Caw caw, a crow searching for food perched on a bare branch and cried ominously. The black crows gathered and watched the newly arrived imperial investigator’s party.

Although the evil dragon Vasalante was unexpectedly quiet last winter, Lucenford was still on high alert. If the evil dragon rampaged or foreign tribes invaded during the sowing season, it would be difficult to farm for a year.

In fact, Lucenford, with its barren land barely suitable for farming, was gloomy and desolate. It seemed even more so to the people who came from Klein, which was already in full spring heading towards summer.

No matter how you look at it, it’s too bleak a place for a bright southern-born princess to be.

The rugged Lucenford people’s wary gazes at the outsiders were piercing. Unlike Klein, there was a roughness and a simultaneous sense of fatigue and brutality from constant warfare.

Those who came to investigate because of the incident where the new Grand Duchess almost died thought that it would be understandable if the Grand Duchess found it difficult here.

“Welcome. We welcome you to Lucenford. His Highness the Grand Duke is waiting inside.”

At a time when he should be rushing out to receive the Emperor’s orders, he’s waiting inside? Does the Grand Duke not understand the gravity of this incident? Well, there had always been opinions that the Lucenford Grand Duke was extremely arrogant for his birth.

Clank, clank, making the sound of swords hitting metal ornaments, the investigating party climbed the stairs and entered Lucenford Castle, which looked like a dark cave opening its mouth.

Although he may be the only Grand Duke in the Crania Empire, he’s just a Grand Duke in name, not even as good as a border count guarding the frontier. What’s so great about the Lucenford Grand Duke that he holds his head up so high?

If he brought the Emperor’s precious niece and almost got her killed in a few days, he was negligent in his responsibility. That sin was truly great.

Several heavy, thick doors opened silently. It was darker and colder inside than outside, where slimy mud was scattered everywhere and colorless hues dominated.

The castle, with stones tightly interlocked holding a weight as heavy as the years, carrying a chilling coldness, stood as a massive fortress.

Huge axes, spears, and shields that one might doubt a person could even lift hung on every wall, and each window had arrow slots and crossbows. Literally, it was a place that could turn into a battlefield at any moment.

“Your Highness.”

And the one who ruled this gloomy castle was standing alone in the hall. He stood with his large, broad back towards the investigating party.

Even just that back view made the investigator feel intimidated. They say that even people from Klein go mad after living here for a few years, so the man who ruled this place was clearly no ordinary person. No, he might not even be human.

Would such a person even care about a young Grand Duchess?

The Grand Duke, who even warriors found intimidating, turned around. He had sharp, heavy eyes and an appearance that one couldn’t easily approach.

The investigator who received that gaze head-on wanted to not flinch, but ended up flinching anyway. Though renowned as an honorable knight even in Klein, he felt his pride hurt belatedly. But as it was a common occurrence, he gave up quickly.

“Your Grace, the Grand Duke.”

He clenched his fist and placed it on his chest with a snap, showing proper respect. If nothing else, he was a being that couldn’t help but be respected as a knight.

“So you’ve come, Sir. It’s been a while.”

“It has been a while.”

Formal and stiff greetings were exchanged. Peon, who already knew through dispatches who the investigator arriving at the Lucenford border was, didn’t even feel like sneering anymore.

Would the Emperor who sent Beatrice be careless in selecting an investigator? The investigator was young. And he was actually blood-related to Peon.

Isidore Dakiten, the gatekeeper of Klein’s gate and the current nephew of the fallen Empress, had the same black hair and cool lips as him, but apart from that, he looked at the far superior and gloomy Grand Duke with complex emotions.

The Grand Duke, the only child born to his aunt, seemed to be waiting for him to speak.

“His Majesty the Emperor, who rules our holy Great Crania Empire, has issued an imperial edict.”

“I’ll gladly obey.”

Isidore, who was Peon’s second cousin and the heir to succeed the title passed down in the Dakiten family, took out the imperial edict and read it in front of his cousin, who always had to be at the Emperor’s beck and call.

Of course, there were so many unnecessary flowery words and modifiers attached at the beginning that Peon focused more on the sound of footsteps approaching him gently rather than on that part during the initial reading.

“…Therefore, regarding the harm inflicted upon the Lucenford Grand Duchess Kaella de Chasser, a member of the imperial family…”

Although the content that simply attached Kaella’s pre-marriage surname despite her being married occasionally forcibly pulled at his nerves, it was generally fine.

After all, if they divorced, Kaella de Chasser would continue to remain Kaella de Chasser. What meaning would there be in attaching his surname, Feraro, which he didn’t even know the origin of, given to him by his mother?

“…Lucenford must reveal everything without hiding anything to all under heaven, and above all, in accordance with imperial law, it is right to thoroughly investigate so that not even a point of injustice remains for the victim, the Lucenford Grand Duchess, Princess of Ostaine. Lucenford is ordered to cooperate with the Emperor’s investigator. That is all.”

