Chapter 17: 17

Chapter 17

Ten days later, in front of the main building of Duke Walten’s residence, preparations were in full swing as they were about to leave for the Carmine Mountains.

“Why is he here?”

Alexis asked angrily, not trying to get into the carriage. The old butler Alsdorf did not know who he was referring to, so he turned his head and followed his gaze.

There, a man with bright yellow-green hair and a white robe was busy helping with the luggage. The sight of him smiling as if there was something he liked was very disturbing to Alexis.

“Ah, Priest Joseph. Madame asked him to accompany her.”

“Kathleen? Why?”

“Perhaps because of his divine power.”

“Did the doctor suddenly die last night?”

“No. Dr. Cabel will also accompany you on this journey, but having a priest who can use divine power will be of great help.”

Alexis was taken aback because the old butler didn’t seem to think much of it either. He thought about getting rid of the useless personnel, but he changed his mind.

‘It might be better to take him. Who knows what he’ll stir up in the Duke’s mansion while I’m away.’

If the Imperial Family and the Temple of Delafos were indeed colluding, it would be better to keep him nearby and monitor him.

“Have a safe trip, my Lord.” Alsdorf said, seeing him off.

Alexis got into the carriage.

“You’re here, Duke.”

Kathleen, who was already in the carriage, greeted cautiously. Alexis nodded his head and sat down. Soon the carriage departed, and a long, tedious time passed with only the sound of horseshoes.

‘She doesn’t have any luggage.’

A lady who visits her parents’ house after a long time usually wears glamorous clothes, but Kathleen was dressed quite simply. Although the exact destination was to go to the nearby Carmine Mountains, not the Winston estate, she could stop by as many times as she wanted during the trip, so it was still the same thing.

‘She said she had never been back to her house in the six years she worked as a maid.’

Prior to their marriage, he had called the chief maid and looked through her work records, but she had never been on vacation to go back to her hometown. Although she did not appear to be very close to her biological father, it was surprising that she had no contact with anyone from where she was born and had lived.

‘You must be good at ending things.’

She was probably the type of character the Empress liked. She was the best person to act as her hands and feet as she was someone who could focus on one goal.

“I read the material you sent me yesterday,”

Breaking the long silence, Kathleen opened her mouth. She pulled out a bundle of papers that Alsdorf delivered to her yesterday from her bag next to her.

“It says that I only need to manage the herbs growing in the middle of the Carmine Mountains that wither immediately if there is no cold air.

“You got it right.”

“Then I will have to take a separate carriage when I go back.”

“Yes.”

“Then why is there only one carriage?”

Alexis folded his arms and looked slowly at his wife. He didn’t know that she would ask him right away as soon as they left.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell you to go in the wagon.”

Wagons that were not for boarding were not insulated. No matter how powerful she was to make ice crystals, Kathleen was human. She had struggled to endure the cold inside and the cold wind outside for a long time.

“Both of us will have to go back home on our own.”

“Are you going anywhere else in the North? Where…….”

“I don’t think there’s any reason for me to tell you that.”

Kathleen was about to say something, but then closed her mouth like she had given up. He quietly put the papers back together, took out scriptures, and opened them. They seemed to be the teachings taught by the fledgling priest.

Alexis turned away and looked out the window again. The boring time began to flow.

The sun had just set when they arrived at the edge of the Carmine Mountains that ran all the way to the North.

Because of its high and rugged terrain, it was not designated as a territory and was owned by the Imperial Family. The cold wind blew all year round and the severe cold sea made farming impossible, and there were not many people, so it was difficult to develop commerce.

“So, this is where the lodgings are?”

“Yes, my Lord.”

Viscount Rylent, who was in charge of this journey, answered quickly.

“By the way, this is the only inn.”

Alexis looked around suspiciously at the old inn, which looked like it was about to collapse. He didn’t like it. However, given the condition of the village, it was unlikely that a luxurious inn could be found, so he decided to spend the night there.

