[T/N: I mistyped the empireâs name in Chapter 124. The correct name is Santiano. I mistyped to Santiago last week HAHAHA]
Elisha greeted Viscount Gerard in front of the collapsed castle. Currently, the Verdin Duchy was not in a state where people could stay, but when Rohan arrived, they removed the collapsed remnants of the inner wall surrounding the castle and set up a tent from the entrance.
Since then, as Decal had increased the tents for the personnel and the reinforcements from the west arriving one by one, the site of the castle turned into a barracks with strict discipline, and there were no signs of its splendor until just a while ago.
However, it was more symbolic because of that. On his journey, Viscount Gerard had heard enough about the duchyâs condition, so he couldnât understand why they bothered to greet people here. But he realized the moment he arrived.
As soon as he made eye contact with the 2nd Consort, who was out to greet him at the barracks entrance, he lowered his head.
Standing behind the flowing silver hair were two people who could be said to be the strongest of the empire now. They were currently quitting all activities and were not claiming any title as dukes. Even though there were swordmasters in the previous generation, excluding the duke from the imperial faction whose current news was unknown, Rohan and Blemir were the only existing swordmasters.
Sir Rohanâs appearance was unquestionable, but for even Marquis Blemir, who was not on good terms with the emperor, to appear here, this would be a luxurious escort that even His Majesty had never enjoyed.
But Gerard was blinded by the existence of the 2nd Consort, who did not lose her light even in front of those two people and was confident.
âViscount Tara and Baron Hux have arrived, so go in and greet them.â
As soon as she had finished her words, Gerard saw nobles running behind the tents. As familiar faces approached from the other side, Viscount Gerard greeted them with his eyes, and they also responded by bowing their heads slightly.
âSince weâre all here, would you like a cup of tea?â
There was no one present who could reject Elishaâs invitation. Everyone nodded, and Elisha walked through the barracks where the tents were located and into the collapsed castle.
In the midst of the collapsed surroundings, the strong wind blowing from the high ground, and the view below, which was open in all directions, was spectacular. It was quite dreary, but it seemed that such things were not the subject of consideration for the 2nd Consort in the first place. She was currently waiting for her tea, seated on a table and chair that looked even more bizarre as if saying wherever I am is my place to be.
Those who volunteered to attend were the maids and servants who originally stayed in the dukeâs castle. Vera and Benjamin would arrive soon, and they would take care of them along with Decal in the central city while the ruined castle was being rebuilt.
Thinking of the two, Elisha faintly frowned at the anxiety that followed along with the happy feeling.
As the death of Duke Verdin became known along with the advance of the western forces that turned to the imperial faction, the remaining rebellious forces were scattered, captured, and dragged to Barossa one after another. But until now, nothing had been revealed about the duchyâs two brothers, who lived completely different lives according to the choices of their respective wives.
Even if Patrick, who lacked both cause and hindsight could not do anything and remained only a ghost who would only eat away at the side, Elisha was not the type to leave any regrets.
Besides, Elishaâs worries were about the former rather than the latter. Because even without Jonathan, Benjamin alone was more than enough to raise the duchy. Rather, it might have been better off if Benjamin wielded it with his own hands. As long as he doesnât become a beast that devours the West but grows up as a child of a man and a younger brother to Leon, the West will become a stronger and more reliable force than anywhere else.
However, what Elisha wanted wasnât to make things easier for herself. Apart from all such interests, Jonathan was Veraâs husband and Benjaminâs father.
He was a precious person to those he cared for. Elisha wanted to choose a way for them to be happy even though it was difficult. Besides, hadnât she promised?
Vera mustâve waited a long time. She must be sad. However, since she couldnât catch the former, the latter also lost its promise.
The search for remnants of the rebels in the central city was so overheated that it caused harm to innocent citizens of the empire or caused problems as false information was submitted, leading people to search everywhere without results. Elisha had even said that she would punish those who disturbed the security.
It wouldâve been impossible for them to escape without considerable help. But who on earth wouldâve reached out to them?
Elisha, who was drinking her tea, suddenly turned to Rohan. Rohan, standing to the right behind her chair, looked down at her and met her gaze.
She couldnât open her mouth easily. The same was true of Rohan. It wasnât uncomfortable that the number of times the silence fell between the two increased, but it felt somehow strange.
âDo you need something?â
On the contrary, the voice came from the left side, Marquis Blemir.
Elisha shook her head and held the teacup again. Blemir glanced at Rohan, who was next to him, then looked down at Elisha. Blemir really wondered what she was thinking with that little head.
