Loyal had to wrestle with boredom all day, just as he had yesterday. Since arriving at the castle in Denmoju, he hadn’t seen the Count even once, and Latilda had not met him since then. The only familiar face, Anna, had left for home after receiving a message that her father was unwell. Loyal was left without anyone to converse with.
The servants didn’t seem to care whether Loyal ate, strolled alone in the training ground, or plucked the biggest rose in the garden. Thus, Loyal decided to explore the castle, which was under construction.
The four towers ascending to envelop the castle had no function other than being observatories. From a positional perspective, they seemed suitable for archers, but there was no space allocated for them to stand. It didn’t seem plausible that they would carry out this expensive operation over ten years just for aesthetics.
Loyal climbed up and down several times, trying to discern the purpose of each tower, noting the differences, and observing the varying views.
Only two towers were close to completion, making a detailed comparison difficult, but nothing was particularly noteworthy. The only similarity was that the two towers, like the remaining ones under construction, were symmetrically positioned relative to the main castle, forming corners of a square with the castle at its center.
“Looks neat, but does it have any meaning?”
Loyal muttered to himself while standing atop a tower. The absence of completed walls or parapets made it quite precarious.
“What exactly is neat?”
The voice startled Loyal. Three steps behind him stood Count Johnstein.
‘How did I not notice him so close?’
Maintaining his composure, Loyal greeted him.
“Good morning, Count.”
“Good morning.”
The Count smiled briefly and stood beside him. From atop the tower, not just the castle, but all of Denmoju was visible.
Right next to the wheat field, an army stood at attention on the plain. The atmosphere was a bit chaotic, but they seemed ready to march at a moment’s notice. Supply wagons trundled up and down the village hill several times.
Far off, many soldiers were building huts and standing by on a place known as Dunmachi Hill. Roughly, the combined forces stationed inside and outside the village seemed to number around five thousand. It was the first time Loyal had seen such a large army since the Lontamon conquest war ten years ago. It was formidable enough to be believed as the army of the entire nation, not just of a noble managing a single territory.
“How are you finding life in the castle?” The Red Rose Count asked while observing the army’s movements.
“I’m doing well.”
“Is the neatness you spoke of about these towers?”
“I was just musing about the necessity of the towers. They don’t particularly seem intended for defense.”
“Have you not considered that they were built just to look good?”
The Count spoke in a softer tone. His usual cold demeanor was absent.
“Isn’t that something to do when not in the midst of war?”
Loyal chose his words carefully.
The Count lightly acknowledged, “Yes, not something to be done during war.”
The strong wind gusting at this height, due to the incomplete walls and ceilings, pushed harshly against the two men. It was weather that would undoubtedly delay construction.
‘Considering the risk, it wouldn’t be surprising if about four workers have fallen and died here. This is a perilous job.’
The Count’s red cape flapped in the wind, and Loyal pushed back his wind-disheveled hair.
“How are things going with Latilda? She’s not an easy child to deal with.”
“She is demanding indeed. But she treats me well.”
“What does she think of my war preparations?”
“I haven’t heard in detail. But she doesn’t seem to think well of it.”
“I see.”
His response hinted at disappointment.
“When she grows up, marries, and has children, she’ll understand why I am spilling so much blood. By the way, did you ask about the unnecessary towers?”
The Count changed the subject promptly.
“Ah, yes. Uh, I did my own investigation, but I found no special function for the towers.”
The Count affectionately patted Loyal’s shoulder and, resting his hand on the weak wall, leaned forward. Loyal pondered where to grab him if the wall crumbled and the Count fell.
“When we started developing this area, the first thing we built was that windmill. To the people of this area, a windmill was an unfamiliar structure. When we first built it, the villagers were scared as if it were some devil’s foundation. Not only windmills, but there are also waterwheels in Aranthia. Have you seen any?”
Loyal almost said he hadn’t seen such structures in Aranthia.
“I’ve never seen a waterwheel. But I remember seeing one in Carnelock?”
“Correct! After studying what would suit this area… Carnelock was better.”
The Count said with a hearty laugh.
‘Did he mention Aranthia just now to test me? Or did he simply compare the windmills in Aranthia and Carnelock?’
Loyal was not up for the mental exercise.
Fortunately, the Count chattered on his own.
“In my poorer days, I was constantly racking my brains on how to make money. However, once I actually became rich and looked back, I realized money was easier to make than I thought. So much so, I can’t understand why everyone remains poor.”
The Count again leaned his head out towards the outside of the tower, looking out. He had no fear of heights, unlike Dunmel.
“I became rich thanks to the windmill. After realizing the wheat of this region was of better quality than anywhere else, things got pretty easy. Sell the quality wheat of Denmoju to the coastal cities in exchange for salt, then sell that salt back in Koholrun or Normant… Simple, isn’t it? Anyone can do it. But no one did.”
“Isn’t that what traders do? I’ve seen many salt merchants.”
Loyal asked.
“Indeed. But on a smaller scale. They try to reap big profits with small amounts, and hence, a market doesn’t form. In that sense, I created a whole new market. It’s possible because I’m a noble, and because I have an army. Which bandit would dare touch the salt transported by the Red Rose Count? What merchant can transport more salt than what my army carries?”
Loyal didn’t quite understand but nodded as if he did.
“I distributed half the profits from salt to the villagers. The village became wealthier, Denmoju’s wheat quality improved, and my subjects thought of ways to improve the wheat quality and yield on their own. Can you guess how much tax I’ve collected from this village over the past year?”
“I wouldn’t know. I’m not good at calculations.”
“Not a single penny! Not even a single penny.”
Loyal was astonished.
“How is that possible?”
“I declared that any farming household that yields a certain quantity and quality of wheat would be exempted from tax. It took exactly two years. Until everyone stopped paying taxes.”
The Count burst into laughter.
“Funny, isn’t it? Those who used to think only about how to fake the yield are now unable to think of anything else but how to increase it.”
“Then how do you earn profits?”
“I became an intermediary merchant selling wheat and made money. For my subjects, their lord is just a monopoly wholesaler.”
Had he heard this elsewhere, Loyal would have said such a utopia was impossible. Yet, right below, such a utopia was spread out.
“Look. Even with the army stationed inside the village, do you see anyone blinking an eye? Everyone’s going about their daily lives. Of course, there were some issues with the mercenary fellows, but after executing a few, such problems disappeared. Stability brings wealth, wealth begets wealth, and with that wealth, I raised such an army.”
