Chapter 36: Vivian’s Escort – 3

It was a deep night.

A faint candle flickered in the room, casting a soft glow, and Vivian blinked her weary eyes open.

She let out a long sigh, putting down the thick book she had been holding.

The words she had crammed in so far swirled chaotically in her mind, making it difficult to focus.

Closing her dry eyes, she slowly leaned back in her chair.

“Not quite able to concentrate tonight, are you, my student?”

Then, as if to console her, a gentle voice, tinged with laughter, spoke to Vivian.

She could smell Elena’s cigarette smoke as she opened her eyes slowly.

In the corner of the room, on the grand bed, lay Elena, her long hair spilling over her shoulders and her dress.

Her pale, toned leg peeked softly from beneath the hem of her dress.

If it was anyone else, Vivian might have told them not to lie on her bed, but perhaps because Elena looked so beautiful there, like a painting, she didn’t feel much aversion.

Besides, that bed had already become more her own than her parents’ by now.

Vivian responded honestly to Elena.

“…I’m struggling.”

“Oh my, is that a complaint I hear?”

The lessons with Madam Linne had been intense, and while Elena’s teachings were more bearable, that was only in the beginning.

The lessons with Elena had a different kind of difficulty compared to Linne’s.

Swallowing hard, Vivian held up the book as if for emphasis.

“…Does any of this really matter?”

“What do you mean?”

“History of witches, qualifications, vessels… it’s all irrelevant to power, isn’t it? Just stories.”

Vivian felt like she was walking a path that was far from what she had expected.

It had already been three months since she started down the path of a witch.

And in that time, all she’d learned was history, chronicles, and the ancient philosophy of witches.

She had expected curses, simple spells, potions, or rituals and the materials needed for them… but what she’d learned seemed far from any of that.

Elena, with a slight smile, rose from the bed and approached Vivian, speaking in a soothing tone.

“What meaning is there in teaching a baby how to wield a sword before they can even walk?”

“…I understand that, but…”

“I know you’re eager. But there’s a process to everything. Even if I taught you complex curses right now, would you even be able to use them?”

Vivian sighed deeply again.

Sensing her genuine worry, Elena crouched down beside Vivian’s chair and asked softly,

“Something happened, didn’t it, Vivian?”

That seemingly innocent question stirred a pang in Vivian’s chest.

“…Sometimes, it feels like you know everything about me, yet know nothing at all.”

Elena seemed astonishingly well-versed in all the details about Vivian herself, yet she seemed completely unaware of the tension that had settled over Rondor’s castle.

Did she really not know how grim the atmosphere had become in recent times, how tense the expressions of the vassals were?

How could there be such an imbalance in knowledge?

Unsurprisingly, Elena simply responded,

“That’s because I only focus on what interests me…”

Vivian had no response to that.

After all, witches were not omniscient beings.

If they were as incredible as she had once believed, witches would never have been hunted down in the first place.

Realizing this brought down another layer of Vivian’s illusions about witches.

She had thought that with power, anything would be possible, but… perhaps that wasn’t the case.

Vivian asked,

“So, does that mean I’ll be reading these books until I’m of age?”

“You’ll learn some simple spells. But the kind of magic that will fulfil all your dreams—that you’ll only be able to learn when you’re older.”

Vivian shook her head.

“…I don’t know. I need strength now, not something I’ll only use as an adult. If that’s the case, why should I even bother becoming a witch?”

“If you’re still powerless as an adult, you’ll regret not having become one. At least now, take it as a blessing that you’re preparing for the future.”

“Just endure it for another five or six years. Your life will go on well past seventy. Isn’t it worth it if you think of it that way?”

“What I’m afraid of… is that someone might kill me before then.”

“If you give up now, you won’t be any safer as an adult, either.”

Vivian’s gaze wavered.

With a calm smile, Elena looked at her and whispered in a soothing tone,

“Vivian, if you truly want, I can teach you about complicated curses early. If that would ease your mind, even a little.”

“Really?”

“But as I said, it would be useless knowledge, something you couldn’t use anyway… learning it would only worsen your impatience. Something did happen recently, didn’t it?”

Vivian thought of the upcoming days.

Soon, the knights would depart, leaving only a few men to guard the castle.

Among them would be Kailo Alan.

Though she didn’t want to admit it, his absence affected her more than before.

When he last left, she couldn’t even eat… how would she cope this time?

Knowing simple spells to detect poison in food was one thing, but she couldn’t protect herself from a large fire or a deadly blow.

And then, after he left, her uncle Robert Rondor would arrive at the castle.

He would bring his men… could she withstand his influence with just her own retinue, with whom things had been so awkward since her last severe scolding?

Vivian didn’t feel confident.

Eventually, she looked up at Elena, pleading,

“Could you at least find out who wants me gone?”

