Matron was naturally removed as Agnes’ escort. There were many excuses that Laslo could use as he was about to go to war.
“Madam.”
“Long time no see. Bushke.”
The old woman’s face looked more emaciated than usual. Agnes sat down first. It was obvious why she came.
“Is it because of Matron?”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t believe the evidence I showed you.”
Then Bushke shook her head very hard.
“No. I heard the circumstances of the situation from the lord, and I also checked the handwriting.”
“Then why did you come to me?”
“I am going to confess my sins.”
“Sins?”
Bushke bowed her head, fiddling with her old, wrinkled hands, and opened her mouth.
“When I first saw Matron on the street, I thought of my dead grandson and took him in. I thought I had raised him to the best of my ability, but I can’t believe he betrayed his master……. The sins he has committed are so great that I am so ashamed to face you.”
“It’s not your fault. It was something no one expected.”
“I should have known. I raised him like my own blood, but I didn’t even notice that.”
Bushke’s voice gradually trembled. Agnes handed her a handkerchief.
“There is a possibility that he was raised as a spy from the beginning, don’t mind it too much.”
“…… Maybe he is. We found Matron near the territory of Count Barania.”
“Count Barania?”
An unexpected person came out of Bushke’s mouth. At first, she thought he was a spy sent by the king, but the more she dug into it, the more information she didn’t know popped up.
“Do you have any more suspicions?”
Bushke shook her head, wiping the wet corners of her eyes. Her appearance looks pitiful, so she couldn’t question her any longer.
‘Is Matron sent by the Count?’
Count Barania is the king’s closest confidant, so it would not be strange.
‘But how would I know that she had been training him ever since he was a child? That was more than ten years ago.’
The question only deepened and was not easily resolved.
“Madam. We are ready to go to the temple.”
Then the servant came quietly and said,
“Oh, yes. Laslo?”
“He said that he has work to do and that he will leave after finishing it.”
It was the first day of the harvest festival, so they decided to go to the temple together. Agnes changed clothes and went down first.
Max and Beller were waiting in front of the carriage.
“Please take care of me starting today, Princess.”
Beller smiled and greeted him. She shook her head indifferently. Changing one of her escort knights won’t change her daily life. However, Agnes later realized that she had somewhat underestimated Beller.
“Well, princess. Do you know what I said there? Hey! It’s my realm! hey! Isn’t that cool? When I shouted like this, people’s eyes widened and everyone was talking about it. There he drew his sword and……”
She feels like blood is coming out of her ears. She didn’t know he was like this since it was the first time they’ve been together this long. If they had been in the castle, she would ask him to leave her alone, but she couldn’t let Beller leave since they were outside.
“Do you have any other options than Sir Beller?”
His chatter was so serious that Max, who is usually quiet, came up to her and asked,
“…be patient.”
“There are things that can be endured and there are things that can’t be done.”
He shook his head from side to side with a tired face.
“It’s almost like Lisa’s male version.”
“That’s great. You said you’re good at taking care of others. Follow him like Miss Lisa and take care of him.”
“His age is an exception.”
Max said with a smirk. Then, as Beller walked closer, he quickly hid behind Agnes.
Agnes said looking back at him with a confused expression.
“You…… Aren’t you my escort knight?”
“Don’t worry. I will protect you from behind.”
Max spoke calmly without changing the color of his face. The temple area was crowded with people. It was several times more than last year. Looking at it, she could clearly see that the land had developed. The people’s faces were bright, and no one trembled in fear that the demons might suddenly attack.
As she was looking at the territory people with a happy face, one person caught her eye. A man with white hair, dressed in ash-covered clothes, was staggering down the streets. After one blink, the man disappeared.
‘What? Did I see something wrong?’
“Agnes.”
A gentle hand brushed her back. She smiled and looked back.
“What were you watching?”
“Nothing. I was waiting for you to come.”
“Shall we go in?”
He reached out his arm, and she naturally clung onto it. As the duke and his wife stood at the entrance, the priest who was handing out flowers quietly approached and said:
“The high priest said to guide you two if you come.”
“Um? High priest Katerina?”
Agnes’s words rose. In fact, today was not the first time the duke and his wife visited the temple. After Laslo returned from the capital, he visited the high priest several times and asked to meet, but he was rejected every time.
“Sure. Guide us.”
“Yes. Come this way.”
