The forest on a moonless night was darker than a blindfold covering the eyes. From the highest point of the Benning estate, Leon Benning gazed out over the vast black woods that covered nearly half of the territory. In reality, however, he was likely looking at his own reflection cast upon the window by the lamplight from his study.
It was Leon Benningâs habit to stand in front of a window late at night, staring at his reflection as he pondered. His thoughts usually wandered toward the future. Closing his eyes wouldnât bring back memories of the pastâLeon never dwelled on the past. He always looked forward, not with urgency or desperation, but with a slow, relentless persistence.
A knock came at the door. Without turning around, Leon granted permission for the person to enter. It was one of the servants, speaking in a cautious tone.
"Master, a man named Roberto Miller is here to see you outside the estate."
Heâs arrived.
Leon Benning turned his head slightly.
"Let him in. He is my guest."
The servant appeared surprised by Leonâs response but bowed respectfully.
"As you command."
Leon, with an emotionless gaze, watched the door close behind the servant, then clasped his hands behind his back.
His daughter had returned to the capital.
There were things that needed to be resolved while Teodoraâs feet still stood on the capitalâs soil. He glanced down at his hands, absentmindedly running his thumb over the signet ring on his right index fingerâa ring that bore the Benning family crest, signifying his position as head of the house. It was not a wedding ring, but it carried its own weight.
"..."
Leonâs cold eyes turned as he sensed the approach of footsteps climbing the stairs toward his room. A steady tread echoed through the hall, growing closer to the countâs study. Another knock came at the door.
"Master, I have brought your guest."@@novelbin@@
Standing behind the servant was a tall man, hooded. Leon waved the servant away without a word. The manâs head followed the retreating servant.
"May I come in?" a smooth voice asked. Leon remained silent, and the man took that as permission, pulling back his hood as he stepped into the study. Roberto Millerâs features were revealed, his dull blond hair tied back. Leon gestured toward the chair in front of his desk with a simple nod, inviting Roberto to sit.
"Why did you have me come in secret?" Roberto asked with a slight grin as he took the offered seat.
"Now is the time to be most cautious. One small mistake could ruin everything. I donât want our plans to be derailed by unnecessary risks."
Leonâs voice was calm yet firm, a subtle reprimand. Roberto shrugged, as if amused, and hung his hood on the back of the chair.
"The mission was shorter than expected. I doubt I was in the wilderness for more than two weeks. How are things with the no-manâs land?" Roberto asked, leaning back in his chair.
Leon waved a hand dismissively.
"Iâve heard whispers that the royal family will soon issue a summons."
"Something happened, then?"
Leon replied with detached interest, though he didnât seem overly concerned about events in the no-manâs land.
"You may as well explain what happened."
"I donât need to go into detail about the anomaliesâweâve already sent reports. Whatâs important is that I found the source, and weâll need to send troops to the no-manâs land soon," Roberto explained.
Leon nodded slightly, encouraging him to continue.
"The cause of the anomalies, as the Border Lord suggested, appears to be the Behemoth said to slumber beyond the edge of the cliffs. Itâs stirring."
"The Behemoth? Itâs been, what, fifteen years? I see why youâd recommend sending troops."
"Yes. The situation resembles what happened fifteen years ago."
Roberto added, but Leon showed no visible reaction.
"If the royal family requests support..."
"I wonât send everything, but I wonât decline either. Thereâs no reason to refuse," Leon replied coldly, his tone calculated.
Robertoâs expression tightened slightly, as if he had anticipated such a response.
"The Border Lord can deal with it. If they canât contain it, then theyâre simply doing us a favor. Weâll focus on our own matters. What else do you have to report?"
"Itâs about your daughter and Maxim Apart."
Leon sighed deeply.
"Go on."
"It seems Maxim used aura despite the curse."
Leon let out a dry laugh, which grew louder and sharper, echoing through the room. He habitually rubbed his signet ring as he continued to laugh.
"How did that happen?"
"Teodora and Maxim fell off the cliff during an incident. Teodora was injured."
Leonâs laughter grew louder, completely unconcerned about his daughterâs injury. A smirk curled at his lips as he spoke.
"An amazing coincidence, isnât it? I almost wish Iâd seen it happen."
"Yes. It seems Maxim had no choice but to release his aura during the battle with the beasts at the bottom of the cliff."
Leon stifled his laughter with a cough, his voice hoarse from the outburst.
"So, he couldnât resist. Or rather, he had no choice?"
"Given the circumstances, yes, it was inevitable."
Leon chuckled one last time.
"Itâs possible Teodora may have realized Maxim is cursed."
"She likely knows. She may have spoken to Christine Watson, the knightâs mage."
"Then sheâs probably certain of it."
Leon seemed oddly indifferent, as if Teodora knowing this was of no real consequence.
"Christineâs ability to keep the curse in check is reaching its limit, I imagine."
The 'cute mage' was Leonâs nickname for Christine. Roberto nodded in agreement.
"Yes. I checked on Maxim when he was in the infirmary, and despite Christineâs efforts, the curse was still progressing."
Leon frowned and pressed his fingers to his temples, clearly irritated. Roberto, sensing his mood, cautiously suggested an alternative.
"Keeping Maxim Apart around might be too risky at this point..."
"Has anyone discovered the true nature of the curse?"
