“Loyal was driving the carriage with Latilda sitting beside him, a seating arrangement that Anna objected to.
“You can’t make the lady sit in an uncomfortable spot.”
“So if I sit in the cargo bed and hold Dalmar’s hands, will that make you feel better?”
Anna knew how to handle Latilda, but Latilda likewise knew how to handle Anna.
Eventually, Anna ended up sitting in the cargo bed.
“So it seems that those knights in black armor weren’t targeting you.”
Loyal asked to hear that story once more.
“Why do you want to hear it?”
“It might be of some help.”
‘Even if they appear again, it won’t matter how skilled you are, it will be pointless. Hence, hearing this story won’t be of any help.’
Latilda didn’t voice her thoughts, considering it a futile warning now that he had joined them.
“Why do you think that? Why wouldn’t I be their target?”
“If they were bold enough to attack ten royal guards, they wouldn’t have left you alone after you escaped to the village. And it wasn’t even a village guarded by soldiers.”
“I thought about that too. Maybe they didn’t show up to conceal their identities?”
“In that case, they wouldn’t have left you, Latilda, who had seen them and survived.”
Loyal casually made a grim observation. Latilda, her expression uneasy, scanned their surroundings before speaking.
“Let’s stop talking about this for now. At least until we get off this deserted road.”
“Ah, you’re right. I apologize.”
Loyal quietly resumed driving.
He wasn’t a reticent man. He would respond to questions and ask his own when he was curious. However, he wasn’t talkative either. When Latilda stopped talking, so did he, resulting in frequent periods of uncomfortable silence.
As they gradually became accustomed to these silent moments, Latilda asked him,
“Did you plan to walk all the way to Normant?”
“When I was young, I had a bounty on my head and had to flee. It was during the Conquest War of Lontamon, and I walked almost every day for nearly five years. I’m used to it. Riding in a carriage, on the other hand, makes me sleepy.”
Loyal let out a long yawn.
“How about you sleep while I drive?” Latilda offered.
“I’m not that tired. Plus, these days, I try to avoid sleeping.”
Taken aback by Loyal’s comment, Latilda asked, “Why? Do you have nightmares?”
“In fact, I lost something really important while I was sleeping not too long ago. I dozed off and when I woke up, I couldn’t remember where I had put it. I tend to sleep a lot, but I’ve never dozed off during something important before…”
Loyal’s face fell, as if he was reminiscing about that time.
The carriage jolted violently as it hit a rock. From the back seat, Dalmar’s groans echoed out.
“I significantly reduced the speed and yet…”
Loyal looked back with an apologetic face.
“It’s a tricky situation. We need to hurry to get him treated, but the faster we go, the more the bumps will exacerbate his injuries.”
Latilda voiced her concerns as well.
“Let’s take a break when we find a suitable spot. It seems we have covered about half the distance to Normant. We should arrive by nightfall.”
“I would prefer to arrive during daylight. Can we not hurry up?”
At Latilda’s suggestion, Loyal responded with an unexpected question.
“Were those black knights really that frightening?”
“You ask strange questions. I witnessed the royal guards who were protecting me die right next to me, of course I’m scared.”
“I see that, but Latilda, you don’t seem like the type to fear such things.”
“What?”
Latilda looked at Loyal with an expression of incomprehension. Staring blankly at her, Loyal scratched the back of his head.
‘This man, he doesn’t avert his eyes even when I look at him like this?’
Latilda was well aware of the power her appearance held.
Most men exhibited two reactions upon seeing Latilda. They either exposed a lustful gaze or, overwhelmed by her beauty, avoided looking at her entirely.
She was accustomed to it, having experienced the same during the noble parties she attended since her childhood. But Latilda didn’t take pride in such things, hence she welcomed a gaze that didn’t fit into either category.
“You’re a very strange man.”
The words she had been thinking slipped out of her mouth.
“Am I?”
Loyal asked, once again focusing on the direction the carriage was heading.
“Even just from what the wine merchant said.”
“You mean Marco?”
“So Marco is the name of the wine merchant. We were so busy talking about you that we didn’t even share names. Marco talked about you as if you were a very dangerous person. But he himself didn’t seem afraid at all. It was as if, well, a child was talking about his father. A dangerous person, but not someone he himself needed to fear?”
“Is that so? I thought I was close with Marco.”
Loyal spoke as if disappointed.
Latilda looked down at her hands. Her nails were chipped and her skin roughened.
‘Those girls would freak out.’
The maids at Denmoju Castle valued Latilda’s body more than their own.
If her red hair, which society praised as a red gem, was slightly disheveled, the maids would act as if the world was about to end. The rest of Latilda’s day would be spent seated, receiving hair treatments.
Now, for the second day in a row, without makeup, not caring about her dress, and with chipped or broken nails, sitting in a carriage was almost thrilling.
“Do you have any recurring nightmares?”
