Chapter 98

“But I think you came at the right time.”

“Yes. I’m glad I came.”

Her brother’s tone sounded more friendly. Peter smiled even though she was surprised again. She hadn’t listened closely, but she heard that Kathleen used her powers to save his life, it seemed that the person became a little more mellow.

“You still need to rest, so don’t overdo it. I’ll give you a carriage, so ride that.”

“I’m all better now so there is no need to treat me like a patient. Moreover, I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it? Tell me.”

“I plan to go to Carmine with Kathleen. And Luci.”

“What?”

Flustered by the unexpected remark, Peter tried to dissuade him.

“Although Kathleen became the Lady of Count Usmund, she does not have to go to Carmine herself. She wouldn’t think negatively about the appointment either. Kathleen just returned, so let’s send Viscount Rylent in her place first.”

“No, we will personally go. I’m getting permission because I have to go.”

Alexis cut her off flatly.

“More than anything else, Kathleen wants to go.”

“Did she say she wanted to go back?”

He nodded his head slowly. Peter asked urgently.

“Then what about brother? You’re not telling me you will retire in Carmine, do you?”

“It’s possible.”

“Brother!”

“But I’m not going to disappear like you hoped I would.”

“How could I ever wish for that? The only person I can rely on now is you.”

Alexis looked at Peter, who looked nervous, and said.

“You must no longer depend on anyone else. The Emperor is such a person.”

“…….”

“You will have to stand upright as much as you value the position. That way you can keep it.”

At the words that stabbed her heart, Peter’s heart sank.

“I will watch over you as you walk the path you want.”

There were a lot of people who wanted her to be emperor, but no one said that entirely for the sake of Peter Trivellian. Not even her mother.

So Peter had no choice but to allow the Grand Duke Walten to go north.

“……All right. Then I will send someone to House Usmund to deliver the message.”

Because she didn’t want to disappoint her brother who promised to watch over her to become the right emperor.

“Promise me you will come back.”

The desperation in her golden eyes were clear, but they were as steadfast as the master of the empire. Alexis looked at her for a moment and then held out his hand.

“Yes, I’ll be back.”

After hearing the confirmation, a small smile of relief appeared on Peter’s lips. She took Alexis’ hand.

The siblings shook hands, stronger than any other alliance in history.

***

A few days later.

Grand Duke Walten, under the orders of the Emperor, set out for the North on the task of delivering a letter and a decree to the head of House of Usmund conferring the Margrave rank.

Of course he wasn’t alone. He also intended to propose to the Lady of Count Usmund, who would become the new Grand Duchess, so they brought a lot of personnel and supplies.

“You will like it too.”

They were told that Cassiel had sent a positive response to receiving the Margrave title. Thinking that her uncle reacted better than she had thought, Kathleen began to tell Alexis about her days in Usmund one by one with excitement.

“It is much warmer than Carmine, once you enter the village. Everyone in the village is friendly.”

“Yes.”

“Uncle lives in his castle, and he preserves the room that mother used when she was a child. My room is next to it. There are a lot of other rooms, but I couldn’t look around them all.”

“Yes.”

“Luci would like it there, too.”

“He will like it.”

Alexis was already so focused on her that he just nodded his head no matter what he heard. Kathleen, unaware of such Alexis, hugged Luci and showed him the scenery of Carmine out of the window, and was thrilled.

Alexis clasped one of her hands without his wife noticing. When she said she was going to Carmine, he was upset that he had no reason to follow, but was glad that Peter had found a proper excuse for him.

‘If possible, it would be okay to stay in Carmine for a long time.’

Once he returns to work, he will be less likely to spend time with Kathleen and Luci. Had he known this, he would have kicked out the imperial physician immediately, but instead, he let him report his health to the Imperial Palace for nothing.

On the contrary, as it became known that he was in better health than before, various institutions of the imperial family, including court meetings, began to constantly request his attendance. Work reports, which had been delayed even in the local estates, kept coming.

In the past, it was a schedule that he would have digested without much difficulty, but now he didn’t want to. For Alexis, it was more important to watch Kathleen’s every move than to do those things. The Empire could have left the Grand Duke’s seat empty, but it wasn’t because he was sitting next to her. He wanted to know everything about Kathleen, what she wore, what she ate, and what she was doing.

