10. The Place Where I Belong

Episode 114

Winter passed, and March arrived.

As the early spring breeze began to drift into Brincia, I set off for the north with Aiden.

Returning the wolf’s claw wasn’t an urgent matter, but Her Majesty, the Empress, had issued a stern command that I take a break and enjoy some time away. Truthfully, I was reluctant to leave the palace for too long, leaving Lothania behind. However, her filial piety was unyielding in its insistence that I rest.

Thinking back, I realized that since becoming the Empress of Belpator, I had never fully stepped away from work to rest. With the New Year’s Festival successfully concluded and the spring preparations completed, I allowed myself to be tempted by the idea of taking a month off.

So, after ensuring that Vitrain, who had recently returned to Brincia, would assist the young Empress, I departed.

Initially, I was filled with worry as we left the palace, but the further we traveled from Brincia, the lighter my heart felt. Seated across from me, Aiden looked as excited as a puppy out for a walk with its owner.

Since I was already on leave, I thought I might as well treat this as a leisurely journey. I planned to return the wolf’s claw, inspect the Tilender Duchy, and take the chance to explore some of the famed sights of the north.

At least, that was my plan until I saw the state of Tilender Castle.

“Is this… Tilender Castle?”

“According to the map, yes,” Aiden replied.

We were both struck speechless, staring at the ominous old castle while crows cawed in the background. Compared to this, the Tilender estate in Brincia seemed like a well-kept mansion.

The castle before us looked as though it had been abandoned for at least two centuries, resembling a perfect haunt for ghosts. Standing in front of the eerie structure, Aiden awkwardly suggested, “I’ll find accommodations. Let’s return to the village.”

“No. Since we’re here, let’s take a look inside.”

“It’s not a place suitable for Your Highness to inspect.”

“We can’t just leave it like this now that we’ve seen its condition.”

Despite its current state, it was still Tilender Castle—Aiden’s estate and potentially mine, should we marry. Thinking of the possibility of one day living here, I couldn’t just walk away.

With my knights on high alert, we carefully entered Tilender Castle.

The interior, while no masterpiece, wasn’t as bad as I had feared. The castle was structurally sound and well-built; it was simply neglected. With the overgrown plants cleared and the dust cleaned away, it might even be livable.

“It doesn’t seem like it’s been abandoned for too long,” I remarked, picking up a piece of paper from the desk in what seemed to be the lord’s office.

Though covered in dust, the paper itself didn’t look centuries old. Other furnishings were in a similar state—likely untouched for about twenty years.

Aiden, gently brushing the dust off my gloves, nodded. “I agree.”

I pointed at a wall where a clock might once have hung. “It looks like anything of value was taken.”

Furniture and wallpaper remained, but there wasn’t a single framed picture. Chandeliers were intact, but decorative items like vases were gone. Even the kitchen shelves, which must have once held fine china, were bare.

“The armory is also empty,” Aiden added.

“Really? Well, weapons are valuable too. I suppose thieves must’ve broken in while the place was unoccupied.”

“It seems like the work of someone familiar with the estate.”

“Whoever it was, they clearly knew what they were doing. They carefully took only the most valuable items without leaving a trace.”

“I’ll investigate further.”

Aiden glanced around the office, as though imagining its former occupant.

After exploring the castle, we stepped outside and were met with the sight of a group of people approaching.

Dozens of horses snorted white puffs of breath as they galloped toward us. Aiden and the knights immediately drew their swords, ready for confrontation.

The riders halted a short distance away, standing still as though to size us up.

Aiden stepped forward, placing himself between me and the strangers, and demanded.

“Who’s there?”

At Aiden’s question, one of the riders urged their horse forward.

It was a middle-aged woman with sharp features, her frame concealed by a thick fur cloak. She studied Aiden carefully before speaking.

“Are you Her Highness, the Dowager Empress, and His Grace, the Duke of Tilender?”

