- Enlightenment
Not long after returning from the capital, news that the Duke and Duchess were going back to the capital once again turned the castle upside down.
“At such a busy time!”
Niall sighed. It was the king’s call, so they couldn’t refuse unless there was a problem of importance.
He grumbled, pleading for them to return quickly.
“Don’t worry about this place, Brother.”
Zoltan saw the couple off. Ney passed by him casually.
A knight approached, leading a horse.
“Everything is ready.”
“Hmm, I’ve never seen you before.”
Agnes inquired, and he respectfully bowed in greeting.
“Oh, nice to meet you Madam. I’m Matron Bushke.”
“He’s Bushke’s grandson.”
Laslo interjected.
“He is highly skilled and will be in charge of your protection.”
“Oh, then I can trust you.”
The name Matron sounded familiar to Agnes, as if she had heard of him before.
‘Was he a famous knight?’
Agnes took it lightly and got into the carriage with the help of Laslo.
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
The journey to the capital was both tedious and tense.
With a six-horse carriage, they arrived at the capital in less than a week.
Upon receiving a message, the butler of the townhouse came out in advance to greet the couple.
They spent a day there before heading straight to the royal palace the next day.
“Agnes.”
Before entering the palace, Laslo extended his hand first.
“Tell me anytime if you want to go back.”
“I’m fine.”
Agnes smiled at him. It was a smile with many implications.
She held Laslo’s hand tightly.
The royal palace’s servants greeted the Duke and Duchess of Arpad.
“Dinner is ready.”
“Is that so?”
Just the thought of dining face-to-face with Sebastian already made her stomach churn.
Without showing any sign of unease, she followed the servant to the dining hall.
“Oh, Agnes.”
Sebastian welcomed Agnes with a genuinely warm smile. Next to him, Queen Ilona stood expressionless like a doll.
“Your Highness.”
“It’s so nice to see you again.”
After bowing deeply to the king, the Duke and Duchess took their seats.
“Did you find a tool to make a magic stone in Etron?”
It was the moment when the soup was being served. Agnes replied without even picking up her spoon.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“In a black sapphire mine that’s completely useless.”
“I was fortunate.” Agnes calmly said.
“The magicians claim it’s a discovery of the century. Perhaps the golden age is on the horizon.”
“Aren’t magicians originally those who like to make up stories?”
“Are you saying they lied to me?”
“I’m just saying there might be some exaggeration involved.”
Sebastian rested his chin on his hand and gazed intently at Agnes.
“How old are you?”
“I came of age last year.”
“Already? Vivian died around your age.”
It sounded like a remark expressing admiration for living a long life.
Unconsciously, Laslo clenched his fist under the table.
“How proud she would have been if she had lived and seen you now?”
Agnes’s expression remained unchanged.
She simply picked up the salad she hadn’t touched and took a bite.
“I see.”
Subsequent remarks from Sebastian subtly struck a nerve with the people present.
Unlike their previous dinner together, he was noticeably hostile.
Laslo tried to intervene with the king several times, but to no avail.
Sebastian tenaciously focused on Agnes.
The queen, who noticed the atmosphere, opened her mouth by the time the dessert came out.
“Your Majesty.”
“What is it, my wife?”
Sebastian looked at Ilona with an affectionate expression.
“Didn’t you say you were going to see the prince today?”
“That’s right.”
He smiled broadly and extended his hand to Ilona.
“Shall we be off then?”
“Yes.”
“Then we shall take our leave as well.”
Laslo rose from his seat in a flash to bid farewell to the king.
“Yes, by the way. Agnes. I’m going hunting in the northern forest tomorrow. Come with the Duke. I’ll catch a fox for you.”
“We…”
Laslo was about to voice a refusal, but Agnes beat him to it.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“See you tomorrow.”
Sebastian left without looking back, escorting Ilona.
As the door closed, Laslo approached Agnes and whispered softly,
“Do you know what kind of trouble you might run into by going hunting with the king?”
