I had never seen the Grand Duke make such a frightening face before. As I stared at him in surprise, he opened his mouth.

“Are you saying Lahert did that to you?”

“Lahert… The black bugs were the ones directly responsible, so I’m sure it was also Lahert’s will.”

I tried my best to speak impassively. However, the Grand Duke’s expression did not return to normal. I could see his hand gripping the sword trembling.

‘Your Highness.’

I felt like I had said something unnecessary. I didn’t mean to make him angry.

“Esther.”

Arcadia called out to me. He looked like he was about to cry at any moment.

I wanted to defuse the situation.

Waving my hand, I tried to speak brightly.

“It’s all in the past now, haha. Sir Nugent, practice alone with the sandbag. There’s nothing but practice. And even without that, Arcadia will become the strongest in the empire. Probably in about a year, no, two years. So you don’t need to learn the footwork of an assassin. You’ll be able to do it all.”

“…You speak as if prophesying.”

Arcadia smiled bitterly like his old self.

“Are you leaving today?”

“Yes.”

He said he wouldn’t say goodbye to the others. Seeing the Grand Duke and me was enough.

Then Arcadia went into his tent, saying he would drink the potion he received from the young wizard.

Shortly after, a man with a completely different appearance came out of the tent.

“!”

“This potion’s effect lasts about three weeks.”

The voice was Arcadia’s, though his appearance was different. A tone half higher than the Grand Duke’s, the color of winter awaiting early spring.

I looked at him closely.

Long brown hair, golden eyes, tanned skin.

His physique and facial features were the same, but just the change in color gave off a completely different atmosphere.

“I ordered Eodel to make the hair color like this, the eye color like this. Hehe. A style I haven’t tried before.”

“You’re bragging. You seem very happy.”

The Grand Duke spoke bitterly.

“Your Highness, if you say that, I feel like I should leave while dancing.”

“Arcadia, if by chance you are discovered or face danger, no, before that happens. If you sense such signs, flee without delay. If I lose you, I will really… I won’t be able to live properly.”

I was a little surprised by the Grand Duke’s affirmation that he would not be able to live properly.

Arcadia made a strange face as if embarrassed.

“Your Highness. Why are you making such a heartfelt confession, it’s giving me goosebumps.”

The Grand Duke said nothing. Arcadia slowly embraced him.

A large man hugged a man a span taller and patted him.

“I will return alive.”

“…Yes.”

“Sword Master, protect His Highness. I ask this of you.”

His golden eyes looked at me fervently.

“Yes. Sir Nugent, please be careful.”

“Okay.”

He came like the wind and left like the wind.

Where his tent had been, only the Grand Duke and I remained.

“Esther.”

The Grand Duke called my name. A low and distant voice.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Esther, I… I will bury the memory of that night in my heart.”

“!”

He said he would bury the memory of that night.

I couldn’t find the courage to face him. But I looked at him. Because I felt I had to.

Sad blue eyes are staring straight at me. With a faint smile.

“So I hope you will no longer feel uncomfortable or avoid me. Can you do that?”

“Your Highness, you were the one avoiding me.”

“It wasn’t easy to bury it.”

“!”

‘Then does that mean you’ve buried it all now? So… quickly?’

“But is your oath of loyalty to me still valid?”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

Why are you asking the obvious, Your Highness.

My heart burns, without my knowing.

“I am not a vessel that can fully embrace the Sword Master. So when you want to fly away at any time, tell me then. But until then, you are my knight.”

“Your Highness is… my liege.”

“Thank you. My knight.”

Sion Belfast showed a bright smile.

Why are you smiling so heartbreakingly, Your Highness.

In front of this selfish woman who wants to be embraced by you again even now.

I don’t think I can bury all of your passionate breath.

[This is the timeline separator]

A fortnight later, we finally arrived at the Northern Estate.

Hans came out barefoot to greet us at the main gate.

“Your Highness!”

“Hans!”

The Grand Duke embraced small, old Hans in his arms.

“Why, why have you become so thin?”

Hans asked in surprise.

“Hans. Nagging again as soon as you see me.”

“Your Highness…”

The Grand Duke did not release his embrace for a while. Then, as if nothing had happened, he let go.

“I’m back.”

“Welcome back, Your Highness. I heard about all that happened through the messenger.”

“Yes.”

“Long live our Grand Duke!”

