Chapter 58
That night, about fifty people dressed in black hid near a cave in the forest.
They split into three groups. One group moved with swords toward a worn-down building near the cave, hiding there.
Another group split into five smaller teams, positioning themselves around the cave and building, and drew their bows.
Dylan, with Philina, Oliver, and ten knights, hid in a relatively safe spot among the dense trees.
“Now,” Dylan said.
At his signal, Philina drew her bow, and a knight lit her arrow on fire.
“Got it!”
Philina’s arrow hit a pile of firewood near the building, instantly setting it ablaze.
“Fire!”
The guards at the building saw the fire and ran to put it out, calling for help. Meanwhile, the knights with swords broke the building’s lock and entered.
“Surprise attack!”
The guards drew their swords and began fighting the duke’s knights. But protecting the children made it hard for the knights to fight at full strength.
“Ma’am, that must be their living quarters!”
Dylan pointed to a building. Philina smiled when she saw the wooden structure and shot another fire arrow.
As the fire grew, the light made it easier for the archers hiding around to see who was a friend and who was an enemy. They shot arrows and took down the guards.
“Where are the arrows coming from?!”
“Bring out all the guards!”
The enemies couldn’t figure out the source of the arrows and were distracted, fighting the knights in front of them. Some ran into the cave to call for help.
“Now! Go!”
When the guards came out of the cave, Oliver counted them and guided Philina and the knights to the cave entrance.
“Five more left,” Oliver said.
The knights went in first and defeated the remaining guards. Seeing the signal, the rest slowly entered the cave.
Inside, torches were few, so it was dim but still possible to see.
Clang… clang… clang…
The children left in the cave were still breaking stones, the sound of their tools hitting rocks echoing endlessly.
“This way,” Oliver said.
They entered a narrower passage. The large knights couldn’t even fit through.
“This is the drawing I marked… The children are now working farther in than when I was here. The path will get even narrower,” Oliver explained.
Philina saw the knights struggling in the tight passage.
“Everyone else, stay here. Only Oliver and I will go in,” she said.
“No, ma’am… I’ll widen this path instead,” Dylan said, drawing his sword near the cave wall as if he really would.
“Dylan… you could get hurt. There’s no time. It’s better if only Oliver and I go in. Wait here. We’ll bring the children out right away,” Philina said.
Dylan realized she was right.
‘If ma’am hadn’t come… Oliver would’ve gone in alone,’ he thought.
In the end, only Philina and Oliver went deeper into the cave.
“Yes, ma’am. Be careful. We’ll guard this place,” Dylan said.
“Okay, Dylan.”
Philina held Oliver’s hand, crouched low, and moved deeper into the cave.
Clang… clang… clang…
Only Oliver and Philina went further. Eventually, the path became so narrow that Philina had to bend over. They saw children crouched, mechanically breaking stones.
There were only two torches, and the narrow, long passage made the air thin and hard to breathe.
“Kids,” Oliver called.
The children finally looked at them. Oliver took a tool from one child’s hand and held their hand to lead them out.
“You don’t need to break stones anymore. Let’s get out of here.”
But the child picked up the tool again, continuing to break stones.
“If you don’t finish your work today, you won’t sleep. We have to fill this basket,” the child said.
The children who had briefly looked at Oliver and Philina returned to work.
Philina hugged Oliver’s shoulder once, then switched places with him in the narrow passage.
“Good people are outside. They’ll help you sleep, eat well, and get out. Let’s go together.”
The children stared at Philina and Oliver for a long time. Perhaps because an adult was speaking, or maybe because they were promised sleep and food.
‘Their faces… expressionless… no light in their eyes…’
These children had been forced to break stones in darkness for twelve hours straight. There was no hope or emotion on their faces.
“Really… good people are coming?”
One child’s face lit up. Their eyes had a spark and tears welled up.
‘How many times have these kids hoped and lost hope…’
Repeated hope and disappointment make children afraid to hope at all. Philina felt pity but knew she couldn’t just feel sorry. She had to show them hope was still possible.
“Good people are coming to save you. Let’s go,” she said.
She gently took the hand of the child in front. The child hesitated but followed as Philina pulled lightly.
Once one child moved, the others began to follow slowly.
“Just a little more. Keep going.”
The path widened enough to walk normally, and they almost ran forward. But then, far away, the sound of swords clashing reached them.
“Stop!”
Philina and Oliver stopped the children. Philina went ahead to check the situation.
Meanwhile, Bart spent his day flattering nobles and the emperor, lining his pockets, and preparing to leave late.
“The Crown Prince requests your presence,” a servant said.
‘Huh? The Crown Prince is calling me?’
Bart forced a smile and followed the servant to the prince’s palace, worried that Lucas, who disliked him, might already know something.
Lucas let Bart stand in front of his desk for a while, pretending to read papers. Then he threw the documents toward Bart’s chest.
‘How dare he!’ Bart thought. Even though Lucas was the Crown Prince, advisors like Bart were normally respected.
Bart’s annoyance showed, and Lucas said:
“Bart, interesting things you’ve done. And interesting people you’ve met.”
Lucas had already investigated salons receiving Bart’s imported cosmetics through secret knights.
“I am the emperor’s chief advisor. Speak with respect,” Bart said proudly.
“If the amount sold is more than imported, it’s useless, Bart,” Lucas said with a smirk.
‘How did he find out? I’ve never cared about cosmetics before…’
“Some clerical error, Your Highness. I’ll check and explain tomorrow,” Bart said, planning to manipulate the documents.
“Look at the papers. Your trade imports, sales, and the white mica mine production and stock are all here. Numbers don’t match, Bart,” Lucas mocked.
Bart trembled as he picked up the papers, realizing his schemes were exposed.
‘But… why call me instead of arresting me?’
Bart sensed Lucas wanted something else.
“Your Highness… what do you want from me?”
Lucas smiled coldly. Bart felt the sharpness behind the prince’s usual gentle smile.
“I know you’ve been secretly meeting Silas. Meet him tonight and go to the Nebla Empire. That’s the only way to save your life.”
Bart froze, realizing Lucas knew everything.
“Right now, Calis is rescuing the children from your mine. If he catches you, you won’t survive,” Lucas said.
‘Calis again! It’s always him!’ Bart clenched his fists.
He had underestimated that Calis and Lucas were both watching him. That was his biggest mistake.
“Why are you sparing me?” Bart asked.
“Become Silas’ agent. Give us information about the Nebla Empire and Silas. Don’t think of refusing. Your fifteen-year-old daughter is under my secret knights’ protection,” Lucas said.
Bart’s eyes widened. He trembled as he stared at Lucas.
