Chapter 43
Clip-clop, clip-clop.
Gerald was chasing at full speed at the very front of the long procession. He gauged the order of the line. At the head, he saw the knights guarding Theodore and Sinclair.
“They’re just carrying out their duties.”
Behind them, he saw Ariel.
“She too will be faithfully fulfilling her orders from the Grand Duchess.”
And then—his son Theodore, whom he so desperately wanted to protect, and the witch Sinclair, who was to be sacrificed in this marriage because of the schemes.
Her pale, slender body lying in the reeds like a fallen hydrangea, unconscious, kept flashing before his eyes.
“So that’s why she was so indifferent to death.”
And in the midst of that, she had asked him to protect Theodore. To shower him with love.
Ha…
Witch, what is your true intention?
Today as always, Theodore smiled brightly and without hesitation at his stepmother.
“But if all of this is simply the spell that witch has cast on us…”
Gerald couldn’t help but suspect.
To suspect—that was the duty of one who protected the Empire.
Heraith…
Since the first time he saw him as a child, Heraith had been angry.
It was his unchangeable fate to be first in line for the throne.
But was that something to be angry about?
Moreover, he had never coveted the throne. Because of that, Heraith, who was second in line, ascended to the throne without issue or dispute.
Wasn’t that enough?
If each person stayed true to their own role, wasn’t that all that was needed? Why torment him like this?
Did his uncle, Emperor Guillaume, and his brother Heraith truly wish for his death?
No. Surely not.
They wanted him to hold Schlesien Fortress firm and safeguard the Empire.
So he willingly became their hound to wage war against the Demon Realm.
He gladly wore the collar they put on him, drove the prey toward them, hunted it down, and presented it to them.
Gerald tried hard to suppress the burning rage rising from deep within his chest.
Because before him stood his pitiful nephew and son, Theodore—sacrificed in their games.
A child who couldn’t smile or cry properly. Who never felt a mother’s love, nor a father’s affection, but dutifully played the role of the Grand Duke’s heir. A child who only knew how to bottle up his emotions.
That child finally opened his heart and smiled.
All thanks to that witch. Even Gerald himself had begun to dream of the future.
“Yes, perhaps this is something only a witch could do.”
To breathe life into abandoned lands and a forsaken castle, to draw in light and enchant all around her.
That he himself had fallen under the witch’s spell was hard to believe. Yet when he looked at the procession following her, there was no denying she was no ordinary witch.
“Hyah!”
Gerald urged his horse faster.
Thundering hooves!
Rumble, rumble.
The ground trembled.
What’s that?
As our procession moved peacefully along, I felt the earth shake with a violent vibration and searched for the source.
In the distance, a man came riding at full tilt, cloak whipping in the wind.
His approach was so wild that clouds of yellow dust rose from the fields. He lashed his horse desperately, forcing it to a deathly gallop. Even from afar, the animal’s nostrils flared white with exertion.
That fierce charge stirred a primal sense of fear. The dogs, true to instinct, growled low. Several cats arched their backs, tails puffed like raccoons, hissing sharply.
The more timid cats tried to dart into the underbrush, and their owners, tugging the leashes, hurried to scoop them up—only to yelp as they were scratched in panic.
The knights and brave townsfolk formed a human wall around Theodore and me. The knights took the vanguard, ready to block the oncoming rider.
The horse screamed as it was reined in, forced to stop before the wall of people and beasts.
“Out of the way!” the rider roared.
I was bewildered.
In the blink of an eye, I had been pushed to the rear of the formation, unable to properly see what was happening.
“What’s going on?” Theodore craned his little neck, trying to peek past the townsfolk.
“No idea,” I answered, stretching my neck to glimpse beyond the knights and villagers blocking my view.
But with the mounted knights at the front, I couldn’t see clearly.
Then—
“Greetings to Your Grace, the Grand Duke.”
The townsfolk dropped to their knees. The wall of knights and villagers parted, opening a path.
At the end of that path stood Gerald. Even from afar, I could see the heat of his anger rising off him like a mirage.
Is he angry? Did I mess up again? But didn’t he tell me just this morning to do as I wished…?
A twinge of annoyance prickled me.
Did he really come charging like that just to stop us?
It was baffling. Suspicious. After all, he had said he was going to the Academy earlier.
But Theodore, delighted, turned to me with a bright smile.
“Father’s come to see me, Theodore!”
Well… a child’s joy at seeing his father is precious, at least.
I clasped Theodore’s hand and waved it cheerfully. But Gerald’s expression as he approached was grim. His face had gone pale, harsh and cold as a reaper’s.
What’s with him now? Such mood swings.
I tried to keep a pleasant face for Theodore’s sake, but my own irritation was bubbling up.
No, no. Not now. The people are watching us as a family.
I forced my lips into a smile. My cheeks twitched painfully.
