Chapter 41
“Leaving for the Capital tomorrow… That’s so sudden.”
Hearing from Russell that we’d be heading to the Capital as early as tomorrow had startled me quite a bit. And the reason turned out to be the pledge ceremony.
“I only heard about it today as well… I’m sorry. It’s my oversight.”
“It’s fine. I’m not blaming you.”
I waved my hand to reassure Asha, whose voice sounded guilty. Since we needed to leave first thing in the morning, I was bathing and brushing up with her assistance so I could sleep early.
So that’s why she didn’t come into the office today. She must’ve been preparing for the trip outside.
Because of that, I did manage to get some information—
but I did think it was unusually late for her to return.
“Come to think of it, did things go well with His Grace today?”
“Well… at the very least, I think I know what kind of person he is.”
“Huh? You mean the Grand Duke?”
Asha let out a shocked voice. Was it really that surprising?
“What do you think he’s like, my lady?”
“He’s just a normal person. Like everyone else—he has fears, and things he’s afraid of…”
‘If you want love from me, you’re mistaken. I cannot love. I don’t deserve to.’
The voice that pierced through my mind made me close my mouth.
Russell Glacies, as a human being, wandered ruins of the past and shut himself off completely.
He said he took revenge.
I wasn’t in a position to criticize the emptiness that follows revenge. I, too, can’t deny the resentment I hold toward the thugs who once drove me to death.
What tormented Russell was the knowledge that what he had lost would never return. His soul was trapped in a past where he could do nothing but watch precious people slip away.
What Russell wanted… was probably a scarecrow to protect him from the crows.
When he said he didn’t deserve to love, it must have been a shield—
so that if he were to lose something again, it wouldn’t hurt as much.
But he likely never expected that this scarecrow would poke at his vulnerabilities and ask what kind of person he was.
Strong and reliable as he was, in many ways he was excessively guarded. Contrary to the rumors in the Capital, he wasn’t the Lion of the North or some kind of monster—
just a person who had locked his heart behind thick walls.
Lost in thought, I realized the brushing had stopped and quietly called out.
“Asha?”
“Ah! I’m so sorry!”
Asha’s voice was filled with genuine surprise.
“I was just startled… His Grace being afraid of something…”
“Really? Asha, where were you assigned before I arrived?”
“Huh? Th-that’s…”
“Be honest. I can’t imagine Russell just leaving someone as talented as you idle.”
“R-really? Haha…”
She laughed awkwardly—unlike her usual self, she hesitated.
It was difficult to pin down what her role had been before I came.
I assumed she did cleaning or sewing, since she was assigned as my attendant… but maybe not?
Judging from how skilled she was at grooming, she seemed more experienced.
What kind of past did Asha carry?
As I silently waited, she spoke in a slightly embarrassed tone.
“My lady… would it be alright if we talked after you move to the bed?”
“Sure.”
It sounded like a long story.
With her help, I sat on the bed. Noticing her hesitation, I gestured.
“Asha. Sit.”
“Eh? H-how could I sit there?”
“It’s fine. You standing feels more uncomfortable.”
“Uuugh… then I’ll get up as soon as we finish talking.”
The bed dipped slightly when she sat beside me. After a short hum, she spoke.
“Um… I used to work under the Grand Duke.”
“Under him? Like Frater, as an aide?”
“No! Of course not! I didn’t know him from before like those two.”
“Then?”
“Um… my lady, did you know this?”
“Know what?”
Since I couldn’t predict where this was going, I asked back. Asha replied in a warm voice.
“People in the North face frequent barbarian threats and live close to the border. So they’re closed-off and highly wary.”
“This is my first time hearing that.”
“Right? Since the Capital is far from the South, it’s understandable.”
She spoke brightly, and I focused on her story.
“I was sick of that place. Everyone’s face looked the same, and the only thing that kept me company was snowmen. I was so tired of it all.”
A world entirely white—nothing but snow.
Thinking back on the silence I once felt in the forest, I could understand her loneliness.
“Everyone there said my abilities were worthless. You don’t know how hurtful that was… But the one who acknowledged me and brought me here was His Grace.”
“Lord Russell?”
“Yes. This may sound rude, but Northerners don’t like people from the Capital. Before His Grace arrived, everyone in Glacies Castle thought Southerners were weak and incompetent.”
Though the Capital wasn’t perfectly safe either, it certainly wasn’t as dangerous as the North, which directly bordered barbarian territory.
“So everyone thought His Grace was a typical Southerner… but he wasn’t.”
Asha’s voice grew lively. She leaned closer, and the bed creaked.
“Do you know? The Glacies Knight Order is mostly made up of Northerners. They’re all people who can last over three minutes in a one-on-one fight with His Grace.”
“…That already sounds insane.”
Last time at the training grounds, didn’t their attacks fail to chain properly? And yet those knights were ones who had lasted over three minutes against Russell?
“He was such a blessing to us. Not just the knights—after he arrived, many Northerners started coming to the castle. I was chosen as part of that.”
“I see.”
In that case, Asha probably did miscellaneous work around the castle before becoming both attendant and observer. That was the only reasonable guess.
No… if she were an observer, she should’ve stopped me when I tried prying into Russell’s secrets.
What was Asha’s real purpose? I was about to ask when she suddenly spoke in a bright voice.
“By the way, you said things went well with His Grace, right? Then why isn’t the pledge ceremony being postponed?”
“Mm. Apparently we have another place to go.”
Asha sounded puzzled.
“Huh? Aside from the Imperial Palace?”
“Yeah. He didn’t say where. He looked busy.”
‘Fianna, if you don’t want to go, you don’t have to. We can reschedule anytime.’
I had mixed in a small lie.
Once we reached the Capital, I had something I needed to do.
I thought of the person who once told me that with courage, I could go anywhere.
When I reach the Capital… I must look for them.
“Hearing the voice of a tree…”
Was it really just coincidence?
Russell leaned back in his office chair, rubbing the back of his neck. He had scoured countless texts, but as expected, there were no historical records of magic that allowed hearing the voices of non-living things.
She wouldn’t lie. It’d be best to confirm with her directly, but… I don’t want to hurt her any more.
Fianna reminded him of her—
bright, perceptive, and recklessly brave.
“Excuse me, Your Grace.”
“Come in.”
Frater entered the office as if it were routine and gave his report.
“I investigated the Duke of Lucianos’ household.”
“Yeah? What happened?”
“Lady Lena has fallen ill. Her face has become… unsightly beyond description.”
“That’s good news.”
Russell smiled with deep satisfaction. They would undoubtedly accuse him of foul play, but with no evidence, the Duke of Lucianos wouldn’t risk provoking him.
“It’s been a while since I visited the Capital.”
“When you arrive… will you tell Lady Fianna? You can’t hide it forever.”
“Yes. It’s time to introduce her.”
Russell stood and looked out into the pitch-black night.
A dense, heavy darkness covered the land.
“The Capital’s underworld—the Sewers.”