“Just from salt?”
“No, after salt came gold. The story gets complicated, so let’s stop here.”
“That’s incredible. I never thought about money in that way… But is it alright to tell me all this?”
“Why?”
“What if I spread this information elsewhere?”
“It’s something that every lord in this world knows by now. But nobody can put it into practice. Why? Because everyone believes that the money has to be in their own hands to belong to them. The only lord who shares a similar viewpoint with me would be Lumerier. I personally don’t like him, but from that perspective, he’s very much like me.”
Loyal glossed over the hard-to-understand economic talk and asked what he really wanted to know.
“Why did you go to war with Count Lumerier?”
“Didn’t you hear about it while you were with Latilda?”
“I did. The issues of betrothal with Regeni or territorial disputes.”
“Who do you think is at fault?”
“Both. There’s no need to go to war for such reasons.”
Count Johnstein let out a laugh into the blowing wind.
“My goodness, if you were my son, I would’ve hugged you and handed over my position right away. Such an honest friend. Who else could tell me that? How much I’ve wanted to hear those words?”
He yelled into the void as if delighted.
“That’s right. There was no need to go to war over a betrothal.”
“Then why did you go to war?”
“Do you think, when the opponent is standing in front of you with a sword, you need to discuss the target? We’re both lords ruling over one region, and if we both have ambitions for power, there’s no need for a reason. But do you think I’m the only one thinking this? Lumerier is the same. I stole his territory? I attacked his army? All nonsense! Even those reasons are excuses.”
Count Johnstein’s eyes shone brightly with passion. Loyal occasionally saw such a look in his comrades’ eyes. The Wolf Knights, declaring they would defeat him with a new technique.
“Lumerier also needed a pretext. So he used that as an excuse to inflate his army and, saying he would protect the king, has glued himself to the king’s side.”
“What kind of pretext?”
“Lumerier has an army that no one, except me, can touch. Duke Sheffield, who had been suppressing his forces after the Lontamon Conquest War, is dead, and Count Enoa, who was finally able to raise his name, is old and no longer able to check him. Then what’s the last stage of power?”
“Are you saying the Black Lion Count is eyeing the throne?”
“No, no! In Camort, the king is a symbol of power, not the final stage of power.”
“What? There’s something above the king?”
“The family protecting the king.”
“So, Count Johnstein, you became a hindrance to Count Lumerier’s ambitions.”
“I became one! Right. That’s a wonderful expression. Ultimately, the reason why we both fight is the same. We want to fight. Like a bull charging toward the same goal, we want to collide our power with the opponent’s.”
The count clenched his fist tightly.
‘Now I understand why Latilda, who is stubborn and strong-minded, can’t express her opinion to her father.’
Loyal realized that the power that allowed the count to stand here was not the windmill, nor the salt, but that unwavering passion.
Suddenly, Loyal remembered the day when his collarbone was broken by Sheyden’s wooden spear.
‘Loyal, what are you hesitating for?’
Quain, who had visited the bedridden Loyal, had said. Loyal did not understand the master’s words. I hesitated? So, I lost to Sheyden?
That became a homework assignment given to me by the master, and Loyal had not solved that homework yet.
“Do you guarantee victory in this war?”
Loyal asked, looking at the army moving toward the hill.
“Guarantee a victory…?”
The count casually replied, confirming if the army was moving as commanded. The tower may not have other functions, but it was a great location to observe the surroundings. He still wondered why four such towers were needed, but he missed the moment to ask and couldn’t ask again.
“Look at these idiots. If they go that way, they’ll have to cross the wheat fields. What is the commander thinking?”
The count ranted as if he would’ve punched the commander if he were there.
“Look at that. Sending those who can’t even perform such a simple march into a battlefield, how can I guarantee victory!”
He looked angry, but quickly dissolved it into laughter.
“Such words might cause trouble if spoken to other soldiers, but Count Lumerier’s army is of a higher quality than mine. They have been trained much longer, and there are many knights and soldiers who have been loyal to his family for generations, raising their morale much higher. Compared to them, my army is only numerically larger, nothing more than a collection of mercenaries; it would be impossible to argue otherwise.”
His fluttering red cape strangely matched his swaying red hair. Despite being just a lord of Camort, he carried the same charisma as a king of a nation.
“But the Twelve Thorns are impressive. The ninety elite knights are quite commendable too.”
“You’ve noticed. The only forces superior to Lumerier’s army are them. But, that’s only one aspect. My real confidence lies right here.”
At first, I thought he was pointing at his chest, but the Count showed me a necklace. An uneasy emblem with a cross embedded in a round bead.
“Linke also wears one. As do the other knights. I heard it’s a religion popular in this region…”
The count laughed.
“Who said it was a religion, Latilda? Ah, she simplifies everything. This is not a religion. It’s the truth.”
The Count closed his mouth as if he had something more to say, deep in thought. He turned around.
“Follow me.”
Loyal followed the Count down the stairs as ordered. The Count, showing his generous and caring demeanor, encouraged the laborers busy repairing the broken stair railings as he quickly descended. It was evident everywhere that he was an excellent lord. Yet, something was off, something was unsettling, and Loyal couldn’t figure out why.
“I saw something when I was dying from illness six years ago. When I woke up, I gained a belief that I would not lose in any war. You could say I saw the future, or obtained a power to control the future.”
The Count walked through the rose-filled garden after descending from the tower. His fast-paced steps, never stopping once in the garden full of forked paths like a maze, were strangely quick. Loyal was on the verge of losing breath just trying to keep up. The count slowed his pace when he entered the castle lobby, speaking to Loyal in a low tone.
“Do I guarantee victory? I will win. It’s not confidence, but a prophecy.”
The Count stopped in front of a steel door leading to the basement. A rose leaf caught in his red cape fell and fluttered on the floor. He rested his hand on the door.
“Loyal. Do you remember my initial proposal?”
“I remember.”
“I’m asking again. Would you join the knights?”
“As I already replied.”
“A shame.”
The Count shrugged. He was smiling, but his expression genuinely conveyed disappointment.
Loyal, staring at the iron door, asked,
“I heard this place is off-limits. Why did you bring me here?”
“If your answer was affirmative, I would have led you to the basement.”
“What’s inside?”
“It’s not something as significant to call it a secret, but I can’t tell you verbally. You have to see it yourself. If you’re a Thorns Knight, you are qualified to enter.”