“If he wanted me dead, I’d be dead already.” Agnes said.
“Let’s stop here, Duke. I feel sick just standing here.”
Only then did Laslo realize how pale Agnes looked, and he quickly wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
“Let’s go back quickly. The doctor has been called in advance.”
Agnes faintly smiled and said nothing more.
Laslo supported her and swiftly left the palace.
The ride back to the townhouse felt unusually long.
As soon as she returned to the mansion, Agnes rushed straight to her room.
Several maids who were aware of the situation entered together.
“The Madam strictly instructed not to let anyone in.”
Helplessly, Laslo paced back and forth in front of the door for hours.
It was long after the sun had set that Agnes’s door was opened.
“She’s resting.”
Ney quietly opened the door and informed Laslo of Agnes’ condition.
“How is she?”
“Her throat is a bit sore, but she took the medicine the doctor gave her, so she should be fine. Fortunately, she didn’t have a fever this time.”
Upon hearing Ney’s words, Laslo immediately entered and went straight to Agnes’ bed.
She lay in the middle of the bed, tossing and turning. Laslo felt pain on one side of his chest just by looking at her.
He felt helpless, knowing there was nothing he could do for her. The sense of powerlessness tormented him.
He reached out towards Agnes, but his hand clenched into a fist in mid-air.
Just a few months ago, she had been in a similar situation, but this time it felt completely different.
Her face was pale and devoid of color. Laslo cautiously extended his hand to gently brush her cheek.
She was frowning a lot as if she had a painful dream. He gently pressed between her eyebrows. Only then did her face relax a little.
“Agnes…”
He wanted to hold her tightly. At times, he longed to kiss her when he saw her smiling in front of him.
When he heard that she feels sick, his heart beat like crazy and anxiously.
When he saw Count Cellon dancing with her with a smile, he wanted to get the Count out of the spot immediately and lock Agnes in his arms.
He was engulfed by intense emotions he had never felt before, so he didn’t know what to do.
“Agnes.”
He whispered her name once again. It was all he could manage to say.
As their time together grew longer, his feelings deepened as well.
Laslo did not leave Agnes’ side until late at night.
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
The king pulled the bowstrings tightly. The deer brought by the beaters was running in their direction.
After a long wait, Sebastian released the bowstring from his hand.
“Hit!”
The beater shouted.
Agnes watched the deer with an arrow through its neck dying beside Sebastian.
Perhaps avoiding the fatal injury, the deer kept getting up and falling down.
Sebastian extended his hand to a knight beside him. The knight carefully pulled out his sword and handed it over.
“Agnes, pain can sometimes help people grow.”
“……..”
“At times, pain can be utterly meaningless.”
The king struck the deer’s neck directly. Hot blood splashed on his face.
The servant approached and handed over a towel.
As Sebastian wiped his bloodied face, he turned to Agnes.
“Some can endure the former, but not the latter. Isn’t that right?”
“That’s right, Your Majesty.”
Agnes lowered her eyes and swallowed the saliva that had pooled in her mouth.
He handed the sword back to the knight.
“Come to think of it, I’ve never seen Duke Arpad’s hunting skills.”
“I am far inferior compared to Your Majesty.”
“Haha. Don’t belittle yourself. You’re a knight with a good reputation in swordsmanship.”
After catching three deer, Sebastian urged the two to go catch a fox.
Passing by Agnes, Laslo whispered,
“Never leave my side.”
Agnes nodded ever so slightly in response instead of speaking.
In the distance, the beaters started driving the fox with hunting dogs.
With the barking sound, the fox appeared in the bushes.
Sebastian drew back the bowstring tightly once again.
The fox with orange fur leaped out towards its prey.
The barking of the hound is getting closer.
It was then.
The king suddenly turned his body and changed the direction of the arrow tip.
Instinctively, Laslo moved in front of Agnes to shield her.
Sebastian’s eyes flickered. He looked straight at Agnes as he released the arrow.
The arrow flew straight ahead.
