21 - Valentina's Paradise
James hurriedly followed Duke Edgar. He couldn't believe it. His lord's conclusion was too hasty. The Gongzi Edeled he knew was the son of Countess Margaret, the best martial artist in the North, but he was just a quiet young master who read books while confined to a tower.
But if left unchecked, that ignorant Samuel would undoubtedly beat Duke Edeled to death with his mace the moment he saw him, without any consideration.
"Your Highness, wouldn't it be wise to consider this more carefully...? It's not certain yet, is it?"
"How can I present more accurate evidence than this?"
"At least you should meet him in person and hear his side of the story, shouldn't you?"
"That's why I'm ordering you to capture Edeled. We need to capture him to investigate."
Edgar cut him off firmly. James, bracing himself for a scolding, pleaded once more.
"But to conclude it was poisoning and capture him unconditionally..."
"They died during the meal. There were no signs of battle, but their clothes were soaked in black blood. And there were dead insects around the rotten food."
"C-Could it be that a band of thieves used poison? Duke Edeled has no reason to harm the guards...!"
James asked in a trembling voice. But Edgar seemed unwilling to listen to James's plea.
"Enough, James. This is not the time to argue with you. You have a separate task."
Edgar grabbed James's collar and pulled him into the tent. He quickly scribbled something on a small table, sealed it with wax, and handed it to James.
"James, I need you to leave the group secretly right now and deliver this to Princess Anna Angella of the Terra Lema Imperial Palace."
"...Yes, Your Highness."
Edgar's blue eyes shone fiercely.
"She will know what I want. So, make sure you confirm that she burns the letter..."
Princess Anna Angella of the Terra Lema Imperial Palace. The woman who handles state affairs in place of the ailing emperor, said to be like a viper in the desert. She already regarded herself as the emperor and commanded the lords.
But Duke Edgar owed her a great debt.
Originally, Edeled was the rightful heir to the Duchy of Nebulosa, so many nobles and petty lords still supported Edeled. But when Anna Angella unhesitatingly granted Edgar the title of Duke of Nebulosa, the conflict subsided.
The case of Terra Petronia was a bit different. After a secret meeting with Duke Edgar, Anna Angella postponed Edeled's inheritance of the Petronia County and appointed Duke Edgar as his guardian and regent. The strange reason was that 'he is weak and not yet an adult.'
There had never been a case where land inheritance was postponed for such a reason. Even Grand Duke Valentina inherited the title before she was even ten years old. The petty lords of Terra Petronia were following the orders of the regent for now, but their reaction was one of incomprehension.
What kind of deal did Duke Edgar and Princess Anna make?
"Exactly five days from now."
His curt voice was heard. James froze involuntarily. Cold sweat ran down his back. Duke Edgar added in a low voice.
"Have her rush to Grand Florida Castle with her decree and the knights of the Imperial Family."
"Pepe! Redo my hair. And prepare the dress I set aside."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Valentina usually wore heavy, solemn-colored dresses and cloaks with the Regio Florida coat of arms embroidered on them to appear dignified. But the dress prepared for today was a light apricot-colored, airy dress and a gorgeous, light shawl with minimal coat of arms decorations.
After finishing Valentina's dressing and hair, Pepe hurriedly began applying makeup. She said that Duke Edgar and his party were waiting in the banquet hall. I must make our Grand Duke look stunningly beautiful and send her to the banquet hall. So that the Duke's eyes will widen!
Pepe, who was Valentina's only witness at the secret wedding, whispered in an emotional voice.
"Oh my, our Grand Duke is so beautiful and lovely!"
"......"
Valentina stared blankly at her reflection in the mirror. The completely different version of herself felt unfamiliar.
Valentina, averting her gaze as if to ignore it, slowly closed her eyes. The memory of that bitterly cold night four years ago came to mind.
"You propose by stabbing me once, and then run away without a word when it doesn't work? Was your declaration that we could achieve our dreams together a lie!"
Valentina, with Pepe's help, escaped from the Grand Castle without her mother's knowledge and finally found the Wandering Knight and his servant who had been driven out of Florida and were sleeping rough in the Black Forest.
