Ch.BONUSEpilogue – 3 Weeks Later (2)

# The Regent and the Knight

Regent Astrid and Grand Marshal Allegieri were clearly meeting for the first time. Yet as they discussed their plans over the map, they seemed like longtime partners.

Both possessed excellent command abilities, but it also helped that Liliana and Allegieri had already established a framework on their way to Sekundus Fortress.

However, Liliana had no experience commanding soldiers. Her knowledge of operations and command remained theoretical, so developing detailed plans fell to Astrid.

The Regent drafted operations and issued orders with her usual cold, detached manner. Each instruction was rational, intuitive, and simple—essential qualities for night battles like this one.

What bothered Allegieri wasn’t this clarity. The Regent added excessive explanations about why she made certain decisions and what risks they carried.

Some insights were worth noting, but most were common knowledge that any senior commander would understand—unnecessary commentary for this type of meeting.

‘They say the White Blood Knights are arrogant. Does she think we don’t know these basics?’

He wanted to say they didn’t need such detailed explanations, but missed his chance when Astrid tapped the map repeatedly.

“Therefore, the Mercy and Holy Grail Knights will form the encirclement. The White Blood Knights will handle diving in and crushing them.”

The Grand Marshal was about to acknowledge, but Astrid had already turned to Liliana.

“Unless we had conducted joint training beforehand, it’s natural for coordination to be difficult in such sudden circumstances. In cases like this, it’s better to divide operational zones and let each group handle the details under broader agreements. The encirclement may look wide on the map, but…”

The Regent was acting like an operations staff officer—a brilliant advisor developing strategy, explaining the reasoning, and leaving the final decision to the commander.

Just like now.

A regent is ultimately a proxy. When the rightful owner arrives, the proxy must step aside.

It also means holding the stage until the rightful owner comes. Astrid, explaining command principles to Liliana, appeared noticeably unburdened.

“…Therefore, I cannot give Agent Lily a single soldier. She came as an imperial agent, not as a commander.”

At first glance, this sounded humiliating. Berserkr and Valkyrja should be excellent warriors and commanders. Yet it was also a clever declaration.

Liliana didn’t know how to handle subordinates. The White Blood Knights had no reason to follow her. Astrid framed it not as “lacking qualifications” but as “coming as an agent.”

A phrasing that saved face for both Liliana and the subordinates.

‘So this woman is the next Knight Commander. This is her testing ground.’

The Grand Marshal awaited the young woman’s response. A petty person would flare up in anger. An ordinary person would reluctantly nod.

But someone with true greatness would understand. Just like Liliana did now.

“I won’t disrupt the White Blood Knights’ command.”

A declaration that she would charge in alone. She understood how the soldiers would move, wouldn’t interfere with their operations, but would still rush into that storm.

The two women of House Brynhildr completely understood each other.

“If we’re finished, let’s depart now.”

The Grand Marshal hurriedly moved away. Liliana was about to leave too when Astrid called her back.

“Is that thin garment all you have?”

The Regent and Agent disappeared. What remained was a strict aunt and a niece who had left home.

“Yes.”

“You said you wouldn’t disrupt the command? Charging in practically naked amounts to the same thing.”

Astrid waved her hand. Her subordinates brought a chest. Before Liliana could say anything, they flung it open.

Her armor lay inside, neatly arranged.

“How did this get here…?”

Liliana was quite surprised. She couldn’t immediately understand how her aunt had brought her armor here.

As if she knew Liliana would come. Or perhaps she had been waiting to return it to its rightful owner, in case she might return.

“No one else could wear it. What use would I have for something unnecessarily large?”

Before Liliana could respond, Astrid abruptly stood and left. She clapped her hands and shouted, gathering her officers.

Liliana watched her aunt’s back with mixed feelings.

For the first time, that cold figure seemed somewhat familiar.

—

The glowing forest. A pillar of light shooting skyward. Beasts tearing at each other beneath it. They looked like slaughterhouse waste, carelessly gathered and tossed aside.