Despite the sudden change in topic, Loyal didn’t bat an eye as he answered her question.
“In my dream, I’m being chased by something. I can’t see who or what it is, but they’re always after me. In reality, I wouldn’t run, but in my dream, I’m always running away. As I’m running, I always end up falling into a black hole at the same place and time, falling endlessly until I wake up.”
Loyal wasn’t beating around the bush, he was speaking sincerely.
“It’s strange, because when I explain it like this, it doesn’t seem scary at all, but when I wake up, I’m drenched in cold sweat. My friends who sleep beside me have told me that I’ve been moaning and tossing and turning. I have nightmares like this often. Do you have dreams about the Black Knight, Latilda?”
Latilda was taken aback.
“You’re suddenly getting to the point, aren’t you?”
“Did I do something wrong?”
Loyal wore a worried expression again.
“No, that’s not it. I’m surrounded by people who like to beat around the bush, so it’s refreshing to have a direct conversation. Yes, I dream about the Black Knight.”
Latilda spoke candidly.
“I don’t know where it is, but I’m standing in a place that’s burning, cold, and dark. That’s how it starts. The flames are so vivid that I’m fully aware when the dream begins. So, whenever I see those flames, I get scared and think, ‘It’s starting again.’ Then I try to wake up, but even though I know it’s a dream, I can’t.”
“It sounds similar to me. Even when I know it’s a dream, I can’t wake up.”
“Whether I run or not, I’m still in the same place. And at some point, a knight in black armor, wielding a black axe, starts chasing me on a black horse. No matter how much I run, he never loses me and blocks my path. I scream, but I can’t escape. His big hand approaches my face, and I want to faint, but I can’t because it’s a dream.”
Loyal nodded vigorously, as if sympathizing.
“In the end, a white light flies into my chest. It’s such a realistic pain that when I wake up from the dream, my chest throbs and hurts. And in the dream, I die. But at the moment of death, I don’t see anything. It’s a horrifying dream. When I wake up, it’s like I’m relieved to have woken up from death.”
“But the Black Knight from your dreams appeared in real life a while ago?”
“When I first saw him, I thought I was dreaming. But Anna insists that they are the Black Lion Knights.”
After she finished speaking, Latilda regretted it a little.
‘This could be used against me, why did I say it? Did I let my guard down because Loyal is a stranger who doesn’t know me?’
Loyal spoke.
“We heard plenty about the war on our way. The Black Lion and the Red Rose. However, we had to be more concerned about bands of bandits and peculiar creatures.”
Resting a hand on her chin, Latilda turned to look at Loyal and asked,
“How many were there exactly, when you mentioned bandits?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well…”
She had forgotten the name of the wine merchant and Latilda stuttered.
“The band of bandits who attacked the wine merchant’s family. It was night, so the merchant couldn’t tell how many there were. He said there were probably over ten.”
“Oh, that? I didn’t count.”
“Did you kill them all?”
With a slight regret, Loyal answered,
“I had no choice. If even one survived, they would’ve come back with a larger group. They seemed to be part of a larger organization, something called Nati… or something. To the west is Falcon, to the east is Lengsang. And in the center is this Nati, who they indentified as.”
“Must be Nayati, not Nati. Nowadays, even those ruffians are forming what they call ‘organizations’.”
“Yes, I had to prevent them from escaping because I didn’t know if there could be unnecessary revenge. But it was dark, so I’m not sure if any managed to escape.”
Loyal said, worried.
When Latilda let out a long yawn, Loyal asked her,
“Are you tired?”
“I’m sleepy, but I don’t want to sleep. I don’t want to have nightmares.”
“Do you have that nightmare every time you sleep?”
“Not always, but I dream it quite often. Because I try so hard not to sleep like this, I’ve developed insomnia. Thankfully.”
Latilda said sarcastically.
“May I ask when you started having such nightmares?”
“I think I started having them when my father was lying sick and dying. About 5 or 6 years ago.”
Latilda sighed.
‘Ah, how much more of my past am I willing to reveal to this man?’
Despite these thoughts, Latilda continued speaking.
“At that time, we were so poor that I had to personally nurse my father. One day, exhausted, I fell asleep and dreamt of the black knight for the first time. It was horrifically vivid at first. Thankfully, my father’s condition improved and I no longer needed to nurse him, but my nightmares didn’t stop. Recently, they’ve become more frequent.”
She had spoken so much that she started to get a headache. Latilda held her head.
“And so now, even when I want to sleep, there are times when I can’t easily doze off. If I drink enough to fall unconscious, I can sleep, but then the hangover the next day is another form of pain. Just like now.”
Loyal looked at Latilda with empathetic eyes.
‘Stop staring. Just like an older brother looking at his younger sister. It’s hurtful to my pride.’
Latilda asked him,
“Do you like alcohol, Loyal?”
