The Forgotten Field - Chapter 132

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 132
I worried that exposing myself to such biting wind might bring on illness.
He leaned his shoulder against the window frame, tracking her movements with his eyes.
Her gait had grown considerably more stable now. When she walked at a steady, measured pace, it was nearly impossible to notice the weakness in her legs.
Yet that state did not persist for long. The weakened muscles would cramp at the slightest exertion, and after roughly ten minutes, her stride would noticeably become unnatural. Though she concealed it outwardly, pain still seemed to linger.
Barcas, who had been tapping his forearm with his fingertips while holding his arms crossed, finally picked up the discarded coat. It seemed he would only feel assured by observing her condition from nearby.
He circled around the solid wood desk and crossed the carpeted chamber. Opening the door, he stepped into the corridor, where he encountered Darian ascending the stairs.
“Your Grace.”
The man approached swiftly, clutching what appeared to be a small slip of paper in one hand. At the ominous premonition, Barcas furrowed his brow.
“What is the matter?”
“The intelligence agents dispatched to the Northern Region have sent an urgent dispatch. It would be prudent to convene an emergency meeting.”
The man extended the tightly rolled slip of paper with a grave expression.
Barcas took it and rapidly scanned the cipher—a mixture of Eastern Territories script and the Empire’s common tongue.
The contents of the report were unmistakable. The Northern Region was preparing for war. And quite earnestly at that.
“Have we received any word from those we have placed in the Capital?”
“No, not yet.”
That meant the Northern Region’s suspicious movements had not reached the Central Region. This also suggested the Heimdal Family was moving with extreme caution.
He ran his fingers roughly through the hair falling across his forehead.
“This information alone is insufficient. Until we ascertain the precise situation, we must take care that rumors do not spread. Select trustworthy advisors and summon them to the Assembly Hall.”
“Do you have specific individuals in mind?”
“Beirov, Rogen, Rabomir… that should suffice.”
Upon hearing the names of subordinates he had long observed, Darian stroked his chin and nodded.
“They are all men of few words. Those men will handle matters with discretion. I shall have them standing by in the Conference Hall shortly.”
As the man turned to leave, Barcas tucked the dispatch into his coat’s inner pocket and descended the stairs at once.
His mind was instantly consumed by the precarious situation unfolding in the Northeast Region.
He considered various scenarios. By protocol, he should report the current situation to the Imperial Family. Yet was that truly the wisest course of action?
The Heimdal Family would not have embarked upon such a dangerous gambit without leverage. They had likely secured the allegiance of not only key Imperial officials but numerous nobles as well.
Should even one traitor emerge from among the feudal houses, the Empire’s order would crumble in an instant.
Now was the time to gather intelligence and quietly tighten the noose around Balto from the shadows.
He felt a sharp sensation spreading from his temples to his brow and rubbed his eyes. Then a cool voice reached him from nearby.
“Barcas?”
Barcas, who had been heading toward the Military Affairs Office after leaving the Great Hall, came to an abrupt halt.
His wife, who had been strolling through the Garden until moments ago, was now seated near the Pavilion positioned before the Main Castle.
She rose abruptly from her seat.
“What brings you here at this hour? I naturally assumed you would be attending to official duties outside.”
The woman moved forward hurriedly and stumbled badly. He quickly caught her by the waist.
As he drew her delicate, nearly weightless form into his embrace, his throat constricted and his mouth went dry.
He gazed down at her flushed face with displeasure.
When he noticed the faint blush coloring her neck and earlobes, his body responded in an unwelcome manner. Ignoring it, he steadied her wavering form.
“Please exercise caution.”
“I’m usually careful. It’s not my fault you suddenly appeared like that.”
She grumbled softly, her eyes downcast. Her tone was as sharp as ever, yet somehow she seemed listless.
He straightened his disheveled collar and gently pressed the back of his hand against his flushed cheeks.
“Your fever hasn’t completely subsided. Why have you left your bedroom instead of resting?”
