Chapter 17

When Prince said he would never blabber about it, Rea replied that she hadn’t suspected Esdel’s party from the beginning. To Esdel, who was moving with the intention of digging up the laboratory’s secrets, it sounded like an overly naive answer.

After all, among the people sitting here with kind faces, there was likely no one who was truly good.

Esdel turned her gaze toward the man who had clearly brought Rea here with a purpose.

She had never told Theodore about the mission. He was by her side when she received the operation order, but they hadn’t read it together. Therefore, Theodore should have known nothing other than the fact that Esdel was going to the Gridion Republic.

And yet, he was acting as if he already knew everything about where Esdel was going and what she would be doing.

‘Is it possible that Theodore is involved with the Salvation Knights?’

It wouldn’t be impossible. Considering his abilities, it was more ridiculous to assert that he had never once collaborated with the Salvation Knights until now. Anyone who had seen him use a sword would have wanted to recruit him.

‘He was also the one who advised that I should come up to the capital if I wanted revenge.’

For someone who knew Esdel, it probably wouldn’t have been difficult to predict what kind of organization she would end up joining.

This meant that, in the end, all of this might be happening in the palm of his hand.

As she was contemplating Theodore’s identity with a stiff face, she heard a voice calling her from the side.

“Esdel.”

“……”

“Esdel?”

“…Why are you calling me?”

“You’re angry.”

She heard a soft laugh next to her ear. The sound of his breath was so close it made her body flinch.

She clenched her fists and pondered briefly.

‘Am I angry.’

That wasn’t it. No matter how she thought about it, this was a complex emotion that couldn’t be simply described as anger.

And that hurt her feelings even more.

The man had freely toyed with her hand, kissed her, held her, and on top of all that, even invaded her room in the middle of the night. All the while, he might have been thinking of someone else. No, he most certainly had been.

And yet she wasn’t angry.

Esdel had never once lost the upper hand in a relationship with the opposite sex. That’s why she was even more confused. This feeling of being dragged along by a rope pulled from the other side was so unfamiliar.

He spoke to Esdel, who was avoiding his eyes.

“If you want to wake up early tomorrow morning, it would be best to get to bed soon. Are you going to finish that drink?”

“No. It tastes good, but it’s too strong….”

Theodore took the glass from her hand. He downed what Esdel had left in one go. His Adam’s apple moved. Watching the last drop in the glass disappear, Esdel asked without thinking.

“Is it good?”

“Sweet things aren’t to my taste, so it’s just so-so.”

“Is it because you’re a Westerner…. Did your parents have similar tastes?”

“It’s hard to deny.”

The man replied softly and held out his hand. Esdel hesitated for a moment, but soon clasped his hand firmly.

If the man changed his attitude, acted affectionately, and tried to coax her, there was no reason Esdel couldn’t do the same. Rather than letting her pride be wounded by this constant pull, she might as well be the one to tug him over instead.

Whoever Theodore had loved in the past, that woman was already dead, and the person by his side now was none other than Esdel.

Eternal love? Esdel didn’t believe in such things. Out of sight, out of mind. Unless one died to follow the other, the feelings of that moment were bound to change. Therefore, time was on her side.

“You know, Theodore.”

“Yes.”

“You are going to fall in love with me.”

Esdel whispered into his ear. Standing on her tiptoes, her face shone brightly with confidence. She had never tried to capture someone’s heart before, but she didn’t think she would fail.

She had never failed to get what she wanted. Whether it was a person or an ability.

Theodore looked at her with an unreadable expression. No heat or emotion could be felt from his face. On the contrary, his calm expression seemed to hold a sadness that didn’t fit the situation at all.

After a brief moment, he wore his picturesque smile again.

“I have always believed in you. To the point that if you pushed me from a cliff and said this was the way to live, I would willingly take a step.”

“……”

“Now, let’s stop the complicated thoughts and go rest. Tomorrow will be another trying day.”

👑🏰

The party passed the checkpoint early in the morning. Just as Theodore had said, when they presented the invitation from Mayor Tivolars along with a small toll fee, their luggage wasn’t even properly checked. Even though Theodore and Rea were not members of the Knights, no one made an issue of it.

As they entered, they could hear other people clamoring behind them. Esdel felt uneasy and picked up her pace a little.

After riding for about another 10 minutes on the quiet main road, the city of Verion came into view.

“I think I need to go my separate way from here.”

Rea bid them farewell at the entrance to Verion. She said she had someone to meet here before heading into Gridion. Prince was concerned about her being left alone again, but Rea laughed it off, saying she would be fine once she joined her party here.

