IDSFTV 17

Chapter 17

“……!”

Huey glanced in confusion toward that direction and saw the head maid bowing her head and stepping aside.

He was puzzled as to why the Grand Duke would stop at such a crucial moment just to look at the head maid.

“The maid on the terrace. Get her out of my sight. Now.”

“Wh–what? Y-yes, Your Grace!”

Startled at being addressed for the first time in her life by the Grand Duke himself, the head maid flinched and bowed so deeply her head nearly touched her waist.

Huey didn’t know the full story, but it was obvious the maid on the terrace had angered the Grand Duke somehow.

What on earth happened on the terrace?

As the head maid fidgeted in agitation, Huey cast her a quick glance before hurrying after the Grand Duke.

“Pardon? You want me to go back? But…”

It wasn’t surprising to be told to return to her original workplace, but Alicia’s reaction worried me.

As expected, Alicia clung to the head maid, nearly begging.

“Head maid! Please, let me go with Garnet. Can’t I return with her?”

“Stop acting like a child! Once the guests leave, you’ll have to go back anyway!”

I looked at Alicia anxiously.

“You—what on earth did you do to offend the Grand Duke?”

The head maid lowered her voice, scolding me sharply.

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Then why did His Grace—!”

“Why did His Grace what?”

When I asked back as if I were the one confused, she opened her mouth, then snapped it shut.

“Enough! Just pack your things!”

Snapping in anger for reasons I couldn’t fathom, she spun on her heel and left.

I obediently prepared to leave as ordered.

If I was suddenly told to pack and go, there could only be one explanation.

While clearing away the teacups earlier, I must have somehow offended the Grand Duke.

‘Why are you here?’

The look in his eyes lingered with me.

It had been even colder than when we first met at Willinger Castle.

This might actually be for the best. It looks like Shiraz recognized me. Better to be driven out of his sight entirely.

My hands moved faster as I packed.

“Garnet! How am I supposed to manage without you? I want to go too! Huuuhh…”

Alicia collapsed onto the bed, looking as if the world were ending.

I ignored her, quickly gathering my belongings, and neatly folded the maid’s uniform I had taken off onto the bed.

“Alicia. Don’t forget what I always told you—stay on guard.”

Before leaving, I reminded her once more.

Wiping her tear-stained cheeks, Alicia nodded.

“We’ll meet again soon. Until then.”

And with that, I returned to my old, dreary quarters.

Changing back into my ragged clothes, I began pushing the cart I had grown accustomed to handling.

“Go fetch the milk!”

By coincidence, the day I returned was also the day the old milkman delivered to the castle.

I decided to finally clear up the misunderstanding and went out diligently.

Since the incident with his grandson, this would be my first time seeing him, and I worried.

‘Y-your grandfather! I just heard from someone coming up from the village—he’s hurt! His leg was bleeding all over, and he couldn’t even move. It’s serious!’

That shameless lie had ruined his grandson’s bright future. He must despise me for it.

All I can do is apologize, say it was a mistake, and that I mixed him up with someone else.

Resolving myself, I went outside and spotted the old man in the distance.

As always, he had parked his wagon by the castle gate, waiting for someone to come out.

“Grandfather! Long time no see.”

I greeted him cheerfully with a bright smile.

At first, he looked startled. Then his expression turned sour.

“Um… you must be very angry with me, right?”

He ignored me, instead heaving the milk cans onto the cart with sharp, curt movements.

The glass of milk he always poured me? Of course, it never came.

Scratching my forehead awkwardly, I spoke in a soft, apologetic tone.

“There’s going to be a big battle soon. If we win, your grandson might even be promoted.”

I had hoped to appease him, but he only acted more curtly.

It seemed winning back his good graces would be difficult.

Then—

A troop of soldiers marched into the castle, raising a great cloud of dust.

The old man and I watched the scene with curiosity.

“They look like the advance unit that went to Kieni.”

I muttered to myself, and the old man suddenly called out to someone.

“Hey! Lucas!”

He was addressing a low-ranked soldier guarding the gate. From the way he spoke without hesitation, the two must have grown up in the same village, like kin.