The two followed the priest. Upon entering the room, Katerina was standing there. She handed the couple every single white flower she was holding.
“I wish God’s blessings be with you.”
“Thank you. High priest.”
Laslo said. Katerina looked at Laslo’s face without being rude to him, and then she turned her head away.
“Sit down.”
“How have you been?”
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Plain and casual conversations came and went. Agnes sipped the priest’s tea and nudged Laslo with her elbow.
“Hmmmm. Duke Arpad has something to say to the high priest.”
“hmm? Oh, High Priest. I sincerely apologize for the rudeness I’ve committed before. I wasn’t thinking.”
He bowed his head. Katerina paused for a moment, then put down the teacup.
“How about the nightmares?”
“…… Not much anymore.”
“Have you seen fewer illusions? Are you hearing hallucinations?”
“……”
“Illusion? hallucinations? What does all this mean?”
Laslo’s lips hardened. Instead of Laslo, who had lost her words, Katerina opened her mouth instead.
“Twelve years ago, one of the couples who performed the oath ceremony witnessed the death of their spouse right before their eyes. Her husband, suffered from illusions and hallucinations of her wife, he then committed suicide three years later.”
“What?”
“Your Majesty the Duke will be no exception. Isn’t it?”
“……”
“Laslo, are the high priest’s words true?”
“It was only at first. It’s really good now.”
Laslo sighed and took Agnes’s hand.
“Why are you still saying that, ha?”
“You should not think of the ceremony of oath simply as a demonstration of romantic love.”
“……..”
“I want you to take this opportunity to understand how frightening and terrifying it is to have two souls tied up.”
“I’m reflecting. High Priest. I thought the weight of the ritual was light.”
Agnes said in a low voice. Katerina’s face softened a little when she saw her sincere eyes.
“I heard you are going to depart tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
“Please come back safely. Not only for yourself, but also for the Duchess.”
* * *
“Do you know how to use the bird?”
“Well. You just have to hold on tight and focus.”
“I’ll keep the birds in the office. I spend most of my time there. Oh, did you oil the sword? And you brought your own soap. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to contact me…”
“Agnes.”
Laslo frantically grabbed Agnes’ arm as he laid out his words.
“It’s our last dinner before we leave, and we haven’t had time to look at each other’s eyes.”
“…don’t say it like it will be the last time.”
It was fine until this morning. Agnes was determined to see him off. But as the sun went down and the day got dark, unbearable anxiety came over.
“Of course. It will not be the last.”
“Did you hear what High Priest Katerina said earlier? You have to come back safely, for me.”
“I will do it even if you don’t tell me. I’ll be back to you.”
He smiled softly, grabbed his wife’s hand, and then let it go.
“So, for now, let’s forget all our worries and eat together.”
It was then that the two had an ordinary, everyday conversation. Agnes struggled to forget that he would leave for war at dawn.
“Oh. What about Sir Matron, have you done any interrogation?”
“No, not yet.”
“Aren’t you curious as to why he betrayed you?”
“I’m curious.”
Laslo said, giving strength to his clasped hands.
“What on earth was so lacking that he was attached to that side, what was the king promised to him, or whether he was on the side of the king from the beginning.”
“……”
“But if you kill him too suddenly, the other side will suspect, so I’m going to interrogate him on the battlefield.”
His voice suddenly became surprisingly cold.
“Okay. If anything comes up, I’ll let you know.”
After dinner, it was time to go to bed. While taking a bath, her mind was disturbed. Tears welled up in her eyes as she changed her clothes.
‘I have to smile and let him go.’
She hurriedly wiped the corner of her eye and went out pretending to be as sane as possible. As she went to her bedroom, Laslo was standing in the middle of her room.
“Why are you standing there?”
“I have something to tell you.”
For some reason, Laslo had a wretched face. Agnes looked at him, blinking her eyes.
“Tell me.”
“He, um….”
“What is it?”
“I mean. I ….”
He couldn’t speak properly. Agnes’s face changed seriously.
What are you going to say that you’re having difficulty saying?
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Laslo looked around the empty room once, and whispered in Agnes’ ear.
“The truth is. I, hmm hmmm. I’m not wearing my underwear on.”
“You didn’t, what?”
“Underwear…….”
He mumbled shyly. Laslo’s face reflected in the light sphere was redder than usual. The corners of Agnes’ lips, which had been serious for a moment, trembled softly.