storm. Including the matter of Dr. James and his family. Would Lorendis be angry if he heard about it?

Lorendis had already arrived, but his aide was not yet present. Normally, Brady would have been the first to greet Lorendis.

“Where is Aide Brady?”

“He’s coming right now.”

Brady was just coming out, adjusting his attire. He spotted Catherine, who had arrived first, and bowed his head.

“You’re a bit late.”

“Some matters got complicated in the office. Ah yes, His Grace sent word that he would arrive soon. Dr. Dennis has just found his disciple and joined His Grace, I hear.”

Now everyone is returning. Sweat gathered in her palms. She seemed a bit nervous. Catherine deliberately erased any signs of tension.

“So the three of them are coming together?”

“Yes. News just arrived, so they should be here soon.”

Catherine’s prediction was correct. After waiting a little longer, Lorendis could be seen riding his horse in the distance. Behind him, other companions wearing robes were visible.

Lorendis still wore his impassive face. Behind him were two small figures in robes, presumably Dr. Dennis and his disciple. They too were precariously clinging to black horses as they galloped.

Catherine first examined Lorendis’s expression. He seems troubled today as well.

“Lorendis looks gloomy today too.”

“His Grace was born with a fierce expression. That’s not anger; that’s just how His Grace naturally looks.”

Brady added a few words: ‘That stiff, stubborn man was born with an unpleasant face.’

“Then please wait here, my lady. Dust is rising, and it would dirty your beautifully adorned dress.”

As the whitish dust settled, the party arrived one after another. The war horses snorted, emitting misty breath. Lorendis dismounted.

The garden of the inner fortress was spacious, artfully arranged with water and trees like a sculpture. Lorendis crossing through it looked like a work of art.

A marble statue stood in the middle of the path that cut through the center, with a massive plaza constructed in the center. The knights of Helen filled the plaza.

“Your Grace, you have arrived. I knew you would return early, but I didn’t expect your return to be this quick.”

As Lorendis dismounted, Brady took the reins.

“Nothing unusual happened?”

“Helen was always quiet. Dennis has worked hard too. Is that person behind you the disciple the doctor mentioned?”

Dr. Dennis dismounted from his horse as if in a daze. A scruffy-looking man slid down from his horse as well.

“Embarrassingly, he is my disciple.”

Dr. Dennis awkwardly avoided a direct answer, saying, “He may look scruffy, but he’s a doctor.” His disciple did the same. He muttered, “You, you ignorant Helen brutes!” while rubbing his bent back.

Though he looked unkempt, a faint scent of herbs emanated from him. His face was full of discontent, as if he had been forcibly brought from the Hanra Clinic.

“He was a disciple staying in the outer fortress, and I found him with difficulty and brought him. His origin is unclear, but his skills are well-recognized.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

Brady handed the horse to a groom and followed behind Lorendis.

“Where would you like to go, Your Grace?”

“I’ll just change clothes and come back out. Take that disciple to the reception room.”

“He hasn’t received proper etiquette training yet. His temperament is somewhat difficult, so to show him to the lady right away……”

Just then, Catherine looked down at Dr. James and greeted him.

“It’s been a while, James.”

Dr. James’s face crumpled and muttered. The knights of Helen were all ignorant and only knew force, he said, pounding his knees and legs as if his joints ached.

“Where’s Nicole? Why did you come alone?”

“These brutes barged in and practically kidnapped me…… But, customer, I’m face-down on the ground here, and you’re just standing there watching? The cost of the medicine I prescribed to save your life when I was brought from Hanra Clinic…!”