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Chapter 5
“But are you just going to sit still? I’ve been watching you throughout this whole revolution. Of course, you carry the fatal weakness of your bloodline, but I believe you’re more devoted than anyone else. If you can just prove that to the leadership, a path might open for you. No— it will open. So if you’re entertaining any foolish thoughts, cast them aside immediately and put that fire back into those handsome eyes of yours.”
“Do you really think the leadership will retract what they’ve already said? Isn’t what they said true? I am the son of a Beldam landlord, and I cannot change that fact.”
Giles spoke with bitter resignation. He was like a stain marring the perfect and pure surface that the new leadership was supposed to embody. Once the great storm had been weathered, the small blemishes became visible. And then came the finishing sweep— the final cleanup. For the sake of perfect closure, it was an unavoidable step.
“I don’t like beating around the bush, so I’ll be blunt. I want you to remain by my side.”
Harrington leaned forward, his tone earnest.
“I’ll do everything I can to support you, so even if little time remains, don’t give up until the very end. You are a loyal talent of the revolution. I know this because I’ve seen you closer than anyone. But those far away have never witnessed it for themselves, so they judged otherwise.”
“What can I possibly do?”
“There’s an assignment I want you to take on personally.”
Harrington handed him a file. Giles accepted it and flipped through the pages one by one. Escaped prisoners. According to intelligence, they were heading toward Beldam.
If they slipped through the weakened border in the aftermath of the defeat, they would be free. And no one could predict what kind of boomerang that freedom might become for Ipswin in the future.
“Your task is to capture them before they cross the border. This mission demands far more caution than anything you’ve handled before. Treat it as the grave matter it is. You’ll depart at dawn tomorrow. All necessary information is in that file.”
“Are they important figures?”
“Once you learn who they are, you’ll understand they’re the kind of people you can’t possibly allow to slip away. I’ll send word to your men in advance.”
Harrington stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and added:
“Do your best to bring them back as corpses. Cleaning up after is always such a nuisance, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Lost in thought?”
Suddenly, Lily leaned in close, pulling Giles out of his reverie. Startled, he twitched, which made Lily stifle a laugh, amused by his reaction.
“Not really.”
“Liar. I thought you were angry. The look on your face said something was definitely wrong. With a scowl like that, how could I not notice?”
Though she was speaking with feigned brightness, Lily couldn’t take her eyes off him— proof that she truly was concerned. Whenever she was around Giles, there was always a lingering tension. She pretended otherwise, but Giles could sense it.
Perhaps the fact that he was an officer of the revolutionary army intimidated her. That was possible. To put her at ease, he made something up on the spot.
“After doing this work for a long time, sometimes it just happens. A habit, nothing more.”
“So nothing’s really wrong?”
She was perceptive by nature. She had already sensed that something unusual had happened. But Giles had no desire to speak of it.
“No need to worry.”
“Really?”
“Yes. So relax.”
With that, Giles handed her the bread he had brought. Lily took it with her long, slender fingers— the unmistakable hands of a pianist.
“It might be a little hard.”
“That’s fine. I’m just grateful to have something to eat.”
“Eat slowly, or you’ll upset your stomach.”
She nodded, and silence fell between them. This time, both were lost in their own thoughts.
Lily had grown much healthier. Though still pale from lack of sunlight, the ghostly look she once carried had faded. Her hair, too, was slowly regaining its sheen.
“I… I’ve been wondering.”
She hesitated, then spoke.
“You’re busy, but you keep coming all the way here to bring me food. Doesn’t it trouble you? I’m just a useless woman— so why do you go out of your way to spend time on me?”
She asked timidly. Giles looked at her and replied simply:
“Because being with you puts me at ease.”
“All I do is eat the food you bring.”
“That’s enough.”
He meant it. Watching Lily eat the food he brought gave Giles a deep sense of peace. That was why he never brought just any food.
“And if I didn’t come, you’d surely go hungry.”
“I never imagined anyone would care this much for me.”
Was it awkward for her, being cared for by someone? Compared to when they first met, her demeanor had softened greatly, yet she still couldn’t fully relax into Giles’s kindness.
“Just saving me was already more than enough…”
“Lily. Sometimes good things happen. Don’t overthink it.”
Then Giles added softly:
“Right now, you’re the only one keeping me going.”
Lily looked startled at his words, flustered and unable to hide it. Giles, watching her, asked:
“Did you often leave the manor grounds?”
“Only when it was time to pick fruit.”
“And the rest of the time?”
“Mostly… I just lay in bed. There isn’t much else I can do. But I don’t mind. No one is trying to hurt me anymore. Just being able to be alone makes me happy.”
“You never go out for walks?”
“If someone saw me, it could be dangerous.”
But hardly anyone lived nearby. It had been a noble’s estate, and few dared to linger in lands once swept by the revolutionary army.
“Out there might be less dangerous than you think.”
“But if someone did see me…”
“If you’re with me, you’ll be safe.”
Giles rose to his feet and extended his hand. He wanted to take Lily outside. No one oppressed her anymore— she was free. Yet, bound by fear, she imprisoned herself.
For today at least, Giles wanted her to be truly free.
“You mean… to go outside?”
“It’ll be good for you. You need the sunlight.”
“But I don’t have shoes.”
Giles glanced at her bare feet. She had a point. If she hurt herself while following him, it would be serious. He didn’t want that. So he spoke softly:
“Excuse me.”
And with that, he lifted Lily into his arms. She let out a short cry of surprise.
“Giles!”
“If it’s uncomfortable, just say so.”
Her face flushed red, but she shook her head. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck. He took that as her consent.
Together, they stepped out of the manor. The autumn sky was brilliantly clear. Lily shielded her eyes with her hand from the glare. Around them stretched a pastoral scene of peace, as if the bloody storm that had raged here had never happened.
Giles brought her to a place he had marked in his mind: a stream near a path lined with countless wildflowers. It was so beautiful, he thought nobles might once have strolled here.
He set Lily down gently by the water’s edge. She looked around with wide, curious eyes, as though seeing it all for the first time.
“I never knew this place was here.”
She spoke, as the sound of flowing water mingled with birdsong, drawing them into another world entirely. Having been trapped in the abandoned manor, Lily seemed almost infused with new life.
Sitting by the stream, dipping her feet into the water, Lily murmured softly:
“Thank you.”
“…No, thank you.”
A small flock of tits perched some distance away, chirping. Giles thought about how long it had been since he had spent such a peaceful moment with someone. If he hadn’t saved Lily, he would never have known such a time.
Looking down at her as she playfully kicked at the water, Giles felt certain: he could not let her come to harm. If anything ever happened to Lily, he wouldn’t be able to bear it.
She had become his sanctuary, his paradise.
Whether he could save his own life was uncertain. But at least Giles had saved one person.
That alone brought him immense solace.
Then his thoughts drifted back to the mission General Harrington had assigned him. Capturing the escapees seemed straightforward enough… but something about it felt off.
If it truly were so simple, why had Harrington spoken of life and death, calling it a matter of such grave importance?
