Death Can't Sleep
***
***
In just two strokes, the Welch Knight was cornered.
When she hit the joint of his leather armor, he bent over with a groan.
Nanael Welch shouted.
“Sir Jeffrey!”
She didn’t give him a chance to breathe. She jabbed the butt of her sword into his hand, causing the knight to loosen his grip.
“Aww!”
The clatter of his sword hitting the floor was masked by the screams of women.
Amarion didn’t pause, slashing her sword wildly. The knight quickly lost his balance, falling onto his butt with a confused expression on his face.
She pointed her sword at his neck and asked.
“Are you admitting defeat?”
“…Yes.”
“What is your name?”
She asked the name of the loser, as was customary for knights.
“I’m Jeffrey of Sutherland. I serve Duke Welch.”
“I am Amarion of Amari*.”
[*E/N: Amari is the estate on which Amarion grew up. Siland is the kingdom where her estate is located.]
She reached out her hand to help him up. He looked around in dismay, yet still accepted her hand.
“I am the Grand Duchess of Morte. If you want revenge, come there.”
She put the sword back into its sheath and looked around.
The garden was quiet.
No one could hide their surprise.
She turned to look at Nanael Welch. Her beautiful face was contorted in humiliation and shock.
Amarion thought it would feel good to humiliate the Lady, but she didn’t feel any particular pleasure.
As with dealing with Victor’s nightmares, her swordsmanship skills were only a temporary solution.
In the social world, a lady had to speak with dignity, following etiquette.
Her actions today would likely lead to further insults.
Regardless, she was a knight. She could only speak with her sword.
She glanced coldly at the Duchess’ guests.
The people who wanted her humiliation.
The thought that she ruined their enjoyment brought her bitter happiness.
She threw her sword to the floor and returned to Sir Carlz’s side. He silently knelt down and put her shoes back on.
“Let’s go, Sir Carlz.”
“Yes, madame.”
In the heavy silence, they left the tea party.
***
The Capital could be seen clearly through the carriage window.
Carlz let out a deep sigh.
“I’m glad you didn’t kill him.”
“Why would I want to kill him?”
“Madame’s sword… uh….”
Sir Carlz took another deep breath and met her gaze.
“Will you tell me why you did that?”
“…”
“I know that Madame wouldn’t draw her sword over a petty argument. What the hell happened?”
She tried to avoid his eyes.
The reason she hid all of this from Carlz was purely because he was a knight of the Grand Duke.
The nobles were cunning, so they never insulted her in front of him, the Grand Duke’s chief of staff.
Because there was no person crazy enough to insult a knight’s master and family in front of him.
She just wanted everything to go away.
“I was just angry. Immature.”
Carlz’s blue eyes darkened.
He looked at her for a moment and then exaggeratedly shrugged his shoulders.
“All right. Madame doesn’t want to talk about it, so I won’t ask any more. But just know that my nose will be cut off by the Grand Duke.”
Watching Carlz lament, she grew restless.
He was her escort knight, so he would be questioned over this.
She comforted him, telling him that ‘it was not his fault’, that she would ‘tell Victor about it herself’.
After her discussion with Carlz finished, they arrived in front of the Grand Duke’s mansion.
‘Finally home.’
She got off the carriage with a sense of relief.
***
It wasn’t long before Victor returned.
Fortunately, he didn’t seem to know about the duel yet.
Because he had to meet with high-ranking nobles and the Imperial family, he was stuck in the Imperial Palace for most of the social season.
She sat down at the table with him after a long time. Dinner was sizzling grilled beef.
She carefully spoke as she shredded her beef.
“I had a duel today.”
“What?”
Victor seemed perplexed. He put down the glass of wine he was holding.
“Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“What was Carlz doing that made you have to duel?”
Victor narrowed his eyes.
“Don’t blame Sir Carlz. I said I wanted to do it.”
“Who was your opponent?”
“I…”
She paused for a moment.
“He was a Welch knight. Sir Jeffrey of Sutherland.”
Victor thought for a moment, then frowned.
“Isn’t he Nanael Welch’s escort?”
