Chapter 47

Swish. Thud! The arrow, drawing a parabola, struck the deer's neck precisely.

"Yahoo. Whoo!"

Heinrich let out a loud whoop and whistled as he dashed toward where the deer had fallen. Dominic tightened the reins to calm the horse, which was startled by the scene.

"Whoa."

It's always like this; we only catch things like this. Tsk tsk. The sun was setting above the heads of Heinrich and his party as they ran toward the fallen deer. Dominic, looking up at the sun that was getting closer to the mountain ridge, turned his shoulder toward Daniel, who was behind him.

"My lord, let's wrap it up and head back to the camp. It'll be dark soon."

Despite Dominic's urging, Daniel did not turn his horse around. He gazed silently at the Altas foothills, surrounded by large and small mountains, without moving a muscle. Dominic, instead of urging Daniel further, turned his horse and approached him. It had been a week since they left Mühheim Castle. While traveling through the forest, he inadvertently told Daniel the location where the duchess was planning the road construction, and he had been in this state ever since. Although he might not be aware of it, it seemed that the original purpose of the hunt had faded by the fourth day. Among those who had set out together, only Heinrich Updyke was still enthusiastic about the hunt. Daniel, with a sharp gaze, scanned the estate as if choosing a battlefield, and moved the camp every two days. It seemed he intended to survey the entire duchy this time. When Dominic approached, Daniel pointed to the middle of the mountain.

"Why do we have to go around instead of going straight through there?"

"Because the duchess insists on it."

Dominic emphasized the word 'insists.'

"Didn't you tell her that it's a shortcut?"

"Of course not. The cost difference is significant."

If they avoided the shortcut, it would cost about three times as much. Dominic's arithmetic was quite accurate, so this calculation was surely correct. When Daniel, at the age of ten, joined his maternal grandfather's mercenary group, Dominic followed him. Even though Lady Laura didn't tell him to, he naturally did so. He seemed to have subconsciously believed that his place was by Daniel's side. To be more honest, he was sick of studying and packed his bags. Lady Laura, who wouldn't let him look at any other books, encouraged him to study mathematics and science, which were useless even for mercenaries.

"You'll find a use for everything you learn, Dominic. So don't be lazy and study quickly. No sword practice until you finish that book."

Thanks to that, Dominic became the smartest and busiest person in the mercenary group. Ten years ago, when a gold mine was discovered in the stone mountains of La Paz, which belonged to Daniel's maternal grandfather, Dominic was responsible for determining the route to transport it to the Duchy of Veneto, calculating the cost, and dividing the profits. Because his father boasted about this to the duchess, Dominic was caught and couldn't escape when he returned to the duchy.

"Dominic, will you help me? Who else can I trust besides you?"

Damn. How can I refuse when he clings like that? Dismounting, Dominic stretched his arms high and grumbled.

"I tried to persuade her that it would cost a lot and take twice as long, but she wouldn't budge."

He rubbed his stiff neck and frowned, stretching his arms.

"There's a fairly large village at the end of the opposite side of the mountain. If we cut down all the trees here, there could be a landslide when it rains heavily."

"You could relocate the village near the castle. That would be cheaper."

Dominic chuckled, remembering his own response. The simplicity of the thoughts of those who only wield swords was thus proven.

"She doesn't want to disturb the land where the estate residents live. Moreover, if too many people move near the castle before the renovation of Mühheim Castle is complete, there could be problems with water supply and security."

Well, the noble lady knows a lot. Dominic smiled proudly.

"I told you, our duchess is a genius."

Better than a hundred empty-headed men from Schendal Castle, dressed in fine clothes.

"We shouldn't make the people in the estate feel uneasy. One thing at a time, but quickly and surely. If we show reliable results, they will follow us on their own."

The determined look on her face was so adorable and commendable that he almost stroked her head without realizing it. When he received no response, Dominic turned his shoulder and looked up at Daniel, who was on the horse. Every time the wind blew through his hair, his unfathomable deep brown eyes were revealed. His gaze, fixed on the middle of the mountain, was unwavering. What happened that morning when they left for the hunt? What made him leave the castle and stay away for a week?

'Could it be that he really didn't know anything? That's why he couldn't... do it?'

"My lord, did you...?"

"When can the construction start?"

Dominic, hesitating to speak, swallowed his question when Daniel countered.

"We can start immediately. The problem is when it will be finished. There's a high chance it will never be completed, no matter how much money we pour into it."

He wanted to add, 'It's a crazy idea,' but when he saw Daniel's eyes, he closed his mouth.

"Still, start it."

A vague, indescribable emotion filled the red eyes, which trembled slightly.

"What I can do... is just that."

