Chapter 50: The Lord’s Intent
“I was just admiring the Duke’s outfit because it’s so stylish.”
“The outfit… you saw it this morning, didn’t you?”
At those words, the Duke shyly brushed his hair back.
“It looks even better when seen from the outside.”
The Duke was wearing a high-neck shirt with gold buttons and a double-button vest, which was one of the top 10 idol outfits I had picked out from watching many fan-cams.
‘You’re my spring!’ I almost started gushing again, but the Duke quickly changed the subject.
“Where are you headed?”
“Oh, right! I’m going to meet the wizard!”
Thinking of my destination, my previously calm heart quickly began to race.
I had learned about the wizard staying at the Duke’s castle just a few days ago. The Duke had casually mentioned that a wizard from the 9th Knight Brigade would soon return, and I couldn’t stop myself from asking.
-“A real wizard?”
-“Don’t expect too much. They’re different from the wizards in the capital.”
Though the Duke said it casually, my heart had been racing since then.
‘Wizards in the capital, huh! I’ve never even seen a wizard!’
Although I had met the 9th Knight Brigade first, the real reason I was going out today was to meet the wizard.
“Are you going alone without guards?” The Duke asked with a bit of hesitation.
“It’s the castle, so it’s the safest place. You said so yourself, Duke.”
“Even so, alone…”
At that moment, Perel rushed down the stairs, panting as he caught up to the Duke, who had jumped down.
“Perel, take the control and go to the tower.”
The Duke, clenching his lips, said reluctantly.
“What? Now?”
Perel looked confused at the sudden command.
“I can’t let her go alone, so go with her.”
“Alone? But there’s someone behind…” Perel turned to look at Cecilia, who stood at a distance, and suddenly realized something.
Since Cecilia was limited to areas inside the castle, she would have to wait outside the wizard’s tower.
“But the meeting…”
“You can skip today’s meeting,” the Duke said with a slight wave of his hand.
However, Perel’s face didn’t brighten. It seemed like missing the meeting would just add more work later on.
After hesitating, Perel asked hopefully, “Should I call some knights to escort?”
“Would you rather wait outside in the cold while the rain falls?” The Duke leaned toward Perel and muttered softly.
“I’m only telling you this because I’m refraining from saying it myself, so keep quiet and go.”
At his words, Perel made a sound like he had eaten something wrong.
“If Your Grace drops out, the schedule will fall apart… I’ll go!”
The Duke turned to me and said quietly, “Even though he looks like that, he’s been knighted, so he’s better than nothing.”
“Are wizards scary people?” I asked, tilting my head.
The Duke narrowed his handsome brow and replied, “Not scary, but… strange.”
The Duke rubbed his smooth forehead and added, “I don’t want to say this, but stay close to Perel if you can.”
“I’ll stick with him!” I said, making a fist to show my determination.
Though I meant to reassure the Duke, his handsome brow furrowed even more.
“Maybe not. He’s rude, and something unpleasant might happen. It would be better if I went…”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of it! Let’s go, Your Grace!” Perel urged me, and we headed toward the tower for the long-awaited meeting.
However, despite the Duke’s concerns, we ended up not meeting the wizard and had to return. Although there had been signs of activity inside, the wizard refused to open the door, pretending no one was there. After several knocks and seeing Perel’s troubled expression, I gave a wry smile and turned back.
At that time, I didn’t know, but I would end up having to return several more times before finally meeting the wizard.
Later, on the way back to the lodging, Tiern couldn’t hold back his frustration and was muttering angrily. His chest muscles, swollen from training, rose and fell with each heavy breath.
“I will take good care of it,” he thought.
Tiern bit his lip, thinking back on what had happened at the training ground.
It was his first training session since returning.
Spring must’ve arrived—just a few swings of the sword had already left his forehead and neck covered in sweat.
When break time came, the knights each took a moment to drink water or wipe off their sweat.
Tiern, too, wiped his face with the towel handed to him by his squire and tried to catch his breath.
Then, glancing to the side, he saw something odd—First Knight Captain Demiche dabbing his broad forehead with a dainty white handkerchief.
It was a ridiculous sight.
The same man who normally wiped his sweat with his sleeve, not even bothering with a towel.
“What is that supposed to be?”
Tiern frowned and pointed at Demiche’s forehead with his eyes. Demiche blinked, confused for a moment, then smiled broadly.
“Oh, right! You don’t have one, do you?”
He waved the handkerchief around, making sure the red crest on it was clearly visible. Then, mimicking a noblewoman, he dramatically patted his forehead with it.
“This handkerchief was a personal gift from Her Highness, Lady Annette.”
At those words, Tiern’s face instantly froze.
Now that he thought about it, there were quite a few knights holding white handkerchiefs.
So the rumors were true—everyone had fallen head over heels.
“How ridiculous.”
Tiern muttered through clenched teeth. Demiche, noticing, raised a thick red eyebrow.
“What was that?”
Though they were both Knight Captains, Demiche of the 1st Unit had far more years of experience than Tiern of the 9th.
Demiche had served since Hadrick, the Vice Commander, was just an ordinary knight—he was one of the oldest veterans in the order.
“If you’ve got something to say, say it properly, rookie.”
As Demiche cracked his neck from side to side, Tiern met his gaze and responded.
“I didn’t know your stomach was so strong. You used to curse that marquess like you’d kill him, and now you can say ‘Her Highness’ so easily.”
The veins on Tiern’s fist bulged as he gripped the towel tightly.
“Or are you trying to cozy up to her now? Bit late in life to be looking for a new master, isn’t it?”
The air grew tense between the two captains, drawing the attention of the other knights.
Johas, a senior knight from the 1st Unit, flared up at Tiern’s words and reached for the sword at his waist.
In the heavy silence, Demiche spoke with a sneer.
“Do you think you’re something special, kid?”
Now it was the 9th Unit’s knights who flinched.
“The only one who can decide who becomes the Duchess is the Commander. And the Commander has acknowledged her as the Duchess of Blenheim.”
Demiche’s deep voice echoed through the training ground.
“The moment our lord brought her here and introduced her, she became the mistress of this castle. Our job is to protect her with our lives, no questions asked. Since when did the Knights of Blenheim start questioning our lord’s will?”
Many of the knights watched in silent agreement.
“You’d better get your head on straight.”
Demiche added with a mocking smile.
“There’s no place in this castle for a dog that bites its master.”
If it were just a mad dog, that would be one thing.
Though his whole body trembled with anger, Tiern couldn’t say anything back—because Demiche wasn’t wrong.
“If anyone else has something to say, now’s the time.”
Demiche scanned the 9th Unit from a few steps away.
The 9th Unit, who had been bristling with tension, fell silent under his intense gaze.
“Idiots.”
Demiche clicked his tongue as he looked around the training ground.
“Be glad it’s me dealing with you. If the Vice Commander were here, you’d all be dead meat.”
Training resumed once Hadrick, who had briefly stepped away, returned. But Tiern’s head was a mess—full of anger and betrayal.
He’d been one of the Commander’s most loyal followers.
‘The Commander always makes the right decisions.’
But what if the lord betrayed the Commander’s judgment?
Tiern couldn’t find an answer to that question.
“Take a short break.”
With the captain so distracted, training couldn’t continue properly anyway.
While the air was still tense, Hadrick called for another short rest.
“Her Highness!”
A young noblewoman walked in with grace.
With a face that was quite pretty, Tiern could understand why the knights were acting the way they were.
‘So much for “our lord’s will.”’
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• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Freya• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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Advance chapters of this novel are available on my kofi channel
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