Chapter 34: Vivian’s Escort – 1

A couple of months had passed.

The bones in my broken leg had mended somewhat.

Though I still needed to wear a splint, I could walk without much difficulty—just had to be careful not to run.

In the meantime, Vivian had lived quietly, almost like a mouse.

She rarely left her quarters and was silent during the month when my leg was broken, except for the occasional meal she shared with me in my hospital room.

During the following month, while I took my crutches and walked around the estate, she stayed holed up in her room.

I had no idea what she was doing or what she was thinking.

If this had been before, I would have been anxious.

I would have thought she was sinking back into dark thoughts, or that she had fallen apart again, as some of the retainers seemed to believe.

But having spoken with her, I wanted to trust that this was just a phase, like a caterpillar preparing to transform into a butterfly.

I believed she was planning for the future in her cocoon.

Today, as we ate lunch together in the spacious hall, I checked her food again.

In the past, Vivian insisted she could eat on her own now and that I didn’t need to check it for her.

But during the fire, Baelor said to me.

“If you die, Rondor won’t survive.”

Using that, I convinced her:

“Whoever it is, your enemies don’t want me dead. As long as I taste your food first, they won’t even think of poisoning it.”

She had nodded at this.

Could I really say I had no ulterior motive?

I was reluctant to stop checking her food, afraid that we’d lose these shared mealtimes together.

But I didn’t regret it.

To this day, we still shared meals, and I enjoyed Rondor’s quality food instead of the punishment unit’s bland fare.

While chewing on a piece of bread, I observed Vivian’s demeanour.

There was something different about her today.

I could sense that the plans she had been preparing over the past two months would soon be set in motion.

“Kailo.”

She called my name.

We were now on a first-name basis.

Though it was hard to say if we had grown closer, it was certainly a change from the days when we were solely hostile.

“Yeah?”

I responded, and she slowly put down her utensils, her eyes intense.

“I need your help.”

I had sensed that something was coming, but I never expected her to ask for help.

For someone as prideful as her, it was a surprising request.

Not that I minded.

Hiding my real thoughts, I retorted.

“Didn’t you say you didn’t need protection?”

“I’m not asking for protection. I’m asking for help.”

“How?”

Wiping her mouth with a napkin, she continued.

“Today, I’m going to gather all the retainers and… issue orders that are almost like threats.”

A hint of fear flickered across her face, but she looked at me, suppressing that fear.

“I need you to stand beside me, looking menacing.”

She said.

“Me?”

“Yes. You’re Rondor’s Executioner.”

That statement implied that whatever orders she issued would be life-and-death decisions.

Once again, Vivian managed to surprise me.

For someone who couldn’t bring herself to stamp a death warrant, she was now talking about purging retainers if needed.

Despite my surprise, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Killing people was uncomfortable as always, but intimidating those who had annoyed me over the years seemed like it could be fun.

Seeing my grin, she looked at me in disbelief.

“Do you… enjoy killing people?”

“No, I just find your change amusing.”

I replied.

Rather than getting annoyed, she responded with a certain resolution.

“I told you, I’m going to get stronger. Strong enough that the Alan family can’t dismiss me.”

Then, a question occurred to me.

“Don’t you think putting on too much pressure might just stir up more rebellion?”

She answered coolly.

“They’re already willing to let me die and refuse to protect me. They can’t be any more rebellious than they are.”

I nodded.

“Alright. I’ll help.”

Later that day, Vivian gathered the retainers in the grand hall: the captain of the guards, the four knight commanders, the stable master, the blacksmith Gulk, the kennel master, the groom, the treasurer Brynden, the Spymaster Nestor, Scholar Crellin, Lady Linne… and more.

At the far end of the hall, a small, raised platform held a single chair, where Vivian sat in silence like a queen.

I stood beside her, hands gripping a longsword planted on the ground.

Per her request, I also wore the Red Bear’s helm.

The retainers looked on in confusion, surprised at Vivian’s sudden appearance after two months and the air of authority she exuded.

Baelor broke the silence.

“Lady Vivian, what is—”

“Mind your words, Sir Baelor. I did not grant you permission to speak.”

She cut him off sharply.

Watching this, I felt a strange thrill, a chill running down my spine.

