The Duke of Ernhardt’s estate was known even in the capital city of Stelten for its beautiful scenery. Behind it stretched the grand Chernay Forest, and in front lay the vast Shumava Lake. Its beautiful garden, complete with a pond, and the historically rich, venerable mansion were works of art in themselves.
But the lady of the house, Elliche, wore only a somber expression.
āThereās still no word from the Duke today either, is there?ā
In response to her question, the well-built butler, Bengsche, answered politely.
āThere is not, madam.ā
āNo message saying when heāll return?ā
āNo, madam. None.ā
Bengscheās responses were always courteous, yet never informative.
Elliche was always the last person in the mansion to learn anything about Lexius. Even then, it was usually Cecile who picked up rumors from the maids and relayed them to her.
The elusive butler would only appear when summoned by Cecile and never offered any meaningful answers.
āThe Duke must still be in the northern territory, right?ā
āYes. Heās reinforcing the northern border defenses. Since it borders the land of the beasts, strong fortifications are necessary.ā
āAnd next, heāll head to the eastern mines.ā
āYes, likely so.ā
āIn the summer, the western port. And in the fall, heāll be in the south for the harvest.ā
āYes, I believe so.ā
Elliche fell silent, bitter over the mechanical replies.
Not at war, yet a wife who hasnāt seen her husbandās face in three years.
The Ernhardt domain spanned across the empire. Inherited lands were in the north and south, while Lexius had purchased mines in the east and a port in the west.
He claimed he had no time to stay at the capital mansion because he had to oversee all these territories. But before the marriage, Elliche knew Lexius had spent quite a bit of time in Stelten.
Yet, the day after their wedding, he left the capital and barely returned in the three years since. A week the year before last, ten days last yearāthose were the longest stretches.
Even then, he didnāt spare Elliche a glance.
When he arrived in the capital, over 200 knights and staff lined up to greet him outside the mansion. He greeted every one of themāexcept her. It was as if she were a ghost.
Everyone in the mansion treated her the same. She barely saw anyone in the hallsājust the cleaning maids, a serving maid for meals, and a coachman for outings.
They bowed when passing, but never used the title āmadam.ā
It was clear: they had no intention of recognizing her as the Duchess.
Only Cecile remained by her side. If Elliche hadnāt been able to bring her from the palace, she wouldnāt even have had a space to breathe.
Suppressing her turmoil, Elliche asked Bengsche again:
āHe will attend the Crown Princeās investiture, wonāt he?ā
āWeāve yet to receive word, madam. But thereās still a month until the ceremony.ā
āIt takes over a month just to get here from the north. If we havenāt heard anything by nowā¦ā
āHis Grace only needs two weeks. He travels much faster than ordinary folk, being with trained knights.ā
āā¦I see. You may go now.ā
Elliche finally dismissed Bengsche with a sigh. Once again, no new informationāonly confirmation of her husbandās cold indifference.
No matter how aloof Lexius was, he couldnāt skip the Crown Princeās investiture. A casual banquet might be ignored, but not a ceremony of that level.
With a grim face, Elliche fiddled with the bracelet on her wrist.
It had been forcibly placed on her by the Emperor during her last summons to the palace.
> “Wear this, Elliche. This time, you must bear a child.”
When she had returned empty-handed after failing to meet Lexius even in the south, the Emperor had flown into a rage and declared he wouldnāt stand by any longer.
Thatās how she ended up wearing the bracelet, a string of multicolored gems.
She was told to open the green one and sprinkle the powder on Lexiusāthen heād be compelled to come to her.
> “Until youāre pregnant, heāll desire you with a fury. And rememberāif this fails, that slaveās life is forfeit.”
It was horrifying. No doubt some kind of black magic-laced potion.
She hadnāt wanted to go through with it. But she had no choice. If she didnāt bear Lexiusās child, the Emperor would kill Hadin.
—
Ellicheās carriage, with her maid, passed through the Dukeās mansion gates.
Riding behind it at a distance was Judel, following slowly on horseback. This shadowing had continued for three years.
> āKeep an eye on the princess, Judel. You never know what she might try.ā
The day after the wedding three years ago, Lexius had issued that order as he headed to the southern domain.
> āWhy me? Please assign me another task.ā
It was Judelās first act of disobedience. She was willing to face any dangerābut shadowing the princess was unbearable.
> āYouāve got the best instincts. And youāve got your sick brother here in the capital. Let me give you work that lets you stay.ā
Lexiusās reply was firm.
And it was true. Even among the elite knights of the Ernhardt order, Judelās instincts were unmatched.
