***
Amarion’s room was the best room out of all the knights. The room next door was for a servant, and Mary insisted that she would use that. Amarion steadily tempted her maid, who followed her to help her get undressed.
“Mary, are you tired too? Come on, wash up and get some rest.”
“But Madame…”
“You didn’t follow me as a servant, but as a healer, right? In battle, a healer is far more valuable than a knight.”
Mary opened her eyes wide. Amarion smiled as she stroked the girl’s hair.
“I think I will be very busy tomorrow. I don’t feel good… So let’s replenish our stamina.”
“…All right. Can we have dinner together though?”
“Well, of course.”
They changed into clean clothes and ate bread and soup together. They couldn’t keep many lights on, so they had to rely on a couple of small candles.
Their topic of conversation was mainly Sir Leonard.
He and young lady Julianna were engaged to be married by arrangement, but they got along so well that they made their debut together. The story of the young lady praying to the spirit of the rocky mountain every day while Leonard was out on the battlefield was very popular. Morte was famous for the love story between the knight and the lady.
Amarion smiled as she listened to the babbling maid’s voice.
It was a really romantic story. It paired strangely well with the blunt Leonard.
Their meal quickly ended.
Amarion and Mary returned to their room, laid down on the bed, and Amarion pulled out the second volume of . She wanted to finish it today. She felt like today would be the last time she would have time to relax like this.
She was now on the last chapter. Flamberge was giving the third task to the foolish knight Dordophin, who brought her Gorgon’s poison and a sword that could cut anything.
[“My knight, will you grant my last request?”
“Anything, my Lady. I’d even capture the sun for you.”
The beautiful Flamberge smiled broadly as she spoke in a beautiful voice, like a flower.
“Please go to my hometown right now. And my father… please kill the Grand Duke!”]
‘What?!’
Amarion frowned.
Anyone who read it knew what her intentions were, so why did Dordophin fulfill all her requests?
When she saw Dordophin in the illustration with a blank expression, her heart broke even more. The description of Flamberge’s cruelty was covered in the first volume, but she continued to read it because liked the illustrations.
Amarion clicked her tongue and flipped the page.
Volume 2 ended with that. On the reverse side, only the words ‘The Adventures of the Wandering Knight Dordophin continue in Volume 3!’ were printed.
“Ugh…”
Anguished, she closed the book and put it in her bag.
She’d rather not look at it.
‘The last volume is at home, in the castle. When can I go back and read it?’
She blew out the candle and closed her eyes.
Anyway, the real subjugation would start tomorrow. Although it looked quiet on the outside, this manor was very sinister. Just like Amari before a monster wave, her five senses were tingling.
Up until now, she had been nervous all the time, but she had to be even more nervous, calm, and sharp so that no one would get hurt.
That way she could go home and read the last volume.
She sighed and fell asleep.
＊ ＊ ＊
The next day, she got up early in the morning and headed to the conference room.
All the key people were gathered there. The Count, Sir Ulan, Leonard, Sir Raoul, healer representatives and even the rangers in charge of reconnaissance. The atmosphere was heavy, matching the discussions of battles on the horizon. It was scenery reminiscent of the arrival of winter in Amari.
The Count greeted Amarion and showed her a large map.
“This is the status of the monsters we investigated.”
She looked down at the map.
It was similar to the one brought by mercenaries back then. The only difference was the numbers written on it.
“It was recorded by scouts-”
“We have to assume there are more than that. Monsters often hide.”
Amarion bit her lip.
The situation was serious. Even though she couldn’t properly investigate the rocky mountains, just looking at the numbers, it was twice as bad as what the mercenaries had suggested. None of the villages she had been to had been this serious.
Leonard asked.
“How long has it been like this?”
“Since early summer. Originally, the number of monsters increased little by little, but around that time, it exploded.”
“Besides, these monsters keep coming down from the mountains to attack people. The miners going to and from the mines often get attacked…”
Ulan complained.
No matter how much Amarion thought about it, it was incomprehensible. Everything from the increasing number of monsters to them attacking people. It seemed that the abnormal behaviours of the monsters started here.
