Chapter 43
“Oh, right. I almost forgot to mention this. Are you aware that the outer walls are currently undergoing extensive repairs?”
“Yes, I know.”
Haele had mentioned it before. She had almost been crushed by wooden supports while loitering near the repair site.
“That’s good. I have a favor to ask regarding that.”
“What is it?”
“At night, the temperature drops near the underground prison, causing the adhesive applied during the day to freeze, halting the work.”
Raylenne considered that it might be true. The walls faced the cold winds directly, so it wasn’t surprising that the adhesive would freeze.
“Since you visit the underground prison daily, it might be good for you to take a look.”
Raylenne stared at Helis. “Can’t the servants handle it?”
Helis was someone Raylenne had recently begun to suspect might be the true culprit. Thus, even a simple request made her suspicious.
“The wall repair is important enough that it would be better if we checked it ourselves. It’s to prevent any issues later on.”
“…”
“I’ll check the other areas, so please just inspect that part.”
Helis politely requested. Raylenne felt she had no choice but to agree. It wasn’t a difficult request, and refusing would make her look strange.
“Alright. Where exactly near the underground prison?”
“There’s a small forest behind the prison.”
She knew the place well. It was a very secluded area, which made her wary about going there late at night.
“When should I check it? I’ve been quite busy lately.”
“Busy?”
“Since I’ve recovered, there are many things I want to do.”
Raylenne brushed off the question lightly. Fortunately, Helis didn’t seem particularly interested.
“So, when does it need to be checked? Does it have to be done immediately?”
Helis smiled, curling the corners of his lips. “Yes, please check it tomorrow night.”
After Helis left, Raylenne stared at the spot where he had been sitting.
‘…Is there really no ulterior motive?’
The request wasn’t strange. It was simply about taking care of the family estate. It wasn’t a difficult task either. The only concern was that it required going to a secluded place late at night.
‘I should be cautious.’
It wouldn’t hurt to be careful, so it seemed best to take a patrol guard with her the next night. With that decision, Raylenne felt more at ease and lay down on her bed.
* * *
However, that night, when she went to the underground prison, the situation wasn’t as she had expected.
“…Why are you still at the underground prison?”
The patrol guards were supposed to be around the underground prison, but Haele was standing there alone, looking rather sullen.
“The patrol guards were sent to support another area, so I have to guard the underground prison tonight.”
“Where did the patrol guards go?”
“I heard there was a suspicious person trying to enter through the front gate, so they went to support there.”
Haele frowned like an angry bulldog for a moment, then relaxed and looked at Raylenne.
“Why are you here at this hour, Lady Raylenne?”
“I need to check the wall behind the underground prison.”
“At this hour?”
“Yes. I don’t want to go to such a secluded place at this late hour either, but it’s something that must be checked now.”
Raylenne frowned, thinking of Helis. Then she quickly turned to Haele. He flinched.
“W-Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You have to come with me.”
Haele blinked a few times, then nodded. “Yes. I can’t let you go to such a secluded place alone at this hour.”
Despite his reassuring words, Haele was known to be timid. Raylenne knew he wouldn’t be much help in a dangerous situation, but taking him was the best option for now.
“Grab a lantern.”
“Yes, right away!” Haele grabbed a lantern from a corner.
Before moving, Raylenne scrutinized Haele. He had a scabbard hanging from his waist.
“Is that sword real?”
“Of course!” Haele, under Raylenne’s suspicious gaze, partially drew the sword to show the blade.
“Alright, put it back.”
“Yes…”
Despite being ready, Raylenne didn’t move, causing Haele to ask curiously, “Is there anything else you need?”
“Do you have a dagger?”
Raylenne wanted a weapon for herself to ease her anxiety. It might be excessive, but being prepared wouldn’t hurt.
“A dagger?”
“Yes. Any small knife will do.”
Haele stood still as if thinking, then bent over and reached under a desk.
“Just a moment.”
He rummaged through a wooden box and pulled out a small knife. “It’s a woodworking knife I use when I’m bored, but you can use it if you like.”
