Chapter 48

The document stated that the Duke had reported sightings of Arthur Nottingen near the border. Arthur Nottingen. He was the eldest son of the Duke of Nottingen, one of the twelve dukes, and had been considered a potential son-in-law to the former emperor. The Nottingen family had been surprisingly quiet when Volstak II usurped the throne. Perhaps they had been suppressed by the overwhelming momentum of the Weichen family, who had laid the groundwork beforehand. They eventually raised the banner of rebellion, but three years ago, the entire family was wiped out by Duke Leopold. It was said that he had barely managed to escape alone, but with no news of him, it was assumed that he had died somewhere in the mountains.

"Since no one reported that he was killed, it's only natural that he's still alive."

Chamberlain read the rebuke in the Empress Dowager's calm voice, as she had been responsible for suppressing the Nottingen family at the time.

'Anyway, she's being quite harsh.'

The Earl swallowed a sip of lukewarm tea to avoid making a clicking sound with his tongue. It was true that Daniel Leopold had let Arthur Nottinggen escape, leaving behind a lingering threat, but he himself had been severely injured in the process and only recently regained consciousness. Moreover, Daniel Leopold had been the one who made the greatest contribution to the current emperor's ascension to the throne. The fact that there had been no major unrest in the empire during the three years without the emperor's hunting dog could not be denied, thanks to Duke Leopold's thorough elimination of the opposition. Although Chamberlain found Daniel's existence irksome, he could not deny his abilities and suddenly felt a twinge of sympathy for him. At that moment, the Empress Dowager's cold, deep blue eyes met Chamberlain's.

"Urich, is there any possibility that Daniel deliberately let Arthur Nottinggen go?"

When the first rain of winter falls in Chellin, it signals the start of the cold season. After the winter rain stops and the dark clouds clear, a clear sky filled with cold air spreads out. But if you go out without dressing warmly, deceived by the clear blue sky, you'll shiver in the cold all day. When Chamberlain looked into the Empress Dowager's calm, icy blue eyes, he was reminded of the chill of that season.

"Do you have any particular reason for suspecting this?"

"It's just strange. That Daniel, to have been defeated by just Arthur Nottinggen."

The Empress Dowager did not seem to attach much significance to the question and did not mention it further.

"Urich, I want you to take this letter to the Butein estate. Now that it has been officially confirmed that Arthur Nottinggen is alive, it is dangerous for the emperor to stay there. Since he won't listen to me, I want you to persuade him and bring him back."

Even the Empress Dowager found it hard to hide her bitter feelings that day.

"If I stay here any longer, I'll go mad or suffocate to death! If you want a child so badly, you can have one from anyone!"

Leopold finally raised his voice and left the castle. Though he resembled her in not showing his emotions, at times like this, he was unmistakably a Leopold. Weak, sentimental people who flounder in meaningless emotions. They all struggle futilely to escape her grasp until their last breath.

"Now... you can no longer do anything to me, Margret."

Bruno Leopold, her husband and Duke of Leopold, smiled in his final moments. Even as he stiffened day by day from digitalis poisoning, he seemed happy, as if he had finally found true freedom.

'Stupid and naive to the end.'

If he had obediently followed her, the throne might have been his, not her son's. She could have made it so. Bruno Leopold had once dreamed of being the emperor, and she the empress. They had imagined sharing all the glory together. Looking back, she might have had a pure, youthful time as well. The moment she gripped the handle of the teacup, Margret bit the inside of her cheek to control her emotions. She was no longer the naive girl Margret Weichen. Indulging in shallow sentimentality was enough for her reckless youth. As the current Empress Dowager, she had the duty to consider the next hundred years of the Sveergen Empire, and that had become her name.

"But if the emperor insists on going to Utrecht instead of Chellin, don't stop him. Follow him."

"Does that mean the emperor will go to Duke Leopold?"

"Going to Butein is just an excuse; it was his real intention from the start."

This was something she had expected since hearing that Daniel had awakened. She knew that Leopold, who had always shown a particular fondness for Daniel since childhood, would find some pretext to go to the duchy. Leopold often looked at Daniel with admiration and envy. The overwhelming height that belied their two-year age difference, the natural sword skills he inherited from his maternal grandfather, a mercenary, and the black hair and deep red-brown eyes that were rare among Sveergen's nobility. Daniel was a child who drew attention in every way just by standing still, stealing the attention that should have gone to Leopold. Like Laura, who had taken her husband's heart, Daniel overshadowed her son, Leopold. She had let it be, thinking Leopold would grow out of it, especially since he resembled the Weichen family more. She had also relaxed her guard because the young Daniel had been easy to manipulate. But surprisingly, the problem was not Leopold but Daniel. A bastard who, despite his lowborn mother, did not know his place and tried to rise above his station. Despite her efforts to suppress and break him, she could not shake off the unease. Now, though he pretended to be docile, she wondered if he would one day bite Leopold's neck. It was questionable whether the boy who had survived a near-death experience would be the same. Daniel was a man who harbored a volcano that could erupt at any moment, hidden beneath a calm exterior. His ambition and determination made the name Weichen more fitting. Although it was very uncomfortable to let Leopold go to Daniel, she could not stop her son this time. If she couldn't stop it, it would be better to have someone like Urich, who was quick-witted, to keep an eye on things. It would take more time for the Baron of Boid to do his part. There were many things on her mind, but she had to stop thinking about Daniel. There were more urgent matters at hand.

