~CHAPTER 83~
Harvich stood in front of Lincia’s bedroom door and replayed the previous night’s conversation.
He felt his heart tighten the moment she said she had a request.
He felt like he already knew what she wanted even before hearing it.
She could not look at him properly, and each time he reached his hand out, she flinched away.
Lincia.
“Please speak.”
What if she says she wants to leave the Grand Duchy?
What if she says she’s scared of this land?
He tried to sound calm, but his palms were wet with cold sweat.
His heart pounded and his stomach churned.
I’m scared.
I have nothing to offer her, so what do I do if Lincia wants to leave me?
There was nothing in the North that she would consider a blessing.
“I want to stay away from the Grand Castle until I give birth.”
“Lincia.”
“I know this is a difficult request, but I…”
He clenched his fist.
It was slightly better than hearing her say she wanted to leave the territory altogether, but it still suffocated him.
He could not grant her request.
Anywhere outside the castle would be unbearably cold, difficult to obtain ingredients, and lacking proper protection…
No.
Those were just excuses.
Harvich simply did not want her far from where he lived.
“I… this place…”
“I will pay more attention to your safety.”
He spoke with a hint of desperation.
“I will assign more knights to protect you.”
He knew that was not what she wanted to hear yet he still answered incorrectly.
“If you want, the people of the Grand Castle…”
“I don’t need knights.”
“Even if there are many people…”
Her face twisted painfully as if she recalled that terrible moment.
She placed one hand over her abdomen and gasped for breath.
Her eyes reddened and Harvich instinctively reached out.
Her body stiffened instantly, clearly rejecting his touch.
“It’s meaningless.”
“Everyone here…”
He froze, staring at her with his hand still raised.
“…they hate me.”
He could not deny her words.
He lowered his hand slowly.
“I want to go back to the two-story house I stayed in before.”
“…I was wrong.”
“But please, do not say you are leaving me.”
Her face dimmed with faint despair at yet another refusal.
He felt terrible but he could not hug her or reach out to comfort her.
Of course this land and this castle would be terrifying now.
After what happened, anyone would feel that way.
He understood her perfectly, yet he could not suppress his own selfish desire.
“That is the only thing I ask of you.”
“…”
“Lincia.”
He felt pathetic, begging to be forgiven instead of giving her what she needed.
Her long eyelashes trembled and after a short moment she parted her lips and spoke slowly.
“…Make Tereo my guard.”
“Very well.”
As long as she did not say she would leave him, he was willing to accept anything.
He feared she would change her mind, so he agreed immediately.
“I will bring him at once.”
“Hyu will stand guard outside the door.”
He left the bedroom right away.
Her request was reasonable.
Tereo was once a palace knight, so at least he would not harm Lincia or the child.
Besides, he loved Lincia.
It was clear as day.
Assigning a man who loved his wife as her personal guard made his insides twist and burn.
Still, he returned with Tereo and stood in front of the door.
He bit the inside of his cheek and knocked.
“While safeguarding the Grand Duchess, do not act frivolously.”
Who was he to warn whom?
***
“Are you sure about this?”
“About what.”
“I mean… you’re not going to see my lady?”
It was late at night.
Harvich had not left his office and sat flipping through documents.
Hyu was clearly worried.
Probably because Tereo would be at Lincia’s side.
Harvich pressed his temple, enduring the familiar ache.
“If you’ve greeted her, wait outside.”
“Don’t leave. Stay beside me.”
Lincia grabbed the hem of Tereo’s clothes.
Harvich could not help but stare at her hand.
Soon her fragile voice drifted out.
“Tereo, stay next to me.”
Ever since she collapsed, she would not look at Harvich for more than a moment.
She no longer held his hand, and whenever he lifted his, she grew stiff with fear.
But she never looked away from Tereo.
Why does that hurt so much?
“Please protect my child.”
“What should I do, Your Grace?”
“Your master is the Grand Duchess.”
“Follow her wishes.”
He wanted to order Tereo to leave immediately, but he knew he no longer had the right to say such things.
He was grateful that she was still willing to remain in the castle.
“Understood.”
As Harvich left the room, Lincia did not look at him once.
The violet eyes that once adored him no longer reflected him.
Now Lincia considered Tereo from the palace far more trustworthy than anyone in the North.
And that included Harvich.
Remembering that moment, he bit his lip hard.
“But if you aren’t by her side…”
“Right now, she’s better off without me near her.”
He gestured to Hyu to leave.
It was a silent dismissal.
***
That day, Tereo saw the physician enter several times.
Each time he administered narcotic painkillers.
Tereo had heard rumors of a major incident involving the princess but never imagined it was severe enough to require such drugs.
Even with them, Lincia suffered greatly.
Whenever she dozed off, she broke into cold sweats, making Anna panic helplessly.
Anna continued to glare at Tereo, but she had nothing to say in such circumstances.
To her, the North seemed far more horrifying than him.
Tereo felt similarly.
He hated the current situation but endured it.
If he upset Lincia in any way, he might lose the position he barely managed to obtain.
But as night came and Harvich still did not appear, Tereo could no longer stay silent.
“Why are you living like this?”
“You’re treated worse here than when you were mistreated in the palace.”
He mocked her, but she gave no response.
Her gaze remained fixed on the door.
She had sent Anna out because she believed Harvich would come.
Tereo’s frustration burned.
“He isn’t coming.”
It was late and Harvich still had not appeared.
It was obvious he would not come, yet she kept staring at the door endlessly.
“Your Highness.”
Lincia finally looked at him.
He expected anger, but she said nothing.
She gripped her blanket and turned on her side.
“If it’s like this, then leave.”
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