The Count opened the door. The wind blew up from the stairs leading to the basement, fluttering the hair of Loyal and the Count. Suddenly, it seemed as if he could hear Master Quain’s voice.
‘Loyal, what are you hesitating for?’
The Count spoke as if pushing him.
“The choice is yours, but once you go down, you’ll never be able to return to the life you know. But I guarantee it won’t feel bad. It’s not an order. As you said, I am not your master. I am just offering a choice.”
The Count said, and at the same time, another voice echoed in Loyal’s ears.
‘Hoiro-mo’
Surprised by the hallucinatory voice, Loyal responded immediately.
“I will not go in. If I enter here, my current master will no longer be Latilda but the Red Rose Count. Then, I would lose my original purpose for coming here.”
The Count looked once more into the open doorway, then crossed his arms. A faint light flickered at the bottom of the dark staircase. Turning to look back with a serious expression—neither angry nor disappointed—he spoke.
“I suppose I must ask you a favor. Though some of my troops will remain, and Bading will be there too, Denmoju’s defenses will still be significantly weakened. Thus, I ask you to protect Latilda. She is not just my daughter.”
In that moment, he didn’t seem like a monarch obsessed with war. He simply looked like an ordinary father.
“She’s my everything.”
“I can assure Latilda’s safety as much as you can guarantee the victory in the war. That’s the only promise I can make.”
“Thank you.”
With a broad grin, the Count left for the lobby.
The door remained open. However, Loyal didn’t go in.
‘I must be unable to enter.’
He was confused. He felt as if he had suddenly lost his footing.
‘But what did I just hear? Hoiro, what? It seems familiar…’
Loyal put a hand to his forehead. He was thirsty.
He wanted to abandon his current jobless spy status right away and run to his friends.
☆ ☆ ☆
He had spent a year with Meylumil, who he thought would have all the answers, but there were none. He didn’t feel thirsty, but neither did water well up.
After teaching Loyal swordsmanship a few times, Meylumil said there was nothing more to teach and let go. He only wrote a single recommendation letter for the Wolf Knights’ administrative officer and sent Loyal to Aranthia.
It was a ridiculous recommendation letter. All the recommendation letters he had seen so far were written in splendid prose on splendid scrolls, sealed with a complex, intricate stamp proving the authenticity of the recommender. Some were even sealed in a way that prevented even the bearer from seeing the contents.
‘Hey, he can be a Wolf.’
That was all that was written in this recommendation. ‘Lumil’ was signed at the bottom, a name that seemed like nothing. It looked like it could easily be forged. If it hadn’t been for the astonishing wisdom and insight Meylumil had shown over time, he would have thought of him as a swindler and not followed him.
Knock, knock, knock.
Trusting the sound of falling droplets in his mind, Loyal set out for Aranthia.
After passing through five gates, he arrived in Nadium, the capital of Aranthia. It was easy to find the office of the Wolf Knights there. Anyone in the passing village could tell its location.
“A recommendation letter?”
The administrative officer of the Wolf Knights asked as if he had never heard of it.
“Yes, here.”
He looked over the letter and then cocked his head.
“He’s up to his old tricks, this one. Wait a moment.”
The administrative officer left and came back with a man who looked a bit harsh.
“Say hello to the trainee. How come the Wolves are all gone today… Is today the big cleaning day?”
His tone was entirely different from any administrative officer Loyal had seen before.
The trainee, a silent man, stared at Loyal for a moment, then they both drew their swords and clashed.
The surprised administrative officer fell over his chair in his haste to get away, while the trainee quickly retreated. Loyal could feel cold sweat trickling down his back.
‘This bastard just…!’
His opponent was looking at Loyal calmly, without even blinking.
“What’s this? Why are you already ‘starting’?”
The officer picked up the scattered documents from the floor, irritated.
“Starting?”
Loyal asked, his sword still drawn.
“Wolf Knights’ first test. You’ve just passed, and now you’re a trainee too. Well, I haven’t seen many people fail after becoming a trainee, but do your best anyway.”
As he set the fallen chair upright, the administrative officer pointed at the trainee.
“This is Dunmel. He was selected through a special process, just like you. Say hi. Oh, and he can’t hear or speak, so make sure to move your lips clearly when you speak.”
The officer grumbled, rubbing his waist.
Dunmel motioned for Loyal to follow. Loyal followed him, feeling anxious. He knew the man couldn’t speak, but following someone who didn’t say a word at all resulted in an awkward silence that felt unbearably heavy.
I only realized later that the place Dunmel guided me to was the training ground of the Wolf Knights. Loyal perched on a chair provided by Dunmel and waited. Shortly after, people began to pour into the training ground.
“Eh? Who are you?”
The large man at the front asked.
“I’m Loyal. The administrative officer said I’m a trainee starting today…”
Loyal stuttered, unsure of how to introduce himself.
“Is that so? Good. Let’s spar!”
The man tossed a wooden sword towards Loyal.
“Why?”
“A welcome party for the newcomer.”
And so, Loyal ended up engaging in about ten bouts with the so-called Wolf Knights on the spot. He lost five times and won five times. Even in the battles that Loyal won, his opponent wasn’t hurt at all. They simply stepped back and declared their defeat.
In consideration of Loyal, who was drenched in sweat, they stepped back for a while. Standing dazedly, Loyal asked the knights, who were resting, drinking water, or nibbling on bread, a dumbfounded question.
“Who are you?”
One of them responded, munching on an apple.
“Who are we? We’re the Wolf Knights. Did you come here not knowing?”
“I… was referring to the sparring session we just had.”
“Mhm.”
“Can I, um, try harder?”
Loyal asked. They glanced at each other, then burst into laughter. Despite hearing a question that could be taken as cheeky, they showed no signs of irritation. There was no one eager to give the newcomer a tough time. They merely found it amusing and didn’t take it too seriously.
“Don’t work too hard on your first day, Loyal.”
A man who looked older than the others advised in a gentle voice.
“We have plenty of time.”
Loyal had a realization. He now understood the meaning of the pond that Meylumil had spoken of.
‘I needed a place where I wasn’t special. I understand why I was happy when I was with my father. That’s why I wanted to become a farmer. But that was deceiving myself. That’s why it wasn’t fulfilling.’
There were people here who wouldn’t fear Loyal showing his utmost effort. The Wolf Knights of Aranthia. Frogs just like him. No matter how loudly he croaked, there were frogs croaking louder next to him…
‘You haven’t quite washed off yet.’
