Leaning against the library doorway, Lukas watched Adrienne, who was completely absorbed in her book.
While her mistress was deep in concentration, Yuria was off chatting with the other maids by the washbasin. Seeing Adrienne so engrossed, unaware of the passage of time, it was hard not to sympathize with Yuria.
“She’s been like that for over three hours now.”
A sudden voice startled Lukas, and he turned his head sharply.
“I told you to make your presence known.”
“I did, Your Grace. You just didn’t hear me.”
Lukas frowned at the reply, but Jeord only shrugged and chuckled. Clearly, he was teasing, but Lukas had no desire to play along.
“Hmph. At this rate, she might become a better healer than El.”
“Or even a better mage than Tessa.”
“Is it because she’s said to be a descendant of Kiel? Are your hopes that high?”
“I can’t say otherwise.”
Jeord grinned as he answered.
“A healer and a mage… Quite the bargain, isn’t it?”
“Even if she weren’t, I’d say she’s worth the price.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Your Grace is here, after all.”
Jeord chuckled again as he replied. Lukas’s frown deepened noticeably, but Jeord seemed completely unfazed.
“So, are you just now starting to take an interest in the lady of Rantschka?”
“I was simply passing by. Don’t read too much into it.”
“Ah… I see.”
Jeord nodded slowly, clearly unconvinced. Lukas’s scowl deepened even further. As expected, Jeord remained unbothered.
Damn it.
Jeord’s teasing was beginning to cross the line.
But Lukas couldn’t find any good argument to shut him down.
“Just passing by, he says…”
How ridiculous.
This library was located in the furthest corner of the inner castle. He had never bothered to come here before.
“So what brings you here, then?”
“Why else would I be at the library? I came to shelve the new books. Tessa brought them from the White Tower, from a priest of Askro.”
It was only then that the books Jeord held caught Lukas’s attention.
“Healing techniques?”
“Her Highness thought more study on herbs would be helpful.”
Lukas’s gaze followed Jeord’s to Adrienne’s small head. She was resting her chin on her hand, seemingly lost in thought, the book closed before her.
…
Just then, a breeze stirred through the window. Adrienne’s silver hair fluttered gently in the wind.
As if on cue, she turned her head.
A soft smile lit her face, but the moment she spotted Lukas, that smile vanished without a trace from her petite features.
“I brought the book you requested, Your Grace.”
[Thank you, Jeord.]
“You’re very welcome, Your Highness. I’ll take my leave now.”
Jeord gave Lukas a quick glance before exiting the library.
“Jeord understands sign language now?”
Lukas asked, puzzled. Adrienne shook her head in reply.
“But you just had a conversation with him, didn’t you?”
Adrienne paused, then began writing on a sheet of parchment.
— It’s a phrase I use often, so he’s probably picked it up. I’ve told him thank you many times before.
“That meant thank you?”
Lukas asked again, and Adrienne nodded with a small smile.
“Hmph. I heard you mentioned wanting to teach healing to the child you treated the other day.”
— That was Ena. She’s a sweet girl. And smart. Teaching her healing would be a great help.
“Your requests keep increasing.”
[……]
Adrienne’s expression quickly fell when she read his lips. Lukas stared at her.
…Annoying.
War, defense, and castle matters were headache enough. But this small woman kept finding ways to get under his skin.
Lukas was someone with a clear boundary between what he believed and what he didn’t. Naturally, that made him highly suspicious.
And yet, he was being shaken too easily.
Adrienne Cladius.
Can I trust you? Are all your actions truly for the sake of Rantschka?
— I apologize, Your Grace.
“You apologize, but you’ll ask again. Won’t you?”
—I want to be someone Rantschka needs. But if my request is unreasonable, I’ll understand if you decline, Your Grace.
“You’re clever. You’ve made it impossible for me to say no. If it’s for Rantschka, what excuse do I have to refuse?”
— Then… you’ll allow it?
Her face lit up with joy as she looked up at him.
