Chapter 71
“Katryna, this is not just your problem.”
At that moment, Damian advised her in a low voice.
“This is Abiche’s—”
“It wasn’t serious enough to drag Abiche into it.”
“Are you saying a kidnapping is not serious?”
“He went along willingly.”
“Katryna.”
“And Abiche used excessive force.”
“……”
She wasn’t trying to defend Sylas, but Katryna truly had no intention of making a bigger issue out of this.
She was simply too exhausted. She just wanted it to be over.
“…Understood. We’ll do as you wish.”
Damian’s navigators were truly reliable.
“Young master, the Grand Duke of Rockpenheim’s wounds have been treated, and he has been placed in the dungeon.”
“Good work.”
Damian had Sylas bound and locked away underground.
“You should be grateful you’re not being put on trial. Considering what you might attempt, this is, in our eyes, a reasonable course of action,”
he said to the half-conscious Sylas.
“Lady Katryna, so you’re the daughter of House Abiche?”
Samuel, who had boarded the ship with them, sounded surprised at her identity.
“Thank you so much for saving me.”
“No, Samuel, it’s nothing. But rather…”
There was something Katryna had wanted to ask him for a long time.
“Do you intend to continue your research?”
“Pardon?”
“You said you were studying dimensions.”
“Ah…”
Samuel looked troubled.
“If you resume your research, I said I would sponsor you.”
“Is… is that true?”
“Yes.”
Samuel was flustered at her words.
She told him to let her know when they docked if he was interested, and wrapped up the conversation.
But why Sylas…
She couldn’t shake thoughts of him while on the ship.
Why didn’t he dodge the arrow?
For an ordinary person it would be impossible, but this was Sylas.
He was the sort of man who could laugh and cut arrows out of the air with his blade.
It was strange. Truly strange.
When Katryna returned to her cabin, she collapsed straight into bed.
All the exhaustion of the past days came crashing down at once. She didn’t want to think about anything anymore.
And then, she dreamt of a day long ago.
That summer began with clear skies and a cool breeze brushing across her face.
The sky was a flawless blue, the sun shone bright, and the gentle wind blew.
That was when the hunting festival began.
Katryna felt nothing at the announcement.
It wasn’t like she was going out hunting anyway.
Or so she thought, until—
“You don’t know how to ride?”
—Hildegarde caught her.
“There’s so much I need to teach you.”
“…But I’m not going hunting.”
“Riding is basic. You must know it.”
“……”
“Damian, you take Katryna and teach her.”
“…Understood.”
Damian’s face showed reluctance, but he valued propriety. If a superior gave him an order, he would obey.
He held the family’s laws and customs in great esteem.
And so, from that day, the hellish lessons began.
“Keep your back straighter.”
“Lift your chin higher.”
“That expression of yours also needs work. If you ride with such a scowl, you’ll look undignified.”
Damian was a strict, demanding instructor.
Katryna grumbled, but she followed his lead. And he really did teach well.
“You must master riding before the festival.”
“Fine.”
“First, let’s just walk along the path.”
They led their horses onto the trail.
Here and there, little animals appeared. Katryna watched them with fascination.
As she passed, squirrels darted into tree holes, rabbits hopped away in a hurry.
It felt like stepping into a scene from a fairy tale.
“Katryna, focus.”
She was quickly scolded by Damian.
From then on, that path became her riding ground.
Whenever he had free time, Damian took her there to teach her.
“There’s plenty to correct today as well.”
He sighed at her lack of progress.
Katryna honestly felt sorry for him.
He was a busy man, yet here she was taking up his time—and would probably keep doing so.
Then, from deeper in the woods, a noise caught her ear.
Curious, she turned her horse toward it.
“Hey! Niel!”
A lively boy’s voice rang out. Katryna instinctively looked.
A red-haired boy came running, holding a rabbit he’d caught.
“I caught a rabbit! Here, it’s for you!”
“Eek! Sylas, get that away!”
“Why? You like rabbits.”
“Not dead ones!”
Near the lakeshore, two children played.
Those children were Niel Franche and Sylas Rockpenheim.
Katryna watched them for a while.
“Franche and Rockpenheim are close families,” Damian said quietly, having followed her gaze.
“I didn’t realize they used this path too.”
“Should we go greet them?”
“There’s no need. Let’s move on.”
Katryna looked at the children by the lake, then at Damian beside her.
The children seemed her age, carefree, while Damian—though also young—looked anything but a child.
The contrast made her chuckle.
“What is it?” Damian asked, puzzled.
“Nothing. Let’s go, Damian.”
It took two days to return to Abiche.
When I traveled with Sylas, it took much longer.
She realized then just how hopeless Sylas was at sailing.
Haah.
It had been exhausting.
Katryna finally returned safely to the manor.
At last, she could rest.
Or so she thought.
Just then, a servant came running out in a panic.
“Young master Damian! Something terrible has happened! Oh, young master!”
Did this household never run properly unless Damian was there?
Every time there was a crisis, the servants always rushed to him.
“What is it?”
That morning, Damian had been out riding. On his return, his aide had come running, out of breath.
“Haven’t you seen the paper, sir?”
“What happened?”
“A great deal! Please, look for yourself!”
The aide hurriedly handed Damian a newspaper.
He opened it, and there it was—
<Shock! The Curse of the Dolls!>
Damian clicked his tongue as he read on.
**<The recent string of noble deaths has thrown society into turmoil.
The victims—Marchioness Keisa, Viscount Omer, and the daughter of Baron Arden—all had one thing in common.
At each crime scene, a doll bearing the exact likeness of the deceased was found.>**
Right before Damian had left to fetch Katryna, the capital had been abuzz for days.
A series of bizarre murders had taken place.