“I enjoy it, but I’m a lightweight. My friends all drink heavily, while just a few glasses leave me crawling on the ground. They force me to drink because they want to see me in that state. Even though I’ve drunk quite a bit that way, I don’t seem to build a tolerance.”
“You have fun friends. Are you going to Normant to meet them?”
“Yes. Those are the friends I’m talking about. We parted ways in Koholrun.”
“Can you talk about your friends a bit? Being overly protected by my father and brought up so sheltered, I haven’t had a chance to make proper friends. The few women I did befriend are just boasting about the number of jewels they own at parties, and act like their husband’s story is their own.”
Latilda pointed to the carriage luggage compartment as she spoke.
“Anna may be a friend, but she thinks of me as a master, not a friend. Ultimately, I guess I can say I have no friends. What about you? You seem like you would have many friends.”
“Not really. If that’s the standard, I have about five or six friends. The rest, I would just consider as colleagues. Every time we get close, they avoid me…”
Loyal spoke bitterly.
“Five or six? Tell me about them. I’d appreciate it if you could weave a story that will keep me awake.”
Latilda tried to ask in a pleading tone, but it involuntarily came out as a command.
‘Even in moments like these, I must appear haughty and brash, right? This is why I don’t have friends.’
Men would only gossip, never approaching, while women either approached with jealousy or false pretenses, never genuinely.
‘Would things change if I changed my attitude? No, it’s too late. A hardened image doesn’t change.’
“A story to keep you awake? That’s a tough request.”
Loyal pondered seriously, stroking his chin.
“My friends fall asleep listening to my stories, and now you want me to tell their stories… I’m not sure if there’s a story exciting enough to keep you awake, but okay. I thought of one.”
Loyal tightly gripped the reins.
“There’s a friend of mine named Shey, but if I call him that, he hits me. So, I always call him by his full name. But for now, I’ll just call him Shey. One day, Shey came up to me and asked, ‘What would you do if you met a bear without any weapons?’ And I answered, ‘If it attacks, I’d counterattack…'”
Latilda waited, unsure of where to laugh. Loyal continued speaking seriously.
“Shey pondered for a long time, then turned to another friend, Geri. He asked Geri the same question. Geri replied with confidence, ‘It doesn’t matter. I can win with just my fists.’ I believe him, Geri really could. Shey then asked another friend. She became angry and said, ‘Are you asking because you think I would lose?’ When he asked his mute friend, he signed back, ‘Everything around us can become a weapon, so I cannot imagine a situation without a weapon.'”
Latilda still had to wait, unable to grasp the flow of the story. Loyal concluded the tale.
“Shey gathered everyone and suddenly became angry, saying, ‘Why are all your answers like that? You could choose to run away!’ So we all burst into laughter.”
A moment of silence passed. Latilda replied with a troubled expression.
“I don’t understand how that becomes an amusing story.”
“Having told it, I don’t know which part is supposed to be funny, either.”
Latilda and Loyal both wore bitter expressions.
“So, all your friends could fight a bear with their bare hands?”
Loyal groaned painfully.
“That wasn’t the point of the story, how disappointing. I laughed for a good while at Shey saying we could run away, but my storytelling skills must have fallen short. Is there a problem with my tone? Or the order I told it in?”
“Perhaps it’s the subject matter itself?”
“I need to get a lesson on how to speak well, apparently. Not that it helped.”
Latilda nodded seriously, then suddenly laughed.
“What is it?”
“Isn’t it funny? The situation where we’re seriously discussing why the joke failed…”
“Oh, is that so? I thought you were laughing late because my story was funny.”
“I’m sorry. Let’s stop. I woke you up with my laughter.”
While they were talking, Latilda was able to momentarily forget her nightmare.
Loyal’s languid smile and relaxed tone had eased her tension.
‘If it were any other occasion, I would have forgotten his unremarkable presence.’
☆ ☆ ☆
Loyal parked the carriage by the levee. Dalmar’s condition was quite dire, so despite their rush, they had to take a break.
Loyal headed towards the roadside, saying he would gather some firewood.
Anna approached Latilda and said,
“You were talking gently to him.”
“Was I? I thought I was being a bit cold and I was reflecting on it.”
“You haven’t conversed that long with anyone recently.”
“That’s true.”
“Do you trust him?”
“You’re the one who brought him.”
“Whether I brought him or not, and whether you trust him, are two separate matters.”
‘Why is she being so sharp?’
Anna silently took out a pot to boil water. Latilda stopped meddling. She often ended up causing more trouble than helping.
“At least I hope he can guide us safely to Normant.”
“That’s a lot of trust. I’m relieved. It seems like I didn’t bring along the wrong person.”
“Did I do something wrong?”
“Not at all.”
Anna took the pot and headed towards the river. Meanwhile, Loyal returned and laid the firewood on the ground.
“He needs to lie down.”