The soldier turned with an awkward expression.

“Sir, here to deliver milk?”

“That’s right. But… has something happened in the castle?”

“Well…”

“Don’t worry. I won’t tell a soul. I’m just worried about my grandson.”

“In that case, you can rest easy. The trouble was outside.”

“Outside? You mean the village is in danger?”

“No, no. The soldiers sent to Kieni caused trouble. From the looks of things, it won’t be swept under the rug.”

“Kieni, you say?”

The old man’s face darkened.

“That reminds me—Luke wanted to volunteer for that unit, didn’t he? Thank heavens he didn’t go! God must have been watching over us.”

The soldier nodded, reassuring him, then leaned closer to whisper.

“I heard… everyone who went there will lose their heads.”

“What!”

The old man staggered back in shock.

Just moments ago he’d been cold toward me, but now he turned with a pale face, staring at me as if I were a ghost.

“See? It’s a blessing, Grandfather.”

I smiled at him, and he stammered in disbelief.

“Impossible… you saved my grandson.”

“No. Like the soldier said, Heaven must have intervened.”

Still shaking his head as though he couldn’t believe it, he repeated himself.

“You saved my grandson.”

His bark-like hands grasped mine, trembling.

The soldiers who had been recalled were punished immediately.

In front of the entire army, there was no mercy.

It was as if Shiraz wanted to make clear that not a single mistake would ever be tolerated.

I could watch only from afar before turning away.

Though I had saved the old man’s grandson, I didn’t have the stomach to watch men die.

Among them were surely soldiers who had committed no fault of their own, punished because of their foolish superior.

No matter that it was the army—how unjust must it be to suffer for another man’s mistake? My chest ached.

Someday… will I also become someone who can watch such scenes without flinching?

In this place full of blades, blood, and murderous gazes, I wanted to escape as soon as possible.

Where Garnet’s uncle lived must surely be a much more peaceful place.

From now on, I resolved to cling to hopeful thoughts—

That before long, I would be free of this place.

Shiraz left the site, cold air trailing behind him.

The punishment he had dealt to the unruly soldiers—just before an important battle—had been brutal.

“Consider it a small blemish for the sake of a great victory. At least it was discovered in time—that’s a blessing.”

Huey tried to soothe the Grand Duke’s temper with optimistic words, but Shiraz’s mood did not improve.

“The discipline of the army is in shambles. This would never be tolerated in my troops.”

His expression was that of a man who might crush the skull of anyone who displeased him.

Huey, chilled to the bone, kept his mouth shut.

As they returned quickly toward the office, they saw in the distance several soldiers surrounding someone.

Even after witnessing the gruesome executions, the men were grinning and offering encouragement.

Those fools!

Huey frowned, glaring at the soldiers who had caught Shiraz’s attention.

Of all times, to act like this when the Grand Duke was in his foulest mood!

The men, not realizing he was approaching, laughed and exchanged looks in amusement.

“What are you scheming, gathered there like that!”

Huey shouted, startling them.

“Th-the Grand Duke!”

They dropped to their knees as if struck by lightning.

Shiraz, about to pass them by, halted—his eyes settling on one particular soldier.

“You look familiar.”

It was the man he had seen near the training grounds some time ago.

The soldiers, too frightened to raise their heads, didn’t know to whom he was speaking.

“Who is he?”

Shiraz asked Huey, but with countless low-ranking soldiers in the castle, Huey had no idea either.

He looked back at the others in frustration, and one soldier stepped forward.

“He guards the castle gate. He was supposed to go with the advance unit, but for some reason was excluded, and so escaped punishment.”

“He was supposed to go with them?” Huey asked, puzzled.

“Yes. He grew up here and knows the terrain well, so the captain recommended him. But he suddenly abandoned his post while on duty, and in the end never joined the advance unit. He was punished separately for deserting his station.”

“I see.”

Huey nodded, understanding at last.

Shiraz, however, continued to stare at the soldier with a look of disapproval.

Seeing the pitiful wretch trembling in fear reminded him of that time—when the man had smirked in front of a woman. And his mood soured all over again.