Chapter 55
Even after the Frostfang Wolf, they ran into minor monsters several more times.
And each time, it wasn’t the knights of the Grand Duchy who stepped forward, but the chosen children.
Their field training wasn’t over yet. They still had the mission of escorting Elbadin safely to the Imperial Palace.
Despite how exhausting it must have been to face monsters again and again, the children handled them calmly every time.
Compared to the Frostfang Wolf, these were hardly worth mentioning.
Lucillea also assisted the others and proved quite useful.
Of course, she had her own motives.
—“Can’t I keep the goblin claws?”
—“…Why?”
—“Think of it as an investment. Ah, Serdian! Please pull out those glowing kobold scales for me, will you?”
—“…”
Just as she’d planned, she managed to collect materials needed for alchemy from the monsters.
I can grow herbs myself, so I’ll just ask Serdian for the monster parts.
Hehe. Hugging the box filled with ingredients, Lucillea grinned slyly.
Good thing I studied the monsters of the Northern Mountains ahead of time.
Thanks to that, she knew exactly which monster yielded which alchemy material.
Maybe that was why she was always the first to notice a monster’s presence, eagerly stopping the carriage.
Because monsters now looked like piles of gold in her eyes.
By the time her magical storage box was nearly stuffed with ingredients gathered here and there, the Grand Duke’s carriages finally arrived at the territory of Mabrano.
At the entrance, an iron sign engraved with the domain’s name glimmered in the sunlight.
“It’s a pretty large territory,” Raiden muttered as he looked out the window, and the children inside the carriage turned their gazes outside too.
The wheels rolled smoothly over the cobblestone road.
From the entrance stretched rows of signboards catching the sunlight, while merchants and innkeepers lined both sides of the broad street.
Pastel-toned two-story houses stood snugly side by side, with balconies overflowing with flowerpots.
The clothing of passersby was varied. Not just the locals, but also noble caravans bound for the capital, travelers unloading at inns—all blended together, making the whole town look like a colorful woven carpet.
The bustle of footsteps, hawkers shouting their wares, tents flapping in the wind—
The closer they drew to the capital, the more vivid and colorful everything seemed, so different from the snow-blanketed North.
The contrast with tiny, shabby Mille village was striking.
Then the warm scent of freshly baked pie wafted by.
Soon followed the fragrances of rosehip, mint, roasted meat, and pungent spices. The layered aromas drifted inside the carriage.
“Wow, what’s that smell? I’m hungry,” Lucillea murmured.
“Me too,” Raiden chuckled, agreeing with her.
By contrast, Serdian and Irnel seemed utterly uninterested in the scenery.
Lucillea sneaked a glance at Irnel.
Perhaps because her close friend Kaelyn was in another carriage receiving treatment, she was even quieter than usual.
She’s like a female Serdian.
Taciturn, expressionless, hard to approach. Just like the day Lucillea had first met Serdian, Irnel too kept her distance, never opening up, never taking the first step closer.
They had fought side by side against monsters many times now, but that was as far as it went.
Even after Lucillea saved Kaelyn, though Irnel’s icy air had softened slightly, she still didn’t truly open her heart.
Lucillea sighed softly and looked away.
She hadn’t come to the Grand Duke’s manor planning to get close to the other children, least of all to force herself on someone who wasn’t friendly to her.
This older sister doesn’t have the energy for that anyway.
Since the Frostfang Wolf, they’d fought countless monsters while traveling. With no villages nearby, they had camped outdoors.
Perhaps she had grown too used to the comfort of the Grand Duke’s residence—just a few nights of camping had left her body sore and fatigued.
While collecting materials had been rewarding, physically she was drained.
Turning to Serdian, she asked:
“It takes about two days from this town to the capital, right?”
He nodded.
“That’s right.”
As the iron sign at the entrance had declared, this was the domain of Mabrano.
It wasn’t vast, but compared to other towns between the North and the capital, it was a fairly sizable one.
Serdian kept gazing outside as he spoke.
“Our schedule’s a little behind.”
“Behind?”
“We should already be at the Grand Duke’s capital estate by now.”
But the monsters’ frequent appearances had slowed them down and exhausted the children.
So Elbadin decided they would rest one night in the nearest town before continuing.
That town was Mabrano.
