“Lady Modd, your words are a bit harsh…”

“It’s you all who are harsh with your words. Just because the Madam isn’t here, you treat her so disrespectfully.”

‘Has that woman suddenly gone mad?’

The woman who never took sides is suddenly making a fuss and taking the Duchess’s side!

“Are you perhaps feeling anxious now that the famous illegitimate child has returned? Do you want to try to get on the Madam’s good side now?”

Gasp.

Everyone inadvertently held their breath at Lady Gillett’s statement.

The illegitimate child of the Modd family. Lady Modd’s sore spot. A being no one dares mention in her presence.

The angered Lady Gillett had just openly brought it up.

“Well, I can understand Lady Modd’s position. How terrifying it must be that the illegitimate child she tried so hard to crush has returned with that stubborn life intact. I hear that child has some connection to the Madam as well. Who knows what they might whisper about Lady Modd.”

“Lady Gillett. You got one thing right, but the rest is wrong.”

Lady Modd rose from her seat calmly and composedly.

“It’s true that I’m anxious about that child’s return, but that child is not illegitimate. He is my other son. Never call him illegitimate again. Otherwise…”

Lady Modd bent down and brought her face close to Lady Gillett’s ear. After hearing Lady Modd’s final whispered words, Lady Gillett sank down with a pale face.

“H-how did you…”

Lady Modd looked around at the ladies’ society.

“The Madam recently changed the head maid, didn’t she? I believe the previous head maid was hired at the castle with Lady Gillett’s recommendation. I understand Lady Gillett’s anxiety as her influence in the castle diminishes.”

She showed no concern for how her words might be perceived by everyone.

“But at times like these, it’s best for everyone to exercise restraint. The Madam will surely employ those she needs to use, without you all being so eager.”

Having said her piece, Lady Modd immediately rose from her seat.

As everyone remained dazed, Lady Temery was the first to come to her senses and clapped her hands.

“The meeting is over.”

* * *

A few days later.

I invited Lady Modd to a private tea time. It was just the two of us.

Despite Lady Temery hinting to me that ‘Lady Modd was unlike her usual self,’ Lady Modd appeared exactly the same as always. Calm, dressed in achromatic colors, outwardly a gentle lady.

‘But there’s an active volcano inside.’

“I thought I’d have to deal with the ladies’ society at some point, but I never expected you to step in, my lady.”

“No matter how capable the Madam is, she can’t manage this vast Inkhart Castle alone. Those people can be helpful if handled properly.”

“Why did you help me?”

“Because I owe the Madam a debt.”

“Me? I don’t recall helping you particularly.”

“Is that so? You haven’t helped at all?”

“No.”

“I like that about you, Madam.”

Lady Modd smiled.

“Everyone has difficult times in life. It’s truly appreciated when someone nearby says the right words at the right moment.”

She lowered her eyes.

“I’ve made a decision about the issue with my husband. It was a problem that had been frustrating me for a long time, but now that I’ve decided, I feel relieved.”

So it’s that decision after all. It couldn’t be helped. I nodded.

“If it’s assassination, preferably outside of Inkhart…”

“I’m going to divorce my husband.”

“Pardon?”

“What?”

“Divorce?”

I gaped.

“Just divorce?”

“Madam, I think I must have misheard something just now.”

“No, a problem that ends with divorce is when I’ve had an affair and brought a child from outside. That’s the solution for when it only went that far!”

He left his family to rot internally while living comfortably himself. Then Earl Percival should pay a proper price too!

“But we can’t really kill him, can we?”

Lady Modd laughed with a dejected expression.

“Of course, there were moments when I wanted to kill him.”

“Just moments?”

“There might have been quite a few.”

“This is your chance to put it into action. If you hide your movements well, it won’t be noticed.”

Apple, who was serving our tea, cautiously murmured.

“Madam, the Duchess of Inkhart shouldn’t be recommending assassination. You should be discouraging it, if anything.”

“No, talking about it is free. It’s just a discussion in conversation, you know?”

“I’m currently above the ladies’ society, but once I divorce Earl Percival, I’ll have to step down from the society. So until then, I’ll support you as much as I can, Madam. I’ll make sure the ladies’ society becomes useful to you.”

I quietly sipped my tea.

A divorce between noble couples. And a famous one within the castle at that.

“How much have you prepared for the divorce?”

The divorce proceedings between Earl Percival and Lady Modd could serve as a precedent for me.

“I’ll support you as much as I can. If you’re not going to kill him, we should at least strip him of all his assets. He’s the guilty party. Who does he think he is to be allowed to live?”

Lady Modd covered her mouth and laughed.

