Chapter 48
Thus the empire took over the Eastern Kingdom.
They lost their queen and surrendered unconditionally, so the empire overthrew them and made them a complete vassal state.
All the gold and silver obtained from Narandi was more than the compensation received from the entire Southern Kingdom.
The Imperial Army cheered and proudly returned to the Empire.
But Victor Morte did not feel comfortable at all.
His nightmares weren't over, and getting him to sleep now was a war.
He was in such severe pain that he sought out sleeping pills and magic, and even tried to cut himself with a sword.
Nothing hurts him.
The Grand Duke was disappointed.
The Queen made him unable to kill himself.
"So, who can do that?"
“Who can sleep and put an end to this pain?”
“The strongest knight on the continent? Who?”
***
He couldn't remember what happened next.
The reason he was able to return to the empire without falling from his horse was because of his strength and the Queen's curse.
Well, not exactly the Queen's Curse.
No one approached the knight with an intimidating demeanor.
Even the Emperor dismissed him after a few short words.
Victor refused all banquets and locked himself in his palace in the capital.
The only reason he did this was because of Daedric and Sumona's insistence.
They didn't want him to sleep at the training ground outside the capital.
They said that they could not allow their master to suffer in shabby dwellings, and that they themselves would help with the treatment.
Victor simply nodded.
He was too tired to stop them.
In this way, his palace was turned into a battlefield.
During the day, his knights met with famous doctors and healers, and at night, they guarded the halls.
Terrible rumors began to spread in the capital.
That the Grand Duke of Morte was mad and had to be imprisoned, or the Knights of Morte would revolt.
They were just rumors, but the frightened nobles cut off communication with Morte.
Even Nanael Welsh, his fiancée, didn't dare come to visit him.
The palace, where the ruins of Morthion remained, was increasingly deserted.
The Grand Duke felt that everything was his fault.
His people suffered, the war continued, and countless people died.
Morty was covered in blood, his mother had died, his father had left, and the funerals of his older brother and teammates could not be performed properly.
He couldn't sleep, and his aching head wouldn't stop thinking.
An old man's sadness consumed his body.
Then, one day, his knights brought news.
“Today a man from the Welsh Duchy visited and asked what you were going to do about your engagement.”
"If I were him, I wouldn't think about pushing his daughter into my bedroom."
The Grand Duke answered sadly.
Leonard nodded.
“We also explained the situation and offered to pay...but it was of no use. They do not want to miss an opportunity like this.”
“Are they okay if her groom is crazy? "I'm crazy."
Leonard was silent beside him, Karls opened his mouth in a stern tone.
“Well, they have lost their minds. There is even a rumor in the capital that His Highness brings knights to the palace every night to entertain him.”
"What?"
“That's why I don't understand etiquette. How ridiculous is it that you can't enter a bedroom unless you're his wife?”
Carls complained.
The Grand Duke stepped out for a moment. Normally, he would have been angry at the circulation of such insulting rumors, but his exhausted body had other ideas.
"wife."
The residence of the Grand Duchess, which the Duke of Welsh longed for.
A woman who can access him at night and during the day without scandal.
There was no wizard who could cure him, no wizard... but a knight?
At the same time, the story he heard on the battlefield flashed in his mind.
Rumors about the strongest knight in the kingdom.
The Grand Duke said suddenly.
"Bring it."
"from?"
"The strongest knight in the kingdom, like Jin said. If it's her, she can watch me at night and end this Welsh nonsense."
The knights exchanged puzzled glances.
"Do you believe the rumours?" Didn't Jin say it was just a long story?"
“I wonder if His Highness will be able to handle such a long journey...”
The Grand Duke did not answer and looked out the window.
Honestly, he had almost given up on treatment.
Neither medicine nor poison worked, and magic was out of the question.
Besides, Victor was painfully strong.
Slowly, the knights guarding him were suffering more and more serious injuries.
His wife had to be someone stronger than him who could overcome him without getting hurt.