Serdian continued, “While arranging for an inn, word somehow reached the lord here. He sent a message inviting the Grand Duke’s party to stay at his manor instead. We’ll rest there tonight and leave tomorrow morning.”
Since it was only two days to the capital, they could still arrive in time for the evening banquet if they traveled quickly.
“Ohh.”
Lucillea gave a short sound of admiration. Raiden tilted his head.
“But the lord of Mabrano… isn’t it Baron Barthold Jäger?”
Lucillea blinked. “And?”
Raiden lowered his voice. “According to imperial law, a baron can’t own a territory. But Baron Barthold is… a special case.”
“What do you mean?”
Raiden explained.
“He’s famous as a virtuous noble without greed. Even after earning countless merits, he refused all higher titles. All he asked from His Majesty was a small piece of land where he could serve God. That land is here.”
“Ooh.” Lucillea widened her eyes, then turned back to the scenery outside.
Now, knowing the story behind the territory, she began noticing things she’d missed earlier.
The town was bustling and lively, but not lavish.
Instead of ornate decorations, each window held a flowerpot engraved with a symbol of God.
Most striking to Lucillea were the small chapels scattered throughout the streets.
He refused rank and only asked for land to serve God?
A virtuous lord, pious townsfolk—
It looked like something straight out of a fairy tale.
But.
To Lucillea, the picture was too perfect. So perfect it felt unnatural.
And for land supposedly “small,” the territory seemed rather large, even to her untrained eyes.
No, maybe I’m just being paranoid, she shook her head.
Either way—
At least tonight I’ll get to sleep in a proper bed.
Maybe even enjoy hot water.
Meanwhile, the carriages rolled into the central square.
As soon as the ones bearing the Grand Duke’s crest appeared, people’s eyes turned toward them.
But their gazes held more wariness than reverence, more fear than curiosity.
Some whispered cautiously to one another, others quickly ducked their heads, pulling hats low, as if avoiding eye contact with a forbidden presence.
Even though Elbadin hadn’t appeared, the crest alone was enough to seize the atmosphere of the square with oppressive majesty.
Under that heavy attention, the carriages of House Descartes passed through the town center and arrived at the lord’s manor.
When they stopped, a man already waiting stepped forward.
The door opened, and Elbadin was the first to emerge. Dressed in black uniform, he radiated a heavy presence, as if he had absorbed the very sunlight.
Jed, Riat, and the children followed behind.
Baron Barthold Jäger bowed deeply, greeting them with practiced courtesy.
“May the gates of Mabrano be warmer than the northern frost today. We have been awaiting you, Your Grace. I am Barthold Jäger.”
Elbadin inclined his head slightly. Even his mere silence carried a weight that could crush lesser men, but the baron smiled naturally, unfazed.
“You must be weary from your long journey. I have prepared ample rooms for your rest. I hope nothing falls short of your needs.”
Riat stepped forward.
“Thank you for your hospitality. On behalf of the Grand Duke, I extend our gratitude for offering your home.”
The baron waved his hand with a gentle smile.
“Think nothing of it. To host His Grace is the highest honor for Mabrano. Perhaps it is God’s will that two houses, who until now had no ties, should forge a bond today.”
He laughed softly. His eyes were kind, his gestures steeped in humility.
“Please, come inside.”
“Yes.”
At Riat’s glance, Jed quickly turned to the carriages and began leading the children inside.
Each child carried their luggage to the rooms they had been assigned.
Their quarters were on the second floor.
The hallway was so hushed it swallowed even the faintest footsteps. The polished stone floor gleamed, while velvet drapes and small cross-shaped ornaments lined the walls at even intervals.
Serdian, Raiden, and Irnel went into their rooms first.
At the very end of the corridor, Lucillea entered her own chamber.
The room was tidy and modest, suffused with warmth.
The walls were covered in plain beige cloth, the floor spread with a soft wool rug. For decoration, only a dried bouquet on the window sill and a small cross in the corner of the ceiling.
The bed was made with clean, light linen sheets and pillows.
Lucillea ran her fingers along the pillow’s edge. Unlike the refined luxury of the Grand Duke’s estate, this place had a different, humble sort of orderliness.
With a thud, she set her luggage down by the wall.
I should wash up and change into fresh clothes.
The thought of a warm bath after so long made her unreasonably giddy. She was just about to sneak toward the bathroom, eager to claim the tub first, when—
Knock, knock.
Someone tapped on her door.