Loyal gently took Dalmar from the carriage and laid him on a flat patch of grass, examining his wound.
Latilda asked,
“Do you know about such things? How does it look?”
“I know this isn’t a wound I can heal. If he doesn’t see a doctor quickly, it could be dangerous.”
A sticky white liquid oozed from Dalmar’s wound, and a terrible stench emitted from the gash. Dalmar, who had been unconscious, seemed to come to his senses for a moment and asked Latilda,
“Ah, the devil… Where is it?”
“There’s no such thing as a devil. It’s okay.”
Latilda spoke to calm him down, his eyes filled with terror. But hearing the word ‘devil’ made her feel strangely uneasy.
“I apologize… Miss. My carelessness…”
“Nobody did anything wrong. Don’t worry and just stay like this.”
Latilda tried to reassure him with a forced smile. But it was impossible to soothe him as she was not calm herself.
Latilda stood up and walked towards a patch of grass.
If they followed the river for another half a day, they would reach Normant. She hoped they could reach there without having to sleep outdoors, but the day had already turned dark. It was too much to continue.
Latilda knew Loyal had approached her a while ago but didn’t start a conversation. Neither did Loyal. It was rare to find someone who didn’t feel awkward during silence.
“When I look down at the flowing water, I often think a lot.”
Latilda spoke first.
“Do you really think that the one who attacked us was the Black Knight from my nightmare, Loyal?”
“Yes.”
Loyal answered without hesitation.
“Thank you… Anna seemed certain that they were from the Black Lion Knights.”
Anna skillfully set fire to the wood, boiling the water, and changing the bandages. Watching her, Latilda yawned again.
“Wouldn’t it be better if you slept for a bit?”
Loyal suggested.
“It’s okay. If I fall asleep, then…”
Tired of the repeated ask and refusal, Latilda asked for a story again.
“Just sit here. And tell me another interesting story, like earlier.”
“I don’t have such stories.”
Loyal also sat next to her.
“What about Anna…”
Latilda shook her heavy head, refusing.
“When we were younger, we were closer than we are now. We used to call each other by our first names. Even now, we sometimes do, but things have changed significantly. I wonder, did I change, or did Anna change? We used to be more playful, our relationship more casual.”
“To me, Anna seems scarier than Latilda.”
Loyal said frankly.
“Anna suddenly became distant and cold towards everyone. I wonder when that happened? When I became of age to be married, she started to act prudishly under the pretense of preparing me for my bridal duties. Or maybe it was when my father…”
She stopped short of saying that it started when he began the war.
‘If Loyal knew that I am the daughter of the Red Rose Count, he would leave just like that. At the very least, his attitude towards me would change. I don’t want to see that.’
Latilda explained indirectly.
“…Maybe it’s since my father started gaining power.”
Loyal didn’t realize that Latilda had changed the topic.
“I see. So you have remained unmarried until now. The noblewomen I know usually get married well before they reach twenty.”
“How old do you think I am?”
“Perhaps around my age.”
“You’re twenty-five, Loyal?”
“Twenty-six.”
“So, I’m two years younger. That’s right. Among my peers, I am the only one who is not married yet. Everyone else got married at seventeen or eighteen to men of equal status, had children, and lived their lives. They don’t seem particularly happy, though.”
Latilda spoke without emotion.
“I don’t have a specific desire to get married. My father once made my marriage his life’s great goal, but he doesn’t really care anymore.”
“I assume there isn’t a man you’re interested in.”
“The age when I could innocently say that I want to marry a man I like is long past. Ah, I don’t want to talk about this heavy stuff. It’s tiring to talk about such things. Let’s change the subject. Why are you and your friends heading to Normant? For a trip?”
Loyal had to force an answer.
“We’re on an errand.”
“Ah, it’s a secret, isn’t it?”
She threw out casually, but Loyal scratched his head in confusion.
‘Can’t he lie at all?’
Latilda laughed inwardly.
“I’m sorry. It’s not that I particularly want to hide it, but I’m not sure how much I can say without my friends’ permission.”
“Then you don’t have to say it. We are just traveling together to Normant, it wouldn’t do to know each other too well and feel sad when we part ways.”
At Latilda’s words, Loyal looked as if he was already feeling regret.
‘Now that I mention it, I’m feeling a little regretful too.’
Loyal asked.
“Do you really intend to stay awake?”
Latilda just nodded her head.
“You must be really tired right now, so maybe you can sleep without dreaming. If anything happens, I’ll wake you up right away.”
“I know my condition. I can feel when a moment won’t let me escape from my nightmares, no matter how tired I am. That moment is now. That’s why I can’t afford to sleep right now.”
Latilda responded, blinking her half-closed eyes. Loyal alternated his gaze between the dusky sky and the river before abruptly standing from his spot.
“I’m not sure if this will help, but I’ll show you that you don’t need to fear the knight in your nightmares. Hm, will you be able to see well in the dark?”
