Chapter 85
When he arrived, Urun’s condition was a mess. But his eyes alone blazed with such fiery determination that he looked ready to charge into battle right then and there. The loss of his comrades and subordinates was, after all, a wound carved deep into his own bones.
“You should’ve rested and come tomorrow.”
Seeing Urun’s face, plastered with fatigue, Donghui spoke with a trace of pity.
“No, my lord. I can rest after I report to you.”
His voice was as firm as his gaze.
Other than the fight in Morta Village against the Qulen, Urun had never really spoken directly with the lord before, so he was a little tense. That day, she had looked so valiant, like a warrior-maiden—dignified and dependable. But now, sitting there in a dress, she looked like nothing but a noble lady.
That such a delicate and beautiful woman had slain dozens of Qulen all at once—
His face flushed hot, and his heart pounded wildly of its own accord.
“What did you find out?”
Though only Red Bear, myself, and Urun remained after Helsa and Farmer had withdrawn, Donghui’s voice was taut with tension.
Urun, who had momentarily been dazed by the lord’s beauty, snapped back to his senses and answered.
“We found the one who made the sleeping powder.”
“And the one who bought it?”
“Yes. A mercenary named Bartre. He mainly takes jobs from nobles. They say he’s so skilled that he can name his price.”
“Have you tracked Bartre down?”
“I’m sorry. He’s so elusive that by the time we followed a lead and arrived, he was already gone.”
Shame weighed on Urun, and his head sank low before the lord.
“I see.”
She hadn’t expected to catch his tail so easily anyway. Not wanting to show disappointment before Urun, who had worked so hard, she deliberately kept her tone calm.
“But instead, we caught the one who made the powder.”
As soon as Urun finished, his men dragged in a man with a face bruised purple, waiting outside until the signal. His body was bound so tightly in ropes that he could barely move, stumbling along like a bundle before being dumped unceremoniously at Donghui’s feet.
“Uuugh…”
The man groaned faintly, not completely unconscious.
“Forgive me, my lord. He wouldn’t speak, so I struck him a few times.”
Ashamed to show such a sight before the lord, Urun hastily explained.
“It’s fine. You did well.”
Nearly fifty people had died.
Recalling poor Cedric, who had died not knowing that merely touching the pouch barehanded was fatal, made the bruises on this man’s face look like nothing.
The man lay sprawled for a long while, unable to support himself. His battered state inspired no sympathy. Donghui’s gaze was icy as she looked down at him.
“Just one question. Did you know what your powder would be used for?”
When the man didn’t respond, Urun hauled him roughly upright. He flopped down again like a withered bean sprout, then shook his head with tears streaming down, as if wronged. His shoulders trembled with fear, but no one felt pity.
“No! I only sold it because Bartre said he was hunting monsters. If I had known it would be used to harm people, I never would’ve sold it to him! I swear!”
Tears and snot ran freely as he cried his innocence, his voice growing louder as if to prove his sincerity.
Still watching him steadily, Donghui asked Urun:
“Urun. Did you ever tell him people had died from the sleeping powder?”
“No, my lord.”
Urun’s jaw clenched. Realizing his mistake, the man squeezed his eyes shut, then cried out desperately.
“I only assumed you captured me because people had died! I swear I knew nothing!”
But perhaps feeling no one would believe him, the man suddenly gave a twisted laugh and spat blood-tinged saliva onto the floor. Handsome flinched at the sight.
“I’ll ask again. Did you know your sleeping powder would kill people? That it would kill my people?”
Donghui’s voice shook with fury. Handsome and Red Bear exchanged worried looks.
Seeing the young lord’s composure falter, the man sneered, then shouted like a madman:
“You’ll get nothing out of me! Just kill me already!”
His eyes were bloodshot as he raged at her. Red Bear nearly hurled him aside for daring to scream at the lord, but froze when he saw the icy, oppressive aura radiating from her—the same terrifying pressure she had unleashed the day she saved people from the Qulen.
“You think I’d grant you such mercy?”
