‘I can’t believe this is a slightly beautiful scenery.’
Kael lied to her.
Daphne opened her eyes wide as she got out of the carriage, which had stopped after another couple of hours.
It was a beautiful place with mountains and white snow fields.
In addition, Daphne liked that it was quite warm for Bertrand territory.
“It’s a really beautiful view. It feels completely different from the Castle of Shadows.”
Mariel murmured in surprise.
“Welcome. Grand Duke and Grand Duchess.”
As if he had been waiting, a middle-aged man politely greeted them.
“I am Viscount Rend Acmel, who is in charge of the security here.”
He was someone who seemed sharp.
“Hello, Viscount Acmel. I am Daphne Bertrand. I heard that you are not feeling well. How are you today?”
“I’m all right,” the viscount replied, and added.
“Since Miss Ritena passed away, my illness has deepened and caused concern for the grand duchy.”
The viscount looked fiercely at Kael and said.
The words were polite, but there was a blade hidden inside.
Wasn’t it Kael who drove the former grand duchess to her direct death.
‘Because Viscount Acmel was an ardent follower of the former grand duchess.’
Daphne recalled what Selma had said.
“Miss Ritena and Viscount Acmel grew up like real siblings from an early age. The viscount followed her really closely in particular.”
“I see. Did His Grace Kael follow the viscount closely?”
“Of course. He followed him like an uncle. He’s a bit stubborn, but he’s not a bad person.”
Selma took a sip of tea and continued.
“If Miss Ritena and Mister Zegman were away because of monster hunting, the viscount came and looked after His Grace instead. So…”
Selma’s face darkened.
She felt like she didn’t have to listen to it anymore after that.
Daphne put the teacup down.
“I’ll have to go now. Oh, and Miss Selma. I just remembered. My friend who was sick.”
Selma’s eyes lit up as soon as she told the story of a child who suffered from the same disease as Zegman.
Of course.
It is less effective to use only one wild fruit.
So Selma was doing her best to improve the efficacy of the wild fruit.
“My complexion brightened the most when I drank the wild fruit and Meirin tea together. Do you think this could help?”
Of course it can.
But that was it for her help.
‘I only know the main ingredients, but I don’t know the proportions.’
However, Selma found the perfect proportion in just one week.
Selma was a truly brilliant physician.
‘Thanks to that, Mister Zegman is also recovering smoothly.’
Daphne smiled and looked at the viscount, who was still glowering at Kael.
“No. I’m just glad the viscount is in good health.”
Daphne answered, and only then did the viscount’s gaze return to Daphne.
But it wasn’t soft.
As much as he hated Kael.
‘Ahh, the grand duchess was really kind.’
The viscount also hated the imperial family.
“If you need anything while looking around, please let me know.”
Still, his speech was friendly.
“Then I have a favor I’d like to ask of you, Viscount.”
“You don’t have to ask me for favors or use honorifics. Because I am a vassal of the Bertrand family.”
His face looked like she had to use it.
But well, she let go of the manner of speech.
“All right.”
Other people’s eyes widened when Daphne casually let it go.
The viscount’s eyes trembled too, as if he didn’t know she would really let it go.
“As His Grace said, it is a very beautiful place. The forest over there looks particularly good.”
“I have prepared someone to guide you.”
“No.”
Daphne shook her head.
“I want the viscount to guide me personally. Didn’t you say your health is fine now?”
“…If the grand duchess wants it.”
After a long silence, the viscount took the lead.
As Daphne followed, Kael strode beside her.
“Miss Daphne. Viscount Acmel is a vassal of the Bertrand family.”
“Then he needs more discipline.”
Daphne spoke emphatically.
“How can Your Grace just watch your vassal show such hostility to you?”
Kael looked surprised at Daphne’s words, then soon closed his eyes slowly.
“Selma told me. Still, the viscount is a very good person.”
Kael’s gaze looked complicated while saying that.
“I know he’s a good person. That’s why I came.”
If it weren’t for that, she wouldn’t have come this far.
“Your Grace.”
He looked at her when she called him.
The silver eyes staring at her somehow looked innocent.
“As I said before, everything will be fine after today.”
Daphne raised the corners of her mouth as she looked at Kael and focused on the forest.
White trees without leaves formed a forest.
The trees, which contained the sunlight reflected off the snow, gleamed on their own.
‘This is the winter tree.’
It was a tree that grew only in Bertrand.
Winter tree, just like its name, was a tree that was very resistant to the cold.
‘There were also some of those trees planted in the Shadow Castle’s garden.’
However, it was more spectacular when it was in a group like this.
A soft light streamed through the winter trees, and when it was in a colony, the group of lights swayed as if dancing.
While looking at the trees, she noticed a small blue mushroom under the tree.
“Ah, this.”
“It’s a thief mushroom. Do you know?”
A knight of the viscount answered for her.
“It usually grows under winter trees, and it’s called a thief mushroom because it steals nutrients.”
“The color is very pretty. May I touch it?”
“Sure. The mushrooms are edible. It just doesn’t taste good.”
The knight laughed, saying that there were people who were looking for it because of its unique chewing texture, but there are not that many.
‘Huh?’
After talking with the knight, she walked the path again, but her side was empty.