Meylumil had said on the day he left for Aranthia.
‘I can’t forgive someone who doesn’t try his best to be in the Wolf Knights. If you’re not a White Wolf when I come to find you, you will die by my hand.’
Loyal addressed the Wolf Knights, wooden sword in hand.
“No, I want to. I want to see how far I can go.”
If someone hadn’t stopped him from behind, Loyal might have charged at the ten men straight away.
“Your name is Loyal?”
Turning around, he saw a man. His face was completely different, his hair color was different, he was slightly shorter, but somehow he resembled Meylumil. The men sitting in the training ground stood up to greet him. He didn’t even acknowledge the greetings, focusing only on Loyal.
“Lumil sent you?”
“Y-Yes… yes.”
The man chuckled softly, stroking his chin. Then, he muttered in a barely audible voice.
“Guys, let’s really bet on this, okay?”
He extended his hand for a handshake.
“I’m Quain Wolf, the captain of the Wolf Knights.”
“Loyal Lenner.”
Loyal felt a strange shudder once again. The firm grip of the captain was warm.
Quain addressed the still-resting Wolf Knights.
“Friends, let this lamb do as he pleases today. If he doesn’t regret his words within an hour, you’re in trouble.”
The men laughed and got up from their places. In front of the knights deciding the order with rock-paper-scissors, Quain spoke to Loyal.
“There will come a time when you feel this place is home. That’s the second test of the Wolf Knights. At that time, I’ll give you the name Wolf.”
He couldn’t handle the feeling of his heart welling up, overflowing so much it couldn’t be contained. A fierce pleasure he had never experienced before was setting his whole body on fire.
With a still-trembling voice, Loyal asked a question he couldn’t hide.
“Ah, I didn’t get an answer yet. Captain Quain, can I give my best here?”
“Absolutely.”
Quain said, laughing heartily.
“Then I guess the second test isn’t necessary.”
Loyal stepped forward to face the knight who had challenged him first. Behind him, Quain’s gentle voice resonated.
“Welcome to the Wolf Knights, Loyal Wolf.”
☆ ☆ ☆
The massive dining table was capable of seating thirty people, and yet Loyal found himself eating dinner alone. The sense of solitude had begun to transform into depression. Servants bustled around, serving food until he asked them to stop, but they refrained from uttering a single word.
“Where is Latilda?”
Loyal asked as he finished his meal.
“She’s in the drawing room.”
The maid, her demeanor as disciplined as a soldier, replied quickly as she removed the empty dishes.
“Where’s the drawing room?”
“At the end of the corridor on the second floor, where the lady’s room is. Shall I bring you some tea?”
“No need for tea. Thank you.”
Loyal sat in front of the bare, desolate table for a while, deep in thought, before he finally made up his mind and stood up.
In the lobby, several Thorn Knights lounged on the stairs leading to the second floor.
‘These guys again. Should’ve just had that tea.’
Two of them he’d seen before, the third was a new face. Whether they’d been injured during training or in battle, all three bore severe wounds. However, their posture, sitting up straight, didn’t suggest any sign of weakness. They were leaning against the stairs, puffing on their pipes, engaged in conversation until they noticed Loyal’s arrival and ceased their chatter.
“We were talking about you.”
Loyal recalled the name of the knight who spoke first, Neph, after some thought.
“Did I do something to warrant such discussion?”
Loyal deliberately matched their tone, speaking coldly.
“I’m Drupho. Nice to meet you. I was late because I was finishing a mission that wasn’t completed.”
Drupho extended his left hand. His right hand was bandaged.
“I’m Loyal. Are you hurt?”
“Injuries are a common occurrence in battle, aren’t they?”
Loyal remembered what Latilda had said about Thorn Knights not getting injured.
“Care for a puff?”
Neph offered his pipe. The strong smoke stung Loyal’s nose. Loyal disliked the smell of the cigarette that Sheyden always had in his mouth, but this was even worse.
“I don’t like smoking.”
“This is different. You’ll like it if you try.”
“I’ll pass.”
Neph didn’t insist further and returned the pipe to his mouth.
“May I pass?”
The stairway wasn’t narrow, but with three big men blocking the way, it was hard to squeeze past. However, they didn’t budge an inch.
Drupho spoke.
“Kravzic should be training alone in the backyard now. Go see him. He wants to spar with you.”
“I decline.”
“Do knights refuse to spar? You didn’t seem like a coward from what I heard yesterday, and from seeing you wandering around the castle aimlessly, you don’t seem busy. Why do you refuse?”
“I never refuse a spar. This isn’t a spar, that’s why.”
“If it’s not a spar, what is it?”
“A forced quarrel.”
“Would you teach me how to request politely then?”
Drupho laughed with a bitter tone.
‘Should I stop playing spy and have a go at these guys?’
Loyal began to feel frustrated about holding back.
“Smoking indoors is prohibited.”
The butler, Bene, happened to pass by and addressed the three.
“We’re heading to the battlefield tomorrow, give us a break, Bene.”
Neph asked for understanding.
“I let it slide last time, and you ended up burning a hole in the carpet. If you do it again, I’ll burn a hole in your chests.”
“We’ll go outside then.”
The three of them rose simultaneously. However, Bene was not done.
“Put it out now. Before I douse it with the water from the flower vase.”
At Bene’s words, the three Thorn Knights had no further objections and extinguished their pipes.
As Neph got up from the stairs, he spoke to Loyal.
“We’re leaving tomorrow, so feel free to visit anytime. Whoever you challenge, we’ll respond!”
Bene had intervened between Neph and Loyal. With a stern face, he gestured Neph out of the room. At his silent command, they stepped back.
“Are you heading to Miss Latilda’s room?” Bene asked.
“I’m on my way to the drawing room.”
“Please send her down for dinner when you leave. She hasn’t eaten anything since lunch…”
The old butler walked across the lobby with a swagger. Bene’s charisma, as Latilda described it, was palpably present.
Latilda was so engrossed in painting that she’d forgotten it was mealtime. Her apron and hands were smeared with paint, and her tempting, lustrous red hair was tightly tied back. Loyal stood by the door for a good while, observing her, but she was too absorbed in her painting to notice him. Not wanting to disturb her, Loyal stood quietly until he discovered the many paintings hanging on the wall. Initially, he just glanced at them to pass the time, but he soon lost track of time and purpose, completely engrossed in their appreciation.
