TGDHC Chapter 132

Chapter 132 – Private Talk

A trip to the Fogen Mountains?

If the knights heard that, they would scratch their heads, looking completely puzzled.

— “The Fogen Mountains? Isn’t that just a place full of snow?”
— “You call that a trip? You’d see more interesting things if you just stayed at the duchy.”

But for Loic, who had a very clear goal in mind, it was the perfect destination.

Annette clapped her hands together in delight.

“That sounds great—an inspection trip!”

Inspection?

Loic’s eyes twitched at the unexpected word.

“I’ve always wondered how they make Snow Wine. Perfect timing!”

Wait—that’s not what I meant…

He could already see the little gears spinning rapidly in her clever head.

Loic sighed inwardly at his own stupidity.

‘I shouldn’t have mentioned the wine.’

It hadn’t been long since the diplomatic delegation returned, and already several trading companies had secretly contacted the administration office.

They wanted exclusive rights to import Snow Wine and were begging to know which merchants or breweries were behind it.

— “Tell them it’s still confidential, and collect their company names for now.”

Annette had warned everyone to stay quiet until the wine was officially ready for market. Since then, she had been agonizing over which merchant company to trust with the Snow Wine business.

“I got some good recommendations from Alchent, but I don’t really know what their brewing facilities are like. The environment might need a lot of investment.”

Annette nodded to herself, saying that visiting the site first and then connecting it to the right company would be best.

Apparently, the word vacation had completely vanished from her mind—but that was fine.

‘I’ll keep the travel group as small as possible.’

Loic began calmly planning.

He would leave the maids behind—he could take care of Annette himself.

No need for knights either. With a Sword Master right beside her, what kind of danger could there be?

Just imagining the two of them traveling alone together in a carriage made his heart race.

‘We’ll probably have to stay one night at a temple.’

Maybe, with a little luck, he could use the excuse of limited space to sleep in the same room as Annette.

‘Ah, damn.’

Even the thought alone made heat rise uncontrollably below his waist.

“Loic?”

“It’s getting late. Shall we head back?”

Loic forced himself to straighten up and smiled calmly.

He suddenly remembered he hadn’t done his usual evening training.

‘I’ll have to run for at least an hour to get rid of this heat.’

Holding Annette’s hand tightly as she chatted about coming back next time, Loic awkwardly began walking her home.

When they arrived at the main estate, Loic helped Annette down from the carriage—when suddenly, a small figure jumped up near the stairs.

It was Raphael, who was supposed to have gone to bed early, waiting for them outside.

“Your Grace, I have something to say to you.”

“…!”

Annette’s eyes flickered at Raphael’s request to talk alone, but in the end, Loic went for a late-night walk with his young brother-in-law.

“So, what did you want to say?”

They sat together on a bench deep in the forest path, but Raphael hesitated to speak.

“I heard you’re going back to the academy soon.”

Loic quickly understood what the boy’s real concern was and spoke first.

“If you’re worried about Annette, you don’t have to. I’ll take good care of her.”

“…My sister always says she’s fine.”

Raphael finally spoke, his voice trembling a little.

“What do you mean?”

“She says that when she’s sick. When Lady Ladriel is mean to her. Even when Father hits her—she just says she’s fine.”

When her father hit her?

Loic’s jaw tightened.

“So even if she says she’s fine, she’s not really fine.”

“I see.”

Loic already knew Annette had a habit of saying “I’m fine” no matter what.

“Now that I won’t be around, you’re the only one she can rely on, Your Grace.”

The boy’s small fingers fidgeted nervously.

“So please… be good to her.”

He was sincere. He truly believed that only he could protect his sister, and now he was entrusting that role to Loic.

Loic nodded seriously.

“I’ll remember that.”

“And… when I graduate from the academy, I’m going to be a knight.”

Raphael straightened his posture a little.

“When that time comes, can I join the Blenheim Knight Order?”

Loic looked down at the small head beside him, surprised.

“The Blenheim Order isn’t just open to anyone.”

“I’m not just anyone,” Raphael protested, scrunching his nose.

“I’m going to be the best knight in the empire!”

“Is that so?”

