Agnes muttered as she looked at the sprouting branches. She was concerned for a while, but her concerns vanished along with the mountain of documents brought by Andrassy. Soon after, the two put their heads together and began to work tirelessly on a plan that would bankrupt half of Nirseg’s nobles.
A shabby carriage knocked on the gates of Estar not long after the carrier pigeon from Laslo arrived. The gatekeeper, who was inspecting the carriage’s interior, was taken aback and rushed into the castle.
“Are you positive?”
“Yes, yes.”
Niall and the gatekeeper rushed to the gate. A black old carriage stood there. He knocked politely on the carriage door.
“Welcome to Estar. Marquis Bezel and Marchioness Bezel.”
Chavolti was helped into a wheeled chair by the servant. Sophia Bezel followed him out of the carriage. Her face was pale, but she could still move.
“How about Agnes?”
“She’s in the office.”
“Take the lead.”
“Yes, this way, please.”
Niall gave him a quiet look as he guided the marquis and his wife. Agnes and her brother were completely different in appearance and atmosphere. Chavolti said coyly as he looked around Estar.
“I had anticipated that she would cause a mess in the countryside, but it’s not too bad.”
“The Duchess cared deeply in many ways.”
The couple was led to the drawing room by Niall. The drawing room door slammed open shortly after the Marquis sat down.
“Chavolti!”
Agne, come over here.
As he sat in a chair, Chavolti opened his arms wide towards her.
The intention was clear. Agnes looked perplexed and quickly gave him an awkward hug.
“What happened? All of a sudden?”
“Thank you very much.”
“What’s wrong with you all of a sudden? It’s creepy.”
She scratched her arm and pushed him away. Chavolti pouted his lips.
“Why can’t you hold it for a few seconds?”
“Why would I hug you? That’s disgusting.”
She knows why Chavolti is behaving this way, but she couldn’t make eye contact because she was embarrassed.
“Princess.”
Sofia, who was watching the brother and sister’s hot hug, smiled faintly and tried to get up from her seat and bow. Agnes, who saw it, immediately dissuaded her.
“Don’t get up. Sophia. You’re not feeling well yet. Thank you for coming all the way here.”
“Thank you very much. If it weren’t for the princess, I’d be dead.”
“Who’s going to die? You promised me you’d be responsible for Chavolti for the rest of your life.”
“Oh. That’s right. Chavolti also suffered a lot because of me.”
Agnes sat down beside her and stroked her hand. It had only been a few months, but she was so thin that she could feel her finger bones.
“But what’s going on, you didn’t even send a message? Did grandfather send you?”
“What are you talking about? You sent a knight.”
The siblings and brother locked eyes in midair.
“A knight? I’ve only sent the knights to escort grandfather, nothing else.”
She attached several knights to Marquis Songrad in case Sebastian tries to attack him . Chavolti’s expression changed to one of seriousness when he realized they were speaking differently.
“It didn’t seem like a regular escort.”
“When did they come?”
“Not long after I received the cure from grandfather. They told us that we needed to head down to Sutmar as soon as possible because the capital was dangerous.”
“…….”
“I thought it was you, of course.”
“Grandpa didn’t let you go first, then?”
“I haven’t seen grandfather since I received the medication.”
Agnes jumped out of her seat. Things were going very differently than she had predicted. Marquis Songrad’s last letter to her stated that he was about to enter the palace. Several guards were assigned to him, and Roland didn’t make any specific contact with her, so she was taking it easy.
If Sebastian injures Grandpa without Roland’s knowledge…
Agnes trembled. She was taking it easy because he was only giving medicine to heal the prince.
“Niall.”
“Yes, madam.”
“Prepare to send a letter to the capital right away.”
Niall, who was waiting next to her and listening to the story, left right away. Sophia’s complexion grew drab. Chavolti asked, holding his wife’s hand.
“What happened?”
“I’m not sure yet, but I’m going to find out.”
“Did you not send the knights who came to me?” Chavolti murmured, perplexed.
“That’s odd; they were gracious enough to accompany us safely out of the capital.”
“That’s right, the knight with the cross on his face was especially likable.”
“A cross on his face?”
Max, who was guarding his back like a wooden statue, opened his mouth. They turned their attention to him.
“Do you know him?” Agnes asks, sharply turning her head. With a cautious expression.
Max stroked his chin. “Can you elaborate on his impression?”
“Oh, he was very tall and didn’t have much hair; I was scared at first because he made a bad impression, but it turned out that he was the kindest of the knights.”
