You are at the End of the Downfall

This would be her tiresome response from now on. What did it matter if it was a bit cold? She would die soon anyway.

“We’ll rest often. Still, we’ll arrive early, so don’t worry too much.”

Kaela listened quietly and then looked up at Peon.

“I’m not worried.”

“You seem tense.”

“I’m fine.”

‘Fine’ again. Kaela, whose expression had noticeably dried up since leaving Crania, quietly repeated the same words.

[Mom is fine.]

[I’m fine, Your Highness.]

Both his mother, the Empress, and Kaela who had died before the regression, had said the same thing.

It was Beatrice, the Emperor, and the traitors in the North who said they weren’t fine. They made a fuss, groaning and pressuring him.

In the end, those who said they were fine died, and only those who said they weren’t fine survived. Peon too had died, saying he was fine while enduring everything alone.

So those words “I’m fine” sounded terribly ominous to him. He shouldn’t assume everything was truly fine just because she said so.

It was more likely that she was saying she was fine out of indifference, or because she was bothered, or because she had nothing else to say. There was no way she could be sincere saying she was fine with such a dry face.

“Are you feeling nauseous?”

He had deliberately ordered plush cushions piled on the carriage seats and prepared pillows to lean on comfortably, but she was clearly struggling, being such a frail person.

“No.”

Kaela shook her head, her face pale.

“I’m really fine.”

It was less tiring and troublesome to just quietly say “yes, yes.”

Peon, being a taciturn person himself, didn’t say more to her. However, she noticed that the carriage’s speed decreased once they were some distance from the capital.

As the sun set, the large entourage of the Grand Duke of Lusenford arrived at lodgings as if it had been planned, and these lodgings were suitable for a Grand Duchess to stay in.

This was unlike the Grand Duke who had been saving every penny to increase military funds. And they departed late, rising late in the morning.

“Aren’t we traveling at night?”

On the fourth night of staying at lodgings, Kaela finally asked Peon. He was quite bewildered, having been anxious all along because she spoke so little that he couldn’t tell what she liked or found uncomfortable. This didn’t seem like something a princess raised gently would say.

“Where did you hear such a thing?”

“I heard it’s common practice for Northern knights.”

Who on earth would have said such things to the Grand Duchess during the journey? Peon’s eyes rolled calmly, already planning to weed out the traitors as soon as they returned to Lusenford.

“Which Northern knight would have said such a thing to Your Highness the Grand Duchess?”

At the chilling question that sounded like a joke, Kaela’s eyes widened, and after blinking, she answered.

“I just… heard it somewhere.”

Someone who had never been to Lusenford couldn’t say they heard it in Lusenford.

“Marching at night is only done in emergencies. The new Grand Duchess’s journey should be comfortable, speed isn’t the priority.”

Who on earth said such nonsense? Peon struggled to smooth out his furrowing brow as he managed his expression.

This time, he was determined to ensure Kaela received proper treatment as a Grand Duchess. A proper Grand Duchess had no need to know about forced marches day and night.

“But Kaela, how did you come to think about traveling at night?”

Ordinary noble ladies wouldn’t even have thought of such a thing. Beatrice, for one, would be horrified. But she thought they would do that? It’s not something a lady with such a weak constitution should be considering, is it?

“Just… just because.”

Peon quietly observed Kaela as she averted her gaze and mumbled. The back of his neck felt oddly chilly. Small inconsistencies tugged at his nerves.

“No matter how much training the Northern knights undergo or how elite they are, they wouldn’t do such a thing while escorting the new Grand Duchess. They’re no different from other knights in this respect.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“No, I didn’t say that to hear an apology.”

Could his words possibly be interpreted as criticism? Beatrice often pointed out, ‘You’re too brusque.’ Peon shook his head, rubbing his mouth.

“There’s no way the Grand Duchess would be made to suffer. Don’t worry about such things.”

Kaela, who had been slowly blinking, looked at him with slightly widened eyes.

“Yes.”

Peon looked down at her and chuckled. Kaela stared at him, not understanding, but he turned away with a smile.

“Rest.”

“Yes.”

Why was he smiling? Every action of Peon’s was puzzling. Did he smile this often? Was her response amusing? Kaela, who had been touching her face, dropped her hand.

No, why bother caring when she was going to die anyway? Death was her escape, her refuge, and it was now within reach.

****

One morning, wearing the cloak Peon had given her, insisting she wear it because of the cold, Kaela looked out the carriage window at the familiar Lusenford scenery.

The people waving at the Grand Duke returning on horseback and the citizens looking curiously at the new Grand Duchess in the carriage were familiar.

The Lusenford city center, still covered in snow that had just begun to melt, the Northern-style architecture with pointed roofs and thick pillars designed for snow, and Lusenford Castle with its deep moat and imposingly high walls were all familiar.

So her first day in Lusenford didn’t feel new at all.

“Welcome, we’re glad to have you.”

Northern nobles and castle administrators came out to greet the Grand Duke and his new Grand Duchess. Kaela glanced towards the north where she had been confined and met her death, then stepped out of the carriage.

“Watch your step. And keep your cloak on properly.”

It was their first meeting with the nobles. He deliberately changed his tone, speaking in a low voice as he extended his hand. She took his hand and stepped down, facing the familiar faces.

“Welcome to Lusenford, Your Highness. Congratulations on your marriage.”

These were all faces she knew. It made her breath catch a little. But this much was fine. Yes, it was fine.

“Let me introduce you. This is…”

“In this cold?”

Just as the tedious power play was about to begin, with fur-clad individuals introducing themselves one by one to the young Grand Duchess standing in the biting wind, Peon abruptly cut off the words.

“Let’s not do foolish things. Let’s go inside first. The long journey has left us tired. Let’s go in. It will be warm inside.”

Speaking coldly, he pulled up the heavy Grand Duke’s cloak draped over the Grand Duchess’s shoulders and walked inside.