When The Count’s Illegitimate Daughter Gets Married

Chapter 23

The news of Ian’s appearance at the palace quickly spread throughout the capital despite last night’s drama.

During the 18th question, it was revealed that Ian Reinhardt was innocent and that the conspiracy of treason itself was not true.

The fact that he was nearly assassinated under the Empress’ orders, who was the real culprit, was not revealed.

That was the secret deal between Ian and the Imperial family.

Oscar vowed in front of everyone that the Duke would get back his property.

However, he would not be able to return some of the aristocrats under the Duke’s leadership, who were executed for treason.

In addition, the butler, who was forced to file an internal complaint with false evidence, was nowhere to be seen. It could be possible that he was threatened and assassinated.

Prince Oscar had vowed to thoroughly investigate the treason……but as long as the Empress lived, Ian’s injustice would not be further resolved.

At least, the result of this drama couldn’t get any worse now.

However, Ian regretted keeping Bartolt alive. If he had known the Empress would be so greedy, he would have killed that traitor.

The news of the Duke’s return spread to every direction within minutes.

As Ian stepped out of the palace, he faced a crowd of nobles.

“Captain!”

A female knight with her burning red hair tied high up, pushing through the crowd, cried out.

She was one of the eight Swordmasters candidates.

The Count Redra Reikla.

A female knight under the Duke of Reinhardt, who was among the surviving families that served him.

Ian’s knees collapsed on the ground, hardly enough for the dust to rise and fall.

“You were alive…..!”

Ian’s eyes fixed on the woman, who kneeled down before him.

The knights that followed her also kneeled down.

That longing feeling in his heart found its way to recall Laritte, who had once taken care of his injuries…..

“Count Reikla.”

He uttered, reaching out his arm to her.

“How have you been?”

Neither the Duke nor the Count was as frightened as the vanquished soldiers who fled the battle.

A pair of eyes gazed back at him.

Redra stood up holding Ian’s hand while tears flowed down from her amber eyes.

“I am, Captain…..!! We thought we lost you!”

The Duke’s knights’ lives were filled with chaos after they learned about his death on the ground of the battlefield.

Some were executed and countless employees got scattered away across the Empire.

As for Redra Reikla, she only ran away with her family, hiding in disguise.

The stigma of treason was also cast upon her family.

She was barely making ends meet while living in a house near the capital.

But she strongly held her faith.

Her Captain, Ian Reinhardt, A Swordmaster, could not just die in vain.

It was obvious that something was wrong and only time could annihilate it. And that faith of hers emerged as an unbreakable solid pillar today.

“Captain! How is your health?!” “I’m fine. Do you know the whereabouts of my knights?” “…….Some families were made to disappear in the prison cells, but many are safe. We will try our best to find the others, Captain!”

She spoke out thoughtlessly, brushing down her dusty trousers.

“The Royal Family declared that they’d release them, so don’t worry too much. It’s going to be a long story, but I can’t tell it all here.” “I have brought a carriage. Are you sure you want to return to the Dukedom right away?”

Ian shook his head.

“There’s someone I need to pick up first.”

The tiredness compiled by many events was finally lifted.

In the end, with the help of Prince Oscar, he finally resolved his injustice and received a cordial apology from the royal family.

He had to endure one whole winter at the villa, cut off from the rest of the world. And now, he would have to return to his wife who was there with him.

“Someone to…..pick up?”

She asked, puzzled at Ian’s gesture of positivity.

Now that his matters were resolved, he was a bit regretful about deciding to send her back. He never thought that the journey to the villa was going to be arduous.

‘But, she couldn’t have gone too far alone. It’s still evening now.’

When he was thinking of picking her up in the villa to tell her about the good result, a woman came running in front of them. Her hesitant eyes lit up as she spotted the Duke.

She gently opened her lips.

“Your Grace….”

Redra stepped in front of Ian and blocked the woman from approaching him.

Being the only house leader and knight of her huge family, she was more loyal to the Duke than anyone else.

The young woman stepped back in a fit of surprise.

Ian told Redra to calm down before he asked.

“What is it….?”

He felt a bit lightheaded as it was a side effect of drinking a dragon’s tears.

Redra asked as soon as he gained back his composure.

“You’re going to stop by the Count Brumayer’s mansion, aren’t you, Captain?” “The Count?”

Ian asked back.

In fact, Rose was the one who screamed in amazement when Laritte was being taken away. She couldn’t listen to the others when they told her not to interfere in the Duke’s work.

“Are you not going to pick up your wife…..?”

Of course, Redra was referring to Rose.

It was obvious for the Duke to take his original wife instead of an illegitimate child.

But if Ian stopped by the Count’s mansion, wouldn’t he lose Laritte forever?

The woman hesitantly added.

“I saw the Duchess strolling around the mansion.” “Did she come back here?”

She was referring to Rose, but Ian, unaware of his wife being changed, recalled Laritte.

Ian was confused. He remembered telling her to hide in the villa just in case things went wrong.

‘She went to the Count’s mansion instead?’

Anyway, he was grateful thinking that he would be able to meet her sooner.

He turned his eyes to Redra.

He wanted to see his wife right now.

“Prepare the ride to the mansion of Count Brumayer. I’ll be meeting the Duchess there.” “Yes, Captain!”

At the order of her captain, she hurried to open the carriage door for him.

***

Everyone’s attention was focused on Ian’s carriage.

What would the Duke do now?

One conjectured that he was going to return to his territory.

Since the Duke’s post was vacant under the jurisdiction of the Imperial family, it was the most common opinion of the people.

But his carriage did not leave the capital.

Gradually, the fact that Ian’s next destination was the mansion of Count Brumayer spread through the capital.

Was he going to meet Rose Brumayer, his original wife?

Or was it to avenge the decision of the Count who sent a humble illegitimate child to replace his daughter when the Duke fell?

Despite the countless speculations, the Brumayer family was cautious.

“The Duke is advancing this way, My Lord!”

Count Brumayer clenched his fist as the maid declared nervously. His hands were trembling with fear.

“Why on earth is he traveling this quickly?”

He knew he’d have to face the Duke someday. To be answerable to him for changing the Duke’s bride.

‘I just have to apologize to him for sending that illegitimate child instead of Rose……’

But still, his nerves were going numb when he heard of the news.

‘What should we do?’

He kept agonizing.

Soon, Ian’s carriage appeared in front of his mansion.

He stood up under Redra’s escort.

The Count walked up to the front gate, while the Countess stood in front of the mansion with a forced smile on her face.