HSFCWH 07

Chapter 7

“If she had snuck out over the wall, I wouldn’t have caught her like this.”

Elliot held back a sigh that was threatening to escape. Hiding his complex feelings, he gave the butler an instruction.

“Prepare provisions for the young lady.”

He hoped this would clear the lingering discomfort.

“No, it’s okay. I’m grateful enough that you’re giving me the permit. I’ll prepare the provisions myself.”

She wasn’t grateful at all, but Evelyn swallowed her anger and answered. She wanted to leave the Grand Duke’s castle and head into the mountains as soon as possible.

She didn’t want to waste the strong feeling she had felt at sunrise. She truly believed something special would happen today.

“No, I wasted your time because of my misunderstanding. At least let me do this much.”

“Then, please do it as quickly as possible.”

As Evelyn reluctantly nodded, Elliot looked over at Albert. Albert, reading the room quickly, approached Evelyn.

“Breakfast time is soon. Why don’t you have a meal? I’ll swiftly prepare everything in the meantime.”

“No, there’s no time for—”

Just like Evelyn, Elliot frowned and glared at Albert.

“You don’t know how long you’ll be staying in the Snowy Mountains. You must take as much as you can! If something were to happen to you out there, how could this old man bring such sad news back to the Count’s family?”

Albert dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief as if just imagining it brought him sorrow.

Though his eyes were completely dry, Evelyn gave in to the pressuring look he sent her.

“Please take care of it, then.”

“I’ll have breakfast ready shortly. Why don’t you two take a walk in the meantime? The weather is lovely today.”

“Albert, we don’t have time for that.”

“You say that, but you only issue one permit per day.”

At the butler’s cheerful prodding, Elliot was at a loss for words.

He gave a look as if to say that’s not what he meant, but Albert merely smiled, pressing him with his eyes as if to say, Go on, escort the lady.

“You must show proper manners, Your Grace.”

“I can’t keep someone busy with official matters tied up. I’ll be fine on my own, Your Grace. Please go about your duties.”

In fact, ever since the Grand Duke learned of her identity, he had been treating her with proper etiquette.

He had stopped speaking down to her as he did when he thought she was an assassin, and had escorted her all the way to the mansion.

She had declined multiple times, but since there was only one horse, she had no choice but to ride with the Grand Duke.

So, during the journey to the castle, she had been the subject of many curious gazes from early-rising knights and territory residents.

Even if noblemen were expected to be considerate of noblewomen, Evelyn wasn’t the type to make such brazen demands—even of the Grand Duke.

I’d rather walk alone in the garden.

“I’ll take a walk in the garden, then!”

Evelyn exclaimed with energy, pleased with her own excuse.

“A wonderful idea! The Grand Duke’s garden is quite beautiful! And a garden walk requires an escort, does it not?!”

“Albert. Enough.”

In the end, Elliot rose from his seat and offered his hand to Evelyn. His shameless butler was clearly not going to stop until he got what he wanted.

Despite being told to prepare the meal, he hadn’t left the drawing room and was standing there stubbornly.

Elliot had no idea why Albert was giving him that expectant look, but he kept his hand extended to the hesitant Evelyn.

“Sorry to trouble you.”

“It’s no trouble at all. Serving the young lady is my honor.”

He recited the textbook line from an etiquette manual without missing a word.

Though reluctant, Evelyn reached out her hand. She should be able to climb the mountain before noon.

Considering she had waited a whole month just to get the permit, she could endure a little longer to eat breakfast.

It was better than being mistaken for an assassin and dying a senseless death.

The two of them left the drawing room and headed toward the garden under Albert’s warm send-off.

“……”

Thump.

Her heart suddenly pounded.

It wasn’t from being moved by the beauty of the garden. Contrary to what the butler had said, the garden was anything but beautiful.

It was desolate and neglected, like an abandoned house with no caretaker.

“Why don’t you maintain the garden?”

As she looked at the Grand Duke staring off at the distant Snowy Mountains, Evelyn understood the reason at once.

“You’re just too lazy, aren’t you?”

“Let’s say it’s a waste of time.”

He must really hate wasting time, Evelyn noted mentally, adding it to what she knew about the Grand Duke.

But still, why did her heart keep pounding as if expecting a surprise gift since entering the garden?

Is it because I’m about to climb the Snowy Mountains?

Without saying anything, Evelyn followed Elliot, walking down the small path littered with fallen branches and snow.

Thump. Thump.

“Wait a moment.”

The deeper they went into the garden, the more her heart began to race uncontrollably.

“Are you alright?”

She placed a hand over her chest and stopped walking. Elliot looked at her, puzzled.

“Do you have a chronic condition?”

“No. Nothing’s wrong.”

At his suspicious gaze, Evelyn shook her head. She didn’t want to give him any reason to kick her out with the mountain so close.

She relaxed her tense shoulders and took slow, steady breaths.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Just thinking about climbing the mountain makes me a little nervous.”

Hearing that, Elliot resumed walking.

“There are many types of monsters on the Snowy Mountains. It can be dangerous, but facing them will improve your combat skills.”

He spoke up to that point, then glanced curiously at Evelyn, who seemed oddly flushed and distracted.

What could she be looking at so intently?

“Are you a fan of the Holy Sword?”

“Huh?”

“Well, it’s common for knights to dream of touching the Holy Sword at least once.”

Evelyn snapped out of it and shook her head.

“No, not really. I do think it’s amazing, but I don’t like it enough to want to touch it.”

“You never know. You might be the one who pulls the Holy Sword and gets your wish.”

No one had ever pulled the sword embedded in the ground. And the legend about someone touching it and getting their wish…

[…]

“What?”

At that moment, Evelyn heard something.

“My lady, perhaps you should reconsider climbing the mountain. You don’t seem well.”

“No, didn’t you just hear something?”

[… – come. My –]

A faint, delicate voice brushed past her ears.

“Does this place have ghosts or something?”

She could handle monsters, but not ghosts.

Evelyn asked with a pale face, and Elliot scrutinized her with a stiff expression.

“Is she crazy?”

Come to think of it, there had been rumors that the young lady of the Barrett family was cursed.

I must’ve taken those rumors too lightly.

The Grand Duke raised his guard again, but Evelyn didn’t notice as she looked around.

“It’s over there!”

Finally sure of the direction the voice was coming from, Evelyn grabbed Elliot’s arm.

“My lady, let go of my hand and return to the castle to see a doctor—”

But before he could finish, he stopped mid-sentence.

She had led him to the Holy Sword.

“It keeps calling me. Am I crazy?”

“Probably.”

Elliot’s serious response made Evelyn glare at the sword. Am I really losing my mind? But she couldn’t shake the feeling that she needed to grab that sword.

“You did tell me to try touching it. So I guess I have no choice.”

“My lady, don’t—”

Before he could stop her, Evelyn reached out and grabbed the Holy Sword.

Fwoooosh!

A blinding light exploded, so bright that she couldn’t keep her eyes open. It enveloped her completely.

“Ah!”

A strange warmth surrounded her, and Evelyn slowly opened her eyes.

Just a moment ago, she had been in the Grand Duke’s garden—but now, she stood in the middle of a vast wheat field.

Golden stalks swayed in the breeze, rustling softly.

The sun shone warmly above a deep blue sky.

The golden fields were so beautiful, it felt like she had stepped into another world.

“Why am I here…?”