episode_0052

Near the square, an inn.

It was already quite hot to call it spring. Even if the sun had crossed over the mountain peaks, the heat still lingered on the ground.

Despite the weather, three men with their robes pulled up high around their necks were standing by the window, looking suspicious to anyone who saw them, their rough silver goblets placed in front of them.

Soon, the square beyond the window became noisy. As a man on a black horse appeared, the townspeople began to gather around him.

“It’s the Duke. Seems like he’s holding Eleanor Youngae in his arms.”

Amidst the silence that hung over the table, the first to move his lips was the gruff man. Emotionless, the man, Ernst, quietly relayed the visible situation.

Looking at the platinum hair stretched under Dimitri’s arm, Christian sitting beside him spoke, “Eleanor Youngae has finally fallen victim. Fate can be so cruel.”

Christian then picked up the large silver goblet in front of him. Though it was probably the largest goblet in the inn, in his hand, it looked just like an ordinary cup.

“Is Youngae okay?”

Christian asked as he brought the goblet to his lips. His gaze was directed towards the silver-haired man in front of him, but Ernst answered instead.

“The antidote we brought is a top-grade one, even refined by the Archpriest. If Eleanor Youngae manages to hold on, even if she’s weak, she should be fine.”

As the two conversed, Julian, sitting across from them since entering the inn, remained silent.

His gaze was fixed on Eleanor, sprawled in the Duke’s arms. His crimson eyes burned like flames of hell.

Until Dimitri entered the doctor’s house, Julian simply glared at them without a word.

“Sigh. Ernst, are we ready?”

“We… have contacted those personally brought into the fold by the Master from the East. They should arrive in the capital by tomorrow at the latest.”

“Too late. We can’t wait until tomorrow. If they came here, others must have headed straight to the capital.”

Ernst quickly responded to Julian’s words.

“Physically, that was the best option.”

“I’m not blaming you. Ernst, I’m just asking if you’re prepared. This is our first real test.”

Julian picked up the silver goblet in front of him and emptied its contents in one go. Then, he carefully gripped the hilt of the saber, drawing a smooth curve above the scabbard.

Only then did Ernst nod slightly.

Watching the two, Christian, exuding the most vitality he had shown in recent times, said, “Ah! It’s been a while since I moved my body! I wonder how awake Shilov is?”

The first to rise from his seat, stretching and chuckling in anticipation of the upcoming battle, was Christian.

#.

Dmitri, extinguishing the urgent fire, found himself lost in thought.

The immediate issue was the mine he was about to take over from the Beaurne family. Another problem was Shilov, who was occupying the mine as he pleased.

It was all about the value of magical engineering. The rapid growth of the once ignorant people in the South was all thanks to magical engineering.

With so much magical ore buried in the mine, not in the far-off South but near the capital, it was advantageous for transportation as well.

If one were to manage the Magyeongseok Mine well, they could immediately put out any urgent fires. No, it wasn’t about urgent fires anymore; there was no need to bow miserably to beg for provisions.

However, once it became known that what lay within was Magyeongseok, it was questionable whether the Baerun family would easily hand over the mine to the Verbreitz Ducal House.

The contract they had currently entered into was skewed in favor of the Verbreitz Ducal House. Ownership resided with the Baerun Viscountcy, but 90% of the operation and profits harvested from there were to be taken by the Verbreitz Ducal House.

Moreover, this agreement was not a written one but an oral agreement. If it had been accurately documented, there would have been no need for such concerns.

Furthermore, the party involved, Albrice Baerun, was not an easy man to deal with. Just a brief conversation with Albrice would quickly reveal even the most obvious facts.

Certainly, the contract seemed to benefit only the Verbreitz Ducal House. However, in reality, within the mine handed over by the Baerun family lay a viper named Honsu.

And what lay within was none other than Shilobra.

Of course, dealing with such a viper like Shilobra was not difficult. While it possessed a tough exterior and potent venom, being originally a bug, it was also vulnerable to fire. Moreover, Shilobra’s legs and its infamous venomous sting couldn’t penetrate thick armor.

The issue was that Shilobra favored dark, damp places, which didn’t align with its potential origin from the capital.

Shilobra was a creature typically seen at the eastern edge and jungle regions of the south. There was no record of Shilobra ever appearing outside those areas.

In the end, someone had released Shilobra inside the mine.

Did that someone release Shilobra knowing that Magyeongseok was inside? What was Shilobra’s purpose for being set free?

If Magyeongseok wasn’t the target but rather Shilobra’s venom was… Politics in the capital would surely become tumultuous, much like when the former empress died.

“The situation has been resolved for now.”

Dorio approached Dimitri, who was leaning back on the sofa with a pensive expression, and spoke. Lines of weariness etched his face next to his long, tired eyes.

“How is Youngae doing?”

“It’s not poison that I have to solve, but an antidote. My granddaughter and I merely tended to Youngae’s shoulder wounds.

Seemingly fatigued from unexpected overtime, the elderly Dorio continued speaking, turning his shoulders as he talked.