Elena smiled, a bit apologetically, and tried to placate her,

“Vivian, as I’ve told you before, I teach you how to hunt, not to hunt for you.”

“I know, but…”

“If you start relying on me, where will it end? Will finding your enemy truly resolve everything? After identifying them, what next? Will you come to me to remove them?”

Vivian found herself without an answer.

Elena continued,

“What if it’s not just one enemy? What if someone else targets you? What if their pawns continue the schemes? Will you keep coming to me?”

“Vivian, remember: every spell has a price. Beyond sacrifices, witches must sometimes give up their beauty to cast complex curses.”

“What?”

“You’ve probably heard of what witches look like. Large, warted noses, hunched backs, gnarled faces, skeletal hands, grotesque voices… those are the results of using excessive magic.”

Vivian looked at Elena, seeing that flawless witch, and curiosity welled up within her.

“Then… does that mean you’ve never used magic?”

Elena laughed heartily at her question, then gently patted Vivian’s head.

“Of course not. I’ve killed many in the name of vengeance. What I meant is that you shouldn’t overuse complex spells. That’s why I can’t step in for you. Such things should be saved for the most important moments.”

Though disappointed, Vivian listened as Elena continued.

“Vivian, being a witch isn’t about wielding a powerful sword to swing around.”

“…Then what is it?”

“Think of it as a dagger, something you can use only once in crucial moments. Whether you have it or not in that moment will make all the difference.”

Vivian understood Elena’s words, but her impatience still weighed on her, leaving her feeling just as frustrated.

She slumped over her desk in disappointment.

It wasn’t that she intended to put on a show for Elena; she was simply worried about the coming days.

As she pondered, Vivian found herself recalling Kailo’s suggestion.

‘Or, you could come with me on the expedition.’

…That foolish suggestion.

A naïve remark from someone oblivious to politics.

How could the head of the family leave the castle to go on a monster hunt?

Especially for a woman like herself, following along would surely invite whispers of scorn and mockery.

‘The Monster Maiden’

—she’d be lucky if that’s all they called her.

But it was also true that the idea wouldn’t leave her mind.

The thought of staying behind in the castle made her anxious.

The thought of facing her uncle alone unnerved her.

And yes, she was growing more attached to Kailo’s presence.

Thinking of him, Vivian murmured,

“…Is there a spell that could make me brave?”

To endure the coming days, she would need courage.

Just as poppy sap numbs pain, she needed something to ease her fears.

Elena, finding her endearing, placed a gentle hand on her head and replied,

“There’s a spell to keep your heart steady.”

“…Would that require sacrificing beauty as well?”

Elena chuckled softly and shook her head.

“No. For simple spells, there’s no need. Think of beauty loss as a reaction to powerful magic.”

“Then… could you teach me that spell at least?”

“If you wish.”

It wouldn’t solve Vivian’s deeper concerns, but it was a small comfort nonetheless.

For the first time in a long while, the castle felt incredibly stifling to Vivian, almost like she was trapped in a vast prison.

A prison she couldn’t escape from, where she couldn’t close her eyes but simply had to endure.

With a sigh, she straightened up and looked at Elena.

“…Please teach me.”

***

From the balcony of Rondor’s Castle’s high tower, looking down at the courtyard, I could see knights everywhere preparing to set out.

Horses left the stables, their hooves ringing briskly, while squires dashed around, seemingly excited by the rare scent of the battlefield.

Older knights, aware of the gruelling tasks ahead, warmed up their bodies with sips of warm water, and the occasional knight captains barked out orders busily.

A line of carts carrying provisions moved forward, bedrolls and clean linens piled high.

Men dried off from the steam rising from their bodies, some laughing and joking around.

But the noisier the courtyard grew, the quieter the inside of the castle became.

Vivian’s dwelling felt emptier and lonelier than ever.

The absence of people was not necessarily a good thing, especially for someone with many enemies.

No witnesses meant it was the perfect condition for someone to scheme in secret.

To put it bluntly, someone could sneak up and cut Vivian’s throat in the dead of night, and there’d be no one to witness it.

The emptiness of the castle held that kind of ominous significance.

However, I understood there was no other way for Vivian.

She had invited her uncle, Robert Rondor, seeking his help and summoning him to Loctana… she couldn’t avoid greeting him.

But, given that her relationship with Robert wasn’t exactly cordial, she’d need to be particularly cautious.

Though I knew all this in my head, the worry was unmistakable.

Vivian had told me she’d take a large number of maids with her, but I wondered how much good that would do.

Perhaps this concern was just my overly paranoid mind.

Maybe there was no need to worry so much; after all, the person who handed me the note was silent now, wasn’t he?

There might be no trouble at all.

…However, my instincts kept clouding my reason.

They kept warning me that something felt off.

