Chapter 1 - Prologue
***
The fact that all the aides were looking at her made it all the more uncomfortable. But Lesche didn’t even glance at her as he asked.
“Did they say how those demons are?”
“Oh, yes, Your Highness. They said they’re small and medium sizes.”
Lesche quickly signed with a quill pen and stood up.
“Are the people from Duke Howard’s still here?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Tell them that I won’t be coming to help this time.”
‘Did I mishear him?’
It seemed that Seria was the only one who was bewildered because the aides just went off to carry out their orders without showing any sign of panic.
Linon also had a satisfied smile on his face.
“Duke Howard trusts his imperial bloodline and is too arrogant. It didn’t make sense to use the Berg Knights’ manpower, but it worked out well.”
Linon’s words were sarcastic. When he said imperial bloodline, he must have been referring to the prince that Queen Ekisel had produced. The Duke of Howard secured his seat by any means necessary and was secretly disgruntled among the nobility.
‘It’s even worse because he’s pretending to be nice in front of them.’
Since it was pushed through with a large number of seats, the formal compensation must have been greater than the good reward. And if it was only Berg, it was more profitable not to go than to dare to take it and bother to go support him. Nonetheless, Lesche probably had to go help because of the imperial law and tradition.
Lesche glanced at Seria.
“The compensation list is worth your denial.”
“Who denied it? I just said I didn’t like it.”
“It was Howard’s fault for bringing something you don’t like.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Linon interrupted with a look of satisfaction.
“Thanks to you, Duke Howard is the one who’s going to flip.”
‘That’s not bad.’
Seria nodded. At that moment….
“Seria.”
Lesche held out his hand to Seria.
“You were asked to come. Do you want to go?”
“Do I have to?”
“If you want to.”
“The High Priest is calling for me.”
“There are a dozen excuses you can make up. So you can pick and choose as you please.”
“Tell me one to pick.”
“…”
Seria stared at Lesche’s hand. She didn’t think long and took his hand. The funny thing was, she had held his hand a few times, and she was quite used to it.
It was the hand of a male protagonist she thought she would never touch.
***
The half of the nobles who were stranded in Tshugan territory had a few things in common. That was, they were people in a hurry to get to Berg territory.
And there was one more thing.
They were the people who had sent only the low profile knights of their families to the wedding of Marquis Haneton and Seria Stern.
In a word, they were completely shunned by Seria.
Of course, it was a choice that they couldn’t help but make to satisfy Marquis Kellyden. The problem was that Seria Stern suddenly married the incredible man, Lesche Berg, not Kalis Haneton.
“What is really happening?”
“My father, who was a bit bewildered, asked me to send her a gift…I even had a hard time getting a suitable gift.”
“The knights of our family said that they couldn’t even talk to Seria Stern.”
“Who did you send there?”
“A knight.”
“Because you sent a knight.”
“Frankly, if it wasn’t for Marquis Haneton, I wouldn’t even send a knight.”
“That’s true.”
The ladies were not happy and complained.
Now was the time when socializing was just beginning in earnest, starting with the New Year’s party. The invitation to the splendid social gatherings, which run until late spring. Their parents didn’t want to be on bad terms with the Berg family, so they used this occasion to send gifts to resolve the situation quickly. Most of them couldn’t bear the pain and had to wrap up their gifts and head for the Grand Duchy of Berg.
“God is really unfair too. He gave power to Seria’s Stern, who has such a nasty personality.”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying!”
“Honestly, if it wasn’t for her name, she would never have become the Grand Duchess of Berg, no matter how temporary.”
“That’s right, Ladies.”
While the ladies were adding a few words, they heard a gruesome voice. It was a voice that naturally sent shivers down their spines. The ladies turned around and let out a quiet scream.
It was Seria Stern.
She was staring at them with cold eyes.
“And I ran all the way here to help you.”
Seria skimmed through the ladies who stood frozen one by one.
“I didn’t know you were talking crap about me in this temporary barracks.”
“…”
“….”
“…”
A silence descended. The Ladies swallowed hard. A Lady, who seemed to be braver among them, stepped forward with a scowl on her face.
