Chapter 54
Epilogue
After the chaos in Saint-Lour, Aldrick and Violet didn’t stay there long and soon departed for their territory.
Though they apologized repeatedly to the lord of Saint-Lour, Violet couldn’t shake off the deep embarrassment. The fact that dozens of knights, squires, and soldiers had been mobilized because she ran away, and that wanted posters were distributed throughout the kingdom—everything was mortifying.
However, Aldrick didn’t seem particularly bothered.
“Anyone would do at least that much to find their runaway wife.”
She wanted to say otherwise, but for some reason, she didn’t even have the strength to argue.
There was even a small commotion on the day they left Saint-Lour.
Mrs. Margaret and Joshua had come to the castle to check on Violet’s condition.
Since the reunion, Aldrick hadn’t taken his eyes off Violet—not even allowing her to walk around the castle alone—so meeting them also required Aldrick’s permission.
He agreed to let her meet Mrs. Margaret but said, “That brat is not allowed.”
He firmly refused to let her meet Joshua.
Violet figured that Mrs. Margaret had told him she was safe, so she decided not to feel guilty toward Joshua.
He hadn’t been her destined person anyway. Someday, he’d meet someone better suited for him and live a happy life.
Except for Count Simon Lambert, who had helped track Violet, the rest of the knights returned to the capital. Aldrick expressed his gratitude for their friendship, while Violet remained thoroughly mortified.
“Please don’t take my previous words too personally.”
After Aldrick and Violet reconciled, Count Simon Lambert said this with his usual warm smile.
“Anyone who saw Aldrick after you disappeared would’ve thought the same, Countess.”
Even so, he continued to address Violet as ‘Countess’ to the very end.
He also mentioned that his wife was upset she didn’t get to say farewell, and kindly asked them to visit the Lambert manor if they ever returned to Mallo.
Just before returning to Aldrick’s territory, unexpected news arrived.
“It’s a letter saying that Baron Zerotta has been arrested. I told them to send me any updates regarding him.”
“Arrested?”
Aldrick scratched his chin awkwardly.
“After you left, there was a bit of trouble with the Baron. He came to Simon’s house and caused a ruckus. Said it was all my fault you disappeared. Or that I was hiding his daughter and refusing to let him see her.”
It was all likely just a ploy to extort money.
“You might’ve guessed, but I wasn’t in my right mind back then either,” Aldrick added in a low voice. “I beat him up and threw him into the town watch jail. Because of that, I was stuck in the capital for a while. The commander scolded me for punishing someone of lower status right after being granted my title.”
“So you’re the one who got my father arrested?”
“No, he was detained and then investigated—apparently they found real charges. Things like illegal title trading, fraud, gambling, and loan-sharking. So I wasn’t the direct reason for the arrest.”
“…It’s really shameful that someone like that is my father.”
“What kind of person he is has nothing to do with you,” Aldrick dismissed firmly. “After that, when I insisted on going to look for you, both the commander and Simon tried to stop me. It took time to gather a team, post wanted notices, distribute flyers, and travel down to Saint-Lour. If not for all that, I would’ve found you before you even arrived in Saint-Lour.”
Mid-sentence, Aldrick suddenly frowned in displeasure.
“Seriously, how did you even think to come all the way here alone? You already experienced how dangerous traveling between cities can be on the road to Mallo.”
“Luckily, I came across a freight wagon heading toward Saint-Lour near Mallo. Joshua—”
“What?”
At Violet’s offhand comment, Aldrick’s face instantly twisted.
“You mean you’d already met that guy by then?”
“Well, I mean, I got here safely without any problems, and once I arrived, I went to Mrs. Margaret and she took care of me…”
“And after that? Were you planning to stay here with that guy hovering around you?”
“I was about to leave when you showed up… If you’d been even one day late, I probably wouldn’t have been here anymore.”
“Then I would’ve just found you again somewhere else.”
With Aldrick’s disgruntled tone, the Countess Violet Winter’s clumsy escape saga came to an end.
After that, Aldrick and Violet never brought it up again.
***
The two of them headed straight for Aldrick’s granted fief, and successfully settled there.
The residents of the new domain welcomed their young lord and lady without resistance, and Aldrick and Violet governed them with kindness as good rulers.
The rapport between the lordly couple and the people was excellent. Thanks to that, Aldrick and Violet’s land—though newly established—grew and prospered at a remarkable pace.
Later on, the young lord of the estate received official permission from the King of Illo to name the new fief Rosetta.
The residents knew it was the name of the lord and lady’s beloved first daughter, but no one voiced any complaint.
The Lord and Lady of Rosetta later had three more children and lived a life full of blessings.
And the small rural estate of the Illo Kingdom continued to thrive and prosper ever after.
—Main Story, End.
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