Even before the regression, the Emperor pretended to care for his orphaned niece, sending similar edicts like this, finding all sorts of faults and scratching at the pride of Peon and the Lucenford people. In the end, it only narrowed Kaella’s position and made her the target of disapproval.

There was no way the Emperor, who had made his niece an orphan coveting the inheritance she should receive, would truly care about her.

That was all for show, and moreover, it was a ploy to suppress Peon and Lucenford. The Emperor enjoyed wielding imperial authority in such a way.

“Of course, His Majesty the Emperor should know this matter in detail. I too feel a great sense of responsibility, so investigate thoroughly during your stay here.”

To the investigator’s questioning gaze of how to proceed, Peon recited formal words.

“All incident reports have been gathered, so check them and let me know if you need anything. As we must follow the imperial order, Lucenford will do its best.”

Since Peon had declared so, the Lucenford people had to cooperate even if they didn’t like it.

“I need to interview Her Grace. Is she alright?”

“See for yourself.”

Just as Isidore Dakiten was about to say one more thing in response to the unkind reply, the dim hall brightened. It wasn’t that someone had lit a fire, but the cold and dreary hall seemed to become a bit brighter and warmer.

Into the hall where knights carrying one deadly weapon each stood at every entrance, a small lady wearing a soft dress with much fabric, unlike the thick uniforms and armor, entered.

“Oh?”

And as soon as she entered, she opened her eyes wide and then smiled unbelievably brightly.

“Brother!”

Who is this person that the young Grand Duchess, who always maintained her dignity, calls ‘brother’ without hesitation?

The one who was once called ‘brother’ unknowingly almost stepped towards her before stopping himself. Kaella, who hadn’t smiled properly even before marriage, was smiling. Towards his cousin who looked similar to him, not him.

Isidore walked briskly and paid his respects formally as he had done to Peon. But his eyes were not as cold as when they were directed at Peon.

“Your Grace.”

The expression of being so happy to meet was the same for Isidore as well.

“Brother, no…”

Ah, she made a mistake because she was too happy to see him. If the Lucenford people knew that the investigator sent by the Emperor was close to the Grand Duchess, their view of her wouldn’t be favorable. Kaella closed her lips once and opened them again.

Habitually touching the small vial of poison hidden in a pocket inside her dress, she spoke in a slightly calmer and smaller voice.

“It’s good to see you again, Sir Dakiten, since the wedding. Are the Marquis and Marchioness in good health?”

“They are healthy. Thank you for your concern, Your Grace. How is your health?”

“I’m fine. I’ve recovered a lot.”

Kaella answered while inevitably moving towards Peon.

“I heard Your Grace had trouble due to food.”

“That’s what happened.”

But her voice and tone sounded slightly different from how she usually spoke in Lucenford, especially more dignified and solemn. A glimpse of the vivacity befitting her twenty-one years, which they thought had been completely lost, was visible.

Peon felt an extreme deprivation and thirst he hadn’t realized as he watched Kaella approach him.

“Your Grace, the Grand Duke.”

She greets him. He couldn’t remember how Kaella, who had been losing her vitality day by day until she finally dried up completely, had smiled brightly, or how her voice rose when she was in a good mood.

He used to carefully observe her voice tone, eye movements, the shape her lips drew, and even the movements of her facial muscles.

He tried to find out about any uncomfortable or difficult things she wouldn’t tell him, but in reality, it seems he was trying to find even a little smile and vitality on that face that was already like a finely crafted porcelain doll.

Even with just that fleeting bright smile, just with Kaella’s eyes curving for a moment, Peon was greatly shocked.

He wanted to see more. He wanted to see more of that faint vitality filling her fair face. Just a little more, more, more. Please, more.

Fill this terrible void.

“Have you come, my lady.”

Peon’s answer came out cracked. He had a black and endless void that even he didn’t know about.

He didn’t know when it was created, didn’t know it existed, but it was an empty space that only Kaella could fill. It was so deep that he didn’t know what to do.

“Aren’t you cold?”

“It’s okay. It’s much warmer now.”

Kaella stood next to him.

He thought her existence alone was enough, but now the endless hell he had discovered kept reaching out to her. Just smile a little more. What should I do to make her smile more? His mind tangled and rolled towards that direction on its own.

“How is Her Majesty the Empress? Has there been any improvement in her health?”

Kaella asked about the Empress’s well-being, which Peon would have been most curious about. If anyone would know, it might be Isidore Dakiten, the Empress’s nephew and heir to the Alemichi Marquisate.

“There has been no new news since the two of you married and left for Lucenford. Still…”

Isidore shook his head. The lack of improvement in the Empress’s condition was sad news for the Lucenford people as well.

