episode_0146

As the dawn light of autumn sun rose, Albriss and Oujeni were able to escape from the Viscount’s mansion as promised by Yurian.

Of course, Oujeni would stay by Eleanor’s side even as they were released, persisting in her malice until the end. Yurian firmly pushed the two out of the shadowy mansion.

The time the two were freed was the clear morning of the blue autumn sky.

Since they couldn’t immediately contact the townhouse, the two headed towards Albriss’s office in the city. Waiting for a carriage to the townhouse, they arrived at the mansion in the afternoon.

“Master, milord!”

The servants with worried faces welcomed the two as they returned to the townhouse.

The maids helped the injured Oujeni up to the second floor of the mansion, while Albriss headed to the knights’ office with the steward.

“How long was I held captive?”

Albriss, who had been imprisoned in the underground dungeon before Eleanor came to the mansion, didn’t know how much time had passed.

“It’s been over a week already.”

“And what about Ellie? When was she kidnapped?”

“Miss Ellie? Are you saying that the youngest miss is also trapped in that mansion right now?”

Albriss’s words made the knight captain, Everett, ask in shock. It seemed that the news hadn’t reached the townhouse. Albriss sighed and shook his head, wiping his dry face.

“Ah… So, what’s the situation in the capital now?”

“A rebellion broke out two nights ago. The capital is now under the Viscount of Baltai’s control. They are blocking the entrance to the palace and the Assembly Hall, as well as the mansions of the major nobles.”

Perhaps the reason the townhouse of Beorn remained unharmed was because their master was in their hands.

“Messages and the passage of people to and from the capital are blocked…”

At the knight captain’s words, Albriss took out a paper from the pocket of his thin coat. Placing the square paper with the Viscount of Baltai’s seal on the table, he sighed.

So, Yurian, that bastard, handed me this paper.

“Prepare a messenger to send to the main house.”

Albriss stood up from the sofa.

Although his face with a beard showed signs of fatigue, he approached the desk and picked up a pen.

His hand moved busily on the white paper. Seeing this, the knight captain ordered someone to bring a messenger to send to the west.

Finally, two letters were placed on the desk.

One letter to be delivered to his parents in the west.

And another letter to be delivered to Ellie’s lover, the Duke of the North.

Even though the sealing wax was bubbling on the lamp, he was still staring at the letter envelope.

Should he follow Yurian’s words? Would it be safe for the Duke of the North to come from the north at this time?

Blonde hair swayed from side to side.

The image of Yurian at that moment came to Albriss’s mind. His face filled with resignation, even though he had achieved what he wanted.

The rough man’s hand once again held the pen, dipping it in black ink. Adding a brief update at the bottom of the letter to be sent to the main house, he neatly folded the letter again.

After Beorn’s messenger left the sealed capital, the situation in the Galatea Empire began to deteriorate rapidly.

The bastard, Yurian’s rebellion.

And news of the Emperor’s assassination.

Already anxious due to the lack of communication with the capital, the situation in the capital only added fuel to the fire once it was revealed.

And within the empire, the first to act were those in the west.

None other than Count Beorn.

In truth, the west’s actions were not out of loyalty to the empire.

To them, it didn’t matter who the Emperor was or who the owner of Galatea was.

What mattered to them was the fact that their precious youngest daughter, a valuable woman known as the Jewel of the West, had been kidnapped.

Therefore, with a slight relaxation of the western border defenses, they hurriedly prepared to march towards the capital.

Fortunately, as winter approached, the movements of the heretics also decreased.

And since they had a train detained just in case after the Eleanor kidnapping incident, if they filled the freight cars with troops, they could arrive at the capital in a day.

And so, in front of Beorn’s mansion.

After the letter was delivered, the western agents, who were about to march in just a day, were discussing various matters in front of Obert.

The vanguard prepared by the western agents for Count Beorn was around 500 troops. They had prepared over 1,000 troops as the rear guard, but in reality, it couldn’t be said that the number was large.

Although Eleanor was important, they couldn’t leave the border defenses unattended. So, they gathered the necessary troops quickly and left out the essential troops, resulting in the current number of 500.

Yet, despite this, the faces of the agents and Obert showed calmness rather than anxiety.

Even if the capital was controlled by Valatie’s bastard, they had already calculated that their troops were sufficient.

