episode_0117

“Oppa….”

Unconsciously, my lips moved.

The voice that escaped was unfamiliar yet strangely familiar, belonging to a young girl. My tiny hand, which seemed overwhelmed by the mug, reached out and delicately grabbed the sleeve of the boy standing in front of me, against my will.

The boy turned around at the touch of my hand.

Slowly, the black-haired boy in front of me came closer.

Kneeling down, the boy with black eyes met my gaze.

The reflection of the girl in the boy’s black eyes was undoubtedly a younger version of myself.

“Yeah, Hilda. What’s wrong?”

The boy, with a slight lift of his lips.

His smiling face also overlapped with the image of my brother in my memory.

Under the neatly arranged black bangs, his skin, devoid of any visible pores, was smooth and clean.

Beneath his sharp nose, instead of rough black stubble on his jaw, there were transparent, glistening wisps of hair that shone in the sunlight.

It was only then that I realized I was in a dream.

“Is something the matter, Oppa?”

To my difficult question.

My brother, Dmitri, who was as troubled as I was, couldn’t easily give me an answer.

He was old enough to understand the truth, but explaining it to his younger sister was a different matter.

Once again, my lips moved against my will.

“Yeah…. Oppa, is it because of me?”

“What are you talking about, Hilda?”

“I…. But I kept calling Mom ‘Mom’ all the time…. Annoyingly clinging to her side, so…. So did Mom leave because she was annoyed?”

The cute hand holding onto the shirt sleeve was trembling, as if tears were about to burst forth any moment. My eyes felt itchy, and my brother’s figure began to blur.

With tears welling up, I lowered my head.

“Hilda.”

A warm voice enveloped my trembling hand. Eventually, my brother’s warm hand gently touched my cheek. He carefully lifted my cheek, and through my blurry vision, I faced my brother.

My reflection filled my brother’s black eyes.

“Hildegarde Verberitz.”

“Uh, yeah…. Oppa.”

“Oppa is saying that he will always stay by your side, Hilda.”

“Really?”

“Really. Hilda.”

“For real?”

“For real.”

My brother’s thumb wiped away the tears from my eyes. The overflowing tears were washed away by my brother’s finger.

“If that’s a lie, I’ll pay with my life.”

Looking back now, it was a somewhat inappropriate thing to say to a child. But at that moment, I nodded in response to my brother’s words.

Seeing me like that, my brother smiled broadly, and with that smile, my vision gradually began to blur.

Whether it was due to the overflowing tears or waking up from a deep sleep in the blinding sunlight, lying on the bed, I couldn’t tell.

“Oh my! What’s gotten into our young lady today, waking up without being woken up.”

The nanny, pulling back the curtains, smiled brightly at me. Somehow, her appearance reminded me of my brother’s face in my dream, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“I had a nightmare.”

“A nightmare?”

“Yeah. A terrible nightmare.”

The nanny cautiously approached the bed where I lay. Unlike my brother in the dream, with hands roughened by household chores, the nanny gently wiped my cheeks.

“So that’s why you shed tears like this?”

I didn’t offer a response. I simply closed my eyes involuntarily at the nanny’s warm touch.

“Young lady is quite…. In that case, shall I bring you some warm tea to calm your nerves?”

“Uh-huh. I’m fine now.”

As the nanny’s hand, wiping away my tears, moved away, I shook my head and sat up on the bed.

Surely, that dream, those memories, surely they were just nightmares.

Yet, the Hildegarde on the bed longed a bit for the warm embrace of her brother, who had comforted her in the nightmare.

#.

The northern region was known for its harsh cold, but when the long winter passed and summer arrived, the weather became quite warm, contrary to the rumors. The reason people could live in this rough land was right here.

The clothing of people walking the streets had become remarkably thinner. Just a few months ago, they had been bundled up so tightly that it was difficult to move, but now they looked completely different.

However, the time of warm days was not long. After the short summer in the north ended, the white winter arrived without giving a chance to enjoy the richness of autumn.

Therefore, for the people in the north, summer was a very important and busy time of the year. As the hardened ground began to solidify, the people in the north had to move more diligently than ever before.

Growing vegetables that could be stored for the harsh winter.