There was no one.
When she looked back, she saw Kael standing in the distance.
Wessler called Kael, but he didn’t seem to hear.
“Your Grace?”
“Ah.”
When Daphne also called, he started to move.
Kael, who caught up with Daphne within a few steps, naturally stood beside her.
“Are you tired?”
“No, I’m not.”
Kael smiled, but for some reason, the bottom of his eyes were dark.
“I had something to think about.”
The viscount must have reminded him of his mother, Ritena.
‘He’s subtly frail.’
Maybe that was why he got so twisted later on.
“It’s a little embarrassing to say this here, Your Grace.”
Suddenly, the viscount who was leading the way looked back.
“I haven’t received an answer to the report I sent you last time.”
“Is it the report that the cold is getting stronger?”
“Yes. Thanks to that, the winter trees planted this year are not growing properly.”
In fact, strange little trees stood out.
The viscount’s eyes shone fiercely as he looked at Kael.
“As you may well know, the majority of our Acmel area is engaged in logging and processing.”
It was a rude way of speaking, as if to teach.
“If the trees don’t grow, the residents will naturally lose their jobs.”
Yeah, it’s an important issue.
But do you have to say this here?
Daphne’s eyes narrowed.
“I hope you can come up with a countermeasure soon.”
The viscount urged Kael to come up with an answer right here and now.
“I will discuss it with the other vassals. I will send you an answer in due time.”
While answering, Kael lowered his head.
“You always say that and avoid solutions.”
Haa.
Kael shrank even further at the loud sigh.
Honestly, what could Kael do about the weather?
The only thing that could solve the problem was the problem of making ends meet.
‘There’s not enough experience for a young Kael to handle.’
No matter how much the vassals helped him, the most important thing was Kael’s ability and experience.
She was sure the viscount knew that, and was being like that even more so.
“Sir Wessler.”
Daphne deliberately slowed down and went next to Wessler, who was following behind.
“Is Viscount Acmel often so rude to His Grace?”
“Yes. Not just once or twice.”
Wessler’s expression was cold.
“Honestly, there would be no reason to put up with it this far unless it was someone who grew up with the former grand duchess from childhood.”
Wessler also seemed serious, judging by his face as he grinded his teeth.
‘I’m glad I came quickly.’
She didn’t know it would be like this already.
“I know very well you haven’t completed the succession class fully yet.”
“Viscount Rend Acmel!”
Daphne interrupted the viscount.
The loud noise startled the people to a halt.
“Your rudeness crosses the line.”
“…This is not the place for the grand duchess to step up.”
“It’s not my place?”
Ha! Daphne laughed.
Then, as if to show off, she raised her left hand with a wedding ring on it.
“As you can see, I’m from the Bertrand family now.”
“But she is someone who was in the imperial family.”
“Viscount.”
Daphne raised her arm to stop Kael from stepping forward.
“It seems that the viscount doesn’t trust me.”
“How could I trust the grand duchess?”
That’s very honest.
“Okay, so will you trust me if I solve the livelihood problems of the residents today?”
“Ha?”
This time, the viscount laughed in vain, as if he were dumbfounded.
“Excuse me, but isn’t this your first visit to our area? I know it hasn’t been a month since you came to Bertrand’s territory.”
“Is the length of stay important?”
Daphne’s head tilted.
“Even the viscount born in this region and living for decades has not solved this problem.”
“……”
“On top of that, you’re only holding on to His Grace, who has just been made Grand Duke. Even if no one else can, you have been in the viscount position for over 20 years.”
Isn’t it?
At Daphne’s words, the viscount’s face hardened coldly.
“So it won’t be a problem if I solve this.”
“All right.”
The viscount was caught in a provocation that she openly made.
The viscount tightened his hands to the point where his knuckles turned white.
His fists trembled.
“If the grand duchess solves this problem today, I, Rend Acmel, will kneel before the grand duchess.”
“Kneeling is a given.”
Apologies have to be done properly, right?
Daphne said, staring straight at the viscount.
“Pledge allegiance to His Grace.”
“I am already a vassal of the Bertrand family.”
“No.”
Daphne shook her head.
“I mean, pledge allegiance to His Grace Kael Bertrand, not to anyone else.”
It didn’t matter how good or talented you were.
There was no need for a vassal who could attack the master.
‘Honestly, just looking at this situation, it seems like the answer is to get rid of it, but I’ll give it a chance by looking at Kael.’
“All right.”
The viscount nodded with a venomous face.
“If you can’t solve it, Grand Duchess, please don’t do anything like this in the future.”
In other words, he meant to lie flat in front of him.
“I will.”
Daphne answered neatly.
And a few hours later.
Kwakkwakkwa–!! (Boom)
At the same time, a loud explosion was heard.
“No, what is that?”
A stream of water soared across the sky with someone’s cry.
Clouds of steam rose together, filling the surroundings with a thick layer of fog.
“Is that what it is?”
Everyone’s faces were tinged with astonishment, surprise, and admiration.
In particular, the face of the viscount was the most spectacular.
“Viscount Acmel.”
Golden eyes twinkled with pleasure.
“You haven’t forgotten what I said, have you?”
Come on, kneel.
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