Duke's wife

Chapter 84

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Chapter 84
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Smoke rose and dispersed over the sunset sky.

In front of the castle of Plien, the clearing in front of the makeshift barracks of the Knights of Felix was filled with knights who had finished their engagement with the forces of the Duchy of Loienne and were engaged in personal maintenance.

Arthur stood at the center of it, scrutinizing the boots cleaning their dusty armor and the knights as they tended to their bleeding wounds.

The engagement was short due to the rapid retreat of the Duchy of L'Euenne, but the Imperial losses were greater than expected. Arthur gritted his teeth as he looked up at the thick smoke that was burning the bodies of the fallen Marquis de Flyen.

If the Knights of Felix hadn't come to their aid, Plyen would have been occupied. Arthur felt fortunate that he had stopped it, but he also had doubts.

'When we arrived, the Duchy of Leuenne was on the verge of conquering the castle of Pleienne. Even if I and my Knights had joined the war, the situation would not have been so unfavorable to them that they would suddenly retreat, but the Archduke of Loyenne had a bit of a sword with me, stalling for time, and then suddenly retreated. ...... Why?'

If the purpose of their army was the capture of Pleien Castle, it would be even more incomprehensible.

Moreover, before retreating, the word "trap" that the Archduke of Loienne had spoken of was unheard. So, as soon as Arthur returned to the barracks, he sent a messenger to the castle of Felix and the spies he had planted in the castle of Loienne, respectively.

After that, it's been hours waiting for the call to arrive. Arthur felt a sense of foreboding grow in his heart. Most of the time, the delay was due to the fact that there was a lot to report to the correspondence, or it was difficult to send the letter.

Arthur was anxious for every minute to pass.

"Go, sir! It's a big deal!"

Sir Oliver rushed toward him from the other side of the barracks, a letter in his hand, his face as if he could be out of breath at any moment.

Arthur quickly turned his gaze to Sir Oliver, who knelt in front of him.

"What happened to Felix's castle? Or is it from a spy from the Duchy of Loienne?"

"...... Unfortunately, it's both."

"What does that mean? Hurry up."

Arthur hurried toward Sir Oliver, his words slurred with a dark expression. Sir Oliver, who hesitated, as if he could not bring himself to speak, bit his lower lip once and replied:

"It is said that the Duchess has been poisoned."

"...... What?"

The moment I heard that, my heart pounded and I stopped and then went silent. Is what he hears true or false? I was so shocked that my head refused to think.

'What are you talking about? Why is he the why? What poison?'

Suddenly, the memory of her mother's death flashed through my mind.

The weeping servants and the white cloth over the mother's head as she lies on the bed, the pale hands of the mother drooping out of the bed, and the deafening cry of the newborn baby. And Sally's sad eyes as she gently wrapped her arms around her mesmerized shoulders with a sad expression.

The subsequent death of Princess Elektra, and her fiancées who, like her, died an unfortunate death or went insane.

As their faces changed to Grace's in the horrible, sad memories he never wanted to recall, Arthur felt a terrible despair threaten to engulf him, wanting to cut his throat with a sword from his waistband at any moment.