TOPWL 58

Inside the carriage heading to Bern 3, Yudit appeared pale and shaken. Shane looked at him with a worried expression.

“Are you alright?”

“Just because it’s the capital doesn’t mean all the roads are well-maintained,” Yudit muttered.

The carriage jolted violently as it hit another bump, making Yudit’s face turn an even deeper shade of pale. Shane quickly opened the window and handed Yudit a cup of water. After forcing himself to sip it, the cold breeze seemed to help a little. It made Yudit wonder how other carriages fared compared to the plush ones used in the imperial palace.

“We’re almost there.”

The coachman opened the partition and spoke. The carriage slowed to a crawl and then came to a full stop. Shane stepped out first to escort Yudit. With a pale face, Yudit stepped down from the carriage.

“Umm…”

Even in a moment of polite reassurance, no words of comfort escaped Yudit’s lips. Bern, though in the capital, felt more like a desolate countryside with barely any signs of life.

“Don’t they farm here?”

Yudit asked as he glanced at the wasteland, overgrown with weeds. The coachman kneeled and rubbed the dirt between his hands. The clods of earth crumbled easily. He shook his head.

“This land isn’t suitable for farming.”

“Then what do they live on here?”

Yudit looked around at the nearby marketplace. Though modest, it still had a collection of shops. He noticed a boy begging beside a tavern. The fact that the boy was begging rather than looking for work meant he could live off the charity of others. Yudit approached the boy and, placing a ten-coin piece into his cup, asked,

“Can I ask you something?”

The boy, dressed in ragged clothes, had a bright sparkle in his eyes. Seeing Shane and Yudit, the boy nodded eagerly.

“Yes, yes!”

“I need to know about this district. It’s my first time here, and I don’t know anything. Could you give me a general explanation?”

Yudit showed a five-hundred kes piece, and the boy’s eyes lit up as he stared at it.

“What do you want to know?”

“How do people here make a living? What is their lifestyle like? I also heard there are monsters around here—how bad is the damage?”

The boy thought for a moment before answering.

“Umm… usually, people buy food from the market. Not just food, though—they buy other things too. But, uh, what do you mean by lifestyle?”

“Well, I want to know what most people here do for a living.”

“Ah, they work in workshops. There’s something from the mountains here, iron, I think? That’s why there are many blacksmiths and workshops. People also buy and sell weapons in the market.”

“You’re really good at answering. You’ve been a great help.”

Yudit placed the five-hundred kes into the boy’s bowl. The boy grinned widely, his tension easing.

“My sister works at this tavern. Mrs. Jessie and her husband run an inn. My friend’s cousin is a blacksmith.”

Though the conversation was veering off-topic, Yudit smiled and listened attentively. Feeling the need to reciprocate, the boy began talking even more freely.

“And I do other things besides begging. This tavern also runs as an inn, so I clean and do laundry. I also run errands for the mercenaries.”

“Lots of mercenaries come here, huh?”

“Yeah, because monsters show up a lot, so mercenaries come often. They think I’m cute, so they make me run errands for them.”

“I see. Don’t you go to school?”

At that, the boy’s expression darkened.

“If I went to school, I couldn’t work. It’s just me and my sister, so I have to make money. Actually, I want to be a blacksmith, but becoming an apprentice costs a lot of money. Still, I’m saving up little by little.”

“You’re impressive. And the monsters…”

“What are you doing with my brother?”

Just as Yudit was about to ask more about the monsters, a shout rang out, and a woman burst through the tavern door. Her face was flushed from the cold, and she threatened Yudit with a kitchen knife. Shane quickly stepped in front of Yudit, drawing his sword and pointing it at the woman’s neck. The entire exchange happened in an instant.

“…”

The woman seemed startled, her expression showing shock rather than aggression as she found herself facing a blade. Yudit, trying to reassure Shane, was about to intervene when more people rushed out of the tavern.

“Get away from Hess!”

Four people appeared—three men and one woman—each armed with various tools. One held a hammer and chisel, another had a broom, a third wielded a fork and knife, and the last was holding a beer bottle. They glared at the trio. While they had the advantage in numbers, it was clear they were intimidated by Shane’s presence as he looked calm and poised.

The woman trembled, her legs shaking. She had pale skin and brown eyes, and it was obvious that she was closely related to the boy standing behind her. Despite having rushed out to confront them, it was clear they were all frightened of Shane. Someone had to resolve the situation. With a sigh, Yudit placed a hand on Shane’s arm.

“Shane, it’s fine.”

“This one pointed a weapon at Your Highness. She deserves to be punished.”

“I’m used to having swords pointed at me. Besides, it’s just a kitchen knife, and she was protecting her brother.”

Yudit thought back to Huyan and Khalid, both of whom had been spared punishment despite similar actions. If they were forgiven, why not this woman? After hearing Yudit’s words, Shane sighed and glared at the group. They hesitated, nervously looking to Shane.

“Drop your weapons and take five steps back. If you do, the woman’s safety will be guaranteed.”

“You tell us to drop our weapons, but you’re going to harm Hess!” one of them protested.

“I’ll count to five. Three, two.”

Yudit watched in disbelief as Shane began counting from three instead of five.

“Just let it go! Quickly!” The woman cried out, throwing her broom to the ground. The others followed suit, dropping their weapons, quickly stepping back.

“Slowly kneel and place your knife on the ground.”

Shane ordered, lowering his blade slightly. The woman, trembling, knelt, and the knife fell to the dirt. Shane kicked it away, sending it skidding across the ground. The kitchen knife spun toward the group, and they scattered in fear. Once he confirmed Yudit’s safety, Shane sheathed his sword. The woman, still stunned, remained in her kneeling position. Meanwhile, the boy beside her wrapped his arms around her, bursting into tears.

“Sis—!”

The boy was pale with fear, crying uncontrollably. The woman awkwardly tried to comfort him with a shaky hand.

“It’s alright. I’m fine, Kennen.”

“I’m sorry, sis!”

The two embraced and sobbed together, while the others in the tavern cautiously watched, flinching every time Yudit breathed too heavily. Yudit, feeling awkward, realized that all he had come here to do was learn about Bern, but now he felt like some villain of the century.

The boy, Kennen, coughed violently as he cried. His coughing fit seemed to last forever. Yudit noticed that their clothing was thin for the cold. They wore layered cotton garments, not filled with padding, and the exposed parts of Hess’s neck and chest were turning red from the cold. Yudit observed the others hesitantly glancing at him before speaking.

“How about we go inside and talk?”

***

“Hahaha, I never imagined you were truly a prince!”

The once-empty tavern was now bustling with people. The evening crowd had arrived, no doubt, but much of it was due to the arrival of new customers. Yudit blushed as he sipped cheap ale, while Shane watched him with increasing unease, though he refrained from saying anything.

“Wow, Your Highness, you really know how to drink! Have more, more!”

Seeing Yudit’s glass nearly empty, the tavern owner refilled it. Shane’s brow furrowed deeper.

Yudit had led the group of hesitant people into the tavern and ordered food and drinks. He’d promised to pay for everything, urging them to eat and drink as much as they wanted. One of them, sitting awkwardly at the table, hesitantly spoke.

“U-um… are you really a prince?”

Yudit nodded. The others began to kneel, but Yudit quickly stopped them. After that, they ate and drank without much enthusiasm, their behavior distant and polite. He’d thought it would be hard to get close to these people, but that was two hours ago. The tension finally broke when one of the men drank four consecutive mugs of ale in quick succession.