Chapter 4
Family gathering
“Compared to being alive, being shameless isn’t such a big deal, is it? You almost died just a moment ago. Don’t obsess over manners or appearances — just be thankful you’re lucky to still be breathing. They say even one more day alive is better than the afterlife, right?”
The butler, who had been worrying about manners and appearances, blinked blankly for a moment.
He looked down at the crossbow still in his arms.
When he thought about it, Esther was right — what did it matter?
All the manners he had protected his whole life were meaningless in front of death.
Realizing how pathetic he must’ve looked, he flushed with shame.
Esther, seeing that, said something unexpected in her calm tone.
“It’s natural to be afraid of dying. Even those proud Black Knights outside — they’ve all had nights where they couldn’t sleep, tormented by the blood on their hands, before reaching where they are now. So don’t be embarrassed.”
“A–Agassi…”
The butler’s eyes turned red as he covered his face, sniffling quietly.
Esther then turned to the head maid. The old woman was still lying there muttering nonsense, half-delirious.
Even after rubbing peppermint leaves on her neck to help her wake up, she didn’t open her eyes.
‘Maybe that’s for the best,’ Esther thought.
‘She nags even worse than the butler.’
Right now, the maid might be quiet because she was scared, but once they returned to the family estate, she’d probably return to her old ways.
Better to win over the butler’s loyalty while she could.
Smirking, Esther walked over to where Mary was pressed against the window.
“What are you looking at?”
“The Black Knights out there — I think they must pick them based on looks! Every single one of them is handsome! Their bodies are great too. Especially that Duke in front… wow, he’s glowing! What would it feel like to live with someone like that? Like walking on clouds?”
Esther leaned beside Mary and, for the first time, really looked at Kassian’s face.
He had black hair, smooth sun-kissed skin, and sharply defined features — beautiful and commanding at the same time.
Though his expression carried a dangerous aura and heavy pressure, his blue eyes were as clear and deep as an autumn sky.
“The Duke is definitely beautiful,” Esther admitted.
“But he’d be hard to live with.”
“Why?”
“Because beautiful flowers attract bees — too much trouble.”
“Ohh.”
Mary nodded, as if learning a great secret, then asked curiously,
“Then, Agassi, are you going to marry a normal man?”
“No. I’ll marry someone kind and honest, but also handsome. Someone who respects my choices. The poorer, the better. If I’m the one earning money, I’ll control the finances — he won’t be able to boss me around.”
“Are you teasing me? There’s no man like that in the world! Don’t be greedy. Just go for a handsome one, like me.”
Esther didn’t answer. She knew Mary was right — life wasn’t that generous.
Then Mary gasped.
“Wait! The Black Knights’ shoulders just twitched! Are they sick? Agassi, we should bring them medicine!”
As Mary looked ready to rush outside to fuss over them, Esther cut her off dryly,
“No, it’s because they heard everything we said.”
“What? Their hearing’s that good?”
“Yep.”
The butler froze stiff and turned his eyes toward the sky, mortified.
‘Agassi… don’t you have any shame left in that heart of yours?’
He sighed deeply, wondering what kind of trouble awaited him next.
***
A week later, when they reached the capital gates, the Black Knights respectfully — almost fondly — saw Esther off.
Tur glanced at Kassian and then at Dain, nudging him with a grin.
“I didn’t expect that young lady to really prepare all our meals.”
“Right? They were delicious. Especially the mushrooms! I complimented them so much that she even gave me a book — said she made it herself!”
“A book?”
“Yeah! Look — she drew pictures of edible wild plants and mushrooms, and even dried samples next to them. She said they’re all things you can find in nature when supplies run low. Isn’t that amazing?”
Dain proudly showed the thin, neatly bound book.
It looked small, but for soldiers and starving villagers, it could save lives.
Tur looked through it, impressed, and secretly glanced at his lord — Kassian’s face didn’t change.
‘Even if he likes her, he’ll never show it,’ Tur thought. ‘Poor girl — no one could ever tell what he’s thinking.’
While Tur sighed, Kassian’s gaze followed the carriage as it rolled away.
Esther had kept every promise she made.
She had said,
“You don’t need to stay in a village for my sake. With so many knights, there won’t be enough space anyway. It’ll only draw attention. You’re on a mission, right? It’s better to keep your movements quiet.”
It was clear she had realized Kassian wasn’t just out to hunt bandits — he was chasing rebel remnants.
When he agreed, Esther and Mary disappeared into the forest, and before long came back with mushrooms, edible greens, and fruits.
She even prepared warm soup with dried meat and herbs, hunted birds and fish with her crossbow, and made sure every knight — and even the prisoners — got food.
“Eat a lot,” she’d said to the prisoners.
“You’ll need strength for labor. You should stay healthy — you’ve got a lot of sins to atone for.”
Even Kassian found her outlook impressive.
She seemed cold on the surface, but she cared for everyone — enough to make even his war-hardened knights laugh again.
“Got bitten by bugs? Here, put this on.”
“Want some dried jerky?”
“You’re hurt? Show me. If you leave it, it’ll fester.”
She treated them all without hesitation, saying simply,
“If someone helps you, why shouldn’t you repay it? Besides, you’re all fighting for the people by the king’s command. If you die carelessly, the people suffer — and so do I.”
The butler had gone pale at her blunt words, but the knights had burst out laughing.
Even Kassian himself had found his hand bandaged by her.
When the carriage disappeared into the distance, he raised his hand.
“Return to the palace.”
The laughter faded. His face returned to its usual coldness, and that familiar shadow darkened his eyes.
***
Meanwhile, Esther learned that they weren’t heading to her old baron’s house — but to a new estate the king had granted to her family.
‘Ah,’ she thought, ‘moving up in rank definitely has its perks.’
When she arrived, the Lindel Count’s mansion was magnificent — a palace compared to the small, ten-room baron’s house she’d grown up in.
The carriage door opened, and the butler held out his hand with a solemn expression.
“Agassi, welcome home.”
“Mm.”
Esther took his hand and stepped down, thinking: Whether this will be a celebration or a tragedy — I’ll find out soon enough.
No need to frown yet.
She followed him into the grand parlor, where her family was waiting.
There was her tearful aunt acting like a tragic heroine, her restless uncle, her overdecorated grandmother sipping tea with a scowl, and her two older brothers — all blond, like her mother.
Even a small boy she didn’t recognize — probably born during the war.
And finally, her parents, who had abandoned her for seventeen years.
Esther looked at them — and smiled.
“Nice to see you all. I’m Esther — the family member you all forgot.”
