After the incident with that mysterious girl, Ritter has left the Marquess's territory along with his troops, as his mission is to keep at bay those who attempt to cause trouble in the empire. It’s also a good way to stay away from Delia; she has made her choice, so there’s nothing he can do now, only hope she is happy.
The troops advance, noticing that not far from their location is another territory. Their captain, named Marius, tells him that it is the County of Adilia, which belonged to the wife of the great Duke Von Hansen. Ritter observes the mansion that stands out in the distance.
"So that’s where she will live in exile. More of a reward than a punishment," he comments with a hint of mockery.
"For a girl like Lady Von Hansen, living in a county far from the capital is the worst thing that can happen," Marius replies.
"She was lucky to have an influential father."
"Come on, my friend, do you really think she is guilty? I don’t believe it; it’s too much of a coincidence that the evidence was found in her chamber. She is a smart young woman; she wouldn’t have kept the evidence in her room; that’s absurd," Marius says.
He had thought so at the time as well; the evidence was rather convenient, which would make it foolish for Alesha to keep it in her room. But she had already been judged, and no one seemed to care; no one bothered to investigate the crime more thoroughly.
After arriving where they were requested for help, they learned that the bandits had gone to the territory of County Adilia, but recently the bodies were hanged at the border of that county.
"It seems the knights of Adilia got ahead of us," Marius mentions.
"At least they do their job. Let’s head back; we need to send the report."
Since they had to leave soon for another location, they were about to return to the Marquess's territory. However, a torrential downpour began as they made their way back, and with no nearby village, Marius suggested seeking refuge in the mansion of the county. This idea did not sit well with Ritter, but he couldn't allow his men to fall ill; he knew the rain wouldn't stop and that it would be cold that night, so he ordered them to head to Adilia's mansion, where they immediately requested shelter for one night.
"My lady, a legion of knights was caught in the storm and seeks refuge," Laurie informs her.
"Let them stay in the guest section."
"My lady… the legion is led by Lord Escalante…" she mentions nervously.
Alesha raises her gaze; she hadn’t expected to see that man. However, he didn’t see her face, so there would be no problem. She ordered that they could stay. Laurie conveyed the message to the butler, who hurried to receive them, guiding everyone to the guest area, where they were offered dinner and warm water for bathing.
"I would like to speak with the owner of the mansion to express my gratitude," Ritter mentions.
"My lady is busy, but I will give her your message," the butler replies.
"Well, it doesn’t matter what time it is; I hope to thank her personally."
The butler departs, and Ritter heads to a room to take a shower. Meanwhile, Alesha watches from her window as the rain gets heavier, just like the wind; the staff scurries back and forth, securing the windows and doors. They also place heated stones in the chimneys; these were magical stones that warmed up the environment, which meant it wasn’t necessary to light firewood in the chimneys, reducing the risk of a fire. The lights, too, were made from magical crystals, so if the wind were to open a window, there would be no risk of candles extinguishing, as they were no longer used and eliminated the same risk present with the chimneys.
The butler informs Alesha that Ritter wishes to speak with her, so she orders them to serve dinner and let Ritter know he is invited.
***\*
Minutes later, Ritter arrives at the dining room, where Alesha is already present. Ritter bows and thanks her for the invitation.
"— But look, who would have thought I'd have one of that fox's lapdogs in my home, the one who stole my place," she says mockingly.
Ritter frowns upon hearing her.
"— I request respect, Lady Von Hansen. She wasn't the only one at fault; your fiance didn’t respect her either."
"— I know that. When someone more beautiful than she appears, she’ll surely end up on the street," she smiles maliciously. "If he couldn't be faithful to me, he won't be to her either."
"— The difference is that they love each other; you simply weren't reciprocated," he replies calmly.
Alesha can't help but let out a laugh. There's no doubt that Ritter is a lovesick fool, but that's exactly what makes him weak.
"— Love fades. They're in their honeymoon phase, but when they see what a marriage really is, the problems will surface. Especially when the little vixen discovers that being a princess heir isn't just about pleasing her beloved."
Ritter tries to remain calm and not argue too much with her.
"— I see you hold a lot of resentment; you must truly love the prince."
"— Love? I don't love anyone. The only thing I ever wanted was the throne, and when the time comes, I will have it." Alesha stares intently at Ritter.
The boy is taken aback by her words. To him, she seemed so enamored with the prince, always behaving so sweetly with him that it was hard to believe it was an act.
"— You say that because you're heartbroken. I truly regret what happened, but we can't change anything; I also lost my fiancee," he lowers his gaze.
"— That was the best thing that could have happened to you. You aren't as stupid as the prince; marrying her would have been the worst mistake of your life. You'll see what I mean very soon."
"— How can you say that? Lady Lange is a good girl; she just fell in love with the wrong person, and here we are. The difference is that I hold no grudges," he responds.
"— In that, you are right. I am resentful, and next time, I'll make sure to eliminate that couple." She slams her knife hard into the table.
Ritter jumps at her action and can see that Alesha's hand has begun to bleed. Due to the force she used, her hand slipped close to the blade. He takes a napkin and places it on the girl’s hand.
"— Your grudges will only harm you; look where they’ve led you. Next time, you could be executed. Wasn't your attempt to poison her enough?" He presses the napkin tightly to stop the bleeding.
"— I didn’t do that. If it had been me, there wouldn't have been such obvious evidence, and that fool would be dead. I wouldn’t fail so spectacularly..."
"— What are you trying to say?"
Alesha leans in close enough to whisper in his ear, causing Ritter to freeze at the proximity.
"— That your sweet beloved could very well be a rotten fruit."
With that, Alesha steps back, pulling her hand away, and stands up to head for the exit.
"— Enjoy your dinner."
Alesha leaves the dining room, but Ritter remains still and appears shocked, not by what Alesha said but because having her so near allowed him to catch a sweet scent—the same one that belonged to the woman he spent the night with. Moreover, her voice was similar, something he hadn’t considered while with her; after all, Alesha wasn’t someone he had paid attention to.
...
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