However, the Grand Duke had never met anyone stronger than him.
So he didn't expect much, but if she was strong enough, she could defeat him or even kill him if she couldn't calm him down.
Victor decided to hold on a little longer.
***
The knights eventually fulfilled their master's orders, and planned a journey to the kingdom.
The Morte Knights quietly left the capital and headed north.
The whole time, Victor was locked in his wagon like a prisoner.
When they arrived north after traveling for several weeks, the king fortunately knew who they were referring to.
The Northern Maiden spoke politely in front of them.
"I am Omarion of Amari, Your Highness."
She looked really strong.
She had the eyes of a warrior who had seen many battles.
At that moment, Victor knew.
If this woman could truly defeat him, he would give her all the riches he had.
When he died, he would hand over his position to her, but in the meantime, he would make her the greatest lady in the empire.
The Grand Duke made an offer, and the lady accepted it.
After they returned from their long journey, Victor closed the gates and set up knights in the garden.
“If she screams, come to her rescue but don't rescue her otherwise. Even if you get hurt.”
Lie in bed.
“Now really, I'm looking forward to the end.”
***
*And the next day.
"...You're alive."
The Grand Duke has arrived at dawn.
"Do you want me to die?"
Victor saw a white silhouette bending under the window.
A face he tried not to look at, long platinum hair, thin arms, and a tired expression.
However, her hand grabbed her sword.
The Grand Duke stared at her in astonishment.
"No, it's just... I'm surprised."
Suddenly, his whole world turned upside down.
Victor was able to imagine a future, something he had not been able to do for a very long time.
The longer he spent with her, the more alien he felt.
He had never met such a unique person in his life.
She was strong enough to be on par with him.
She was a great knight, ready to devote every night to the sick.
All his instincts were overridden, and the Grand Duke clung to her like a child.
His only thought was that he couldn't lose her.
It was crazy, but he didn't mind.
Whether it was power, gold coins, or his body.
He was willing to give everything for her.
As long as he could keep her precious, safe and alive, by his side.
He was determined to do something he had never been able to do before.
So Victor completely disguised himself.
He tried not to scare her, acted like a gentleman, and hid his true nature.
At the same time, wrap her surroundings with thin things, such as cotton blankets.
Safely, without going anywhere, he wanted her to see and hear only good things.
He locked her door so no one could steal her from him.
He was clumsy and failed several times, but in the end, it all worked out.
Early in the morning, Victor kissed his wife's forehead and swore.
“I will protect you all my life, my savior, my one and only family reborn.”
“The only one who can bring me life and death.”
"...Marion."
“You, only you, no one else...”
To the battlefield
Morty's summer was at its peak and the morning sun streamed through her window.
Omarion rubbed her eyes and got out of bed.
As always, the place next to her was empty.
When she rang the bell, her maids came quickly with honey tea and a water basin.
When I drank the honey tea, I asked.
"Where is he?"
“His Highness just finished eating and went to his office.”
"Fine, thank you."
The maids stared at her.
She pretended not to notice that she had washed her face with cold water from the sink.
It had been two weeks since the start of her strange cold war with Victor.
She had been avoiding him since the executions, and he had never bothered to look for her.
She was still confused.
Victor, who was always kind and friendly, was actually cruel enough to send people to the gallows without hesitation.
The illusions that had built up around him collapsed in her mind.
All that remains is distress and emptiness.
I ate a mushroom pie topped with cream in a sour mood.
After she finished eating, Mary asked cautiously.
“Ma’am, the subordinates are waiting again today, saying they want to see you. Would you like it?”
I sighed.
After the executions were abolished, many followers came to see her every day.
They wanted to thank her.
But she brought them back again and again.
She saved them because it was her duty as a knight
She didn't want to be thanked for that.
Besides, there were people who spread evil rumors not long ago.
So she said the same thing today.
“Tell them to come back.”
"Yes, ma'am."
Mary bowed her head and left the room.
***
• End of chapter •
To be continued •••
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