Chapter 06
Passing the transfer gate, the wagon continued to run.
Confused, Luciel pulled the curtains on the window and looked out cautiously.
‘When will we arrive?’
It was strange.
It must have been daytime, but for some reason it was dark outside.
“I think it’s night.”
As she spoke astonished, Gilliard nodded his head as if he knew well.
“If you cross the border of the wall, the sun sets sooner.”
Luciel was still terrified and shrugged her body. Unknowingly, her small hand grabbed Gillard’s rem.
“Are you scared?”
“A-a little.”
“Monsters sometimes appear, but there is nothing to worry about. Because I am here, no one can harm
you.”
“Yes. Grandpa Duke.”
At Luciel’s answer, who nodded as if relieved, Gilliard smiled lightly.
“From now on, just call me Grandpa.”
“……What?”
It was unexpected to call him by such a comfortable, tittle. The old man tapped his walking cane, ready to jump right into full force if anything happened.
The wagon continued to run.
In the dark forest that has grew deep, dusk had set. The Bellstein estate at night was different from the daytime. Among them, this dark forest, said to be enchanted, attracts all kinds of monsters every night, and thorns block the path of passersby.
You must cross the barrier before nightfall to safely reach the Duke’s Castle.
But thorns have already begun to block the way to the wall. After a little more time, thorn bushes will expand its range. As the carriage stopped, the coachman Dawson said.
“Lord, the thorns are not clearing the way.”
“The sun is already setting. We can’t help it.”
Gilliard said to Luciel, clutching his cane tightly.
“Wait in the wagon for a moment.”
“…… Yes.”
Her head was throbbing from the long carriage ride. The desire to go outside was like a chimney at full, power, but Luciel held it in.
He noticed such a sign and asked.
“Do you want to go outside?”
Luciel hesitated, then nodded slightly.
“Then this grandfather will come back after looking around a bit, so wait a minute.”
He went out of the wagon and looked around to see if there were any signs of a monster, and then came back. Fortunately, there were no none.
“You may leave now.”
“Yes.”
He spread one of his arms out to hold the child.
As Luciel was held in the grandfather’s arms and breathed in the fresh outside air, her dizzy head seemed to clear.
She looked around. Still not believing her eyes.
You have finally arrived in the Duchy of Bellstein.’
It seemed less frightening than the rumors, but the dark forest was getting bleak.
A small sized moon rose over the grayish sky.
A tall black barrier was visible beyond the dark green thickets. It was so long that the end could not be seen with the naked eye.
Gilliard held Luciel in his arms, and he took a step towards the thorn bush. It was time to raise his cane with the intention of summoning embers and burning the bushes.
Sususu.
Thick thorn bushes, like tree roots, moved and cleared the way.
Gilliard was startled. This was the first time this had happened. The bush made its own way. Luciel was also surprised.
“Ah? The bushes moved…..”
Luciel thought that it was a little scary, so she stuck closer to Gilliard even more. He looked down at the child that was holding his cloths.
“Maybe…is it Luciel?’
As he put Luciel on the floor he said.
“It seems like the bushes are opening the way for you, Luciel. Can you get closer to the bushes? If you’re scared, it’s okay not to do it.”
“….Because of me? That can’t be true.”
“It’s never been like this before.”
At his words, Luciel nodded her head, although a bit frightened.
“…… I will do it.”
“Don’t worry, I’m right here.”
Luciel cautiously approached the bush.
Swoosh.
Then the trunk of a large thorn bush moved backwards.
Luciel and Gilliard eyes widened at the same time.
“That’s amazing.”
“… … ! Grandpa, try it too.”
At Luciel’s suggestion, this time Gilliard walked proudly in front of the thicket, but again, nothing changed.
“I don’t seem to make it back away.”
“Then I will take the lead.”
“Please.”
“Yes.”