“Your Majesty, a man has come from Usmund.”

As soon as they entered Carmine, the carriage stopped and the coachman urgently shouted. It was surprising that it took a little longer to get to the village where the Usmund people still lived.

“I’ll go and take a look.”

“Let’s go together.”

“The wind is cold, so stay inside.”

Alexis got out of the carriage, stroking the dozing Luci’s head.

“Are you Grand Duke Walten?”

The man’s eyes were bright auburn, and his hair was silver like that of Kathleen. His unusually white skin was also similar to hers.

“Yes.”

“The Lord has sent me to bring you. The road is rough, so follow me.”

He presented Usmund’s guard with his identification. Alexis nodded his head briefly.

“Let’s drive the carriage towards the road.”

As he was about to enter the carriage again, the guard added,

“The only thing the Lord asked me to bring was Miss Kelly and her son.”

“What do you mean?”

Alexis stopped his steps and turned around. The guard seemed discouraged, but he firmly delivered Cassiel’s words.

“He said that only the carriage of the lady and her son could pass through the entrance to the village. It means that I cannot let you pass if the Grand Duke rides in the carriage.”

“…….”

“He told me to come before the sun goes down.”

What he was saying was clear. Cassiel Usmund only allowed his niece, Kathleen, and her son, Luci, to enter. It was a clear rejection of Alexis Walten, unacceptable by his standards.

“What’s going on?”

Feeling the strange atmosphere, Kathleen opened the door and asked.

“Alec, is there a message from uncle?”

“It’s no big deal. It’s cold, so go inside.”

After reassuring Kathleen, Alexis spoke to the guard.

“Then take my wife and son first. I will follow.”

They weren’t even at war, but it was a great shame for a high-ranking noble to go on horseback without riding a carriage. However, the guard’s eyebrows twitched at the sight of the unconcerned Grand Duke.

The head probably intended to break his pride and let him go back. But for Alexis, this was no big deal. He led and saddled his beloved black horse from the ranks that followed him.

“What are you doing? I told you to lead the way.”

“Ah. Yes.”

The guard took the lead, trying to hide his embarrassment. Alexis calmly climbed onto the black horse, approached the carriage and knocked on the window. With an anxious face, Kathleen stuck her head out.

“Kathleen, go with Luci first.”

“How about you Alec?”

“Your uncle seems to be mad at me, so I guess I’ll have to adjust.”

“Will you be okay? The wind is cold, but you’re riding a horse.”

“I don’t care. I won’t be driven out.”

To appease the apologetic Kathleen, he first sent the carriage off and followed her on horseback.

‘You will feel better if you meet in person and talk.’

Her husband couldn’t have looked pretty to him when he heard that his sister’s daughter had a hard life. 

Whatever the reason, Alexis didn’t want to make an excuse. Rather, after accepting it and being recognized by his wife’s family whom she dearly loved, he wanted to get along well.

So he entered Carmine and it took a long time to arrive at the entrance to the village of Usmund.

The garrison commander descended from the tall fence for the passage procedure. After checking Kathleen’s face, he let the carriage pass first and then approached Alexis.

“Please state the purpose of your visit.”

As Alexis was about to take out the emperor’s letter and decree in his arms, he noticed that the guard’s eyes showed little care for the empire and changed his mind.

“I came to visit my wife’s family.”

“Then, please tell me the name of the visitor.”

“Alexis Walten.”

He did not reveal his title. It meant that he was only visiting here as Kathleen’s husband. The garrison captain, like his men, paused, not expecting Alexis to come here.

“Th-then you may go through.”

Alexis leisurely passed through the village entrance. The carriage was already heading towards the castle first. He led the procession that followed from behind and headed towards it as well.

When he got to the front of the castle and tried to go inside, the guards greeted him.

“Your Highness, Grand Duke, the Lord has sent a message that we have prepared a place for you to stay.”

“Okay.”

Blocking his way as he tried to step inside, he answered half-heartedly. He was terrified and trembling at the thought of daring to stand in the way of the Grand Duke of the Empire, but he stood firm.

“Your Majesty will stay outside the castle.”

“What?”

“You can stay outside the castle until an official meeting is scheduled. You and your son will also be able to meet then.”

The intention was to completely separate him from his family.

Alexis was suddenly deprived of both his wife and son.

***

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