“We’ll continue as per the schedule tomorrow.”

Relieved at Alexis’ words, the coachman and attendants began to unload the luggage. He opened the door to the inn and entered, where he was greeted by the owner, who was waiting for him.

“Duke, it is an honor to see you. The room you will be staying in is on the 3rd floor, and the meals are provided in the room as you have ordered, so please tell me if there’s anything else you need.”

“Okay.”

As he received the key, he saw Kathleen who had just stepped inside.

“If the Duchess needs anything, you can ask my wife for whatever she needs.”

The owner added as he saw Kathleen. Alexis asked.

“Is there only one room?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked if there was only one room on the third floor.”

“Oh, yes. There is only one room for the two of you. The rest are too cramped and unorganized. There is no bathroom either.”

“What about the other floors?”

“On the second floor, there is only one room for three people. Although there is a single room on the first floor, it is the room of the staff working in our inn, and the bathroom is outside, so it will be inconvenient for people from the capital to use it. But will anyone else come?”

The owner didn’t seem to expect that the Duke and his wife would use separate rooms.

Alexis answered briefly.

“None.”

If they share the same room, there was a possibility of him getting caught, he had no choice but to stay sharp.

Alexis held out a hand to Kathleen as she approached. She looked a little startled, and then she took his hand. When they reached the third floor and no one saw, he let go of her hand and walked ahead.

Fortunately, the room was clean and spacious in its own way, but the problem was there was only one bed. But it was a queen size, so it was big enough for two people to lay apart.

“Rest. We have to get up early tomorrow morning.”

Alexis took off his robe and hung it up, and was about to go to Viscount Rylent’s room.

“Um.”

But Kathleen caught him.

“If you feel uncomfortable, I will leave.”

“…..”

“Or I can sleep on a chair. It’s okay because I’m used to sleeping uncomfortably.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Alexis said angrily.

“I don’t want to hear that the Duchess is being treated coldly.”

“But if I stay here, the Duke will leave.”

She wasn’t wrong. Because he couldn’t call Viscount Rylent from where she could hear them talk about his medicine.

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“I have a place to go, and you don’t.”

Kathleen’s arm fell helplessly. Her pale azure eyes narrowed a little, then she turned her back.

“Okay. I understand. I will rest.”

She then disappeared into the bathroom. The sound of the water was so loud, it was as if she was going to take a bath.

Alexis went downstairs without much thought.

And when he returned around midnight after a long time, Kathleen was already asleep.

When he rolled up the cloth over the table, he saw that the meal was almost untouched. She only emptied the bowl of creamy soup, but didn’t touch most of the dishes made with smoked salmon and herring.

It was strange, but there were many people who lost their appetite when the environment they were used to suddenly changed. Alexis put the cloth back and changed his clothes.

His wife, who was lying on the bed and sleeping, was curled up. It wasn’t the first time they had shared a bed, and he didn’t know why he was so nervous.

Alexis fell asleep staying conscious of his back.

***

Early in the morning the carriage departed again.

Except for the Duke and Duchess of Walten and Viscount Rylant, all the other personnel were waiting at the inn, and a porter and a herbalist sent by the Count of Hopewell joined them about halfway through the mountain range.

“Some precious herbs wither as soon as human warmth touches them. So, we usually collect them with a frozen handkerchief around my hands, but recently, as the weather got colder, there have been more cases of frostbite while collecting.”

The herbalist explained. Kathleen answered, taking off the silk gloves she was wearing.

“Tell me what kind of herb it is.”

“This way.”

At the Duchess’ calm demeanor, the herbalist was in awe as he guided her. Viscount Rylent watched this and said.

“Did anything go wrong last night?”

Alexis remembered Kathleen who was curled up. When he woke up in the morning, she had already put her clothes on and went downstairs.

“Nothing. It’s not the time yet.”

“Don’t let your guard down. Your Grace’s condition isn’t always stable.”

“That’s why I had you follow all the way here.”