If she sensed a chill in the woods, a beast attack would follow. If something felt off in battle, it meant an ambush. Sheād even uncovered spies within the order multiple times.
Lexius trusted her instincts deeply.
> āRight now, the biggest threat to the house is that woman. If she gets a lover, our name will be ruined. If sheās kidnapped because we neglected her, itās a headache. If she diesāworse.”
> āAhā¦ā
> āAnd behind her is the Emperor. Who knows what plans brought her to this house? She could be trying to ruin us. We need surveillance.ā
> āSo you want my instincts watching her.ā
> āExactly. Iāll double your pay. And your brother will get the best doctors.ā
Lexius had shown her ultimate trust. And to a knight, that meant everything.
From that day on, whenever the princess went out, Judel followed.
Three years of following, yet the princess had never shown suspicious behavior.
Other than being summoned by the Emperor once every three months, she led an extremely quiet life.
Her only āincidentā was traveling south, desperate to see Lexius, only to return without meeting him.
When Lexius heard she was coming, he immediately left for the north. Upon learning he had left, the princess fell ill for days.
Today, again, she would visit Dr. Miceās clinic, the gardening shop, and the alley in Quays. Always the same routine.
Sometimes she added a stop at a construction officeāwhen something was wrong with her greenhouse.
Rarely seen by the mansion staff, the princess spent most of her days in the greenhouse.
Her world revolved around cultivating strange, unheard-of plants and flowers.
And every Wednesday, she went out with her maid.
She sold what appeared to be medicine made from those plants at the clinic and bought supplies for the greenhouse.
But what did she do in the Quays alley?
Judel still didnāt know. The princess never met anyone or entered any building. Just walked straight through the long, dark street.
That alley was known for illicit goods and slave trading. The only notable thing about it was that a famous information guild operated there.
—
āWelcome, Lady Ritz.ā
Doctor Mice greeted the woman with his usual pleasant smile.
With radiant golden hair and enchanting blue eyes, the woman claimed to be a distant relative of the Duke of Ernhardt.
Given the carriage marked with the Ernhardt crest, there was little reason to doubt her.
Young and seemingly naĆÆve, she nonetheless possessed tremendous skill, and they had done business for three years.
Noānot just business. She was the one who had elevated his humble clinic to where it was now.
Back then, Miceās clinic was a shabby rental in a back alley, mostly treating poor commoners.
Now, he occupied a large new building in the bustling districtāall thanks to her medicines.
Especially in the field of antidotes, his clinic was now known as the best in the capital.
āMadam, have you completed the antidote for Chorpang?ā
As he ushered her into the VIP room, Mice couldnāt wait to ask. Heād been anticipating it.
Chorpang was a deadly poison, a combination of the beastly Chorpos venom and plant toxins. It had no known antidote and couldnāt be healed by divine powerāmaking it a favorite among assassins.
If sheād made an antidote, it could sell for a fortune.
āI couldnāt make much,ā Lady Ritz said modestly.
But Mice, thrilled, nearly jumped. Just the fact that she succeeded was world-changing.
āH-how many bottles?ā
āTen.ā
Ten bottles. Miceās jaw dropped. The only Chorpang antidote on the entire continent.
He could charge 50,000 Stels per bottleāabout the cost of a luxurious noble mansion. And people would still buy. It was a matter of life and death.
āIāll pay 10,000 Stels per bottle. How about that?ā
He offered quickly. She never sold anything without upfront payment. With some loans, he could gather 100,000 Stels. He wanted to buy them all.
That meant reselling each at 50,000 would net him 400,000 Stels. An immense fortune.
But the delicate-looking young woman simply smiled, her blue eyes sparkling. Tossing her silky golden hair back, she replied carefully.
āI want to sell this one myself. If you can introduce a buyer, Iāll give you a referral fee.ā
āW-what? Youāve never done that before.ā
āThis antidote is that rare. Iāll give you 10,000 Stels per bottle as a referral. If that doesnāt work for you, Iāll find another clinic.ā
āYou meanā¦ youāll change vendors?ā
Mice panicked. He had always exclusively sold her medicines, under his own name, per her request for anonymity. His reputation had soared because of her.
Lady Ritz simply smiled.
āIād prefer to sell through you. But if the fee isnāt enough, Iāll go elsewhere.ā
āI-Iāll do it! Of course! How much should I say the price is?ā
ā100,000 Stels.ā
She said it lightly. As if unaware how the market workedājust quoting the highest number possible.
āWh-what? Isnāt that too much? There arenāt many in the Empire who could afford thatā¦ā
āIf no one buys, I wonāt sell. Selling below that only cheapens the value.ā
She was firm.
