TPGV Ch# 6

 

“Cecile, still no news today?”

 

As evening began to fall, Elice asked while picking herbs in the greenhouse with Cecile.

 

“No, my lady. It seems the rumor hasn’t spread much yet. It’s only been three days since we told Magus Mice.”

 

Cecile replied with an awkward expression.

 

Elice had instructed Mice to send someone to the Ernhardt Duchy to find Cecile if a buyer showed interest in the antidote to Chorpang.

 

But even after three days, no one had come.

 

Did I set the price too high? Elice began to worry.

 

Freeing Hardin from prison would require an enormous amount of money. On top of that, she needed to locate the elusive Tuleang, whose whereabouts on the continent were unknown, and secure protection to escort her and Hardin safely there.

 

To demand all that, a moderate sum wouldn’t be enough.

 

Since other medicines didn’t command high prices no matter how many she produced, Elice had pinned all her hopes on the Chorpang antidote.

 

But apparently, there weren’t many who needed it. Or perhaps, few wealthy enough to afford it.

 

Maybe I should’ve priced it at 50,000 shtel…

 

She felt a twinge of regret, but decided to wait a few more days. At least one person, she figured, would show up.

 

“By the way, my lady. What are you going to do with all these herbs you’re gathering?”

 

Cecile asked curiously, loading the herbs into a cart.

 

“I’m going to scatter them around the mansion.”

 

“Excuse me? Aren’t these extremely rare medicinal herbs?”

 

“They are. That’s exactly why I’m spreading them. These herbs will protect us—and the people in the mansion.”

 

Elice smiled softly and left it at that.

 

Though puzzled, Cecile, who trusted her mistress deeply, asked no further questions.

 

Night was falling fast and deep.

 

 

—

 

“Commander! Mutant wolves are attacking again!”

 

The shout came in the middle of the night. Parten, the security chief of the Ernhardt Duchy and commander of the 3rd Knight Division, awoke from his brief rest.

 

It seemed another group of beasts had come down from the Chernay Forest.

 

A tall barrier stood at the border between the forest and the duchy. It was rare for beasts to cross over—at most, one or two a year.

 

But since last year, their numbers had increased exponentially. Now, more than 100 came in packs, attacking every few days.

 

The nation was going mad, and it seemed even the beasts had gone mad with it.

 

“These days, we get warmed up pretty often. Go fetch a healing priest from the temple.”

 

Parten issued his orders swiftly and gathered his knights. The assembled knights rushed toward the northern gate, where the forest border lay.

 

The mutant wolves were a unique species twisted by black magic. Their fangs carried deadly venom, making them far more dangerous than ordinary wolves.

 

One bite could rot flesh and force amputations. Since there was no antidote, only divine magic from priests could treat the wounds.

 

For safety, having a healer on hand was essential.

 

 

—

 

In the darkness, hundreds of glowing eyes shone cold and blue.

 

A massive pack of mutant wolves—easily 300 strong—had overrun the northern courtyard.

 

Over a hundred had already been cut down by the knights, but they kept leaping over the barrier. The threat didn’t lessen.

 

“Judehl! Take two with you and head to the main building!”

 

Parten gave rapid orders while slicing through incoming wolves.

 

“Shaun, go to the stables!”

 

“Chant, take the eastern wing! Bachel, the west! Move!”

 

With only 20 knights aside from the household guards, there were too many wolves to handle in one place.

 

If any wolves slipped out of sight and entered the buildings or stables, the casualties among people and horses would be disastrous.

 

Judehl ran toward the main building with two lower knights. A thick night fog made things feel even more ominous.

 

“Sir Judehl! There are already over ten wolves near the main building!”

 

One knight shouted in panic as the beasts loitered at the foot of the stairs.

 

“Don’t let a single one inside!”

 

Judehl dashed forward, slashing through the wolves. The others joined in swiftly.

 

After clearing out the visible ones, something strange occurred to him.

 

Why didn’t they go inside the house?

 

Mutant wolves were agile enough to leap up stairs and crash through windows. That’s what he feared and had rushed to prevent.

 

But they remained at the bottom, circling without approaching the windows.

 

“Sir Judehl, do you smell something odd? Not blood—something else.”

 

A knight sniffed a handful of herbs strewn on the ground.

