It happened a week ago.

When Hertian suddenly appeared in front of Gilota and Jackson.

“That is… actually, the lady said we could lose 50 million gold if she didn’t personally take charge of the task, so I wanted to prevent wasting the budget…”

“Correct. Gilota couldn’t tell the Duke because it was for the benefit of the Duchy.”

The two hesitantly shared what had happened so far.

And waited for a decision.

Deceiving the master and disobeying commands are serious offenses.

Moreover, Hertian’s expression was unusually ominous; no matter how much he favored his subordinates, punishment couldn’t be avoided.

“Listening to my wife over me deserves praise.”

“Pardon?”

However, the word “praise” had come out of Hertian’s mouth.

“You’re… praising us?”

“From now on, if my wife asks something of you, no matter what it is, obey.”

“Yes? Yes.”

In the end, they received praise where they thought they’d be punished the most. Gilota and Jackson exchanged startled glances before bowing their heads.

Everyone knew the Duke and Duchess got along well, but they hadn’t realized it was to this extent—that they should listen to the Duchess first.

But for now, it had turned out well for them.

They had proven their judgment, and fulfilled their roles as subordinates.

“Did the lady want to proceed with the project because the castle was cold?”

“Yes. The lady is particularly susceptible to cold, so it must have been hard for her.”

With that, Gilota spilled everything.

“At first, she wanted to repair the castle. But I reported that I couldn’t do it because of the budget for entering Curcia, and she immediately purchased herbs.”

Hertian chuckled briefly at this.

He knew Anette was sensitive to cold, but he didn’t realize she was struggling enough to deceive him and undertake a project. Besides warming her with his embrace at night, he had done nothing for her. It made him feel weak.

“The condition was to go to the frontier every day and share treatment methods?”

“That is correct.”

No wonder she smelled strongly of herbs.

‘Just like Anette?’

But he couldn’t shake the bitterness.

He had hoped there would be no secrets between them.

It wasn’t so. It was his own inadequacy that had prevented the castle repairs.

“We’ll repair the castle next month.”

He said without a moment’s hesitation.

“But it’s not necessary since we haven’t done it for a long time.”

“Proceed. Don’t worry about the budget.”

At Hertian’s firm voice, Gilota bowed his head.

The budget could be managed somehow.

But this would be the last time Anette struggled with this. He had no intention of interfering with her projects. He would just watch from a distance.

And so Hertian secured the budget for castle repairs.

That was when Serdis came to visit. One more thing to pay attention to.

‘What’s his reason for coming now, when he’s never been here before?’

Just as he suspected.

“Could it be about this letter?”

He had overheard a conversation between him and Liri.

A letter that hadn’t come for a long time was in Serdis’s hands.

He also found out about the petty schemes.

‘Divorce? Ridiculous.’

He wouldn’t let himself be robbed again. Nothing would change by flailing around now.

Three days later.

Noticing that he was being forced out, Serdis laid down in the Duke’s house, claiming his leg was injured.

Anette had already gone out. Hertian followed her. He had done so ever since Serdis began to stay. You never know what might happen.

Upon arriving at the village, the coachman began to wrap the wheel with a rope.
As Anette stepped onto the street to take a look around the village, a group began to tail her. He felt the urge to push them away right there and then, but he had to hold himself back.

‘If I deal with them here, Anette will notice…’

So, just before Anette climbed into the carriage, he stirred up a strong wind to obstruct her view. At the same time, he subdued the three men who were following her.

“Your Grace, are you alright?”

The coachman found him and rushed over immediately.

“There were people following the carriage.”

“Following, you say?”

“No need to worry, it’s taken care of. Where is Anette?”

“My lady is inside the carriage.”

Hertian looked longingly at the carriage in which Anette was riding, then quickly averted his gaze.

The carriage set off.

It vanished into the mountains, where the tracks were clearly visible. He wanted to follow Anette to see what might happen to her, but he had other things to take care of first.

He put the three unconscious men into the duke’s prison. He had wanted to interrogate them, but all had their tongues cut out. Cutting out a tongue was a punishment typically reserved for those who’d been too looselipped. It was a brutal method, seldom used by the average noble. Perhaps by royalty.

He turned his back on the castle and went to the frontier.

Anette was visible in the distance.

Teaching foreign soldiers inside a small tent.