Heinrich’s nightmare was always the same.
It began with Rivenia standing before a wide-open window.
Each time the wind blew, the loose strands of her carefully coiled hair fluttered in the breeze.
Though Rivenia was someone who didn’t even tolerate a single stray hair out of place, valuing formality above all else, she always appeared more relaxed when she was with Heinrich.
‘Hainie, what brings you here? How were your classes today?’
She never got too close to anyone else, yet she called only him by his nickname, as if the name itself was precious to her.
Even though Heinrich knew her affection was closer to that of an older sister than a wife’s love, he constantly craved her warmth.
He wanted to become a man worthy of standing proudly beside her, not just as her husband in name, but in truth.
‘My lady, I… I…’
The moment Heinrich stepped toward her—
Rivenia’s body suddenly fell, as if shoved, right out the window.
Heinrich rushed to it, stunned. Below, there lay an enormous coffin and Rivenia’s lifeless body, looking heartbreakingly small beside it.
“My lady… Rivenia…!”
Heinrich cried out her name in anguish and woke up with a start.
It was that same nightmare again.
Even though ten years had passed since Rivenia’s death, the nightmare still haunted him.
Knock knock.
A knock sounded at the bedroom door, and Heinrich cast a sharp glance in that direction.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, he spoke in a low voice.
“Come in.”
The door opened silently, and an elderly butler entered.
Without a word of greeting or sympathy for the nightmare, the butler simply placed a cup of warm tea on the bedside table.
Heinrich downed the tea in one go and let out a sigh.
“What time is it?”
“It’s five thirty, sir.”
“It’s about time I got up. Was there any trouble during the night?”
Heinrich sat up in bed, composed as if he hadn’t just awakened from a terrible dream.
The butler helped him dress as he reported.
“There’s unrest near the border with the Hess territory. Apparently, the people of Hess have been mining coal there.”
“How bold.”
“I’ve already sent men to investigate.”
Meaning the situation would be dealt with appropriately. The butler was truly capable.
But Heinrich made an unusual decision.
“I want some fresh air.”
He intended to go in person.
The area in question was only a few hours’ ride from the Baldwin estate. It wasn’t unusual for Heinrich to go riding when deep in thought.
“I’ll make the preparations.”
And so, not long after, Heinrich was galloping away from the estate.
The Baldwin lands were surrounded by large mountain ranges. But in one area, the mountains dipped into a relatively low valley—that valley bordered the Hess territory.
By the time Heinrich arrived, the Baldwin knights seemed to have already handled the disturbance. There was no sound of pickaxes, only grimy miners nervously standing around.
As Heinrich surveyed them, the knight commander gave a report.
“It appears they’ve discovered a mana stone.”
“A mana stone? There were mana stones here?”
“That’s what’s odd, sir. They didn’t stumble upon it while digging elsewhere—they came straight to this specific spot. And Hess is poor. They don’t have the equipment to detect mana stones.”
“Did anyone ask how they found it?”
“They’re refusing to speak.”
“…Something’s going on.”
Heinrich rubbed his chin in thought when suddenly—
“Oh, my lord! Please return to the manor!”
“It’s dangerous! What if something hits you, miss? There’s a very scary man here!”
“Shh! He’ll hear you!”
The miners suddenly erupted in a fuss, calling out to a ‘young lady’ and ‘my lord’.
Both Heinrich and his knights turned toward the commotion.
Through the burly miners, a woman completely out of place in a mine stepped forward.
The knight commander whispered behind Heinrich.
“That must be the baron’s adopted daughter. Nadia Hess, I believe.”
She had bright red hair and a small frame. Her vivid golden eyes beneath sharp brows gleamed with unusual clarity.
Though she was strikingly beautiful, her clothes were worn and mismatched.
Her skirt, long out of fashion, was especially threadbare at the knees—a sign of long hours spent kneeling. It also meant she didn’t have clothes fit for going out.
But Nadia’s posture was shockingly upright. She looked like a queen who’d never bowed to anyone.
After exchanging a few words with the miners, she turned to face Heinrich.
Their eyes met—his deep crimson and her brilliant gold, tangling silently in the air.
Nadia’s lips parted slightly. Heinrich felt as if he could feel her soft breath. It was strange.
She bit her lower lip, and her eyes began to blur.
Was she holding back tears? Why?
Why would she look like she was about to cry in this situation? And why would she hold it in?
Nadia bowed deeply—a proper show of etiquette for a noblewoman.
But to Heinrich, it looked like she was hiding a tear-stained face.
“Nadia of House Hess greets Duke Baldwin.”
Heinrich looked down at her bowed head and said coldly,
“So the baron took in a clever foster daughter… I didn’t expect her to be bold enough to dig for mana stones right under the Baldwin duchy’s nose.”
The miners flinched in fear. Some whispered anxiously.
“W-we must’ve been too close to Baldwin lands…”
“Was this illegal? They won’t take our lady away, right?”
“I heard the duke kills people like it’s nothing…”
As tension rose, Nadia looked up.
The teary expression from earlier was completely gone—Heinrich questioned whether he’d imagined it.
Nadia stepped forward and spoke firmly.
“Your Grace, this land may appear part of the Baldwin duchy, but historically it belongs to Hess. We have committed no offense.”
“Explain your reasoning.”
“The mountain range itself is Baldwin territory. It’s marked as such on maps. But three hundred years ago, when House Baldwin and House Hess were joined in marriage, the lowest part of the mountains was gifted to House Hess as a token of goodwill for continued cooperation.”
Her voice was clear and precise. Every word was pronounced carefully, with no trace of emotional manipulation—only history.
Because of that, Heinrich allowed her to speak without interruption.
“As time passed, relations between the two houses faded, and the land was forgotten. It was considered worthless, so even House Hess ignored it. That’s why people think the whole mountain range belongs to Baldwin. But based on my research, this specific area is part of Hess territory. We did not encroach on Baldwin lands.”
With this, it became clear who had instructed the miners to dig here.
Even Heinrich, who’d received the finest education, had never heard this part of history.
If what Nadia said was true, then the Baldwin family was unjustly interfering in the affairs of the Hess barony.
If it was true.
Heinrich tapped his forehead with his finger and said,
“Foster daughter or not, you’re well-versed in Hess history. You seem to know information no one else does.”
He clearly didn’t trust her, but Baron Hess enthusiastically chimed in.
“My daughter loves to read, Your Grace! She’s very intelligent!”
Unable to even recognize doubt—truly a naive man.
Nadia quietly scolded him,
“…Father! Let’s discuss that later!”
The baron blinked innocently, not understanding.
He was so guileless it was almost pitiful—but Nadia smiled fondly behind her hand, as if she found him endearing.
They looked far too close for an adoptive father and daughter.
Heinrich stared blankly at the two of them.
But their sweet family dynamic held no meaning for him.
He waved over one of his men and spoke in a voice as cold as the wind.
“Baron Hess, mark your version of the territorial boundary and submit any supporting evidence to the duchy. I will review your claim and determine if it holds merit.”
Baron Hess hurried to respond, but Heinrich didn’t even pretend to listen as he mounted his horse.
“Oh, my heart… Nadia, you should’ve let me handle this. What if they took you away? How would I face your mother? My legs are shaking…”
“It’s okay, Father. Duke Baldwin wouldn’t harm someone without reason.”
“But the rumors…”
“I mean it. He’s not that kind of man.”
Despite never having met Heinrich before, Nadia was speaking of him with odd confidence.
She watched as Heinrich and the knights rode away, eyes filled with wistful longing.
Then, in a voice no one could hear, she whispered,
“You’ve grown up so wonderfully, Hainie.”
