Chapter 71
Lionel and Michelle made their way out of the alley to deal with their pursuers, and found dozens of knights awaiting them.
They were knights with whom Lionel was familiar.
The Royal Guard. Those who were once under Lionel.
“Your Grace.”
Lionel smiled.
“Why did you come here? Did the King send you to arrest me?”
“Please come with us peacefully.”
At the knights’ request, Lionel pondered what his crime might be.
The crime of calling off his marriage with Marianne? The crime of not obeying Royal Orders?
“I want to know my crime before I am taken.”
As Lionel stepped forward proudly, the knights looked at each other in apprehension.
A bold knight answered Lionel.
“Duke of Sentoren, I am arresting you for treason as per the King’s command.”
“Treason…”
“I don’t want to hurt the Duke.”
Lionel smiled bitterly at the dozens of knights surrounding him.
He had no intention of rebelling against the Royal Family, but the King was so pathetic that he could hardly stand it.
He was sick and tired of serving and pledging his allegiance to such a pathetic King.
The knight looked around.
“I was told to bring the Duchess as well. Where is she?”
Michelle spoke up.
“Only the Duke is being accused of treason. Why are you looking for the innocent Duchess?”
The knight reluctantly responded.
“It is the King’s order. We do not want to do this either, but we have our orders, so please cooperate.”
The knight leaned forward and whispered to the Duke.
“I will only pretend to chase her. Please rest assured.”
***
“Has Father found the Duke of Sentoren?”
Marianne was overjoyed that Lionel had been arrested. She enjoyed imagining how Lionel and Riv were separated.
“It would be great if Lionel and Riv broke up like this. If they get a divorce, I will be able to take Riv with me even if I get married in another country.”
Marianne gritted her teeth, recalling Riv’s elegant appearance.
It seemed like would take some time for Riv to revert to the stupid and ugly Madame Katana.
And if Lionel, stuck in the battle on Ezul Plains, returned and saw the terrifying Madame Katana, he would certainly change his opinion of her.
“Princess, Riv is now a Duchess.”
“So what?”
“Even if you bring in the Duchess, Princess Marianne cannot touch her. You cannot take her as a handmaiden once the Princess gets married.”
“Why? Why can’t I take her? That girl belonged to me! My mother gave her to me!”
The handmaiden sighed and tried to persuade Marianne.
“Riv Sentoren is a noblewoman, not a commoner.”
“So what? That b*tch was a noblewoman before she came to the palace.”
“That is the problem. She gave up her title when she became a maid, but now she has another. Besides, her marriage was personally blessed by the Cardinal. She can no longer be owned.”
“Then, if I’m stressed, who will relieve me? How will I deal with it?!”
Her handmaidens sighed deeply.
***
Lionel savored his view of the sunset through the carriage window facing West.
The scenery was beautiful. A blood-red sunset colored the landscape.
However, the impressive view was meaningless without his wife, Riv Sentoren.
“Riv…”
Did she escape safely?
He wondered where Riv was.
Those thoughts continued to consume his mind.
Even as he was imprisoned in Ailte Palace, Lionel couldn’t think of anything else but Riv.
He became more anxious as time passed.
“Haa.”
As night fell, the King came to visit Lionel.
“Hello, Lionel.”
“…..”
“This is the first time we’ve seen each other since the Royal Ball, right?”
Lionel’s amber eyes blazed. He growled like a beast.
“You had me arrested for treason.”
“I-It couldn’t be helped.”
The king stuttered and avoided Lionel’s gaze.
“I, I didn’t say you rebelled. I received a report and caught you, while you were trying to escape. To investigate further, of course.”
“Weren’t you aware that I was going down to my estate?”
The king rolled his eyes. He belatedly remembered that only Lionel and his escort were captured.
“Where did the Duchess of Sentoren go? Didn’t you go on vacation together?”
“…..”
The King spoke again.
“I want her to be properly cared for by the Royal Family.”
“……”
Lionel’s face gradually hardened. The King laughed.
