3. Actually, I ...

“Hey, Duke! Don’t you want to accompany me in here?”

Isolde was bored, sitting alone in the carriage. They had been traveling for almost a week.

After signing a piece of paper that a priest claimed was Isolde's marriage certificate to Duke Devereux, they immediately set off back to the northern lands.

The Duchy of Devereux is located in the northern part of the kingdom of Valtherion.

“Duchess, you shouldn’t stick your head out like that!” suggested one of the knights accompanying Duke Devereux, who had chosen to ride a horse instead riding inside the carriage with his newly wife.

Duke Devereux was a little way from the carriage. He was fed up with Isolde's constant questions and invitations to go inside, since they began their journey.

‘Tch! Why is he suddenly cold to me?’

Isolde was annoyed. This was the first time she had trouble reading someone's face.

The reason is, at the celebration party last week, Duke Devereux was seen enjoying their closeness. But after that, he turn cold to Isolde.

“Was it all just an act? So as not to anger that strange emperor?” Isolde wondered again.

Because she was bored, Isolde decided to make the knight her conversation partner.

“Hey, knight! What’s your name?” Isolde asked casually.

The knight was shocked. He didn't want to be seen as taking the duchess's attention for himself.

After glancing at Duke Devereux and seeing no sign of objection, the knight introduced himself. “Uhm… my name is Nol, Duchess.”

“Nol! Does your duke have a sibling?” Isolde asked, beginning to examine the situation. “That’s the one he loves the most.”

In the novel that Bianca read, Duke Devereux will eventually lose control of his supernatural powers when his older brother is killed by the emperor.

Without thinking twice, the duke would immediately start a rebellion.

‘Well, even if we win, I don't want to see any more bloodshed. I'm tired of seeing fights and wars between clans,’ Isolde thought, analyzing the situation.

However, Nol looked confused when answering that simple question.

“Uhm, Duchess. Duke Devereux is—”

“We’ve arrived!” the leader of the group shouted from the front. “Prepare to enter the duchy!”

Nol could not continue his answer, because he had to switch positions with another knight.

Isolde was frustrated.

“Oh my god! I need to know what's going on. What year is this? But I can't remember the years in the novel either. That bastard half-recited it.”

The duchess intended to repeat her question to the other knights near the window, but the sight outside left her speechless.

Compared to the expanse of snowy mountains they passed, there was not a single drop of snow inside the duchy.

“How could that be?” Isolde accidentally voiced what was on her mind.

The other knights nearby smiled proudly.

“What do you mean, Duchess, why isn’t there snow inside?” he asked, confirming Isolde’s confusion.

Isolde nodded, eager to hear an explanation.

Puffing out his chest, the knight said, “Ha! That’s because we have a lot of fire crystals. Duke Devereux himself made them into a shield around the duchy.”

“Wow! Duke Devereux is so cool!”

Isolde's genuinely impressed expression made the knight even more delighted. He hadn't expected the duchess, rumored to be a shy girl, to be so talkative.

“Ha! Of course—”

“Acro!” Someone shouted, cutting off the knight’s words. “Stand by in line!”

The knight named Acro immediately straightened his body. "Ready, Captain!"

Isolde stared at the captain who had shouted earlier. From the way he was looking at her, Isolde was sure he didn't like her.

“Tch! What does he want? If I had my gun right now, I would definitely put a hole in his head!” complained Isolde, who finally chose to enjoy the view until they reached their destination.

When the carriage stopped, Isolde immediately opened the door and stepped out. She didn't feel the need to bother Duke Devereux by waiting for him to offer his hand to get out of the carriage.

As soon as she stepped outside, Isolde's mouth dropped open. She now stood before a luxurious building, reminiscent of the imperial palace in the capital. Although, this one wasn't as grand as Emperor Thalric's.

And what amazed him even more was the fort that was built around the luxurious palace.

To be precise, a luxurious mansion in the middle of a defensive fortress.

“Crazy! It’s so big!” Isolde exclaimed excitedly.

“Welcome back, Duke!” the servants who had already greeted them called out. “Welcome, Duchess!”

Isolde immediately leaned towards Duke Devereux as they stepped into the mansion.

‘Okay! From now on I am Isolde! And I will save Duke Devereux’s older brother, so everyone can live happily ever, until death do us part!’

“I'll schedule the introduction of the workers for tomorrow. You must be tired,” Duke Devereux decided.

Isolde nodded enthusiastically. “But shouldn’t we greet your brother first, Duke?”

Duke Devereux's brow furrowed in confusion. "Brother? How did you know I have a brother?"

“From a reliable source!” Isolde said arrogantly.

Duke Devereux snorted in amusement. “Then you should learn to choose who you can trust, Duchess. I don’t have an older sister. I have a younger brother.”

Isolde's mind raced as she heard an answer that didn't align with what she knew. The narrative lines from the novel Hebron had read came back to her.

‘Duke Devereux destroyed the capital the moment he learned his brother had been murdered by his wife, who turned out to be a spy for Emperor Thalric.’

Isolde's face turned pale after realizing who and what was happening.

‘Oh, God! So, I am my husband’s killer?!’