The Price of Breaching the Contract - Chapter 39

Contrary to Yurban’s wishes, the Duchy of Makari was completely isolated due to heavy snow. The weather worsened, blocking all roads leading out of the castle. Inside, concerns about food and fuel shortages began to surface, and the people’s spirits sank as heavily as the snow.

Prince Yurban became increasingly vocal with his dissatisfaction as time passed. No longer hiding his irritation, he roamed the castle, venting his frustrations on servants and knights alike. Eventually, one day, he clashed with Yulania in the small drawing room of the annex.

“Sister, I can’t take it anymore. We need to order the Duke to clear the roads or shovel the snow.”

Yurban raised his voice, his eyes filled with anger. Yulania stared at him, her face cold and hardened.

“…I’ve said it many times, we have no choice but to wait. There’s nothing we can do about the weather.”

“Is that really it? Or are you and the Duke plotting something behind Father’s back?”

Yulania’s expression froze instantly. She felt deep anger at her brother’s absurd suspicion.

“Yurban, where did you get such an idea? I have never acted against the royal family.”

“Really? Then why does Father keep telling me to be wary of you? What is really going on in this castle?”

Yulania couldn’t hide her bewilderment at her brother’s words. Her heart felt heavy. The fact that her father had said such things even to Yurban pierced her deeply.

“…What did Father say?”

Yurban hesitated for a moment, then spoke in an angry voice.

“He said you’re no longer one of the royal family, that you’re too deeply involved in Makari. That you clearly prioritize the people here over the interests of the royal family.”

Yulania was speechless. Her father’s thoughts were not unfamiliar to her, but hearing them directly was a completely different shock. She was the one who should be suspicious, yet she was being suspected. It was too unfair.

“Yurban, I’ve only been trying to fulfill my responsibilities here as the Duchess. I have never turned my back on the royal family.”

Yurban smiled bitterly and continued.

“You haven’t turned your back on the royal family? Don’t you realize that everything you do here is increasingly diverging from the royal family’s wishes?”

Yulania couldn’t say anything more. She turned her head away bitterly.

‘The royal family’s wishes?’

Hearing Yurban’s words only made her feel more lost. She and Santia had been doing their best to protect the kingdom, so how could that be against the royal family’s wishes?

When Yulania didn’t answer, Yurban glared at her and stormed out of the drawing room. The sound of the door closing echoed coldly through the castle.

Left alone, Yulania looked out the window and sighed heavily. Even though she was trapped inside the castle, her resolve to no longer be bound by the royal family was growing stronger.

Long after he left, she noticed a small shadow fluttering its wings urgently and landing on the windowsill. She quickly opened the window. A rush of freezing cold air swept inside.

It was a hawk trained as a messenger bird. To arrive through this weather…

The blizzard had clearly been hard on the hawk; its feathers were tangled with snow and ice, and its once-strong body was trembling from the long flight. Yulania carefully cupped the bird in her hands.

“You must have had a hard time coming all the way here through this blizzard.”

She gently stroked the bird’s feathers with her warm hands, whispering in a kind voice.

“You did a good job. Now rest well.”

The bird huddled in Yulania’s arms for a moment, then quickly fell silent. Feeling the small life in her hands, she suddenly felt that she was similar to this bird. Like the bird that had flown all the way here carrying the royal family’s cold orders, she too had been living breathlessly under the pressure of the royal family.

She sighed softly and closed the window to block the blizzard. Then, she untied the letter attached to the bird’s leg.

It was a letter from the King. Yulania nervously unfolded the letter and read it. The content of the letter was polite, but it contained an undeniable threat and warning.

[Yulania, it is good that you are fulfilling your role as the Duchess of Makari, but I hope you will not forget the wishes of the royal family. I am watching your every action carefully. Your fate will be determined by what reports Prince Yurban makes to me.]

Her hand trembled slightly. Had Yurban already reported to her father? What had he said? Just a little while ago, she had had this conversation with him, and now the messenger bird had come all that way to deliver the same message.

Her heart ached as she realized that her father completely distrusted her. She folded the letter and placed it on the table, staring into the darkness with determined eyes.

Her determination to no longer live as her father’s puppet grew stronger. She resolved to find her own path in Makari with Santia. This decision was the moment she fully prepared herself for an emotional break from the royal family.

Ironically, that same evening, news arrived that would strengthen Yulania’s resolve.

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