Loyal stepped back a bit and surveyed the vicinity.
“What are you going to show me?”
Latilda asked, shaking her sleepy head.
“What if there’s a being stronger than the entity who killed your guards and appears in your dreams to instill fear? If you believe that this being can block your nightmare, you won’t dream it. My nightmares are formless, unknown things to fear, so I can’t resolve them. But your nightmare has a clear target. That’s why you won’t have nightmares if you believe the target can be stopped.”
Instead of believing in his words, Latilda was more curious about what he was going to show her and nodded her head.
“That’s quite a statement. Show me.”
Following the ceremonial form often demonstrated by knights, Loyal placed his hand on his chest, bowed his head, and then drew his sword. Latilda flinched at the metallic sound of the sword being unsheathed. He extended his hand forward to reassure her.
“It’s dark, so if I move farther away, it’ll be harder to see. I’ll just do it here. But there will be no danger to Latilda. Trust me and stay still.”
Loyal’s words were strangely persuasive.
Latilda clung even more tightly to her knees.
“I will show you three movements.”
“Sorry for being a buzzkill before you start, but I know nothing about swordsmanship.”
“That’s okay. Even if you don’t know swordsmanship, I will show you a power that will reassure you. The first move is the most basic move in swordsmanship. Any swordsman who learns this properly can overpower an opponent without unnecessary movements.”
With a deep inhale, Loyal raised his sword and lightly struck it downwards. Even to Latilda, who knew nothing about swords, the movement seemed neat and restrained.
“That’s impressive.”
Latilda softly clapped her hands. In response, Loyal nodded his head slightly as a gesture of thanks.
“The second movement is similar to the first, but if one can block this, they can confidently consider themselves a considerable swordsman. When I was young, I defeated all the bounty hunters with just this technique.”
“Bounty hunters?”
“People who kill for a living. But they were bad guys. I don’t think it was wrong.”
‘Rather than fighting a bear, tell me about fighting bounty hunters.’
Latilda didn’t want to disrupt the current demonstration and so she only nodded her head.
Loyal raised his sword high and struck down in the same manner. However, unlike the first time, the blade seemed to disappear as if slicing through thin air. The sound of the air being cleaved was chillingly resonant. Latilda reflexively recoiled in surprise.
‘What was that?’
Latilda found herself involuntarily clenching her fist.
“This is the third consecutive move in the sequence. And this is my fang,” Loyal said.
‘Fang?’
Latilda couldn’t ask what he meant. The innocent and somewhat dopey smile had completely vanished from Loyal’s face.
“Only my friends have seen this and lived.”
Loyal raised the sword he had swung down for the second move. She couldn’t see the movement between the pause before and after the swing. There was no sound. A moment of silence followed, as though even the circling wind had stopped.
Latilda was at a loss for words until Loyal sheathed his sword and sat down. It was a strange spectacle she had never witnessed before, like magic.
“By any chance, Loyal, were you a mage?”
Latilda blurted out her ridiculous question.
“I know a few mages, but they didn’t use this kind of magic.”
“You know mages?”
“A few. Not close friends, though.”
“You continue to surprise me.”
“Did I? Sorry.”
‘I must look like a mess right now. Calm down. Nothing actually happened. He didn’t spin in the air twice and split a tree with his finger or beat a bear bare-handed.’
Loyal whispered as he sheathed his sword.
“This is a sword technique that can trap even the monsters in nightmares. Is it somewhat helpful?”
Latilda finally let out a laugh.
“I guess so. I’m not sure, but it seems so.”
Latilda reeled in her laughter and continued in a languid voice.
“Do you really believe you can protect me from whoever that black knight is?”
“Yes.”
Loyal answered as if it was a given, without any conditions attached.
“Then why didn’t you help me sooner?”
Tears streamed down from Latilda’s dry eyes before she knew it. She buried her face in her knees with her eyes closed.
“Then no one would have died… no one.”
Her voice was getting weaker. Loyal said,
“I will help you from now on.”
Realizing she was falling asleep, Latilda tried to stay conscious, but Loyal soothed her to sleep, stroking her head.
“I will protect you so no one dies.”
Latilda fell asleep, relieved.
Latilda stood in the center of the burning square. It was the beginning of the recurring nightmare. Only then did she realize she had fallen asleep, coiled up, lulled by Loyal’s reassuring words. She was also aware that she was dreaming within a dream. That’s what made it more terrifying. She was powerless.
‘It’s not Loyal’s fault. He was just trying his best to comfort me.’
Instead of running away, Latilda covered her ears and tightly shut her eyes.
‘The Black Knight will come to kill me soon. But it’s just a dream, so it doesn’t matter. I won’t really die.’
Even with her ears covered, she could hear the sounds of flames and people’s screams from every direction. Then, the sound of hoofbeats started to approach.