Her question, already aware of our identities, caused Aiden’s sword to flare with a crimson aura of hostility.

“I asked, who are you?”

His voice was low and steady, laced with a deadly edge.

Sensing a confrontation brewing, the woman swiftly dismounted her horse and bowed deeply.

“I am Loren, the head maid of Tilender Castle. Greetings to Your Highness and His Grace.”

“The head maid?”

Loren bowed even lower, and the rest of the group dismounted, bowing deeply in unison.

“We are former servants of the castle. Upon hearing that His Grace would finally visit, we came here in haste to welcome you.”

They didn’t appear to be lying, nor did they seem to harbor any ill intentions.

Stepping forward, I joined Aiden, whose hostility remained unyielding, and asked, “You said your name is Loren?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“As the head maid, you must know why Tilender Castle is in such a state.”

“I deeply apologize, but it is precisely about that matter that I wish to speak to you.”

Loren lifted her head, her expression resolute as she met Aiden’s gaze. There was a hint of resentment in her eyes as she addressed him.

“Your Grace, I beg you, please renounce your claim to the lordship of Tilender.”

Her unexpected plea left even Aiden momentarily stunned, the crimson aura of his sword dissipating.

Hearing such a request from the head maid of a lord’s own castle was too curious a matter to ignore.

“This doesn’t seem like a conversation to have while standing here,” I said.

“We’ll escort you to the village, Your Highness,” Loren replied politely, bowing once more.

Her party mounted their horses to guide us, and Aiden opened the carriage door for me.

As I stepped inside, however, it wasn’t Aiden who joined me but another figure.

“Amy?”

The young knight, eyes lowered, took a seat across from me. Aiden’s voice came from outside the carriage.

“Stay with her.”

It seemed Aiden intended to stay outside to protect the carriage, ensuring my safety above all else. Convincing him otherwise felt futile, so I simply nodded.

Once the door closed and the carriage began moving, I turned to Amy and thanked her. Earlier, when Aiden had drawn his sword and rushed forward, it was Amy who had instinctively stepped in front of me.

“Thank you, Amy. You were quite reliable back there.”

Amy’s face flushed red as she lowered her head, fumbling over her words.

“N-not at all, Your Highness.”

Now eighteen, Amy had grown considerably since joining the palace. Once small and frail, she now stood strong, her build comparable to the men she trained alongside. Though still shy and prone to blushing, her swordsmanship had reportedly earned her recognition even among the elite royal guards.

Despite being offered a position in the imperial guard under Anna’s command, Amy had chosen to remain at the Dowager Empress’s side, determined to protect me.

As we chatted about various topics, the carriage soon arrived at a sizable inn near the castle.

After settling in, Aiden and I met with Loren in one of the inn’s private rooms.

As befitted her title, Loren displayed impeccable manners. The only issue was that her respectful demeanor masked the audacious request for Aiden to relinquish his lordship.

“Well then,” I began, “why don’t you explain why Aiden should renounce his claim to the lordship?”

Though she hesitated at first, Loren straightened her posture, taking a deep breath.

“The people of Tilender need a lord who can protect them, Your Highness.”

“Are you accusing Aiden of neglecting his duties as lord?”

“No, Your Highness. His Grace’s indifference to the territory isn’t a recent development.”

“Your words sound pointed.”

“I assure you, they are not.”

While Loren’s tone remained respectful, she made no effort to deny the underlying reproach in her words.

Having just toured the castle, I couldn’t help but notice how well-preserved it was, despite being abandoned. The fact that everything was orderly and intact suggested someone had taken great care of it before leaving.

That someone, it seemed, was Loren.

Whatever her reasons, this head maid had diligently maintained the castle, only to now plead for Aiden to relinquish his claim. There had to be a significant reason behind her actions.

“Has something happened in Tilender that’s made it so dire that the people must seek protection under a different lord?”

At my question, Loren lowered her head, her expression shadowed with sorrow.