Chapter 53
So this wasn’t what Anna truly wanted.
“I’ll have him punished under imperial law.”
“And who gave you that authority?”
“I could ask Your Majesty the same. You sent him. It’s only right that I handle it.”
“Hah. You ignored it for over a year, and now you dare wag that tongue?”
They paused for a moment, then the Emperor and the Grand Duke went at each other again, grabbing and shoving like common brawlers.
As Anna rushed to stop them, a nearby shelf tipped over.
She dodged it just in time, but not without getting hurt.
Yulias and Tereo pulled her out of the way, sparing her from being crushed, but her wrist and ankle were injured in the process.
The wrist Yulias had gripped so tightly was swollen, and her ankle twisted when she fell.
She couldn’t tell the Princess what had happened.
There were too many things she couldn’t explain.
So Anna decided not to visit the Princess until her ankle healed.
Oberok’s punishment still hadn’t been decided.
That was what frustrated her most.
She did want Oberok to be punished—but she wanted the Princess’s opinion to be part of that decision.
Wasn’t it the Princess who had been struck and humiliated by him?
It was her matter.
Why were the Emperor and the Grand Duke deciding it on their own?
Truthfully, Anna hadn’t wanted to meet Yulias at all.
But he had begged her several times, so she finally agreed to meet him at the outer fortress training ground.
Yulias stood there, looking defeated, his head lowered, staring at his boots.
“Transfer Oberok’s right of punishment to Her Highness.”
He didn’t answer.
Instead, his head, which had been bowed toward Anna’s feet, began to rise.
Then his gaze shifted behind her.
Anna noticed the tremor in Yulias’s eyes and turned around.
There stood the Princess—Lincia.
“Anna?”
When Lincia saw Anna and then met Yulias’s eyes, she instinctively stepped back.
Then she turned and ran.
Anna froze for a second, then chased after her.
***
Erna had told her that Oberok was locked in the dungeon and couldn’t receive medical treatment.
Lincia couldn’t stay still after hearing that.
Why now?
It was all too sudden.
And Yulias was here too.
If the Grand Duke had imprisoned his aide, Harvich would not take it kindly.
As she walked toward the outer fortress, bits of gossip reached her ears.
“They say the fallen retainer was found dead.”
“They say they want the woman who once held the Durand title to become the Grand Duchess.”
“They say the Emperor and the Grand Duke threw punches at each other.”
When she had stayed inside her chambers, she had heard nothing.
But now that she was outside, the air was filled with rumors.
As she neared the outer fortress, a familiar voice reached her.
It grew clearer the closer she got.
She followed the sound quietly.
Long brown hair.
A small frame.
It was Anna.
Lincia’s steps quickened.
“…Transfer the right of punishment…”
“Anna?”
The man with his head lowered gave her an uneasy feeling.
When she caught sight of his shining golden hair, she froze.
It was Yulias.
Why… why was Anna with Yulias?
Lincia drew in a sharp breath.
“Yes. I was wrong to tell you to go back to someone like him. I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
Lincia remembered how Anna had once spoken to her so gently to comfort her.
When everyone else had left, Anna had been the only one who remained by her side—the only one Lincia could truly trust.
Now, seeing her speak to Yulias, she didn’t even want to know what they were saying.
If Anna disappeared from her side too, then she would have no one left.
Her body felt heavy; she couldn’t even run far.
At least, Anna had been the only one to follow her.
As Anna approached carefully, Lincia spoke first.
“…I want to be alone right now.”
Anna stopped immediately.
As Lincia hurried back to her chambers, she ran into Harvich in the corridor.
The moment she saw his face, she couldn’t breathe.
The cut on his lip was still unhealed.
“I’ve been looking for you.”
Harvich reached out and brushed his hand across her forehead, wiping away the beads of sweat forming there.
His touch was gentle, and Lincia had to bite her lip to stop herself from crying.
She wanted to be alone—but at the same time, she wanted someone to stay beside her.
Holding back tears, she gripped his collar tightly.
Even though she knew the hallway wasn’t the place for this, the words tumbled out before she could stop them.
“Did you fight with Yulias?”
“……”
“Why? I heard you put Oberok in the dungeon.”
“So you were concerned.”
“……”
“It was my mistake.”
Lincia blinked.
“I’ve been correcting small issues.”
“The treatment toward you has been poor, hasn’t it? The servants ignored your authority as mistress, and even the retainers looked down on you.”
“So you’re saying… you’re trying to improve my position now?”
Harvich didn’t answer.
His silence said enough.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because this is where you’ll live from now on.”
“……”
Harvich took her hand, his fingers moving slowly as he spoke.
“Let’s start by making our wedding rings. What design do you like?”
“Why are you acting like this?”
“Because we’re husband and wife.”
“Then why…”
Lincia turned her head, cutting him off.
Her tears had already stopped.
“It’s not even a real marriage.”
“……”
“Every time you do this, it just feels like you want something from me.”
“I don’t want anything.”
When she looked up, Harvich was already watching her.
“Oh. Maybe one thing.”
He tightened his grip on her hand.
“Don’t run away again.”
He noticed her fingers—bare, without a single ring.
Seeing her dressed so lightly in the chilly air bothered him.
Without saying more, Harvich led her back to the bedroom.
Lincia didn’t resist.
He seated her on the bed and spoke quietly.
“If there’s anything that makes you uncomfortable, tell me directly. If anyone treats you carelessly…”
Thinking of Oberok, Harvich bit his lip.
That man had dared to strike Lincia.
Two years.
For nearly two years, she had to meet with that man, even once a month—that must have been hell.
Just thinking about it made rage burn in his chest.
It was all because he hadn’t paid enough attention.
Because he had neglected her.
And that realization filled him with guilt.