‘I will only die briefly in my dream. He can’t kill me in reality.’
Latilda screamed internally. But she eventually couldn’t bear the fear and looked up. A Black Knight wielding a long axe that seemed to fill the entire sky was standing tall.
Latilda let out a scream. And then she ran. Despite knowing she would eventually get caught, she ran. When she could no longer move, breathless, the Black Knight appeared from behind a burning house. His horse, with its black mane flowing and red eyes glaring as if to burn her, was terrifying.
‘Enough now. Please.’
Her voice couldn’t make it outside. The Black Knight approached, raising his axe to complete the last phase towards the end of the nightmare. Despite being so close, the sound of the hooves echoed like the reverberation in deep mountains. As per the preordained sequence, a beam of white light shot over the Black Knight’s shoulder. Latilda just stared at it, unable to move or breathe.
‘Kill me quickly. Then I’ll be flailing with a horrible feeling in the abyss.’
Clang!
The sharp metallic sound rang out as the light shattered before her eyes. Latilda tilted her head back.
The Black Knight’s horse, not even ten steps away, reared up in excitement. The Black Knight seemed to be startled and tried to calm his horse, but the horse refused to approach Latilda.
The progression of the nightmare had changed.
The place filled with darkness was now softly covered in white light from behind. She felt rough fur. The creature stood next to Latilda, its large black eyes glaring at the axe-wielding knight.
It was a wolf radiating a dazzling white light. The Black Knight tried to approach several times, but the horse refused. The wolf calmly watched the Black Knight, without attacking or growling. Soon, the Black Knight turned his horse around and disappeared into the burning flames.
The wolf quietly sat beside her. Latilda was frightened, but drawn by its mysterious warmth, she hugged the wolf’s neck. The wolf accepted the embrace without resistance.
She remained motionless in the midst of the cold burning flames for an incredibly long time. It was a corner of a dreadful nightmare, yet she felt a comfort that made her forget everything else. She wished that the dream would never end.
‘That’s right, rather than facing the reality as horrendous as the nightmare when I wake up…’
When Latilda opened her eyes again, she found herself asleep on someone’s thigh. It was Anna. She was in the shuddering cargo bed of a carriage. Dalmar was still lying beside her.
“Did you have a good sleep, Miss?”
The surroundings were too bright, it dazzled her.
“Ah, Anna. What’s the time?”
“It’s morning.”
“Already? We were on the riverbank.”
Latilda was taken aback.
“Loyal carried you to the carriage and started off while you were sound asleep.”
“I was?”
Latilda was still having trouble figuring out what was happening. For a long time, she just stared outside. The carriage was crossing the prairie at a pace that was neither fast nor slow. The dazzlingly shining wolf she embraced in her dream came to mind.
“Were you by my side while I was asleep?”
“Until just now, yes. But it was Loyal who stayed with you all night.”
“Really?”
Latilda, still trying to recover from her confusion, accepted a water pouch from Anna and took a sip.
As the carriage slowed down, Loyal’s voice could be heard.
“Do you see the fortress over there? Could you check?”
His voice was as warm as the morning sun. Suddenly, Latilda wished to see Loyal’s face. But she couldn’t, not just yet. She felt a stupid laugh might burst out if she saw him now. Besides, she didn’t want to show him her face right after waking up.
Anna responded in her stead.
“There’s nothing to check. It’s a straight road after all. Just keep going.”
“I was planning on doing so, but there seem to be some knights up ahead signaling us to stop.”
Loyal spoke at a leisurely pace. The always composed Anna looked at Latilda with surprised eyes.
“Could they be from the Royal Knight Order?”
“They might have come to escort us.”
Latilda opened the wooden window and looked outside. Because of the backlight, she couldn’t clearly see the emblem on the flag the knights were holding. Judging by the white cloaks, they weren’t from the Royal Knight Order.
“Loyal, can you see the emblem on the flag the knights are carrying?”
“It’s a lion. Are there other families in Camort that use a lion emblem apart from the Black Lion Count?”
“We’d better hope those aren’t the same black knights who attacked us.”
Latilda pulled her head back inside the window and took a long sigh. Anna was shifting uneasily.
“Anna.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“A mirror.”
“Excuse me?”
“I asked for a mirror. The daughter of Count Johnstein can’t meet the knights of Count Lumerier with her just-awoken face.”
Latilda spoke frostily. It was only then that Anna hurriedly took out a mirror, comb, and makeup tools.
“Loyal, could you please drive the carriage more slowly?”
There was no response, but the carriage’s speed reduced to a crawl. In the meantime, Latilda skillfully applied powder and did her eyebrows, even as the carriage rocked. Anna, seated behind her, swiftly combed her hair. With a few strokes of the brush, Latilda’s well-maintained red hair glistened.
Soon, the carriage halted. Latilda neatly tidied up her things and sat properly in her seat.
