Chapter 53: Witch Hunter – 1

Vivian’s behaviour, as she began to befriend the boy soldiers of the punishment unit, was changing the atmosphere at Rondor Castle.

It wasn’t as though people were too foolish to understand why she was doing it or what her intentions were.

Everyone knew just how precariously Vivian stood in her position.

There had already been two overt assassination attempts, which made it clear that someone was targeting her.

Thus, her attempts to grow closer to the boy soldiers were understood as her efforts to gather her own troops.

This caused dissatisfaction among the rest of the knights, which was inevitable.

After all, implicit in Vivian’s actions was a lack of trust in the rest of the order.

However, Vivian ignored such complaints.

Her stance was that it was impossible to move forward while satisfying everyone.

***

Even within the punishment unit, the reactions were mixed.

Some were overjoyed to have been chosen by Vivian, while others made it clear that they had no intention of walking a thorny path for her.

Whether those sentiments would change with time remained to be seen.

***

But one thing was certain: as Vivian moved, a tense and unprecedented atmosphere began to permeate the castle.

Vivian’s movements meant her adversaries would move as well.

The factional struggles that had lurked beneath the surface began to materialize.

If that wasn’t enough, Vivian also began another peculiar behavior.

Initially dismissed as mere rumor, it was soon confirmed as truth as more witnesses emerged.

Every day, Vivian would call upon one of her vassals or maids and ask them questions.

She would pose two or three questions, sometimes sharp and pointed, other times trivial and nonsensical.

When this absurd story reached my ears, I couldn’t resist my curiosity.

I asked her during one of our shared meals.

“Is it true you’re calling people over to ask questions? What’s that about?”

Vivian responded indifferently.

“…I think I can tell when people are lying lately. So I’ve been testing it out.”

I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh at her ridiculous explanation.

As if she was some omniscient god, how could she possibly know such a thing?

I continued, intending to mock her.

“So, how’s that going?”

Surprisingly, Vivian answered with a confident smile, unaffected by my sarcasm.

“Pretty well.”

Apparently, she could use this magic three times a day at most, and even then, it was taxing.

Elena had told her that her abilities as a witch were still underdeveloped, limiting the number of spells she could use.

After using magic three times in a day, Vivian would be overwhelmed by fatigue and drowsiness.

Elena assured her that this would improve as her abilities grew, but Vivian remained cautious.

Over the next few days, Vivian tested her power.

She asked obvious questions, expecting obvious answers.

“Serena, can you tell me the color of the fabric I’m holding?”

She lifted a white cloth and activated her spell.

Serena, flustered, looked back and forth between Vivian and the cloth before stammering her reply.

“Wh-white.”

Vivian had been told that if someone lied, their eyes would briefly glow red; if they told the truth, their eyes would glow blue.

The moment Serena answered, her eyes glowed blue.

Such trivial questions continued daily, as Vivian could only use the magic three times a day, making progress slow.

She even wanted to test it on Kailo, whom she often saw at meals, but she refrained, uncertain if the magic truly worked.

And so, time passed, and Vivian reached one conclusion:

Her power was real.

She could confirm the truth up to three times a day, at critical moments.

From then on, she began calling her vassals one by one to question them.

This caused another stir in the castle, as Vivian’s abrupt actions disrupted the once-peaceful daily routine and filled everyone with tension.

Yet Vivian avoided directly asking overly sensitive questions.

There was no need to rush when there was plenty of time.

Asking outright, “Do you oppose me?” would only invite backlash.

Instead, she posed minor questions or made small requests.

For example, she might say, “I hope you’ll continue working hard for me,” and wait for their response.

When Lady Linne responded with “Yes,” her eyes glowed blue.

Despite her strict demeanor and occasional bluntness in conversation, her sincerity shone through.

It was only now, two years later, that Vivian began to understand why her mother had appointed Lady Linne as her mentor.

Though not exceptionally skilled, Lady Linne’s heart was unwaveringly true.

But aside from Lady Linne, all the other vassals’ eyes glowed red.

Initially shocked, Vivian began to see a pattern.

She couldn’t fully discern what their lies meant.

If she thought pessimistically, it could mean they all wished for her downfall.

But she didn’t believe that possibility was very high.

Optimistically, it might simply mean they had not yet developed enough faith to pledge their loyalty to her.

After all, humans are selfish creatures; her vassals might still be calculating which faction to align with.

Of course, understanding this didn’t mean she planned to leave things as they were.

In her mind, Vivian was already deciding who to dismiss and who to keep by her side.

This small spell, capable of discerning lies, was quietly bringing about a significant shift.

Vivian had always been aware of the hostility toward her.

But seeing it with her own eyes evoked a different kind of feeling.

Confirming it herself brought a mix of fear, frustration, and a newfound determination.

If she had known about this spell earlier and realized how many adults around her opposed her, she might have been paralyzed by fear.

But the current Vivian was not the same as before.

There was someone she despised yet relied on, someone who gave her the strength to endure her fears.

However, she could not bring herself to use the spell on him.

Previously, she thought it was because she didn’t want to risk testing an unproven power on him.

But as her confidence in her ability grew, she realized that wasn’t the reason.

“…Why?”

Kailo, who had been shovelling food into his mouth, looked up at Vivian’s silence.

Realizing she had been staring at him absentmindedly, Vivian quickly pretended otherwise and resumed eating.

“…It’s nothing.”

Thinking about it, Kailo was the one person she didn’t need to worry about.

No matter what she said or asked, it wouldn’t affect him.

Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to use the spell on him.

The reason became clear to her later.