The Empress, confined in the imperial palace, had tried her best to support her son’s land. The people here had made good use of the grains and weapons that the Empress had barely managed to provide.

“I see. How is His Majesty the Emperor?”

“His Majesty the Emperor is deeply worried. He is very sad that there are no signs of Her Majesty the Empress waking up despite mobilizing numerous doctors. In the midst of this, he received a report that an unfortunate incident happened to Your Grace, so he is in a very bad mood.”

The Lucenford nobles who had anticipated this far when the Grand Duchess collapsed because of that Turberry were trembling.

Even those who didn’t know and thought ‘What? What’s the problem?’ were now flat on the ground just watching the situation. How dare they ignore the Emperor’s precious niece, the Princess of Ostaine born in Ranpalrar Palace.

The Emperor’s investigator, clad in shining white and gold armor, brought several knights with swords and spears.

That momentum and wealth greatly intimidated the Lucenford people. The only ones who remained composed in front of this were the Grand Duke and Duchess, who had long observed the glorious and great imperial power up close.

“As the Grand Duke responsible for Lucenford, I think that incident should not have happened, and it’s an unforgivable sin against my lady, but Sir, as the investigator, will judge for himself. We’ve prepared a place for you to stay, so start the investigation.”

“Thank you for your cooperation, Your Grace. Then may I start right away?”

Peon nodded silently. Kaella seemed to have a lot she wanted to ask Isidore Dakiten. He was the captain of Klein’s gate guard and also the heir to the Empress’s family, and coincidentally, Kaella and Isidore were of similar age.

Although there was a seven-year age difference between Peon and Kaella, the Crown Prince, Kaella, and Isidore were peers with only one or two years difference between each. So in a way, it was natural for Kaella to be closer to Isidore.

The captain of Klein’s gate guard has become the Emperor’s investigator this time, huh. Quite a promotion. The Emperor, who had elevated the Dakiten family from a mere count’s family to the Empress’s family, would probably continue to employ Isidore.

Originally, when there was talk of misalliance due to the forced marriage with a count’s daughter who didn’t even match in rank, he raised the Dakiten’s count title to a duke, but when the Empress gave birth to Peon, he demoted the duke title to a marquis, saying it was a betrayal, but that’s beside the point.

“Your Grace. Are you busy?”

Kaella turned to look at Peon and asked. Peon recalled her before their marriage, when she was desperately trying to escape from the Ostaine townhouse to the gate despite her whole body feeling like it was on fire.

She struggled desperately as if there was a way to pass through the gate. Despite the Emperor’s administrative officials coming out to inspect the guard gate, she tried to escape, taking the risk.

“What is the matter?”

“I have something to discuss with you privately.”

Could it be that she knew the gate guard captain Isidore Dakiten well and was going to ask him for help to escape? Would Isidore Dakiten be the kind of person to turn his back on his family and help Kaella escape? Were they that close?

“The head maid has noticed the steward’s misconduct.”

The unnecessarily large void he had just discovered, unbelievably, kept pointing out useless things. Isidore Dakiten and Peon looked quite alike. Many people said that from a distance, they thought the two were brothers.

Could it be that even before the regression, Kaella didn’t see him, but rather looked for Isidore in him?

‘No, that’s a stretch. I’ve gone too far.’

Peon quickly erased the thought. But it wasn’t easily erased.

“She strongly says that it needs to be investigated.”

“You’ve gained an extra hand.”

“Yes.”

In their harsh married life, there was no way Kaella could have liked or felt fondness for him. She would have hated and despised him instead. After all, the couple that ended up in disaster concluded with the husband confining his wife.

How much must Kaella have cursed him when she was starving to death in the tower, unable to get even food because of her incompetent husband? There’s no way she could have liked him. So, it makes sense if she tried to run away before the marriage because she hated it.

Kaella had never liked him even a little.

Hey, look at this! Kaella seems to like you!

He only remembered Beatrice’s voice, cackling with laughter, pulling out and mocking the gift Kaella had carefully hidden for him, and Kaella with tears welling up in her eyes. She had never once told him that she liked him.

Are you crazy? Don’t you know Peon and I are dating? How can this be?

Stop it, Beatrice.

Ah, let go!

Kaella. Go. Go now.

Hey!

I said go quickly!

Not even once, had she ever said it. Would she really have liked him, who only forcibly sent her away out of embarrassment?

He pulled himself together, feeling short of breath just from pondering the past, which felt presumptuous. He needed to come to his senses, even if he had to slap himself. He didn’t even have the right to suffer.

“I hope the investigator’s work goes well. It might be fortunate that elder brother Isidore came.”

But why does she think it’s so fortunate that Isidore Dakiten came?

And, above all, while Peon is no longer ‘elder brother’ but ‘Your Grace the Grand Duke’, why is that bastard still ‘elder brother’?