Chapter 49.2
“Even if it’s true, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s suspicious! The situation in the battlefield can change even by a very minor factor. How do you know what she’s up to there?”
“Of course it could be. But His Grace will take care of things there. What does that have to do with you taking over the hostess’ seal?”
“How dare you– !”
No matter what she said, it didn’t work. This idiot seemed already firmly fooled by Balazit’s daughter.
Mrs. Grace’s eyelids began to quiver.
‘What kind of trick is she playing?’
How did she win the favor of Winterfell’s aides in such a short period of time?
Especially in the case of the butler in front of her right now, it seemed that Gordon had been brainwashed.
But she was too tenacious to give up here. So, that meant she started to come up with something different.
“Did she really go to Glenn? Do you just trust the one letter she left behind and just let her go?”
“Yes, I am sure.”
“Then why hasn’t Glenn sent her back to the castle? She must have been in the way!”
“I don’t know. When they are back, you could ask His Grace directly.”
“…What?”
The moment she saw the smile on Gordon’s lips, she realized why he, who had been wary of her all along, obediently told Nadia about Glenn’s whereabouts.
It must have been so because he had already heard that the couple would return soon.
“His Grace says they have departed from the Valloon Fortress. Sooner or later, the two of them will return together.”
* * *
“Congratulations on your big win.”
“I’m glad you came back safely, Your Grace.”
At the entrance to the main castle, servants were waiting in line to greet them.
Glenn, who waved roughly at them as they congratulated them, jumped off the horse.
The place where his gaze was looking at was in front of the main gate of the main castle.
An old gray-haired woman was walking down the steps of the front door with Gordon.
He said with a silent bow to Mrs. Grace.
“I’m back, aunt.”
“I’m glad there are no injuries.”
The expression on her face wasn’t good enough to say that she was happy.
Still, since it was a position with a lot of eyes to see, he played the good nephew and answered.
“I was lucky.”
“You have done a great job, why belittle it with the word luck.”
Looking at her aunt’s expression, Glenn soon noticed where she was looking.
Her gaze was so blatant that he couldn’t pretend he didn’t know.
She immediately passed her words to Nadia.
“Oh, Her Grace is also here. I’m glad you look okay as well.”
“Thank you for your concern, Mrs. Grace.”
“I knew you would return with His Grace. When I first heard that you had left the castle and headed for the battlefield, I was astonished. Why did you go to such a dangerous place?”
She must have tried to be a spy.
It was to arouse others’ awareness of Nadia what Mrs. Grace’s apparent assumption that she dared to ask in public.
Wouldn’t it be suspicious to anyone that a noble lady sneaked out of the castle and headed for the battlefield?
By asking her this question, everyone would be reminded once again that Nadia was Duke Balazit’s spy.
Let’s see what she could say.
Mrs. Grace waited for words to come out of Nadia’s mouth with her sharp face.
“I missed His Grace so much that I couldn’t sleep all day.”
“What?”
The answer that came back was truly spectacular.
Nadia answered her question softly, as if she were a tragic heroine in a play.
“At this rate, I felt like I was going to die, so I took the risk of rudeness and went to where he was. If I waited for His Grace to come back, I might have gotten love sickness.”
“Nonsense!”
She almost burst out screaming implying that Nadia was lying.
Perhaps the appearance of Nadia acting as a shy woman was so detestable in her eyes.
“If you loved His Grace that much, you should have thought of his position first. Didn’t it ever occur to you that your presence would be a hindrance?”
“T-That’s… I was short thinking.”
Even though it was just acting, Mrs. Grace felt relieved at the sight of Nadia looking down, stunned of her own recklessness.
Mrs. Grace, who quickly judged that this was her chance, raised her voice.
“I’m glad you’re alright, but what would you do if you had been taken hostage by the enemy? If that was the case, His Grace wouldn’t be winning like today. Even if you think you are being short thinking, this is too much.”
“….”
Nadia didn’t answer with her head bowed as if she realized her mistake. How amazing was that.
‘Now, let me show you the authority of the elders of the family.’
The moment she was about to carry on her scolding, someone stepped between Nadia and Mrs. Grace.
“Sir Giscard?”
The one who approached was none other than Giscard, the leader of the knights.
She was delighted in her heart at Giscard’s intervention.
Everyone knew that that man was a loyalist of Winterfell.
Besides, he must have been disturbed by Nadia’s intrusion in the battlefield, so he must be dissatisfied…
“Aren’t you talking too much to Madam?”
What now?