To The Battlefield (5)

I could not understand. It was a lord’s duty to make use of every available force, so why was he opposed to it? I was at least stronger than Mort’s knights, so I should have been of some help.

I tried to persuade him once more.

“Is it not better to have even one more knight? There must be something I can help with.”

“You are not merely a knight. You are the Grand Duchess.”

But Victor remained firm.

“How could I send the mistress of the territory into such a dangerous place? It would also bring dishonor upon my knights.”

“Victor.”

“Marion, please.”

I looked up in surprise.

Victor wore an expression of severe agitation that I had never seen before. An indescribable pain showed on his distorted face.

“Please remain here. I beg you.”

“…….”

And so, I could say nothing. There was no way I could continue insisting when Victor looked like that. In the end, I silently nodded.

Only then did Victor seem relieved, and he smiled gently.

“I heard Lady Katarina was among the injured. Please remain by her side and support her.”

“……All right.”

“When she recovers, we will hold a grand welcoming banquet. I will invite every noble in the surrounding region and have them prepare the foods you enjoy. There is nothing I would not do for you.”

The voice that added those words was truly tender. But I lowered my head and looked down at my sword.

I knew he was worried about me. Whatever his methods might be, his desire to protect me was sincere.

In the past, I might have been completely enraptured by the affection shown by such a captivating man. But I could no longer feel that way. Was it because I now knew how extreme his ‘methods’ could become? Even though my feelings for him surely had not faded.

Someone called out to me as I thought bitterly.

“Your Highness, the healers are looking for you!”

I tightly closed my eyes, then opened them and pulled myself out of my dark thoughts. After giving Victor a brief farewell glance, I returned to where the patients were staying.

For the next several days, I was frantically busy. Victor was occupied with organizing the subjugation force, while I was busy caring for our guests.

Dideric worked with remarkable competence, but there were still duties I had to perform as the mistress of the castle. Leaving even my guards behind, I hurried around visiting the sick and personally tending to our guests. I ordered that every medicinal herb and ointment we possessed be used without restraint, and I separately hired healers from the village as well.

Even Mary worried about how unusually busy I was, but I was actually glad to have less time to think about Victor.

I should tell him that his illness was improving. But it was not completely cured yet, so I could tell him later.

Putting off the thought that way, I entered the guest room where Katarina was staying.

“Katarina, how are you feeling?”

“Amarion!”

Katarina, who had been sitting against the headboard, raised her head delightedly.

“I am glad you came. I was just beginning to feel bored.”

“Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”

“Not at all. The healers you summoned are quite skilled.”

She smiled brightly. I returned her smile and sat beside her bed.

Lately, I had been visiting her room, which also served as her sickroom, every afternoon to talk. Her wounds had improved quickly, and she had asked me to keep her company because she was bored.

She mainly told me rumors from the capital, while I spoke about life in Mort.

Strangely, she seemed deeply troubled by the fact that I had remained inside the castle for an entire month.

“I read it in your letter as well, but did you truly remain inside the castle the whole time? At His Highness the Grand Duke’s request?”

“Yes.”

“……I hurried here because I was worried that might be the case, and it seems I was right.”

Katarina said something I could not understand. I tilted my head in confusion.

“But I enjoyed it. This castle is very comfortable. The people are kind as well.”

Katarina opened her mouth as though to say something, then closed it. She suddenly began talking about a pastry shop that was fashionable in the capital instead. Though puzzled, I joined in the idle conversation.

In truth, what I most wanted to do was complain about Victor, but I did not want to speak badly of him, not even to Katarina.

So instead, I focused on happier topics. Madeleines covered in sliced almonds, fluttering chiffon dresses said to be immensely popular among noblewomen, and the masquerade balls held every day at the Imperial Palace helped drive away my dark thoughts.

After we had idled away quite some time, there was suddenly a knock.

“I’m coming in.”

The door opened along with the curt announcement. I was startled when I saw red hair through the gap.

“Sir Kaltz!”

It was a face I had not seen in a long time. The red-haired knight, Kaltz of Dnion, spotted me and lowered his head deeply.

“My greetings, my lady.”

Sir Kaltz staggered toward us. I had heard he had been so busy preparing for the subjugation that he had not even had time to sleep, and he looked utterly haggard, almost like a patient himself.

But why had he come to Katarina’s sickroom?

Noticing my gaze, the knight explained resentfully.