“Won’t it be difficult if that girl is carrying the Duke’s precious heir?”
“What do you want to say, Your Majesty?”
The King felt like he had the upper hand. He decided to press Lionel further.
“I can create evidence and bring forward witnesses of your treason while you are held here. Executing you is not a problem.”
“Do you think I will stay still?”
Lionel threatened the king.
“Did you forget that I have soldiers at my disposal?”
The soldiers in the South existed to protect Lionel and his estate. The Mont Del territory was beyond the King’s power. Those who survived battles with pirates and barbarians would not give in to the King’s light threats.
However.
“Lionel, think of your wife.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Just look at this rationally. I’ll pretend I don’t know where your wife is as long as you clean up Ezul Plains.”
“…..”
“The foolish Queen and Princess will believe me if I say that I can’t find your wife. They are my family, but you know how cruel they can be.”
Lionel was silent.
The King pulled up a chair and offered a compromise to Lionel.
“If you clean up Ezul Plains, I will protect your wife from the Princess and the Queen. Even if she is caught, I will hide her. I will never tell Marianne or Selina.”
“…..”
“If your wife dies, I won’t be able to control you.”
Lionel knew he was cornered.
The soldiers of the South were strong. However, it would take time to gather a significant army.
What if Riv was caught in the meantime?
Lionel didn’t have many options. Riv was his only weakness.
Lionel pondered his options for a moment before coming to a decision. He faced the king.
“Let’s negotiate.”
“Ah, you really had to be like this.”
The king had a cruel expression on his face.
***
The old copper ring radiated a red light.
The magical tool that brought Riv back in time, the ring of the late Duchess of Sentoren.
While holding the ring, Riv spoke the name of the person she wanted to see.
“Lionel.”
A conversation between the King and Lionel could be heard faintly.
—Lionel, think of your wife…
—Are you threatening me?
—I’ll pretend I don’t know where your wife is as long as you clean up Ezul Plains.
Riv was very familiar with the King’s ghastly voice.
Was he threatening Lionel?
‘Why is this different from what I remember? Why?’
Did something happen on the Ezul Plains back then?* Even if there was a war, Lionel would not have been called to the battlefield.
[*E/N: back then meaning before she regressed. She doesn’t remember there being a dispute on Ezul Plains in her past life.]
‘It would not have been possible to send the King’s son-in-law, the husband of the Princess, to the battlefield.’
Things were different now. Lionel was not a member of the Royal Family.
And Riv was a hostage who would determine Lionel’s actions.
“I-I.”
Riv couldn’t maintain her magic and opened her eyes.
Her whole body was weary from concentrating on Lionel.
It seemed that if she fell asleep in this state, she wouldn’t wake up for a number of days.
“But why?”
Riv saw the invisible magic power swirling around her body.
‘Why?’
After parting ways with Lionel, there had been a few substantial changes.
The further South she went, the stronger her magic became.
Her carriage traveled South at full speed except for when they slept, ate, or took a short break.
They were not pursued during their grueling march South.
After more than a week’s journey, Riv reached the Southern border of Mont Del.
The South was quiet and peaceful, but it was different from what Riv was expecting.
The first thing she noticed was that there was a stark difference between the North and the South. The shape of the houses, villages, and even the clothes of the people were very different. There were many mountains and fields, and although it was barren, it was much warmer than the North.
They had arrived in the town of Sentino, located in a basin in the middle of a huge mountain range. The old and forgotten villa of the Duke was there.
“Madame, we will be arriving soon.”
Aiden informed her. He had been with Riv on this long journey.
“Aiden, just call me Riv.”
“Of course.”
“Where are we?”
“The Duke’s hometown. To be exact, this is where the Sentoren family was founded. It is the site of the first castle owned by the Sentino* family. The castle has long since been demolished, and only a villa remains.”
[*E/N: the Sentino family was renamed to the Sentoren family after becoming an ally of the North.]
“I see.”
Riv opened the window of the carriage.
She could now see Lionel’s beloved estate, his hometown.