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Chapter 21
Amber was not flustered at all.
Unlike her previous demeanor, her composure now did not come from past-life experience.
In her past life, she had rarely encountered the knight order, so there was no way she would be accustomed to their wary, observing gazes.
Nevertheless, she could remain calm because she knew the Thales knight order well.
Amber remembered every battle the knight order had fought to protect the East in her past life.
No matter how elite they were, there were deaths every year, and the ducal castle had to compile lists of the dead and notify their families.
Those who died on the battlefield often couldn’t even have their bodies recovered, and the territory was so poor that there was nothing to give the bereaved families.
Though Amber hadn’t personally participated in that process, as a member of the castle, she had witnessed enough of that misery.
Amber knew everything: how poor the conditions were that the knights fought in, how hard the bread they ate was, how long they were separated from their families, and how many of them died.
She resented her husband, who frequently left the territory, but she never resented the knights who fought alongside him.
Because she knew what was at stake for them.
*Later, when the drought became severe and the territory fell into ruin beyond endurance, I hated everything in the world.*
But that wasn’t Amber’s fault, and it was all in the past now.
Amber repeatedly resolved not to dwell on her inner self or the past, but to focus on the present unfolding before her.
In this life, the knight order had yet to depart on their first expedition, and the food shortage could be resolved.
“I know that you are setting out on a difficult path.”
Amber began.
“They say this year’s monster wave is small-scale, but a battle is still a battle. I’m sure some of you are upset that the schedule was delayed by a day because of me and that the commander was changed.”
At Amber’s words, several knights flinched. They hadn’t expected her to speak so honestly about everything.
“I am well aware that you fight with all your strength in poor conditions to protect this place.”
The hands of the knights gripping their worn spears tightened.
“I will not say things like ‘I trust you’ or ‘I’m grateful.’ As a mistress who has only been here for one day, what right would I have to say such things?”
For Amber, those words — “grateful” and “I trust you” — were sincere, but to the knights, they would sound like deception.
“So the only thing I can give you is this promise: while you are away, I will look after the castle and the territory and make it a better place to live.”
Amber truly meant it. And she hoped that this would ease the minds of those leaving for a harsh place, even if just a little.
“While you fight, I will do my utmost to care for the East. So if you have any worries about the East, cast them aside before you go.”
The knights’ expressions changed after hearing Amber’s words.
Seeing Amber’s orange eyes, glowing like a quietly burning ember, the knights could tell that her words were sincere.
Amber was clearly an outsider who knew nothing of the East’s circumstances, yet strangely, the knights felt as if she understood everything.
Having someone other than a fellow knight who went out to fight understand the hardship of risking one’s life was a very strange and peculiar experience. Especially after Bella’s insincere encouragement.
Though they couldn’t let go of their wariness, a fondness for Amber gradually began to sprout in the knights’ hearts.
Seeing the knights’ expressions improve, Zeith raised his eyebrows and took note of Amber.
Even in his heart—stubborn and having served the House of Thales for many years—his evaluation of Amber had been adjusted upward.
“Then let us depart.”
At Calix’s command, the knights began to leave the castle. The advance party left first, and the command unit, led by Zeith, departed last.
Just as Zeith mounted his horse to depart, Amber approached him.
“Wait a moment, Sir Zeith.”
Calix and Bella looked at Amber with puzzled expressions, but she ignored them and hurriedly stopped Zeith.
“What is the matter, my Lady?”
Zeith asked politely. Seeing Zeith treat Amber with such decorum, Bella’s eyes narrowed with irritation and anger.
“I have something to say about the expedition.”
“If you wish to offer encouragement…”
“No, it’s something else.”
“Something else?”
Zeith’s face showed confusion.
“The thing is…”
Amber hesitated. Because she was troubled by how to explain what she knew.
*If I tell him this, he’ll surely think me strange. But…*
Her hesitation did not last long. Having made up her mind, Amber stood on tiptoe toward Zeith. Confusion appeared on both Zeith’s and Calix’s faces at the same time.
Lost in thought, Amber didn’t notice the two men’s stares. She put her hand to her mouth and spoke in a serious voice.
“Could I borrow your ear for a moment?”
“Pardon?”
Zeith was so surprised that he made an uncharacteristically foolish sound.
“Your ear…”
Amber paused. Only then did she realize how her words must sound.
Amber’s face flushed slightly. But what she was about to say was not something she could let others hear.
Eventually, Zeith tilted his head toward Amber. His movements were very careful, lest his body accidentally touch hers.
