Chapter 71

That was how Gibson’s group ended up lingering at a distance around the residence where the duke and duchess were staying. Getting too close would make them look suspicious and get them arrested.

“Do you think we’ll really get to meet her if we wait?”

“It won’t be easy, but we have to try.”

At least it was better than when they had stayed at the inn.

Back then elite knights had surrounded the building on all sides. Even the innkeeper and staff had to go through strict inspections just to enter.

No matter how close he was to the owners, Gibson had no way in.

But the governor’s residence was vast like a palace, with countless servants coming and going.

While Gibson and the others were wracking their brains for a way to meet the duchess, someone they had sent to scout the situation came running back in a panic.

“Hey! This is bad, something terrible happened!”

“Why are you making such a fuss all of a sudden?”

The duke had already purged all servants connected to the former governor or his retainers, but those without ties were allowed to stay and work.

Most were of low status, and a few were familiar faces to Gibson.

The scout said words weren’t enough and dragged them to a spot overlooking the front courtyard.

“No way…”

They couldn’t believe their eyes.

The statue of Count Dorva, the former governor who symbolized tyranny and dictatorship and made countless Bellamare citizens shed tears of blood, had been beheaded.

The severed head was hung high atop a bronze pillar.

As if displaying the head of a criminal.

“Is that what I think it is?”

“It sure looks like it.”

“But he was the duke’s only uncle. How could they…?”

The statue before the residence had represented the governor’s absolute power and inspired fear in the people.

And now it was reduced to this miserable sight.

‘No. We can’t relax yet.’

Gibson pressed for answers.

“What exactly happened?”

“My friend who works as a gardener here saw it all himself.”

The duchess, whose health had been severely damaged by the incident, arrived at the residence under the duke’s devoted care.

Care so attentive it was almost embarrassing to describe.

While touring the grounds, the duchess saw the statue in the front courtyard and fell silent.

Even without words, her expression clearly showed her disgust toward the governor.

Fearing her already frail condition might worsen, the duke ordered the statue removed, and a knight nearby used a garden axe to cut off its head.

At the duchess’s command, the head was then displayed.

“T-then doesn’t that mean the duke’s side is in the clear?”

“But the governor was his only relative…”

“He ordered the execution himself. What more explanation do you need?”

They looked again at the head hanging on the pole.

In the hearts of the people who had lived under the governor’s brutal rule, an unfamiliar yet overwhelming emotion began to swell.

They had met the duchess.

Not just in passing, but living alongside her for several days and seeing her up close.

‘Could that really have been an act?’

She comforted the elderly, soothed the children, and mingled freely with even the humblest citizens.

Her picky palate stood out, but it felt less like aristocratic fussiness and more like the habits of someone unused to seafood.

They couldn’t believe the infamous villainess Elicia spoken of by the world and the Elze they knew were the same person.

And Gibson trusted his own judgment of people.

“We have to meet the duchess.”

“How would we even meet someone so high? And what would we do once we do?”

“We’ll figure something out. Before she returns to Lombard Castle, somehow…”

He looked again at the former governor’s head hanging on the pole.

There, Gibson saw Bellamare’s spring that had yet to arrive.

More precisely, he saw a savior who would bring its future.

* * *

I realized it. I truly realized it.

Now I finally understood why those at the top kept holding meetings, going on inspections, and riding their subordinates day and night.

“You’re calling this a report?”

“Y-yes?”

“I never asked you to write a diary. There are no figures, no evidence, just repeated phrases like seems to be. What exactly am I supposed to do with this?”

The governor’s residence… no, my villa now.

Anyway, it was very close to the Bellamare administrative offices. Ten minutes by carriage, less than thirty on foot.

For the first few days, I planned to focus solely on recovery and take it easy.

Even I knew handling official duties while this battered was unreasonable.

At least, that’s what I thought.

‘They say a sparrow can’t pass a mill and a bear can’t quit a beehive.’

And so here we were.

“Or do I look like an idiot who can’t read numbers? Do you think I’m a joke?”

“What?! Who dares insult our sky-like lady and call her an idiot?!”

“N-no, that’s not what I meant…!”

Baron Conte, who had been tearing into officials behind a partition, suddenly stuck his head out.

Eyes blazing, he scanned the office like he was hunting a criminal.

An official who had only been doing his job now found himself accused of insulting the duchess and broke out in a cold sweat.

I wanted to hold my temper, but I just couldn’t.

Lombard Castle officials were corrupt or lazy, but at least they pretended to work when ordered.

Bellamare’s officials were on another level.

Corrupt and incompetent. What were they even good for?

I threw the documents down and shouted.

“Everyone out! Get out!!”

“Her Grace says get lost! What are you doing, hurry up and scram!”

Baron Conte amplified my order like a loudspeaker.

Normally no one would care about a minor noble yelling, but the situation was different now.

With the governor and upper ranks wiped out by the duke’s decision, the office atmosphere was like walking on thin ice.

Those left were terrified their own heads might roll next.

And in the midst of that, the duchess backed by the duke’s absolute trust began meddling in administration.

Baron Conte was her closest aide and favored confidant, so the Bellamare officials had no choice but to obey with their spirits crushed.

As I sighed deeply, the baron crept closer like a fly rubbing its legs.

“Your Grace, if you’re tired, should I massage your shoulders?”

“Go ahead.”

“I’m known for my incredible shoulder massages for my lady—”

That was when it happened.

Through the door left wide open by fleeing officials, I felt an unmistakably sulky gaze.

My instincts screamed that my eyes were being offended again.

“If you keep staring like that, Baron Conte’s forehead is going to get pierced.”

“But Eli…”

“It’s cold. Come in. And close the door.”

Something I never would have imagined before.

Ordering the strongest warrior on the continent, the absolute ruler of northern Lombard, around like a servant.

But after days of the duke’s excessive devotion, I was honestly fed up.

He carried me everywhere like a personal attendant, turned pale whenever I said I hurt, and fussed over every meal and cloak.

And he looked like he genuinely enjoyed it.

It wasn’t just me. Everyone in Bellamare seemed fed up too.

I’d already heard whispers wondering where the rumor that the lord hated the duchess even came from.

“Baron, you may leave now. Keep the officials in line.”

“He already left.”

Ah. No sense at all.

He must have read the duke’s sharp look perfectly and bolted.

Edwin closed the door behind him and carefully checked my condition.

“Are you in pain? Did you take your medicine?”

“Didn’t you carry me here just a few hours ago?”

“Let’s say a few hours have passed.”

He ignored his dignity as a ruler and knelt on one knee to lower himself to my level.

He checked whether the bandages on my strained wrist and fractured ankle were secure, whether my torn wounds and bruises were healing properly.

Each time I flinched, his expression tightened.

‘What should I say?’

It was strange. Definitely strange.

But somehow, it didn’t feel bad.