But now, rather than finding the cause, she had to solve the problem first.
She pointed to an area of the map.
“This group of Drakada must be interfering with the food distribution. They will pollute the waterways and make it difficult to draw water.”
“You are correct, my Lady.”
“This should be handled by the guards and the main unit of the Knights Templar today. I will handle the Griffins on the mountain.”
Ulan and the rangers exchanged anxious glances.
“Will you be okay? Griffins… there are many. Besides, there may be other monsters in the mountains…”
“If I can’t do it, no one can.”
Amarion stated calmly.
She didn’t know if there was a better swordsman than her in Fidelburg, but as far as she knew, she was the strongest member of the Knights Templar right now.
From what she had seen over the past few days, Morte’s rocky mountains were so steep that it was difficult for many people to move at once. She had to fight with a small group of elite.
Leonard explained to Ulan, who still looked anxious.
“Madame is right. It would be better for only Madame to go than for dozens of us.”
“But…”
“But just in case, take three or four knights with you. If you go alone, we will be anxious.”
After a brief moment, Amarion nodded.
A simple briefing followed immediately.
Three knights, including Raoul, would accompany her to the mountain, and Leonard would lead the main group. Non-combat personnel decided not to accompany them, as a dangerous situation may arise. Mary would be working in the castle’s hospital.
The Count, who had been silent the whole time, left as soon as the meeting was over, without looking at Amarion or her knights.
‘He doesn’t like him.’
Amarion, who had become quite close with Leonard, left the room feeling a little sorry. Numerous thoughts floated through her mind.
What was the reason for these strange things?
Finding out was one of the biggest reasons she joined the subjugation army.
To figure out why Catalina and the other lords had to get hurt, and if she could eliminate the cause.
She didn’t know until now because everything was so frantic, but looking at the map, she got a little clue.
The movement of monsters was uniform. Weak monsters like Drakada were pushed to the plains farthest from their original habitat, and the Griffins descended from the rocky mountains. The fairly strong Chimeras and Orcs were also driven to villages.
And the center of all these changes was the top of the rocky mountain.
What the hell was going on on the mountain?
Why was even a predator like the Orc being driven away?
At that moment, Leonard, who was walking next to him, suddenly stopped.
“Madame…”
Amarion and Raoul quickly turned their heads.
A blonde woman approached them from afar, tailed by a handful of maids. Her skin was pale white, and a light gray dress wrapped around her flawlessly skinny body. She approached Amarion and lifted the hem of her dress.
“I greet the hostess of Morte. My name is Julianna Fidelburg.”
Amarion managed to recall that the salon of the hostess of Fidelburg was called ‘White Starlight’. Then she quickly greeted the lady according to manners.
“Nice to meet you, Lady Julianna. I have heard of your high reputation.”
“It is an honor, your highness. Every day, I hear about your brilliant work.”
Julianna smiled gracefully. Contrary to her delicate first impression, she had a dignity that was inferior only to her father. Her impeccable manners reflected that she was a well-educated aristocrat.
Julianna spoke softly.
“We will do our best to avoid any inconvenience during your stay. Since you are visiting as a knight, not a Lady, I prepared a bed and meal suitable for you, but if you are uncomfortable…”
“No! It’s rather nice. I have always wanted to be treated like a knight.”
“I am glad. You seemed to have avoided visiting the retainers’ castles during your visit, so I presumed that you would like it.”
A smile appeared on Julianna’s face.
Indeed, she was playing the role of the hostess of Fidelburg.
She was the hostess of a great castle with her impeccable speech and strict expression, even though she looked so delicate.
But her perfection was broken as soon as she saw Leonard.
“Sir Leonard…”
“Miss Julianna.”
Leonard took a step forward with a nervous expression on his face. Then, to Amarion’s surprise, Julianna’s face instantly turned as red as a teenage girl.
‘Huh?’
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Raoul poked her in surprise.
“Look at him, Madame.”
Following his gaze, Amarion saw that Leonard’s face was also burning red, as if it was about to explode.
[T/N: SO CUTE!]