Chapter 87: An Old As*hole
―Meanwhile,
The women were gathered in Diana’s house, sitting by the fireplace and leisurely knitting.
Ilsa entered the room, holding a newspaper.
“Something terrible has happened! The king of Wendels is missing!”
Sofia looked puzzled, Laura didn’t seem to notice, and Diana jumped up from her chair in shock.
“Oh my, is that so?”
Sofia continued knitting without stopping.
“Could he have been kidnapped? Or maybe he fled? Perhaps even assassinated…”
“What good would it do for the king to flee? It’s probably a kidnapping. I heard that in Latgip, there’s a conflict between the royalists, the papal faction, and even the common people, with soldiers fighting each other. There are those who want to kidnap the king and disrupt the situation.”
“Oh, so you’re saying it could be Eisenstadt’s doing.”
“I wonder if that’s a possibility, Diana.”
As water was poured, Diana became flustered.
“Ah…? Uh…”
“What’s wrong, Diana? Are you feeling unwell?”
“…N-no, it’s nothing.”
Diana lowered her gaze to the knitting needles.
Perhaps her sister’s speculation was off the mark――
That foolish king must have simply, without any thought, fled to the countryside, only concerned about his own safety.
It must be the reason why Roberto was so frustrated.
What does that king plan to do from now on? It’s only a matter of time before he’s found, as it was even reported in the newspapers. With the chaos escalating around the palace, it would be difficult to return.
But if he doesn’t return, it will be considered a retreat, and Wendels will automatically be considered defeated.
“It’s troublesome, isn’t it?”
Sofia said.
“Whichever way it goes, it’s a definite loss for Wendels.”
Ilsa responded irritably.
“We’ve known that for a while. The problem is how we lose. Depending on how we lose, it will determine how the people can be saved. If His Majesty doesn’t issue a surrender declaration properly, the conflict won’t end, and the chaos will continue. I want him to return to the palace quickly.”
“But Ilsa-san, if he stays in the palace, he might be killed by someone. For now, fleeing might not be such a bad choice. Once everyone calms down──”
“How do you expect to calm down those three factions of ruffians! Ah, it’s so frustrating…”
Perhaps Diana is the one who is most worried about the king.
If he waits to be sheltered by Roberto and waits for things to calm down, there’s no telling how long the conflict will last.
She heard that the townspeople are starving.
If left unattended, it could escalate into a large-scale civil war.
If a civil war breaks out――
Diana clutched her stomach.
(This child might be exposed to a difficult situation from the moment it’s born…)
Inside Diana’s stomach, which still hasn’t shown much reaction, it’s certain that it’s growing.
Her clothes no longer fit, and her belly occasionally protrudes. There’s no doubt that there’s something there.
“If a civil war breaks out, I can’t stay here.”
Sofia said, rubbing her large belly.
“While I still can, I should consider escaping. . .”
Diana raised her head abruptly. Ilsa eagerly responded.
“That might be a good idea. Eisenstadt seems to be relatively unaffected by the food shortage.”
Diana’s mind started to boil.
“That’s right. Diana, you should escape to Eisenstadt with us.”
Diana stood up abruptly.
“…Diana?”
Her bewildered sister asked.
“I don’t want some stranger to violate this land.”
The house fell silent as if water had been poured on it.
“If we flee, the fields will be left uncultivated. We’ve worked so hard to get this far――”
Ilsa’s expression clouded. It seemed unimaginable to her, who had lived a prosperous life.
“…That’s true. The cows and the fields will die if left unattended.”
“Diana-san has worked hard. I can’t imagine how much she has struggled to get this far.”
As she was comforted, Diana began to tremble.
“That damn old man…”
“…Diana?”
“It’s nothing… I just need to rest for a bit.”
Diana put down her unfinished knitting and went upstairs to her bedroom. Anger made her head spin.
As she lay on the bed…
“I’m back!”
Leon returned. Perhaps the hunting was over.
“Oh, Leon. Diana is on the second floor…”
“Feeling unwell again? I’ll go check.”