Unlike when they first saw her, a more vibrant Rea waved to Esdel’s group.

“Well then, everyone, travel safely! Prince, see you next time.”

“Bye, Rea! Be careful!”

“Yeah, be sure to write to me when you get to Tivolars! Don’t forget my address.”

Prince kept waving until Rea’s horse was out of sight. It seemed they had hit it off so well last night that they were already on informal terms. It was good news that someone in the group had formed a friendship with Rea.

Rea was an important link for contacting the laboratory. Since Rea would also be coming to Tivolars soon after Esdel’s party arrived, they just needed to assess the overall situation in Tivolars until then.

Esdel brushed off the hazy sand dust with her hand and turned her head toward Theodore. Unlike Rea, who had split off as soon as they entered Verion, the man behind her showed no sign of moving.

“Theodore, you….”

“My destination is also Tivolars. If you don’t mind, I’d like to accompany you.”

Theodore’s gaze slid past Esdel and landed on Prince. The first answer was directed at Esdel, but the second was a request for the group’s consent.

Prince, whose eyes met the man’s, smiled brightly and readily agreed.

“Of course, you can come with us. Cess says she’ll agree too, if you grill her just one more potato!”

“If it’s just that, I can do it for you whenever you wish. Esdel will be happy to as well.”

Theodore looked at Esdel with a subtle smile. Esdel, feeling awkward, briefly averted her eyes to the left before gripping the horse’s reins tightly. This man truly never moved according to Esdel’s will.

‘But maybe it’s for the best.’

The more difficult a person is to understand, the more you need to keep them in your sights.

👑🏰

Afterward, they rode without rest until the checkpoint to enter Tivolars.

After riding for about 20 minutes, the fortress walls that had been visible in the distance were right before them. The line at this checkpoint was just as long, but they were able to get screened separately by presenting the mayor’s invitation.

“Sir Prince and Sir Cess of the Salvation Knights, and Sir Esdel and her fiancé. Confirmed. Please carry the identification I’m giving you now at all times within Tivolars.”

Esdel accepted the document the soldier handed her. The stamped paper listed her name, status, and the special note that she was an Awakened. As she scanned the document, a soft greeting reached her ears.

“Then, I hope you have a pleasant time in Tivolars.”

The massive gate opened backwards, scraping against the ground with a grating sound. The sound, which somehow created a sense of tension, made Esdel swallow dryly.

The scenery visible beyond the first gate’s wall was a desolate field. Yellowed, dead grasses lay limply on the ground in the cold winter wind. From here, they would have to ride for another 5 minutes before the city would begin to come into view.

Prince sighed and muttered.

“It’s not just Verion, it’s gotten strict here too. When I came last year, I could get in right away just by showing the invitation.”

“You came here last year, too?”

“Yes, Cess and I were dispatched for the eve festival. Back then, it was the three of us, including the branch manager…. It’s not a memory I particularly want to recall. I’m just grateful that Esdel joined.”

Prince shook his head as if just mentioning the branch manager was exhausting. Cess was frowning as well. Seeing the two of them, who must have seen all sorts of things while running a gambling den, shudder like that, it seemed the branch manager was quite a character.

While on the subject, Prince added a piece of advice.

“Esdel, if you ever get involved with the branch manager, avoid him as much as possible. Even if you have to make an excuse that you’re sick. He’s the type of person who can’t tolerate anyone of a lower rank not groveling before him.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Esdel nodded.

The city of Tivolars, the capital of the Gridion Republic, was now beginning to come into view. Although she had often visited the capital of Arpenta with her parents when she was young, this was her first time visiting another country.

The many stories she had heard while learning the language from a teacher from the Republic seemed to flash through her mind.

The Gridion Republic was one of the places that had undergone the most drastic changes in this century.

After the revolution that occurred about 50 years ago, the Kingdom of Gridion was swept up in a whirlwind of great transformation. Robert, who had led the revolution, was killed less than a month after the kingdom took on the name of a republic. His vacant position was immediately filled, but his successor was no different.

For the next 40 years, the head of the republic changed more than twenty times, and it was only in the last 10 years that it finally entered a state of stability.

‘A change in the head means that the people under them were also completely replaced.’

Those who were swaggering yesterday would become the dew of the execution ground the very next day. It would be stranger if the internal situation of the Republic were peaceful.

It was when Esdel was riding without a shred of expectation. Slowly, the view of Tivolars city began to reveal itself over the hill. At the same time, Esdel’s indifferent eyes widened.

