Chapter 226: The Empty Space
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 226: The Empty Space
It was just as her courage was beginning to falter under his blunt words.
Tiern spoke with a serious expression.
"However, she is not one to take another’s circumstances lightly. She is also someone who shows mercy for mistakes, provided there was no malice behind them..."
‘Provided there was no malice...?’
Would she accept Constine's fault as a mere mistake?
Perhaps sensing the hesitation on Constine’s face, Tiern furrowed his brows.
"To be honest, it’s not exactly a sin that’s easily forgiven, is it?"
"If it were me, I would seek her out as many times as it took to beg for forgiveness."
"You can say that because you’re one of the Consort’s favorites, Sir Tiern."
After all, Tiern was the Captain of the Knights tasked with guarding the Grand Duchess herself. He already enjoyed her full favor.
‘How could someone like him understand the fear of being despised?’
At Constine’s remark, the Knight Captain’s lips curled into a smirk.
"W-what is it?"
"Do I really look like a favorite to you?"
"Are you bragging right now?"
"So, that’s how it looks..." Tiern muttered to himself, chuckling.
He really was an infuriating knight. Here she was, likely to live the rest of her life under the Saintess’s shadow and stigma, and he was acting like this.
"Anyway, I’ve given you my piece."
Tiern cleared his throat unnecessarily under her glaring gaze.
"Take it to heart. It’s special advice coming from someone with experience."
What on earth does he mean by 'experience'?
"Anyway... thank you."
Constine offered her thanks and took a deep breath. It was true that his words had given her a boost of courage. Just as she was about to turn and head straight for the Grand Duchess—
"Wait, where do you think you’re going?"
"To see Her Highness the Consort."
"Are you joking?" Tiern’s voice rose. "Do you have any idea what time it is? Absolutely not."
Wait, hadn't he just told her to go seek forgiveness?
"Are you saying you’re going to harass the Consort in the middle of the night just so you can feel better?"
"Her Highness is already physically frail. Do not disturb her sleep. And unless you’re prepared to truly beg for forgiveness, don’t even think about loitering around her."
Tiern narrowed his eyes, muttering that the knights shouldn't have to waste energy on useless surveillance. It seemed that was his main point. With that final warning, Tiern vanished.
He wasn't wrong, but...
How could someone say the right thing in such an obnoxious way?
Constine immediately scrapped any budding positive feelings she had toward Tiern.
*
At the same time, in the Grand Duke’s office.
The Knight Captains gathered around the table were taking a brief break before resuming their meeting. The only sound echoing through the quiet castle was the loud yawn of the Mage.
‘It was always such a quiet place.’
Leaning against the office window, Loik looked out. Only a few days ago, the main castle’s garden had been filled with the charm of a moonlit night, but now it looked utterly desolate. Even the Blois flowers, which usually emitted a soft glow at night, seemed listless today.
"Your Grace, I shall take the food back to be reheated," Whitley said, picking up the plate from the desk.
Since Annette’s departure, Loik had been practically living in his office, making do with meager meals at his desk. The chicken dish, now cold, remained untouched.
"No need. Take it away."
"But you skipped lunch as well..."
The butler, who rarely talked back, spoke up for once.
"If the chef is not to your liking, I shall assign someone else."
"That’s enough."
Loik waved him off with a weary face. The chef wasn't the problem. Since Annette left, he couldn't seem to swallow anything. Even when he forced himself to chew, his mouth felt dry and gritty, like he was eating sand.
"Eat something, if only for the sake of the chef’s efforts," Demich grumbled at his lord, sitting with his arms draped over the back of his chair. "At this rate, we’ll be holding your funeral before we even get to fight the Dragon."
"Why must you say such cursed things...!"
Despite the Mage’s protest, Demich raised his voice.
"Look in a mirror, will you? You look like you could collapse at any moment."
Loik snorted at the absurd concern, but everyone was looking at him with worried eyes.
"If Her Highness the Consort knew you were skipping meals like this, she would be very upset," Whitley added.
The atmosphere grew heavy at the mention of her. Finally, Loik spoke to the butler reluctantly.
"Bring some soup. Something I can just swallow."
Fearing his master might change his mind, Whitley hurried out of the room. As soon as the door clicked shut—
"See? This is why I tried to stop you," Demich said, thumping his chest in frustration. "What kind of confidence possessed you to send the Consort to the Capital?"