The familiar footsteps of her husband. Diana peeked her face out from under the blanket.
“Hey, Diana… Oh, what’s this, you’re awake?”
As Leon approached the bed, Diana pulled his arm closer.
“What is it?”
“Leon, did you see the newspaper?”
“We don’t have a newspaper at home.”
“It’s finally out. The escape of Hendrick IV.”
Leon widened his eyes and then lowered his voice.
“Has the village chief’s house been exposed?”
“It doesn’t seem like it yet. But it’s only a matter of time.”
“What will happen to this country…”
“I was just discussing that with my sisters. If it falls into a state of civil war, we might be driven out of this land…”
Leon said with a serious face.
“But even so, it doesn’t matter. As long as the children and Diana are safe.”
“But the cows, horses, chickens… even the fields that we finally expanded.”
“Don’t think too much about that. When the time comes, we won’t be able to move.”
Diana looked dejected. Observing her, Leon spoke.
“I understand. This place is the utopia that Diana created. You dragged me, a rotten person, and with your ideas, we worked hard to make money and build it. But that’s what war does, it destroys such things, sadly.”
“…Can’t we persuade Hendrick IV?”
Leon froze.
“…Diana?”
“I don’t want to give up my utopia for that cowardly king.”
“Hey.”
“Isn’t there a good way to force our way into the castle?”
“This time, let me say it. Don’t do anything unnecessary, really, stop it!”
Leon embraced Diana tightly. Diana shook her head.
“I will personally negotiate with the king. Tell him to return to the castle.”
“Hey, have some awareness as a mother. It might have been fine until now, but it’s no longer possible. Your impulse will put our future children in danger.”
“They’re my children, so I’m sure they’ll understand――.”
“Stop talking nonsense! Diana’s children are also my children!”
Leon held Diana’s shoulders with trembling hands.
“…Fine, don’t leave the house anymore.”
“Leon.”
“From today, you’re forbidden to go outside! It’s almost the season of snow anyway. There’s no harvest, just taking care of the cows. There’s no reason for Diana to go outside.”
“Leon… but.”
“No! No, no…”
Leon said that and started crying silently. As Diana stood there in shock, Leon pleaded with a breathless voice.
“P-Please, make sure to give birth safely. Promise me you won’t die giving birth, no matter what──.”
Diana felt a shock as if she had been punched.
(That’s right… Leon’s mother, right after giving birth to Leon…)
Diana wrapped her arms around her trembling husband’s back and pulled him close.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Leon. I understand, so please don’t cry. I won’t leave the house anymore.”
While rubbing his own cheek, Leon asked with a trembling voice.
“…Is that true?”
“Yes, I promise.”
What she had to protect was not just the land.
It was her partner’s heart.
The most intimate and precious thing in this world.
(First, I have to give birth safely and reassure Leon…)
Diana gently pressed her cheek against Leon’s cheek.
・・・
『”𝕬𝖜𝖊𝖇𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖘.𝖈𝖔𝖒” – 𝕯𝖎𝖘𝖈o𝖛𝖊𝖗 𝖆 𝖈𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖛𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖜𝖔𝖗𝖑𝖉 𝖔𝖋 𝖑𝖔𝖛𝖊, 𝖕𝖆𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖔𝖓 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖆𝖉𝖛𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖚𝖗𝖊, 𝖜𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖊 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖈𝖆𝖓 𝖎𝖓𝖉𝖚𝖑𝖌𝖊 𝖎𝖓 𝖆 𝖈𝖔𝖑𝖑𝖊𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓 𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖗𝖆𝖓𝖘𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖊𝖉 𝖓𝖔𝖛𝖊𝖑𝖘 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖍 “𝖉𝖆𝖎𝖑𝖞 𝖚𝖕𝖉𝖆𝖙𝖊𝖘” 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖊𝖝𝖈𝖑𝖚𝖘𝖎𝖛𝖊 𝖆𝖈𝖈𝖊𝖘𝖘 𝖙𝖔 “𝖆𝖉𝖛𝖆𝖓𝖈𝖊𝖉 𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖘”.』
・・・
