'What...what did I just see?'
Although it was a fleeting moment, Preseppe saw it clearly—the corner of Fenric's lips curved slightly as he looked at Dietrich.
“Duke Fenric, as you have always done, you will do your best to protect Atloya this time as well, right?”
Dietrich said, looking directly at Fenrick.
“That is what any citizen of my empire should do, of course.”
'That damned bastard...'
Prisippi unleashed a curse within her.
You must have planned all this from the beginning. If I don't return to the Imperial Palace, this military campaign will be used as an excuse to get rid of Duke Fenric.
Moreover, Ivan said that the frequency of monsters appearing in the Forbidden Forest had decreased significantly. What Dietrich is doing is nothing but an open trick. Worse still, he does it in front of everyone without any shame. It was unbelievable.
‘Duke Fenrick has become the target of Dietrich’s hatred.’
Even if the rules of the game collapse, the madman is still mad. How could he so dispose of the man who had helped him more than anyone else to become Emperor?
'Or did that motherfucker say something to him?'
Precipie stared at Ivan, who was grinning wickedly, gritting her teeth in anger.
Should I just accept Dietrich's request to return to the Imperial Palace? If I had done that, Duke Fenric wouldn't have been involved in this mess.
[If a citizen of the Empire refuses to comply with the Emperor's order in a time of crisis, he cannot be considered a true citizen, and deserves appropriate punishment.]
Fenrik cannot refuse Dietrich's order. Dietrich knew this very well, and that was why he was pressuring him in this way.
'I have put Duke Fenric in a difficult situation because of my stubbornness...'
While those thoughts were flowing through her head, Fenric's lips moved slowly.
“As Your Majesty orders, I will do what I must do.”
Then he continued his talk,
“I comply with the order and I will head to the Forbidden Forest.”
Of course, he had no other choice. This decision tasted bitter in her mouth.
If the Duke goes out on campaign, I will have to return to the Imperial Palace again… to that hideous tower, the cage from which there is no escape.
But the Forbidden Forest was a place I had to investigate for myself as well…
Still, Precipe was not someone without a sense of reality. She wasn't rude enough to insist on that in a situation like this. She knew full well that doing so would only complicate Fenric's situation further. Plus, even if I asked, the chances of Dietrich agreeing were completely nil.
She looked again at Fenric, and countless mixed emotions appeared in her eyes.
After a few moments, she froze slightly in place.
Fenrick was staring fixedly at Dietrich, but his face showed no sign of confusion or surprise.
It seemed as if he had been expecting this to happen from the beginning.
“But, if the Imperial Knights and I were to venture out into the Forbidden Forest together, who would protect Your Majesty?”
“This is not a matter of concern to you, Duke.”
Dietrich answered coldly, his features rigid.
“As I said before, the Magic Tower also belongs to my people in the empire. During your absence, Chief Mage Ivan will be in charge of my safety.”
—
“So, what do you mean, Your Majesty...”
Fenric continued in a low voice.
“It is that Chief Magician Ivan will remain in the Imperial Palace constantly.”
“Ivan's responsibilities will become heavier, but it is inevitable in order to protect the empire.”
“Since the Chief Mage will definitely stay in the palace, those who leave can leave with some peace of mind. Those who stay here will also feel at ease.”
Fenric said as he looked at the nobles, as if he wanted them to hear his words clearly.
Why did he say that? Prisippi could not easily understand Fenric's intentions, and a slight look of astonishment appeared on her face.
“Your Majesty, as you mentioned, the Imperial Knights and I will set off immediately.”
said Siegfried, who knelt down, looking at Dietrich, and the latter nodded.
“The road to the Forbidden Forest will take a long time, so you should leave as well, Duke Fenric.”
“I will leave at dawn.”
Fenric replied with a calm, unaffected face.
“I sincerely apologize that I was not able to prepare due to the sudden order to go out on the campaign, but I am sure that Your Majesty can grant me this simple respite.”
This time, Dietrich's features hardened slightly.
Fenrik was accurate—at least Siegfried had advance notice, and the order seemed to be enforced openly in front of everyone.
But since night had already fallen, the time Fenric requested would not exceed half a day at most.
“Well, so be it.”
