The monastery, surrounded by stone walls, required crossing through open-sided corridors to move between different areas. While usually considered somewhat charming, it was undoubtedly the worst structure for weather like this with strong winds.
The wind blowing fiercely between the pillars was no ordinary breeze. Glancing up, Sienna saw dark clouds covering the night sky.
It was a sign that heavy rain was about to pour down.
Sienna regretted not bringing her coat as she hunched her shoulders. Still, going back to her room now that she had come this far seemed bothersome.
She thought it would be better to hurry and get it over with since the dining hall wasn’t far once she passed through the corridor. With that in mind, Sienna quickened her pace.
As she passed through the corridor and reached the central building, only the candles flickering silently on the walls greeted her; the interior was quiet. Her worry about people being around seemed to have been unfounded. Seeing the empty corridor eased her anxiety considerably.
It was just as she was entering the entrance with a lightened heart.
“Do you think His Majesty will truly summon the Imperial Princess back to the capital?”
Her movement froze at the voice flowing from inside.
****
Though the number of people staying at the monastery wasn’t large, the buildings were vast.
This was because they were built to accommodate all the people when, long ago, the emperor who ruled the empire indiscriminately put people here. Half of them died, unable to adapt to the harsh environment.
For this reason, the monastery had two unused buildings besides the main building, which were perfectly suitable for the wounded to stay and receive treatment.
“Most of the treatments should be finished within a week,” the healer reported to Declan, who had come to check on the injured.
“Then when will they be able to move?”
“They’ll need at least two months of rest to fully return to normal. But rather than waiting here for their condition to completely improve, it would be better to give them basic first aid and then return to the capital for proper treatment.”
Even though there were healers at the monastery, they were few in number and the conditions were poor. The treatments they could provide were extremely limited compared to those in the capital.
“Even so, if they set out on the journey right away in this state, the sutured wounds might burst open, so it would be better to stay for at least three weeks to monitor their progress.”
Declan silently nodded.
He had planned to stay for a month anyway, so the healer’s words weren’t a problem. Moreover, three weeks was more than enough time to scout suitable routes in preparation for departing from Lopwell to the capital. All that remained was to find the route back to the capital.
For this, they needed a place to discuss, but the space provided by the monastery was already packed with soldiers. There were some empty rooms, but even those hadn’t been properly maintained for a long time and weren’t fit for people to enter.
To this end, the Count requested to borrow the entire dining hall from late at night after meal times until dawn for smooth discussions, and the Abbot accepted without protest.
Considering his deflated appearance after the banquet, it might have been closer to resignation than acceptance.
In any case, the Count’s choice was excellent. The spacious dining table had plenty of room even with several maps spread out, and it was also appropriate in that there were no people coming and going late at night, long after meal times had ended.
“It seems we can arrive in a week if we take the fastest route.”
“We’d better avoid paths with difficult terrain as much as possible. The healer said that if proper rest isn’t taken, the sutured wounds might burst open.”
“Yes. I’ll inform Sir Gaius as soon as day breaks.”
The Count, who had been nodding with a rather serious face, suddenly turned his gaze towards Theo sitting across from him. Frowning at Theo’s blank expression as if the conversation didn’t concern him, the Count spoke.
“By the way, do you plan to stay here indefinitely?”
“Of course, as long as Her Highness remains here.”
At this immediate response that left no room for consideration, the Count’s face sank further into complexity.
“You’re still part of the Imperial Knights. Wouldn’t it be better to return to the capital and join His Majesty’s personal guard? That would certainly be better for your future.”
Theo furrowed his brow at those words.
“Talk sense. I can’t return to the capital alone while Her Highness is here.”
“It doesn’t seem like she’d need an escort while staying here. It might be better to bring in a new low-ranking knight instead of you.”
At the Count’s words, Theo let out a disbelieving laugh. Then, as if tattling, he turned to Declan.
“Your Grace, do you think that makes any sense?”
“Well…”
But even Declan couldn’t meet his expectations. His slow, drawling voice was unbelievably indifferent.