At the center, before the tallest tree, stood a black knight. With just one sword, he cut down every beast that approached.

His movements were hardly human.

“Is that… even human? Or something merely shaped like a human?”

Even the horses were too frightened to approach.

It would have been easier to understand if it were simply a monster. A beast. Something beyond human comprehension.

But this wasn’t that. It was something mimicking a human, triggering instinctive revulsion.

A poor imitation of humanity—the grim reaper’s form that many imagine with a shudder.

“Whatever it is, it can’t handle all of us!”

Grand Marshal Allegieri from the main force signaled. Wagons carrying ballistae all aimed at the black knight.

Regent Astrid also raised her hand, about to order the trumpets to signal an advance to the center. But neither the Grand Marshal nor the Regent issued their commands.

Through the glowing forest and butterflies, into the midst of slaughtered beasts, a knight wielding a halberd was charging.

—

Liliana’s mission differed slightly from the others. She moved independently, provided support wherever needed, and cut down beasts like the rest.

But finding and protecting Kairos and Maria was her mission alone.

Having observed the operations of the White Blood, Holy Grail, and Mercy Knights, she didn’t rashly enter their operational areas. Instead, she moved through the gaps they couldn’t cover.

‘Where could they be?’

If they were alive, they would surely have emerged by now.

‘Protect yourself in dangerous situations, and plan for the aftermath.’ Wasn’t that the principle Kairos always emphasized?

But Liliana also knew how reckless he could become.

‘Perhaps by now…’

She stopped her thoughts. A group of beasts emerged from the forest. Charging toward them on horseback, Liliana swung her halberd.

Since they were only running forward, she easily struck them from behind. It felt somewhat strange.

She knew the beasts retained only instinct. Hatred, revenge, resentment toward the world.

But the beasts outside the forest were rushing in, while those inside were desperately trying to escape.

They were afraid. Afraid of the one wielding the sword at the eye of the storm.

‘But was Laios such a skilled fighter? How could someone so clumsy and awkward suddenly become so skilled?’

Trying not to provoke the beasts, she carefully approached the center.

The knight in black armor was wildly swinging his sword. These weren’t movements a human could make.

Jumping, slashing, running, while relentlessly cutting down anything that approached.

‘Could it be?’

Liliana noticed something else.

The footwork.

The Knight of the Scabbard, Laios, always had an unstable gait. He seemed dragged along by his sword rather than wielding it.

This “black knight” was different. Light and unhindered. He knew how to distribute weight between both feet. The way he planted firmly before leaping was even elegant.

But it was too regular and consistent. Even now, facing the beasts, several vulnerable points were visible. They matched the flaws she remembered in someone else.

“Kairos.”

What had happened? Why was he wearing the Shadow? Why was he wounded, screaming, with darkness swarming around him?

The once plain armor had transformed grotesquely. His movements were even more bizarre. The man who could cut down with a single stroke was now savagely mutilating already dead beasts.

Liliana gripped her halberd. She spurred her horse forward. She needed to pull him back before he completely lost himself.

Surprisingly, her mind was calm. She wondered if she was deliberately ignoring fear and anxiety, but it was different.

She remembered what happened in the capital. When she stubbornly blocked his resignation path, when they coincidentally rode in Anna’s carriage together.

Anna had told her then to grasp happiness.

‘I believe.’

Just as she recognized him, he would recognize her too.

The black knight saw her. Growling, he leaped forward. Liliana gripped her halberd. It was time to dance with her lover again.

And her faith was rewarded.

—

After the crisis passed, Kairos gradually stabilized. After a week, he could walk from his bed to the door.

After another week, he could walk freely, albeit unsteadily, without support.

Of course, he couldn’t freely navigate the complex interior of Valhalla Castle, so Liliana always had to guide him.

But mostly, just strolling through towers or terraces was enough, especially since the knights who saw them showed almost uncomfortable levels of respect.

