WLTIS | CHAPTER 33

Chapter 33

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The training ground was in the outer castle.

Since the outer castle and the archducal castle gates were the closest in distance, the departure ceremony was held at the training ground.

Harvich was checking the weapons to be used for the hunting festival one last time.

Normally, vassals and knights were in charge of weapon inspection and the overall matters of the hunting festival.

But the fact that the imperial dog still hadn’t been found weighed on his mind, and since accidents due to equipment were frequent at the festival, he carefully examined them himself.

When he finished checking the last piece of armor, Harvich straightened up.

“Your Grace, you must come at once.”

“Why. What has happened.”

“Well…”

Pressed by Harvich’s presence, the knight faltered, unable to continue.

“Marquis Caden Avalon, while out walking, encountered Sir Tereo, who was injured, and returned with him.”

Just hearing it gave Harvich a headache, and his brow furrowed.

The hunting festival was to begin the very next day.

The start date could not be delayed any further.

Snow that heralded the season of day-snow came without warning, and no one knew when the season would end.

Already, the celebration banquet had been postponed compared to the previous year when Lincia collapsed with a cold right as the envoys departed.

“And there’s another problem…”

At the knight’s continued words, Harvich let out a rough sigh.

The moment he heard of Tereo’s whereabouts, he immediately went to find him.

Tereo was in Oberok’s infirmary.

“I greet Your Grace.”

The splints on his arm and the visible wound on his cheek made it clear the injury wasn’t a lie.

Harvich strode up to him, seized his arm, and roughly tore off the bandages.

“Ugh! W-what are you doing?”

Once the bandages were all undone, the bone protruding unnaturally could be seen.

Tereo bit down on his lip, holding back the pain, glaring at Harvich.

Ignoring his gaze, Harvich flung the man’s hand aside.

“So it wasn’t a lie.”

“Yes, that is so.”

“Wouldn’t returning to the palace hasten your recovery?”

To Harvich’s question of why he came back, Tereo pulled out an imperial edict.

“His Majesty has ordered me to return to the north to take up the post of guarding the young master.”

It was a document appointing him guardian to a child not yet born.

Harvich sighed deeply.

“I understand, but I doubt you can perform the duty properly with a broken arm. Remain on standby until you’re healed.”

He didn’t wait for Tereo’s reply.

Knock knock.

Late that night, a knock on the door made Harvich frown.

With the departure ceremony tomorrow and unexpected guests giving him a headache, he had ordered no one to visit his office until morning.

Not that this was the only reason his head ached, but he refused to dwell on the other.

When Harvich threw open the door, Ethan was standing there.

Ethan Chaester. The Chaester family had for generations been responsible for herbs and medical care at the archducal castle.

But Ethan feared blood, and so could not inherit the usual role.

He had some medical knowledge, but could not tend to trauma patients. Instead, he was put in charge of supplies.

Startled by the door flying open, Ethan hunched his shoulders.

Seeing the Chaester family’s characteristic frailty on display only fueled Harvich’s irritation.

Pressing his fingers against his brow, he snapped at Ethan.

“…Why have you come? Didn’t I say I wanted to be alone?”

“Ah, well… Her Grace the Archduchess has come to see you.”

“What?”

At the mention that Lincia had come, Harvich bit down hard on his tongue.

The woman had only just recovered from her cold, unable even to speak properly—yet she had come all the way to the outer castle?

“Should I perhaps have turned her away without asking you?”

Ethan’s careful suggestion made Harvich pull himself together.

The thought of Tereo staying in the infirmary soured his mood further.

His residence hadn’t been settled yet.

If the Emperor had appointed him to guard the young master, quarters should have been arranged in the main castle.

But leaving him there while he himself was away irritated him, so he had kept Tereo in the infirmary, especially since his arm was broken.

“Bring her… No, I’ll go.”

Harvich grabbed his coat and headed out.

Lincia was waiting for him in the reception room.

“Ah.”

Her eyes lit up with joy.

Seeing that gentle look directed at him calmed the storm of emotions raging inside Harvich.

“What brings you here?

You should be focused on recovering, not coming all the way to the outer castle… Did you come alone?”

He couldn’t quite stop the brusqueness in his voice.

“Well…”

Lincia hesitated, then pulled out a piece of paper.

Harvich immediately recognized its origin.

“You left this in my chamber. I thought you might need it, so I brought it.”

It wasn’t urgent, but it was indeed necessary—documents related to distributing the game from the hunt.

“Ah, I didn’t read it, so don’t worry.”

Harvich knew he had forgotten it, but after that incident, he couldn’t bring himself to go to her room.

When he stayed silent, Lincia handed him a neatly folded cloth.

On the soft fabric, a wolf was embroidered in silver thread—the symbol of House Cassius.

“…This is.”

“In the imperial palace, during hunting festivals, lovers give these… to wish for safety and fortune. I rushed to make it, so it’s not perfect…”

But for something made in haste, the embroidery was flawless.

Running his fingers over the silver stitching, Harvich lifted his gaze to take in Lincia.

And suddenly he realized the reason for his agitation and unease.

The thought that Lincia might have had something to do with Tereo’s return was itself a reflection of his own anxieties.

But faced with her harmless, caring expression, all those thoughts melted away.

“Thank you.”

He could have demanded answers about Tereo.

On the last night of the banquet, what did she and Julius speak about alone?

Did Julius say then that Tereo would stay?

Did she already know Tereo would return?

But Harvich did not.

He no longer wanted to hurt Lincia.

He didn’t want her to suffer because of him any more.

He still couldn’t name this feeling, and it wasn’t born of a pure motive.

“Is he the father of the child?”

“Why did you dance with him?”

…That was why it was best not to go further.

Besides, Lincia was a Durand.

“I’ll be going then. Sorry for disturbing you so late.”

“Stay the night.”

Despite his thoughts, Harvich impulsively stopped her as she turned to leave.

“…Pardon?”

He didn’t wait for her reply, but led her toward his chamber.