Episode 1. The Ones Who Want to Leave
A heavy rain poured down in the middle of the night.
A scream erupted from the bedroom of Duke Calys Grant.
Ron Boyle, the duke’s aide, woke up at the sound and hurriedly got dressed. He rushed to the duke’s second-floor bedroom. Just as he arrived at the door, the butler, Hans, came running up in his nightclothes, panting.
“You heard that, didn’t you?”
Hans asked, catching his breath.
“I did.”
“What’s with all this noise lately…”
Despite the butler’s worried remark, Ron didn’t reply and only stared at the door.
After surviving the past month on short naps, Ron’s face also showed fatigue and tension. He took a deep breath and opened the duke’s bedroom door.
The room was dim with the curtains drawn. Hans, standing behind, grabbed a lamp from the hallway wall and lit up the room. As the light fell on the bed in the center of the bedroom, the two men gasped in horror.
“W-What on earth…!”
The right shoulder and chest of Duke Calys were exposed as if stabbed, pouring dark red blood.
The wound was widening, and the pooled blood bubbled irregularly. Bright red blood oozed out, trailing down his shoulder and chest, soaking the bedsheets.
Calys groaned in agony and then let out another blood-curdling scream.
“Arghhh!”
This time, a deep gash opened on his left shoulder.
“What in the world is happening?”
Ron stood speechless, staring at his young master. There was no assassin in sight, no knife to be seen, yet the duke’s body was being slashed as if attacked by someone.
The same thing had happened a month ago.
“I-I’ll go call the doctor!”
Hans turned to call the physician, Thompson, but Ron quickly grabbed his arm and shook his head.
“Even if Thompson comes, it won’t help. He was useless last time too.”
Only then did Hans recall how Thompson had trembled in fear and failed to treat the wound properly.
“If we call him again, strange rumors might spread.”
“Then… what should we do?”
Hans asked, his brow furrowed deeply.
This was beyond what a doctor could handle. Even if by chance the wound was treated, what if the same thing happened again? Just imagining it was terrifying.
Ron stared intently at his master’s wounds. He had already thought of a solution the first time this happened.
“We’ll call a healer. I’ve looked into someone. I’ll go get her right away. In the meantime, please stay with him.”
“A healer? In the middle of the night?”
“I’ve been planning this. Don’t worry, just hang in there for a while.”
Leaving the bewildered butler behind, Ron quickly exited the room. Time was of the essence.
Late summer monsoon, they said.
The rain had poured for a week with no sign of stopping.
“Feels like there’s a hole in the sky. It just won’t quit.”
Tossing and turning from the deafening rain, Reyna Wind finally threw off her blanket and got up. Her curly, light-violet hair flowed over her shoulders as she moved.
She pulled on an old robe draped over a chair and glanced at the bags stacked in one corner. Stuffed to the brim, they looked ready to burst.
‘I hope the rainy season ends soon…’
She left the bedroom and went downstairs, mentally checking for any belongings left to pack.
“Still awake?”
Downstairs, Yanika was stirring a large pot filled with medicinal herbs. The strong herbal scent filled the air.
“The rain is so loud I can’t sleep. You too?”
“Yes, here, let me help with that.”
Reyna took the ladle from Yanika and began stirring the pot.
“It’s alright, really…”
Though she said that, Yanika seemed relieved to let go and collapsed into a chair. The old wooden chair creaked under her.
Yanika swept her wrinkled hand across her brow, tucking her graying hair behind her ear.
“Would you like some tea?”
“I’m fine. But about the move—we’ll wait for the rain to stop, right?”
“Yes, we have to. The herbs can’t get wet.”
Yanika glanced around the shop filled with medicinal herbs as she answered.
“You don’t want to leave, do you?”
“What makes you think that?”
“I was the one who suggested we leave for another region. It feels like you’re going along with it just because I asked.”
“I’ve been running this apothecary here for nearly ten years. I’m attached to the place, sure, but maybe it’s time to move on.”
She brushed some clinging leaves from her skirt and continued.
“I’ve been thinking about leaving even before you brought it up. Don’t worry about me.”
Reyna let out a sigh of relief. To her, the Grant territory no longer held any hope.
Located at the northernmost tip of the Burkina Kingdom, the Grant Duchy bordered the neighboring countries, separated by the rugged Craté Mountains.
In other words, whenever enemy nations attempted to invade Burkina, they had to pass through this gateway.
Sure enough, five years ago, war broke out.
The northern kingdoms of Ruben and Tria joined forces and crossed the Craté Mountains to invade Burkina.
The Grant Duchy stood at the frontline of repeated battles to capture and recapture the Craté Highlands.
As the war dragged on, Yanika and Reyna had to set aside their livelihoods to treat the flood of wounded soldiers and civilians.
Most doctors fled the war-torn region, leaving the apothecary constantly overwhelmed with patients.
But miraculously, they held on.
Defying all expectations of defeat, their kingdom emerged victorious after five years.
They even seized territory beyond the border and, thanks to the war indemnities, Duke Grant received gold, food, and slaves.
Calys Grant, returning as a triumphant general, was immensely popular.
His victory parade in the capital, Wivre, drew massive crowds, and delegates from other nations queued for a week just to greet him.
‘I thought things would get better for us too… Ugh…’
Reyna sighed.
Despite his glorious return, Duke Calys never came down to the village.
The locals’ hopes that their lord would finally take care of them began to fade. Years of war had left the village impoverished and scarred.
Rumor had it that he stayed in the capital simply because it was more comfortable.
Tired of waiting for recovery, Reyna had suggested leaving a month ago.
Yanika, who had no such intentions at first, recently changed her mind and began packing little by little.
Bang bang! Bang bang!
“Oh my goodness!”
Startled by the sudden pounding at the door, Reyna screamed. Yanika froze, eyes fixed on the door.
Bang bang!
“Is anyone there? Please open the door!”
“Wh-Who is it?”
“This is Ron Boyle, aide to the 1st Army of Burkina!”
Swallowing hard, Reyna looked to Yanika. When the elder nodded, Reyna unlocked and opened the door.
A man soaked from head to toe in rain gave a firm, polite bow and apologized for disturbing them at such an hour. Water dripped from his cloak onto the floor.
Standing at the door, he looked between the two and addressed the elder.
“Are you Madam Yanika?”
“I am.”
She paused mid-motion, about to offer him a seat.
“I need you to come to Winter Castle immediately.”
“Winter Castle? That Winter Castle?”
Reyna’s eyes widened.
“Yes. Duke Calys Grant has been gravely injured in an attack.”
“What about his physician—?”
“The royal doctor couldn’t handle it. This is a matter of life and death.”
Though his words were respectful, his urgency and worry were plain to see.
“I refuse.”
The firm reply came from Reyna. The man, who had been looking at Yanika, turned his gaze toward her with clear irritation.
“I was speaking to Madam Yanika.”
“I know. But what can I say? As you can see, we’re leaving this place.”
Reyna stood firm, nodding toward a corner of the shop.
There sat the large, pre-packed bags.
Finally grasping the situation, Ron let out a faint groan of realization.
“Then… would you please step aside?”
Eesh. That’s a horrifying thing to have to face