And in that moment, Lukas thought—perhaps his own face had brightened too. But the instant he noticed it, he smoothed his expression over again.
As his face returned to seriousness, the glow on Adrienne’s face slowly faded.
“Of course.”
[Thank you, Your Grace.]
“That means thank you again?”
Adrienne nodded vigorously when she saw he understood her sign. Her childlike delight made the corners of Lukas’s mouth lift ever so slightly.
____________𔒝 ࿆ ꫂ ၴႅၴ __________
“Jackson, have we still not located the salt mine?”
“No, not yet, Your Grace.”
It had been a full year. A year of searching the stony ridges and sheer cliffs for that salt mine based on a single old record. Time and manpower were being drained for the slimmest of chances.
And yet, that record was all they had.
That was how dire Rantschka’s situation had become.
Once this harsh winter passed, it would mark the third year. Apart from the first year, no aid had come from the Emperor.
That timeline aligned exactly with the Emperor’s illness and Crown Prince Agmund taking over in his stead.
The treasury he had been granted with the duchy at the time of his appointment would soon run dry. If rationed carefully, they might make it through the coming spring.
But after that?
If the barbarian raids continued, and the crops failed again, Rantschka would soon face starvation.
“What if we strike the barbarian base first?”
It was Daren, seated in the corner, who raised his hand and spoke up. The gathered knights turned to him.
“We don’t know the terrain of Keln well enough. If we march in to attack them, we might get ambushed ourselves. It’s reckless, Daren.”
“But we can’t stay on the defensive forever, Captain.”
“He’s right. This isn’t working. We need a different approach.”
Kitten chimed in, backing Daren’s point.
“But we don’t have enough manpower.”
“Why not request support from the Crown Prince?”
“Or ask him to release the dowry from Tehevia given at the time of your marriage.”
“Yes, that dowry is rightfully yours, Your Grace. Now that Her Highness is here, it’s only proper to claim it.”
The room grew noisy with opinions. Lukas frowned as he watched the discussion spiral. Their points were valid.
All of them were right. And yet…
“Agmund will never send us mercenaries, nor release the dowry.”
At Jackson’s remark, the knights fell silent. It was a truth they all knew.
Their lord was hated by the Crown Prince.
Or rather—Agmund wanted Lukas dead. Just as he had done to his mother.
“For now, we should focus on surviving the winter safely, Your Grace.”
“Jackson. And what changes after winter?”
He was no stranger to battle. But that didn’t mean he enjoyed it. The Black Knights in this room had already lost many comrades—and would continue to lose more. No matter how much time passed, you never truly got used to it.
“Finding the salt mine is top priority, Your Grace.”
“…….”
“That way, we can hire our own mercenaries.”
“So that’s the only answer left?”
“We must wait for the right time.”
“The right time…”
“Yes. At the very least, until after the winter. We’re at a disadvantage defending a stronghold. We have something to protect.”
“What a headache.”
Lukas rubbed his furrowed brow with one hand.
Damn money.
Damn salt mine!
When he’d entered this political marriage with Adrienne, Tehevia had provided a tremendous dowry.
But that dowry wasn’t here in Rantschka.
Right after the wedding, Agmund had taken Adrienne to Crown Castle “for her safety” and promptly froze the funds.
With some ridiculous justification, the dowry had likely ended up in the coffers of Empress Belloria’s family. The Crown Prince’s goal had always been to isolate—and ultimately ruin—Rantschka.
“Then for now, let’s split into search parties to continue scouting both the barbarian base and the salt mine. Once winter truly sets in, even that will be difficult.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Understood, Your Grace.”
“Oh, and what of the order to reinforce the watchtowers?”
“We’ve restructured the shifts and are increasing patrols, Your Grace.”
“Good. Then that’s all for today.”
As Lukas ended the meeting, the knights around the long table stood and began to file out.
“Your Grace!”
It was then that Tessa burst into the chamber, panting as he ran between the departing knights.
