The method the Marquis had used on the Archduke ten years ago had long since been lost, and because it was never passed on, it could not be repeated. But the crimes committed by the criminal Fleang Redwood were unforgivable, and he had to be held accountable accordingly.
This was the conclusion reached regarding the Marquis of Redwood.
Once the decision was made, the Imperial Family acted swiftly and decisively. The Redwood estate was completely destroyed and burned to the ground. The tragedy that had once forced even the Grant family’s young grandson onto the battlefield due to the Archduke’s rebellion ten years ago was now mirrored in the Redwood household.
In fact, it was even more merciless.
“Leave not a single trace of Redwood in this world.”
By the Emperor’s decree, everyone bearing the Redwood name was executed. The sole survivor was Lady Hennet, formerly known as the Young Lady of House Redwood.
An investigation revealed that, contrary to public belief, she had been scorned as a maid’s daughter while growing up in the Marquisate and had cut ties with the family after marriage. This was the reason she was spared.
While the rest of the family were granted relatively merciful deaths through poison, the Young Marquis and the Marquis himself were executed publicly. Of all possible methods, they were sentenced to the most brutal: death by fire.
Dragged out onto a pyre, the Marquis was a wreck—barely recognizable from before. Beside him, the Young Marquis pleaded pitifully for his life. He shouted the names of noble attendees he recognized, begging them to save him.
But none among the gathered nobles felt any sympathy for the fates of the Marquis and his son. Even those who had remained neutral during the long-standing conflict between House Grant and House Redwood now seethed in fury, saying they had been utterly deceived. Many felt betrayed by what had transpired a decade ago.
Oil was poured over the woodpile. When a spark was thrown, the dry wood caught quickly. Flames hungrily devoured the fuel, spreading to the two criminals. Their screams echoed across the central plaza.
Before long, thick smoke rose, and their figures were consumed entirely by flame. For someone who had enjoyed extravagant favor as a close aide to the Emperor for over a decade, it was a wretched end.
***
A few weeks before the execution of House Redwood, Diane had returned to Hennet. She was originally supposed to stay at the academy for Nathan’s research over the winter, but the downfall of House Redwood had brought her unwanted attention.
Most sympathized with Diane, seeing her as someone mistreated by the family. But some still pointed fingers, saying she was a Redwood too, or looked down on her for being a maid’s daughter.
But as always in society, stories about House Redwood gradually faded from interest. By about a month later, no one spoke of them anymore.
A letter from Diane arrived about a week after that.
「Hello, Elaina. How have you been? Since returning to Hennet, Nathan and I have been very busy. You probably think it’s because of his research, right? That’s part of it, but there’s another reason. And I wanted you to be the first to know.」
Elaina tilted her head. There was still plenty of space left on the page—she couldn’t understand why the letter continued onto another sheet.
But the moment she turned to the next page, Elaina screamed and jumped up from her seat.
“Aaaah! Lyle! Lyyyle!”
Elaina, clutching the letter, ran to Lyle’s study. Her voice was so loud that even Knox, who had been doing homework in another room, rushed out into the hallway in surprise.
She forgot to knock and burst into the study, running straight to Lyle, who had been reviewing documents at his desk.
“What’s going on? Why are you shouting like this so early in the morning?”
“L-look at this!”
Her cheeks flushed a soft peach, Elaina beamed as she held out the letter. Lyle, confused, took it from her.
Before Lyle could flip to the next page, Elaina began bouncing on her feet and couldn’t hold it in anymore.
She shouted joyfully, “Diane’s pregnant!”
「I’m pregnant, Elaina. I’m going to be a mother soon.」
Round, cheerful handwriting filled the letter. Elaina grabbed Knox’s hands and began to dance. As Lyle looked back and forth between his wife and the letter, a smile slowly spread across his face.
***
Elaina immediately penned a reply, stating she would visit Hennet, and tied it to a hawk. To ensure swift delivery, she even offered the bird an especially tasty meal. With a full belly, the hawk soared high into the sky, flying in the direction of Hennet.
She had planned to go alone, but she couldn’t refuse Knox’s request to come along.
Over the past year, whenever Elaina and Lyle were away, Diane and Nathan had looked after Knox. Naturally attached to them, Knox was thrilled to hear Diane was expecting.
With the academy on break, Elaina thought it would be a good idea for him to join, and so she allowed it.
But…
She hadn’t expected things to turn out like this.
“Are you sure it’s okay for you to leave right now? If you’re too busy, Knox and I can go by ourselves.”
In front of the carriage, Elaina asked cautiously, watching Lyle. Ever since the Marquis of Redwood’s case had been closed, Lyle had become twice as busy. All the territories once belonging to the Marquisate had reverted to Lyle, and managing the North’s harsh winter conditions meant even ten bodies wouldn’t be enough.
“We’ll be staying in Hennet for quite a while. Country life—Knox has been looking forward to it so much.”
Knox had never taken a proper trip before. At most, he’d briefly visited Mabel during summer break. This time, they planned a longer stay in Hennet for his sake.
“So that’s why.”
“…Huh? What do you mean?”
“Nothing. Never mind.”
Instead of giving a clear answer, Lyle boarded the carriage. Because of his insistence on joining, what should’ve required two baggage carts had doubled to four. Elaina frowned, thinking he’d just end up working the whole time anyway—so why insist on coming?
“Sister-in-law, do you not want my brother to come with us?”
At Knox’s polite question, Elaina shook her head. “It’s not that—I just feel bad that he’s putting himself through all this. By the way, how long do you plan to keep speaking so formally to me, young master?”
“From now on, always. I promised myself I’d treat you with proper respect from now on.”
In just a year, Knox had shot up in height. His demeanor had matured too, and he no longer treated her with the easy familiarity of before. Elaina, feeling a touch wistful, gently patted his head.
The journey to Hennet was full of joy. When they finally arrived, the entire village had come out to welcome Elaina.
Nathan’s older brother, the lord of Hennet, greeted them with a tense expression.
“Elaina!”
“Diane!”
Diane’s eyes widened as she saw the group disembarking one by one after Elaina.
“Elaina, you didn’t say you’d be bringing others.”
“Ah, well… haha. That’s just how things turned out.”
Though she’d known Knox was coming, Diane was surprised to see a large man following after him. A laugh burst out of her.
“Welcome, Your Grace the Archduke.”
Trying to gauge the identity of the imposing man behind the cute young gentleman, the lord of Hennet was so startled he fell back onto his rear.