Chapter 213
The knight blinked blankly for a moment before signaling to his companions with a glance and approaching the Grand Duke.
Baredon stood where he was, quietly watching the scene, until the other messengers urged him onward.
Almost as if he were being pushed along, he resumed walking.
In no time, the backs of Varkas and Edrick Rubon disappeared from view.
What could they possibly be discussing?
He lingered on the thought for only a moment before shaking it off.
He didn't have the luxury of wasting energy on matters that had nothing to do with him.
Fulfilling the responsibilities already placed upon his shoulders was difficult enough.
Casting aside the last trace of curiosity, the young man silently led the imperial messengers toward the main keep.
* * *
A week later, cavalry units sent by the lords from every corner of the East gathered in Kalmor.
Banners bearing the colors and emblems of countless noble houses fluttered proudly across the plains surrounding the fortress, while thousands of armored horses blanketed the rolling hills.
Standing atop one of the castle towers, Varkas surveyed the magnificent host before descending the stairs toward the training grounds.
Laedgo Castle itself was overflowing with armed cavalrymen and warhorses clad in barding.
Walking through the orderly ranks of soldiers, he inspected the long line of supply wagons stationed before the castle gate.
Four-wheeled carts piled high with grain, weapons, and every imaginable military necessity stretched all the way beyond the walls.
"Your Grace, all preparations for the campaign have been completed."
By the time he had finished making a circuit of the parade grounds, Beirof returned from inspecting the outer perimeter and delivered his report.
Varkas glanced up, gauging the position of the sun before giving his orders in an even voice.
"Distribute rations to the soldiers before departure. We'll be traveling without stopping until we reach our destination. They should restore their strength beforehand."
"Understood."
As the knight hurried away to relay the command, Varkas left the military encampment and headed toward the annex.
Unlike the bustling outer grounds of the castle, the rear garden was so quiet it almost felt desolate.
Crunching through layers of snow, he approached the building standing at the northern edge of the inner grounds.
"Your Grace."
The guards stationed outside saluted crisply.
Passing them, Varkas entered the building and walked straight toward the staircase.
Then he stopped.
Sitting casually in one of the drawing room chairs was Edrick Rubon.
"Why are you here?"
The man, who had been poking at the burning logs with a fireplace poker, awkwardly rose to his feet.
"What do you mean? Didn't you ask me to protect Her Grace the Grand Duchess?"
Varkas frowned.
More precisely, he had asked him to protect her after he departed.
Looking disapprovingly at the man who had packed his belongings and arrived before he had even left, Varkas reached into his coat, pulled out a leather pouch, and tossed it toward him.
"Then this saves me the trouble of finding you. I'll pay you a year's wages in advance."
"There's really no need for that..."
"No one knows when I'll return. It's simpler this way for both of us."
Firmly cutting off the customary refusal, Varkas turned and climbed the stairs.
Stationing Edrick Rubon at her side had been a somewhat impulsive decision.
He simply wanted there to be at least one person whom she might find even slightly familiar.
In less than a year, she had lost everyone close to her one after another.
The two healing mages.
Her beloved wolf.
Her nurse was still here, but that woman held not the slightest affection for Talia.
Wasn't that precisely why he had forbidden her from attending to Talia in any way except preparing meals?
He feared that if his wife discovered the truth, the shock would cause her to stop eating once again.
Rather than forcing that hateful woman back into Talia's presence, it seemed better for her to find some comfort in Edrick Rubon instead.
Stopping in the corridor, Varkas stared at the bedroom door with shadowed eyes.
Across from it, the maid dozing in the waiting room jolted awake and hurried to her feet.
"Y-Your Grace."
"How is Her Highness?"
"As instructed this morning, we served her breakfast. But... she barely ate..."
The maid lowered her head dejectedly.
Lightly tapping his temple with his fingertips, Varkas grasped the doorknob and pushed the bedroom door open.
The hinges creaked, revealing the room in complete disarray.
His eyes slowly swept over the carpet stained black as though an ink bottle had been smashed upon it, then over the blanket covered with wine stains and reeking of spilled alcohol.
Finally, he spotted Talia sitting curled into a small ball in one corner of the room.
He walked over.
Although she must have heard him enter, she didn't move at all.
Silently looking down at the woman with her face buried against her knees, he crouched before her and gently lifted her chin with one hand.
Forced to raise her face, she fixed him with eyes blazing with hostility.
Meeting those dagger-like blue eyes that he had long since grown accustomed to, he spoke calmly.
"I heard you barely ate again. Have you grown tired of the food that woman prepares?"
"..."
"If that's the case, tell me. I'll dismiss her and have another cook hired."
She slapped his hand away with a sharp crack.
"I'm not livestock. I don't have any obligation to shove into my mouth whatever someone puts in front of me."
His eyes narrowed.
Weeks of relentlessly making her eat and take medicine had finally restored some color to her face.
Even so, she remained alarmingly thin.
Had he not regularly used healing magic on her, she probably wouldn't even have had the strength to resist him now.
Suppressing a sigh, Varkas lifted her effortlessly into his arms.
She immediately struggled like a wild animal caught in a hunter's trap.
Ignoring the pitifully futile resistance, he carried her over to the fireplace and forced her into a chair.
Grasping her small chin, he lifted her face until it was inches from his own.
Then, enunciating every word as though carving them directly into her mind, he said,
"I'll be leaving the castle for a while."
Still breathing heavily with anger, she suddenly froze.
His voice dropped lower, becoming unmistakably threatening.
"While I'm gone, don't even think about ruining your health by doing something foolish. If I hear you've started starving yourself again... I honestly don't know what I'll do."
"Let go!"
As she struggled to wrench herself free, he tightened his grip.
"Remember what I said. I won't tolerate any more trouble caused by you."
Her face twisted viciously.
Curling her blood-red lips, she spat the words at him.
"Go out there and die."
A cold smile appeared at the corner of Varkas's mouth.
"How admirable. A wife cursing her husband on the eve of his campaign."
The face flushed red with fury turned deathly pale in an instant.
Her shoulders trembled as though she wanted to say something in return.
Then she lowered her eyes and bit down hard on her lip.
Looking down at her expressionlessly, Varkas let out a dry laugh and rose to his feet.
"I suppose I'll find out for myself just how effective your prayers are."
His sarcastic remark shattered her expression completely.
Staring at him with reddened eyes, she muttered in a voice rough enough to scrape like metal,
"Just get out."
"Go... and never come back."
Varkas stood there, staring at her as though rooted to the spot.
Then he turned and walked out of the bedroom.
The instant the door shut behind him, something crashed violently inside.
She had started taking her anger out on the furniture again.
Letting out a faint sigh, Varkas calmly addressed the maids waiting in the corridor.
"Keep a priestess stationed downstairs at all times. If her condition worsens, have her treated immediately."
"Y-Yes, Your Grace."
He descended the stairs and left the annex.
At that moment, something cold brushed against his cheek.
Looking up, he saw thin white clouds scattering fine snow across the sky.
Brushing the flakes away with an absent-minded sweep of his hand, Varkas quietly continued walking.