“Staying cooped up in the bedroom is suffocating. The smell of burning firewood irritates my throat too…”
He narrowed his brows. Indeed, since he’d begun lighting fires, she’d been coughing frequently. He made a mental note to prepare heating equipment using mana stones soon.
“Still, please don’t stay outside for too long. The air is cold.”
“Then when am I supposed to wear this coat?”
She shot him a look of exasperation. After a brief pause, Barcas replied matter-of-factly.
“You can wear it when we go out together.”
It was an unexpected answer. Her autumn-sky eyes widened slightly.
She lowered her long lashes as if concealing her agitation, speaking with deliberate indifference.
“You’re swamped with work. I don’t see how you’d find time for that.”
“Soon enough…”
He’d been about to promise he would make time, but the news from Balto surfaced in his mind, and he fell silent.
Feeling something akin to irritation, he rubbed his brow. The woman, observing his expression, stepped back and spoke flatly.
“Never mind. Don’t worry about me—just take care of your own affairs.”
With that, she turned toward the entrance of the Main Castle. He caught her almost reflexively. Her widened eyes reflected his image once more.
“Allow me to escort you to your chamber.”
“No need. I can walk on my own…”
Ignoring her protest, he lifted her small frame effortlessly into his arms.
The woman, who had shot him an annoyed look, soon rested her head against his shoulder with an expression of resignation. He supported her back firmly and nodded to the Quarter Dwarf standing awkwardly at a distance.
“Go to the Military Affairs Office and tell them I’ll arrive in about an hour.”
“Yes, understood.”
Passing the flustered woman who bowed deeply, he entered the Hall, where the eyes of bustling Servants immediately turned toward him.
Ignoring their gazes as though he were some rare spectacle, he climbed the stairs with long strides. A Handmaiden loitering near his bedroom came into view.
“What are you doing there?”
As he approached and spoke, the young Handmaiden, who had been shifting her weight at the door, startled and bowed deeply.
“Your Grace, I greet you. This morning, Her Highness the Duchess expressed a desire for fresh fruit, so I hurried to the market to procure some. However, it seems you stepped away briefly, so I was waiting.”
His gaze fell to the tray in the Handmaiden’s hands.
In a silver bowl lay a cluster of dark grapes and several slices of pear, neatly peeled.
She typically consumed mainly fruits or honey-sweetened beverages, though even then only with great persuasion from the Nursemaid. He’d never once heard her express a desire to eat anything of her own accord, so he felt a pleasant warmth at this.
He adjusted her position with one arm and accepted the bowl with his other hand.
“Thank you. I’ll take care of it from here. You’re dismissed.”
With that, he opened the door and stepped into the bedroom.
“Did you wish to eat fruit?”
He set her down on a chair with thick cushions and bent before her, noticing her anxious expression.
Talia, as if concealing her emotions, set her lips firmly and spoke with affected coolness.
“That’s not the kind of fruit I wanted to eat.”
“Then what did you wish to have?”
Aria couldn’t answer hastily, merely wringing the fabric of her skirt between her fingers until, after a long moment, she murmured softly.
“Strawberries….”
He creased the corners of his eyes. It was a fruit whose season had long since passed.
She, too, seemed well aware of this fact, for she quickly added in self-defense.
“I only asked you to find them if you could—I didn’t demand anything forcefully or act unreasonably. Simply going to the market to inquire isn’t an unreasonable order, is it?”
“Such a small errand is no trouble at all for me to undertake.”
He spoke in a rigid tone. Her manner of watching his expression filled him with something akin to anxiety.
Did she truly believe he would reproach her over such a trivial matter? Feeling the sensation that had gripped his throat descend to his chest, he gently lifted her chin.
“Do you wish to have strawberries?”
“I simply thought of them suddenly….”
“It may be difficult today, but I shall procure them within a few days.”
Aria, who had been avoiding his gaze, slowly brought her eyes to meet his.
He added with some urgency.
“If there is anything else you wish for, please tell me without hesitation.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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