A main road incomparably wider than Arpenta’s, buildings made of ivory-colored marble, people all dressed splendidly, and carriages moving without rest. It was a bustling street so vibrant it was hard to fix one’s gaze on any single spot.

Esdel’s eyes darted around restlessly. Paper boats floated by children in the fountain, and the sound of people’s laughter could be heard everywhere.

It was a completely different scene from what she had imagined while passing through the gate.

“Esdel, do you see that? The children over there are floating little paper boats in the fountain!”

“You’re right. There are often kids playing in the fountains in Reinhardt, too…. I didn’t expect to see it here.”

The strength slowly drained from the hand that was gripping the reins. The fact that young children could run around freely meant that it was that safe. For that to be possible not in a small rural village but in a city this large was quite significant.

Slightly more relaxed, Esdel slowly looked around. She had just taken her eyes off the main road and turned her gaze toward a left alley.

A narrow, dirty alley, completely out of place with the scenery of the main road, came into view. She saw a group of guards and a woman held captive in their midst.

At first, she thought she had seen it wrong. But clang, the sound of a can rolling on the ground brought Esdel to her senses. A can from which three or four coins had rolled out was tumbling at the feet of a shabbily dressed woman.

“That’s…”

As soon as Esdel started to speak, one of the guards grabbed the woman by the scruff of her neck and threw her. The woman’s body, which had been on the edge of the main road, fell into the depths of the alley.

It wasn’t surprising. Such things were commonplace in Arpenta, too. But for some reason, it left a bitter aftertaste. As Esdel continued to stare at the alley, unable to look away, Theodore spoke.

“It must be because of the eve festival. Many distinguished guests will be coming, so they’re clearing the streets.”

Hearing Theodore’s words, Cess sneered with a sharp tone.

“Clearing? How noble of you. I guess you people call grabbing an innocent person by the neck and throwing them ‘clearing’?”

“Cess, don’t. I’m sorry, Cess is a bit sensitive about things like that….”

Prince stopped Cess, who was about to lash out even more. Then he repeatedly apologized to Esdel and Theodore. However, even on Prince’s bowed face, there was a hint of apprehension toward the two of them.

But Esdel had no time to worry about their feelings. She felt her shoulders, which were gripping the reins, stiffen painfully. The sound of laughter from the surroundings was sharply scraping at her on-edge nerves.

Neither the sneering Cess, nor Prince who was trying to stop her, nor Theodore riding alongside them, seemed to have any intention of saving the woman who had collapsed in the alley.

‘This is not the time to act on personal feelings.’

Esdel steeled her heart and fixed her gaze forward. But the moment she urged her horse, which had slowed down for a moment, an unknown voice was heard in her ear.

Cold.

Esdel flinched. She must have misheard.

There was no way words from that alley could sound so close.

Reaching out a hand is easy, but holding on to that hand until the end is difficult. Right now, Esdel was already struggling just to move forward for Lin’s revenge. She had no hands to spare.

But the moment the voice brushed past her again, Esdel’s head whipped back.

I don’t want to die….

Her heart began to pound like crazy. A single thought occupied her mind. I have to save her.

‘Go back. I have to save her. Right now.’

She pulled the reins sharply to the left. She heard the bewildered voices of the party members who had been heading forward, but she didn’t stop. In fact, it was closer to being unable to stop.

“Let that woman go.”

Esdel coldly commanded the guard who was holding the woman’s hair. The guard flinched for a moment at her commanding tone, but soon realized his opponent was a young woman and raised his head again.

“Who are you to do this? We are currently performing our official duties.”

“I will take her with me.”

When Esdel pulled the woman toward her, the guards exchanged glances and frowned. The guard who had been holding the woman’s hair opened his mouth.

“You look like you’re from the East. Just go on your way. This bitch is an unregistered Awakened, and not someone a young lady like you can just take.”

Can’t take her, why? She couldn’t understand what they were saying. Unregistered Awakened, and so on—she had never heard of such things even after reading dozens of books about the Republic.

“What does that mean… ugh….”

Esdel clutched her head, which suddenly started throbbing.

Her thoughts weren’t flowing properly. They were being cut off at will, and she could hear panting breaths in between. As Esdel staggered, the guards tried to push her away in that opening.

But the guard’s hand was stopped before it could even touch Esdel’s arm. Theodore, who had followed, pushed the guard back and immediately checked on Esdel’s condition.

“Esdel, where does it hurt?”

Esdel didn’t answer and turned her gaze to the woman who had collapsed on the floor.

“I’m fine. That person, I’m taking her with me. The weather is too… the wind is harsh. She’ll die if she’s left like this….”

