I Only Need the Duke's Child — Chapter 19

WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE AT THIS HOUR?

THERE IS SOMETHING I MUST TELL YOU.

A MONSTER WILL APPEAR AT THE HUNTING GROUNDS DURING TOMORROW'S NEW YEAR'S FESTIVAL.

YOU SHOULD SCOUT THE AREA AND SET UP DEFENSES BEFORE THE HUNT BEGINS.

...WHERE DID YOU HEAR THAT?

I...

I CAN SEE THE FUTURE.

...WHAT?

ONE HOUR EARLIER.

I HAD FORGOTTEN.

THERE WAS AN INCIDENT DURING THIS YEAR'S NEW YEAR'S FESTIVAL WHERE A MONSTER APPEARED AT THE IMPERIAL HUNTING GROUNDS.

I HAD A COLD THAT DAY AND COULD NOT ATTEND, SO IT SLIPPED MY MIND.

HIS GRACE WAS THERE AND SLEW THE MONSTER,

AND THERE WERE INJURIES, BUT NO DEATHS.

HIS GRACE WAS DRENCHED IN THE MONSTER'S BLOOD, BUT HE WAS NOT HURT EITHER.

WHAT SHOULD I DO...?

IF THINGS UNFOLD EXACTLY AS THEY DID BEFORE, IT SHOULD PASS WITHOUT ISSUE...

THE LOYAL SWORDS OF DELMARQUE FORMALLY PAY OUR RESPECTS TO YOUR GRACE.

BUT WHAT IF MY INTERFERENCE IN THE PAST MAKES THINGS UNFOLD DIFFERENTLY?

THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING ME DESPITE MY SUDDEN VISIT.

ON THE OTHER HAND, WHAT IF TRYING TO STOP IT ONLY MAKES THINGS WORSE?

I WILL DO ALL I CAN TO GET YOU THE ANSWER YOU SEEK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO EXPLAIN HOW I KNOW THIS?

UNLESS I TELL HIM I WENT BACK IN TIME...

WOULD HERDIN REALLY BELIEVE SUCH AN ABSURD STORY?

I...

I CAN SEE THE FUTURE.

AND YOU EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE THAT...

I KNOW IT SOUNDS ABSURD, BUT PLEASE BELIEVE ME.

IT CANNOT HURT TO PREPARE AHEAD OF TIME.

KNOWING AND PREPARING WILL LEAD TO A BETTER OUTCOME THAN STAYING UNAWARE.

HE BELIEVED ME ABOUT LINA.

IF HERDIN DEFENDED ME WITHOUT QUESTIONING ANYTHING...

MAYBE HE WILL BELIEVE ME THIS TIME TOO.

THIS IS FAR MORE ABSURD THAN WHAT HAPPENED WITH LINA, BUT PERHAPS...

...I SEE.

THEN TELL ME WHAT I WILL DO NEXT.

IS THAT TOO DIFFICULT?

IT SHOULD BE VERY SIMPLE.

...I'M SORRY. I MUST HAVE HAD A FOOLISH DREAM.

ON THE DAY OF THE NEW YEAR'S FESTIVAL, AT THE IMPERIAL HUNTING GROUNDS.

A MONSTER WILL APPEAR AT THE HUNTING GROUNDS TOMORROW.

IF HER WORDS ARE TRUE, THAT MEANS A MONSTER WILL APPEAR HERE TODAY.

WHAT ON EARTH WAS SHE THINKING, COMING ALONG?

KYLE, SEE THAT THE DUCHESS IS FULLY PROTECTED.

UNDERSTOOD.

YOUR GRACE, I SEE A WHITE MARTEN OVER THERE!

AS EXPECTED...!

...IT HAD A YOUNG ONE.

HERDIN.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

WITHOUT A MOTHER TO CARE FOR IT, IT WILL SOON FALL PREY TO PREDATORS.

IN THAT CASE, IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THIS ONE TO DIE WITH ITS MOTHER NOW.

NO!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

IT MIGHT SURVIVE.

EVEN IF IT IS FATED TO DIE SOON, AS YOU SAY, YOU CANNOT CALL THAT MERCY.

LIVING EVEN ONE MORE DAY IS BETTER.

DO YOU THINK IT WILL STILL FEEL THAT WAY WHILE BEING EATEN ALIVE BY WOLVES?

I WILL RAISE IT.

I WONDER IF THIS CREATURE WOULD REALLY WANT TO BE TAKEN IN BY SOMEONE WHO STOOD BY AND WATCHED ITS MOTHER DIE.

EVEN SO...

I AM SURE THIS CHILD'S MOTHER WOULD WANT IT TO SURVIVE.