Despite Count Christopher’s tendency towards entertaining won, as Desmond looked through the well taken care of township, there was little work that need to be done.
The duke saw clean, well organized streets with well-stocked food storage and buildings already winterized. Luckily, the ground didn’t freeze very early considering the large body of water that kept the surrounding area’s temperature more stable than in the west or north.
Without having to ask, he was updated on the seeds for farming next year and where they had repaired the wall towards the west that had been cented so that ice wouldn’t damage in case they t that sort of climate this winter.
Overall, his walk through the township felt easier than so of the others he dealt with. He was there to do his due diligence as the duke but it beca more of a visit with Christopher as they shared various tales from their year apart. He imagined that’s how it would always be with the two of them. They were friends once a year and in the letters between.
Thinking he may be able to head back to the count’s residence much earlier than expected, they started heading in the direction of the lake that took up the southern area.
However, they were stopped while hearing a multitude of footfalls from approaching horses.
In alarm, Desmond and the count as well as all of the n they brought with them took off in the direction of the disturbance. It sounded like an entire army of n and they couldn’t be too careful considering the nature of the world they lived in.
At the township’s eastern border, they were t with a multitude of n holding the purple flags representing the Royal Family.
An officer was the first to climb off of his horse and step forward.
He presented a golden naplate to Desmond to verify his identity as well as a decree from the King.
Before Desmond could open the rolled up paper, the officer saluted and snapped his heels together.
"Your grace, by order of King Stephano de Castille the Third, you have been summoned to Coeurvalle imdiately following information regarding a possible impending war," he announced. "Military orders have been disbursed all through Castille as a asure to secure the borders including your n left behind in Piedmont."
Desmond’s heart was in his throat.
Imdiately, he was taken back to years of loneliness, dirtiness, and overall hell. The only ti it felt alright was when he thought he was finally dying.
It beca imasurably difficult to keep his head straight and listen to what the officer had to say to him, yet he managed to hold it together.
"Wouldn’t it be better for to return to Piedmont and secure the border there?" Desmond asked, genuinely wondering if the man had an answer for him.
"Your grace, our efforts have been concentrated towards the southern borders that is why you have been summoned to the capital," the officer explained. "I have no further information than this."
In a mont’s notice, the peaceful winter with Leonor locked in a library and hopefully devoid of all clothing beca only a dream. If he was to travel to the capital which would take over a week, there was almost no way he would be able to return to Piedmont before it snowed.
He refused to force Leonor to travel in such terrible conditions.
"Go forth and tell His Majesty I’m behind you," Desmond said. "I must retrieve her grace."
The officer seed sowhat nervous and, for the first ti since he approached the duke, he shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
Desmond’s strong personality paired with a terrifying appearance was enough to unsettle him considering he was clearly telling him information he didn’t want to hear.
"We have been ordered to escort you to the capital by His Majesty," the officer said. "I apologize for the inconvenience."
A dark look crossed Desmond’s face.
"Send half your n as ssengers," Desmond said. "Go against my will and I will not co with you without force. I must retrieve the duchess."
Desmond didn’t think Stephano was idiotic enough to summon him without his wife. He wasn’t going to drop everything and leave Leonor behind when retrieving her would only add a couple of hours to the long trip ahead.
"Very well, your grace," the officer said, finally relenting.
The man turned towards his n and delegated the task of sending the response to the king. The rest would follow Desmond to retrieve the duchess and then get all of their items from the count’s residence.
"Your grace, I will return to my ho and tell the maids to get your things together as well as the maids you brought with you," Count Christopher grabbed Desmond’s shoulder. "We will have to et quickly before you leave. I would like to know what to do about the southern border. I feel I am owed at least that much."
"Thank you," Desmond responded. "You most certainly are."
With racing thoughts, Desmond didn’t wait for the other n to get themselves together before he mounted his horse abruptly and took off in the direction he knew Leonor to be that day. He already had guards switch places so they could update him on her whereabouts in cases of ergency such as what they were experiencing at that mont.
Sure enough, his guards were posted outside of the tea house and a carriage boasting his family crest along with the green material of its colors stood outside.
The guards made way for him to enter and the host of the tea house was shocked to see the duke coming there entirely unplanned.
By the ti he made it to Leonor, she was already on edge at the seriousness of the expression of all the n as they rode up to the tea house together. Her stomach was a ball of anxiety.
She stood up at the sight of Desmond walking into her private nook with Alma.
"What happened?" she asked.
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