# 19
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Tears finally burst from Mrs. Isaac's eyes. She covered her mouth with her hand, as if she was afraid her sobs would escape.
“But… no matter how hard we try, if the master is asleep, we can’t bring anything back.”
Grace gently took her slender arm and said in a commanding tone:
“Help me wake the Grand Duchess. And from now on, cooperate with me to take back Richmond.”
Mrs. Isaacs felt as if someone had poured a bucket of ice over her head. A cold shiver radiated from the top of her head, and swept through her body to the tips of her feet.
These very words were what I had been waiting for all this time. How many times had she wished to shake the dying Grand Duchess and wake her. How many times had she wanted to evict the Marquis's husband, who acted like the owners of the house.
Even though this woman had in front of her a person whom she met for the first time today, Mrs. Ishaq could not refuse the hand extended to her. She wiped away her tears, rubbed her hand on her skirt, then carefully took Grace's hand, and said like a knight taking an oath:
“If you can awaken the Grand Duchess, if you can return Richmond to her... I will give my life for it.”
The corner of Grace's lips moved slightly.
Arwin Isaac.
Lady of the House of Count Isaac, the most trusted of the family of the late Duke, and the woman who could, with a single word, gather the wives of the knightly houses serving Richmond.
For this very reason, she was the person to be wooed before Grand Duchess Eliza.
Grace squeezed Mrs. Isaacs' hand.
“We'll work together from now on, Mrs. Isaacs.”
And so the first start button was tightened in Richmond.
＊ ＊ ＊
While Grace was wooing Mrs. Isaacs, a commotion broke out at the main gate of the palace.
“You cannot enter without permission from the Inner Palace.”
At the guard's stern words, a grey-haired old man exploded in anger:
“I am the head of the Rodeo House, who has served Richmond generation after generation!” I returned to greet His Highness the Duke after his return, so you dare to talk about the inner palace’s permission?! Open the gate immediately!!!
“I'm just doing my job. Without the permission of the Inner Palace, I cannot open the gate. “Come back.”
“You bastards!! Don’t you even inform His Highness that we have come?!!”
The sheikh was shouting, when a sarcastic voice came carried by the wind:
“Anyway, knights are still rude, no matter how old they get.”
“Emotion always precedes reason. Isn’t it true that blood on the hands devours sobriety?”
The faces of the leaders of the knights' houses who came to greet Walter froze in an instant.
“What did you say now?!”
While Crimson Isaac and Sirius Isaac, who had come with their father, gritted their teeth in protest, the gate opened and the Marquis's convoy appeared.
From their clothes alone, they looked different from the worn-out knights.
The Marquis's wife frowned upon seeing Crimson and Sirius's rough features.
“Do you intend to enter the inner palace in this form?!”
She shook her head lightly, and pointed at them with the fan in her hand.
“Does it not occur to you that this thieving appearance stains Richmond's honor?”
Then Count Isaac, father of Crimson and Sirius, exploded:
“Madame Marquise, this is an excess! My sons risked their lives for ten years to protect His Highness! These scars are badges of loyalty. How dare you call them thieves?!”
The Marquis intervened while patting his beard:
“On the battlefield, scars may be badges, but this is not a warfield.”
«……»
“Stop making noise. Do you remember how others used to refer to Richmond in the late Duke's time? They said that the knights even controlled the inner palace. Knights have their role, and we, first-class nobles, have another role.”
The fists of the assembled knights tightened.
“Beyond this gate, there is no work for you, knights. Instead of ing to be opened, wait where you are wanted.”
“Marquis Lenco!!”
cried the old man, but the marquis did not blink. Rather, he raised his index finger to his face and said, word for word, syllables:
“That…is the loyalty you must show.”
Laughter erupted from the nobles standing behind him. The Marquis turned around, smiling confidently.
“I will inform His Highness the Duke myf. Come back, everyone.”
Tears of rage finally fell from the old man's eyes.
“Dad, let's go back now. We are waiting for a call.”
