Count Harlen’s castle.

In the office, the Duke, Lawrence, Count Harlen, and the ministers were gathered for a meeting.

“During the last rainy season, there was too much rain……”

“Consequently, the flood damage……”

The ministers were seriously discussing key matters, but their words only brushed past Valige’s ears.

He was rubbing his temples, feeling a headache, and recalling the events of yesterday.

A woman’s skin unexpectedly encountered, her wet hair dripping with water.

Valige wiped his face as if troubled by the memories that kept surfacing.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

A slight irritation welled up at the image of Lina, which seemed to have been embalmed and would not leave his mind.

Valige turned his head and looked at Count Harlen, who was vehemently speaking. His gaze was burning as he looked at the Count, who was almost the cause of all this.

Moreover, the embarrassment of seeing a maid unnecessarily had caused him to avoid meeting, and a slight headache was constantly tormenting him.

“How is the progress going now?”

“The sudden downpour has caused delays in the recovery work and construction. If we stay like this, a secondary disaster due to the current rain is worrisome.”

It was already in a serious state due to the river overflowing from the monsoon that came in early summer.

Thus, while restoring the flood damage, they were also working on the embankment construction that was experimentally carried out in the last Permanence territory.

Count Harlen continued his grave words in response to Lawrence’s question.

“So, I think it would be better to suspend the recovery work and proceed with the embankment construction first… What does Your Grace think?”

Count Harlen turned to Valige for agreement. But Valige was only staring at the Count quietly as if he had heard his words.

“Your Grace…?”

The Duke’s spinechilling gaze had the Count urgently rolling his eyes, wondering if he had made a mistake.

He thought that there was no inadequacy in serving the Duke’s favorite wine during dinner.

Moreover, he even provided a room suitable for newlyweds to enjoy comfortably, heeding the Duke’s words not to mind the surrounding eyes.

The Count resolved to instruct his steward again to ensure no negligence in hosting the guest.

“Then.”

Finally, the Duke opened his mouth.

“I think it would be better to hurry the embankment construction by suspending the recovery work for now. What do you think, gentlemen?”

He confidently proposed as if he had been pondering the solution to the problem while keeping his mouth shut.

Unaware that the Count had just asked him the same question.

“Yes…… well.”

Everyone avoided answering, rolling their eyes at the Duke’s repetitive words.

‘Why is the Duke behaving like this?’

Lawrence wondered at the Duke’s seemingly distracted appearance in the meeting. The Duke had never shown weakness while working until now.

Worried by the unfamiliar appearance of Valige, Lawrence cautiously asked.

“Your Grace, is there any discomfort in your body…?”

“No. Is there a problem?”

“No, let’s continue.”

Everyone hurriedly turned their words at the Duke’s expression as if he were dissatisfied. And as if nothing had happened, they proceeded with the meeting that had been interrupted.

“What about the support of the magicians? Harlen’s territory was severely damaged by this monsoon, so it should have been a priority for dispatching magicians. The news is too late.”

Valige’s question caused Count Harlen to speak with a troubled expression.

“I’ve been requesting support from the royal palace, but they keep telling me to wait……”

“Still?”

Valige frowned at the Count’s trailing response.

‘They tell me to wait.’

Certainly, I will translate the passage as per your guidelines:

It was a situation where waiting was no longer an option. Harlen’s domain embraced a large river, and during the summer monsoon season, the river would overflow, causing significant damage to the nearby villages.

Especially this year, the damage was more severe due to the heavy rain that poured unusually over the Harlen region.

However, the deployment of the magicians kept getting delayed, and while the restoration work was getting more and more behind, a strong downpour hit again.

In such an emergency, it was only proper to support the magicians as the first priority, even if it was not in the plan.

Strength went into Duke Valige’s hand that held the pen.

“What is the reason for the delay in support?”

“I heard that all the magicians that should be deployed are down in Gretta’s domain.”

“Gretta’s domain?”

Gretta’s domain was currently the territory of the current Empress’s maternal family, the House of Gretta.

After the death of the previous Empress, Eugenie, who had been a consort, was enthroned as Empress, and her family, the House of Gretta, was now in its heyday.