Chapter 30
“What? The Empress doesn’t like dark green silk?”
Merisa shouted, looking utterly shocked.
“No. I simply chose the least decorated dress available immediately.”
Eslin answered calmly.
“What do you mean?”
“The Second Prince is bedridden with illness. And Duke Laperius’s battlefront isn’t going smoothly either.”
Pronouncing Laperius felt like rolling sand in her mouth. She didn’t know why.
“Given the situation, I thought a modest outfit would be best.”
“……”
“Besides, this tea party was to raise relief funds for the eastern frost damage victims. It wasn’t an event to flaunt jewels. If she had worn an overly luxurious dress, what would the papers have said?”
Merisa stared speechless at Eslin, blinking rapidly.
“…You’re right. I thought standing out was the priority since she’s newly married and needs to establish herself in society.”
She murmured, reflecting deeply.
After a pause, she folded her arms.
“Rosebell, why are you just a lowly maid?”
“I was just lucky with my guess. Your judgment in listening to me was better.”
“Still…”
Merisa trailed off, studying her. Calm and bright-faced, Eslin exuded something unusual.
Was this… perhaps a chance given by the heavens? A blessing for enduring long enough?
Merisa’s eyes sparkled.
“Hey… would you give me advice sometimes? I won’t bother you much, I promise. I’ll study hard too.”
Eslin looked troubled. Seeing this, Merisa quickly added:
“In return, I’ll grant you any favour you want!”
Eslin fell silent, thinking.
“What do you want? Jewels? Dresses?”
“What would a maid do with those?”
“Then what?”
“I don’t have anything yet.”
“Yet?”
“Yes. I’ll tell you when I do.”
Merisa slumped, deflated. Eslin chuckled softly.
“Seriously. I might forget by then, you know?”
Merisa grumbled but soon brightened.
“Fine. Whenever it is, just say it. I promise I’ll grant it.”
‘Shall I start moving Resilia now?’
Eslin thought as she walked near the training grounds, holding Resilia’s insomnia medicine.
‘The first step is laid.’
It was still unstable for a major plan, but she could solidify it in time.
Fortunately, there weren’t many influential maids around Resilia, and Merisa was easy to manoeuvre.
‘First, I need to drive a wedge between Resilia and Kardan.’
The Morias Marquisate, Resilia’s family, was a powerful force. If their bond broke, the First Prince’s influence would suffer greatly.
‘To think the Marquis chose Kardan next…’
She let out a small laugh.
Not long ago, he swore loyalty to her as the Third Princess.
‘Well, he’s just seeking the next power.’
There was betrayal, but she understood. In Bertania’s palace, it wasn’t winners who survived – it was survivors who won.
Resilia herself was blameless.
‘If only Kardan hadn’t touched Erdan…’
“Watch out!”
Thwack!
“Huh.”
Her thoughts cut off as an arrow zipped past her face, embedding itself in a tree.
Goosebumps prickled her neck. The arrow quivered in the bark.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry!”
A man ran over.
Eslin stared at the arrow, then at him in shock.
He wore a knight’s uniform, with short fiery red hair and a youthful look. Scratching his head, he bowed hastily.
“A-Are you okay?”
Panting heavily, he fumbled with panic.
“…I think so. Though it nearly pierced my temple.”
Almost died again, she thought numbly.
“Ahhh, I’m really sorry! My hand slipped. Please, let me check you, are you really okay…”
As he lifted his head, their eyes met.
“……”
His turquoise eyes widened, body freezing as if he’d been struck by an arrow himself.
“I’m fine, sir knight.”
She exhaled shortly, trying to pull out the arrow, but it was stuck deep.
A large shadow loomed behind her.
“I-I’ll get it.”
He reached out awkwardly, trapping her between himself and the tree.
Turning slightly, their faces ended up very close.
“……”
His cheeks flushed beet red in an instant.
“Um.”
“Y-Yes?”
“You’re holding the arrowhead.”
“…What?”
“Your hand is bleeding.”
He looked down, realising he had gripped the sharp edge. Pain finally registered.
“Ah!”
“Here, use this.”
She pulled out a small ointment jar from her robes – she was just returning from the clinic.
“Why… are you giving me this?”
“You’re injured.”
Her deep blue eyes were clear as jewels. Trembling, he accepted the ointment.
“Treat it properly. I’ll be going now.”
“W-Wait!”
“Yes?”
“Y-Your name. I mean… your esteemed name…”
“……”
“Your full name, please?”
He sounded broken. Eslin found it amusing.
“I’m just a maid, sir knight. Please speak comfortably.”
“Ah…”
Only then did he notice her uniform. But standing tall, he replied proudly.
“I am Arthas Nocturne, a palace knight.”
Why was he introducing himself?
Confused, Eslin replied curtly:
“I am Rosebell, maid of the Princess Consort’s palace.”
“…Rosebell.”
He repeated her name as if it were sacred.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
She bowed and turned away before he could speak again.
Arthas watched her fluttering figure dazedly.
“Hey! Arthas! Making arrows or what? You’re so slow after your sick leave!”
His colleague called out, slapping his shoulder.
“What’s wrong with you? Still feverish?”
Hand on his chest, his heart pounded violently.
‘What is this feeling?’
Was he still unwell?
“Hey…”
“What?”
“I think… I’ve fallen in love.”
The arrow had pierced the tree, but his heart throbbed painfully as if struck instead.
Countless monster corpses lay strewn about, blood and flesh flowing beneath them, filling the air with stench. It was hell.
Slash!
A long sword embedded itself in a core emitting black energy. It cracked apart.
Everything fell silent.
Nothing living remained.
“……”
Except for him.
Tevet stared impassively at the shattered core – the source spawning monsters endlessly.
Its destruction meant one thing.
The war was over.
‘Finally…’
He could return.
Tevet gritted his teeth, forcing his fading consciousness to stay sharp.
He turned without hesitation, stepping past mangled corpses. His blood-soaked cloak felt unbearably heavy.
“Your Grace!”
His men finally arrived, unable to keep pace with his rapid advance.
“W-What is this…”
Some were too shocked to speak.
“Please rest, Your Grace. You’ll collapse at this rate.”
Jerome, one of his closest knights, spoke, glancing at Tevet’s torso.
Though his broad chest seemed intact, Jerome knew the truth – under that armour were crushed, bleeding wounds.
The monsters had been over three times larger in number than expected, and many of Tevet’s knights hadn’t even arrived yet due to his haste.
But Tevet hadn’t cared. He simply cut down every monster in his path, injuries be damned.
‘He was desperate to end it quickly.’
Jerome looked around the ruined battlefield.
‘Though thanks to him, a two-month war ended in one.’
It was almost as if the real monster was the Duke himself.
“No sleep for days… just killing monsters…”
“Any news?”
Tevet’s low voice cut through the air. Its icy tone made Jerome swallow nervously.
Blood-red eyes turned towards him.
“Any news from the duchy?”
“Ah, there is…”
“Your Grace, Your Grace!”
A knight ran up urgently.
Tevet whipped his head around.
Jerome took the letter the knight carried.
“It seems the messenger from the duchy sent this ahead.”
“Give it to me.”
Tevet reached out quickly, staining the letter with blood, not caring.
The contents were short.
《Traces of the east side gate being opened》
Scrawled hastily.
Tevet bit his lip so hard he tasted blood.
《Person under investigation – whereabouts》
Please, please.
But hope was pointless.
《Unknown》
Tevet realised then – words could pierce like arrows too.