“Haha!”

The Grand Duke laughs.

Hans also greeted me and Moby with his eyes. We walked with the Grand Duke toward the mansion.

“Will His Highness be that happy.”

Lieutenant General Moby muttered as if jealous.

I slowly followed behind the Grand Duke, gazing at his back.

‘Your Highness, please rest comfortably at least for today.’

If someone troubles the North tonight, I will make this day their funeral day.

[This is the timeline separator]

The dear Northern Estate was the same familiar sight as before we left, unchanged.

I enjoyed the feast Hans had prepared in advance together with everyone. It being the first time in a long while, Hans also sat at the table with us at the Grand Duke’s order.

The dinner table ripened as a letter from Lewine that the butler received from me was revealed.

[Brother, I’m doing very well, so you’d better do well too. I miss you.]

Just two sentences.

Everyone laughed at that typical conversation between siblings.

After a while, Hans asked Moby.

“By the way, what about Count Nugent? Did he not come with you?”

Moby hesitated.

“Uh, well… I have no idea where he went after his sister’s incident. So… he’s missing.”

“Mi…ssing?!”

Hans dropped the spoon he was holding.

Before arriving at the estate, the Grand Duke said he could not tell Hans that Arcadia had died.

Saying it would be too much of a shock for the old butler to handle.

But still, Moby, why did you say he’s missing. You could have made up an excuse that he went on a secret mission.

“Missing?”

Hans’ pupils dilated as if he had heard that Arcadia died. He looked at us. It was awkward.

“Butler, he’s not actually missing.”

I tried to add, but Hans suddenly nodded.

“Hmm… So you’re saying you think he’s missing, Lieutenant General?”

“!”

“If he was truly missing, there’s no way His Highness the Grand Duke would be this calm.”

Moby glanced at the Grand Duke in a fluster. The Grand Duke smiled slightly.

“That’s right, Hans.”

“Did he go on a dangerous mission, Your Highness?”

“…Yes.”

The Grand Duke’s blue eyes deepened sadly.

‘As expected of Hans, the chairman of the Imperial Butlers Association with years of experience.’

Moby scratched his head.

“I’m sorry, Hans. I lack tact.”

“It’s alright. It’s enough that you’re good with an axe and cooking. I will keep my mouth shut.”

“You must.”

The Grand Duke said.

With this, the number of colleagues who knew about Arcadia increased by one more.

[This is the timeline separator]

That night.

After watching Moby and the others catching up with Hans, I quietly went up to the room I used to stay in.

My room, cozy and unchanged like when I first came.

But I had changed.

I returned stronger than before I left. I am now a proper knight of the North, the Grand Duke’s Sword Master.

Gazing out the window, I thought.

‘Medeia. You will soon find out that I have arrived. No, maybe you already know.’

You now know that I am not a double agent but fully on the side of the Grand Duke of the North.

Your scheme to harm the Grand Duke by using Julia Nugent has also been shattered.

I thought of her, who must be filled with anger, glaring into the darkness.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Will you come with me, Esther?”

Two days later in the morning, the Grand Duke asked me.

“You mean… me as well?”

“Yes. Her Majesty the Empress will be glad to see you.”

I didn’t want to refuse.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

I got into the Grand Duke’s carriage with him. Hastily covering half my face with a mask.

‘I wonder if Her Majesty the Empress has been well while we were gone. I hope she didn’t go through anything unpleasant.’

The only person who found traces of my parents in my face, Her Majesty the Empress. I missed her.

‘I wonder if the political situation in the imperial palace has improved from before we left.’

At that moment, the Grand Duke, who was sitting by the window across from me, spoke.

“Daisy Antoine and the head of the Antoine family will also be arriving at the estate soon.”

“Oh, are they coming here directly?”

“Since they are the Empress’s maternal relatives, it’s better than going straight to the detached palace.”

“I see. Her Majesty the Empress would know as well, right?”

“Of course.”

Her Majesty will be delighted. Meeting blood relatives for the first time in over a decade.

Strangely, I felt a little lonely.

I am also Her Majesty the Empress’s blood relative.

I raised my head and looked at the Grand Duke, who had turned his gaze out the window. The words just now were the first we exchanged inside the carriage.

Only he and I were in the spacious carriage.

My heart races from the awkwardness and the tension even greater than that.

Mustering my courage, I opened my mouth.