“Dnion Territory borders Cattaleang Territory. My father and the Marquis of Cattaleang are also close friends. If he learned that I had not visited Lady Cattaleang while she was ill, he would undoubtedly fly into a rage.”

“My, if that is your motive, I find it difficult to accept your visit sincerely.”

Katarina cut in with a sweet smile. At the same time, Kaltz’s face crumpled. It was entirely different from his usual smooth manner in front of ladies.

I widened my eyes and looked back and forth between them.

What was this?

Katarina covered her mouth with a pale hand and laughed.

“In truth, I am still amazed that Sir Kaltz became such a respectable knight. When he was young, he was a troublemaker who splashed muddy water on other people’s skirts.”

Kaltz smiled sweetly in return.

“I likewise never imagined that a vicious young lady who cared for nothing but money would become such a renowned debutante in high society.”

Only his tone was gentle. The words themselves were practically insults.

For some reason, I could not suppress my laughter. I struggled to put on a stern expression.

“Sir Kaltz, you must show proper courtesy to a lady.”

“If there is one person I would never treat as a lady even upon pain of death, it would be this woman.”

Kaltz grumbled.

Katarina dramatically placed a hand against her forehead.

“Ah, that wounds me more deeply than the monster’s claws. I do not think I can endure it unless I write to Count Dnion immediately.”

“You, seriously!”

“What?”

Their bickering continued for quite some time afterward.

Hmm. Was this why he had declared he would rather die than attend House Cattaleang’s ball?

Remembering Sir Kaltz during the social season, I secretly giggled. Seeing two people who usually displayed flawless social etiquette snarl at each other was truly refreshing. Had Katarina not been injured by monsters, I would have suggested that the three of us have tea together.

As I thought about it, the question I had buried suddenly crossed my mind.

The monsters. The formation of the subjugation force should have been nearly complete by now. Would the Mort knights truly be enough?

I cautiously interjected between the two people glaring at each other.

“Sir Kaltz, I have a question.”

“Please ask, my lady.”

Kaltz immediately regained his manners and bowed his head. I asked carefully,

“Can the knights truly subjugate all the monsters on their own? Victor said they could, but…….”

A shadow suddenly fell across Kaltz’s face. His features, which usually looked somewhat youthful, suddenly appeared his actual age. He glanced at Katarina, then spoke gloomily.

“That is not true. The situation is unexpectedly severe.”

The knight pressed his lips together before continuing.

“There have been reports of griffins descending from the mountains and attacking people, and of direwolves appearing in broad daylight. The number of merchants suffering losses, including the Cattaleang merchant company, has also increased. Even with the information the mercenaries provided, there are too many variables. I do not believe we can resolve everything perfectly on our own.”

“…….”

“As chief of staff, I believe His Highness should accompany us.”

I sprang from my seat in alarm.

“No! Victor is still ill. How could he go on another campaign?”

“That troubles me as well, but…….”

“What if I went instead?”

Silence immediately descended.

The knight’s blue gaze fixed upon me. His eyes looked as though he were calculating something. At last, he spoke.

“I am a knight sworn to this land, my lady. That is why I can willingly step forward even for something this dangerous. But your land lies elsewhere, does it not?”

“That is not important.”

I spoke firmly.

“People are being hurt. I cannot simply stand by and watch. Refusing to act even though I am capable of helping would be deceitful.”

“…….”

“I have always lived that way. It is the only way I know how to live.”

My hands tightened.

There had never been a day when I could fight but chose not to. From the day I first held a sword, I had always lived with the belief that if I did not fight, someone else would die.

And in truth, that had always been the case. There were too many weak people in my homeland. Something that would leave only a small scratch on me could become a fatal wound to someone else, and a monster I could cut down in a single exchange could be more terrifying than a dragon to another person.

That was why I could not rest. Not even for a single moment.

Even when it was painfully exhausting, there was nothing I could do. In the end, I had been born as someone who could not bear to watch the weak be hurt.

At last, Kaltz sighed and nodded.

“……You must speak to His Highness yourself, my lady. If I tell him, my head might genuinely go flying.”

“To be honest, I find it surprising that you are still alive and serving His Highness at all.”

“Katarina!”

Katarina’s joke dispelled the frozen atmosphere.

I watched the two of them begin arguing again with a faint smile.

At the same time, I made up my mind. I would confront Victor, whatever it took.