“Yes. In fact, I had applied to Lady Welch.”
Victor stared at her, expressionless.
‘Are you angry too? Did I do something unworthy of the Grand Duchess?’
‘Or was it because I mentioned the lady?’
She struggled to shake her negative thoughts.
She had no regrets for challenging the insult, but her conduct clearly deviated from the behavior the Grand Duchess was expected to uphold.
It was justifiable for Victor to be angry with her.
‘Even if you blame me… Even if you hate me, I’ll be fine.’
But surprisingly, he didn’t scold her. He just grabbed her hand briefly and then let it go. He smiled very softly.
“I’m glad you weren’t hurt, Marion.”
Then he had an attendant put another chunk of meat on her plate.
“You must be hungry, so eat some more.”
She nodded, puzzled, and put the sliced beef in her mouth.
She felt like she was chewing on leather.
***
Amarion was withering before his eyes.
She had been as tired as someone on their deathbed all week.
She didn’t speak comfortably with anyone and didn’t touch half of her food. When he asked her what was going on, she forced a smile and said that she was okay.
‘But… she dueled today.’
Victor hid his nervousness and sent her to their bedroom early. The moment that Amarion’s back disappeared, he summoned Carlz.
As soon as his knight arrived, he was scolded.
“What the hell were you doing?!”
At his harsh question, Carlz immediately bowed his head.
“I’m sorry, my lord. It’s my fault.”
Victor narrowed his yellow snake-like eyes. It was rare for his chief of staff to admit his wrongdoings so bluntly.
Finally, he sighed and ruffled his hair.
“Even if Marion wanted it, you should have taken her place. What would have happened if she had been hurt?”
Carlz raised his head, looking at Victor as if he was speaking nonsense.
“Your highness, even if all the knights of the Welch family attacked Madame at once, she wouldn’t have suffered a single scratch. She is the second strongest knight on the continent after his highness!”
“Do you think that’s an excuse?”
“According to chivalry, I should’ve fought instead of her… No, that’s not what I wanted to say.”
Carlz’s expression crumpled. He spoke in a serious tone.
“There are strange rumors circulating in women’s circles. There is a lot of talk that, when his highness gets better, he will divorce her highness and marry Lady Welch.”
“Who dares to say that?”
“Probably the people of Welch. Quite a few people believe the rumors and were rude to the Grand Duchess.”
The Grand Duke’s eyes became crazed.
“Why are you only telling me this now?!”
“I only found out today!”
Carltz rubbed his temples painfully.
“Your highness, I am a knight in your service. No one dares to speak of the Grand Duke in front of me.”
“….”
“After I brought Madame with me today, I asked her, and no matter how many times I asked, she didn’t say a single word. I can’t imagine what she heard at those parties.”
He let out a long sigh.
“How could she even have had a duel?”
The Grand Duke’s eyes became as cold as ice.
The Duke of Welch.
They were a powerful family, and he certainly received their help, but they demanded an exorbitant price for it.
As soon as the war ended, rumors about his disease were deliberately circulated in an attempt to end the talk of marriage.
‘Even after breaking the engagement, she still has the guts to dream about marrying me.’
‘They may not know that they have only gained my mercy by being an ally for such a long time…’
Carlz stopped his master, who had begun rhythmically drumming his fingers on the table.
“Don’t think strangely, your highness. Madame has been hiding this on purpose.”
“It’s my right to retaliate for my wife.”
“Madame wouldn’t like it if she knew.”
His sharp golden eyes stared at Carlz.
But Carlz was calm.
Victor averted his eyes in annoyance and looked at the ceiling.
The coolness in his eyes was still there, but an unfamiliar impatience existed alongside it.
“Why was she just listening to them? She did not tell me.”
Carltz answered quietly.
“That’s true.”
The Grand Duke slowly lowered his eyes. His body trembled in rage. Carlz hadn’t seen Victor this angry since they came back from war.
However, he was not shaken.
“Your highness paid a dowry to buy Madame. She is not an idiot. She knows better than anyone that she’s been called as an assistant, not the formal Grand Duchess or hostess. And how would she have complained to his highness? Your highness deserves to endure the Lady’s distrust.”