Loyal’s shadow, moving around the room, naturally entered Latilda’s field of vision. However, she too was so absorbed in the appreciation of the paintings that she did not notice his gaze and left him to his own devices.
It wasn’t until an hour after Loyal had entered the room that they spoke to each other.
“Do you like paintings?”
Latilda asked, taking a momentary break from her brush. Loyal was in the middle of looking at the last painting.
“No, this is the first time I’ve been so engrossed in paintings. I apologize for entering without permission.”
Latilda smiled contentedly.
“It’s okay. So, what do you think of my paintings?”
“Well, I’m surprised to find it enjoyable to look at such static objects.”
“This is an honor. To think that someone who knows nothing about art would admire my paintings for so long.”
“Did you paint all of these?”
“I did. I’ve been drawing crazily since I was a kid. I’ve forgotten about it in recent years.”
Latilda looked down at her paint-stained hands, with the same gaze she once used to look at a doll smeared with childhood dirt.
“It’s been a while since I painted, so the brush feels unfamiliar, but the nostalgic feeling is pleasant.”
“Is there a particular reason you started painting again?”
Loyal asked, standing in front of a painting Latilda had just finished.
The paintings she said she had done before were mostly still life or landscapes. But the painting she was working on now was a very different, realistically depicted piece.
‘This could scare a kid once it’s done.’
Latilda replied with a teasing tone.
“Because of you.”
“Me? What did I…?”
Embarrassed by what he perceived as an overstep, Loyal asked.
“I was sitting down, feeling depressed when I suddenly realized that what you said might be right.”
“Among what I’ve said…, was there something right?”
“At least for me.”
Latilda tried to wipe the paint off her face with the back of her hand, but it just spread. She was about to say something else, but turned her face toward the painting she was working on.
“What do you think of this painting? I haven’t picked up a brush in years, so it might seem a bit childish.”
“What’s the theme… of the painting?”
“I thought about it a lot. At first, I was going to paint you, but I’ve never drawn a person before and I was afraid I’d ruin it. So, I decided to paint my nightmare. Fear is scarier when we don’t face the reality, right? I want to confront the fear within me, showing that this existence is not worse than the real you.”
“The real me?”
“You confidently said before. There’s nothing in reality that can beat you, didn’t you?”
“I did say something like that.”
Loyal nodded, looking embarrassed.
Latilda smiled, a smile so much like her father’s. Loyal nodded, then tilted his head.
“You painted your nightmare?”
“A black knight from my nightmares. You haven’t seen that black knight yet, have you? I tried to create a frightening atmosphere on purpose, but it looks like this. Now that I’ve painted it, it seems funny. It was good that I painted it. Now, when I dream again, I’ll think of this painting and laugh.”
A bitter taste suddenly rose in Loyal’s mouth. To him, the ‘Black Knight’ brought to mind a knight who had appeared during the war for the conquest of Lontamon several years ago.
“Latilda, have you ever seen the Excelon Knights?”
Loyal asked cautiously.
“Of course. It wouldn’t make sense not to know about the Black Storm that swept Acrand.”
“From what I see, this Black Knight you’ve drawn seems to describe an Excelon Knight.”
Latilda looked at the picture she had drawn with newfound curiosity. After observing it for a while, she just shrugged her shoulders.
“I must have unconsciously imitated them. After all, I have seen the Black Knight of Lontamon. However, I don’t think my recent memory has been eroded by that long-ago memory.”
“But I remember the Excelon Knights very accurately. Both Dalmar and Anna thought that the nightmarish Knight was a member of the Black Lion Knights, right? I believe the knight in this picture is from the Excelon Knights. It’s not just the atmosphere, but the shape of the armor is very similar.”
For a moment, both fell silent as they unraveled the questions in their minds, but neither found an answer.
“Has Anna not returned yet?”
Latilda picked up her brush again and turned to her painting as she spoke.
“Yes.”
“She’s not usually late. It’s worrying.”
“Her father’s illness has worsened, so… she may have had something unavoidable to attend to.”
“Loyal, you say that without hesitation. Let’s hope for no such incident. I would like to concentrate on finishing this painting, could you leave me alone for a while?”
“Alright. I apologize for the disturbance.”
“It’s alright. We can talk again when I finish the painting.”
“Oh, and Bene asked you to come down for a meal.”
“I will eat in the dining room in about an hour, so have it prepared. But even if I’m late, don’t come to call me. Let’s make sure to have breakfast together tomorrow morning.”
“Okay.”
Loyal closed the door and descended the stairs again. As he made his way to the first-floor lobby, he kept recalling Latilda’s painting.
‘I would love to see that Black Knight in person. And to knock them off their horse in front of Latilda.’
Suddenly, he remembered the story he heard when he met Dunmel in Normant.
‘My friends also encountered guys similar to the Black Knights before they came to Normant, didn’t they? Could this all be related?’
Loyal couldn’t be sure.
‘Spying means delivering the information you find out this way to your allies, right? Like assessing the military power that Count Johnstein has and delivering it through a merchant.’
Loyal had long given up on such things. If he got caught doing something he couldn’t do, there would be no way to fix it. Above all, such an act itself felt like a betrayal of Latilda and he couldn’t do it.
There was a clanking sound. Loyal turned his head in that direction. Just like before, the basement door that had been tightly closed opened once and then closed, and Linke walked out from inside. He gave Loyal, standing on the stairs, a cold glance and simply passed by.
Loyal, forgetting to pass on the message to prepare dinner, kept staring at the basement’s iron door for a while. The strong smell of coal that the Thorn Knights had left still lingered in the air.
Loyal became increasingly uncomfortable being here.
His thirst came back.
☆ ☆ ☆
As dawn came, trumpet sounds echoing across Denmoju were heard several times. Loyal squinted out of the window, rubbing his sleep-deprived eyes. A distant army gathered on a hill was starting to move. The Rose Knights led the way, followed by the infantry and the archers. Having always seen only a small number of troops, the sight of such a large number was imposing to Loyal.
Roughly counting, it was a force exceeding 10,000. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that was the military size of a whole country, and they were moving to fight another similar force.
‘That army is heading for Normant, right? How are my friends dealing with this? And what about the new captain?’
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
“Miss Latilda has asked you to come to her room.”
Loyal ran immediately.
Latilda was lingering near the bed in her nightgown.
“Anna didn’t come again yesterday.”
Loyal, fighting back a laugh at her adorable image that was so unlike her age, expressed his concern.
