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Chapter 63
To my dearest Mrs. Grant,
Your last letter arrived safely. I’m glad I told you what supplies we needed—thanks to that, the knights were overjoyed to finally have something resembling a proper meal.
The merchant who arrived this time said the roads leading here have improved considerably. He also said that once the news spreads, many more will start using the route. More travelers mean good things. Where people gather, money always follows.
After hearing that the monster subjugation had begun, a few commoners returned to their hometowns. The land has weakened, so they can’t farm right away, but they still sent word that they wanted to help in the campaign. We’re short on hands, so we gladly accepted their offer.
I heard Nox has started taking swordsmanship lessons at the academy. I regret not being able to teach him properly myself after buying him that rapier. I should’ve trained with him a few more times before I left. Tell him Sir Bonaparte said he’d become his instructor once he returns. He made such a fuss insisting I write that part first that I’m doing it now.
Elaina couldn’t help but smile; she could almost see Leo chattering noisily beside Lyle as he wrote.
Getting such a mundane letter was a good sign—it meant that even amid the monster subjugation, they still had enough peace to laugh about ordinary things.
She turned to the next page.
The monster subjugation is almost finished.
Wild beasts that once attacked people have all but disappeared. The hunters say it seems like a mass migration has begun—apparently, they’ve moved into the deep mountains where human hands can’t reach. We’ve decided to monitor for now.
Deep within a valley, we found a small settlement. But it’s strange—too odd to be just people living together. I think it might be the base of those intelligent monsters I mentioned before.
We need to confirm it, but an old man who’s lived in these parts told me that long ago, a dragon once dwelled in this mountain. He said it’s likely a village of high-intelligence monsters that served that dragon. Dragons, in a world where magic no longer exists—what a fairy tale, isn’t it?
Anyway, the handkerchief you gave me is still clean, and nothing dangerous has happened. I think it’ll stay that way until I return. Though, at this rate, your loose stitching might unravel before I do.
If anything happens, I’ll write again—
The next paragraph was scratched out, a few bold lines cutting across the page, but beneath them, more words continued:
I’ll write again soon. Until then, stay healthy.
P.S. I heard you haven’t been sleeping well. An old herbalist here recommended this—he said if you make a sachet with it and place it under your pillow, you won’t have nightmares and will dream good dreams instead. It’s such a common flower that I didn’t expect much, but it works surprisingly well.
If you run out, tell me. I’ll send as much as you need.
—Lyle Grant
“Tsk.”
Even as she clicked her tongue, Elaina couldn’t suppress the smile on her face.
Sarah, who had been wiping down the table nearby, stared at her with barely contained curiosity.
“What does the master say, madam?”
“He says he’s fine.”
Elaina breathed in deeply, savoring the scent of the purple-flowered herb that came with the letter. Just like Lyle had written, the fragrance really did seem to calm her heart.
“Why does he keep mentioning the handkerchief, though? Was my embroidery that bad?”
“With your skills, I’d say you did quite well, madam! Honestly, it’s a miracle you even finished it. I, more than anyone, remember how you used to grumble about threading needles as a child. It’s practically a masterpiece!”
Sarah gave her a playful thumbs-up, half teasing, half complimenting.
Elaina chuckled and handed her the bundle of herbs.
“Make some sachets with these. He said to put them under the pillow, so I’ll follow his advice.”
“Wow, it smells wonderful! I’ve never smelled anything quite like it.”
“It’s supposed to help you sleep. Must be a species from the Mavel mountain range.”
She told Sarah there was plenty to go around, so she could make extra sachets to share with the servants. Seeing Sarah clap her hands in delight made Elaina smile as well.
To the esteemed Duke Grant,
The letters are arriving more frequently now. That must mean more people are traveling through the mountains.
The herbs you sent last time were a hit! I made sachets for everyone in the household, and there was still enough left to send some to my parents—and to Diane as well.
Nathan seems very interested in the herbs you found. If it’s not too much trouble, could you send more in the next wagon? You mentioned that the returning villagers have little to do—perhaps they could earn wages by helping transport the herbs. It’d benefit everyone.
These were people who had risked their lives to return home and help with the subjugation. Giving them small tasks might not only help them but also encourage others to return.
Diane and Nathan will be visiting the estate in a few days.
They must be worried that I’m alone here. Summer break hasn’t started yet, but they said they’d come to the capital early.
They also invited me to Hennet once the subjugation is over. They said they hope you’ll come with me next time.
Speaking of Diane and Nathan—don’t you think little Gugu had a big part to play in their romance? Can you believe that tiny pigeon managed to fly all the way from Hennet to the ducal estate? Isn’t that incredible? It delivers letters faster than any courier!
Below that, she’d drawn a picture.
Colin, glancing over Lyle’s shoulder, frowned.
“What’s that? A monster?”
His question drew the others in, all of them crowding around.
“It looks like a dog. Or a cat?”
“Then why does it only have two legs?”
“It must be a monster. Wait—doesn’t it look like that one we fought last week?”
“Now that you mention it, those angry little eyes—yeah!”
“See? Told you I was right!”
As Colin puffed up proudly, Lyle finally said, “It’s a carrier pigeon.”
“Right, right! A carrier pigeon monster named—wait, what?”
“It’s the messenger bird Lady Hennet sent to the duchess. Its name is Gugu.”
Everyone went quiet for a beat.
Then, trying to act casual, they all began scattering one by one.
“Ahem. I, uh, just remembered I need to clean my sword.”
“My shift’s in an hour—I’d better get some sleep.”
“I’ll, uh, check the food stores. Anyone want bread?”
In an instant, the room emptied.
Lyle shook his head and looked back down at the letter.
Isn’t it adorable?
With all these letters, I don’t feel lonely at all.
Ah, but don’t get the wrong idea. You’d be shocked to know how many invitations I’ve received since you left. I think most of them assume you’ll fail the subjugation and come home defeated. You said it’s nearly over, right?
Just imagining their faces when you come back victorious makes me feel rather pleased with myself.
That sounds a bit villainous, doesn’t it? Ah, well—what does it matter? Everyone already treats me like one anyway.
And if you keep teasing me about that handkerchief, then send it back in your next letter!
P.S. I dare you to laugh at the new one I made.
—Elaina Grant
Lyle opened the small parcel that had arrived with the letter. Inside was a handkerchief—thinner, neater, and far more elegant than the last one.
“She must’ve had Sarah help her,” he murmured.
But as if she’d predicted his suspicion, a small note was tucked inside: Sarah did NOT help!
Lyle burst out laughing.
He still wrote to Nox regularly, but more and more, he found himself eagerly awaiting Elaina’s letters. Knowing there was someone who truly knew him, even from afar, was an odd comfort. Her letters always seemed to anticipate his reactions, and reading them never failed to make him smile.
“I’d better prepare a lot of herbs,” he said softly.
He planned to fill the wagon she’d sent with bundles of them for the knights and the household alike.
As he reread the letter, his eyes fell once more on the pigeon sketch. Remembering the men arguing whether it was a monster, he couldn’t help but chuckle again.
“Carrier pigeon, huh.”
Hennet and the capital weren’t exactly close, but compared to the northern front, the distance was nothing. A normal carrier pigeon could never make such a journey.
Then Lyle remembered something he’d seen just a few days ago—something that would make the perfect gift for his wife when he returned to the capital.
A quiet, amused smile curved his lips.
