Chapter 119

The remaining remnants of the cult and the monsters were quickly dealt with.

With the heads of the command all severed, the low-ranking members scattered in confusion and declared surrender.

It was an anticlimactic end, considering how much the cult had shaken the Empire.

“Detain them in the Count’s Castle annex.”

“Yes!”

Because there were too many to confine in the underground dungeon, and because the remnants were not deeply involved, they were confined to the annex rather than the dungeon.

The Imperial envoys would soon arrive to decree their fate.

Furthermore, the surviving Spinelle Tribe members were to be taken charge of by the Pink Marten Private Army, led by Wilhelm.

Their disposition would proceed differently from that of the general remnants. They would go to the Imperial Palace with Wilhelm to receive the Emperor’s ruling.

They would have to pay the price for their actions in this incident, but since the Emperor himself was involved, the judgment against them would not be a discriminatory act, unlike the history of the past.

“Chacha. I will take care of the clean-up now, so you should rest.”

Nine, who had approached at some point, spoke with a worried voice. Although I wasn’t seriously injured, Nine had maintained that look the entire time.

Knowing that I had made him worry a lot, I readily nodded.

“Then I’ll tell Norman to return as well.”

Norman had taken up a position in the hastily constructed field hospital and hadn’t come out for a long time. It wasn’t because he was injured, but because he was continuously tending to Iris.

“Ah, Lady Chacha!”

As I peeked my head into the tent, the injured patients who spotted me each tried to sit up to greet me.

I quickly waved my hand to stop them and approached Iris and Norman, who were off to one side.

“How is Iris doing?”

Norman briefly acknowledged my arrival and rose from his seat.

Norman’s face was as haggard with worry as Nine’s.

“She is said to be perfectly fine. They asked if she really fell from the third floor.”

“That’s a relief.”

Iris still had her eyes closed, but even while unconscious, she was hugging a flat box tightly to her chest.

‘What is that?’

Now that I thought about it, she was holding something when Begner had her captive, too. It seemed to be that box.

I naturally sat down next to Iris.

“Norman, I’ll watch over Iris now, so you should head back. I finished most of the clean-up, so it won’t take long.”

“…Yes.”

Norman, looking grim as if he was deep in thought, left the tent.

Only then did I whisper to Iris.

“You can open your eyes now.”

“Phew!”

Iris instantly blinked her eyes open.

She stretched out, as if her body was stiff, and looked perfectly fine to anyone.

I asked her, “Why didn’t you get up? Norman was worried.”

“Oh.”

I had unconsciously used informal speech, but Iris didn’t seem to notice. She put the box she was holding onto her lap and said, “Well, I felt ashamed… and I knew I’d be scolded, so I couldn’t get up. Ah, but I wasn’t conscious the whole time, either…!”

I listened to her rambling excuses and sighed heavily.

Hearing my sigh, Iris flinched, looked worried, and then shut up. It seemed she had belatedly remembered that she was also in trouble with me.

Yes. She knows what she did wrong.

“Iris.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Don’t recklessly put yourself in danger next time! If you run away, we must run away together! When I realized I had left you behind, I was so…!”

“I-I’m sorry!”

Iris squeezed her eyes shut and apologized profusely.

I wanted to lecture her longer, but I didn’t want to make her time to rest uncomfortable, so I held back.

“…Uh, Lady Chacha?”

However, Iris, who had been at a loss, suddenly looked up as if she had realized something. Her eyes widened in surprise and blinked as she looked at me.

“You, you used informal speech…”

Meeting her large, clear eyes, I smiled faintly and nodded. Iris’s cheeks flushed red at my expression.

“C-Can I use informal speech with you, too, Lady Chacha? Ah, no. That is not…”

“Will you be my friend?”

I finished the sputtering words of her excited face.

“Iris said I was cool, but I’m not as cool as you think. Still, will you be my friend?”

Iris’s eyes grew even wider. I continued speaking.

“In my opinion, Iris is a much cooler person than I am. You are kind, brave, and marched forward bravely even in a difficult situation.”