“I’m really worried about what could have happened.”
Latilda pulled back the curtain and watched the military movement.
Loyal asked.
“Are you not going to say goodbye to your father?”
“Why would I say goodbye when we’re going to meet again soon?”
“You always assume that he’ll come back victorious, but this time could be different, right?”
“It’s all the same to me. I can’t even imagine losing a battle involving the Twelve Thorns. And I’ve always been opposed to this war. It would have been better to keep fighting territorial wars for nonsensical reasons as we have done so far. This is not right. I can’t say goodbye to cheer them on.”
“Do you think this war was planned?”
“Yes. My father prepared for the war before I even left. And then I was attacked by the Black Knight, and my father fabricated a story that it was the Black Lion Knights and used it as an excuse to start a war.”
Loyal was impressed by Latilda’s insight.
‘I thought I was the only one who knew!’
Latilda presented her further opinion.
“Maybe the knight I saw in my nightmare was one of the few among my father’s proud Twelve Thorns. Considering their incredible skill and the fact that they could have killed me anytime, yet left me alive. Who would recognize them if they wore black armor instead of red?”
The arrival of the maids with breakfast interrupted Latilda’s thoughts. Two servings of food were placed on the table. Loyal pulled up a chair and sat down in front of it.
“I didn’t permit you to sit yet.”
Latilda questioned.
“Your pajamas are so cute that I forgot I needed your permission. If you were in a glamorous dress, I’d have thought I needed to stand guard next to you, but the way you are now, it feels like a little sister who slept in late and just got up for breakfast. So, I felt like saying good morning, give a kiss and just sat down.”
“It’s the first time I’m hearing about you having a sister.”
“If I had one, I guess it would be like that.”
Latilda laughed and sat down in front of Loyal, picking up a piece of bread.
Loyal said,
“I had similar suspicions too. In some ways, it’s a very plausible speculation, but the part where the Count tried to negotiate with Count Lumerier sticks out.”
“I don’t understand that part either. Did he just pretend to try to negotiate and then conveniently get attacked?”
“That’s possible. And the part about the nightmare knights being the Twelve Thorns, I didn’t even think about that. Do you really think so? I’ve never seen them…”
“That’s just speculation. The knights of the nightmares are absolutely inhuman. While the Thorn Knights sometimes seem inhuman, that doesn’t mean they’re not human.”
“Good point. Here’s another thought. Apart from the Black Knight, perhaps Count Johnstein wasn’t actually planning to start a war because of the incident where you were attacked.”
While tearing apart a fried egg with her fork, Latilda paused.
“In what way then?”
“The nightmare knights were actually monsters summoned by some religious organization.”
Latilda laughed, but Loyal continued.
“Did you see the army outside? Imagine a war of the same scale happening in the middle of Camort. Although I’m not sure, the damage would be greater than when Lontamon attacked ten years ago. In the ensuing chaos, wizards who summoned the monsters would reap some benefit.”
“You make such gloomy topics sound quite entertaining, Loyal. And what’s this about a religious group? Are you referring to the religion that’s settled in our town?”
“No, it just slipped out. I meant to say dark mages. Or how about this? The Black Knight is a plot by a third country.”
“How would you explain them appearing in my nightmares?”
“I’m not sure about that.”
Suddenly, as if an idea occurred to her while drinking milk, Latilda said.
“Come to think of it, I showed my drawing to Bene yesterday. As soon as he saw the picture, he looked at me and asked how I could draw so clearly something I had only seen once in my childhood and remembered from a decade ago,” Latilda said.
“So, Bene also thought of the Excelon Knights?”
It wasn’t something to feel good about having guessed correctly. Loyal’s questions only grew.
“But then it’s strange. Why couldn’t others think of the Excelon Knights when they saw the Black Knight? Bene and I knew just by looking at the picture.”
“Both Anna and I were too young to remember the Excelon, and Dalmar was battling between life and death after seeing that Black Knight. He wouldn’t have the strength to recall such a distant memory.”
Loyal then remembered Dunmel’s story.
‘Dunmel didn’t mention that the Black Knight looked similar to the Excelon Knights. Could the Black Knight that Latilda met and the Black Knight that her friends encountered be different entities?’
Latilda made a sound by flicking her finger after wiping her mouth with a napkin when she finished her meal.
“I see! They didn’t resemble the Excelon Knights. Dalmar mentioned the Black Lion Knights instead.”
“What about in the case of Bene and me? Because you couldn’t draw well?”
Loyal joked, but Latilda admitted it.
“You’re right. It was a poor drawing.”
“What?”
“Dalmar had a life-and-death struggle with the Excelon Knights when Lontamon was conquered. But why couldn’t he remember them? It’s because those Black Knights were different from the Excelon Knights, not in appearance but in aura.”
Latilda pointed at the finished picture hanging on the wall as she continued.
“People tend to remember the situation or the atmosphere more vividly than the actual appearance. When I was young, the same man could seem cool in one situation and stupid in another. It’s the same. Dalmar remembers not the shape of the armor but the aura. Fear! So, he said Black Lion Knights because his recent fear was the Black Lion Knights.”
“That makes sense.”
“If you see the knight in my nightmare yourself, you won’t remember the Excelon Knights at all. So, that picture is a bad drawing that only depicts the shape and fails to capture the atmosphere.”
Latilda pointed at the picture hanging on the wall again, then folded her finger.
Loyal asked as he was chewing his bread.
“But why did you have to hang that on the wall?”
“Why not? Can I not?”
“There’s no rule against it, but can you sleep with that hanging there?”
“Whether I can or can’t, I’ll have to see. I haven’t had a nightmare since I moved into this house. Look, I’m even able to talk about the Black Knight without hesitation.”
“That’s a significant improvement.”
Sitting on the bed, Latilda looked out the window.
“Loyal, could you draw the curtain, please?”
A moving army could be seen far beyond the mountains. They gathered quickly and left even faster. With that many troops, it seemed like they could all leave Denmoju by noon today.
“I need to visit Anna’s house later. Could you accompany me? I can’t bear it anymore.”
“Of course, I’ll go with you. But do we need to get permission from the steward to leave the castle?”
Latilda covered her mouth and laughed.
“You’ve already been overwhelmed by Bene’s power. Every man, without exception, is dominated by his influence. Even the Thorn Knights, who never bow their heads to anyone other than their father, can’t act recklessly in front of Bene.”