The woodworking knife had a pointed blade attached to a wooden handle. Raylenne carefully placed it in her pocket.
“Why do you need a knife?”
“I’ve been having unsettling dreams lately.”
Raylenne made a vague excuse, and Haele nodded sympathetically.
“I understand. It’s best to be cautious during such times. I once had a dream about stepping in dung and decided to be careful the next day…”
Haele chattered on about his dream experiences. Raylenne, feeling tense, barely listened to his words.
As Raylenne passed Aiden’s cell, she heard the familiar clinking sound. Since Aiden claimed he could identify people by their footsteps, he probably knew she was passing by with Haele. Raylenne felt guilty for not acknowledging Aiden, but today she had no reason to visit him, especially with Haele by her side.
Raylenne stopped in front of the back door after passing Aiden’s cell. “So my grandmother…” Haele, who had been chattering away, was cut off by Raylenne’s serious tone. “Lower your voice from now on.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Haele nodded, following Raylenne quietly out of the underground prison.
The forest behind the prison was as silent as ever, with only the rustling of leaves breaking the stillness. Haele, sticking close to Raylenne, whispered, “It feels like a ghost could appear.”
“Don’t worry, there are no ghosts here,” Raylenne reassured him. This was her third time here, and she had never encountered any ghosts. In fact, she would prefer ghosts over unexpected humans.
The thick tree trunks looked perfect for someone to hide behind. It was for this reason that she had brought Aiden here before—it was an excellent place to hide. But now, those same features felt threatening.
‘Let’s just check the adhesive and leave quickly.’
When they reached the wall, Raylenne held the lantern high to inspect it. Previously, a wooden support had collapsed almost injuring her, but now those supports were gone, indicating progress.
Raylenne reached out and touched the bricks. Contrary to Helis’s words, the adhesive had set firmly, holding the bricks together securely.
‘What’s going on…?’
A chill ran down her spine as she confirmed the situation was different from what Helis had described. Her uneasy premonition proved correct when she heard rustling behind her. Haele shouted loudly, “Who are you?!”
Raylenne turned slowly to see two masked individuals holding sinister swords. She swallowed hard. She had been suspicious ever since Helis suggested she come here late at night, but she hadn’t expected him to send assassins.
‘I can’t believe he’d go this far to kill me.’
Given the previous attempts on her life, she hadn’t anticipated such a direct approach. Despite this, Raylenne was certain Helis was behind it. It would be difficult for these assassins to infiltrate the heavily guarded estate without help from someone inside. Helis would have had no trouble bypassing the knights at the front gate to let them in.
“Do you know where you are?!”
Haele drew his sword, surprising Raylenne. Normally, Haele was timid, unable even to enter Aiden’s cell. But now, faced with danger, he stood his ground.
However, her amazement didn’t last long. One assassin, deciding to eliminate the armed threat first, attacked Haele. Despite Haele’s efforts, he was outmatched two-to-one.
‘This won’t work.’
Seeing Haele struggling, Raylenne pulled out the woodworking knife she had pocketed earlier. It might not be much, but she couldn’t just stand by and watch Haele get overwhelmed.
Raylenne quietly approached the assassins from behind. Her heart pounded as if it would burst from her chest. But one of the assassins noticed her and turned, reaching out a hand instead of swinging a sword.
‘What?’
The assassin tried to grab her, but Raylenne quickly ducked, dodging his grasp. She saw his thigh right in front of her.
‘Now!’
With all her strength, Raylenne slashed at the assassin’s thigh with the knife. “Aaaagh!” The assassin screamed, clutching his leg. Raylenne’s hand trembled from the shock of cutting someone, but there was no time to dwell on it.
The other assassin, who was fighting Haele, raised his sword for a decisive strike. “Haele!” Raylenne shouted as she charged and tackled the assassin, knocking him sideways. He turned to glare at her, then lunged, grabbing her by the throat.
“Ugh…”
The assassin’s grip was so strong it felt like her neck might snap. Unable to breathe, her vision began to blur.