“Chacha…”

“You’ve been through a lot. Thanks to you not giving up, you were able to protect the Laurel Countdom safely. I wanted to tell you that.”

I awkwardly added, “I’m… I’m not buttering you up to ask you to be my friend.”

Moisture shimmered over her bright green eyes.

Iris tossed the box she was holding onto the cot and threw herself into my arms.

As I gently patted her back, the memories of the recent events seemed to overwhelm her, and she burst into tears in my embrace.

It was the first time she had cried since losing her parents.

***

Two days later, we returned to Iclea.

While awaiting the Imperial Family’s decision regarding the Laurel Countdom, Iris and Norman decided to stay behind to handle the aftermath.

The rampaging monsters, having lost their commander, were either defeated without resistance or retreated back to the Kardan Forest.

And finally, the Imperial Family announced the end of the crisis.

Upon our return to Iclea, the territory residents welcomed us, celebrating the victory.

Iclea, which normally possessed a stark but elegant color palette, was decorated everywhere with pink and silver fabrics. People gathered on the main street cheered, continuously throwing flowers and confetti at us.

As I was momentarily lost in the sight, Nine, who was riding a horse beside me, caught a pink flower and adorned my hair with it.

“Kyaaaak!”

“Long live the Duke! Long live the Duchess!”

As we passed through the main street amidst the people’s fervor and arrived at the castle’s main gate, we saw the people of the Eclipse Dukedom, who had now truly become my family, waiting to greet us.

Kate, who must have worried a great deal, was constantly wiping her tears with a handkerchief, and Roana stood beside her, supporting her.

Adel ran over cheerfully, hopping next to the horses Nine and I were riding, while Van was nagging Adel to be careful. The servants whose faces I now knew well were also lined up on both sides, waiting for us.

“Let’s contact father-in-law later today.”

Nine said this as he lifted me down from the horse.

At his tenderness, I hugged him tightly and then let go, walking with him into the lord’s castle.

It was a moment I would never forget, full of happiness, with smiles on everyone’s faces.

***

After returning to the castle, we had a dinner party.

We had planned a separate victory celebration party for the vassals, so this dinner was a gathering for family only.

“Truly… you worked so hard.”

Kate was the first to greet us as we entered the dining hall. She held my hand tightly and said, “Thank you for returning safely.”

Hearing her words made my heart swell.

Unable to speak due to the surge of emotion, Kate smiled gently at me and then offered the same words to Nine.

“…You worked hard, Nine. I’m glad you returned unharmed.”

“…Yes, Mother.”

Although it was still a bit awkward due to their past distance, Nine also made an effort to follow Kate, who had been brave enough to speak first. Despite the awkwardness, he looked very happy to be talking with his family.

Soon, the dishes the chef had prepared with all his might began to arrive.

‘Woow!’

I happily picked up my spoon. Since I had only eaten the dried rations I had brought with me just in case while in the Laurel Countdom, this was a meal after a very long time.

‘It’s been so long since I’ve had soup.’

The moment I brought the soup to my lips, expecting it to warm my insides.

“Ugh!”

As soon as I tasted it, I gagged. The dining hall was instantly filled with silence.

“…The, the doctor!”

“Are you alright, dear?!”

“Chacha, are you in pain?!”

The silence was broken instantly as the family members rushed to my side.

“I-I’m fine… Ugh!”

I was flustered and tried to reassure them that I was okay, but the nausea, once started, would not subside.

“Ugh!”

As I hunched over from the continuous retching, a doctor rushed over to examine my condition.

Since all the veteran doctors of the Eclipse Dukedom were helping out in the Laurel Countdom, the doctor who diagnosed me was a very young apprentice of Tully’s.

“Is she in much pain?”

However, the doctor kept scratching his head and couldn’t easily make a diagnosis.

Nine, who couldn’t watch any longer, urged the doctor with a pale face. He tilted his head one more time and quietly stated the diagnosis result.

“…I, I believe she is pregnant.”