“I’ve already witnessed that once.”
“But, Loyal, you only need to listen to my commands.”
“Understood. Then, I’ll…”
Just as Loyal was about to stand up, Latilda grabbed his hand. Loyal lost his balance for a moment and sat back down.
“I haven’t had nightmares since I met you.”
“Really? That’s great.”
Latilda turned her slightly reddened face to the side and hesitated, not knowing what to say.
“Do you remember what you said before, Loyal? That I lost something I should keep in my heart… That I’m too indifferent to other people’s matters.”
“Yes, I did say that. It was inappropriate of me. I apologize.”
Latilda shook her head.
“No, don’t apologize. You were right. It was just too brutal to accept.”
At some point, tears welled up in her eyes.
“Do you know this feeling? Where nothing stirs in your heart. Where your surroundings become invisible. There are times when you lash out and yell at others, converse with them, laugh occasionally, and enjoy moments, but you don’t feel anything. I thought of it as a string. An invisible string that connects people. I thought it had been cut…”
Latilda guided Loyal’s hand to her chest.
“That’s right. I was connected to you somehow. The emptiness in your heart and the emptiness in mine. I thought I was attracted to your chivalry, your unique personality, your strength, maybe your face, maybe your voice. But it wasn’t. Right? You too, have felt the string break, haven’t you? The agony of not being connected to anyone. You understand, right?”
“Latilda…”
Loyal was unable to react to her sudden words and actions.
“When I got angry at your words and told them to Anna, she said I was speaking with my eyes.”
Latilda released Loyal’s hand and covered her face. Finally, she let the tears flow.
“She said I, who always stared elsewhere, was getting angry while looking into the eyes for the first time. With a slightly cheerful voice, with a slightly regretful voice, she said so. Yes, that’s right. Since I first met Loyal, since I first spoke to you, I have always looked into your eyes. Because you are someone who has lost something. Because you have lost an important part of your heart.”
Loyal moved closer and sat next to Latilda, pulling her into his arms. She hugged him tightly, sobbing silently.
For a moment, Loyal thought of Azwin. She had passed the first test and had her first duel with Loyal. He had disarmed her in their first confrontation and was taken aback.
‘Ah, I made a mistake. I went too hard.’
He thought there would be another friend who would fear him. But Azwin put her hand on her hip and spoke with a ferocious smile.
‘You won’t strike the finishing blow? You think this is the end? You just wait, half a year!’
Before six months had passed, Loyal had been knocked out of the training field. The one who thrust the wooden sword in front of Loyal’s nose was named Gerald. Gerald, with blood running down his head, spoke with bravado.
‘Didn’t I tell you? I said I’d beat you at least once this year.’
The first person to see Loyal as an equal was Sheyden.
‘You have a habit of letting go at the crucial moment. Once you’re figured out, you’re done within our group.’
And Dunmel had been unattainable for Loyal for three months. Dunmel, who silently stood above him, was reproaching Loyal with his eyes.
‘Did you think you were more talented than me?’
After the second test, there were knights with the name of the Wolf Knights standing next to Loyal. None of them were friends who feared Loyal. At that time, an unfillable puddle in Loyal’s chest turned into a lake and surged.
He found his place when he met the Wolf Knights for the first time.
And, holding Latilda in his arms, Loyal found what he needed to protect for the first time.
☆ ☆ ☆
After the army had completely disappeared, Denmoju was desolate. However, life in the village continued as usual. When a country wages war, whether there are repercussions or not, it is hard for people to carry on with their daily lives easily. Yet, this small rural village was unaffected despite a military force of several thousand had been stationed and left.
It felt as if Denmoju itself was a rear unit maintaining the base after the main force had left. Even the religious center with the symbol of courtesy hung on the roof didn’t seem to be the fanatical group that Loyal had suspected. The people who went in and out of the center were full of smiles as if they had just come from a fun outing, promising to meet again at the next gathering. Occasionally, when villagers spotted Latilda, they bowed deeply in greeting. Latilda simply waved at them and passed by.
Anna’s house was empty. Loyal picked up a cup that had been overturned on the dining table. The air that flowed throughout the house was dry, and there was no warmth to be found. A faint, unpleasant smell was mixed in. It was a scent Loyal had encountered once before. A sense of foreboding washed over him.
“It seems like there’s been nobody in this house for at least a day.”
Latilda agreed immediately after she walked out of Anna’s father’s room.
“The bed where her sick father was supposed to be lying is too clean. Also, I’ve found something quite disturbing.”
Latilda held up a long pipe that was left in the room. The shape was different, but it reeked of the same scent as the pipes the Thorn Knights used to smoke.
“What is this?”
“It’s called Zookhla. I’ve tried it once before.”
“Isn’t it just like tobacco?”
“It’s a little different. When I was desperate because I couldn’t sleep due to nightmares, Anna brought this as a last resort. When I tried it, my mind quickly became hazy and I fell asleep. When I woke up, a whole day had passed. However, I felt as bad as after a nightmare, so I didn’t use it again after that. It’s so addictive that even I, who used it only once, occasionally think about smoking it.”
Latilda brought the pipe close to her nose, sniffed it, and quickly pulled her head away.
“This pipe has been used more than once or twice. Considering Anna received a considerable amount of money yet her household condition wasn’t great, she probably spent all her money on this.”
Loyal had many questions, but only asked about Anna.
“Even so, why is there nobody here? Does Anna live alone with her father?”
“No, she has a younger brother and sister.”
Latilda put away the pipe and fell deep into thought.
“I’m worried.”
“Let’s ask the neighbors.”
The neighbors were as clueless. They even claimed to know nothing about Zookhla. They insisted that Anna’s father was a reliable man and wouldn’t touch such a dangerous item.
“I will go to the place where one can get this. Latilda, you should return to the castle first.”
“Where will you go to find it?”
“I don’t know. A tavern or a back alley perhaps?”
“Do you think there are back alleys in this village?”
“Without a trade route, how would she have gotten her hands on such an item?”
“I don’t know. There are many traders coming and going in this village. They could get goods from other countries.”
“I’ll look for it, and if I can’t find it, I’ll return right away. As a resident of this village, everyone should know Anna is your maid. Do you think there would be any trouble? It seems like everyone in the village likes you.”
“That’s why I’m worried. I’ve always thought that there was something behind their smiles.”
Loyal accompanied Latilda to the castle gate and returned to the village.