"No, Valentina, I am leaving to become qualified to marry you."
"How will you become qualified?"
"I will become the Owner of Nebulosa and return to you. Please wait for me."
"So, by what means exactly!"
She asked, as if pressing him. Rejecting the old emperor's proposal while being firmly targeted by the Imperial Family was no different from rebelling against the Imperial Family. She needed a concrete blueprint. She couldn't just believe in promises to pluck stars from the sky or scoop up seawater and wait. Edgar shouted.
"I will return to Nebulosa, rally the petty lords, and fight against my brother! My brother is committing tyranny with his paranoia and violent personality, and the petty lords are increasingly rebelling. Moreover, my brother's son is undoubtedly an illegitimate child! I should be the rightful heir to Nebulosa!"
In response to Edgar's determined answer, Valentina distorted her frozen lips and said bitterly.
"If you're going based on that alone, you won't return alive. How can you guarantee that those rebellious forces will be loyal to you?"
"That's..."
"There is no force in Nebulosa that supports you. Gathering forces requires time and enormous costs, and gaining recognition of the usurpation from the emperor requires external cooperation. But you have nothing. If you recklessly rush in like that, you will die a dog's death at the hands of your brother."
"Then tell me the way, Valentina! The way for me to become qualified to be with you!"
Valentina looked straight up at him and asked back.
"Then, if I help you obtain Nebulosa first, can you promise to return to Florida and achieve my dreams together?"
"I swear in the name of God, Dominella."
"As the Grand Duke of Florida, before being the Duchess Consort of Nebulosa, I will live here for my country for the rest of my life. Can you accept that?"
"I also swear in the name of God! As the Prince Consort of Florida, before being the Duke of Nebulosa, I will live with the highest priority on achieving your dreams!"
Without the slightest hesitation, a joyful oath burst out.
The younger brother of the late Nebulosa Duke, but a Wandering Knight with nothing. But Valentina bet her future and the future of her country on him. A choice with no other option. Then it had to be fate.
"Then I grant you my permission to marry. I, Valentina, Grand Duke of Florida, accept the proposal of Sir Edgar of Terra Nebulosa."
"Bride and groom, please stand facing each other."
The priest, who had been dragged out of the hermitage in the Black Forest, was terrified and his face had turned blue.
"Edgar of Terra Nebulosa, taking Valentina of Regio Florida as his wife..."
"Valentina of Regio Florida, taking Edgar of Terra Nebulosa as her husband..."
White breaths scattered like feathers around the two people making their vows. Groom, bride, priest, and two witnesses, two rings. The vows were quickly made in the dark forest, relying on a single lamp. The rings that Pepe had hastily prepared were crude in shape, but at least the initials of the two people were properly engraved. Edgar, who had exchanged rings, hugged Valentina tightly.
"Valentina, this marriage will not be complete until the consummation procedure is finished."
At his whisper, Valentina knew that he wanted to complete the consummation procedure here. But in the forest without even a tent, in the bitter cold that seemed to freeze even her breath, the demand to take off her clothes was reckless.
"Edgar, the consummation procedure will take place after you become the Owner of Nebulosa, come to Florida, and hold a public wedding banquet. That was the condition of accepting your proposal."
"But are you saying that I should spend an indefinite amount of time without even the certainty of being a couple! I can't do that!"
Edgar distorted his face and shouted. He was doubting the sincerity of this marriage and was anxious.
Valentina brought out the words she had kept deeply hidden for the one man she could now love with peace of mind, and whom she would have to love for the rest of her life.
"Master of my heart...."
His blue eyes widened. Valentina ended her words, hoping that he knew the meaning of these words.
"From now on, you are the Owner of my Heart. So, don't worry about anything and return with dignity, having the proper qualifications."
"...Valentina!"
"I will wait for you forever."
On the night in the Black Forest, where the whole world seemed to be frozen, Valentina swore so, feeling a pain that seemed to break her body.
Valentina, who had been reminiscing about the past, sighed softly. She had been waiting for this moment for a long time, but for some reason, she felt suffocated by a feeling of stuffiness in her chest.
A huge lump of iron pressing down on her heart. She seemed to know what it was.
It was Edeled.
