Chapter 10

CH10

Agnes became even more puzzled because she didn’t marry Laslo Alpharde for those reasons.

“Is that important?”

“It’s important. To you.”

Laslo’s face was serious. He straightened himself up.

“You’ll see when you get the ledgers from Niall, but Sutmar is on the verge of collapse.”

“What?”

“It’s like a sand castle on the beach that’s about to collapse from a single wave.”

Laslo added bitterly and stared at the burning candle.

Agnes leaned forward in surprise. On the contrary, Laslo did not show any unrest.

“The tax revenue has decreased dramatically due to repeated bad harvests, and the number of attacks on Masu has peaked recently. Everyone is trying to not talk about it, but more and more people are fleeing over the mountains.”

“Then…”

She didn’t expect it to be that serious. Agnes bit her lips. She left the bookkeeping to Niall and didn’t pay any attention to the matter, so she hadn’t expected it to be this severe, even though she vaguely knew about the financial situation not being so good.

“Without money, we can’t strengthen the army, and naturally not stop the invasions either. It’s a vicious cycle where civilians die or get hurt because we can’t stop the evil attacks, and so scared citizens run away, leading to further tax cuts.”

His heavy sigh was gloomy.

“Duke Alpharde”

Agnes looked at Laslo, not knowing what to say.

“Don’t you know why Prince Sebastian let the princess marry me?”

“If you’re lucky, you’ll have over 10 years, but if not, then five years. This territory has a limit of how long it can withstand this.”

He gave a rather sober outlook on the future of the estate. Agnes was speechless. What he said was true and there was nothing more she could add, it was a very possible future.

“I didn’t spend the night with you.”

Only then did he get to the point.

“Because if you don’t have any children, it would be easier for you to start anew.”

Laslo explained calmly, unlike the hesitation he showed at first.

“Start anew?”

“I’ve been taught not to create anything I can’t properly take responsibility for. Princess.”

Agnes felt strange hearing the words that came out of his mouth.

“Responsibility?”

“If this land collapses in a few years, you’ll no longer be able to lead this kind of life. I’m used to eating and sleeping on the ground, but I can’t force the princess to live that kind of life just because we’re married.”

“Then the matter of children…”

“You already know. God doesn’t recognize a childless couple as a complete couple. And that means you will never be subjected to me.”

Agnes inhaled sharply. She felt as if someone had hit her in the back of her head, hard. She was shocked.

– No, it’s nothing. Master asked me something.

– What did he ask?

– Well… About on what days one can and cannot conceive a baby.

She suddenly remembered what Ney had said that time with a nervous face.

She didn’t think much about it at the time.

It was only much later that the two of them would sleep together.

Agnes, of course, spent the night with him many times, but there had never been a sign of pregnancy.

She had no idea that he had been thinking this way.

Why had she resented and hated this man? If she had asked him why, wouldn’t the relationship between the two of them in the past have changed?

Agnes couldn’t look straight at him because her heart was aching. Feelings of regret welled up in her throat. She lowered her head out of shame.

“I…”

Her voice trembled due to the tears that were filling her eyes. She tried clearing her throat repeatedly, but to no avail.

“I’m going to die here…”

“What are you talking about?” Laslo was taken aback and asked.

“I will die, hiccup, in this castle. I’m never ever going to run away again.”

Rather than saying it to him, she was talking to herself.

She swore it on the pole that pierced his rotten arm.

Hope y’all early birds enjoyed being bamboozled.