“Your Highness, did you go for a night walk yesterday as well?”

“Huh? Yes.”

“Don’t think too much. Everything will turn out well.”

“Are you comforting me?”

“How could I dare. I’m just telling you to cheer up. Since Count Nugent is not here, I’m trying to give you some strength in his stead.”

“?”

“He looked ready to scold me if I don’t attend to you well when he returns.”

The Grand Duke laughed at those words.

“What will you do if I cheer up and take more walks?”

He jokes.

“Then please call for me at such times as well. Now we have to… overcome difficult and important matters together. You are not alone, Your Highness.”

The words I had memorized like a wind-up doll, thinking I should say them at least once, flow out smoothly.

“Thank you. Then promise me one thing too.”

“What is it?”

“Don’t try to overcome things alone. Make sure to tell me before doing anything.”

“…Why?”

“I don’t want you to take the blame for your mistakes alone.”

“Pardon?”

“Haha.”

He laughed.

I couldn’t help but laugh along.

The Moon’s detached palace we finally returned to.

The silver marble corridors and the white, clean doors were the same as before.

If there was any difference, it would be that the white mistflowers decorating the palace when we left had been replaced with pink mistflowers.

The Empress we met again was still beautiful.

She welcomed the Grand Duke greatly and even pulled him into a light embrace.

“I heard the rough story through Franz’s letter, Grand Duke. Thank you and… you went through a lot.”

“No, Your Majesty.”

“I also heard about all the things the South, Medeia did to our North.”

“Yes. However, we have yet to find evidence directly linking that spy to the South. His Majesty the Emperor will not believe it without evidence.”

“…That’s right. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Just having Your Majesty hold this position is a great strength.”

“Yes, yes…”

The Empress smiled softly. After a moment, her gaze turned to me.

I knelt on one knee and kissed the back of her outstretched hand.

“You, Count Esther. You have proven your allegiance to the Grand Duke through actions, not words.”

‘…! You remember my name.’

“Yes. I have taken to heart Your Majesty’s words.”

“Congratulations on officially becoming a knight of the North.”

She smiled at me as if pleased.

“As a knight of the North, you no longer need to kneel before me. Stand up and guard the Grand Duke’s back.”

“I am unworthy, Your Majesty.”

The Empress looked at us for a moment. Then she spoke heavily.

“His Majesty the Emperor has come to rely more on the Grand Duke’s daughter of the South since then. That worries me.”

‘So it turned out that way after all.’

By “then” she meant the fake princess incident.

“I see.”

The Grand Duke’s voice sank heavily.

“Grand Duke, when Daisy comes, I plan to hold my humble tea party soon. Will you attend with your knight?”

She said, looking at me.

“How could I refuse.”

The Grand Duke bowed his head.

[This is the timeline separator]

‘His Majesty the Emperor trusts Medeia more than before.’

I had to return to the North because of the rehabilitation of the Antoine Count’s family and concern for Julia Nugent.

Due to the unexpected demonic beast war and the sins of the Red Caterpillar, I had no choice but to return only now.

But the time I was away felt so regrettable that it was bad news. News about Medeia.

Suddenly, the image of the Grand Duke from my past life, tied up and dying on the execution platform, came to mind.

I looked at the Grand Duke, who was only gazing out the window inside the carriage.

‘I will never let that happen, never.’

Strength entered my clenched hands.

It was when the carriage had almost arrived at the Caedo Estate.

In the distance, a splendid golden carriage could be seen standing near the main gate.

A familiar carriage.

“Your Highness.”

“I saw it.”

“…It’s Lahert’s carriage.”

“She came on her own feet.”

A terrifying killing intent began to emanate from the Grand Duke.

The carriage was stopped in front of the main gate.

“I will get off alone.”

“I told you not to proceed alone.”

“It will be someone not worth your time, Your Highness.”

“I will be the judge of that.”

The Grand Duke did not get off and lifted the carriage window.

At the same time, the door of the opposing carriage opened and a woman in a silver dress got out.

It was Medeia.

She spotted me inside the carriage. Our eyes met.

Her red eyes were those of a venomous viper.

‘You came all the way here on your own feet.’

The corner of my mouth raised without my knowing.

At my smile, she smiled even more brightly and said,

“Does the Northern Estate always turn away guests at the door? Your Highness the Grand Duke?”