“Um…Um…We didn’t know Lady Stern, no, Grand Duchess Berg was here.”
“Is it okay to talk bad about others even if you don’t know?”
The ladies retreated as if they were scared. It wasn’t that the ladies were timid. There weren’t many strong nobles in imperial society who could face Seria’s angry, venomous glare.
“Lady Stern, please stop it.”
Suddenly, a Lady stood out boldly and screamed. She told Seria to stop because of what they had done? While it was ridiculous, it was also understandable.
‘I haven’t picked a fight in a year I’ve possessed Seria.’
People usually remember the closest thing to a bigger picture. Seria was like a crazy colt, while the Lady was a foal who bravely stood up for herself. She seemed to be trying to make a point.
“Can you please be a little more generous and understanding?”
“Young Lady.”
Seria said as she slowly stepped closer.
“Is that how you beg for forgiveness? Using your cocky attitude to force me to be understanding?”
“…”
“Do it right, then I might be a little more forgiving.”
The lady then bit her lip. Her platinum hair swayed pathetically.
“I’m sorry, but… No. It’s a true fact that Lady Stern used to make trouble. I won’t apologize for mentioning what happened in the past.”
“Do you decline?”
Seria asked slowly and the lady swallowed hard. Her name was Eloise Hedon. She glared at Seria with all her might. Still, her hand was gripping the handkerchief with a lot of strength.
At that moment….
“Ah!”
There were sudden screams everywhere. Seria turned around. There were as many knights as there were ladies in the barracks with her. And all of them had the same thing on the ground under their feet.
It was gloves. (*Not sure it was gloves or something else.)
… It was Abigail.
“She looks strong.”
As Alliot had said once, Abigail was really strong. Looking at Abigail, who had crushed the knights in an instant, Seria also had a reasonable doubt that she would go stir up the Imperial Capital if she could.
Only one knight was barely standing. He happened to be the knight of Eloise, the platinum hair Young Lady who had squealed at Seria.
But that was only for a short moment. Abigail gave him a kick and he fell immediately under the force. The problem was that he fell backwards, exposing his wrist. There was a silk handkerchief with a prominent fancy pattern tied to his wrist…
“Oh, my God!”
“That’s Lady Eloise’s…..”
The lady, who shouted, immediately stopped. She turned around and looked at Eloise, whose face already turned pale.
It seemed that the knight and Eloise were lovers.
Abigail asked in a gruesome voice.
“Do you agree to a duel?”
The knight stood up with a red face. But with a crunch and a stomp on his hip, he fell again. There was no mercy in Abigail’s feet.
“No!”
Eloise hurriedly clung to Seria.
“No! Lady Stern! It’s my fault! I’m sorry. What if my knight is permanently damaged….”
“It’s none of my business.”
Eloise’s eyes widened.
“Lady Stern!”
“Get my title straight, Lady Eloise.”
“…!”
Was there anyone who was more unfamiliar than her to be called by the title of Grand Duchess of Berg? She had no intention of forcing herself to use the term Grand Duchess Berg, not in the least. It was rare to find someone who could treat Seria Stern so recklessly without it.
Seria thought it would be better for her if she didn’t get used to being called Grand Duchess of Berg, in case she gave up the title later.
However, there were those who believed their lives were spare. Lady Eloise, who was in front of her, was especially so. She had a lot of weapons to use, but her personality wasn’t good enough to leave it alone.
“Lady Stern… no, Grand Duchess…”
Eloise had a very pale face. If she was so worried about her lover, she should beg Abigail, however, she didn’t do that, which meant that she was quite scared of Abigail.
‘That’s right. I did wrong in the past.’
Crazy and violent. It was right to maintain the image of the biggest crazy girl in society who never lets go once she bites. That way, no one would try to torment her later when she was resting and relaxing alone on a beautiful southern island.
Who would come and torment her if word got out that she was a mad dog with suspected rabies?
“Gasp! Ah!”
When Abigail was about to step on the knight’s face, Seria opened her mouth.
“Bibbi, stop.”
Even though it was not a loud voice, Abigail immediately stopped her actions. Her foot landed on the ground instead of the knight’s face.
Seria smiled faintly.