IWMHWD 52

Chapter 52: To Yevo Delim

2023.12.22

A bloody storm swept through Atilay.

The white fire Leonard shot into the sky above Yevo Delim served as a signal flare.

Following Leonard’s return, his vassals steadily arrived from Atilay’s main fortress. Of course, not all of them came of their own free will. Standing beside Leonard with his sword drawn, Veluche spoke coldly.

“Dmirucel Handel. The traitor who ran to Maximilian first upon hearing of your death.”

“No! This is a misunderstanding! I truly believed you would return, my lord…”

Dmirucel crawled on his knees toward Leonard, face pale, pleading with tears streaming down his cheeks.

Leonard looked down at him with a bored expression.

“Dmirucel.”

“Y-Yes, my lord…”

“Do you have a family?”

“Yes! I do. A sick mother, a wife, and three sons. Please, my lord. If you show me mercy just once, I will never forget it. I beg of you…”

“The dogs will feast well.”

“…Pardon?”

Those words became Dmirucel Handel’s final will.

Veluche’s sword pierced straight through his heart. The blade stuck tight and wouldn’t come out easily, so Veluche placed a foot on Dmirucel’s chest and forcefully pulled it free.

Leonard stepped back quickly as blood spurted from Dmirucel’s body. The ground of the forest soaked in crimson.

“What about Lamyu?”

“Currently in pursuit. Gunner and Hayden have already been captured and are being transported to Yevo Delim.”

“So many people I have to kill, it’s almost annoying.”

Leonard shook his head in disbelief.

The dense forest made it difficult to tell the position of the sun. Leonard turned to Veluche.

“Is it past noon yet?”

“Yes, it has passed.”

“Ah, I forgot—Elfenbaum’s siblings are supposed to arrive today. Join up with the other retainers and drag in the rest of them too. If they resist, there’s no need to bring them back alive.”

“Understood.”

Veluche grinned as he answered.

Cordelia, for the first time in her life, realized what it meant to feel “at home.”

The people at Atilay’s townhouse treated her with such kindness and warmth that it felt like she was walking on clouds every day.

“Are you just returning from somewhere?”

“Mm-hmm, just… wandering around a bit.”

She couldn’t possibly admit she’d just been to see her husband’s corpse, hidden in the basement.

Since arriving in the capital, Cordelia had been troubled by how to handle Craig’s body. She couldn’t find a proper way to dispose of it.

‘How can I kill him cleanly enough to avoid any suspicion?’

His face still looked too intact to claim he died of an illness.

“…Maybe push him off a cliff?”

“Pardon?”

“Ah—nothing. It’s nothing.”

Cordelia quickly shook her head with a bright smile. Layla, unaware of the sinister thoughts swirling in her mistress’s mind, cheerfully offered a cold dessert.

“It’s hot today. Would you like some chilled sorbet?”

“Sorbet? What’s that?”

“It’s a dessert made with fruit juice and sugar, frozen into a slush. I was just about to make some peach sorbet—perfectly ripe ones just came in. Shall I bring some?”

“Sounds great.”

Cordelia nodded gladly. Layla turned to go to the kitchen but suddenly paused.

“Oh, looks like we have guests.”

“Guests?”

A young servant was rushing in from the distance. Wiping sweat from his brow, he delivered the message.

“A carriage has arrived from Elfenbaum.”

“Elfenbaum? Could it be Lord Rosenbler? But Master isn’t home right now. Still, go ahead and welcome them in.”

“Yes, madam.”

Leonard had barely been home since his return from the palace. Busy with tasks here and there, even Baron and Veluche had left to carry out his orders. Ironically, that meant the only one left at the townhouse to host guests… was Cordelia.

“Tell the kitchen to prepare enough sorbet for the guests too.”

“Understood.”

Soon, a black carriage with the Elfenbaum crest arrived.

The door opened, and Rosenbler stepped out first. Cordelia greeted him with a polite bow.

“Welcome, Lord Rosenbler.”

“Thank you for the warm welcome, Cordelia. Ah, and this here is…”

“This?”

Rosenbler extended his hand into the carriage. Only then did Cordelia realize he hadn’t come alone. Holding his hand, a woman stepped down.

Cordelia froze in shock.

The woman was the most beautiful person Cordelia had ever seen. Her long black hair flowed like a night sky, and her hazel eyes sparkled like spring sunlight.

Cordelia stared blankly at her for a moment, mesmerized.

“This is my younger sister. Lydia, say hello. This is Countess Cordelia Abrams, Leo’s disciple.”