—
Dietrich looked at Fenrick as if accepting his request.
“I can grant you this reprieve, Duke.”
A sarcastic smile appeared on Ivan's face as he watched the situation.
Dietrich was not alone in wanting Preseppe to return to the Imperial Palace.
“I have to get that bastard away from you first.”
And after she returns safely, when the time comes, he will use every trick possible to get Priscipe to his side.
A weak Emperor like Dietrich could be easily manipulated at will. simply.
That's what Ivan thought.
—
'The Duke...'
Presibe stared at Fenric sadly, unable to say anything.
Because of me, he went through all that suffering, and now even the Emperor holds a grudge against him… I don't know what to say to him.
The expedition to the Forbidden Forest is just an empty excuse, so who knows when he will return?
If so, then today is our last day together.
“I have to say goodbye...”
Precipi took a few steps away from Fenrick, then caught Dietrich's bodyguard, who approached her without her realizing it, and whispered to him:
“Tell him to give me time to say goodbye.”
“…….”
“Since everything has gone according to His Majesty’s will, he can at least grant me this much, right?”
The guard remained silent for a moment, as if thinking, then finally nodded and said:
“I will convey your request. If His Majesty permits, I will come to fetch you before dawn to the palace of Duke Fenric.”
—
Siegfried and his knights left the hall directly, heading to the Forbidden Forest.
Dietrich readily agreed to Preseppe's request, although he added the condition of sending one of his guards to fetch her before Fenrick left at dawn.
But that wasn't enough to ease her feelings.
Precipe's thoughts were clear.
No matter how it happened, forcing her to return to the Imperial Palace was a threat, whether it was to pretend to let her have a chance to say goodbye or just try to secretly wash his conscience. Perhaps he wanted to pretend to be generous to get appreciation. Or maybe it was both.
***
She carried a heavy heart as she walked with Fenric towards his palace.
In the darkness of dawn, before the sun even rose, a luxury carriage stopped in front of Fenric's house.
“…….”
Dietrich's bodyguard got out of the carriage.
In fact, he didn't like using such an eye-catching carriage.
If he had been moving alone, he wouldn't have had to take a carriage in the first place, but he had no other choice since he had come to take Preseppe to the Imperial Palace.
Moreover, this carriage was personally chosen by the Emperor, so there was no room for objection.
“Wait here, I'm going out with Mrs. Presby.”
"Yes."
As the bodyguard moved slowly towards Fenric's house, he listened to the driver's short response, then lost himself in some thought of his own for a moment.
“Anyway, since Lady Presippi wishes to return to the Imperial Palace, perhaps she can gather a little strength.”
The goalkeeper was not oblivious to Precipe's situation, but he knew that Dietrich's stability was most important to him.
It was unfortunate what happened to Precipe, but he couldn't change a thing.
While the guard was thinking, he arrived in front of Fenric's house, where he felt something strange that made him stop for a moment.
“Why is everything so quiet?”
Fenric had not finished his preparations yet, his soldiers might have gathered elsewhere, but it was strange for everything to be so quiet.
“…….”
Suddenly, the guard's face froze. He didn't have time to think any further, so he quickly rushed over and knocked on the door of the house.
A little girl came out, looked at him in amazement and smiled welcoming him.
"Ah, have you arrived! You are His Majesty's guard, aren't you?"
"Yes. Where is Mrs. Presby?"
“I am very pleased to meet you! My name is Hannah, and I am an old servant of Duke Fenric.”
“So, where is Mrs. Prisippi?”
"But you were later than I expected! Did you arrive in the carriage? It's very nice!"
“Where is Mrs. Presby?!”
The guard shouted sharply, interrupting Hannah's speech.
But Hannah did not show any discomfort, and answered him with a smile.
“Lady Prisippi left with Duke Fenric.”
"What?!"
The guard was almost stunned. "What are you saying?"
“He told you that she would wait for you, but she left with the Duke! The Duke had something important to tell you.”
Hana didn't care much about the guard's reaction.
“Well, be sure to take this with you! I don’t know what it is, but Duke Fenric doesn’t go to unnecessary trouble, so this will be important! Since you’re with His Majesty, you definitely know this.”
She handed him the package that Fenric had given her, while continuing to speak with a bright smile.