She was afraid.

Afraid that his eyes might glow red.

Afraid that everything he had ever told her might turn out to be a lie.

***

“Where are you going?”

Following Vivian’s orders, I retrieved leather armor, a real sword, and the red bear helmet.

The same was true for the 50 boy soldiers under my command.

Early that morning, Vivian’s orders, relayed through Vergore, had disrupted our monotonous routine.

“Heading into the city. To meet with the Las Order.”

Vivian, dressed in far more dignified attire than usual, answered.

The fine fabric, impeccable stitching, and the Sun of Rondor emblazoned here and there spoke of her authority.

“Why the Las Order?”

Though I asked, it was clear she was going to meet someone important.

Shrugging, she delayed her answer as if to say I’d find out soon enough.

I set aside my curiosity and donned my helmet.

My comrades were already lined up, waiting only for me to finish preparing.

Once I put on the helmet, Vivian quietly looked up at me.

Then, with a faint smile, she murmured.

“…The more I see it, the better it looks.”

I pointed to my helmet and asked.

“…This humiliating thing?”

“Why humiliating?”

“You stuck an animal’s head on a person’s.”

“It’s your family’s symbol, isn’t it?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. This wasn’t made for me.”

Vivian chuckled softly at my remark.

Tucking her soft hair over her shoulder, she said.

“Fine, I’ll admit it was made to mock you. But still, I really think it’s well-made. Especially… that red colour.”

My helmet was the same crimson as Vivian’s hair.

Perhaps that was intentional.

Unable to find an answer, I stopped thinking about it.

Soon, Vivian approached the boy soldiers and asked.

“Are you all ready?”

A resounding “Yes” came in reply, and Vivian gave the command.

“Then let’s go. Please protect me well, everyone.”

Once again, I took the reins of Vivian’s horse.

Today, nothing was thrown at me.

Well, almost nothing—but every time something flew toward me, Vivian’s stern glare seemed to stop it in its tracks.

Moreover, as Vivian hadn’t brought a large army, we were able to move through the city somewhat quietly.

Of course, we still drew attention, but it wasn’t the overwhelming crowd that came when the entire knightly order marched.

“Kailo, this way.”

Valon, a commoner well-acquainted with the city’s layout, led the way.

He claimed to know many hidden alleyways in the city, but since Vivian couldn’t visit such places, they stuck to the main streets.

Strolling leisurely like this, wandering around Loctana, gave a clearer view of the lives of commoners.

It was a reality I hadn’t fully seen before, as they were always busy throwing stones or rotten fruits at me.

Some seemed to live ordinary lives, but most appeared impoverished.

Tattered clothes, emaciated bodies, dirty skin, and unkempt faces.

When I first arrived in Loctana, I didn’t think I’d ever feel pity for them.

But maybe it’s because two years have passed?

My perception had definitely changed.

“No matter how I look at it, I don’t think it’s possible.”

Vivian suddenly spoke to me.

I questioned her, puzzled.

“What isn’t?”

“That these people will ever come to love you.”

She was referring to our wager.

When I remained silent, she continued.

“…But were you serious back then? That you’d be loved by these people?”

“I was serious.”

“What exactly do you plan to do? I honestly have no idea. If anything, you seem more lost than I am.”

“…Just wait and see.”

“Do you even have a plan?”

…Of course not.

But ever since the intense anger they had toward me began to subside, I vaguely thought there might be something I could do.

When I couldn’t respond, Vivian smirked mockingly.

“See? You don’t have one. Too bad, Kailo. Looks like you’re going to rot here forever.”

“…Not if I can make you cry even once.”

“I told you, I’m not crying anymore.”

“We’ll see about that.”

After a brief silence, Vivian once again pushed my helmet.

-Thud.

Her sudden action irritated me slightly.

I turned to look at her, and there she sat on her horse, looking somewhat drained.

However, her gaze was sharp as she asked,

“…Do you really want to go back that badly?”

Her words left me breathless.

Why did she suddenly seem lonely?

She was always lonely, wasn’t she?

Realizing my hesitation had made my answer late, I quickly replied.

“Would you let me?”

“Are you crazy?”

Her fierce reaction, despite her earlier lethargy, made me chuckle.

Then, as I carefully chose my words, I revealed my true feelings.

“…It’s my home. Of course I want to go back. There’s so much I miss.”

She was silent for a moment, then asked with a slightly forlorn expression,

“…Like what?”

That unfamiliar look pricked at a corner of my heart, but I forced myself to reply casually.

“My family, the food… Oh, and the snow that falls from the sky. It’s too hot here, and it’s exhausting.”

There were so many things.

Too many to list.

Whenever I felt such differences, I was reminded of the fact that I was living far from home.

Vivian bit her lip lightly and looked at me.

Her gaze carried an incomprehensible complexity.

Then, she turned her head slightly and spoke in a low voice.

“Forget about the snow. As for your family… I can’t meet mine because of your family, so we’re the same in that regard. And food… I can make it for you here.”

Her tone was a mix of affection and lingering regret.

Was she feeling sentimental today?

The inexplicable mood made me deliberately mock her.

“Sounds like you’re saying you’ll provide everything here, so I shouldn’t leave. Would you miss me if I was gone?”

Vivian’s expression twisted for a moment.

She narrowed her eyes coldly and retorted icily.

“…I’m telling you to give up. You’re stuck here, rotting away. Missing things you can never see again… it’ll only hurt you.”

A strange silence settled between us.

I wondered why the conversation had taken this turn but kept my mouth shut.

Vivian, too, didn’t bother to speak to me any further.