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~Chapter 17~
The atmosphere among those left in the castle was heavy.
Everyone had gathered in the first-floor hall.
Men and women alike held huge weapons. Someone was even dragging in a cannon.
“It’s a little scary, right?”
Lily sat on the stairs, holding a baby bottle. The foal, Dominic the Second, was peacefully sucking on it.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
Giana, passing by with a crossbow slung over her arm, asked.
“I’m fine.”
“Just let me know anytime. Right now all I can offer is jerky, but you shouldn’t go hungry.”
“Before the imperial party, I even starved for two days. And the jerky in this castle strangely suits my taste. It feels like I’ve eaten it for a long time.”
Lily asked the question she was most curious about.
“Does this kind of thing happen often? Everyone gathering… leaving for battle and all.”
“About once every five years. We do patrol, but sometimes monsters lay eggs in secret places.”
“It’s not that serious, is it?”
“Whatever it is, could it be worse than dying? If you just endure for a day, I’ll bring you a delicious stew next time. By the way, the foal really only follows you, Lady Lily.”
Giana laughed heartily, then busily hurried away.
Even though everyone was busy arming themselves, they would still stop by Lily’s side for a moment.
It showed just how much everyone cared for and liked her.
But sometimes, there were moments when Lily was left alone… and there was a youth who had been waiting only for that.
“What are you doing?”
Sebastian stood in front of Lily, who was sitting on the stairs, speaking in a cheeky tone.
It had been hard for him to approach Lily because of Blake. He didn’t like that at all.
‘In Winter Castle, and in the dukedom, no one lives protected by others.’
The only things that protect you are yourself and your weapon.
Everyone built up their strength with that belief.
The boy did not welcome the way Lily was changing Blake.
He was full of the desire to pick a fight with Lily. After waiting in silence, his chance had finally come.
“Everyone is busy with their work, so what are you doing sitting here leisurely?”
“I’m protecting a foal that was just born.”
Just then, Dominic the Second glared at Sebastian. Even though it was just a baby, its eyes were fierce, befitting the bloodline of a warhorse.
As he subconsciously took a step back, Lily sighed.
“Huu.”
Lily was used to people picking on her.
When she was young, her parents tormented her, saying, “You’re not good at anything.”
After she got married, the only thing that changed was that her husband became her tormentor.
—You have nothing to offer but your looks. You know that, right, dear? My love Lily. Do you know how to manage accounts, how to handle taxes?
It was natural that Lily didn’t know—she had never had the chance to learn.
Still, her husband found every reason to keep her from doing anything.
Even after she threw away everything and ran to this place, she was sick and tired of being treated the same way.
Seeing Lily looking indifferent made Sebastian even more annoyed.
“Whatever. I didn’t expect Lady Lily to be capable of anything anyway.”
“And what are you doing?”
“Can’t you tell?”
“All I see is a boy talking to me when he should have something else to do.”
“Excuse me, but I was cleaning arrowheads!”
Sebastian wanted to warn Lily.
Blake was the master of Winter Castle and the symbol of the Uffus people.
Their lord always had to be as sharp as a well-honed sword.
To assist such a master, you needed special talent. Someone like himself.
“Just behave yourself. For Lady Lily, maybe not getting in the way of others is the best you can do.”
“Thank you for your kind advice. If you’re done, you can go.”
It was a clear dismissal.
His face reddened under his baker’s cap. Ugh, acting so superior!
In any case, someone else was approaching Lily.
Sebastian quickly left.
Dominic the Second put its head on Lily’s knee and murmured.
“Hee-ing.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m not bothered at all. I’m sure even that kid felt it.”
How much time had passed as people bustled around?
The sun had risen high, then disappeared.
Outside the castle, the snowy mountains were now so dark you couldn’t see without a lantern.
Finally, the huge doors creaked open… and those who had left returned.
The first thing Lily noticed was the smell of iron mixed with oxygen—blood.
The number of people returning was twice as many as when they left, but very few were unharmed.
Many were slumped on horseback or being carried by others.
There was even an old man dragging his leg, leaving a trail of blood.
“…!”
Lily spotted Blake.
Except for the red stains on his cloak’s fur, he looked unharmed.
He had carried two grown men on his back and now set them down in the hall.
As soon as Blake entered the castle, he seemed to look for Lily. Among all the black clothes, he found her instantly. Like magic.
Without realizing it, he walked toward her.
He felt awful.
If there was a hell, it would be no different from what had happened before he returned to the castle.
And he was right. The guests coming to Winter Castle had been attacked and isolated by a group of drakes.
They barely managed to return with everyone after the battle, but they were exhausted in body and mind.
Each step was heavy.
As he drew closer to Lily, the clanking sound of his armor echoed in his ears.
“Mr. Blake! Are you okay?”
“Are you alright, miss?”
Words of concern for each other came out at the same time.
Blake smiled faintly, just as he had when he left. He liked seeing Lily looking flustered.
He tossed off his cloak and sat down on the floor.
“First, tell me what happened at the castle.”
“We just did the same as always. Is everyone on your side safe?”
“I brought everyone back alive, but who knows. If we count the people who might die soon as safe, then yes.”
The situation was grim.
There was someone who had lost an arm. Most needed emergency surgery, but resources were limited.
Blake drank the cool water someone brought him.
“Damn it, we need a shaman and a hospital, but we can’t go down the mountain right now. The monsters aren’t all gone yet.”
“At least we should give first aid!”
“But still, we need a shaman. With things like this, some will die for sure.”
Il Dexter was also lying unconscious in the hall.
“It’s no use waking him up. On the way back, he was a huge help as a guide. But now, he’s so exhausted, he’ll be lazy and sleep for days.”
There were very few shamans in the dukedom.
Pure-blood Imperials tended to be physically strong, and the only decent academy was in the capital.
On top of that, there were political entanglements. That’s why only Il Dexter was the shaman in the castle.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Lily couldn’t understand.
She was a shaman too.
She had accepted that Blake hadn’t trusted her enough to give her special tasks.
But to pretend not to know her even in this situation was foolish.
“I’ll do it! Of course, I can’t promise to save everyone. But if you don’t want me to slap you, gather all the shamanic supplies in the castle! If I work hard enough to collapse for a week, I can at least handle first aid!”
“What are you talking about?”
Of course, Blake didn’t know about Lily’s abilities and was confused.
“Don’t tell me you’re a shaman too?”
“Of course!”
“You never said so!”
“How could you not know when I was so famous in high society? The only people who wouldn’t know are those who burned every letter and newspaper from the capital without even opening them!”
“…That’s exactly why I didn’t know.”
Lily took it as a joke, but Blake was completely serious.
She was so on target, he wondered if she might be spying on him.
“Everyone, move in order. The seriously injured go by the fireplace, regular patients next to them.”
Lily was physically weak and not used to exercise. She had rarely been allowed outside.
Because of that, she had often visited hospitals and knew well how the medical system worked.
Under Lily’s excellent direction, people moved in perfect order.
Now, everything depended on Lily’s hands.