"Urich, there's one more thing I need you to do."

"Please, Your Majesty."

"Hasn't the female emperor been on the throne in the west of Altas for quite some time now?"

The west of Altas, the 'Lungen Empire'? In the past, Chamberlain had attended the coronation of 'Scadia Lungen,' the first female emperor, as Sveergen's representative.

"Yes, it's been six years this year."

"Find out why they don't follow the Salic Law. Is it just out of resentment towards Sveergen, or is there another reason? If so, is there any basis for it?"

The 'Salic Law,' which stipulates that only men can inherit titles and property, has been the foundation of the empire's order for centuries. Investigating why they no longer follow this law?

"May I ask the reason, Your Majesty?"

Just the fact that the royal family is interested in this could lead to all sorts of rumors spreading like wildfire. Why take such a risky step?

"It's just a small curiosity."

"Surely, Your Majesty, who is so astute, knows how dangerous this curiosity is."

"That's why I'm asking you, Urich. Find out secretly, without anyone knowing."

The warm spring breeze that had been gently caressing the rose leaves suddenly turned cold.

"If the news leaks, the culprit will be either you or me."

A chill enveloped Chamberlain.

"Fortunately, we won't have to go through the trouble of finding a traitor."

***

The silver-inlaid oak comb pressed deeply into Frieda's hair, smoothing it out. With each stroke, the silver waves became more orderly and shimmered beautifully. Just as she was about to comb again with a pleased expression, Frieda's head was suddenly turned.

After a week of combing, her neatly arranged hair swayed smoothly. Her anxious purple eyes looked up at the Baroness of Boid.

"It seems like enough combing, but do we need to do more? The Baron is waiting for me in his office."

"Tell him to wait a bit longer. Twenty more strokes will make your hair shine properly, my lady."

After a few days of rest, the Baroness of Boid had started visiting Frieda's room every morning to take care of her, without being asked. Shocked by the almost empty jewelry box, wardrobe, and the lack of a proper reception room or dining hall for the duke and duchess in the Mühheim Castle, she insisted that the castle needed to be renovated to match its status.

"If the authority of the lord is not established, order will collapse in an instant."

The Baron of Boid shared his wife's view.

"Ruling a territory without authority is a half-baked idea. People must look up to and admire you, while also fearing you. That is the beginning of loyalty."

The Baron was more straightforward than he appeared.

"Do you want to send the children of the territory to university to study? It's a good idea, but will they want to return to this poor land after finishing their studies, where the lord and lady live no differently from common servants?"

He had a reasonable point.

"If you don't have enough financial leeway, at least have the Marian Hall, where you two will stay, renovated. I will submit a budget within four days."

Despite her gentle appearance, she was quite assertive. She firmly shook her head at Frieda's suggestion to wait for the duke to return.

"His Majesty said that all matters within the castle should be decided in consultation with the lady of the house. This is not something to delay while waiting for the duke, whose return is uncertain."

The budget the Baron had prepared was clean and concise. Eventually, Frieda nodded. She had felt the need to renovate the castle after hosting guests, as it had been neglected for too long. The order was handed over to a merchant in Weimar, using the entire annual budget of the castle. She hesitated until the last moment, wondering if it would be better to use the money to hire more workers for the bulb fields. The order was passed to the merchant just yesterday, and the items were expected to arrive in a few days. It was too late to worry now. The combing of Frieda's hair continued.

"His Majesty's hunt is taking longer than expected. It's been ten days, hasn't it?"

'Already ten days.'

Frieda nodded silently.

"When will he return? When His Majesty sees the changed lady, he will be surprised."

After combing, the Baroness neatly braided Frieda's hair and pinned it up. The change in her hair alone was enough to make people marvel, as Frieda's appearance had been unchanged for so long. She had been living in this rural area without anyone to take care of her during her prime years.

"Wait and see. When he returns, he will bitterly regret leaving such a beautiful wife to go hunting."

The Baroness carefully finished styling Frieda's hair. She should also order a few dresses for the duchess when the tailors arrive to make the knights' uniforms.

"There, it's done. Look. You are really very beautiful... Lady, Lady, why are you crying?"

Frieda's eyes were filled with tears.

"He probably... regrets marrying me."