At Crimson and Sirius's words, Count Isaac nodded, then turned to the henchman and said in an exhausted voice:
“Let's go back temporarily. "It doesn't look like we'll be seeing His Highness today."
“We did not protect him ten years ago...what if it happens again?”
To this lament Sirius answered:
“Don't worry.”
“……?”
“His Highness is strong. "And he will invite us soon."
Indeed, Walter had ordered his five hundred knights to wait.
And so, everyone left the closed gate.
The palace's pointed roofs looked like thorns sticking into their backs.
＊ ＊ ＊
As for Marquis Lenco, after dismissing the knights, he headed arrogantly towards the Duke's office.
He had a plan.
The best would have been for Walter to die before arriving at the palace, but victors always have alternative plans in place.
The Marquis was confident that he controlled everything in Richmond.
First, he has military power.
The number of soldiers owned by the nobles who turned to him outnumbered those loyal to the Duke. In addition, the palace knights and wall guards were under the command of Count Luwin, so Walter's five hundred knights could not move freely.
Then the entire administration was in his hands.
Finance, law, and day-to-day administration There was no area in which the influence of the House of Lenko did not reach.
Finally, the inner palace itf was held by his wife.
The Inner Palace is like the palace office in the imperial court. It handles the affairs of servants and coordinates between the duke and the homes of the followers.
Many years ago, Grand Duchess Eliza was the one who controlled it. Now, the Marquis's wife has taken her place. All of Eliza's ladies-in-waiting were dismissed, except Mrs. Isaacs.
If Eliza had tried to regain her influence, the Marquis would have assassinated her without hesitation. The protection of the throne no longer exists. From this perspective, her loss of the will to live was beneficial to her.
The King of Richmond is now Marquess Linco Ho.
A smile began to creep onto his distorted face at the Duke's return.
“Walter Richmond... must be very confused now.”
The first place he goes will undoubtedly be the office. But now it's empty, by his command.
The Marquis wondered at Walter's facial expression. He must be fumbling between documents, not knowing where to start.
He will come to him as a savior, teach him step by step, and in reality crush his f-confidence. If trust collapses, a person becomes weak. When he is weak, he decides his fate in a way that serves his interests, whether he kills or keeps him alive.
A delicious euphoria crept into his chest, and the corner of his mouth rose. When he put his hand on the door handle, his joy reached its peak.
He will enter without permission. Taurus forgets etiquette. Wouldn't the Duke be happy to see him enter like this?
But… his expectations were shattered the moment he opened the door. Rather, it crumbled into fragments!
“What are you doing now?!!!”
“Oh, noooo!!”
The screams of the documents clerks rose.
The office was a complete mess, as if a wild boar had broken into the place. While Joseph was fiddling with the documents, he turned to the Marquis' convoy with a bright smile.
"Yes! You finally arrived?
Have you finally arrived?
“What a mess?!!!”
The Marquis snarled, but Joseph did not care.
Compared to the roar of a troll, the scream of a gentle old man.
“How dare a lowly knight enter the Holy Office, and even touch the documents?!!!”
But, compared to the troll, this is worse luck.
“Because the Holy Office was empty. My master’s orders are more sacred than any office, so I could not wait.”
“You should have looked for me!!!”
"Yes! Excellent idea!”
Joseph clapped his hand as if he had suddenly been converted, and this increased the Marquis's anger. As his face turned red, Joseph waved a few papers.
“I'll do that next time.”
“What documents were you looking for?!”
“What does a lowly knight understand? If anything is lost, check for yourf.”
"Hey…!! Joseph Rexten!!”
“Oh, and by the way, His Highness said he needed to rest a little after the hassle of traveling. He has expressed his complete confidence in you, Marquis. We hope you live up to this trust. So…»
Joseph said a superficial greeting, then headed toward the door with swaying steps.
The Marquis shuddered at his impudence, then shouted to the soldiers at the entrance:
“Give back the documents that bastard is carrying!” immediately!!"