"Is the Duke leaving again so soon?" she asked.

Pedro, who had been speaking with a servant, turned to her and relaxed his usually stern expression. "Yes, Master Simon only returned briefly to rest. He'll be heading out again tomorrow."

Although Pedro didn't explicitly state the reason for Simon's return, Maria could easily infer it from his words.

Seeing the understanding on her face, Pedro was pleased that she had grasped the situation.

Knowing that Simon had returned specifically to assist her, Maria felt touched. She asked Pedro, “Does the Duke need any food prepared for his journey?”

“Yes,” Pedro replied. “We’ll prepare some dried meat and bread, and of...