SWY 147

They saw two men standing firmly in front of the second door. Both were dressed like regular soldiers, holding their long spears upright with the tips resting on the ground, eyes fixed forward.

‘No matter how quietly we move, they’re bound to notice.’

There was nothing in the hallway that could conceal Sharhan and Lestel. No matter how stealthily they approached, they would be seen. Sharhan wasn’t afraid of a fight, he was worried that any noise might alert the entire castle.

As he bit his lip and looked at the two soldiers again, unsure of what to do, Lestel, who had also peered down the corridor, silently smiled.

“They’re dozing.”

Lestel whispered. Sharhan blinked, startled, and looked again. The soldiers’ heads had drooped. They had fallen asleep standing. That made it easy.

Sharhan clenched his fist, then glanced back at Lestel and gestured for each of them to take one target. Lestel nodded in understanding. After briefly meeting each other’s eyes, they closed the distance in a flash and slit the soldiers’ throats without hesitation. Both died in their sleep.

Blood splattered like a fountain. Without even wiping off the blood that hit them, Sharhan and Lestel swiftly grabbed the collapsing bodies and their weapons, then laid them down gently to avoid noise. With trembling hands, Sharhan reached for the doorknob.

‘Iris is in there.’

Overcome with emotion at the thought of finally seeing his sister, Sharhan pulled the handle.

Click.

“…!”

The door was locked. Of course it would be. Even if it was just a child and a middle-aged woman inside, they were being held under guard. He cursed himself for not considering that.

“Is it locked?”

“Yeah.”

“They probably had the key. I’ll look.”

Lestel searched the fallen soldiers and found a key at the waist of one. He handed it over. Sharhan took a deep breath to steady his rising emotions, then finally wiped the blood from his face and carefully opened the door.

The room slowly came into view, and it was cold and empty. All it had was a single bed. Naturally, no fire had been lit, and there was a sense of unease in the air. It felt completely different from the steward’s cozy, comfortable room.

“Wh-who… what is it at this hour?”

Looking toward the voice, they saw two figures clinging to each other on the bed, tense and alert.

It was Iris and her nanny.

Even without seeing their faces clearly, Sharhan knew from their voices and vague silhouettes. His throat tightened and his eyes stung. He clenched his fists, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill.

“What… what’s going on…”

“Iris…”

His voice caught in his throat. Even so, Iris seemed to recognize him. “Huh?” she said with a confused tilt of her head. Sharhan’s heart swelled. He stepped forward.

‘Iris… my precious little sister is right there.’

The longing and worry he’d carried this whole journey surged up. The guilt of having left her behind had haunted him. All he had hoped for was that she was alive. Now she was just a few steps away.

“Nanny… it’s me. Iris… your brother is here.”

His voice trembled, thick with emotion. No matter how he tried to stay calm, he couldn’t.

“Master…”

The nanny flinched, about to raise her voice, but before she could move, the small shadow in her arms shot forward like a squirrel and dashed across the room.

Sharhan dropped his sword and crouched down to embrace Iris. His voice trembled with tears as he repeated her name.

“Iris. Iris. My little sister.”

Even though it had been years, Iris felt so small in his arms. She must have grown, but she was thin, too thin.

Sharhan held his crying sister tighter. He wanted to hug her hard enough to crush her, but he was scared she might break. There was so much he wanted to say, yet now no words would come. Just holding her felt unreal and overwhelming. Only after he held her hand and felt her warmth did he finally believe it.

‘This isn’t a dream. My sister really is in my arms.’

Relieved, Sharhan gently pulled her back a little and caressed her face. It didn’t matter that he couldn’t see well in the dark. The warmth under his fingers was enough.

“Why… why did you come so late!”

“I’m sorry. I came too late, didn’t I? But my Iris waited for me so bravely. I’m proud of you. Thank you.”

“I hate you!”

Even as she said it, Iris gripped his clothes tightly, as if she would never let go again. Smiling, Sharhan hugged her once more.

“Young master, you’re… you’re safe.”