The chief of staff’s words pierced Victor’s chest like a dagger.
Chapter 17: 16
***
In just two strokes, the Welch Knight was cornered.
When she hit the joint of his leather armor, he bent over with a groan.
Nanael Welch shouted.
“Sir Jeffrey!”
She didn’t give him a chance to breathe. She jabbed the butt of her sword into his hand, causing the knight to loosen his grip.
“Aww!”
The clatter of his sword hitting the floor was masked by the screams of women.
Amarion didn’t pause, slashing her sword wildly. The knight quickly lost his balance, falling onto his butt with a confused expression on his face.
She pointed her sword at his neck and asked.
“Are you admitting defeat?”
“…Yes.”
“What is your name?”
She asked the name of the loser, as was customary for knights.
“I’m Jeffrey of Sutherland. I serve Duke Welch.”
“I am Amarion of Amari*.”
[*E/N: Amari is the estate on which Amarion grew up. Siland is the kingdom where her estate is located.]
She reached out her hand to help him up. He looked around in dismay, yet still accepted her hand.
“I am the Grand Duchess of Morte. If you want revenge, come there.”
The garden was quiet.
No one could hide their surprise.
She turned to look at Nanael Welch. Her beautiful face was contorted in humiliation and shock.
Amarion thought it would feel good to humiliate the Lady, but she didn’t feel any particular pleasure.
As with dealing with Victor’s nightmares, her swordsmanship skills were only a temporary solution.
In the social world, a lady had to speak with dignity, following etiquette.
Her actions today would likely lead to further insults.
Regardless, she was a knight. She could only speak with her sword.
She glanced coldly at the Duchess’ guests.
The people who wanted her humiliation.
The thought that she ruined their enjoyment brought her bitter happiness.
She threw her sword to the floor and returned to Sir Carlz’s side. He silently knelt down and put her shoes back on.
“Let’s go, Sir Carlz.”
“Yes, madame.”
In the heavy silence, they left the tea party.
***
The Capital could be seen clearly through the carriage window.
Carlz let out a deep sigh.
“I’m glad you didn’t kill him.”
“Madame’s sword… uh….”
Sir Carlz took another deep breath and met her gaze.
“Will you tell me why you did that?”
“…”
“I know that Madame wouldn’t draw her sword over a petty argument. What the hell happened?”
She tried to avoid his eyes.
The reason she hid all of this from Carlz was purely because he was a knight of the Grand Duke.
The nobles were cunning, so they never insulted her in front of him, the Grand Duke’s chief of staff.
Because there was no person crazy enough to insult a knight’s master and family in front of him.
She just wanted everything to go away.
“I was just angry. Immature.”
Carlz’s blue eyes darkened.
He looked at her for a moment and then exaggeratedly shrugged his shoulders.
“All right. Madame doesn’t want to talk about it, so I won’t ask any more. But just know that my nose will be cut off by the Grand Duke.”
Watching Carlz lament, she grew restless.
He was her escort knight, so he would be questioned over this.
She comforted him, telling him that ‘it was not his fault’, that she would ‘tell Victor about it herself’.
After her discussion with Carlz finished, they arrived in front of the Grand Duke’s mansion.
‘Finally home.’
***
It wasn’t long before Victor returned.
Fortunately, he didn’t seem to know about the duel yet.
Because he had to meet with high-ranking nobles and the Imperial family, he was stuck in the Imperial Palace for most of the social season.
She sat down at the table with him after a long time. Dinner was sizzling grilled beef.
She carefully spoke as she shredded her beef.
“I had a duel today.”
“What?”
Victor seemed perplexed. He put down the glass of wine he was holding.
“Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“What was Carlz doing that made you have to duel?”
Victor narrowed his eyes.
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She immediately shook her head as she remembered Carlz, who had half-seriously expressed his concerns.“Don’t blame Sir Carlz. I said I wanted to do it.”
“Who was your opponent?”
“I…”
She paused for a moment.
“He was a Welch knight. Sir Jeffrey of Sutherland.”
“Isn’t he Nanael Welch’s escort?”