 

Judehl quickly surveyed the area. Herbs had been carefully spread in a perimeter around the building like a defensive line.

 

“Two more are approaching!”

 

A knight raised his sword, but Judehl stopped him.

 

“Wait.”

 

Pushing the confused knight back, Judehl watched the wolves carefully.

 

They ran at the building but stopped short. They circled and growled but did not cross the herb-strewn line.

 

He was certain. The wolves couldn’t cross that line. Whatever effect the herbs had, they served as an effective barrier.

 

Who…?

 

Only one person came to mind. Elice—the only one in the mansion who might cultivate such unusual plants.

 

Judehl’s gaze instinctively rose to the third-floor window. Elice’s room.

 

Then he narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

 

The window was wide open.

 

And from it, thick, ominous black smoke was pouring out.

 

 

—

 

Knock. Knock knock.

 

Elice woke to the urgent banging on her door.

 

Darkness still cloaked the room. Outside, wolves howled wildly. Another mutant wolf attack.

 

She sprang up and hurriedly put on an overcoat, but dizziness overwhelmed her. Her limbs felt weak.

 

What’s happening? I was fine before I slept…

 

“Cecile? What’s going on?”

 

She opened the door, barely steadying herself—but it wasn’t Cecile.

 

Two knights stood there, torches in hand. A young male knight, and a gray-eyed female knight—both soaked in blood.

 

“Ah… Sir Judehl.”

 

Elice recognized him and called his name, surprised. Knights had never come to her chambers before.

 

“What brings you here at this hour? Another attack?”

 

“Yes. We need to confirm something.”

 

“Is everyone all right? Anyone hurt?”

 

“Not yet. The wolves are still being dealt with. Pardon us—we’re coming in.”

 

Judehl entered respectfully. The other knight followed, watching Elice closely.

 

They immediately began searching the room—under the bed, the desk, the sofa, the wardrobe—thoroughly and suspiciously.

 

“What’s going on? What are you looking for?”

 

Elice asked, baffled. Judehl looked at her intently and said coldly,

 

“Did someone enter your room just now?”

 

“What? Who would come in? The door was locked.”

 

“The window is open.”

 

“Window…?”

 

Elice turned—and flinched. The window was wide open.

 

A thief?

 

Cecile had locked it and drawn the curtains before bedtime.

 

Thankfully, the safe looked untouched. There wasn’t much else to steal—she had sold off all her valuables three years ago to build the greenhouse.

 

“So, did you catch the intruder?”

 

“We’re not sure it was a thief. No one suspicious has been found. But black smoke was seen coming from your window, so we came to investigate.”

 

“Black smoke? From my room?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Judehl’s voice was hard.

 

A chill crept over Elice. Someone had entered her room while she slept and done something strange. Her skin crawled.

 

“Do you know anything about that smoke?”

 

He asked, his eyes sharp with suspicion. Elice forced herself to stay calm and shook her head.

 

“I didn’t see anything. I was fast asleep.”

 

“Could it be… that you used black magic?”

 

Elice’s face froze at his sudden accusation.

 

“Me? I don’t even know how to use black magic. Why would I—?”

 

“Then how do you explain the black smoke?”

 

“Why should I explain it? Isn’t it more likely the intruder used it? Wouldn’t it make more sense to suspect there’s a black mage in this household?”

 

Her voice rose in disbelief. Not only had she been violated by a break-in, now she was being interrogated?

 

She was the mistress of this house. Judehl was a knight employed by the duchy.

 

“There’s no black mage here. The duchy has only one court mage, and he’s in the capital. Are you sure you don’t know anything?”

 

“Sir Judehl! What right do you have to question me?”

 

Her voice trembled with restrained fury. Judehl faltered.

 

“My lady, I—”

 

“Ha. And who said you were the mistress here?”

 

A chilling voice suddenly cut through the air.

 

Deep and heavy, it echoed through the pitch-dark corridor.

 

From the shadows stepped a tall man, his figure cloaked in blood and menace.

 

Elice froze in shock.

 

Massive and drenched in wolf blood. Red eyes glaring like they could devour her whole.

 

A man radiating terrifying coldness stood before her.

 

It was her husband—Rexius, who was supposed to be in the North.