“It must be Sir Deanon,” Max said quietly. “If it’s Sir Deanon, Lady Lisa must have been involved.”
“What? Lisa?”
Agnes opened her eyes wide to the name that came out of nowhere.
“Yes, he is a knight who personally swore allegiance to Lady Lisa.”
“But how did she know when to move?”
In any case, she and Count Barania are in opposing positions, and she hasn’t contacted Lisa since their last meeting.
Max didn’t know much and couldn’t provide an answer. Niall arrived just in time with the letter paper. Agnes hesitated for a moment before writing two letters.
“Send this to Sandor and the other one, ah, what is Lord Deanon’s surname?”
“It’s Deanon Havert,” Max replied.
“Yes, send the remaining one to Deanon Havert, the knight of Barania.”
“Yes, I’ll take care of it right away.”
As there will be many people watching, it was difficult to get in touch with Lisa Barania directly.
“Princess…”
Sophia exchanged anxious glances with her husband and Agnes. Agnes continued on as if nothing had happened.
“You must be exhausted from the long journey, but I’ve been holding on to you for far too long; hurry up and rest.”
“……Yes.”
“You can always tell the butler if you need anything.”
Agnes tried to appease and send out the worried Chavolti and Sophia. Her thoughts were complicated. Despite knowing what would happen, she was afraid because she couldn’t see a thing in front of her and felt as though she were walking in the dark. She is constantly questioning whether the path she is taking is the correct one.
If Sebastian kidnaps or harms grandfather……
She was worried that Chavolti and his wife would be kidnapped, but she didn’t expect him to touch the Marquis Songrad.
It’s all my fault. I was too naive.
Agnes bit her tongue. She should have thoroughly placed knights rather than simply attaching a few knights.
– My princess.
The face of Marquis Songrad, who was smiling nicely, and his wrinkled hands came to mind alternately. Agnes suppressed her tears. Nothing is certain yet. To be mourning in this manner is a waste of time. If grandfather is still alive, he needs to act as soon as possible. Agnes assessed the situation objectively. Even if it is one of the two scenarios, there is nothing she can do right away.
“Bring in Andrassy.”
“Yes, madam.”
She stood by the window, watching the sprouts grow little by little. She has lived in Sutmar for two springs now.
Sebastian ascended to the throne in the first spring, and in the second spring….
“Did you call me?”
“How about the storm?”
“We can always begin immediately.”
“Begin right away.”
All she can do is shake Sebastián and then crash him.
* * *
“How is everything going?”
The maid, who was standing outside the door, dashed into question the doctor, who had just come out. The palace’s gray-haired doctor shook his head.
“I don’t see any significant improvement, so prepare your heart.”
“Do you think that makes sense now? He is the prince of this country.”
“He already has a rash all over his body, and his armpits are beginning to swell, despite my best efforts.”
“Oh…….” The maid sighed deeply.
Prince Dietrich died only five days after his armpit swelled.
“Did you notify the queen?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, poor fellow.”
The maid’s eyes faded quickly. Although infant mortality is common in Nirseg, losing two children in a row is not tolerable
“Then I’ll leave.”
The elderly doctor walked down the corridor with his head bowed. The maid rushed into the room, wiping away the tears around her eyes. Ilona sat up beside Prince Robert’s bed. She wiped the pus that was starting to come out of the child’s hot forehead with a cold towel.
“I’ll do it, Your highness.”
“It’s all right.”
“You’ve been up all night for two days, and if you keep doing this, you’ll fall down.”
“It’s not like I’m going to die.”
Ilona spoke calmly. She muttered to herself as she changed the wet towel for a fresh one.
“Don’t you think I should die instead of my son, Robert?”
“Your majesty.”
“It’d be fantastic if this mother died for you. I’d be overjoyed if I could be sick instead of you.”
Ilona constantly stroked her son’s cheek and head, leaving the maid speechless.
For Ilona, every day was hell. She was forced into marriage after her beloved fiancé was murdered. She only found a reason to live after the births of Robert and Dietrich. She tried to live by focusing only on her children after giving up and accepting reality. Even if she had a sudden desire to die, she couldn’t because she felt bad for her children, who would grow up without their mother.
“Mom can’t live without you, baby,” she says.
“Your Majesty” The maid’s voice became increasingly damp. She served the queen the closest, so she was the only one who truly understood how she felt. Nothing Ilona said was even remotely false. Her only motivation was her two children.