“Whose carriage is this?”
The overpowering voice of a knight echoed.
“I’m just a temporary driver, so I’m not well acquainted. If you wish, you could meet my employer yourself?”
Loyal spoke with polite firmness to the knight. It was an honest yet fitting response.
“A foolish driver working without even knowing his employer’s name, I am truly curious who owns this carriage.”
‘Yes, come see for yourself. I’m curious about your face as well.’
Latilda took a deep breath. The clattering sound of horse hooves slowly approached the side of the carriage. A gauntlet, protecting the hand, tapped on the window.
“Open the window.”
“If you speak with proper manners and protocol, I will.”
Latilda, without opening the window, replied with an icy voice. The knight opened the window himself and peeked in.
“Before I have to drag you out of this carriage… huh?”
The moment the knight made eye contact with Latilda, he stopped talking. She glared back at him and spoke.
“First, tell me your name, knight of Count Lumerier. Let’s see if your lofty name can handle such rudeness.”
‘Although the carriage is shabby, the person inside doesn’t seem to be. Go bring your superior quickly.’
Latilda thought to herself. As expected, the knight nodded.
“Wait here for a moment.”
The knight retreated and quickly galloped away on his horse. Loyal looked back and asked.
“Shall we wait? Or should we just go?”
“Let’s wait. He’ll probably bring someone higher up. I’ll apologize on his behalf for treating you like a mere coachman, Loyal.”
“That’s not a big deal.”
A moment later, the knight returned with another knight. He was tall, blond, handsome, and a face Latilda knew well.
‘Probably the handsomest man in Normant.’
Even in his heavy armor, he lightly jumped off his horse and approached the carriage.
“I wondered who dared to speak so carelessly to a knight of the Black Lion Count. It’s you, Latilda Johnstein.”
Latilda questioned him in return.
“Acting rashly? Your subordinate was the one who insulted us first. It seems the Black Lion Knight Order doesn’t bother with manners anymore?”
Bading glanced over his shoulder. The knight who initially halted the carriage sat clumsily on his horse, unsure of what to do.
“I will apologize on his behalf.”
Bading showed his white teeth as he respectfully bowed his head.
“It’s not your apology I need.”
The knight who had been riding behind offered a belated bow.
“My apologies, Lady Latilda.”
Latilda’s voice turned colder.
“Apologize to my coachman for calling him stupid.”
Looking for help, the knight turned his gaze to Bading. Upon Bading’s nod, he reluctantly approached Loyal and bowed his head.
“I apologize. Please forgive me.”
“It’s alright.”
Loyal waved his hand dismissively.
“Is that sufficient?”
Bading spread his arms in inquiry.
“No. Not at all. I’ll continue to bring up this event. An unarmed woman in a carriage was threatened by a knight of Count Lumerier. That’s the narrative.”
“What can I do to make you forgive this, Latilda? Should I strip him of his position?”
At these words, the knight visibly startled.
“I couldn’t care less. I’m still upset about the incident, so do as you please. And why on earth does the Black Lion Knight Order have the authority to inspect carriages entering Normant?”
“Actually, we were waiting here to greet a different guest, not you. Apologies for the unintentional delay. There’s no issue, please proceed. But why have you traveled such a distance without any escort knights?”
“That’s none of your concern. Let’s get moving.”
Latilda gave the command. However, three knights still blocked the way, preventing Loyal from advancing the carriage.
“We’ll meet again at the party. I’ll apologize for this rudeness then.”
Bading gave orders to the knights.
“Let her pass. The Red Rose Count’s daughter is entering Normant.”
The carriage started to move again.
Just as they were about to pass through the city gates of Normant, Latilda spoke.
“Stop the carriage, Loyal.”
The carriage came to a gentle halt. It suddenly occurred to her that Loyal seemed more adept at handling the horses than the professional coachmen employed at her mansion. Not that it mattered at this point.
“Who was that knight just now? He seemed familiar.”
Loyal asked.
“Bading is one of Count Lumerier’s escort knights. Currently, he’s arguably the most powerful knight in Camort. It’s not just because he has the support of Count Lumerier. Funnily enough, there’s a saying that, on his command, everyone in Camort’s nobility, except for two people, would struggle to keep their lives.”
“He must be quite a person then. Those two exceptions would be the Red Rose Count and the Black Lion Count, right?”
“That asshole spoke to me with a smile. Can you guess why?”
“I can surmise.”
Latilda got off the carriage, and Loyal followed, dropping the horse reins.
“That’s right, Loyal. I am the daughter of Red Rose Count Varda Wig Johnstein, who owns one-fifth of the Kingdom of Camort’s land and holds half of this Kingdom’s power.”
Latilda spoke with a casual expression, but she was worried about how Loyal’s expression might change. However, she no longer wanted to lie.