“Hero of the Empire.”

Kairos found those words embarrassingly awkward. The knights’ respect contained no ulterior motives.

Protecting Laios and Ismene alone from those terrifying beasts was something beyond comprehension.

So respect was easier. After all, hadn’t they already offered Kairos the Veneration of the Sword?

“Does it make you uncomfortable, hero?”

At the top of the watchtower, where the sentries had left, Liliana smiled broadly. Kairos grumbled.

“I wish you wouldn’t do that too.”

“Why not? It’s true.”

Liliana, who had been teasing, turned to look at the White Blood mountain. Kairos fell into deep thought.

The man who had become everyone’s role model hadn’t sorted things out for himself. Liliana didn’t want to disturb her lover.

“Liliana.”

“Yes.”

Unexpectedly, Kairos was fidgeting. He looked awkward.

“What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”

“No, it’s not that.”

“Then what?”

“Well, um. When things quiet down, let’s go to my family’s orchard together.”

Liliana blinked rapidly. For a moment, she didn’t understand what he meant.

“By now, well, probably… there won’t be apples. But there should be jam or alcohol. Our apples are a bit sour with less sweetness, but they’re quite delicious when made into food. So…”

“And meet your parents too?”

“Yes.”

Kairos blushed to his ears. Still, he staggered forward, embraced Liliana tightly, and kissed her.

But they didn’t have much time. Voices calling for them echoed through the castle. They tried to ignore it, but the noise grew louder.

“We won’t be able to live quietly on a farm, will we?”

Liliana nodded at Kairos’s question. Unlike the White Blood Knights, the Holy Grail and Mercy Knights had returned to their respective units. No matter how much they tried to keep things quiet, word would spread.

“There are other ways to live quietly,” Liliana whispered.

“We could hide somewhere no one knows, but we could also lean against thick castle walls. Station soldiers to keep everyone away.”

Kairos pulled back in surprise. Liliana’s face was gentle.

“You hate this place.”

“I do.”

She didn’t deny it.

“I hate it. But I don’t want to live my whole life crushed by things I hate. I don’t want to make decisions based on what I hate, but for what I love.”

Liliana caressed Kairos’s cheek.

“If we can live quietly and happily, even here would be fine.”

“For that…”

“I will become the next Knight Commander.”

Once said, it felt lighter. Since her return to the White Blood castle, every knight had requested it.

After all, she had faced the strongest and finally pulled him back from his downfall. Something that no one else, not even the eleven Berserkr and Valkyrja, had managed to do.

The tower door opened. Genealogist Huber looked at them awkwardly.

“The Regent asks for your answer.”

“I’ll give it. No, I’ll go myself. Thank you for your trouble.”

Huber, who had expected another refusal, inhaled in surprise.

“So please close the door for a moment. I’ll be right there.”

Coughing, Huber couldn’t properly respond. Instead, he hurriedly closed the door. A gentle breeze blew from the mountain. The lovers gazed at each other quietly.

“I’m curious about something.”

“What is it?”

“Can apple trees survive in such a cold place?”

“Who knows? We’ll find out if we try growing them. Apple trees are strong. Even from the same parent tree, offspring with completely different characteristics can emerge. When we visit the farm, let’s get some seeds too.”

“Alright.”

“And now that you’re the Knight Commander. Let’s drop the formal speech. It feels a bit strange, doesn’t it?”

“Should we?”

“It’s too sudden.”

Liliana kissed him.

—

The fireplace logs burned down. Awakening from her reverie, Liliana added more dry logs. Warm heat spread throughout the room.

Lying back in bed, she pondered various thoughts.

‘Where should we establish the orchard, how many trees should we plant, could the orchard become a new food source for the people of the domain?’

Though they hadn’t even brought apple seeds yet, let alone established a forest, the mere thought was already abundant. Liliana fell asleep again.

It was a dream filled with sweet anticipation.