***

The capital of the Svergen Empire, Celino, is also known as the 'City of Flowers.' Despite the harsh winter, it was short, and the spring in Celino, with its generally mild climate, was filled with various flowers. In particular, Schendal Castle, where the emperor resided, was famous for its magnificent and elegant exterior and beautiful gardens. Among the many gardens of Schendal Castle, the most famous was the 'Mirabel Garden' in the Empress Dowager's palace. The landscaping, designed to have different flowers bloom in succession throughout the year, was unparalleled. However, the truth was that the rumors were exaggerated by the vanity of the nobles who had visited, making it seem better than it actually was. The entry to Mirabel Garden was limited to a select few nobles summoned by the Empress Dowager. As a result, those who had visited the garden once vied to create similar gardens in their own estates to show their closeness to the Empress Dowager. Last spring, when it was said that the garden arch in Mirabel Garden had changed to light purple lilac, the seeds of lilac in the empire ran out, and the price skyrocketed, causing a ridiculous situation. Count Ulrich Chamberlain, entering the spring-filled Mirabel Garden, paused to look at the garden arch adorned with white and pink roses this year. He had bought a lot of rose saplings of the same color as this place before the flower market in Celino opened this spring, as he had been tipped off. The profit from reselling them was substantial, and he smiled contentedly at the sight of the rose arch. The white table under the rose arch, the empty chair with a backrest on one side, and the Empress Dowager, sitting with a radiant Adamas tiara on her elegantly styled blonde hair, all came into Chamberlain's view. The Empress Dowager, sitting with a dignified posture, was reading a document with a calm expression. It had been four days since the emperor left the castle, causing quite a commotion. Her calm demeanor, as if nothing had happened, was typical of 'Baichen.' The Baichen family, known for having hearts in their heads rather than their chests, was famous for its cold rationality. Among the descendants of this family, the Empress Dowager was known for being the most rational and ruthless. However, there was something she couldn't control. It was said that she couldn't stop her son from insisting on visiting the mistress, Baroness Butain.

'Tsk. They say no parent can win against their child.'

Chamberlain wiped the smirk from his lips and forced a gentle smile. Sending his son to the mistress, whom he so disliked, must have made her seethe inside. To soothe her, he had to muster up some flattery.

"Your Majesty, there you are. I searched this Mirabel Garden for a long time to find you. Ha ha."

The Empress Dowager Margaret greeted Chamberlain with a graceful nod and placed the two documents in her hand on her lap.

"Did no one tell you I was here? It's my fault for making you wander the garden with your injured leg. I will warn them to be more careful. Please sit, Ulrich."

The Empress Dowager Margaret affectionately called Chamberlain's name and pointed to the chair opposite her. Count Chamberlain shook his head quickly for the many servants of the Empress Dowager's palace who would receive unnecessary warnings because of him.

"There's no need, Your Majesty. It was my fault for not finding you, even though I was told you would be here."

Chamberlain kissed the Empress Dowager's hand and sat in the chair she indicated. He placed his cane, with its ornate golden vine pattern and perforated rattan backrest, on the cream-colored chair. The rattan chair, a gift from Duke Andrea of Weimar, who had bought it from the East, was very popular among the nobility.

"Surrounded by flowers, I thought the goddess of flowers had come to Mirabel Garden."

Despite Chamberlain's awkward flattery, the Empress Dowager did not even smile. She nodded to a servant standing a few steps away, who approached and filled Chamberlain's cup. The scene of red hibiscus tea filling the white interior of the gold-coated cup was very impressive. When the servant finished filling the cup, the Empress Dowager gestured for him to step back.

"Everyone, step back. No one is to enter the garden after this time."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

As the footsteps of the servants faded, the Empress Dowager took the documents from her lap and placed them on the table. Chamberlain squinted to focus on the blurred text. At the bottom of the document were two Altai eagles and two crossed spears intertwined between them, the official seal of the Margrave of Svergen. If it was the official seal of the Margrave, not the blue eagle of the Updyke family, it must be about the border situation.

'Why is she showing this to me?'

Chamberlain, who knew better than anyone how the Baichen family operated and managed their surroundings, looked up at the Empress Dowager instead of reading the document. Of the twelve dukes who were the foundation of Svergen, only four families remained. Among them, Baichen, which had the weakest military power, had survived by manipulating the nobles with excellent intelligence. The Empress Dowager Margaret, a direct descendant of the Baichen family, valued information highly and rarely shared even a crumb of it with Chamberlain, who had been her closest confidant for nearly a decade.

'Is she testing me?'

The instincts of the seasoned Chamberlain, who had survived the Svergen royal court where emperors and nobles died frequently, warned him.

"Read it, Ulrich."

Even after hearing the Empress Dowager's suggestion, Chamberlain confirmed again before reaching for the document.

"Is it alright for me to read it?"

The Empress Dowager nodded slightly to give her permission and lifted the gold cup filled with red tea.

"I need your help, Ulrich. If you are to help me, you need to know our situation clearly."

"Help, Your Majesty? I am ready to offer my life if the royal court needs it..."

At that moment, Count Chamberlain, who had caught a familiar name in the document, was startled.

"My God! You mean this person is still alive?"