“Yes. In fact, I had applied to Lady Welch.”
Victor stared at her, expressionless.
‘Are you angry too? Did I do something unworthy of the Grand Duchess?’
‘Or was it because I mentioned the lady?’
She struggled to shake her negative thoughts.
She had no regrets for challenging the insult, but her conduct clearly deviated from the behavior the Grand Duchess was expected to uphold.
It was justifiable for Victor to be angry with her.
‘Even if you blame me… Even if you hate me, I’ll be fine.’
But surprisingly, he didn’t scold her. He just grabbed her hand briefly and then let it go. He smiled very softly.
“I’m glad you weren’t hurt, Marion.”
Then he had an attendant put another chunk of meat on her plate.
“You must be hungry, so eat some more.”
She nodded, puzzled, and put the sliced beef in her mouth.
She felt like she was chewing on leather.
***
Amarion was withering before his eyes.
She had been as tired as someone on their deathbed all week.
She didn’t speak comfortably with anyone and didn’t touch half of her food. When he asked her what was going on, she forced a smile and said that she was okay.
Victor hid his nervousness and sent her to their bedroom early. The moment that Amarion’s back disappeared, he summoned Carlz.
As soon as his knight arrived, he was scolded.
“What the hell were you doing?!”
At his harsh question, Carlz immediately bowed his head.
“I’m sorry, my lord. It’s my fault.”
Victor narrowed his yellow snake-like eyes. It was rare for his chief of staff to admit his wrongdoings so bluntly.
Finally, he sighed and ruffled his hair.
“Even if Marion wanted it, you should have taken her place. What would have happened if she had been hurt?”
Carlz raised his head, looking at Victor as if he was speaking nonsense.
“Your highness, even if all the knights of the Welch family attacked Madame at once, she wouldn’t have suffered a single scratch. She is the second strongest knight on the continent after his highness!”
“Do you think that’s an excuse?”
“According to chivalry, I should’ve fought instead of her… No, that’s not what I wanted to say.”
Carlz’s expression crumpled. He spoke in a serious tone.
“There are strange rumors circulating in women’s circles. There is a lot of talk that, when his highness gets better, he will divorce her highness and marry Lady Welch.”
“Who dares to say that?”
“Probably the people of Welch. Quite a few people believe the rumors and were rude to the Grand Duchess.”
The Grand Duke’s eyes became crazed.
“Why are you only telling me this now?!”
“I only found out today!”
“Your highness, I am a knight in your service. No one dares to speak of the Grand Duke in front of me.”
“….”
“After I brought Madame with me today, I asked her, and no matter how many times I asked, she didn’t say a single word. I can’t imagine what she heard at those parties.”
He let out a long sigh.
“How could she even have had a duel?”
The Grand Duke’s eyes became as cold as ice.
The Duke of Welch.
They were a powerful family, and he certainly received their help, but they demanded an exorbitant price for it.
As soon as the war ended, rumors about his disease were deliberately circulated in an attempt to end the talk of marriage.
‘Even after breaking the engagement, she still has the guts to dream about marrying me.’
‘They may not know that they have only gained my mercy by being an ally for such a long time…’
Carlz stopped his master, who had begun rhythmically drumming his fingers on the table.
“Don’t think strangely, your highness. Madame has been hiding this on purpose.”
“It’s my right to retaliate for my wife.”
“Madame wouldn’t like it if she knew.”
His sharp golden eyes stared at Carlz.
But Carlz was calm.
Victor averted his eyes in annoyance and looked at the ceiling.
The coolness in his eyes was still there, but an unfamiliar impatience existed alongside it.
Carltz answered quietly.
“That’s true.”
The Grand Duke slowly lowered his eyes. His body trembled in rage. Carlz hadn’t seen Victor this angry since they came back from war.
However, he was not shaken.
“Your highness paid a dowry to buy Madame. She is not an idiot. She knows better than anyone that she’s been called as an assistant, not the formal Grand Duchess or hostess. And how would she have complained to his highness? Your highness deserves to endure the Lady’s distrust.”
The chief of staff’s words pierced Victor’s chest like a dagger.
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