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Chapter 5
“It’s been a while, Runadeluze.”
Beneath windswept black hair, eyes of muted shade held her gaze steadily.
Between the heat caught in that stare, a summer forest breeze slipped through.
“…Do you know me?”
The man gave a short laugh, as though the question were amusing. Rune frowned at this bewildering situation. His face was close enough that their breaths mingled.
She twisted her wrists, but her hands, firmly caught, wouldn’t budge.
“Damn it!”
Jerking her head up sharply, her eyes met the black ones above a long, straight nose.
The slight upward tilt of those eyes radiated arrogance.
“Your tongue’s gotten sharper.”
“Damn it, let go of—!”
As she struggled, his robe shifted. Rune’s eyes widened at the black armor revealed beneath it.
On the shoulder guard was the clearly embossed emblem of a wolf.
It was the same as the insignia stitched onto the black cord of the Harpy Eagle.
Lower down, a longsword hung at his solid waist, emanating a dim light.
‘Black aura.’
How had she not noticed earlier?
If her suspicion was correct, this was none other than the treasured sword passed down the House of Hereis. The longsword, forged entirely of magic stone, was a famed weapon known to choose its own master.
Even across the Grand Duke’s long lineage, few had ever been chosen by it.
And the one who inherited it after generations was—
“…Kailian Hereis.”
At the sound of his name, Kailian’s eyes curved with a pleased smile.
“Your speech has grown less formal.”
Rune looked up at him, startled.
‘Didn’t Humphrey guide him straight to the castle? How did he end up here?’
Kailian Hereis. She had never imagined meeting him like this. Her brows quivered faintly.
Jet-black hair, and eyes tinged faintly with red.
“…I failed to recognize you, Lord Kailian. Forgive me for raising my blade against you.”
“It’s fine. I also found it hard to recognize you at first glance.”
He spoke in a tone as though he knew her well.
“You’ve grown quite a lot.”
Rune bit her lower lip lightly, hands still restrained. Kailian seemed utterly indifferent—not only to her impudence but also to their closeness, their faces nearly touching.
Clearly, having been away from the Empire, he didn’t yet know about her condition.
‘This is bad. I need to get out of this position first.’
At present, she was practically leaning into his embrace.
“…My hands, if you would.”
Instead of letting go, Kailian tilted her chin from side to side, examining her face intently. A healthy flush of color had returned to her pale cheeks.
“I’d heard you still suffered fevers. Is it better now?”
His words carried concern, as if he’d worried about her. Rune’s expression turned puzzled.
‘He’s been in the desert all this time—how did he even hear such rumors?’
Ever since the Marquis of Este secluded himself with her illness, rumors of his heir’s worsening health had spread openly throughout the Empire’s society.
“…So antipyretics have become useless then.”
“Pardon?”
“Well, this looks better, anyway.”
Kailian’s lips curved faintly in an enigmatic smile. Rune was about to ask what he meant when the sound of horses whinnying came from behind them.
“My lord!!!”
Ethan dismounted, breathing heavily. Clicking his tongue, Kailian released Rune’s wrists with a frown.
“I told you to go to the castle first, Ethan.”
“How could I go ahead when you rode off like that?! And—what on earth is this mess?”
“For the record, only one of these was my share.”
“Oh, I’m sure. You’ve practically carved them all to pieces.”
Ethan grimaced at the orc corpses scattered about. Step on one by accident, and their stench would cling to your boots with every step.
‘Ugh, unless it’s in battle, why suffer that misery?’
As he tiptoed carefully around the bodies, Ethan’s eyebrows shot up.
“Wait—! Isn’t this…?”
He rushed toward Rune and bowed politely.
“Ethan Grimaldi of the Dark Knights. It is an honor to meet Lord Runadeluze, heir of House Este.”
“Ah… pleased to meet you, Sir Ethan. I regret our introduction comes at such a time.”
“Not at all. It has been far too long! I almost didn’t recognize you!”
His cheer turned to shock when he saw Rune’s robe drenched with black monster blood.
“Good heavens—what is this? Are you unharmed?”
“Yes, I am fine.”
She rubbed her aching wrist. Other than the soreness from Kailian’s grip, she was uninjured.
“That’s a relief. But—did you really come all this way alone? It’s quite far from where the wall collapsed.”
“As Este’s lands border the Black Forest, I was inspecting the outer wall more closely.”
She thought briefly of the handkerchief hidden deep in her robe. Best not to mention that strange black powder just yet.
