Chapter 434: Isolde Guerrin
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Redcliffe castle. (Isolde Guerrin's point of view)

“Phew…now I should finally have some time to rest.”

In a room nestled deep within the palatial seraglio, normally used as the private chambers of Marquis' family, she laid her quill on the ornate table and sighed.

Isolde had little to do with politics or government all her life, yet now she brought paperwork even into her private room: life could be truly unpredictable, she mused.

Her husband, the former Marquis, one of the great nobles of Ferelden lost his life and the three male heirs were killed in war over a year ago; she had no choice but to ascend the despot. 

To be perfectly honest, she never desired the title of Marchioness. Being an outsider who was married into the House of Guerrin, she never had a claim to the inheritance in the first place, so she did not receive any related education either.

Many of those who suffered due to her early incompetence bore a grudge towards the marchioness. In fact, some of the nobles actually rebelled against her. 

When she was barely hanging by a thread, the demonic disturbance caused by her son, Connor Guerrin was a nail in the coffin but miracles happened. The man and his crew, who were out-of-towners, appeared out of nowhere to save the day.

As a result of the incident, her son was found out to be a sorcerer and then seized by the templars. 

That immediately made her away with fairies. Not in her right state of mind, she readily let the man, Hiro repeatedly make love to her. 

As weeks passed by, she came to her senses, and fell in love with Hiro. 

At the same time, he established a secret country with Redcliffe as the base. Her brought with him out-of-the-world technologies, administrative wisdom and solved the territory's plights. The nobles and subjects immediately acknowledged him as their de facto ruler. Isolde herself became his woman with the rank of Duchess, maintaining her position.

Hiro then brought the Redcliffe's warriors on a long adventure to the south, annexing many several regions, gaining new allies in the process, and expanding the new country's dominion. 

Nevertheless, Isolde, the longing widow was left behind for many months. She immediately found company with the lecherous demoness, Desire, who was accidentally summoned into this world during the demonic disturbance.

Since then, she indulged herself in daily debauchery with the raunchy demoness. The lesbian orgy then brought in the maid, Valena and the former prostitute cum refugee, Nina. 

Over a month ago, Desire left the castle and the lesbian act ceased. 

Since then, the Marchioness of the kingdom, Ivanna Reskina who became the deputy of the king, forced Isolde to come out of her sexual confinement and educated her on administration.

Duchess Isolde Guerrin could somehow take the helm of government only thanks to the accomplished people who gathered to support her as ministers and the invaluable help of Marchioness Ivanna Reskina, Countess Jill Gustav.

Had she been by herself, she would have been crushed under the weight of this position long ago.

"I could never thank Lord Hiro enough…”

She pictured my beloved’s face and sighed.

Hiro had helped her in a number of ways for the sake of quelling the unrest within the territory and further strengthening their position to a level unthinkable before.

Hiro's existence increased support to her political power without her doing anything. 

Some of the old vassals were wary of Hiro’s maneuvering in Redcliffe’s politics, but at the present, Redcliffe had received nothing but advantages from it.

"If the empire continues focusing on military matters, as it has done until now, its days might be numbered. We must take a more flexible stance.”

Hiro's ideal is different from her late husband’s or House of Guerrin’s. It might even lead to a betrayal of the prestigious family.

After a certain point, it could be wise to focus on promoting culture and arts. What the people of the territory need the most right now was for their hearts to find peace and nourishment.

“You look busy, should I come again another time?”

“Actually, I have already finished…”

Surprised by the sudden voice, she hurriedly turned around. As it turned out, the person who had entered her room without her notice was none other than the man she loved.

The wind blew inside from the window behind him, as the curtains flapped wildly.

“Lord Hiro…!!”

“It has been a while…you’ve lost weight, haven’t you?” He teased.

“Hehe, looks like being the emperor is an effective diet.” 

She smiled wryly and replied with a joke.

“Still, for someone coming from outside the castle to infiltrate my room so easily…our security leaves much to be desired.”

“Oh, don’t be too hard on them now. I had plenty of free time this past month, so I started hunting for all the secret passages I could find in court. This place doesn’t have a long history for nothing: there are suspicious rooms and hidden paths all over.”

Hiro shrugged, then changed the topic.

Hiro had started to stay in the capital since the fall of the tower of Babel, slightly over one year ago.

Personally, she wished she could grant him some sort of official award, tell the whole Ferelden how much he has done for Redcliffe.

The recent conquest of Castall Kingdom, as well as the conquests before that, however, have left a legacy that cannot be easily forgotten. Nonetheless, changing allegiance meant turning every single noble in Ferelden as enemies like what happened in Arkland Dukedom. The Ferelden kingdom may have not been helping Redcliffe for all this while, but they could not be convinced so easily by such a reason.

There was also the potential animosity against the church as Redcliffe abandoned the trinity for the strictly monotheistic religion, Ebonite.

“Lord Hiro, you won't be going anywhere after this?”

“Well, yeah. I can keep the beautiful widow waiting only for so long. I’ve done plenty of sightseeing already, anyway.”

“Indeed. I have heard that you have achieved great accomplishments, so I would like to congratulate too.”

Hiro’s tone was playful, but she knew that other than “sightseeing”, he also took care of the many monsters, despots and bandits who were everywhere in the south before.

She also received reports of improved hygiene and health in subjugated regions as a result of the infamous sewerage treatment plants. Hiro’s miracle at work, most likely.

She cannot express her admiration publicly.

She wished, however, to show him her gratitude — to the greatest extent.

“In that case, I shall give you the promised reward.”

“Oh?”

Hiro’s eyebrows perked up.

Under his gaze, she could not help but blush. She looked down and stood up from her chair.

“As promised, I will give you my everything. Please, do accept it.”

Following those words, Isolde let her gown fall on the floor. Under it, she was only wearing a white, half-transparent negligee and black underwear. A combination chosen after extensive debate with Valena and the other maids.

“Are you sure about this? I can’t give it back once I take it.”

“Of course. Please, dye me in your color.”

“Excellent, truly excellent…we shall enjoy this to the fullest.”

“Hn…”

Hiro picked Isolde up and carried her to the adjacent bedroom. She sighed longingly in the arms of her beloved.

“I longed for this body for many months . And that day has finally come.”

“Hehe, you take the words right out of my mouth, my lord.”

(Yes, I felt this would happen. Ever since the day I met you…)

Was it a woman’s intuition, or maybe instinct? Either way, she felt like she knew from the start.

That one day, I would dedicate her heart, mind and body to this man.

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