Repairing the walls and buildings damaged by snowstorms and harsh winds.

And repairing the armor worn by the fierce hides of monsters and demons, dulled blades, and armor worn down by their claws and teeth.

For the people in the north, the goal of life was to safely endure the harsh winter. To achieve this, they had to diligently prepare for winter during the short summer.

In a way, summer was even busier and more important than the harsh winter for the people in the north.

And during that time, their ruler, the Duke, was still absent from his castle.

“So, Miss, when exactly is the Duke returning?”

The conference room of the Duke’s castle, with a large rectangular table placed in the center of the room. The space was filled with the grumbling voices of the men.

The blade guarding the walls of the Duke.

Bernard, the commander of the Raven Knights, was addressing the Duke’s daughter, Hildegarde, with a face full of discontent.

Both his voice and expression towards the Duke’s daughter seemed very disrespectful. However, for Hildegarde, Bernard, the commander of the knights and a long-time friend of her brother, had been close to her since childhood, so she did not show any aversion to his attitude.

“Ah… Commander, you know very well how reckless our brother is.”

“Even so, Miss. The tasks piling up for the knights are overwhelming.”

In response to the discontented voice, Hildegarde slammed her hand on the table. The dull sound made Bernard, the commander of the knights, widen his eyes and bow deeply.

“Commander. What urgent matters do we have right now?”

“We need to organize a scouting team to send beyond the walls. Even if we start preparing right away, it will take much longer than usual. We also need to reorganize the newly recruited knights and the existing members, as well as assess and repair the damaged walls before this winter.”

Eurucas pulled out a neat piece of paper from his bag and handed it to Hildegarde. Besides what he had just mentioned, the document was filled with tasks that could not proceed without the approval of the Duke, the decision-maker.

“Alright, Bernard. Let’s start with the tasks we can do without our brother. First, please report on the status of the damaged walls.”

“Miss…”

“I’m truly sorry, but dealing with matters outside the walls and the knights’ affairs are beyond my capabilities.”

Hildegarde’s black hair swayed from side to side. The commander, Bernard, immediately lowered his head in response to her appearance.

Seeing Bernard’s disappointed look in the current situation, Hildegarde made a quiet suggestion to him.

“Or, Bernard. If I give you the authority, would you be able to handle those tasks?”

“Oh, no. It’s not like that.”

“Our brother will not be gone forever, right? Please wait a little longer, Bernard.”

After a deep sigh, Bernard straightened his wavering gaze and looked directly at Hildegarde.

“Miss Hildegarde.”

“Yes, Bernard.”

“To be honest, I am a bit worried.”

“Oh. Don’t worry too much. Our brother will return soon.”

“No, that’s not it…”

Bernard, as if making up his mind, corrected his wandering gaze and looked at Hildegarde.

“I am concerned that you are taking on too many tasks alone, Miss. It worries me that you are staying up late with the affairs of the estate. If you also take on the responsibilities of the knights, I am concerned about whether you can handle it all.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It is a well-known fact among the people of the castle that you stay up late with the affairs of the estate. If you also take on the responsibilities of the knights, I am worried about whether you can handle it all.”

Bernard’s voice was filled with concern, in stark contrast to the disrespectful way he had just been shouting. Hildegarde smiled warmly towards the neighborhood oppa.

“Thank you for worrying about me, Bernard.”

“I apologize for my words, Your Highness. It seems that your skin has been quite damaged since His Majesty went down to the capital.”

“Bernard! I’m fine, really!”

Hildegarde emphasized each word as she interrupted Bernard’s words. Then, with a forced smile, she continued speaking.

“My father will be coming up from the west soon, so let’s take things one step at a time.”

After the meeting with the commander was over, the large conference room was left with only Hildegarde and her maid.

Hildegarde raised her hand and stretched widely, trying to hide her exhaustion, but it was evident to the people of the royal court.

“Miss, would you like some warm tea?”

At the maid’s words from behind, Hildegarde turned to her and spoke softly.

“Tea is fine. Oh, by the way.”

“Yes, Miss.”

With a polite bow from her maid, Hildegarde chuckled softly and asked a question.

“My skin is that damaged? Do you think so too?”