“Sir Demich said if I eat well, I can grow tall like you!”

As Raphael muttered that his height was the only thing holding him back, Loic quietly looked at the boy’s short legs swinging above the ground.

“Usually, young nobles from the capital join the Royal Guard.”

“But the Blenheim Knights are way stronger.”

“That’s true,” Loic admitted.

‘As expected of Annette’s little brother—he’s sharp.’

“And I want to live with my sister,” Raphael added softly.

“So… please don’t reject me later just because I’m from House Frais.”

‘So that’s what he’s worried about.’

Loic gently rested his large hand on the boy’s soft brown hair.

“Alright. I’ll save you a spot.”

But his tone turned slightly stern.

“Make sure you get strong enough for it. I won’t go easy on you just because you’re Annette’s brother.”

Raphael squirmed under the hand ruffling his hair but didn’t push it away.

“That’s all you wanted to say?”

The boy nodded, then suddenly looked up as if he remembered something.

“My sister doesn’t have any jewelry.”

“…What?”

Loic’s eyebrows shot up.

“Father never spent money on her. So except for the few hairpins and brooches I bought her, she doesn’t have anything.”

“I didn’t realize…”

Annette always seemed to shine so brightly—he’d thought it was because of her jewelry.

‘I really had no idea.’

“She doesn’t care much about jewels,” Raphael said knowingly, shrugging.

“But still, just giving her a wedding ring is kind of too little, don’t you think?”

His small lips pouted.

“She’s the Grand Duchess now.”

Being scolded by his brother-in-law to take better care of his wife’s jewelry collection—Loic felt his neck burn red from embarrassment.

‘When’s the next jewel auction?’

He shut his eyes tightly and started planning immediately.

Janet blinked at the paper and pen in front of her.

How long had she been in this cell?

Since the day she was thrown into the underground prison without even a chance to defend herself, no one had come to see her.

She had prepared dozens of excuses in her head, but none of them mattered now.

After the head maid in the next cell died, even the guards only came by during meal times.

‘Am I just going to be forgotten here forever?’

‘What happens if no one ever comes for me?’

Every night, she fought against fear in that lonely, cold cell.

And finally, today—a knight came to the prison.

‘Finally! I’m going to be interrogated!’

She was actually relieved. At least questioning meant she hadn’t been abandoned completely.

But instead of leading her out, the knight threw a sheet of paper and a pen through the bars.

“W-What is this?”

He spoke in a flat, cold voice.

“From now on, write down everything you know about Marquis Frais.”

“What? What do you mean?”

Janet raised her eyebrows in shock.

“About the Marquis? What exactly do you want me to write?”

“He said you would know what that means.”

“Is this Lady Annette’s order?”

The knight didn’t answer—he just stared down at her silently.

‘Does the Grand Duchess know about the contract with the Marquis?’

Panic spread across Janet’s face as she clung to the bars.

She didn’t know what information they wanted, but there was no way she could leave written evidence with her own hand.

“I barely know anything about the Marquis!” she cried desperately.

“My lady already knows more than I do! I only know the kind of tea he likes!”

“Then write that down too.”

“What?”

“But think carefully before you do,” the knight said, unblinking.

“The Marquis’s wife and son are leaving for the capital tomorrow.”

“They’re leaving? What about me?” Janet shouted sharply, grabbing the paper.

“If what you write is judged to be sufficient, you’ll be released too.”

“And if it’s not?”

His voice was expressionless.

“Then you’ll stay here.”

“H-here? You mean I’ll stay locked in this cell?”

“Also, the Frais household will be informed that you chose to remain in the duchy voluntarily.”

Her face drained of color.

That meant she would be branded a traitor to the Frais family and left rotting in the duchy’s dungeon.

“That’s impossible! I didn’t do anything wrong! Please, let me have a proper investigation!” she screamed.

“You won’t be interrogated,” the knight replied coldly.

“Why not?”

“Because Her Highness said there’s no point wasting time and manpower on something so obvious.”

Janet’s legs gave out, and she sank to the floor.

Without an interrogation, there would never be a chance of release.

In other words, they had no intention of ever letting her out.