“Hello. I’m Lydia Elfenbaum. Oh! I’m sorry. I’ve heard so much about you from my brother that I accidentally called you by name. Please forgive me.”

“No need. I actually prefer being called Cordelia. Feel free.”

“Really? Thank you! Then please call me Lydia too.”

Despite her shy and gentle appearance, Lydia turned out to be quite bubbly and talkative.

Cordelia led the guests to the parlor to entertain them.

“So, what brings you here today? Master isn’t home at the moment.”

“He’s not? I’m sure I sent a letter saying I’d be visiting with Lydia. Oh no, we must have surprised you by arriving so suddenly.”

Now it all made sense.

Of course, someone as polite and kind as Rosenbler wouldn’t just show up unannounced.

“He stepped out briefly. Please forgive my rude master for not being here to greet you himself.”

“Not at all. You’re here to welcome us, and that’s more than enough.”

Rosenbler smiled warmly. Just then, the maid brought out the sorbet. Lydia’s eyes sparkled like stars.

“Wow, peach sorbet!”

“Try it—it’s your favorite.”

The siblings’ close bond was almost enviable. Cordelia doubted her own younger brother Dennis even knew she was allergic to peanuts.

“So, how’s your magic training going? I’d be happy to help if you’re stuck somewhere.”

“Ah, well… to be honest, I’ve been slacking. I was just doodling some magic circles recently. Though I did learn a shield spell—it can deflect light objects.”

“Hmm. How many layers can you draw now? It’s been about a year since you started magic, right?”

“Three—no, four.”

“Four layers? After only a year?”

Rosenbler looked stunned, which made Cordelia panic. If this were Leonard, he’d be calling her lazy or comparing her brain to a rock right about now.

She rushed to explain.

“I’ve only been seriously learning magic circles for about a month.”

“A month? Unbelievable.”

“I mean, I’ve been lazy recently, but if I try hard…”

“Cordelia.”

“Y-Yes?”

“Have you truly never considered becoming my disciple?”

“What?”

Rosenbler suddenly leaned forward, eyes gleaming with excitement.

“I never explained it properly before, but in Diduasel—our school of magic—circle research is our focus. I was considered quite the prodigy, but it still took me two years to draw a four-layered circle.”

“Oh, I see…”

“I’m sure you’ve heard it a thousand times already, but you have incredible talent. If Master Cainen, the Seirius of Diduasel, found out, he’d kidnap you and brand you with our crest himself.”

Cordelia blinked in confusion. She expected a scolding, not praise, and it made her flustered.

“Well, I can just… see them. Once I concentrate, it’s easy to draw.”

“Please, seriously consider my offer. There have been mages with dual crests before.”

It was an honor so touching she could cry—but if her possessive teacher found out, he’d probably forbid her from ever seeing Rosenbler again.

“Cordelia is a really amazing mage?”

Lydia, quiet until now, asked shyly. Rosenbler nodded.

“Yes. I never expected to feel inferior to anyone other than Leonard.”

“Magic really is something you’re born with. Good thing I gave up early.”

“Oh, Lydia used to be a mage?”

“I studied a little as a child, but not enough to even call myself one.”

“Still, you earned a crest. You had potential. If you’d continued, you’d have reached mastery.”

Her brother quickly jumped in to support her. Lydia scooped a spoonful of sorbet and spoke.

“I doubt it. My first teacher said I’d never go beyond intermediate-level magic.”

“Both of you are mages? That’s impressive.”

“Hearing that from Cordelia feels odd. Even together, we wouldn’t match your talent.”

Rosenbler joked light-heartedly.

“Ah… ha ha.”

Cordelia gave an awkward laugh and lowered her head. She wasn’t used to such praise yet.

“Please, give my proposal some thought. Your talent is wasted in Acheron.”

“You should worry about your own life, Rosenbler.”

“Leo!”

Lydia was the first to spot Leonard. She smiled brightly and rushed to him, but Leonard barely acknowledged her and went straight to Rosenbler.

“Didn’t I just warn you not to bother my disciple? What is this, a memory problem or just sheer nerve?”

“You’re back? Where were you while I entertained the guests?”

“Don’t change the subject. Answer me, Rosenbler Elfenbaum.”

Sparks flew between the two men. The tension was so thick Cordelia, standing behind them, fidgeted nervously.

“Come on. Isn’t it a shame? Her talent’s wasted in Acheron. If she came to Diduasel—”

“Wasted? Who’s wasting?”

“Her abilities would shine brightest in Diduasel. You know it too.”

Leonard’s smirk lifted on one side. Cordelia, from experience, knew that was a warning sign—one she wished she didn’t recognize, but did.