Chapter 29

On that day, Ebec was on a rare day off, and he had come to the city of Midas.

In Midas, there was a store that supplied the Antore Knights, offering a wide range of items, from high-quality fabrics for evening wear to knights' accessories and weapons.

He finished some shopping and planned to meet up with his fellow knights and head to a familiar place.

As he was about to enter the store, he thought he heard a woman call his name, "Ebec."

However, Ebec ignored it and tried to enter the store.

It was normal for his fellow knights to call him without honorifics, but he didn't know any woman who would do so. He thought she must have been calling someone else.

But just as he was about to open the door, he was called again, more strongly this time.

Ebec stopped and turned around with a puzzled look, only to be shocked by the unexpected figure he saw.

"Your Highness..."

He started to say but quickly closed his mouth.

She was wearing a shabby outfit like the lower-class women, but it was indeed Queen Via.

Since she disappeared in Toua, Ebec knew that the Antore deputy had been desperately searching for Queen Via.

It was impossible to openly search for the emperor's concubine, and the investigation was difficult. Ebec himself had almost given up hope of ever seeing her again.

"It's good to see you safe."

Ebec hurried over and guided Via to the shade of a street tree by the road. Out of habit as a guard knight, he instinctively positioned himself to protect Via from others.

"Your attire..."

He looked down at Queen Via again and swallowed his words with a pained expression.

Her beautiful golden hair, which once reached below her waist, was now cut to mid-back and tied with a ribbon.

Her face hadn't changed much, but the dress she wore was the kind worn by women in the lower town. The fabric had faded, and knowing her former elegant appearance, it was clear she had been struggling.

"It seems you have a misunderstanding."

Via smiled, looking troubled.

"I am satisfied with my current life. I am doing well and enjoying every day.

But today, I had something important to discuss with you, Ebec, and I was waiting for you."

"Me?"

Surprised by the unexpected words, Ebec looked at Via.

"If so, you should have visited Antore."

He immediately realized that a woman in Via's current state would never be allowed to see him at the knight's headquarters, let alone be announced by the gatekeeper.

"It was impossible. But how did you know I would be here?"

"I once heard from Lord Ammon that there is a store that supplies the Antore Knights, and the knights often visit it."

"So you were waiting here?"

He raised an eyebrow as if amused, and Via laughed.

"It's been six days now.

If you hadn't come, I would have had to grab any knight and cry, telling them that my sister had a child with you and insist on getting in touch with you."

"Please spare me!"

Ebec let out a cry-like voice in surprise.

"It's really good that you came today."

Via said with a deep sigh, and Ebec frowned.

That was more like his own sentiment.

"Still, is there something troubling you?"

Given that she had waited for him, there must have been something important.

Ebec asked again.

Queen Via was a savior to Ebec. Even if she weren't, he was deeply devoted to this former master and wanted to help if she was in trouble.

However, what Via said far exceeded his imagination.

"Tell Lord Ammon to inform His Majesty. His Majesty had a dream where he and his horse were swallowed by a muddy river."

Ebec was shocked and looked at Queen Via with a stern gaze.

"When was this!"

"About two weeks ago.

I finally made it to Midas to inform you, but I didn't know how to get in touch with His Majesty.

I thought you would visit a store in Midas, so I waited here."

Ebec exhaled unconsciously.

"Please tell me the details."

Via closed her eyes and slowly chose her words, as if retracing the memory of the dream.

"His Majesty was riding a horse along a large river. Lord Gruuk was beside him, and they were talking about flood control.

It might have been shortly after the rain. The river was a muddy torrent, and the ground was muddy."

"Was there anything distinctive about the location?"

"I saw a large rock that looked like a human face.

Next to it, there were three tall trees."

Via clasped her hands worriedly.

"That's all. Can you identify the location?"

"A large rock that looks like a human face and three tall trees next to it. His Majesty is scheduled to inspect the flood control project on the Bize River soon.

If we follow the course of the Bize River, we should be able to pinpoint the location."

"Please tell His Majesty not to go there."

Via pleaded, on the verge of tears.

"It would be better if you explained it directly to His Majesty. Can you return to the palace with me?"

Ebec's words made Via shake her head.

She had no intention of ever stepping foot in the palace again.

Ebec's eyes wandered in thought, then he looked straight into Queen Via's eyes.

"His Majesty has been searching for you."

The deputy had said, with a pained expression, that he wanted to at least let His Majesty know if she was safe. It was a significant concern for the deputy.

But Via shook her head.

"I won't see His Majesty."

Ebec fell silent for a moment.

"Have you already remarried?"

At Ebec's question, Via looked up at him with a guarded expression.