The regular army spread throughout the empire was still not organized enough to stop the western army.

Whether to accept Valatie’s bastard as the owner of Galatea or treat him as a rebel.

Since the communication with the capital was cut off, the legitimate command structure, the Council of Commanders, and the closed military council had not yet made a decision.

Of course, there were defense forces in the capital against the rebels, but the main issue was the qualitative difference between them and the western army.

Unlike those who protected the safe capital, the western army was a military force that had experienced real combat. They were risking their lives facing the heretics and their swords, so naturally, there was a difference in the skills of each soldier.

“The recent movements of the heretics seemed suspicious. Could it be that the bastard Valatie did something to divert our attention?”

Soon, a voice filled with anger, even more so than the Count who had lost his daughter, spread among them.

The man with ivory hair tied up was Lord Roelcerar, the father of the foreigner. He stood with clenched fists under his neatly arranged armor.

As he spoke, the people in the room began to murmur.

The recent words seemed to suggest that someone in the west had colluded with the capital’s bastard and Yulian.

The commotion subsided as a man walked through the main gate of the mansion. The leader of Beorn’s knights, dressed in armor, approached Obert and knelt on one knee.

“Everything is ready.”

“March.”

At the Count’s command to march, the agents’ expressions began to cool down.

The enemy they had to face was not the heretics they always faced, but ultimately, the people of Galatea, even if they were called rebels.

To lead the troops, Obert called his son, Ethelros.

“Ethelros.”

“Yes, Father.”

Ethelros, who was by the side of the knight commander, approached his father and respectfully bowed his head.

However, despite his demeanor, his face was filled with anger. Perhaps due to his youthful vigor, he seemed unable to hide his emotions as skillfully as his father.

In fact, while Changbaek was away in the west, Etelos was entrusted with the overall responsibility for western defense. It was simply his duty as a member of the Beorn clan.

However, he was not only a member of the Beorn clan but also Eleanor’s older brother.

Compared to his much older brother, Etelos had spent a lot of time with Eleanor since he was young, naturally forming a special bond between them.

In his memories, the image of a young, adorable Eleanor following him around in her cute little dress, still vividly remained.

Placing his hand on his son’s shoulder, Obert looked at him solemnly.

“I understand your feelings, but what is as important to us as Eleanor is this land here.”

“I know.”

“While I am away, I entrust your mother, Beorn’s territory, and the west to you.”

#.

One of the sealed letters handed to Albris was delivered to the northern stronghold.

However, the Grand Duke was currently standing on the battlements, overseeing the beginning of the battle against the advancing monsters.

When the letter was delivered to Dmitri, it was already a dark night, long after evening.

“E-Ellie has been kidnapped…?”

Dmitri’s expression cooled as much as the blowing wind.

Eleanor’s kidnapping.

Such a sudden event.

After a long silence, he finally reached a conclusion.

That man had caused trouble after all.

If he had known, he would have kept Ellie by his side, no matter how dangerous it was.

Ironically, the area below the battlements, where the monsters were gathering, was more dangerous for Eleanor than above.

He had to go and rescue her immediately.

The letter sent by Albris contained a message written in a cramped hand, stating that Yulian was requesting his presence.

However, it was currently winter.

The thawing ground was beginning to freeze again, and the season when monsters started moving within the vast deciduous forest had begun.

It was a bit early to call it winter, but if he left the north now…

As he struggled to make a decision, a man’s voice reached him. Bernard, the commander of the Raven Knights, was looking at his lord with a stern expression.

“Your Grace, you will become the Grand Duke.”

As Bernard spoke, Dmitri’s hand holding the letter tightened.

“Until Your Grace arrives, no matter what happens, I will defend this stronghold. We will protect the north even at the cost of our lives.”

Only then did Dmitri smile softly. The tense atmosphere in the barracks eased slightly.

“I trust you all too much.”

For Dmitri, they were comrades and family who fought and risked their lives together.

Finally, Dmitri approached Commander Bernard. He held his hand and looked into his eyes earnestly.

“Bernard, take care of Hilda… and the north for me.”

“Do not worry. We will defend the stronghold even at the cost of our lives.”

Bernard nodded.

After looking at his face, Dmitri released his hand and strapped his beloved longsword to his waist.

“Prepare the horses. If we ride now, we can arrive at dawn.”