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Chapter 46
The reports from the steward continued unabated. As Lara listened to the reports, she furrowed her eyebrows unconsciously, finding the content so difficult to accept that she wondered if it was so kind of joke.
More than twenty harpies suddenly attacked the outskirts of Hastin’s north gate. The harpies, as if searching for sothing, violently destroyed the surrounding villages. It was a situation where the guards deed it unstoppable and were about to return to the castle to request reinforcents.
Suddenly, a knight appeared and charged at the harpy group. And he defeated them all, effortlessly. The events unfolded in less than five minutes.
‘…Isn’t this all too suspicious’ It was a situation that couldn’t be doubted. Not only had a monster group invaded suddenly, but the arrival of a knight into the village without any prior notice seed too orchestrated.
“…What should we do in a situation like this?” Lara whispered anxiously to the steward. Judging by the steward’s reaction, he seed to think it was just as incongruous.
“Typically, for nobles and expeditionary teams who have accomplished feats, it’s appropriate for the lord to personally acknowledge their efforts and bestow fitting rewards.”
“Then, should we do the sa this ti?”
“…I just wanted to ntion that it’s a precedent.”
“What about the knight’s identity and affiliation? Can’t we find out which family he belongs to?”
“The guards at the north gate already asked about his affiliation, but the knight ignored the question. For now, he has been escorted to the audience chamber within the castle.”
With a nod from the steward after finishing the report, Lara pondered for a while until a somber atmosphere emanating from the corner prompted a comnt from a man.
“My lady, please consider your choice carefully. It’s not a good decision for soone to draw attention to you in such a situation. We cannot rule out the possibility that the knight may be a disguised assassin.”
Upon hearing this, Lara, who had remained silent, slowly spoke up.
“Bring the knight to .”
The man, who had thought the situation was far from alarming, was taken aback.
“Just because he appears suspicious, does that an his contribution to saving Hastin from danger should be disregarded? Or are we questioning the knight’s accomplishnts? His rits remain intact. Acknowledging them is the duty of a lord.”
The voice of the child sounded as if she was being stubborn, echoing lightly in the room. From Lara’s perspective, it was a small act of rebellion against the man.
As the man took a step back, unable to respond, his face beca even darker. This ti, a bystander who had been observing quietly suggested.
“How about eting the knight in the audience chamber with the castle’s soldiers present?”
“…That’s what we’ll do.”
It didn’t take long for the steward, whether permitted or not, to bring the knight. After relocating to the audience chamber and reaffirming their positions, Lara cleared her throat and sat down.
Eventually, the knight appeared from beyond the door. As the sound of his footsteps echoed on the red carpet, Lara looked at him.
“The journey to Hastin hasn’t been easy, and the fatigue isn’t just for show. But rely standing in front of the esteed count feels like receiving a reward for all the efforts.”
The knight who greeted Lara first had a dignified air about him. He was fully clad in armor, not even removing his helt as if he had no intention of revealing himself.
He raised his head and glanced at Lara, then knelt on one knee. “A wandering knight presents himself to the Lady of Hastin.”
─ As if he himself chose to be called a ‘wandering knight’ rather than revealing his identity.
“…I am Lara Cinevier Etark, Countess of Hastin. I have heard that your courage and pride have defended Hastin. On behalf of all of Hastin’s people, I express my gratitude in the na of the Countess.”
“It is an honor.”
The knight responded briefly to Lara’s brief introduction.
“To which family do you belong?”
Instead of answering, the knight bowed his head in silence. With a puzzled expression, Lara asked again, “Then, what is your na?”
“Unfortunately, I am in a position where I cannot speak my na.”
“You claim this mont is an honor, yet you seem eager to conceal much. If I were to ask you to remove your helt, would you refuse even that?”
There was a slight pause. The surface of his dark armor reflected the light from the window smoothly.
“If you command to remove my helt, I will comply. However, my face bears the marks of battle, and it may be repulsive to behold, yet if the Countess can graciously overlook it, I will gladly obey.”
“…Forget it. If it was your consideration, then it was my mistake to force it.”
A small sigh followed at the end of her words.
Lara found herself in a situation where she had disregarded the man’s advice and t the knight. Engaging in a confrontation with the knight would not benefit Lara in any way.
‘In the end, they’re all trivial matters. What’s important is that you protected Hastin.’
Despite this, there was a noticeable dissatisfaction in her voice, impossible to hide.
“I may not be able to offer much, but I want to repay you as much as I can. I would like to rember your na and help elevate your reputation, but that might not be possible… If you have any requests, please speak.”
Lara finished speaking with a slight cough. The knight, hearing Lara’s words, raised his bowed head. He responded with a voice filled with determination.
“I am in need of provisions.”