"Why do you ask that?"

"If you have remarried, I assume your life is stable."

Ebec answered reasonably.

"I haven't, but I can manage on my own."

"Then, do you have plans to remarry?"

Via sighed, looking at her former guard knight with exasperation.

"Why do you want to know that?"

"If you have plans to remarry, I assume your life will be more stable."

Ebec repeated earnestly.

"I don't have plans, but I will eventually. I just haven't met the right person yet."

"What about the heir of a wealthy merchant family in Toua?"

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Via's face turned red.

"How do you know about that!"

"I was the one who went to Toua to search for you."

"Why did you come?"

Via lowered her gaze and muttered.

"Complain to His Majesty.

By the way, the Antore Knights are currently searching for you. Isn't it a waste of resources and a burden on them?"

Thinking of Alec, Via felt like crying.

She didn't want to show her weak face, so she looked down.

"You could have forgotten about me."

She had told Alec the same thing, that he should forget about His Majesty and be happy.

Taking a deep breath, she asked casually,

"Is everyone doing well?"

"Prince Celdis has become more active in public. He has grown taller and matured a lot.

You would be surprised to see him.

Deputy Antore, Lord Gruuk, and Lord Luitas are all well. They are energetically supporting His Majesty.

Lord Rofman recently asked if the resting queen was doing well. From his tone, it seems he has noticed that the queen is not at the secondary residence.

And then..."

"Why don't you tell me about His Majesty?"

Seeing Queen Via turn away and pout, Ebec smiled.

"Are you curious?"

Via shook her head, trying to suppress her emotions.

"He is well. If anything happens, I would hear about it through rumors."

It wasn't going to be easy. Ebec sighed softly.

"I can't easily see His Majesty, so I don't know much about his condition.

However, I have heard that despite numerous marriage proposals, he refuses to listen to any of them.

He says that he has Celdis, and Celdis is so repulsed by the idea that he gets goosebumps.

His Majesty is well, at least on the surface.

Are you satisfied?"

"You have a nasty way of putting it."

Hearing about Alec, her nose tingled, and she blinked repeatedly to keep the tears from spilling. She muttered angrily.

"I know I'm a nasty person.

Even though I know it's hopeless, I feel lonely without the queen."

Via was silent for a while.

If she could return to those arms, she thought. But it was just a lingering attachment.

Even if she returned, they would only end up hurting each other.

"I'm leaving now."

Ebec looked at Via with a pained expression but didn't try to stop her.

To avoid hurting Queen Via, the emperor had not mobilized the guards. Ebec would follow his heart as well.

However, he hesitated to let her go. Her shabby appearance revealed her struggles.

Ebec wanted to give her some money, but he knew she wouldn't accept it, and it would only hurt her more.

So, he quickly took out a badge from his chest and placed it in Queen Via's hand.

"Take this."

It was a badge with the Ebec family crest and the year it was given, proving that the bearer was a member of the Ebec family.

Surprised, Via examined it and tried to return it to Ebec.

"This is a badge. I can't take such an important item."

A badge is given to a knight who is not the eldest son when he is knighted and becomes independent.

Those who become adopted children or take their wife's family name are still fine.

However, those who cannot even do that must live alone with this badge as proof of their noble lineage.

If they die, it is passed down to their eldest son, and then to his eldest son, ensuring that the noble lineage is carried on in a visible form, no matter how low their circumstances may fall.

Of course, it could also be sold for a high price as proof of noble lineage.

"Use this if you really need help. I have the Antore Knights' badge as well."

Ebec, being a knight of Antore, held the Antore badge, which granted him a one-generation noble title. However, the value of a family crest badge far exceeded that of a knight's badge.

"No, you need it when you have children."

"Your Highness,"

Ebec took the hand that was trying to return the badge and kissed it lightly, as if swearing his loyalty.

"Without you, I would have lost my life long ago."

Although he served her for a short time, he felt a deep loyalty and respect for her, to the point of being willing to die for her.

"I was truly happy to serve you.

If you value the time we spent together, even a little, will you accept something that connects you to me?"

Via looked at the badge with the Ebec family crest and the year it was given.

A badge with a family name, which only the children of well-known nobles were allowed to possess.

Ebec was offering this symbol of pride to her.

Refusing it would be the same as rejecting Ebec's feelings.

Via sighed softly and clutched the badge carefully.

"Thank you. Take care of yourself, Ebec."

She smiled one last time and turned away.

She would leave Midas and never return.

Ebec watched Queen Via's figure as she walked away into the crowd until she was out of sight.

Then, he hurried to the Antore Knights to quickly report the information he had received.