Agnes became even more puzzled because she didn't marry Laslo Alpharde for those reasons.

“Is that important?”

“It's important. To you.”

Laslo's face was serious. He straightened himself up.

“You'll see when you get the ledgers from Niall, but Sutmar is on the verge of collapse.”

“What?”

“It's like a sand castle on the beach that's about to collapse from a single wave.”

Laslo added bitterly and stared at the burning candle.

Agnes leaned forward in surprise. On the contrary, Laslo did not show any unrest.

“The tax revenue has decreased dramatically due to repeated bad harvests, and the number of attacks on Masu has peaked recently. Everyone is trying to not talk about it, but more and more people are fleeing over the mountains.”

“Then…”

She didn't expect it to be that serious. Agnes bit her lips. She left the bookkeeping to Niall and didn't pay any attention to the matter, so she hadn't expected it to be this severe, even though she vaguely knew about the financial situation not being so good.

“Without money, we can't strengthen the army, and naturally not stop the invasions either. It's a vicious cycle where civilians die or get hurt because we can't stop the evil attacks, and so scared citizens run away, leading to further tax cuts.”

His heavy sigh was gloomy.

“Duke Alpharde”

Agnes looked at Laslo, not knowing what to say.

“Don't you know why Prince Sebastian let the princess marry me?”

“If you're lucky, you'll have over 10 years, but if not, then five years. This territory has a limit of how long it can withstand this.”

He gave a rather sober outlook on the future of the estate. Agnes was speechless. What he said was true and there was nothing more she could add, it was a very possible future.

“I didn't spend the night with you.”

Only then did he get to the point.

“Because if you don't have any children, it would be easier for you to start anew.”

Laslo explained calmly, unlike the hesitation he showed at first.

“Start anew?”

“I've been taught not to create anything I can't properly take responsibility for. Princess.”

Agnes felt strange hearing the words that came out of his mouth.

“Responsibility?”

“If this land collapses in a few years, you'll no longer be able to lead this kind of life. I'm used to eating and sleeping on the ground, but I can't force the princess to live that kind of life just because we're married.”

“Then the matter of children…”

“You already know. G.o.d doesn't recognize a childless couple as a complete couple. And that means you will never be subjected to me.”

Agnes inhaled sharply. She felt as if someone had hit her in the back of her head, hard. She was shocked.

– No, it's nothing. Master asked me something.

– What did he ask?

– Well… About on what days one can and cannot conceive a baby.

She suddenly remembered what Ney had said that time with a nervous face.

She didn't think much about it at the time.

It was only much later that the two of them would sleep together.

Agnes, of course, spent the night with him many times, but there had never been a sign of pregnancy.

She had no idea that he had been thinking this way.

Why had she resented and hated this man? If she had asked him why, wouldn't the relations.h.i.+p between the two of them in the past have changed?

Agnes couldn't look straight at him because her heart was aching. Feelings of regret welled up in her throat. She lowered her head out of shame.

“I…”

Her voice trembled due to the tears that were filling her eyes. She tried clearing her throat repeatedly, but to no avail.

“I'm going to die here…”

“What are you talking about?” Laslo was taken aback and asked.

“I will die, hiccup, in this castle. I'm never ever going to run away again.”

Rather than saying it to him, she was talking to herself.

She swore it on the pole that pierced his rotten arm.

I'll never run away without you.

“Princess.”

Las...o...b..came fl.u.s.tered when Agnes couldn't hold back anymore and started shedding tears. He searched for a handkerchief in his coat, but found nothing suitable. Laslo was at a loss as to what to do.

“Here, in this castle, I'll die with you.”

“No, no, there's no need for that.”

“haah… Let's talk, Princess.”

“Let's go to the temple together to perform the rite of vows. That is, if you accept me as your wife.”

If a rite of vows is performed in front of G.o.d, the souls of the two involved could not ever separate, not even by death.

“Rite of vows? Do you even know what that means?”

Laslow was baffled by what she said.

The rite of vows. It was a ritual that even couples deeply in love would not carelessly do.

Agnes wiped her tears with her sleeves and spoke with a determined voice.

“I know enough. I would rather die as d.u.c.h.ess Alpharde than as Princess of Niršeg(1).”