Alexis, who had his arms crossed, lowered his voice and asked.

“Are you sure that that flower blooms around here?”

“Yes. Last night, before I gave the report, I discreetly asked the innkeeper, it’s just as we heard. But no one has actually tried using this flower as medicine.”

“For the time being, we’ll take it then find out.”

“Then you slip out as you watch your wife gather herbs. I will monitor the people on Hopewell’s side to make sure they don’t follow you.”

“Okay.”

Alexis answered bluntly, watching her shiny silver hair flutter in the blizzard.

Her cheeks were frozen red because of the fierce wind.

‘Are you going to catch a cold?’

The leopard skins he had been hunting for a long time must have been piled up like stacks, but she wasn’t wearing any on her body, perhaps they were just piled up in a warehouse. She didn’t seem to be eating, so he thought she might have been sick and that was why she lied down like that. He thought that was the case.

‘Why do I care about this?’

It bothered him that he was concerned about the woman who might be the Empress’ spy. Alexis walked over to the horse he had struggled to tie to the tree next to him. Then, suddenly, a loud and excited voice rang out.

“Wow! Madame, you’re amazing.”

“This is the first time I have ever seen a successful harvest from the roots!”

“If you take this as it is, you can receive ten gold coins.”

“Ah, is money even the issue now? This can probably cure all the ailments of the people who flock to the temporary treatment center!”

Turning to her direction, he could only see the tip of Kathleen’s head as she was surrounded by a bunch of herbalists. Herb harvesting seemed to be going smoothly.

“Let’s go over there, Madame. Sensitive herbs are gathered there, but they wilt when a human’s hand touches them. I even buried my hands in the snow for a long time and then touched them but they still died.”

“That’s right! So even after we found them, we couldn’t pick them.”

“Madame, please.”

It was ugly seeing them rushing around and flocking like bodyguards following a princess.

As he released the reins he was trying to untie from a tree as he watched Kathleen, Viscount Rylent asked him.

“Your Grace, what’s wrong with you?”

Alexis couldn’t figure out why he was getting distracted by useless things.

“If any of the herbalists come into close contact with Kathleen, watch them and report it separately.”

“I’m sorry?”

“There’s a possibility that there’s an insider.”

“Ah, yes……”

Viscount Rylent looked to the side as he answered begrudgingly.

“The Ice Flower Colony is over there, Your Grace.”

Kathleen was walking past him to look at the herbs. Alexis dragged himself without answering.

“Duke?”

Kathleen saw him and raised herself up.

“I have work, so I’ll go down first. Viscount Rylent will escort you.”

“Ah yes. Alright.”

The silk gloves she had been wearing had long since been removed, the hem of her skirt was full of dirt, and the basket she held in one arm was full of herbs. She was very motivated even though no one would say anything if she only pretended to do it.

“Why are you so eager?”

So Alexis felt more uncomfortable.

“What?”

He couldn’t figure out if it was because of the reward he promised to give her or because of the Empress’ orders, but she just continuously massaged her numb hands and did not decline doing such a difficult thing.

If she was expecting that this was going to make him look at her, like last time, he was going to tell her to stop, but something tingled in his chest and passed.

“What does that mean……”

Kathleen asked the question as if she was puzzled as she looked at Alexis who had no answer. Then suddenly, a blizzard formed.

“Ah!”

In the strong gusts of wind, she accidentally let go of the basket and reached out her hand anxiously to grab it.

And then.

Rumbling!

A terrifying sound was heard. Looking up above her head, she saw a valley that had accumulated snow collapsing.

“I-It’s an avalanche! Your Grace, come this way!”

With Viscount Rylant’s cry from the other side, the herbalists started running away in panic.

“Duke! Get up on the horse!”

However, Alexis let go of the reins, ran reflexively and grabbed Kathleen’s arm. As soon as he embraced the small body that was dragged helplessly, the snow fell over them in an instant.

The cold chill hit his bones and he couldn’t breathe. Alexis lost consciousness.

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