It was only a brief exchange, but it was enough to showcase Vivian’s transformation.

She seemed to have learned the power of words and how to assert control.

I wasn’t sure why, but I couldn’t take my eyes off her at that moment.

My expression shifted without my intending it to.

Baelor’s face showed a brief flash of displeasure, but Vivian paid him no mind.

She was immersed in the cold atmosphere she was creating.

And in this self-made moment, she spoke slowly.

“…I am aware that there is someone here who wants me dead.”

The retainers responded with alarm, offering various protests and excuses.

“My Lady, I have done my utmost to support you….”

“I am hurt by such accusations, Lady Vivian!”

“There may be traitors, but I have always been—”

“Silence.”

She commanded, cutting them off with a single raised hand.

“Words don’t matter. Some act as though they would stab me, yet still protect me; others promise to protect but fail to act. This is rife among you.”

She no longer stammered as she spoke, and this only added to the shock among the retainers.

Her clear and steady voice held an inherent authority that had once been hidden by her soft tone and stuttering.

“To those who only talk, I will give you a chance to prove your loyalty through actions. Nestor.”

Nestor stepped forward at her call.

“Yes, you summoned me?”

“Nestor Rik, the Spymaster of ROndor. Your family has always devoted itself to Rondor.”

“It has been an honor.”

“And yet, you have done nothing for me recently.”

At her statement, Nestor stiffened, a worried look in his eyes.

“As a Spymaster, you’ve failed to find who tried to poison me, who set the fire, and who wishes me dead.”

“Lady Vivian, I—”

“You have three months. Find who wants me dead. Or, if that proves difficult, at least identify who has failed in their duties to let things escalate so far. If you cannot… I’ll remove you. I have no need for incompetent retainers and can easily find someone else.”

Nestor exclaimed in panic.

“Lady Vivian! The Rik family has served Rondor loyally for centuries. We have always—”

“Brynden, the Treasurer.”

She said, cutting him off without a second thought and calling the next retainer to the stand.

She had no intention of listening to excuses.

Brynden, noticing the different atmosphere, bowed low, sweat already forming on his forehead.

“Is the Count of Corrode still sending dunning letters?”

“…Yes, my lady.”

“With all the taxes collected from the townsfolk, why have you not paid him back yet?”

Brynden’s face turned pale.

“My lady, the townspeople have fallen on hard times… so we haven’t been able to collect as much tax as before…”

“Are you certain?”

Her voice held a subtle suspicion.

Brynden managed a reluctant nod, but his eyes wavered.

Vivian narrowed her gaze, issuing a cold warning.

“…Brynden, I hope you do not find yourself face-to-face with Kailo Alan.”

The implied threat of execution made the retainers hold their breath.

Brynden’s eyelids trembled, unable to believe Vivian’s transformation.

But Vivian showed him no mercy.

“I’m entrusting you with the restoration of the castle library that burned down. Gather workers and rebuild it. And bring me detailed records.”

“Yes… yes, my lady.”

The retainers likely thought her change came because of the fire.

But I knew better.

I was the trigger.

Maybe that was why, although I was initially glad about her transformation, her unyielding intensity began to stir pity within me.

It didn’t feel completely right watching her grit her teeth to survive.

I stole a glance at her and noticed her hands were trembling slightly.

“…Master… Lady Linne.”

Lady Linne stepped forward.

“Yes, Lady Vivian.”

“You advised me before, didn’t you? That I should expand my circle and make friends to support me.”

“Yes, I did.”

“Please make preparations. I’m ready to start socializing.”

Lady Linne gave a calm nod.

“Yes, my lady. As long as you no longer stammer, there’s no reason to hesitate. I will invite kind and intelligent ladies to Rondor Castle.”

“Knight commanders.”

Vivian directed her attention to the knights.

Baelor, Thoros, Mordain, and Vergor stepped forward.

“You have all been a disappointment.”

Her words brought a cold silence to the hall.

Vivian spoke firmly.

“…In the past, I found Kailo Alan’s provocations unpleasant, but now I see some truth in his words. Answer me, is this why we lost the war against the Alan family?”

Baelor, who had been clenching his fist, spoke in a voice barely suppressing his anger.