“But that doesn't mean you have to do the rite of vows.”

“I've already made up my mind. I have no intention of undoing this marriage.”

Laslo's expression contorted. He was neither angry nor embarra.s.sed, but was breathing in and out with a strange look on his face.

“… It could become more miserable than now; lousy meals and only a cold stone floor to sleep on.”

She just stared at his face without speaking.

“Think about how well you spent your days at the palace. As time goes by, the situation will get worse, but it won't get better. There's a possibility that a life you've never imagined living is what's awaiting you.”

“I don't care.”

Agnes' eyes shone with unbreakable will.

In three years, if Sebastian's absurd claim of suppressing a rebellion isn't stopped, death will come for them again.

Now, she would never leave him for wealth and honour.

“Would you really not regret it?”

“I've already had enough regrets.”

Laslo did not fully understand what she'd said, but he did not ask another question.

All he remembers is her eyes s.h.i.+ning in the darkness of the night.

“Let me introduce myself again. My name is Buschke Herschko. Please call me whatever you'd like Mistress.”

The old woman appeared in time, wearing a dark red cloak. Agnes greeted her with her happy face.

“I'm sorry for calling you this early in the morning.”

“Don't mind it at all.”

Agnes offered her a seat on the sofa across her in the drawing room. Buschke sat herself down and sipped on the tea poured by her maid.

“It has a nice fragrance to it.”

“It's a type of tea leaf imported from south of the Yelika Mountains. If you like it, I'll tell the maid to send some to you.”

“No, I'm satisfied with just tasting something so precious.”

They started off with some trivial small talk. Fiddling with her teacup, Agnes did not know where to start. She mustered up the courage and opened her mouth.

Just in case, Ney and all other maids had been sent out of the room.

“Do not take my questions lightly and please answer them sincerely. I am in great need of your wisdom.”

“That is a given.”

“So what if… No, did you know that His Majesty's condition is severe?”

“I've heard it from Lord Beller.”

“When I left the palace, he was already seriously ill, so much so that His Majesty couldn't even recognise me, his own daughter's face.”

There was a bitter taste in her mouth.

The king loved his youngest daughter, Agnes, but by the time she was growing up, his illness had progressed so far that even getting up from his bed was difficult.

Naturally, Sebastian and Vivian, who already were adults at the time, took turns in managing state affairs.

“I see.”

“Sebastian will probably inherit the crown when the king dies and I'm not opposed to that.”

Instead of answering, Buschke sipped hefr tea.

“I don't care about the throne. All I want is a peaceful life. That's why I'm here. To live the life I want to live.”

Agnes was as honest as she could be.

“If, and I mean a very big if. What if, shortly after Sebastian's coronation, his two sons die?”

“Yes?”

Buschke's face stiffened slightly by the unexpected question.

“But aren't the princes and the princess still young? Even if his two sons die at the same time…”

“What if they even lose the princess?”

“Wouldn't it be possible to select a new queen?”

“No. Sebastian won't do that.”

Agnes spoke with absolute confidence.

She had thought so, too.

When the two princes died and even the princess pa.s.sed away, the officials called for the selection of a new queen.

She hadn't dared imagine that Sebastian would slaughter every family member with swords and the royal crest.(2)”

“But…”

“I know what I'm saying doesn't make sense.”

Buschke seemed to be unconvinced.

The princess blamed her incompetent language skills and added more realistical theories that came to her mind.

“It's not an impossible situation.”

It wasn't until after a while of discussing, that Buschke understood the point of the princess.

“If that happens, he'll try to kill the mistress, who is the strongest contender to the throne.”

“What should I do to avoid that?”

“Is there any other, other way? Like giving up the right of succession… so he won't kill me?”

“Mistress.”

Buschke leaned forward slightly.

An anxious look was evident on her face. Which was very understandable.

Agnes' face paled, and she had s.h.i.+vers all over her body.

“It's still a distant future and it's unlikely to happen. There is no need to worry about it already.”

“No, I want to be prepared for any future. Please tell me if you have any ideas.”

“Hm… There are only two ways I can think of right now.”

“There's two?”

Colour returned to Agnes' face.

On the other hand, Buschke's mouth tautened.

Lila's notes:

Hope y'all early birds enjoyed being bamboozled.