“I wonder if wasting time here will really help your future, as the Count says. It seems a waste for you to rot in a place like this.”
“Rot? When Her Highness returns to the capital, I’ll rejoin the Knights. I just need to endure until then.”
Declan, who had been examining the map, smiled faintly.
“Do you really think His Majesty will summon the Imperial Princess back to the capital?”
At those words, Theo was momentarily speechless.
Will the Emperor bring the Princess back to the capital? Well…
‘…Of course not.’
Instead of blurting out the answer that came to mind, Theo swallowed it. Regardless of his opinion, that was the situation. Was there anyone who didn’t know how much the Emperor despised the Princess?
Even if she were summoned back to the capital, it didn’t seem like it would be good news.
Declan, interpreting Theo’s silence as an answer, continued in a quiet voice.
“If you have aspirations for the Knights, returning to the capital would be better in every aspect. After all, most of what you do here is serving Her Highness. It’s clearly beneath the dignity of a son of the Count’s family.”
There was nothing wrong with his words, meticulously pointed out in an elegant voice. The Count kept nodding in thorough agreement.
Annoyed by his brother’s somehow irritating attitude, Theo glared at them for a moment before turning his gaze to the Grand Duke.
“I don’t understand why you’re saying this. You clearly told the Bishop earlier that Her Highness being cast out from the capital is no reason to despise her.”
The violet eyes that had been fixed on the map finally turned to Theo.
“Your master may be the Princess, but it’s the Emperor who holds the strings of your life.”
If no one else, Declan knew this fact better than anyone.
Even if the child’s death in his previous life was an accident, it was clearly the Emperor who completely destroyed the Grand Duke’s family.
When his wife was falsely accused of an absurd crime and sentenced to death without a proper trial, Declan, who had already been living a life detached from power, collapsed helplessly.
At that time, the only thing he could use was his own life.
“Needless to say about the Count, even Her Highness can’t be free from this fact. His Majesty has always wanted the Princess to be isolated and hoped she would be forgotten by people, trapped forever in this remote place. He probably never anticipated a variable like you.”
Theo frowned as if he couldn’t agree.
“The Your Grace I knew wouldn’t treat loyalty so lightly.”
“Loyalty?”
Declan chuckled softly as he swept back his hair. The dry smile that appeared on his stern face was as if he’d heard an untimely joke.
“It sounds nice, but it won’t protect you.”
The Count beside him seemed equally surprised by the unexpected response, looking at him with a slightly startled expression. Theo, as if he didn’t need to hear anything more, made a threatening remark.
“As long as Her Highness is here, I have no intention of returning to the capital.”
To this, Declan lowered his gaze back to the map and conceded.
“If that’s your thought, I can’t force you.”
Since the Grand Duke had backed down, the Count had no choice but to keep quiet. Instead of speaking further, he shot Theo a sharp glare. Ignoring the Count’s gaze with a triumphant face, Theo changed the subject.
“By the way, when Your Grace arrives in the capital, it’ll be the peak of the social season.”
The time when May roses were in full bloom was the busiest period for social events throughout the year.
Balls and garden parties, those numerous social gatherings were the best opportunities for unmarried men and women who had come of age to scout potential marriage partners.
“Too bad for the men in the capital. When Your Grace returns, you’ll steal all the attention.”
When it came to the Grand Duke, his beautiful appearance was talked about as much as his achievements on the battlefield.
His golden wavy hair, as if dyed with gold, and his face as beautiful as a statue in a cathedral, were far from that of a soldier. Well, his characteristic ascetic and emotionless atmosphere suited this monastery more than the battlefield.
In fact, when he was young, Theo had once fallen into deep contemplation, wondering if the young master of the Grand Duke’s family might actually be a woman.
Whatever the case, no one could dispute the fact that the Grand Duke of Monferrato was the most handsome man in the empire, but for some reason, he was indifferent to women.
“Your Grace, this time you should really find a suitable partner.”
The Count, who had been keeping his mouth shut with a disgruntled face, chimed in.
Thanks for the chapter