Chapter: 11
Yulia agonized over whether to follow Isabel more than a hundred times.
But going now would only mean dying together, and it would trample on Isabel’s determination.
Her heart ached with fear of meeting the attackers and sorrow for Isabel, who had gone to die. Trying not to cry, Yulia headed toward the kitchen.
“Yulia! You’re safe!”
“Uncle Hauser!”
Fortunately, the kitchen was already full of servants who had fled there.
“So everyone’s here!”
“I knew you’d come here, smart as you are.”
The head cook, Hauser, praised Yulia and let out a sigh of relief.
Yulia looked around. Everyone was familiar. Just knowing that over twenty colleagues were alive made her feel a little more at ease.
“Why are you all gathered here?”
“We sent the fastest children ahead to scout, in case the enemies were watching the opposite entrance.”
“Oh, I see.”
Yulia, who had only thought of escaping blindly, gasped.
Hauser glanced at the door and said, reassuringly, that the scouting children would return soon.
“It seems the nun you’re in charge of hasn’t come. Too bad, but there’s nothing we can do.”
“That’s not it… The nun went to the audience chamber.”
“Audience chamber? Why?”
“She said… she would die with His Highness…”
Yulia could not explain it properly because she did not fully understand the reason.
The moment she said that, the people around her turned to her in shock.
They confirmed several times that she had really gone to the audience chamber, then began murmuring among themselves.
“We’re just here…”
“Wow, I knew she was devoted, but even now?”
“Shouldn’t we bring her back?”
The remaining people started talking about Isabel.
Even though she came as the prince’s preacher, she asked for little, was kind, and Lionel had recently become more generous after hearing her sermons.
In the past few weeks, Isabel had become a model for the castle residents, like a perfect monk.
And now, she had gone to the audience chamber to die with the prince.
The murmuring grew louder.
“If the nun acts without fear of death, we cannot just stay here.”
“Let’s go too.”
“Yes, let’s. With over twenty of us, we can be of help.”
“We must stop those who killed our friends from taking the castle!”
Although they had initially only thought of fleeing in panic from the sudden attack, the castle was their home and workplace, a place with friends. Being together gave them courage.
Head cook Hauser grabbed a kitchen knife first.
“We will take weapons and fight. Women, when the scouting children return, escape.”
It was decided that only the men would go to the audience chamber to fight.
But Yulia could not bring herself to stay behind.
Though her reason told her to escape quietly, her mouth acted on its own.
“I’ll go too.”
“No, Yulia.”
“I need to go with Sister Isabel.”
It made little sense, but Yulia stubbornly insisted.
Hauser sighed but allowed it, remembering that Yulia was responsible for Isabel.
“Then follow behind. If things go badly, run immediately. Got it?”
Fourteen men and Yulia headed toward the audience chamber.
At first, their equipment was poor, but as they moved, they found weapons one by one.
Yulia took a longsword (Langschwert), though she did not intend to use it. It might be needed as a spare during the battle.
Armed as best they could, they neared the audience chamber.
A dark thought stormed through Yulia’s mind.
‘What if we are too late?’
If the situation was confirmed, everyone would flee, but surely there would be casualties.
Yulia trembled with fear, thinking that all of this had started because Isabel had gone to the audience chamber. If something happened, she could not bear the guilt.
When they arrived, praying they were not too late, Yulia saw a scene very different from what she had imagined.
‘Have they already won?’
Among the black-clad attackers, about twenty remained standing, but even from afar, they looked panicked. The royal guards rushed like a storm and crushed them.
The two closest to the door were Prince Lionel and Sister Isabel.
“Sword?”
Isabel held the Langschwert. A heavy weapon, but somehow it suited her.
At that moment, three attackers escaped the fray and ran toward them.
Just before Yulia could scream, Lionel and Isabel moved at the same time.
As if by agreement, they split in opposite directions, each taking one opponent. It took less than five seconds for each to defeat their target.
The remaining attacker panicked after losing his two companions, and two blades flew at him simultaneously.
“That’s the nun, right…?”
Someone muttered, unable to believe what they saw.
It was shocking for those who had only known Isabel as a quiet nun to see her wield the massive two-handed Langschwert, using almost her entire body.
Yulia was nearly speechless watching her.
Although she knew nothing about swordsmanship, Isabel’s movements were breathtakingly skillful and beautiful.
Unconsciously, Yulia swung the sword she carried. Her wrist felt like it would break. It was unbelievable that anyone could move like that with such a weapon.
“Let’s go in too!”
Feeling confident, the servants shouted and rushed into the audience chamber.
The already outnumbered attackers fell into despair. It did not take long to eliminate them.
Screams ceased, followed by a loud cheer.
“I praise your courage.”
Lionel said, standing among them.
Although late, the servants’ bravery in risking death to come with weapons would become widely known as a heroic tale.
While Lionel promised proper rewards and praised them, Isabel approached Yulia.
“Yulia? Why didn’t you run…?”
“I followed because the men said they were going to fight.”
“Just because?”
“Yes, just because.”
Unable to explain why she came, Yulia gave a clumsy answer. Isabel widened her eyes and finally smiled softly.
She thanked Yulia with a smile, then glanced at the sword in her hands and dropped it lightly, looking exhausted.
“Good… The others will clean up the situation. I’ll rest now.”
“Eh?”
“And… I have a favor.”
Isabel glanced toward Lionel with a complicated expression and whispered:
“Don’t hand me over to His Highness.”
Yulia could not understand. She had seen Isabel fight alongside Lionel. Surely he would praise her. But Isabel wanted that stopped.
“How can I stop His Highness?”
“Just say I don’t want to come out of the west spire.”
“Just that?”
“Yes. Just that.”
Half a joke, half serious, it was very troublesome.
Isabel faintly smiled as Yulia hesitated.
“You don’t have to overdo it.”
After saying that, Isabel suddenly sank to her knees and collapsed to the side.
“Huh? Sister Isabel? Nun!”
Yulia rushed to check Isabel, fearing she was injured. She groped the bloody habit, and people ran over.
“What happened?! Is she hurt?!”
“Everyone, step back!”
Yulia shouted, and the men finally retreated.
Lionel did not leave, standing and watching.
“She isn’t dead, right?”
“Your Highness, do you wish for Isabel to die?”
“…Isn’t guessing your specialty? Try again this time.”
Yulia bit back a sharp retort.
Carefully checking Isabel while aware of Lionel’s gaze, Yulia confirmed that her habit was intact and her breathing steady, and felt relieved.
“Then we’ll take her to the west spire. That was Isabel’s final wish…”
“What? Final wish?”
“Not a final wish… ah… what should I say…”
Yulia stumbled over her words, but Lionel’s expression, more surprised than her, made her want to wake Isabel immediately.