“Seeing Youngae’s reaction while treating the wounds, it seems her life is not in danger. However…”

“However?”

At Dimitri’s inquiry, the doctor added with a grim adverb.

“There might be scars left on Youngae’s delicate shoulders, which would be regrettable.”

Though relieved that it wasn’t a dangerous situation, it was indeed a significant matter concerning Youngae.

She was a charming young debutante this year. Judging by the dresses Eleanor had been wearing, she seemed to prefer styles that exposed her shoulders.

Of course, Dimitri was unaware that Eleanor’s choice of attire hadn’t been entirely her own decision.

“Is there no solution?”

The doctor’s gaze shifted to the dagger at Dimitri’s waist.

“As you know, the priests at the temple are more adept at handling injuries than we are.”

“The priests? Dealing with them is always a hassle.”

Dimitri replied with a snarl.

As the lawmaker said, the most outstanding factor in trauma and recovery was the blessings of the priests. However, the only temple properly functioning in the Verbrech territory was one belonging to the Verbrech City.

No matter how much Dmitri pleaded for priests to be sent over the ramparts, the response always remained the same.

“It is something that God will take care of.”

The elderly lawmaker immediately leaned in closely to Dmitri, who was seated on the sofa. The pungent and sharp scent of disinfectant and antidote emanating from him tickled Dmitri’s nostrils.

“Dmitri.”

“Yes?”

Dmitri looked at Doryo with a guarded expression as he suddenly lowered his voice.

“Even if I were to say that I am just an old village chief, I have been in charge of this village for over 30 years, treating people. I know what the golden lion motif carved on Lady Yeong-ae’s brooch represents.”

Dmitri listened silently to Doryo’s words.

“Isn’t the lady lying there Lady Eleanor Verne, the youngest daughter of the Verne family?”

There was still no response coming back. However, Doryo seemed satisfied with just the silence as an answer.

“And our Nari with black hair and black eyes is none other than His Grace, the Duke of Verbrech, known as the Empire’s Sword.”

As Doryo finished speaking, Dmitri’s sword sliced through the air menacingly. The blade of the longsword, sharpened to the hilt, halted in front of him, cutting through Shilov’s leg, which was covered in wrinkles.

“I am grateful for treating Lady Yeong-ae. It would be best if you were the only one aware that the woman inside is from the Verne family or that she was brought here because of Shilov’s poison.”

Despite Dmitri’s sharp tone, the village chief chuckled nonchalantly in response.

“I have lived long enough to have no regrets. However, I have a request for you, Nari. Please consider it as payment for the treatment, and think of it in a positive light.”

#.

Eleanor raised her heavy eyelids against something tickling her eyes. The refreshing morning sunlight streamed through the white linen curtains fluttering by the window, shining on her face.

“Ah…”

In that peaceful morning, as she yawned widely and stretched, Eleanor’s body stiffened in place for a moment.

The sight before her now was vastly different from the usual morning scenes she encountered.

Lush green trees surrounded her beyond the faded glass window. However, the trees in the estate garden did not grow so densely. Moreover, the window frame and the faded glass itself did not belong to the estate.

Even the bed was different.

Instead of a soft mattress that felt like being embraced, it was a hard and narrow one, reminiscent of the uncomfortable mattresses she had experienced during her childhood.

The place where she lay now was modestly adorned with various trinkets, resembling a girl’s room.

Because of this, Eleanor uttered the name most familiar to her.

“Sop…Sophie? Where are you? Manuela? Ge, Geraldine!”

“Oh! Are you awake, miss?”

The returning reply was also an unfamiliar voice.

Eleanor was startled to see the face of a girl with bright blue eyes looking at her. She sat up abruptly on the bed. No, she tried to sit up.

The pain radiating from her shoulder initially prevented her from moving.

The realization that there was nothing covering her body except for bandages wrapped around her shoulders interrupted her thoughts.

“Miss, it might be difficult for you to move yet. The wound on your shoulder is as severe as the poison that spread through your body.”

Smiling broadly, the orange-haired girl spoke. Eleanor stared at her while wrapping herself in a coarse and worn-out blanket.

“Who are you?”

However, the words that came out were not at all in line with the lady’s language. The girl looked at Eleanor with a gaze that said she found her cute and spoke.

“Here is the clinic, and I am Eilie, helping Grandfather who is a doctor. You were brought here in the arms of a splendid knight last night. Miss, do you remember?”

At Eilie’s words, yesterday’s memories began to replay vividly before Eleanor’s eyes.

Being attacked by a spider monster near the mine while walking alone.

Crying out to be saved, Dmitry appeared and rescued her.

Returning to the mine in his arms.

His rough fingers prying open her lips and pouring a potion inside.

And once again being held in his arms, leaning her head on his firm and warm chest as if trembling.

“Miss, I will inform Grandfather and the knight that you have awakened.”

The orange-haired girl smiled mischievously at Eleanor’s bewildered expression and left the room.

Alone in the room, Eleanor only shook her head back and forth on the pillow.

“Ah… I want to die….”

#8. In search of Giyeon. The End