Loik clamped his lips shut like a clam. It wasn't because he was confident that he sent Annette to the Capital. It was because he wasn't.
‘If only I were certain of a perfect victory...’
It went back to when the Mage first discovered the location of the Dragon’s Lair. The consensus had been to strike the lair first.
— "We don't know when we'll have another chance to find the lair if we miss this one."
— "We must prepare and leave as soon as possible."
A Dragon’s Lair was not merely a hideout; it was a sacred place that maintained its energy. Since the Dragon was likely unaware that its location had been compromised, this was the only real opportunity for Loik and his knights. If they could destroy the lair, they could prevent the Dragon from recovering its strength.
In the end, there was only one decision Loik could make.
— "We strike the lair."
Just as he solidified his resolve—
— "Captain, perhaps you should reconsider?"
Unexpectedly, it was the Vice-Captain, Hedrick, who stepped forward.
— "We have too little information on the lair. You must account for the possibility of failure."
In this context, the "possibility of failure" meant Loik’s death. It wasn't an incorrect assessment. Loik was still bound by the contract with the Dragon. Aside from the fact that the Dragon’s Magic Core was stored within his body, Loik knew very little about the contract itself. How to terminate it, whether he would survive if the core was removed...
Only the Dragon knew all the secrets. If the Dragon decided to manipulate the contract while they were fighting, Loik would be helpless. And if Loik died...
— "The North will utterly collapse."
Loik listened to Hedrick’s words calmly. However, he had no intention of changing his mind. If he wanted a future with Annette, there was no other choice. Furthermore, Loik was confident he wouldn't die and leave Annette behind. How could he possibly die and leave such a lovely wife? Who would he be doing a favor for by dying so wastefully?
Hedrick, seemingly aware that logic alone wouldn't sway Loik, added one more thing.
— "And the Consort would be left defenseless and exposed to the Dragon."
That was what finally took his breath away. Honestly, he couldn't be certain that wouldn't happen. What if the Dragon attacked the castle while Loik was striking the lair? What if the Dragon targeted Annette while Loik was injured? She would be exposed to danger in an instant.
Just imagining the scenario made the blood drain from his face. If Loik was going to strike the lair, he had to move Annette as far away from the Dragon as possible. So far that the Dragon wouldn't dare lay eyes on her.
— "I must send the Grand Duchess out of the North."
In the end, he had to resolve to be apart from her for a while.
— "Her Highness will likely refuse to leave."
If he told her to flee because he was going to fight a Dragon...
‘She would be furious, of course.’
She certainly wouldn't permit him to go to the lair.
— "Knowing the Consort, she might even insist on going with you."
These shocking words came from Perel, who had been quiet until then. No one could readily disagree.
‘It’s exactly the kind of thing Annette would do.’
The Mage even raised his hand.
— "I agree. Honestly, if we’re going to strike the lair, it would be better to have Her Highness with us."
— "Are you suggesting we hand the Consort over to the Dragon on a silver platter?" Gontry, the 5th Knight Division Captain, asked in disbelief.
— "I’m saying we aren't so superior in strength that we can afford to leave such a powerful asset behind."
On the other hand, Gamon, the 3rd Knight Division Captain, nodded at the Mage’s words.
— "I agree as well. Her Highness is strong enough to protect herself. Does the Goddess not watch over her?"
Watching them argue over whether to bring the Consort or not, Loik slammed his hand onto the desk.
— "Are you all insane? You want to take the Grand Duchess—the one you are sworn to protect with your lives—into battle?"
Silence fell over the office.
— "You call yourselves knights and yet you know no shame. If you’re going to spout such weak nonsense about how we can’t win without the Grand Duchess, leave the order this instant."
No one dared to open their mouth after that. Consequently, Annette left for the Capital the next day with the Saintess’s party. He hadn't been able to be honest with her until the very end.
‘She’ll be incredibly angry when she finds out the truth...’
Still, it was better than her worrying about him or trying to follow him. Duke Kyle and the Saintess’s party—it was a combination he utterly loathed as companions for Annette, but it was the best decision given the circumstances.
‘...Was it really the best?’
What if that Duke bastard tries to flirt with her? What if the Saintess tries some wicked scheme? Above all...
‘I hope Annette isn't disappointed in me for hiding the truth.’
"Your Grace, I have brought the stew."
While he was lost in thought, Whitley had returned with a bowl of Spicy Tomato Stew. It was the only food Loik couldn't bring himself to refuse.