Beatrice Ravalley was still beautiful. Her luscious silver hair gleamed brightly, and her unique pink eyes seemed to enchant people. The lovely woman was like a spring fairy who could have anything she wanted.
However, as she ran over, she couldn’t hug Peon as she had expected. This was because Peon was already embracing Kaela protectively.
His expression, having given all his arms to his wife, was so fierce that Beatrice, who was approaching, unconsciously hesitated. Kaela tried to look ahead, but her view was blocked by Peon’s thick forearm.
“Did His Majesty send you?”
“Of course His Majesty sent me here with the magic tool. Why are you asking so fiercely?”
Beatrice looked at Peon with an expression of incomprehension, then narrowed her eyes. He had definitely become strange before and after the marriage. She had come to try to return him to his original self because he had become too strange.
“Wilberk.”
When Peon called someone coldly and strongly, Kaela’s shoulders trembled in surprise. He wrapped his gloved hand around those shoulders and looked for the knight responsible for Lusenford Castle’s security. Sir Wilberk, who was standing nearby, quickly stepped forward.
“It seems His Majesty has sent someone other than the investigator. Escort her according to procedure.”
Sir Wilberk immediately understood what that meant.
“Yes, Your Highness. Greetings, Lady Ravalley. I’m Wilberk, the knight in charge of Lusenford’s security. You are the envoy sent by His Imperial Majesty to the military operation area, correct?”
“That’s right!”
Beatrice answered sharply, raising her chin. She wasn’t looking at Sir Wilberk, but glaring at Peon.
“Then you must have a personal letter?”
“Don’t you know that my very existence is His Majesty’s personal letter? Didn’t you see how I arrived in Lusenford just now?”
Everyone in Lusenford knew that a person walking out from golden lights was definitely an envoy sent by the Emperor.
However, since Lusenford was officially a military operation area, constantly at war with the evil dragon Gusalante or immigrant tribes coming down from the north, this kind of sudden and extremely central nobility-like appearance was a dangerous act that interfered with the entire military operation.
This would be unfamiliar to Kaela when she first came to Lusenford, but she had already lived here for 4 years and knew enough about such matters.
“Your Highness, let’s go inside for now.”
Peon whispered to Kaela, trying to take her inside.
“No. We can’t leave it only to Sir Wilberk when an important guest has come from Crania.”
Although she had stepped forward due to Peon’s principle of following rules and procedures, there was no way Sir Wilberk could handle Lady Ravalley, who was sent by the Emperor and was a childhood friend of the Grand Duke, alone.
Strangely enough, Kaela grabbed Peon’s arm that was trying to wrap around her and take her away.
The arm that had been holding her gently but firmly immediately lost its strength. That too was strange, but anyway, it worked out well. Kaela slowly pushed that arm away and stepped forward.
“I should properly welcome the noble lady sent by His Majesty. Come in, sister.”
Beatrice turned her head away from Sir Wilberk with a snort.
“Your Highness.”
The man with many sins tried to stop his wife once more, but his wife, facing the one arbitrarily referred to as her love rival by the public, stepped forward.
“The journey must not have been uncomfortable. How is His Majesty doing?”
“He’s in good health. Kaela, you’re still the same? It’s obvious how you’re living without even asking.”
Kaela smiled insincerely at the immediate casual speech that seemed familiar.
“How is Her Majesty?”
“The same as ever. Still unconscious… and no signs of waking up.”
Beatrice mumbled gloomily. Is that sincere? Or not? Of course, Kaela didn’t need to know. She was accustomed to Beatrice Ravalley barging in and turning Lusenford upside down like this throughout the four years.
“His Majesty must be very worried. Is this all the luggage you brought?”
Kaela asked, looking around at the enormous pile of trunks. It’s a bit strange. It seems less than usual?
“Yes, this is all…wait, no? Huh? What?”
Beatrice looked around the pile of trunks, widening her pink eyes and starting to count them.
“Why is there only half?”
This is bad. Beatrice’s face turned pale. The various trunks were full of clothes, shoes, hats, gloves, and other accessories to change into according to the occasion and mood.
Those were her armor and weapons. Armor and weapons to deal with the now cold Peon. But more than half of it had disappeared. How?
“Seems like some were left behind when you came.”
“Left behind? How is that possible?”
The Emperor’s magic tools were diverse and all had amazing powers.
The magic tool that could easily transport many people and objects at once over long distances made the Emperor an even more fearsome existence. The Emperor could go anywhere and send troops anywhere.
Everyone, obey His Majesty, the omnipotent. He is the god who rules over us.
“This can’t be happening.”
Beatrice mumbled the same words several times. It didn’t make sense. It was impossible.
All magic tools worked properly, and they had to. How could a magic tool that had been passed down for hundreds of years without a single error make a mistake?
In addition to Beatrice, Peon also knew this well.
He was lost in thought, looking at Beatrice and the trunks that were far too few for what she claimed to have brought. And only Kaela gestured with a formal smile.
“Come in for now. It’s cold.”
The warm welcome from someone who had no interest in their crisis, or opportunity, sounded somewhat off in a way.
****
Beatrice didn’t panic. She was the flower of social circles, and if she didn’t panic, she could make anyone her ally.
A lively, smiling, bright personality. She needed to fully utilize that personality, especially loved by northerners, to pull Peon, who had grown distant, back to her side.
And she had to expand her influence in Lusenford to become a duchess superior to the Grand Duchess. Only then, only then could she survive.
She had been working diligently and consistently since childhood, and until Peon got married.
She covered his eyes, blocked his ears, and placed suggestions and taboos. It was a subtle and elaborate taboo that took years to create, to the extent that no one, not even the Emperor, could break it.
Peon cannot betray Beatrice.
So Beatrice didn’t panic. She had only come to make that absolute proposition stronger. Because she mustn’t let her guard down.
“The castle is a bit messy. We’re doing major construction. Watch your step. There’s a lot of mud now that the snow is melting.”
Kaela muttered, walking along in a tone that showed no concern for Beatrice. She walked without hesitation, as if already familiar with Lusenford Castle.
Unlike Crania, where flowers were in full bloom and it was getting a bit hot, Lusenford was just now having its snow melt. As a result, the paths were muddy, the stone floors were dirty, and the surroundings were very noisy. I wonder why there are so many children’s voices.
“I heard you almost died, Kaela?”
Beatrice asked abruptly.
“I heard you ate something bad. But I guess you’re okay now?”
There was a lot of spite in her voice. Is she annoyed and disgusted that Kaela is playing the role of the Grand Duchess of Lusenford? Is it because she’s a lucky girl who has everything Beatrice doesn’t?
But why is she like this when she has Peon? Kaela couldn’t understand. If she has Peon, doesn’t she have everything? Then there was no need to constantly prove herself and struggle. How convenient is that?
“I can manage.”
“No, you cannot manage.”