“…Lady Vivian, that remark… disregards the departed Duke of Rondor and even Lord Lois.”

Vivian replied coldly.

“No, I’m disregarding you. If what you’ve shown so far is how you perform in war, then my father and brother’s defeat makes complete sense.”

Baleror bit his lip, forcing himself to swallow his words, but his gaze reflected deep anger and humiliation.

Though I couldn’t read his expression, it felt as though he was saying:

‘Is this humiliation because of these two children?’

Vivian continued.

“If you didn’t like what I said, then I’ll give you a chance to prove yourself. Prepare to mobilize within a month.”

Mordain questioned her, uncertainly.

“…Mobilize? All of us?”

“All capable of fighting, yes.”

The knights exchanged glances.

They didn’t take Vivian’s orders to prepare for something akin to war kindly, especially since the command came from a trembling, fourteen-year-old girl.

Their reluctance seemed to stem from this as well.

Thoros asked.

“Are you suggesting we go to war?”

“No, but we will undertake operations of a similar scale. Rondor will hunt monsters.”

Vergor looked up at us with a questioning expression.

“Not an extermination… but a hunt?”

“Yes. You are all aware, aren’t you? The Mester family at the eastern end of the kingdom hunts monsters and profits from selling them.”

Vergor hesitated, lowering his gaze.

“…But hunting monsters is different from regular extermination. It results in many casualties and isn’t very efficient.”

“And is eating up the castle’s resources efficient?”

I could sense it.

Initially, the knights looked at Vivian with disregard, but gradually, their gazes were subdued by her.

This rapid transformation, like a sudden attack in the dead of night, effectively seized control over them.

It must have taken her a long time to prepare for this.

I could easily picture her practicing these harsh words alone, stammering in her room.

“The knights of Rondor must act for the people of Loctana. Isn’t it the knights’ duty to protect the weak?”

I couldn’t help but smile at hearing the words my father had drilled into me in this very place.

“Prepare to mobilize. We need to earn wealth. Do you understand?”

Thoros, Mordain, and Vergor nodded.

Only Baelor stood with his head held high, looking displeased.

In the past, Vivian wouldn’t have been able to handle Baelor’s gaze.

I glanced over at her.

Vivian looked at Baelor for a moment… then glanced at me before returning her gaze to him and spoke.

“Baelor. Right now, I question your loyalty the most.”

“…Lady Vivian.”

“…When given a chance, make good use of it.”

In that moment, Vivian was effectively declaring Baelor as an adversary among the people of the Rondor family.

Baelor’s face flushed red.

His pride was wounded, and he was visibly seething with anger, but he couldn’t say anything further.

He slowly bowed his head.

Vivian continued in a calm tone, calling her next subject.

“Scholar Crellin.”

“…Yes, Lady Vivian.”

After taking a deep breath, she commanded softly.

“…Please summon my uncle to Loctana.”

“Do you mean Lord Robert Rondor?”

“Yes. We need his help now.”

After the shocking meeting concluded, I followed Vivian to her room.

-Thud.

As soon as the door closed, Vivian seemed to lose her strength and slumped down.

-Thud!

“Vivian.”

I hesitated to reach out and catch her as she fell.

There was still a certain distance between us, and we weren’t close enough to touch each other so casually.

I could only watch her as she looked up at me, breathing heavily, clutching her chest.

The strong figure who had commanded her retainers in the hall had vanished, replaced by a frightened girl, drenched in cold sweat, who looked as though she didn’t know what to do.

I had no words for her as I watched.

Just moments ago, she had hidden her fear and firmly subdued her retainers.

But now, I could finally see how much burden, how much terror, she had carried throughout the entire ordeal.

The resolve she had shown was, in the end, nothing more than a shell, and she had acted despite her fear.

After a moment to catch her breath, Vivian looked away from me and asked quietly.

Her voice trembled, full of uncertainty about her decision.

“Kailo, I…”

Without finishing her sentence, I understood what she was asking.

It wasn’t just a question.

She was seeking reassurance that her first steps were meaningful, that they were truly okay.

She desperately needed someone to affirm her actions.

Unable to hold back a chuckle, I finally spoke.

“…Not bad.”