‘Ethan Grimaldi… he became Lord Kailian’s adjutant, didn’t he.’
From what she’d heard, he was the son of the Grimaldi Count, vassals of House Hereis. His dramatic arrival was surprising, but also fortunate under the circumstances.
Stepping quickly away from Kailian, Rune turned and said,
“Let us move from here. I will lead the way.”
The northwest outer wall was bustling with men moving equipment and earth. Workers were busy restoring the collapsed rampart.
Spotting Rune, a knight overseeing the work ran over.
“You’ve returned, my lord.”
“What of the corpses?”
“Yes, they’re being dealt with in the clearing.”
Looking up, Rune saw dark smoke rising not far off.
“There are five more bodies at the north wall. Tell the soldiers to bring them over. And can you guide these men to the castle?”
“Yes, understood.”
Turning to Kailian and Ethan, Rune said,
“The steward will meet you at the castle. I’ll check on the disposal of the corpses and follow afterward.”
Kailian regarded her silently, expression unreadable. Then he frowned faintly, as if displeased.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to accompany you to the site.”
At his unexpected words, Ethan whispered in disbelief,
“My lord—they’re burning monsters there. Why go to such a place?”
“Go on ahead to the castle, Ethan.”
But Kailian was already walking off. Ethan hurried after, face twisted.
“You keep telling me to go on ahead—but how can I leave my lord behind?”
Rune, too, felt troubled. Taking the reins from a soldier, she said cautiously,
“As you know, it won’t be a pleasant sight.”
“I don’t mind.”
Mounting his tall black horse, Kailian nodded.
“We’d best make haste before sundown.”
At the northern clearing, soldiers under knightly command had gathered the orcs into a pile and set them aflame.
The work was nearly done—only dark, smoldering corpses remained.
The acrid stench of burning monsters stung the nose. Men covered their faces, grimacing.
“Ugh.”
Unable to help himself, Ethan clamped both nose and mouth shut. Watching Rune calmly face the black smoke, he muttered awkwardly,
“…No matter how many times, one never gets used to the smell.”
“True. But it’s far easier than dismantling them one by one.”
Soon only a heap of ashes remained. Soldiers raked the ground, revealing dark-violet magic stones within.
“It’s also the simplest way to harvest magic stones.”
Magic stones, crystallized with mana, were embedded deep behind a monster’s heart. After cutting open a few carcasses, this stench almost seemed preferable. To Rune, handling sticky fluids and organs was worse.
Soldiers gathered the stones into sacks. Ethan clicked his tongue, arms crossed.
“Ah, that’s right. Este’s territory is one of the Empire’s few sources of magic stones. The price is fair, but having to go through the temple… such a waste.”
By decree, all collected stones were delivered to temples under the Imperial capital, the only place capable of refining their mana.
“…I heard the supply has increased lately. But judging from today, that may not be good news.”
Rune nodded grimly.
“It means monsters are appearing more frequently in proportion to the stones gathered.”
“Indeed. The Black Forest grows more ominous. Orcs attacking villages in broad daylight….”
Ethan swallowed with a groan.
“The Imperial family might someday order a great subjugation campaign. The thought alone is dreadful.”
If such a campaign were called, Kailian and the Dark Knights would certainly be conscripted. And their loyal lord would never refuse.
Seeing Ethan look at her sorrowfully, Kailian raised an eyebrow.
“Is there a problem?”
“How could there not be?”
Rune gave a faint smile at Ethan’s weary eyes.
“You must be tired from your long journey. I’ll have you guided back to the castle shortly—please wait a moment longer.”
“Ah, truly? That’s a relief. I was already worrying about the knights we sent ahead!”
“Your camaraderie is touching, Ethan.”
Kailian chuckled at his enthusiasm. Ethan protested, grumbling at being misunderstood. Rune, meanwhile, called over a knight.
“Five more bodies will arrive soon. Report to Sir Humphrey once the work is done. I’ll return to the castle first.”
She could hardly leave a guest standing in such a place. Drawing her blade on Kailian had already been offense enough.
Arriving before the inner castle with the two men, Rune brushed awkwardly at her disheveled collar.
The Marquis of Este awaited them at the gate, expression dark.
‘Of course, he came out.’
She had already received word that her father returned from the capital. Upon hearing of the attack at the wall, he must have rushed back immediately.
At his side, Humphrey watched Rune with pained eyes, brows furrowed.
‘He looks truly furious this time.’