The Lady replied, “They shall be provided willingly.”
* * *
“The Lady of Hastin extends her gratitude on behalf of all the people of Hastin.”
Ah, as expected. Patrick, the self-proclaid wandering knight, couldn’t help but chuckle quietly after hearing the words of the young girl.
Etark.
The notion that the Countess who inherited the domain was of the Etark lineage was not surprising.
‘In such circumstances, it’s no wonder the town is in chaos.’
Anxious expressions, trembling voices. Just by looking at them, one could gauge the current state of the countess of Hastin. Clearly, she wasn’t yet fit for her role as countess.
‘Perhaps she’s the late daughter or the youngest sister of the forr count.’
Patrick pondered, bowing his head before the Lady.
‘A helpless younger sister ascending to the lordship,’ several hypotheses arose. And they all stemd from one root.
Ultimately, it seed that burdening her small shoulders with the weight of Hastin was inevitable. Poor girl, sacrificed by her family.
“…Then, what is your na?”
Lost in thought, Patrick snapped back to reality at Lara’s voice. He provided suitable answers to her subsequent questions. Most of them were overly cautious inquiries about Patrick.
It was understandable as the knight before them didn’t reveal his identity. As Patrick carefully chose his words, the Lady swiftly changed the subject.
“If you have any requests, please speak.”
“I am in need of provisions,” Patrick replied without hesitation.
Currently, the most precious commodity in Hastin was undoubtedly food. The reason the Lord’s castle functioned while the town struggled was due to its food supply. Requesting food would result in unexpected losses for the Countess of Hastin.
‘Surely, there will be so hesitation.’
He intended to assess the situation. Depending on the castle’s food supply, he could gauge how desperate the countess was emotionally. If he could gauge it, he was confident he could easily manipulate the situation.
“They shall be provided willingly.”
Patrick’s expectations were pleasantly t. The countess’s response showed no hint of hesitation.
Soon after, the countess summoned her steward. Sensing her intentions, the steward imdiately addressed Patrick.
“We will provide provisions for your journey back. How much do you need?”
“…Two als’ worth should suffice.”
The countess asked once more, “Are you sure that will be enough?”
“I ca to Hastin to seek soone, but now is not the ti. Inns are closed one after another. It can’t be helped. After exploring a bit more, I plan to return. I already have so provisions, so two als’ worth will be enough.”
At the ntion of inns closing one after another, the countess’s expression darkened slightly. Patrick, noticing it, murmured aninglessly, “Hmm,” capturing the mont.
The countess remained silent for a mont, then rose from her seat as if she had nothing more to say. Even after the countess left, Patrick remained kneeling. Glancing at Patrick before returning to her chambers, the countess seed startled by Patrick’s voice.
“Ah, co to think of it.”
Patrick paused, just as the countess was about to leave the audience chamber.
Patrick’s voice was low, almost sinister.
The room suddenly felt heavy with silence.
The countess halted her steps. Her eyes widened, sweat forming on her body, unable to adapt to the sudden change in atmosphere.
“Oh, truly an honest soul. You don’t know how to hide your expressions.”
From the mont he entered the audience chamber, there was a very unsettling feeling emanating from her. Perhaps the other party was also sensing it all along.
A feeling that neither Renee nor Devourer could sense.
A feeling that only Patrick, a Death Knight, an undead, could sense.
Empathy.
Patrick slowly raised his hand. His fingers covered in azure gauntlets pointed at the man who had been following the countess all this ti.
“Who are you, really?”
The final words swallowed all the noise in the room.
* * *
[The countess must be even more cautious from now on.]
Confirming that the only door to her chamber was completely closed and she was alone in the room, Lara buried her face into the soft blanket.
“Who was that knight…?”
There were more than a few suspicions. Moreover, despite insisting on eting the knight, she hadn’t learned anything. If anything, she had been played. Even her attempt to assert the countess’s authority had backfired.
“If rumors spread about food within the castle, it could complicate matters.”
The man’s advice certainly had rit. If the castle’s food supply leaked outside, it would be problematic. The request for food had to be declined. That’s the only way her current neglect of the town made sense.
When she accepted the man’s proposal, he had told her sothing important: Lara Cinevier Etark was not the ruler the people of Hastin desired. If Lara didn’t resolve the situation properly in the current disaster, she would surely earn everyone’s hatred. The man had advised her that if she could turn such a crisis into an opportunity, she could gain everyone’s love, proposing one simple but cruel thod: Beco their savior.
“I… want to live.”
Just a little longer. If she could hold on a little longer, the man would bring salvation to Hastin as promised.
Lara was prepared to ally even with demons if it ant survival.
Outside the door, the man listening chuckled.
It was an eerie laughter, unlike any other.
Phase 6
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