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Chapter 67
The knights moved in perfect order, feeding and watering the horses.
“You must be exhausted.”
“It was worth it. That much effort is nothing.”
“You’re right.”
The dragon’s treasure was in Ellia’s hands.
Just imagining the ducal estate gilded in gold put her in a good mood.
“You’re that happy?”
“Of course! Now we can coat the whole ducal estate in gold!”
“What?”
“Gold, gold! We’ll put up a golden statue of you in the garden! And gold pillars at the mansion’s entrance!”
“Ellie, I think a golden statue of you would be better than one of me.”
“Me?”
“Of course. You’re the true treasure of this duchy. Naturally, your statue should be there.”
“Then I want mine right next to yours.”
“Fine.”
When Ellia smiled brightly at that, Alexis didn’t stop her.
If Ellia was happy, that was enough for him.
“Shall we head back now?”
“Yes!”
After taking a good rest, the party set out once more toward the distant ducal castle.
By the time twilight deepened, they finally arrived before the massive castle gates. The guards recognized them at once and opened the gate.
“The Duke has returned!”
The cry echoed throughout the castle via loudspeakers.
As soon as they entered, Noah and the rest of the Iron Eagle Knights came out to greet them.
The entire Iron Eagle order knelt in welcome of Alexis’s return—Noah included.
Alexis dismounted first and then lifted Ellia down.
Ellia, hands on her waist, declared proudly:
“We’re rich now!”
At that, Alexis burst into hearty laughter.
The Iron Eagle knights also cheered.
If Ellia said they were rich, it meant they had brought back the dragon’s hoard!
“My lady, you’re the best!”
Campbell rushed forward first, fawning.
“You’ll let us see it, right?”
“Of course.”
Ellia grinned slyly and held up the ring on her finger.
“I’m the master of the lair now.”
Campbell’s eyes sparkled.
“You heard that, boys? The young lady is the master of the lair!”
Suddenly the knights swarmed in, hoisting Ellia up high and tossing her in the air.
Ellia laughed brightly at their enthusiastic welcome.
The very first thing Ellia did after returning to the castle was take a bath.
“Goodness, just look how filthy you are.”
Meryl, prying Ellia from Alexis’s arms, shot the duke a side-eye.
“Your Grace, how could you carry the young lady when she’s this dirty? What if she gets sick again?”
“Ah… sorry.”
“Come here, my lady. Your clothes are a mess.”
After tramping through the forest without a chance to wash, it was only natural she looked this bad. Alexis was no exception either.
“You must both bathe first. Your Grace, please wash up right away as well.”
“Got it, Meryl.”
No doubt Meryl was the boldest maid in the castle—she was the only one who could scold Alexis like this.
According to Norman, she was indeed the only maid who dared nag the duke. The others didn’t even dare meet his eyes.
Alexis looked cold and charismatic at first glance, but anyone who lived with him knew how much of a softie he really was.
That’s why he used to get taken advantage of so often.
Now, though, with Ellia around, that no longer happened—she stepped in before he could be exploited.
Ellia was stripped down and placed in the bath.
Naturally, Meryl tended to her.
“You didn’t get hurt, did you?”
“No, not at all.”
“Really?”
“Really. Not a scratch.”
Only then did Meryl sigh in relief.
“I’m so glad you came back safe.”
“Were you that worried?”
“Of course. I prayed every single day.”
“You even prayed…?”
“Well, maybe it worked. Maybe because of my prayers, you returned unharmed.”
“Thank you, Meryl.”
“Now close your eyes, I’ll wash your hair.”
“Mm.”
Ellia let her hands move through her hair. The touch was so gentle she almost fell asleep.
“All done.”
Meryl lifted her out of the tub, wrapped her in a gown, then toweled off her hair before leading her to the dressing table, where she dried it completely.
Under Meryl’s care, Ellia finally felt like she was truly home.
Once she was all dressed and came out, Alexis was waiting at the door—neat and fresh from his own bath.
“Let’s eat.”
“Yes.”
Together, Ellia and Alexis went to the dining hall.
Inside, preparations for a feast were well underway.
Tonight, they would celebrate their return with a banquet together with the Iron Eagle Knights.
The long tables were piled high with food.
It was a barbecue feast, with enormous roast turkeys and a whole roasted pig.
“My lady! You’re here!”
Everyone was washed up and tidy.
Norman had made it clear: no one was to enter the dining hall dirty. So the knights had rushed to their quarters, cleaned up, and come back spotless.
Among them was Noah.
“Everyone’s here, good.”
Alexis seated Ellia in her designated chair, then raised his mug of beer.
“Tonight, let’s eat and drink our fill!”
“Agreed! Let’s drink till we drop! Cheers!”
Dmitri raised his mug, and the Iron Eagle knights followed with a roar.
Naturally, Ellia and Noah held glasses of juice instead.
After enjoying the lively barbecue party, Ellia slipped out into the garden for some fresh air.
Noah followed after her. He hadn’t been comfortable with the drinking atmosphere.
She sat on a bench, gazing up at the sky, when Noah came to sit beside her.
“Why’d you follow me out?”
“It was awkward inside.”
“You still can’t get used to it?”
“I don’t drink.”
“Isn’t it more that the atmosphere was awkward for you?”
“…Something like that.”
“You probably felt out of place because the party wasn’t ‘noble’ enough.”
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been to a proper noble party.”
Come to think of it, Noah had been cooped up in the palace his whole life. He’d hardly ever attended banquets.
“Not even a birthday party at the palace?”
“Was my birthday ever that important?”
“What? You mean they never celebrated it? You’re the crown prince, that’s terrible.”
“Sometimes Serhi would drop by just to mock me.”
“Did that make you sad?”
“No. Punching him each time felt amazing.”
Ellia thought Noah wasn’t normal either.
“Then this year, I’ll celebrate your birthday for you.”
Noah turned to look at her.
“You will?”
“Yes.”
“You even know when it is?”
“July 15th. You were born in summer.”
“How do you know that?”
Ellia just shrugged.
“I’m the World Tree’s guardian. There’s nothing I don’t know.”
“So the World Tree even tells you that sort of thing?”
Noah chuckled, glancing sideways at her face.
“…Was the expedition fun?”
He clearly regretted not being able to go.
“It was nothing but trouble. We even met Mnesol there.”
“Mnesol?”
“Yeah. A monster born from a shard of the God of Memory. It had no body—just a ghost.”
Ellia gave a spooky smile and tapped her temple with a finger.
“It lives by devouring human memories.”
“Are you trying to scare me?”
“Aren’t you scared?”
“Not at all. You haven’t seen anything truly scary yet.”
“You have?”
“Of course.”
Noah thought, What could be scarier than Grand Duchess Christina’s face twisted like a demon?
Though Queen Marianne had been his official watcher, he knew full well Christina was the one behind it all.
Sometimes she’d visit under the guise of concern.
And every time, Noah would fire sharp words back at her.
When her pride was wounded, her smiling face would freeze and transform instantly into something demonic.
“If you saw her, you’d be terrified too.”
“Really?”
“Probably.”
That woman’s truly terrifying.
Even now, Noah could hardly believe he had escaped her clutches and was living freely with laughter.
And it was all thanks to Ellia.
Ellia could guess whom he was remembering.
It must be Grand Duchess Christina.
She was the one who had given him his worst trauma—the woman who cursed him and even tried to kill him.