“Thank you.”

I’m not joking though.

“By the way, Madam Anette.”

Lady Modd suddenly lowered her head.

“Is that child doing well?”

* * *

Barbarossa swung his sword in the empty training ground. It was dawn, with no one around.

Swoosh, swish.

‘A bit more.’

He could see the trajectories of the knights’ swords in the footprints left on the training ground.

But the opponent Barbarossa was concerned about was someone else.

A clean sword trajectory that left no afterimage.

‘The Duke didn’t swing like this.’

Darius Inkhart. A man younger than himself who picked up the sword later than Lucian, but showed a different class in skill.

The swordsmanship of the Duke, whom Barbarossa had seen a few times while coming and going to Inkhart Castle, had completely captivated his heart.

“Haah!”

Clang!

Was it due to impatience?

Far from catching up to Darius, his wrist bent and the sword flew spinning to the ground.

“…This isn’t just a matter of taking a few years off from training?”

When you apply force, flexibility disappears. When you try to display flexible swordsmanship, the sword loses power accordingly.

But Darius’s swordsmanship was perfectly harmonious in every aspect. This was evident just from watching him spar with the knights.

His free sword path simultaneously dealt with three people charging with sufficient strength. And not street thugs, but formally appointed knights who complete regular training every day.

The Duke was not only facing such knights but also giving them guidance at the same time. Just how many levels above was he?

Yes, he truly was amazing. To the extent that I could understand why Madam Anette sometimes couldn’t help but boast, unable to contain her pride.

Was this what Lucian meant when he gave advice on the way back to the castle?

‘Ah, he really is a monster.’

It was when Barbarossa had sprawled out on the training ground, thinking he might as well rest while he was down.

“Um.”

A foot approached next to the fallen Barbarossa. A careful, small voice.

Barbarossa opened his mouth.

“I heard fried food is popular in the castle these days…”

His foster mother, whom he had avoided for so long, was standing before him. Oddly enough, holding a basket of fried food.

“The fried, the fried, that’s.”

After hesitating for a while, Barbarossa reached out for the basket of fried food.

“It’s too hot. The ones Donau ate were all cold.”

* * *

“He always has so much to say, that guy, eating whatever he’s given.”

Yawn, I rubbed my mouth as I yawned.

‘Did I really have to see this? See, everyone’s living well on their own.’

Sylphid, who had urged me to come out at dawn to see what kind of ending Lady Modd and Barbarossa would have, was already on the verge of tears.

Spirits can’t even cry, yet they’re just indulging in emotions.

“Let’s go in, Anette. The dawn breeze is cold.”

Darius wiped his reddened nose tip.

Oh, no way?

No way, was he moved by this too?

Turns out I might be the only cold-hearted one here.

“It’s nothing, really.”

I had gone out secretly at dawn under Darius’s suspicious gaze, and when we returned, I held Darius’s hand as we went back to the bedroom. It was still too early to be out of bed.

* * *

Inside the mansion of the Spinel Count family in the northern border region. The usually quiet mansion, reflecting the strict nature of its master Count Spinel, was unusually bustling today.

The young master’s groans echoed through the temporary sick room set up inside the mansion.

“Ugh, uuugh!”

“You must endure, young master! If you move, it will be difficult to treat you!”

“It needs to end quickly for the young master to be comfortable!”

The assistants held down the writhing young master from both sides and pushed in the IV fluid to the end.

Count Spinel’s eyes wavered.

“The child is suffering so much!”

“It’s part of the treatment.”

“Is this really treatment? What kind of treatment torments the patient like this?”

“I assure you. Please wait a little longer. Many people have already seen effects from this method.”

The doctor spoke firmly.

“I don’t want to… I don’t want to do this anymore. Please stop this.”

The young master cried loudly as he listened to the conversation between his parents and the doctor. Count Spinel’s heart was torn at the sight of his child crying with tears and snot. A subordinate of Count Spinel, who had been watching this scene, spoke up with difficulty.

“You must leave for the Inkhart Duchy soon. The Duke has summoned all the lords under him for the winter monster subjugation.”

Count Spinel knew this well too. But how could he focus on official duties while leaving behind a son who was suffering so much?

“Don’t worry. Professional medical staff will always be by the young master’s side. If you trust us and leave him in our care, you’ll see that the young master has fully recovered when you return, Count Spinel.”

“No! Don’t leave me behind!”

The young master crawled over and grabbed Count Spinel’s clothes, escaping from the treatment that was like torture.

The subordinate spoke with a troubled face.

“Count. We cannot take the sick young master all the way to Inkhart.”

Count Spinel sighed.