The wind was strong. The weather was so cold that any part not covered by a cloak felt like it would be cut to the bone.

From the Reinhardt County to Westford, and from Westford to the Gridion Republic. With each step westward, the weather was getting harsher.

Esdel ignored her throbbing head and pulled the woman’s upper body up. In weather where even a small breath produced vapor, the woman’s body was already as cold as ice.

“Her body is cold… it shouldn’t be….”

Esdel shut her mouth as if her own body had frozen. Then Theodore, who was standing beside her, lightly stroked her back and muttered.

“This woman is alive, Esdel. I will carry her, so you get back on your horse.”

After handing the reins to Esdel, Theodore picked up the woman who had collapsed on the floor.

The flustered guards protested vehemently to Theodore.

“What do you think you’re doing! I clearly told you that you can’t take that woman….”

The answer came from behind.

“We are the Salvation Knights. We came here on the official invitation of the Mayor for the eve festival.”

Prince spoke in a voice completely different from his usual one. He was clutching a bastard sword he had never drawn before in one hand. The sword wasn’t drawn from its scabbard, but the mere fact that he was holding such a heavy sword so lightly was threatening enough.

“The person you just laid a hand on is Lady Esdel of Reinhardt, a member of our knightly order. Step back before we hold you responsible.”

Prince spoke with a ferocity that suggested he might draw his sword at any moment. Only then did the guards realize that Esdel’s party was not someone they could handle.

“Ou-our apologies. We hope you have a good time in Tivolars.”

As soon as he confirmed that the guards had retreated a good distance, Prince let out a deep sigh and returned to his usual self. He approached Esdel and asked with an awkward expression if she was okay. After confirming she was fine, he took the woman Theodore was holding with a slightly uncomfortable face.

“I’ll take care of this person, so Mr. Theodore, please support Esdel. She says she’s fine, but her face looks paler than before….”

“Then I’ll leave her to you.”

Theodore nodded his head to Prince to express his gratitude, then handed over the woman and approached Esdel.

Esdel stood frozen in place. Her gaze was fixed on a corner of the alley, on the messy spot where the trash can the woman had crashed into had fallen over. Theodore placed a hand on the shoulder of the woman, from whom not even the sound of breathing could be heard.

“Esdel.”

“……”

“Let’s go now. We need to get to an inn to warm the woman’s body up as quickly as possible, don’t we?”

Only after Theodore gently pulled her back did Esdel turn her head. Her eyes, which had been dazed as she touched her forehead, slowly came back to her senses. Theodore, who had been staring at her intently, finally managed to lift the corners of his mouth only after the light returned to her brown eyes.

What the belatedly recovered Esdel saw was only his calmly smiling face.

As she walked out with Theodore, she saw Cess looking down at her with a cool gaze.

“When it’s not enough to just carry out the mission quietly, I guess you couldn’t stand the budding of some paltry sympathy? Nobles, I tell you….”

“Cess, don’t do that. Okay?”

When Prince stopped her, Cess let out a short sigh and turned her head away. But the anger on her hardened face showed no sign of disappearing.

As soon as he got on his horse, Theodore spoke to Esdel.

“I know an inn. It’s not far from here, I’ll guide you there right away.”

Esdel nodded at Theodore’s suggestion. As she left the alley and took the reins, she slowly began to come to her senses.

‘Earlier… what on earth was I thinking, rushing into the alley like that?’

She had clearly heard a mutter, saying it was cold, that she didn’t want to die. But thinking about it, unless the woman had shouted, there was no way her voice from the alley could have reached where Esdel was. Then what on earth had possessed Esdel?

She felt a strange chill, but now was not the time to dwell on it. Even though she had been in a daze, the memory from a moment ago was still vivid. The woman’s body, when she had helped her up, was as cold as ice.

Weaving precariously through the carriages occupying the road, Esdel checked on the condition of the woman held by Theodore and Prince with her eyes. The woman, completely unconscious, looked precarious.

“This way.”

Following Theodore who had jumped off his horse, Prince, carrying the woman on his back, entered the inn. As she hurriedly followed, a man with a bushy beard, who appeared to be the innkeeper, approached. Esdel placed a gold coin on the counter and said.

“I’m looking for a room for five people.”

“I’m sorry, but there are only three rooms left. The beds are wide, so two people can sleep in them, but….”

“Esdel, Cess and I are fine sharing a room.”

Prince said, having come in after tying the horses in the stable. That would mean Esdel would have to share a room with Theodore, but there was no other way. Esdel nodded toward the innkeeper.