Chapter 68

***

Amarion stared at the girl in surprise.

A certain determination formed on Mary’s sunburnt face. The determination to reveal her hidden secrets.

“…My family are fairly famous pharmacists. People come from far and wide just to get a prescription. But my family is not very interested in money. ‘Treat everyone to the best of your ability, regardless of status. All the money you earn should be spent on patients.’ That’s our principle.”

Mary bit her lip.

“But I didn’t like it.”

Amarion examined her silently.

Mary’s hands were a mess. They were covered in rashes from touching poisonous herbs.

“I am an ordinary girl, Madame. I long for pretty rooms, fancy dresses, sparkling jewels, and delicate tea time. I wanted to live comfortably instead of picking herbs all day.”

“…”

“But my parents yelled at me when I told them they should get paid for their treatments.”

Mary closed her eyes tightly.

“Father said that I have to value the weak and poor more to become a real healer, and that I am not qualified. So I ran out of the house. I wanted to know how special the lives of nobles were.”

“Mary…”

“My family has a high reputation, so I was able to enter the Grand House. Even when blood flowed through the castle, I clenched my teeth and endured it, thinking that I would be a great maid and marry a high-ranking noble.”

She wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

“But it’s weird, right? When someone said they were hurt, I couldn’t stay still. Madame too… I just couldn’t leave…”

Amarion instinctively took Mary’s hand.

The worries the girl had to go through touched her deeply. Because when she was in Amari, she always wanted to escape from the painful reality she experienced daily. And by coming here, in a way, she had run away.

But Mary had courage, and she was doing the things that she had neglected before. She was selfless.

“You are amazing, Mary. You’re doing things you don’t need to do, all on your own.”

“It’s the same with Madame.”

“I-I… I am an adult.”

Mary smiled weakly.

“Madame, that’s such a lousy excuse.”

“Really?”

The girl laughed, then clenched her fists.

“But I left the castle with you and learned a lot. There’s something more important than status. It’s really rewarding to save people. I learned everything from you.”

Mary’s expression was serious.

Amarion habitually tried to deny it, but she closed her mouth. She was honestly proud of what she had done. So she smiled instead.

“Thank you for saying that.”

Mary smiled broadly. Amarion was relieved and emptied her wine glass.

They talked a little more after that. According to Mary, the rumors of a ‘banquet hosted by the Grand Duchess’ inflated, and she was now inviting all the Northern nobles to the ball.

Amarion really didn’t know anything…

Mary encouraged her.

“Don’t worry, Madame. Everything you do will become a trend.”

“It’s burdensome…”

“You’ll be the biggest celebrity in the North after this subjugation is over.”

The girl, who was talking passionately, yawned from exhaustion.

“Go on and rest. You look very tired.”

“Yes… Then I’ll retire first. See you later, Madame.”

The girl yawned again and went into her room.

Amarion cleared the table and laid down on the bed. She didn’t have any more books to read, so her thoughts naturally wandered. She thought about the Kobolds she killed, the monster situation, Mary…

…and Victor.

Him.

After leaving the mansion, stories of him piled up one after another. The man she knew was an elegant and wonderful gentleman, a man suffering from illness, and a cruel Lord.

But what she had heard here was that he was a responsible ruler, a caring knight commander, and a helpless orphan who had lost his older brother.

Both were Victor.

She had never been so curious about anyone before. The first thing she liked about him was his looks, but now that she knew more about him….

Strangely enough, she didn’t hate him.

She thought she wouldn’t like him anymore since she saw his cruel side. Her initial anxiety and disappointment gradually subsided, and now she just wanted to talk. After a successful subjugation, she would go back and talk face to face in their bedroom. If Victor didn’t want to write a letter, she would talk to him personally.

Her heart pounded when she thought Victor might be tired of her, but the affection that her people showed her gave her a little courage.

She left the castle and did something, so if Victor found out about it, wouldn’t he want to talk to her again? She was a helpful Grand Duchess and worked for his land…

She closed her eyes with childish hope.

The evening sun poured through her bedroom window. There were people laughing and talking outside.

She buried her face in the pillow and took a short nap.

＊ ＊ ＊

Amarion woke with a terrible feeling.

She heard a sound. A sound that should never be heard inside castle walls.

She jumped to her feet. It was already dark outside. She ran as fast as she could and roughly threw open the curtains.

In the distance, a fire was burning. Flying shadows passed over the village.

Fire-breathing shadows, huge…

“No…”

She was out of her mind and grabbed all the swords she could find. Then she ran through the quiet castle and screamed as loudly as possible.

“Chimera! A Chimera has appeared!”

The whole castle began to wake up.

＊ ＊ ＊

Due to their territorial nature, Chimeras did not attack humans very often. That was because they had a lot to eat even if they were only protecting their territory, and they did not like the taste of humans. In addition, they didn’t come out of the deep mountains, which was their habitat.

But now, above Fidelburg Castle, there were Chimeras. The number flying over the village was several times higher than the number they had encountered on the way here.

Amarion mounted her horse and ran like crazy. Frightened by the cry of the Chimera, she clenched her teeth.

It was so scary. As far as she knew, there was nothing here that could deal with Chimeras. Chimeras were a monster that couldn’t be killed by arrows, oil, fire, or spears, so hunters  had to catch them with traps.

Knights could sometimes catch them with iron nets, but that was only possible when there were one or two.

With such a large number, people would die…!

“Leonard!”

Amarion screamed and jumped off her horse.

The fortress wall was already a mess. People were screaming, houses were burning, and fallen soldiers groaned. The flames spit from the Chimeras burned anything wooden to the ground.

In the midst of it all, Sir Leonard was fighting against a Chimera, alone. She jumped in, thrust her sword under the Chimera’s chin, and slashed its wings.

They quickly avoided the Chimera’s collapsing body. Leonard, with a face smeared with blood and ashes, cried out as soon as he saw her.

“Madame, the people in the treatment center could not evacuate!”

“Is everyone okay?”

“Yes, but not for long!”

She ran to the clinic with Leonard. They were somehow able to get rid of the Chimeras they met along the way, though it took longer than expected. Chimeras were a more difficult monster than an Orc when it came to defence. You had to cut its throat and wings in quick succession.

The knights, including Sir Raoul, had somehow guarded the treatment center until they arrived. Amarion immediately shouted.

“Follow Sir Leonard and evacuate! Those who cannot walk, support each other!”

She turned around and slashed another Chimera.

As the way cleared, healers and patients exited the clinic. Mary, who had been at the treatment center since dawn, also helped patients evacuate. Finally, Julianna, who was also present, exclaimed with trembling eyes.

“Madame, it is too dangerous to be alone!”

“Your presence is a hindrance. Please leave.”

Amarion said sternly. If someone unnecessary stayed to help, her swordsmanship would be limited. Leonard, who knew that better than anyone, hugged Julianna and dragged her away.

Amarion didn’t look back as she ran to the wall.

Sir Ulan had already evacuated the soldiers and held the Chimeras in place with only cannons and crossbows. Ulan said urgently.

“I knew you’d come, your highness! Hold on as long as you can, knights with nets and harpoons are coming soon!”

Amarion nodded and climbed onto the wall.