SWY 133

His uncle’s eyes fixated on the potato and soup in Sharhan’s hands. A loud growl came from his stomach as he swallowed hard.

“R-right. I just assumed the heirloom would be in your father’s bedroom safe. He always kept his most treasured items in there. But when I went to check after you left, it was gone. Sharhan, p-please, give me something to eat. That potato… you brought it for me, didn’t you?”

“Why were you looking for the heirloom?”

“The marquis… ordered me. He told me to get rid of your father…”

His uncle licked his dry lips and glanced up nervously at Sharhan’s grim expression, then continued in a crawling voice.

“He told me to seize the family. And to retrieve the heirloom… He, he promised me wealth and glory. I only did what I was told!”

“Do you know why the marquis needs the heirloom?”

“I-I don’t. It’s just an old amethyst that no one even wants anymore. I thought it was strange he coveted it.”

“What about the knights’ betrayal? Did you persuade them?”

His uncle’s gaunt face turned toward the potato again, and he kept swallowing, unable to tear his eyes away. Sharhan dangled the potato just out of reach, tormenting him.

“I believe the marquis promised them wealth and status, just like he did me.”

A bitter laugh slipped out. So the uncle really knew nothing. He had been nothing more than a puppet dancing to the marquis’s orders. He didn’t even know why the marquis wanted the heirloom of House Kaios.

“Did you sell the Ice Cave to the marquis?”

“The Ice Cave? Y-yes. The marquis wanted the cavern that overlaps with the Serman territory, so I sold it. I don’t know why he wants such a useless place, but it wasn’t of any use to us anyway.”

“And it didn’t even cross your mind to ask why he wanted the cavern and the heirloom?”

“I got paid, so why should I care?”

Judging by his expression, he had been blinded by immediate wealth. He was a fool, too dull to even wonder why the marquis made such strange demands. No wonder the castle had fallen so easily with someone like him in charge.

“Why? Why did you do it? Was the title and the land that tempting to you?!”

“It was! You say your father treated me well, even though I was just an illegitimate child, but he gave me no power! He treated me like livestock. Is that any different? I have ambitions too. I didn’t want to live a useless life, or pass it on to my son! Maybe to you, he was a kind father. Maybe to the people, he was a benevolent lord. But to his retainers, he was ruthless. Everyone has ambition! Wealth and power are–”

Sharhan clenched his teeth, rage boiling up so hot he couldn’t hold it back. Just then, a long leg kicked out from behind and struck his uncle.

“Where’s that dog barking from? Shan, why are you just listening to that garbage? Should’ve shut him up with a boot to the mouth.”

It was Lestel. He must have cooperated with Derry after all, his body carried a faint herbal scent. Whether from the medicine or his own scent, the blaze that had roared in Sharhan’s chest suddenly quieted.

“Father was a great lord.”

He had struggled to maintain their poor territory, ruling with love and compassion. Sharhan could admit he was strict with his retainers.

But that never justified betrayal. The uncle and the retainers had simply sold out their lord for greed, making them nothing but cowardly traitors.

“Livestock is at least useful. You’re worse. Whatever excuses you make, you’re nothing but a filthy traitor who repaid kindness with betrayal.”

“If I’m a traitor, then what about Lestel?! He’s the son of the man who killed your parents!”

Sharhan’s uncle screeched, writhing on the floor. Lestel kicked him again, this time in the gut, sending him rolling twice. Sharhan looked down at his uncle coldly, then tossed the potato at him.

“Eat.”

The uncle, who had been coughing exaggeratedly for effect, flinched. The sound of him swallowing echoed loudly. Sharhan sneered.

“B-bring it closer. And untie me too…”

“Crawl over and eat it. That suits you better.”

His uncle flushed with humiliation but couldn’t resist his hunger. He began crawling over again, mouth wide open, trying desperately to get at the potato. When he finally bit into it, the skin blackened his mouth. He even ate the burnt, bitter shell as if it were a delicacy.

“S-some soup… or water, please…”

“I heard Iris is at Ailun Castle… did you know?”

His uncle’s eyes wavered.

“N-no, I didn’t.”

“Really?”

Sharhan pushed the soup bowl a little closer.

“C-can you find my son for me?”

“I’ll try.”

“T-the truth is… I did know. One of the retainers said they saw her nanny in Serman…”

“So you sent knights to find Iris and the nanny and hand them over to the marquis?”

“……”

“What about the nanny?!”

Ardelle had only said she saw Iris at Ailun Castle. She didn’t know what had happened to the nanny.

“S-she resisted too much…”

“You killed her?!”

Sharhan’s eyes turned fierce. His uncle cowered.

“Iris protected her. She didn’t die, but she was badly hurt. I don’t know what happened afterward.”

“There was a knight protecting Iris and the nanny, wasn’t there?”

“He’s probably dead. He was wounded and bleeding heavily. We left him behind. Sharhan, please… bring the soup closer now…”

His uncle, even thirstier after the potato, begged desperately. But Sharhan stood, taking the soup with him.

“Sharhan?”

The potato had only been tossed to mock him, never to feed him. He never intended to give him the soup.

“Sharhan! Where are you going?! You have to untie me! You promised to find my son!”

“Your son is dead.”

He wasn’t sure of that, but he said it to cause pain. And it worked. His uncle’s face twisted in shock and grief.

“W-what? No, no, that can’t be!”

“Shut up.”

Lestel stepped forward and gagged him again, then followed close behind Sharhan like a loyal hound.

Outside, the air was lively with the game Samson and Randall had brought back. People, long deprived of meat, couldn’t take their eyes off the rabbit and pheasant. Ardelle and Derry were drooling until they saw Sharhan and Lestel emerge from the storehouse and quickly approached.

“They’re going to make soup out of those.”

Sharhan ignored Ardelle and looked to Derry. He looked so frail that even standing seemed a struggle.

“Derry, can you move?”

“Uh? Oh… are you leaving?”

“I saved you and the kids. Now I need to go.”

He had considered resting for a day or two due to Derry’s condition, but he couldn’t delay. He had to find Iris and the nanny.

“You’re… leaving?”

Ardelle’s eyes trembled.

“Yeah. What about you?”

Ardelle hesitated, looking at the children huddled together, eagerly waiting for the soup.

After the villa collapsed and the future looked bleak, she had considered going to Ailun Castle. But now they had a way to survive. If they rationed the food in the storehouse, they could hold out for months.

Wouldn’t it be safer to stay here with the kids instead of traveling dangerous roads without any means to defend or fight back? And even if they reached the castle, there was no guarantee they’d be let in.

Still, she worried whether she could protect the storehouse on her own. Samson, seeing her troubled face, stepped up.

“Is something wrong?”

“We’re leaving. What about you, Samson? Will you return to your village?”

“I spoke with my brother while we were hunting. For now, we plan to stay here. It’d be a waste to leave the supplies. Once things are stable and people recover, either I or my brother might return to bring back others from the village.”

Sharhan felt relief. He’d been hoping the brothers would stay. They were capable, and their presence would help protect the children and the supplies.

“Looks like most others will stay too.”

Sharhan agreed with Samson. In a world where food was power, it was natural for people to stay where the supplies were. Those who had to leave, like him, should be given enough to take with them.

“If the brothers are staying… then Ardelle, it’s best you stay too.”

As Ardelle looked up at him, Samson said, “We’ll do our best to help Ardelle protect the children.”

Ardelle smiled gratefully at him and asked Sharhan, “We’ll stay. When are you leaving?”

“As soon as we pack. Derry, what about you?”

He didn’t bother asking Lestel. That one would follow him no matter what, even if he had to be dragged or scolded.