Chapter 75
***
The day after the noble council ended, Ethan was officially appointed as the Lord of Karsten.
The moment he received his letter of appointment, countless nobles approached to offer congratulations—but none of them were sincere. Most were formal, some even expressed pity or veiled mockery.
After all, to nobles, Karsten was no different from a prison.
Usually, when one received a title or a fiefdom, it was customary to hold a grand celebration.
But Ethan did not. And no one questioned it or criticized him for it. Even the Queen’s faction of nobles nodded in understanding—after all, there was little to celebrate.
Becoming Lord of Karsten was hardly something to rejoice over. In just four days, he would have to depart for that remote land, leaving no time for parties.
Once the ceremony concluded, Ethan returned straight to Baron Estevan’s estate. There was no reason to remain in the palace any longer—and more than that, Elisa was waiting for him, anxiously.
That morning, before leaving for the palace, Ethan had told her everything was settled and not to worry.
But Elisa couldn’t quite relax. She had wanted to go with him, but since she had to look after Noah, she’d stayed behind, feeling frustrated.
“You’re back!”
Having waited desperately, Elisa ran out to greet him at the mansion’s entrance—with Noah beside her.
Ethan leapt from the carriage and swiftly lifted Noah into his arms as the boy threw himself at him.
“Noah, remember, Daddy’s leg is hurt—”
“It’s fine.”
When Elisa tried to take Noah back down, Ethan lightly stopped her. Holding the boy in his arms, he strode into the mansion. Despite his supposed injury, his steps were firm and steady.
He went straight to the study, with Elisa following close behind.
Setting Noah down for a moment, Ethan took a sealed envelope from his coat and handed it to her. The golden royal seal gleamed at the center. Elisa’s blue eyes widened as she saw it.
Her trembling hands carefully broke the seal and opened the letter. One line caught her eye immediately: Ethan Estevan is hereby appointed as Lord of Karsten.
“So, you’ve safely become Lord of Karsten.”
That meant the dispute over Ethan’s status had been settled. Noah could also retain his noble standing.
At last, Elisa exhaled a long, relieved sigh.
“When do you have to leave for Karsten?”
“I depart in four days.”
“Four days? So soon?”
It made sense that a newly appointed lord should visit his territory quickly to meet the people and officials there—but four days felt far too soon.
And Ethan wasn’t just visiting the fief; he was leaving the capital behind for good. The time was painfully short.
“It’ll be difficult to settle everything here in just four days. There’s so much to prepare. Can’t you ask for more time?”
“I’d like to, but I’m afraid that’s impossible.”
“Your Highness?”
At the familiar voice, Elisa turned and saw Howard standing at the door. Her eyes widened.
“Your Highness—why are you here?”
“Why else? Because of him, of course.”
Howard shrugged and threw an arm around Ethan’s shoulder as if they were old friends.
“I asked him to talk for a bit, but he said ‘Miss Leslie’s waiting,’ and flat-out refused. So, I had no choice but to come myself.”
At that slightly embarrassing confession, Elisa’s cheeks flushed pink.
“Is it all right for you to leave the palace like this?”
“Of course. I used to sneak out even more often than this.”
He chuckled lightly, as though it were nothing.
“Besides, those four days you mentioned? I begged Father for them. He wanted Ethan to leave in two.”
“What? Why so soon?”
“Well, officially, because Karsten has been without a lord for too long. But the real reason—” Howard pointed to the newspaper lying open on the desk.
Across the front page was a bold headline: ‘The Hero Who Saved the Allied Nations—Was He a Slave?’
Every paper in Petra was filled with similar stories speculating about Ethan’s origins. The gossip spread like wildfire, even worse than when the mysterious “K” had first appeared.
“The sooner Ethan disappears from the public eye, the sooner the uproar will die down. That’s what the King wants.”
“They’re awful.”
Even if Ethan had once been a slave, that didn’t erase his achievements—the countless battles, the blood he shed, the victory he helped win.
To exalt him as a hero one day and turn on him the next over a matter of birth—it was infuriating and heartbreaking. Elisa’s brow furrowed in anger.
Howard watched her closely, a curious smile tugging at his lips.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I just find you… fascinating, Miss Leslie.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Most nobles—especially those bound to powerful houses—accept this kind of treatment as natural. It keeps their hierarchy intact.”
That much was true. Elisa nodded.
“But you actually think it’s unfair. And not just because you like Ethan—you genuinely believe it. That’s rare. So yes, fascinating. In a good way, I promise.”
Seeing Ethan’s warning glance, Howard hastily added the last part. Still, the sharp look didn’t fade until Elisa smiled and thanked him politely.
“If you’re leaving in four days, we’d better start preparing now. How far is Karsten from here?”
“First, we’ll take a train northwest to the city of Ronfeir. That’s about fourteen hours. Then another four hours by carriage to reach Karsten.”
“That’s farther than I thought.”
Would little Noah be able to handle it?
Elisa looked down at the boy still clinging to Ethan’s side. Their eyes met, and his bright, determined gaze seemed to say, I’ll be fine. She smiled softly and brushed his hair.
“You’re keeping this mansion, right?”
“Of course. My barony hasn’t been revoked.”
“What about managing the estate?”
“I’ll handle that, don’t worry.”
Howard thumped his chest confidently.
“It’ll be hard for a while, but once things settle down, you’ll have to visit for national holidays—Founding Day, His Majesty’s birthday, that sort of thing. I’ll make sure the place is kept ready so you can stay comfortably when you return.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Since Howard had helped arrange and decorate this very mansion, Elisa trusted him without hesitation.
Still, she wanted to make sure nothing was forgotten. Taking pen and paper, she sat on the sofa and began jotting down everything that came to mind.
“Ethan, am I missing anything?”
She showed him the hastily written list. After scanning it, Ethan reached for the pen.
When Elisa handed it over, he added one more line at the bottom.
Say goodbye to Mother and Father.
Ethan’s parents had passed away long ago.
So those words could only mean her parents—the Count and Countess of Leslie.
Elisa froze, staring at the page, her breath catching. Then she lifted her trembling eyes to Ethan.
“I don’t know when we’ll return to the capital,” he said quietly. “It’s best to say goodbye properly before we go.”
“…They won’t be happy to see me.”
“That’s not because they dislike you. It’s because they hate to see their daughter go so far away.”
Maybe so. Elisa lowered her gaze to the paper again. The word parents struck deep in her chest. Ever since learning the Count’s true feelings, that word had taken on a special weight.
“…You’re right. I should say goodbye.”
Regardless of the reason, it was only right to bid farewell to the people who had raised her.
As Elisa came to her decision, Ethan pulled her into a gentle embrace.
“Good. That’s the right choice.”
He pressed a kiss to her forehead.
Howard groaned and rolled his eyes.
“Hey. Don’t forget I’m still standing right here.”