It felt as though trouble would arise the moment I left.

“Sigh.”

I shook my head.

There was no point in agonizing over something I couldn’t control.

All I could do was look at Vivian, leave at the right time… and hope that she would endure well enough.

I stepped away from the window, walking alone.

Soon, I reached the hall, where, as always, Vivian sat waiting at the long table in her usual way.

She didn’t say a word, even after noticing my arrival.

Just when I thought she might be feeling a bit uneasy, Vivian looked up.

Surprisingly, she seemed noticeably more at ease than before, oddly more courageous.

Seeing her like that somehow put me at ease, too.

-Thud.

I quietly picked up a piece of bread.

I tore off a piece, put it in my mouth, and handed the rest to Vivian.

She took it with familiar hands and put it in her mouth.

“You look well.”

I said, breaking the silence.

Vivian didn’t deny it.

“I’m fine.”

“Just a while ago, you seemed so miserable.”

“…That was a while ago.”

“Do you think you’ll be able to face your uncle well?”

“Yes.”

But as the conversation went on, I began to feel puzzled.

Was she always like this?

No matter how composed she tried to be, there was usually a slight tell… yet now she was calm, almost excessively so.

It felt as if she was wearing a thick mask.

Still, since I’d watched over her for more than a year, I was sensitive to changes like these.

Yet, there wasn’t anything I could point out.

If she’d managed to muster up the courage to hide her feelings behind a mask, that alone was something to applaud.

It seemed only right that I should leave, pleased with her change.

With that thought, I focused on filling my stomach.

As I ate in silence, I kept a watchful eye on Vivian.

Finally, as the long meal drew to a close, it was time for me to leave.

I waited for a moment, but as expected, she didn’t bid me farewell.

Although we no longer clashed as fiercely as before, there was always a certain unbreakable barrier between us—a thick wall built from blood and resentment.

Unable to do anything else, I wiped my mouth and stood up.

-Creak!

The sound brought Vivian back to reality, and she flinched.

But her face still showed no sign of emotion.

I took in her courage with my gaze and turned to leave.

Just as I was about to exit the hall, I stopped and looked back at her.

There, I noticed her shoulders had drooped, her stance no longer as confident as before.

Though her expression remained stiff, her body told a different story.

After that, even I don’t remember clearly.

-Thud!

Before I knew it, I was standing before her, gripping her arm.

Vivian looked up at me, startled.

“W-What…? Why are you doing this?”

She tried to pull her arm free in a panic, but I didn’t let go.

My instincts told me she was hiding something.

This wasn’t the courageous Vivian I knew; this wasn’t the calm Vivian I knew.

Whatever she was hiding, she was afraid.

And I couldn’t help but feel uneasy, too.

“Get up. Get ready.”

I spoke firmly, as if giving an order.

Vivian stared at me in shock, her gaze dazed.

“G-Get ready? For what?”

“We’re going out. You’re coming with me.”

“What?”

“Does it make sense for the head of the family to just stay cooped up in the castle while the whole knightly order goes out? At the very least, you should come along. So, get up.”

Vivian stayed still, then started struggling again, trying to pull her arm free.

“A-Are you crazy? I told you, my uncle is coming.”

“So what?”

I cut her off forcefully.

“If you’re the head of the family, then act as you wish. Why do you only ever move based on his approval? Tell him to wait until you return.”

“I-I want to stay in the castle-“

“Don’t lie to me.”

Vivian froze at my rebuke, and her mask melted away, revealing her vulnerable self once more.

Seeing her like this, I softened my tone.

“It’ll be fun. You’ll get to cover yourself in mud, feel nauseated by the blood…”

“How is that supposed to be fun…”

Despite her words, a faint smile appeared on her face, whether out of exasperation or mockery, I couldn’t tell.

But she was smiling nonetheless.

Sensing her hesitation, I shook her more relentlessly.

“Idiot. And who is this uncle of yours? You should be afraid of me, not him. Did you forget I’m the firstborn of the Alan family? If anything, you should be keeping an eye on me, making sure I’m suffering in the punishment unit, don’t you think?”

By now, Vivian’s strength was fading, making it easier to pull her towards me.

Her hips were gradually lifting from her seat.

“…Why am I like this?”

Then, Vivian lowered her head and muttered to herself, clutching her clothes near her chest.

“I thought I’d prepared myself…”

“What are you talking about?”

I asked, not understanding her words, but she didn’t respond.

Instead, she slowly reached out and gripped my arm.

Taking it as a sign of agreement, I spoke again.

“Let’s go.”

I pulled her towards me.

Her body followed suit as she stood, and as I looked at her face to face, I spoke firmly once more.

“Let’s go. Quickly.”

Holding her arm, I began walking, and Vivian trailed behind me, no longer resisting.