“It wasn’t my intention. But I didn’t tell you fearing you’d be startled by that name and leave. I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. Our contract terms have not changed at all. And in my eyes, you are still a vulnerable woman struggling without friends.”
“Me?”
Her eyes, made larger with makeup, grew even wider.
“Yes.”
“Did I say anything like that in my sleep last night?”
“Seems like you said something similar, did I hear it wrong?”
“Yes, you must have misheard. So, our contractual relationship ends here, right? We’ve arrived at Normant. Thank you. If you ever need me, find me under your name, and I’ll repay the favor I promised. Anna, drive the carriage.”
Latilda said without thinking and quickly turned around.
‘What did I just blurt out?’
Latilda immediately regretted her words. But the unconscious of the proud noblewoman had already guided her to the carriage, leaving behind a man whose whereabouts she might not know in the future…
“Latilda.”
Then Loyal grabbed her wrist.
“If I said something wrong, please forgive me.”
“I never gave you permission to grab my wrist!”
Latilda spoke sharply, against her will.
‘What are you saying, Latilda? You were sleeping comfortably next to this man just yesterday.’
Latilda waited for Loyal to let go of her hand and run away, or get angry with her. But Loyal, even though embarrassed, did not let go of her wrist.
“Should I ask for permission every time I want to hold your wrist?”
Latilda yanked his hand away roughly and said,
“Of course, you should. Didn’t anyone ever teach you? Or is everyone in your world so rude?”
After thinking for a moment, Loyal swallowed.
“I guess it’s both.”
Latilda crossed her arms.
“Is that so?”
“Yes, Latilda. This may sound like a request, but in reality, it’s difficult for both of us. I don’t have a single penny, and I don’t know what to do in this big city until I meet my friends. And you need a bodyguard.”
“There’s no danger for me in Normant. Even though Bading over there is my father’s enemy, he’ll try to keep me safe while I’m in Normant.”
“It’s not that bodyguards are only necessary when there’s danger. They say it’s not good for those in higher positions to move around alone, so I occasionally guard my master too… But that’s not the point here!”
Loyal scratched his head, struggling to collect his thoughts.
Latilda, arms folded, spoke first.
“Do you need compensation right away? Then I’ll pay you in gold coins immediately.”
Anna, who had stuck her head out of the window, was watching their argument. When Latilda glared at her with a disapproving look, Anna just shrugged.
‘Why do I vent my anger on Anna? It’s my character flaw. I can’t even be sincere, and only my pride is strong.’
Latilda took a step back.
“I understand what you want. Then ask for it proudly.”
Loyal seemed to have a great revelation.
“Ah, this is the necessity of procedure and formality! Please forgive my rudeness.”
Loyal kneeled on one knee and asked politely, his face lit up with a gentle smile.
“So, I formally request. Please allow me to guard you more closely by your side.”
Latilda could hardly contain her laughter.
‘My God, I wanted to see this side of him. That’s why I acted so badly.’
If another woman and man were behaving the same way next to her, Latilda might have laughed. But instead, she held Loyal’s hand and said seriously,
“I accept your request and appoint you as my knight during our stay in Normant, Sir Loyal.”
“Thank you, Lady Latilda.”
Guided by her hand, Loyal rose from his place.
“Then, let’s go to Normant.”
“Okay.”
Latilda accepted Loyal’s short escort, about five steps, and climbed into the carriage. It was a pure joy she hadn’t felt in a long time.
As the carriage started moving again, Anna, sitting in front, asked,
“Are you enjoying it?”
“Does it look like it?”
“It does.”
“Then I guess I am enjoying it.”
Saying so, Latilda looked out the window.
The city gate of Normant passed by the window. The carriage stopped and there was a formal identity check procedure. Loyal spoke up.
“The daughter of the Red Rose Count is aboard.”
After a moment, a royal soldier came rushing to the window.
“Ah, Lady Latilda. You’ve arrived. Many others have already come.”
The old soldier said in a fawning manner.
Looking around at the many soldiers stationed near the city gate, Latilda thought about the Black Lion Knights who had already positioned themselves a good distance from the gate.
“It doesn’t look like a typical royal invitation party, does it? Is there a distinguished guest coming?”
“The distinguished guest is already right before my eyes.”
The soldier responded, adding the right amount of flattery.
“People in higher places probably already know, but now the lower ranks like me have gotten wind of it too. Thanks to loose-lipped merchants, the rumor has spread throughout Normant.”
The soldier tried to create a sense of suspense by deliberately lowering his voice. Seeing Latilda’s impatient expression, wanting to get through quickly, the soldier hurriedly said,
“The Wolf Knights from Aranthia are coming.”
“The Wolf Knights?”
“That’s right, the White Wolves! They’re supposed to arrive today. We only heard about it last night ourselves.”
With a chuckle, the soldier wrapped up his revelation.
“Oh, you really didn’t know?”
–TL Notes–
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