Lady Devil - Chapter 175

175.

12. The Prophet

Around the time when the season changed from the night Johannes lost Inette.

It was still the dim hour of twilight. The retainers gathered in the courtyard, led by Duke Gustavus and his eldest son, silently watched the long procession leaving the fortress. The delegation carrying the Duke’s personal letter was crossing the drawbridge with the sound of hoofbeats. The two riders at the front held long red flags flowing like a river, and the leader following them was adorned in red ceremonial attire. From any angle, it was the appearance of a splendid friendly delegation. However, the way they spurred their horses as soon as they reached the other side of the moat rather reminded one of wartime lancers. Indeed. They were essentially military messengers.

This column of ten, like two giant snakes, headed towards the central royal capital at dawn. Rumbling, dust rises over the dry ground with the urgent sound. And on the day they return to Gustavus, the eldest daughter of the Valdemar family will also move her residence to the royal capital. That is to say.

They were envoys announcing the arrangement of a marriage to the royal family.

***

The princess’s marriage was decided in the middle of the night before the moon had even waned. It was truly a sudden conclusion, and clearly an early marriage. Although they say the princess will soon have her birthday in October, isn’t she just a girl who has barely finished her first menstruation?

While the delegation was being prepared without even waiting for daybreak, the ominous news spread like humidity. It flowed between the legs of the stable grooms, passed through the mouths of blacksmith apprentices, and thoroughly seeped into the ears of sentries standing on the watchtowers. By the time dawn broke, even the most lowly deaf laborer in the fortress knew about it.

Did you hear…? Did you hear? Now the royal family will be in-laws with the Valdemars. The central royal capital will be an ally of Gustavus…! Your Grace the Grand Duke, may you be victorious in all battles! It was the best news of all good news.

Among them, no one pointed out the fact that this marriage was an early one for the princess. Perhaps it was natural lack of consideration, since many vassals didn’t even know the face of the young lady they served, as she had grown up confined for a long time. They were just joyous.

However, among the court ladies, there were not a few who secretly sympathized with the princess’s situation. Particularly, four court ladies who had not yet reached the rank to watch the procession gathered in the empty rear garden and shared concerned whispers while lazily sweeping.

“If it weren’t for the war, she wouldn’t have had to meet a husband at such a young age…”

“That’s right…. What’s the point of an alliance? She’ll be bearing seeds before her flowers even bloom.”

“How will someone who hasn’t even experienced love manage her wedding night?”

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