Her voice, low and cold, was sharper than any blade.
“Listen well. Sam has a five-year-old son. His wife is expecting their second in six months. Now Iara must raise two children alone. Rob was only seventeen. His mother told me how proud he was to become a soldier. He enlisted to buy medicine for his younger brother. On his very first mission, the Qulen ripped him apart. We haven’t even found his missing arm.”
Donghui continued listing names, recounting the tragic stories of fallen soldiers and knights, almost as if atoning.
But the man only glared, breathing harshly, hatred burning in his eyes.
“Why tell me this? You want me to weep in repentance?”
The coward who moments ago seemed ready to piss himself was gone, replaced by a venomous wretch.
“No. I’m telling you those who died weren’t just ‘Soldier #1’ and ‘Soldier #2.’ They were husbands, sons, brothers. Just as you are someone’s son.”
At the mention of family, the man’s face stiffened.
“What, you think family should be off-limits?”
“You—! You bastard!”
He tried to leap up but collapsed again, his injured leg failing him. Donghui seized his hair, teeth grinding.
“So defiant even now… You must be expecting Bartre, or Baguette or whatever his name is, to come rescue you. Loyal, aren’t you, for someone who slaughtered innocents?”
“Don’t you dare speak of Lord Bartre!”
“Handsome.”
“Yes!”
Startled by her murderous tone, Handsome answered quickly.
“Lock him in the dungeon. Spread word he’ll be executed publicly in three days. If his loyalty’s so great, Bartre will come.”
“Yes, my lord!”
“Just kill me! Don’t use me like this!”
“And find his family. Bring them before me.”
“Yes!”
“No! If you touch my family, I’ll never forgive you! Never!”
The man thrashed and foamed at the mouth, but Urun knocked him unconscious, and the soldiers dragged him away like baggage.
When the door shut, only Donghui, Red Bear, and Handsome remained.
“Shall I capture his family then, my lord?” Red Bear asked, ready to spring into action.
“No need.”
“But, my lord, you just said—”
“I was only threatening him. His family isn’t guilty of his crimes. Just make sure he believes it. Keep heavy guard at the dungeon night and day. Still, find out who his family is—we need some leverage if we’re to use it.”
In truth, she feared she’d weaken if they dragged in some helpless old woman or crying child who knew nothing. But she had no intention of forgiving this man.
“Yes, understood.”
Soon after, word spread through the territory: the mercenary Bartre’s subordinate had been captured by Lady Grace, tortured, and would be publicly executed in three days before the townsfolk.
That afternoon, hoping to ease her heavy heart, Donghui visited the seamstresses’ workshop for the first time in a while.
The workshop had been moved from its cramped quarters to a spacious new location at the eastern end of the castle’s first floor—twice as large and much more comfortable.
On ordinary days, Donghui usually wore culotte skirts. Her habit caught on: before long, many castle staff began wearing them too, including Delma and Anna—with her permission, of course.
The new workshop boasted wide worktables for each seamstress and a wall of cabinets neatly stocked with fabrics that Den frequently procured from other territories. Since it was winter, he also brought back plenty of blankets. Aside from Monel and Julia, who made the lord’s clothing, everyone else was busy sewing winter garments for the townsfolk.
Donghui felt gratified. Even while she had been bedridden, the castle’s affairs had continued smoothly. When panic had gripped everyone at the lord’s injury, Handsome and Scrooge’s tireless efforts had kept everything running.
As Handsome guided her into the workshop, he explained details not included in his written reports.
“With yesterday’s arrival, there are now twenty seamstresses. The treasurer said contracts will be finalized after reporting to you. Delma will assign their lodgings.”
“Good. Make sure they’re comfortable.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Monel was the first to notice her arrival. He dropped what he was holding and hurried to greet her at the entrance.
“My lady, you’ve come!”
At his call, the others set down their work and rushed toward Donghui.
“How have you all been? I see many new faces.”
Her bright smile left the young seamstresses, seeing the Lady of Grace for the first time, wide-eyed in awe.