The nanny staggered over, her voice thick and wet with tears. Sharhan forced a smile and opened one arm to pull her in too. She was so thin that he could feel her bones.

“Nanny, why have you gotten so thin?”

“Thin? Not at all. I’m just the same as before. But you, young master… you’ve wasted away. You must’ve suffered terribly.”

The three of them wept in each other’s arms, overwhelmed with emotion. But they didn’t have long to savor the reunion.

“Sharhan, we need to move.”

Lestel called from outside. The guards patrolled once an hour. They couldn’t afford to get caught.

“You came with Master Lestel?”

The nanny pulled away, startled.

“Yes. We have to go before we’re discovered. You remember Rael? He’s with us too.”

“Sir Rael is alive?!”

“Yes. Nanny, is there anything you need to take?”

“No, nothing.”

“Then let’s go. Iris, you can’t make a sound, okay? So stop crying now.”

Still clinging to him, Iris nodded. Sharhan patted her back to calm her, then gently pulled her away and stood up. He picked up his sword in one hand and took Iris’s hand in the other. Then they stepped out of the room.

“…!”

They both saw the dead soldiers in the hallway, but neither Iris nor the nanny made a sound. Sharhan looked at his little sister, who was bravely holding back a scream, and walked quickly down the hall.

They moved silently to the second floor, where Rael and Adam, who had been keeping watch, approached with tense faces. Rael gave a silent nod when he saw Iris and the nanny were safe. The two women, sniffling, refrained from speaking. Greetings could wait.

After Kuph rejoined them from the first floor, they headed back to the steward’s room. So far, they hadn’t run into anyone else.

Once inside and with the door locked, Sharhan let out a sigh of relief. All they had to do now was get out the window and run to the stable. But they couldn’t relax yet.

“The smell of blood…”

“Don’t look over there. Just go straight to the window.”

Sharhan led the frightened nanny and Iris to the window.

“I’ll go first and signal when it’s clear. Then each of you follow one at a time.”

Rael was the first to climb out. A moment later, he tapped the window softly. That was the signal, it was safe.

Adam followed second.

“Nanny, you go next.”

“Ah, yes.”

She climbed up, clearly nervous. Her hands and legs trembled as she got onto the desk to reach the window.

“Nanny, it’s okay. Don’t be so scared.”

“S-sorry. I’m just nervous… Master, we’ll be all right, won’t we?”

“Don’t worry.”

As she started to climb through the window, she flinched. Her skirt had caught on the frame. She gasped and yanked it free.

A ripping sound, followed by a thunderous boom.

Startled, the nanny fell outside the window. Sharhan instinctively pulled Iris close and ducked.

“W-what was that noise?”

Kuph, flat on the floor, asked in a trembling voice. The boom was familiar. Sharhan and Lestel looked at each other.

“Mana explosives!”

“It’s a mana explosive!”

They shouted at once. The sound had come from the gate. Parel must have thrown one to break it open.

‘Damn bastard, why now!’

Sharhan’s heart pounded.

“Damn it. We have to hurry!”

The entire castle would be awake soon.

“B-brother…”

Iris was trembling in his arms.

“It’s okay. Nothing’s going to happen.”

Sharhan soothed her, then helped her climb through the window first.

“Adam, take Iris and hold her! Sir Rael, once Iris is out, head straight to the stable. We’ll follow right behind!”

“Yes. Understood.”

Waiting outside, Adam took Iris and ran toward the stable. Rael urged the hesitant nanny to move and followed at full speed. She limped, probably hurt from the fall, but there was no time to ask.

“Kuph, you next. Go.”

Kuph was next. Without even insisting Sharhan go first, he grit his teeth and climbed out, then ran. Outside was already full of noise, soldiers and knights shouting after the explosion.

“What was that?!”

“I don’t know!”

“Go check outside!”

Voices shouted and scrambled behind them. Sharhan and Lestel climbed through the window too. Just then, one soldier spotted them and shouted, running toward them.

“An intruder!”

Sharhan cursed under his breath and cut the soldier down, but it was too late. More had seen them and were rushing over. Others had spotted Kuph running and began chasing after him.