Just as Amber was about to speak into Zeith’s ear, she felt a prickling sensation on the back of her head. She turned around and met Calix’s eyes.
*What?*
Amber tilted her head in question.
Calix said nothing and stood like a statue. Just as Amber, growing frustrated, was about to call his name, Calix turned his head away.
“What on earth…”
She wanted to ask why he was acting like that, but Zeith was not the right person to ask, nor was it the right time.
Amber simply turned back to face Zeith. Zeith’s expression wasn’t good either.
Like Calix, Zeith’s expression rarely changed, making it hard to read his emotions, but Amber could discern the faint bewilderment rising on his face.
“Speak, my Lady.”
After a moment’s silence, Zeith moved closer to Amber.
It wasn’t close enough to be called “borrowing an ear,” but it was near enough for a sufficiently private conversation.
“What is the route for this subjugation?”
Amber asked in a lowered voice.
“We will first go to the outskirts of the territory and cross the Vannes Mountains. That’s where the monsters have appeared this time. And finally, we will return via the Tantalum Gorge.”
Zeith answered Amber’s question faithfully, though clearly puzzled.
*Just as I thought, they’re going to Tantalum Gorge.*
Confirming that the expedition route matched her past-life memories, Amber took a deep breath in tension.
“I have something to say about that.”
“I’m listening. Please speak freely.”
Zeith, still wearing a puzzled expression, seemed unable to even guess what Amber could possibly have to say about the subjugation.
“The ground in Tantalum Gorge will be much weaker than last year, so be careful of monsters that hide underground and then burst upward.”
Amber lowered her voice even further and spoke in one breath.
In the past life’s subjugation, Tantalum Gorge was the only place where there had been injuries and deaths.
On behalf of Calix, who had departed for the Kingdom of Kale, Amber had tended to two knights injured at Tantalum Gorge and delivered the news of one knight’s death to his family.
“The ground, you say?”
At Amber’s words, Zeith’s eyes widened in shock.
“How do you know that? No, setting aside the weakened ground, how could you, my Lady, know that there are monsters that rise from underground…”
“I see and hear many things.”
Amber spoke quickly, but Zeith still looked unconvinced.
Amber was not flustered. She had already anticipated, through Heinrich’s reaction, that he would not fully trust her words.
Amber did not regret her choice to speak about Tantalum Gorge.
*Because I know that just one word can save a knight’s life.*
So how could Amber pretend not to know?
This action did not stem from a desire to develop the East for her own safety, nor from a strategic need to preserve the knight order’s strength.
For Amber, using the information she had to save a knight’s life was a perfectly natural thing to do. Not being able to ignore people in danger was part of Amber’s very nature.
A nature that had been suppressed and unable to manifest in her past life was now revealing itself without reservation in this life.
Zeith studied Amber intently with thoughtful eyes.
Confirming that Amber’s eyes shone with the most sincere light, he opened his mouth.
“If what you say, my Lady, is true, we may be able to avoid a great trap. If so, I will surely return from the expedition and offer my thanks.”
Amber looked at Zeith in surprise. His words about “offering thanks” were quite significant.
“Sir Zeith! Let us depart at once.”
Just then, a voice called out from afar, urging Zeith to hurry.
“And I have one more thing to say.”
Amber hurriedly stopped Zeith as he was about to mount his horse.
“What is it?”
Zeith asked, raising one eyebrow.
“May I ask a small favor of you?”
Then Amber quickly stated what she wanted.
Upon hearing Amber’s request, Zeith looked very surprised.
“No, my Lady, what could you possibly need that for?”
He was so shocked that he forgot his manners and asked back.
“I cannot tell you yet. One thing is certain: the Duke has already given his permission.”
Zeith turned to look at Calix so quickly it made a swishing sound. Seeing Calix nod awkwardly, Zeith let out a groan, “Heogh.”
“Is it too difficult?”
“I was merely surprised because it’s an unexpected request. It’s not difficult at all. We see that thing every time we go on subjugation.”
Since granting Amber’s request would require no extra trouble, Zeith said he would readily agree.
With the conversation concluded, the time had truly come for Zeith to depart.
Amber offered him a brief word of encouragement as he mounted his horse and then stepped back.
“Rear guard, depart!”
At Zeith’s shout, the knights remaining in the castle began to move in unison.
Under the clear winter sunlight, the sight of the knights moving in perfect order was indeed magnificent. Their worn-out armor and battered weapons did not seem like flaws, at least for this moment.
The last knight passed through the castle gate, and Heinrich closed it.