Then, without warning, my usually calm horse, Defense, shrieked and bolted.
“Defense?”
I pulled hard on the reins, trying to calm him, but he wouldn’t listen. Theodore, startled, gripped the saddle tightly.
I leaned close to whisper:
“Don’t be afraid, Theo. If you’re scared, the animals will sense it right away.”
Of course, I was scared too. But we couldn’t let ourselves be ruled by fear.
“Defense, it’s alright. Whoa, whoa.”
Theodore imitated me.
“Defense, whoa, whoa.”
With his little white hands, round as dumplings, he patted the horse gently. He was brave, dignified.
Ah, I cannot let this small, fragile child be hurt.
Behind us came the pounding of hooves—Gerald and the knights giving chase.
Thundering ground.
Gerald slashed the whip fiercely. His heart pounded.
“So—realizing I’ve discovered her true nature as a witch, is she trying to flee?”
He kicked his horse, speeding past the knights until he was beside her. Soon, he drew level with her, but her horse surged ahead of his.
“Hyah!”
Gerald spurred harder and pulled up alongside Sinclair. Like a hawk, he leapt, landing behind her, and seized the reins in her hands.
“Whoa! Whoa!”
Suddenly Defense skidded to a stop. Sinclair gasped—Gerald was right behind her, the horse had halted, and from the recoil, Theodore’s small body arced forward through the air.
Instinctively, Sinclair snatched him by the waist with both arms, clutching him as they crashed to the ground.
Thud!
Her back and hips burned with pain. She looked at Theodore, nestled in her arms like a fledgling bird. She had twisted her body at the last moment—thankfully.
“Theodore?”
“Stepmother?”
Frantically, she checked him over—lifting his arms, bending and straightening his legs.
Then Theodore reached out his small hand to touch her face.
“I, Theodore, am alright. Is Stepmother alright?”
She nodded, kissed his little palm.
And just then Gerald appeared, snatched Theodore from her arms, and strode off without a word.
“Hey! Wait! Husband?”
She reached after him, calling, but he didn’t answer, striding farther and farther away. Well, in truth, he had plenty of reason to be furious.
I repent!
“Ah…”
Struggling, she rose to her feet. Defense came up beside her, bowing his head.
“Why did you do that, Defense?” she asked, stroking his muzzle. “We could’ve been badly hurt.”
The horse lowered its red eyes in apology and nudged her face gently, urging her to mount. She took hold of the reins and followed Gerald slowly.
But something was wrong. Theodore, in Gerald’s arms, had tears brimming in his eyes. One arm clung to Gerald’s neck, but the other stretched out toward her.
She couldn’t hear his voice amid the noise of villagers, dogs, cats, and knights rushing over, but she could read his lips: “Stepmother. Stepmother.”
Quickly she mounted Defense and rode to them.
“Theodore!”
At her call, Gerald turned abruptly. His eyes blazed like a bonfire.
She flinched and dismounted respectfully.
“Greetings, my lord husband,” she said, bowing.
“This—is this what you, the Grand Duchess, wished to do?”
“…!”
His rebuke left her speechless.
“Stepmother did nothing wrong!” Theodore cried. “She’s saved my life twice now. I, Theodore, will go to her!”
He stretched out his little hands toward her.
Heart aching, she stepped to Gerald’s side.
“My apologies, Your Grace.”
Gerald gave no reply.
“Your Grace, Grand Duchess, and Young Lord—are you unharmed?” asked the knights and Ariel as they approached.
“What were you doing?” Gerald’s voice lashed them like a whip. It was so cold and severe, her chest seemed to freeze.
“Th-that…” Ariel began, but before she could continue, the dogs rushed in, surrounding Gerald and the family.
“Woof!”
“Bow-wow!”
“Arf!”
Gerald’s face twisted fiercely.
“What is the meaning of all this?”
Just then Theodore wriggled violently in his arms.
“Stay still, Theodore!”
“Put me down, Father!”
“Theodore!”
But Gerald held firm, unmoved by the boy’s struggle.
She stepped forward before the dogs.
“We have rescued stray dogs and cats,” she explained.
“Rescued…?” His face contorted, as if at some grotesque act.
She felt a pang of disappointment. Did a man of learning truly not grasp the value of life?
Theodore wriggled all the harder, finally slipping from Gerald’s grasp like a loach, darting to seize the golden retriever’s ear. He turned to his father and cried out:
“These are my friends! I, Theodore, will build them a home!”
“A home?”
At that moment, the townsfolk arrived en masse again, falling to their knees before Gerald.
“We humble ones greet Your Grace, the Grand Duke.”
So they’re all bewitched by this witch…
Gerald glared at her. Could it be these were demons disguised as beasts?
“Kill them.”
The command that fell from Gerald’s lips was beyond belief.