He poured the tea heated with mana, not wanting her body to cool down from the strong wind. Elisha gave a grateful look as she held the warm tea in her mouth.
She suddenly tried to deny the idea she had come up with, but what was left to avert her suspicions? A moment of peace? No. It was reluctance, which made her look back the whole time.
Elisha was not surprised to see a swarm of snakes poking their heads from the Santiano Empire to the mansion where she was said to be staying.
She had been wondering if Jaylene would do anything ever since she came to the 2nd Consortâs Palace. But compared to the many methods she had thought of that timeâŚ
The problem had almost grown because Elisha had been in a state of collapse. Had Emperor Kaiden really not known that Jaylene would do this?
The emperor knew Jaylene very well, and he was someone who would use it to his advantage.
At last, Elisha seemed to balance the weight of those standing on the left and right behind her back in line with the current situation of the duchy.
Others thought that the deep-seated emperor sent the two to calm the aftermath of the duchy, dampen the spirits of the rebellious forces, and promote the safety of the 2nd Consort, who had fallen in a fight with William of the Western Tower.
Of course it wouldnât be wrong. In addition, Prince Raymond and Count Dyke were worthy of their name, so the guessers were definitely on the right side.
Nevertheless, Elisha woke up and returned from the gem mine, and the whole time it seemed like she was missing something. It was about the decision he had made without knowing that Elisha had to move outside, in a state where no one knew the conditions under which she could regain her strength.
Two would be enough, but why had that emperor sent all the swordmasters of the empire on a mission that would be difficult if they were alone but not impossible? Was this a chance to give credit to Marquis Blemir, who supported the crown prince along with Elisha herself?
So Elisha came to the idea that the emperorâs intentions might have included not only the rebels or the Eastern knights, including Prince Raymond, but perhaps also the snakes who crossed the border.
It would be alright if there were no snakes, but since the one that appeared was notorious throughout the continent as the Viper Killer Group, it would be difficult to secure Elishaâs safety while handling the affairs of the duchy.
Elisha herself was still useful, so the emperor would not let her die. Elisha couldnât be sure if this wouldâve been a collaboration between the brother and sister, who were excellent at making people sick, on the frighteningly thin line to kill one side and save the other.
In the meantime, it wouldâve been advantageous for the emperor if Patrick had been captured while the snakesâs attention was caught somewhere.
Externally, if the emperor were to share half of the West with Elisha, Patrickâs existence would be no more or less than an obstacle. However, if the emperor wanted to keep Vera and Benjamin, who would occupy the other half of the West, from staunchly supporting ElishaâŚ
Patrick would be a very useful device. Patrickâs wife, Anne, who became the culprit of all this chaos, would not survive, but depending on what the emperor did, Patrick could get a shabby justification for being a bystander and not participating in the rebellion, and return to the dukedom.
If the emperor supported him, he could create a rift in the new ducal family.
If Patrick was holding onto Jonathan as well, the problem became even direr. If it was true that the emperor had really captured him, Jonathanâs life and death would be in the emperorâs hands.
Elisha let out a small sigh. If the emperor had really done that, she was worried about how he would act with this new card this time and how it would affect Vera and Benjamin.
Elishaâs face darkened, and Blemir advised, perhaps feeling that she was tired. âIt hasnât been long since you woke up. Youâd better take a rest.â
It would still take a long time since the portal of the dukeâs castle needed to be created from scratch. Vera and Benjamin were coming through a portal from another nearby territory.
Elisha could return to Barossa only after she completely handed the duchy over to them, along with Decal.
She wanted to go back and hug her children. She wondered if Leon was playing well with Cotton Ball, and how much Ascensioâs status would rise in the political meeting with this major.
There would be a public performance award soon, so thinking that she would be able to see Ascensio clearly asserting and announcing his opinion in the bright light where he should be, a smile was drawn on Elishaâs lips involuntarily.
âThen Iâll go in first.â
Elisha realized that the others wouldnât move if she stayed still, and stood up. Even the nobles, including Viscount Gerard, roused themselves.
âIf there is something we havenât finished, weâll do it again later at mealtime.â
After Elisha left a greeting, she distanced herself from the nobles. Marquis Blemir and Rohan followed her, but it didnât look weird at all. It looked totally natural.
One of those who remained let out something unknown whether it was a sigh or admiration. The first woman in the continentâs history was Duke Katrina of the Zeon Empire, who rose to the position of swordmaster despite peopleâs opinions. But was it still the case now?
The back of Elisha walking away with the two swordmasters seemed to tell him a new answer.