The commanding officer at the front was killed instantly by an enemy cartridge. This became a turning point that dramatically changed the course of the war. The imperial army repeatedly retreated, and the emperor’s dignity was utterly crushed beyond description.
“Some of the remains from the cartridge’s impact have not yet been found. But since we’re still in the middle of the war, completely recovering them might be difficult…”
Gaius, who was delivering the news, had a face that looked like it was about to burst into tears at any moment. Just as his eyes were turning red, he lowered his head.
“I am ashamed.”
Theo’s presence was special here in Monferrato. This was partly due to having been born and raised in this land, but also because of his uniquely unblemished personality that made him beloved by the noble families.
A shadow fell across everyone’s face at the somber news.
“I will go,” said the Count, breaking the heavy silence.
“We cannot leave Theo like this. Those who killed him must also…”
“You’re going to the battlefield in that state.”
Declan cut off his words sharply. The Count’s appearance was clearly not normal. His eyes, which hadn’t properly rested in days, were extremely red. Even while standing still, his gaze seemed to have already lost half its focus. Declan looked at him silently and let out a light sigh.
“It’s practically suicide.”
But someone had to handle this matter, whether the Count did or not.
This incident had completely exposed the emperor’s weakness to the world. By now, the troops who had lost their commander would be struggling just to reorganize their front lines. Moreover, the emperor’s reputation had fallen to rock bottom internationally.
But would the emperor truly take full responsibility?
Declan’s gaze darkened. It was all too clear where the emperor would direct his anger when cornered.
****
Instead of remaining in his office to handle official duties, he headed to his wife’s bedroom. She would be in shock from this incident as well, and he couldn’t leave her alone.
Theodore Monches was more than just a knight to Sienna. He was like a brother, even closer than a biological sibling—the support that helped her endure the anxious palace life.
After hearing about Theo, Sienna had been crying day and night and couldn’t even eat properly. Though he had instructed Christine and the other servants to take care of her, no one’s touch could help when she couldn’t even maintain herself.
His steps toward Sienna were heavy.
He should not have defied the emperor when ordered to deploy. If he had simply gone to the battlefield, Theo would not have met such a tragic end.
As he approached the door, he composed his weary expression. The door was slightly ajar.
Conversation leaked through the gap.
“I must have done something wrong. It’s all my fault.”
“Oh, don’t say such things. How could this be Your Highness’s fault?”
Christine tried to console her, but the crying wouldn’t stop.
“I should not have come here.”
His hand, stretched toward the doorknob, froze in midair.
“If I hadn’t married him, Theo would not have ended up like this.”
Sienna buried her face in her hands and wept.
“If he had remained in the military… Theo would never have gone to the battlefield in the first place. This would not have happened.”
“But Your Highness, no one knows what happens in war. Monches’s incident is heartbreaking, but even if the Grand Duke had been there, one cannot be certain.”
Christine seemed to be scolding her, but it appeared that Sienna couldn’t hear anything.
“Your Highness, crying too much is not good for the baby inside you. Please stop, okay?”
Despite Christine’s consolation, Sienna’s tears would not cease.
Declan, who had been standing quietly, withdrew his hand. The butler Ruben, rarely defending the Grand Duchess, glanced at Declan’s reaction.
“Your Grace, Her Highness is in a state of extreme shock…”
Anyone could see that the Grand Duchess was not in her right mind. From her incoherent rambling, it was clear she might not even know what she was saying.
After a brief moment of silence, he gave a short nod.
“So it seems.”
Ruben glanced up at the near-mumbled response, but Declan had already turned away.
****
Sienna, who had fallen asleep after crying for a long time, nearly fainting, finally opened her eyes as dawn approached.
Lifting her heavy eyelids, she saw the dim light settling into the room. In the silence, she slowly raised herself. Due to not having eaten properly for days, even a slight movement caused dizziness.
“Ah…”
Her vision seemed to spin. Feeling her stomach churn, she held her head and remained frozen in that position. Eventually, she gave up standing and sat at the edge of the bed.
Unlike her deathly quiet bedroom, servants were already busily moving outside the window. Carrying ingredients for the day’s meals, moving water from the well. Occasional sounds of chopping wood and exchanging greetings quietly flowed in.
Everyone was busy preparing for a new day.
Sienna’s gaze wandered blankly outside the window. Unlike her, who had been mired in grief for days, others had returned to their daily lives and were steadily building their existence.
After watching the bustling movements for a while, she lowered her head and looked at her still-flat abdomen. Her gaze sank into melancholy.
‘Christine was right.’
Thinking of Theo still tore her heart, but she couldn’t grieve forever. Now she had other family members besides Theo.
She liked Declan.
For her, who had lived starving for affection her entire life, having someone who only looked at and cared for her was sweet. And she truly wanted to build a happy home with him.
She didn’t want to fail as a Grand Duchess or as his wife. This time, no matter what anyone might say about her, she wanted to do her best.
She didn’t want to follow the same procedures as in the imperial court.
Sienna, who had been firmly resolving her decision throughout the early morning, called Christine as soon as the sun had fully risen.
“I would like to have breakfast with His Grace this morning. Is he very busy?”
Christine looked slightly flustered. The mistress who had been crying like a madwoman until yesterday had suddenly returned to her normal self, which was surprising. Her slightly averted gaze was severely trembling, suggesting there was more to it.
“Well, Your Highness. I’m afraid that’s difficult.”
“Why?”
When Sienna looked at her questioningly, Christine, not knowing what to do, confessed.
“That is… a deployment order has been issued to the Grand Duke.”
Sienna’s face turned pale. Christine also looked like she might burst into tears at any moment.
“The Emperor has issued an imperial decree. To deploy immediately…”
“He refused, right?”
Her sharp cry made Christine unable to respond easily. Sienna pushed past Christine, who tried to stop her, and headed toward the Grand Duke’s office.
Even when several servants tried to stop her at the office, Sienna didn’t even look at them.
Bursting through the door, she found the gazes of those inside turning to her. The elders, Count Monches, and finally her husband, who turned last.
Seeing him in military uniform, Sienna felt her blood run cold.
“…Is it true?”
Instead of answering her, he asked those gathered for their understanding.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Only then did Sienna’s gaze slowly move.
The faces that had looked at her as if she were an immature child quickly averted their eyes with awkward coughs the moment they met hers. At this, Sienna bit her lip hard.
The officials had always looked at her this way. While being careful not to openly show contempt in front of Declan, they all treated her like some strange woman.
Regardless of that, such situations were quite common. War could break out at any moment, and countless women had been separated from their husbands in the process.
But knowing something intellectually and being in that position yourself were entirely different.
In the awkwardly frozen atmosphere, Declan led her out of the office. The maids standing anxiously outside quickly bowed to him and hurriedly made way.
“You’re not going, right? You’ve already retired. You’re no longer a soldier, so why would you go to the battlefield…”
The morning’s resolve she had barely gathered was already completely shattered. Even when Theo disappeared, she had been able to steel her heart because of him. But if he were to disappear as well…
Just imagining it made her hands begin to tremble.
“I. I…”
“Sienna.”
He gently embraced her shoulders. In normal circumstances, she would have softened immediately, but not today.
“What about the child?”
She had hoped, however faintly, that he wouldn’t abandon her after being so happy about the pregnancy. But even that fragile hope was cruelly crushed.
“It won’t take too long.”
“How can you say it’s that simple? Theo…!”
Sienna’s voice, which had started sharply, cracked at the end. She swallowed the rising tears once more.
It had been just a short while since Theo’s death. And now, before those wounds could even heal, she was to send her husband to war.
