Chapter 9

She couldn’t believe her eyes when she heard that Ober would be absent for some time. His absence was a golden opportunity for her, though it was a pity that he left behind two of his watchers disguised as deputies. But it couldn’t be more fortunate for her that she didn’t have to pretend to overreact before him for the time being.

Marianne felt depressed again because she didn’t find any good or realistic way to get out of his clutches, though it was fortunate that he would disappear from her father’s territories for the time being.

While moving her steps mechanically, she kept racking her brain to get rid of him.

As the future in this world seemed to be variable, there was no guarantee that Ober would certainly rebel against her father.

As the lord of the wealthy Chester Castle, he was already a key player in the world of aristocrats. Was there any reason as to why he was trying to get credit from the Kling family?

No matter how much she thought about it, she concluded the only reason for that was his ambition for the expansion of his power.

Accordingly, his plan would still be valid, including his wicked trick on her.

But she thought to herself, ‘This guy cheated the world for many years to take away the emperor’s throne. What if he moved prematurely and ended up being removed earlier than my father? He wouldn’t be able to ask anybody for help. I don’t know how much he can change with his own efforts.’

She barely held back a sigh coming up in her throat.

In fact, the biggest problem facing her was that she could not tell this whole story to anyone.

She knew even her father, who could be her most powerful ally, was not of help to her. Given the propensity of her father to overprotect her, it was too obvious that he would try to stop her from being entangled with a dangerous thing.

‘What if my father were injured by the impatient Ober more seriously than in his previous life while trying to overpower him on my behalf?’

She crossed off one option. Eventually, she would have to rely on the power of her family, but she didn’t want to have her father fight with him from the beginning.

‘What should I do? Can I survive? How can I beat this guy who wants to be the emperor? No one would believe this wild story. Even if I try to entice him, I need some plausible excuse. I can’t tell him anything properly.’

At that moment, she recalled a long word once again.

‘… Emperor?’

There was someone who would be hurt as much as her in his veiled plan: the nominal ruler who had absolute power in the empire and the only stranger who should regard this work as his own. Perhaps he was the man who could be her best ally.

* * *

The next day, Ober returned to Chester, his territory.

As soon as she heard it from Hugo, the butler, she sent him on an errand.

She put the letter in the dressing table carelessly, which Ober handed her shortly before he left, and wandered around her room nervously. Cordelli, who came in to bring tea for her, saw her and asked if she was sick before leaving the room.

Hugo, who was sent on a “quick and secret” errand, carried out her order nicely, befitting his famed working style. Less than an hour after he was given her order, he returned with the results.

“Iric!”

Shouting at him, she ran to the door with a happy look. The big shadow that followed Hugo showed its due manners. It knelt down along with his silver armor jangling on the red carpet.

“This is Schmidt Iric, the Black Wolf of Astorp. I’m honored to see you!”

“Stand up, please. You are now an official knight, so please stand up, Sir Iric.”

Clearing her throat, she gave him a serious look.

“I’m embarrassed. Please make yourself at home when you talk to me.”

This man with a pleasant voice raised his body.

His dark cloak embroidered with wolves and ivy, the symbol of the Northern Elite Knights Astolf,

moved gently. Sunlight shone through the window on his dark purple hair and long scars on the cheeks. Although the scar on his face looked a bit rough, he was quite handsome.

Hugo, who stepped behind Iric when he came, watched their heartwarming reunion before leaving the room quietly. Anyway, Hugo thought of going out at some point.

“Good. Please call me just lady instead of calling my official title. By the way, Hugo, don’t run away yet!”

“Pardon?”

“I have something to tell you, Hugo. So please wait a bit there.”

Hugo, who was told to wait, hesitated for a moment. He looked at her with a curious expression.

But he bowed to her in no time and started to wait with his back straight. He always put the interests of the Kling family and the master’s order first before his personal feelings.

After asking Hugo to wait, she turned her attention back to Iric.

“You came to my birthday party with your colleagues yesterday, right?”

“Yes. His Excellency Duke Kling sent me a formal invitation.”

“Really? Then, my father already knew you joined the Knights of Astorp, right?”

“Well, I asked him not to tell you about it.”

“Why did you do so? Do you know how sad I was because you didn’t send me any letters after you left? ”

Staring at his eyes, which were much bigger than hers, she grumbled. But he looked at her with a kind expression and said, “I’m sorry. I wanted to come back to you after I established myself in the Knights more proudly…”

“What are you talking about? Since you formally joined the Knights of Astorp and held the official ceremony, you’re already a proud knight.”

“I’m sorry. I was narrow-minded. Please forgive me. ”

She stared at Iric who was politely bowing to her, and then smiled. She was happy and proud of him.

“Congrats! It’s only been three years since you left. During that time, you finished training at the Knights Academy and you were formally appointed as a knight. My father has a discerning eye for a man like you. You look really cool now.”

“Without the grace and hospitality that His Excellency and your lady have given me, it would have been impossible for me to reach this point. If I have a chance, I would like to do everything for you at the sacrifice of my life.”

Iric replied with a heavy voice as if he made a vow to her.

That year, twenty years ago, when his country, the Lennox Empire, was ruined, the young Iric was left alone after losing his parents during the war. Escaping from the village occupied by the rebel forces, he went into hiding along the mountains and forests near the border. He almost led a life like a beggar. He got by every day by eating dry bark and wild fruits to satisfy his hunger.

If he hadn’t met Duke Kling, who came out to inspect his territories during the winter when there was an unprecedented snowstorm, he would not have died from cold and hunger.

Fortunately, Duke Kling was a loving person. He offered hot food and good clothes to this messy, dangerous, unknown beggar boy. The next day the duke found him, he heard about the poor boy’s situation through a servant with a good command of the Lennox language, who interpreted for the duke, and patted the boy on the shoulder kindly. That kind of hospitality was not found in typical noblemen, given the noblesse oblige of the times.

Duke Kling’s hospitality was far from temporary. Iric headed for his house instead of returning to the mountains. It didn’t take long for a miserable and poor boy to become a strong and proud one. The duke was pleased with Iric’s deep loyalty.

After he discovered that the boy had a talent for fencing, he offered his full support. He arranged for the boy to be adopted as the son of Baron Schmidt, who lost his son in a tragic accident.

Trusting the boy’s character and ability, he also made him a temporary knight of his family.

When he heard about the boy’s outrageous dream that he wanted to join the Knights Academy in a different territory to become a knight, he gladly supported him financially, along with his recommendation letter.

Marianne was the daughter of such a great benefactor to Iric. She dared to toy with the idea of making friends with him. He liked her meek character and bright smile, and she always treated him like a casual friend. He believed that his miserable life would be meaningful if he could protect her under any circumstances.

“Really? If there is anything you can do for me and my father at the sacrifice of your life, would you want to do it?”

There was only one answer he could offer to this kind of question.

“Absolutely. I can make a vow right here before your eyes.”