Roberto shook his head.
"Not yet. But if we continue to watch, they might eventually figure it out. Perhaps it would be better to either eliminate him or recruit him."
Leon slowly waved his hand in refusal.
"If we couldâve recruited him, weâd have done it long ago. When we were introduced to Christine through the tower, I was willing to offer her the highest possible position within the family. Her talent was remarkable, on par with my daughterâs. But she refused coldly."
Leon gave a bitter smile.
"Well, if she becomes too much of a nuisance, eliminating her might be an option. It wouldnât be difficult. Iâll have to reach out to the tower master again."
"But didnât Christine leave the tower after a falling out with the master?" Roberto asked, puzzled.
Leon tapped his fingers on the desk dismissively.
"We use whatever pieces we can."
His eyes gleamed sharply.
"When will Teodora return to the field?"
"Itâs not yet scheduled. Likely after she recovers from her injuries and theyâve gathered sufficient forces."
"How serious are her injuries?"
For the first time, Leon seemed to show concern for his daughter.
"She should recover in less than a month."
"A fairly significant injury, then. Still, she should be able to attend a small social gathering."
"What if she refuses?"
Leon laughed, completely unconcerned.
"She wonât have a choice. Itâll be the event where her former loverâs engagement and marriage will be publicly announced."
He cracked his knuckles loudly, the sound filling the room.
"That will be all for tonight. Iâll reach out to Emil first. Then the tower master."
Leon shot a crooked glance at Roberto, who stood, pulling his hood back over his head.
"Continue keeping an eye on them. Teodora, Maxim Apart, Christine..."
Leonâs eyes glinted coldly.
"Watch everything within reach."
Roberto bowed slightly in response.
"Understood."
All for the glory of the Benning family.
Under Leonâs icy gaze, Roberto muttered the words quietly.
Afternoon at the Black Crow Knightsâ New Headquarters
The newly relocated headquarters of the Black Crow Knights was much more respectable than the previous one. The training yard was no longer overgrown with weeds but paved with solid stone. Though slightly isolated, it no longer required a climb up a steep hill. The new headquarters had once belonged to another knight order, and only minor renovations had been made.
"Deputy Commander, the tasks you assigned have been completed," a regular knight reported to Christine. The reports on the equipmentâs condition and requests for additional gear from the central order had been compiled, thanks to a few volunteers.
"Good work," Christine said, her voice carrying over the sound of cicadas. She had been handling Teodoraâs duties while the latter was on leave. It was a quiet period, mostly filled with administrative work. As the sun stretched out across the sky, Christine gazed at the warm light that resembled the color of her own hair.
Maybe itâs time to call it a day.
Though it was still early, there wasnât much left to do. They needed to conserve their strength before the royal summons returned them to the battlefield.
"Shall we leave early? Thereâs nothing else to do," she suggested.
"That sounds like a good idea."
The knight quickly agreed, and Christine smiled slightly before dismissing the others. As they hurried off, she gathered her belongings from the deputy commanderâs office and stepped out of the headquarters.
"Leaving early, Deputy Commander?"
"Have a good evening."
Christine waved back at the knights, making her way along the road that led away from the Black Crow Knightsâ base. The heat radiating from the ground felt hotter than the sunlight itself. She wished for a breeze, but the wind was unkind, offering no relief for her flushed cheeks.
"So hot..."
Despite her complaints, Christineâs steps were light as she headed toward the market.
What should I bring as a gift today?
Her mind was filled with thoughts of what to buy. Before she knew it, she had reached the outskirts of the market. Christine walked along, her hands clasped behind her back, tapping her cheek with her finger, and twirling her long hair as she strolled through the marketplace.
"Flowers... but those arenât really good gifts, are they?"
"Whatâs not a good gift?"
Christine jumped as if startled by a cat, her body stiffening at the sudden voice from behind. Turning around, she found none other than Maxim, his expression as calm as ever. Christine furrowed her brow at the sight of his nonchalant face.
"Ah! Seriously, you scared me!" Christine snapped, her voice laced with irritation as she playfully swung her fists at him. Maxim laughed, easily blocking her light punches.
"I couldnât just ignore you when I saw you walking by," he replied.
"Are you back already?"
"Iâll officially return tomorrow. I arrived around noon today," Maxim said with a nod, moving as if he wasnât in pain, despite his injuries. Christine let out an exasperated sigh.
"So youâll be back at work tomorrow. I wonder if youâll even be able to join the regular training sessions with your injuries."
"Iâll manage. Iâm feeling much better now."
Christine shook her head, clearly not wanting to argue further.
"Where were you heading?"
Maximâs question made Christine purse her lips before answering.
"Home."
Maxim raised an eyebrow. There was only one place Christine ever referred to as 'home.'
"Going to see the headmistress and the kids?"
Christine nodded.
"Itâs been a while since I last visited... Iâm just going to stop by for a bit."
Maxim took a step back, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Well, take care."
"Wait, Senior..."
"Hm?"
Just as Maxim was about to leave, he felt Christineâs hand grasp his wrist, stopping him in his tracks.
"Could you come with me?" she asked.
"To your home?"
"Yes. Iâm sure the headmistress and the kids would love to see you too."
Maxim looked down at her, a faint smile on his lips as he realized he had no choice.
"Alright. But first, letâs pick out a gift."