They had been imprisoned for so long that they had not even realised the castle had already fallen. When they heard that Count Altio was no longer in power, the shock on their faces said everything.
Glenn stepped forward immediately and raised his sword. Nadia panicked. She rushed towards him, thinking he was about to execute them.
He was only breaking the chains.
One by one, the dwarves were freed. Once they regained their footing, Glenn asked their leader to explain what had happened, and how they had ended up trapped in a place like this.
The story was ugly and heartbreaking.
The dwarves were craftsmen, travelling beyond their homeland to learn new techniques and work with unfamiliar materials. They had wanted to expand their skills. But humans had not welcomed them. They were treated like monsters, driven away, rejected, even when their children were sick and needed help.
Eventually, with nowhere left to go, they had turned to Count Altio, hoping he might show a bit of mercy. At first the man had planned to drive them out too. But when one of them accidentally proved their incredible skill, his attitude changed instantly. He invited them in, played the part of a generous lord, and promised shelter on one condition. They had to craft whatever he demanded.
And so hospitality turned into slavery. When the dwarves tried to leave, he refused. Letting them go meant risking his enemies gaining access to their talents. So he locked them away and forgot about them.
Determined to fix what he could, Glenn offered compensation for all the forced labour they had endured. He promised medical care, proper payment, and most importantly, their freedom.
Nadia did not stop there. She stepped forward with a bigger offer. She invited them to join House Winterpel. Under their protection the dwarves would not be hunted or mistreated. They would be paid fairly, respected for their skills, and even given the chance to explore the human world on their own terms.
Glenn backed her up, guaranteeing both safety and independence if they chose to stay.
After everything they had been through, it was an easy decision. They accepted.
This was a massive win for House Winterpel, because the land was rich in iron. Within weeks the dwarves began forging full plate armour, replacing the outdated chainmail the soldiers had once relied on. A massive upgrade.
And obviously, this was Nadia's idea. Technically it was inspired by Ji-ho's knowledge from the future. He was going to have a very confusing moment when he realised the north already had advanced armour before he had even introduced it.
Now, with a booming herbal tea business, treasure from the dragon's lair, newly acquired land, people, and a significantly stronger army, House Winterpel was not just surviving any more. They were becoming unstoppable.
And was Duke Valajet simply supposed to sit there and accept this? Of course not. If anything, he was probably gearing up to stick his nose back in, and not in a friendly way.
But Nadia could not have cared less. In fact she was counting on it. Her goal had always been clear. To bring her family down when the inevitable war between the north and the south broke out. Provoking them did not scare her. It just gave her more reason to keep building up her husband's power.
Revenge was not rushed. It was prepared.
Still, before any of that unfolded, Nadia asked Fabian to acquire some elegant glass brooches to use as gifts.
Speaking of gifts, there had only been one time Nadia had ever received one herself.
It had happened after a ball. One where, for once, Nadia had stood out more than her sister. Ironically, it had been Corrine who forced her to wear the eye-catching dress that drew all the attention. Corrine, unable to handle being overshadowed, had lashed out as she always did.
Nadia was used to it. Used to being the target whenever her sister lost control. So when Corrine raised her hand, Nadia had simply braced herself.
But that time, Ji-ho stepped in. He arrived just in time, stopping the blow and pulling Nadia away. Later he even gave her a new dress to wear for dinner. He took her out that night, treating her gently, even calling it their first date. And in return Nadia helped him, teaching him proper table manners, since he was not familiar with formal dining in this world.
Afterwards they walked along the river. He asked her how she was treated at home. It turned out he understood more than she had expected. He too had been looked down on because of where he came from.
Which only made everything that happened later even more confusing. All that kindness, and yet in the end he still stood on the side that destroyed her.
Or did he? Was he truly part of it? Or was it all Corrine's manipulation?
Back in the present, though, there was no time to dwell on the past, because news of Winterpel's rapid rise had finally reached the Duke. And as expected, he was not happy. So he made his move, and a letter was sent.
After their long campaign across Altio's former lands, Glenn and Nadia were finally on their way back home. But before reaching the castle they made one last stop. A small, struggling village on the edge of Winterpel territory.
The place was clearly suffering. Poor conditions, worn-down homes, people barely getting by. Nadia stepped in and shared the rewards of their recent victories with the villagers.
And for Glenn, it hit harder than expected. For the first time he did not see her as a suspicious outsider, but as a woman. Someone genuinely kind and beautiful.
He was so busy staring that he barely heard a word anyone was saying. Nadia eventually snapped him out of it, bringing him back to reality.
She quietly suggested that they return to the castle without drawing attention. The less people knew about her involvement in their success, the better. If word reached her father too soon, it could ruin everything. As long as the Duke remained unaware, they still held the advantage.
Then Nadia made her stance crystal clear. If the day came when Glenn and the Duke stood on opposite sides, she would choose her husband.
When he asked why, she answered without even blinking. Because she loved him.
Glenn was completely flustered by her honesty. He even started blushing.