The first thing that came to Loyal’s mind was the comment the knight named Neph made when he offered the pipe.
‘That was Zookhla.’
There was no one in the village who knew about Zookhla. Initially, he discreetly searched the taverns, questioned innkeepers, then later everyone in the village, and finally even visited the religious congregation, but nobody knew about Zookhla.
Even though Anna was a maid serving a count’s daughter, her social status wasn’t particularly high. The same went for her father. Yet, they had managed to acquire Zookhla. And not just once, but multiple times. That must mean it was a readily available item. Furthermore, the Thorn Knights openly smoked it on the stairs, nonchalantly offering it to strangers, so it didn’t seem like a covertly traded item. That’s why Loyal confidently told Latilda he would find it. But not a single person even knew the name!
Just as he was almost at the castle, Loyal realized a surprising fact. It was so simple that for a while, Loyal blamed his dull brain.
In a not-so-large village, not a single person knew that an entire family had been missing for a day. Furthermore, they didn’t even know that someone in that household was smoking Zookhla. There was only one possible conclusion.
‘The villagers are all lying.’
The sun had set, darkening the landscape.
Loyal hurried into the castle. Latilda stood in the rose garden, holding a lantern. Loyal felt an irrational relief at the obvious fact of her safety.
“Have you found Anna?”
Latilda asked with weary eyes. She had undoubtedly spent the day in the garden, awaiting news from Loyal.
“No, but I’ve discovered an interesting fact.”
‘Interesting is an understatement. Dangerous would be more accurate.’
Latilda opened her tired eyes wide and asked,
“What happened?”
“It’d be better to discuss this indoors.”
“Then, let’s go to my room.”
Latilda, holding onto Loyal’s hand, asked with a curious look.
“I’m intrigued. Can’t you give me a hint?”
“The one using the Zookhla might not only be Anna’s family.”
“What do you mean?”
“First, the Thorn Knights used it openly. And though I’m not sure how to interpret it, everyone in the village lied to me. They are hiding a secret.”
“A secret, here in this rural village?”
Entering the lobby, they lowered their voices even more.
“Latilda, how much attention have you paid to this village?”
“I never really cared for this village. Ever since I was young, I wanted to live in the city. After my father turned into a war-loving fool, I began to despise it even more. So, how could I have any affection for this village?”
“Exactly. You are as ignorant about this village as I am.”
“I can’t deny that.”
Given what she had said in tears that morning, Latilda readily admitted it.
As they crossed the lobby and halted at the stairs leading upstairs, Loyal had a plethora of questions to unravel. However, something more baffling was happening in the lobby.
The door to the basement was open. And in front of it lay a woman, covered in injuries, her upper body soaked in blood.
It was Anna.
Latilda cradled Anna, stroking her blood-stiffened hair. Her face was deathly pale. While there were long knife marks on Anna’s chest, back, and neck, they weren’t deep enough to cause such bleeding. Besides, they looked like a day old. Yet, the blood that drenched her was still warm.
‘It’s beast’s blood.’
Loyal realized it immediately from the smell of the blood as he covered Anna with a piece of clothing. Latilda was trembling, too shocked to utter a word.
Anna was still alive, but her breath was weak. Along with the smell of blood, a sickening smell rose, the same one from Anna’s house. The smell of Zookhla smoke.
Unless someone had smoked Zookhla here again, that scent was mixed with the air rising from the open basement.
Loyal propped up Anna’s head. She slowly opened her eyes. In a barely audible voice, she spoke.
“Loyal… it’s you.”
With a hand that seemed too weak to lift, she grasped Loyal’s neck.
“I don’t want to… die yet…”
“Don’t worry. I’m here with you.”
Anna smiled weakly, then lost consciousness again. Loyal handed her to Latilda, got up with a hardened expression, and took a step towards the basement. The dark stairs, invisible to the eye, seemed to lead into a bottomless hell.
“You’d best not go in there, Loyal.”
It was Bene’s voice. He stood by the living room wall, laden with several swords.
“What happened to Anna?”
Latilda shrieked sharply.
“Calm down. We must tend to Anna first, miss.”
Bene spoke with a maddeningly composed tone. Latilda tried to retort, but Loyal stopped her.
“Let’s move Anna first.”
At Bene’s gesture, two burly servants rushed over and lifted Anna. Two armed guards then approached and slowly closed the thick iron door.
Before following the servants carrying Anna, Latilda commanded Loyal,
“Go inside that basement, Loyal. Find out what’s in there that reduced Anna to this state. I need you to do it. Absolutely!”
Latilda glared at Bene with wide-open eyes, grabbed her skirt, and ran off.
“Seems the lady has taken a disliking to me.”
Bene scraped the back of his head with a bitter smile.
“I am bound by Latilda’s orders, Bene. Tell me what’s in that basement.”
“If it’s simple curiosity, I suggest you stop.”
“This isn’t my curiosity, but the orders of the person who hired me.”
“Interesting. Unfortunately, I serve someone higher than your employer. It’s not an order I have to follow.”
Loyal alternated his gaze between Bene and the two guards at the iron gate. For the first time since entering the castle, Loyal reached for his sword.
“I can enter, even by force if necessary.”
“There’s no rush, Loyal. I was also surprised by Anna’s return in such a state, and the cause needs to be separately investigated. But as for the matter of the basement, you shouldn’t meddle. As you stay in this castle, you’ll naturally learn about the basement. Don’t hurry.”
“So you mean I should wait?”
“When the Count returns, he’ll give you an answer. Beyond that is not my business. If you still can’t listen to me, then go back to the lady once more. Go ask the lady for permission to kill the butler. I’ve already received permission from the Count to kill you.”
Bene spoke, hand still resting on the sword hung on the wall. Neither of them had drawn their swords, but their glares bore into each other as if they were already locked in combat.
“I didn’t particularly want to know about this basement. However, when the person I’ve spent all day searching for returns in such a state, I won’t just pretend I know nothing.”
Loyal released his grip on the sword hilt. Bene, too, lowered his hand from the wall.
“Go to the lady. Honestly, I’m more worried about Latilda than Anna.”
As Loyal ascended the staircase, he paused, catching onto the strange nuance laced within Bene’s words.
“You’re more worried about Latilda?”
“If the opportunity arises, let her tell you. She already knows about everything, even without explicit orders from you.”
Leaving those cryptic words behind, Bene disappeared across the lobby.
The smell of blood still lingered in the corridor.
–TL Notes–
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