Chapter Fourty Two
"Your Grace?"
The sound from the other side of the door pulled out of my daze.
"Co in."
I didn’t turn around. I remained standing by the window of my bedchamber, watching the shadows of the dark woods swallow the last remnants of the twilight. The glass was cold against my forehead, a sharp contrast to the heat of the tea I hadn’t touched.
"Your Grace."
"Ah! Hans is here too." I smiled as I acknowledged his presence.
"Lord Hans was done guiding the help, so I brought him along, Your Grace," Vizen explained, stepping into the room with a silver tray that he set down with a practiced, albeit shaky, click.
"Hmm. Sit."
I heard the heavy thud of the old chairs as they sat. The silence stretched, as the candlelight flickered against the frost-covered panes.
"What did you call for, Your Grace?" Vizen finally asked, adjusting his spectacles.
"It’s evening already." I traced a trail of condensation on the glass.
"Indeed? I’m sorry, Your Grace? I don’t understand the significance," Vizen replied, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"I want the two of you to go sowhere."
[Ping!]
[Wouldn’t it be better to send the knights?]
No. They’ve helped the citizens all day. They need to be fed.
Hans stiffened, his back straightening like a rod. "At this hour?"
"Yes." I turned from the window at last, the candlelight catching the edge of my tired smile, making it look sharper. "You’ll make it in ti only if you leave right now."
Vizen frowned, his hands trembling slightly as he clutched his knees. "Where do we have to go that we must leave right now, Your Grace?"
"The entry points of the North."
The room felt smaller suddenly. Like the walls were leaning in to listen.
"Hans," I said, my voice calm, almost lazy, as I walked toward my bed that has springs co out the matters, "how many of those does the North currently have that are usable?"
Hans didn’t hesitate. "One main gate. And the mountain pass, though that’s barely—"
"Close them both. Vizen, go to the main gate. Hans, you close the gate on the mountain pass."
"Your Grace?! That would completely isolate the duchy!" Vizen gasped, half-rising from his chair.
"That’s the point." I sighed, plopping down on the bed, sighing.
Ugh! I have a headache.
"For how long?" Hans asked, his eyes narrowing.
"Indefinitely," I replied as I rubbed my forehead to ease the pain. "Until I say otherwise."
"Your Grace, the Duchy’s economy will collapse," Hans argued, his brain already calculating the loss of trade routes.
What economy? Barely any rchants co this far to trade.
"There is an economy here?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I..." Hans trailed off, silenced by the blunt reality of our poverty.
"Hans, do you think in a land where people are starving for food they would give a fuck about the gold they can’t eat? The gold is currently useless in the North anyway. We have nothing to buy. We need to build everything from scratch here. The law. The education. The markets. Everything."
I need to check beyond the mountains. If the legend is true, I need to win them over if I want to take over The Empire.
[Ping!]
[Host saw a potrait. Obviously it’s true.]
Hmm.
"Then," Hans pressed, leaning forward, "isn’t it better to demand Imperial Support? I know the Emperor doesn’t like you. But, this is developing one of the Empire’s territories. Surely, for the sake of the borders—"
"Hah... We can’t ask for Imperial Support. We have to do it ourselves."
He’ll kill if he finds out I’m alive and developing the North. The Emperor is an insecure bitch. He didn’t leave his own brother alone who loved him so much... Why would he let a hostile variable survive?
"My Lord..." Hans’s voice dropped to a whisper. "Are you by any chance planning a rebellion? Is that why we can’t ask for Imperial Support?"
I suppose we could call it that, huh.
"And what if I am?" I leaned back, crossing my arms over my chest.
Hans sighed, rubbing his face with his hands, the weight of the month-long oath hanging over him. "What can I do? I have already sworn loyalty for a month. I must follow through with my promise, even if it leads to the gallows."
"What about you, Vizen?" I looked at Oldie.
Vizen didn’t look horrified. Instead, his eyes were brimming with tears. "When did our little prince grow up so much. Haaah..."
"Vizen!?" Panic flared in my veins. "Why are you crying?"
"Hic... Hunghhh...You’re finally reclaiming back what originally belonged to you instead of pitying heartless people," Vizen sobbed, wiping his eyes with a torn handkerchief. "I’m just happy. These old eyes never thought they would see you fighting for what belongs to you."
Veryon... How could you make this person suffer for a person who wanted to kill you despite knowing everything?
"Well, they are now. Take so knights from Sir Eatassh and go. You must close the gates before the sun sets day after tomorrow. Not a day before. Not a day after. Can you do that?"
"Yes, Your Grace."
"In case soone approaches and asks to be let in, say it’s Baron Vische’s order and that they should return."
"Why Baron Vische, Your Grace?" Hans asked, his strategic mind trying to find the link.
Hah... I wish I could say it, right now. I’m sorry.
"I can’t answer your questions right now. Just take the knights and get it done. Okay?"
"Leave it to , Your Grace," Hans said, standing up and straightening his coat. "I’ll make sure no one enters through the mountains."
"Vizen?"
Oldie stood up, his spine straighter than I’d ever seen it. "If anyone has to enter through the main gate, they’ll have to go over this old man’s body."
"Don’t talk about dying, Vizen. Just close both the gates and co back safely."
I’m going to seal them with a magic barrier, later. Closing the gates should be enough for now.
"Understood, Your Grace."
They both bowed and moved toward the door, their footsteps heavy.
But before they could open the door. It slamd open, making groan.
BAM!
"Master!"
Why is he always so energetic?
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