TOPWL 203

Edmond walked down the corridor with a sullen expression.

‘I am not going to take you with me.’

How could someone with such an angelic face, who could never refuse anything, reject him so bluntly. He had begged, he had threatened, but Yudit did not budge.

‘If you want to go to the battlefield that much, get your gather’s permission first.’

He had whined that there was no way Father would allow it, but in the end it was Edmond who grew tired and gave up.

“Edmond? What are you doing here?”

Running into Garen in the corridor, Edmond scowled. If he was going to call him Edmond, he should at least speak informally, but what’s with ‘what are you doing.’ Edmond flicked Garen’s forehead with his knuckle. Garen rubbed his forehead with a wronged look.

“Why did you hit me?”

“Because you deserved it. Hey, Garen. When are you becoming a squire?”

At Edmond’s words, Garen rolled his eyes. His expression showed he was hiding something. Not giving him a chance to think, Edmond pressed in.

“I already know, so speak straight.”

“If you already know, why ask…”

“You’re not going to say it fast?”

Watching Edmond’s eyes, Garen finally spoke with a gloomy face.

“It’s been about a year.”

“A year left?”

“I… became a squire last year.”

Edmond froze at Garen’s words.

“Why didn’t I know something that important?”

“They told me to keep it a secret from you…”

“Who?”

“The Captain.”

“Why?!”

Edmond grabbed Garen by the collar and demanded, shaking him as if he would rattle him apart. Garen spilled the truth.

“If you become a squire you can go to the battlefield… but if you found out, you’d kick up a fuss about going yourself, so they told me to keep it secret.”

Even with nothing filtered out, Edmond stood there blankly.

“No one tells me the truth about anything.”

Through mock battles Edmond had realized the truth about his own skills. When he sparred with knights, he had thought they were equal or sometimes even that he won. But they had all been holding back against him. Even Garen, who had always lost to him, easily overpowered him when told to use his real strength. Edmond felt like the flimsy world around him had all collapsed.

“So you all had fun tricking me like this?”

“It wasn’t for fun…”

“Then why did you do it! You all mocked me and ignored me!”

“If I’d believed in my own skills and gone to the battlefield, I would’ve died right away. Isn’t that true?”

“You’re not so weak you’d just die instantly… you’re incredible at dodging and running away…”

Expecting a punch, Garen stepped back a few paces.

“The truth is you’ll never go to the battlefield anyway. Not unless it’s a truly extreme case…”

At his words, Edmond said in disbelief,

“I’m a knight’s son. If I don’t go to war, who does?”

“You’re the lord’s only heir. You’re the one who has to preserve his life until the very end. How could they send someone like you to the battlefield?”

“Father goes, and he’s not even the heir, he’s the actual lord.”

“But the lord and you are different… the lord was a knight from the beginning. And you…”

Realizing he shouldn’t say more, Garen shut his mouth with difficulty. But Edmond had already guessed the rest.

“Ah, I see. Since I’m just a frog in a well, you all planned to let me play house inside the castle. Whoever thought of that pathetic idea first, you picked the wrong person.”

No sooner had he finished than Edmond stomped down the corridor. Garen followed with an uneasy face.

“Where are you going?”

“The office.”

“…Your office?”

“No, Father’s.”

He was going into the lord’s office in this state? Horrified, Garen tried to stop him.

“Please, think it through one more time… Edmond. Calm down a little first.”

“Would you calm down if you were me? Don’t follow me.”

But Garen ignored his words and followed him to the end, trying to stop him. It was no use. As soon as Edmond saw that his father was inside the office, he went straight in. Bang. Garen stared nervously at the roughly closed office door.

***

Yudit was in the sea. The sunlight was warm, and the waves tickled and covered him as if they were alive. After playing with the waves for a while, Yudit plunged into the water. Even though he was submerged deep, he could still breathe and move freely as if he were on land. As he admired the beautiful scenery, Yudit realized it was time to return. When he said it was time to go up to the surface, the waves shook their heads as if they disliked it. Yudit, troubled but gentle, comforted the waves.

‘Let’s play again next time.’

Only after much coaxing did the waves let Yudit go. They did not forget to whisper in his ear as he returned.

‘It’s a promise!’

At those words, Yudit’s eyes snapped open. The day was dark and damp, as if it might rain. Looking around the room tinted blue, Yudit realized this would be his last day here.

“Ha…”

Yudit let out a soft sigh. Khalid had not appeared in his dream again. Was he still so angry? To the point he would not visit even once. Selena had written several times, but there had been no reply from Khalid. This time Yudit had shamelessly asked Selena directly about Khalid’s wellbeing. When would her reply come? Yudit rubbed his face impatiently as he looked at the mountain beyond the window.

When Yudit said to come in at the sound of knocking, Shane entered carrying the wash water himself. Seeing him with a puzzled look, he explained,

“You were sleeping so deeply, I thought it better to let you rest longer, so I brought it myself.”

The water felt cool at his fingertips. He must have slept quite a while. Lately he was sleepy at all hours. Whether from accumulated fatigue or a body kept tense, drowsiness came constantly. After barely managing to wake early for dawn training, whenever he had free time, he would find himself dozing. But today, it seemed he had even overslept.

“Am I very late?”

“About an hour later than usual.”

“I’ll get ready quickly.”

After washing, Yudit changed clothes and packed. Wearing his uniform along with the cloak signifying commander, he looked rather proper. Tilting his head at the thought that he resembled someone, Yudit soon realized he looked somewhat like the portrait of the emperor in his youth. He had never felt it when his hair was long, but in the end, blood was blood. With a stiff expression, Yudit looked at himself in the mirror, then left the room.

Since there was a forecast of rain starting in the afternoon, he had to travel as far as possible while the weather held. After a hasty breakfast, Yudit came outside to prepare for departure.

As he was placing the saddle on his horse, he felt someone’s gaze and turned. Lord Devlin was watching him from a distance, as if he had something to say. But when their eyes met, he looked away as if guilty of something. Yudit, having saddled the horse, slowly walked toward him.

“Good morning, my lord.”

“…Yes. Did Your Highness also sleep well last night?”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

The lord opened his mouth as if to speak, but in the end shut his eyes tight.

“I am sorry.”

“For what?”

“Well… for not looking after you better during your short stay…”

Yudit tilted his head. Until now, the Lord of Devlin had always been so dignified that he seemed the very model of a knight. Yet now he looked at Yudit with the eyes of a debtor.

“You already treated me very well.”

“No… that, and also… various other things…”

The lord even trailed off. Highly suspicious, but since Norban was calling from afar, Yudit could not press further and parted from him.

“Commander, all three knight orders are ready.”

“Good, then let’s depart.”

Normally there would have been at least a short speech before departure, but with the rain approaching, he decided to set out immediately.

At the front, Yudit looked back. Behind the long line of soldiers, Devlin Castle was visible. He thought about how many things had happened in such a short time. Yudit turned forward again and spurred his horse. With a neigh, Reed shot forward across the wide field stretching out before him.