Luciel moved around with busy steps, paving the way in all directions. It was wide enough for a wagon to pass. Following Luciel’s footsteps, Gilliard smiled at the sudden thought.
‘A long time ago, the owner of this forest was a real fairy, but that little child is just like a fairy.’
“…. Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred.”
As Luciel went, counting the hundred steps with her mouth, they reached a huge barrier. The black barrier layered on top of each other, making it five layers of shielding. The height was so high that she couldn’t even see it after bending her head back,
‘If I can become a bird and fly above it, could I see the end?’
It was a place no one could easily cross.
Gilliard approached behind Luciel, who looked up at the wall with her mouth wide open.
“Isn’t it whoever made this amazing?”
He opened his chest even more, expecting words of praise like cool and awesome to come out of Luciel’s mouth.
Luciel already knew.
Because this black barrier wall that was built by the first Duke Gilliard was very famous. Thanks to this barrier, the Duchy of Bellstein and its residents were able to be safe from monsters and other enemies.
But it wasn’t forever. The day the Black Wall fell, Bellstein also fell.
I’ll have to give a proposal to reinforce that barrier later. To prepare for the future.’ Luciel quickly broke the chain of her thought and said, what he expected to hear.
“It’s the most beautiful building I’ve ever seen in my life! Whoever came up with this must be a genius, right?”
The moment Luciel said that with her twinkling eyes, he made sly smile to his lips.
“……Whoa, me a genius? I guess I can consider myself
one.”
The wagon went through a total of seven gates and ran towards the castle. Upon entering the wall, another world opened up.
A neatly decorated farm, ranches, a large watermill, and an endless busy street. Countless carriages and people coming and going.
It was like a small country.
People were all wearing high-quality clothes and enjoying leisurely free time in cafes or on the stairs in the square.
From the outside, it was difficult to tell who was the noble and who was the commoner.
Looking at such relaxed people with longing eyes, Luciel leaned close to the window. While squinting at her, Gilliard promised in his heart that he would make Luciel take a tour of the city.
As the carriage crossed the bridge, the Duke’s castle full of pointed spires finally appeared. The border of the white building was decorated with sky blue tiles.
“Cool.’
‘It was like something out of a fairy tale,
It was such a wonderful castle that Luciel was about to get up from the carriage chair, but surprisingly, her body faltered.
For the short Luciel, the carriage seat was too high.
She looked forward to the Duke’s castle with her blushing cheeks not wanting to miss it. Gilliard held the child so she wouldn’t fall.
“Oh, be careful. You have to sit upright in the carriage.”
“Ah, yes…”
Luciel sat back on the chair. The feet that did not touch the floor were not fixed, and whenever the carriage wobbled it moved.
As the Duke’s castle drew nearer, Gilliard became mentally tired.
His son and current head, Louivid, would have a cold, and indifferent reaction to Luciel.
“He’s cold-hearted and has a bad temper… … . What if he doesn’t like Luciel? What about it, I have to come forward to protect her of course.’
When Gilliard was struggling alone, Luciel was awed, by the landscape of the Bellstein estate which was more beautiful than any other portrait she had imagined.
thump thump.
Her little heart was beating fast.
Excitement and anticipation.
I thought all these feelings were gone a long time ago…’
‘Luciel raised the corners of her lips slightly.
She wanted to laugh out loud to her hearts content, but she’s never done that, so she just quietly smiled with her closed mouth….
*
*
*
At the return of the old duke, Eva, the butler came running in neat cloths. She had succeeded in her father’s footsteps and had already been working as a butler in the Duchy for 20th year.
“Are you back, Elder Master?”
Eva’s gaze fell on the little girl following her master. Her appearance was shabby, but she was a very small and cute child. Her special eye color also contributed to attracting attention.
“My lord, this child.”
“Ah, this little lady here is a guest. She came to see the Duke.”
Luciel nodded her head, anticipating that she would, certainly be ignored. Because in the Count, all the adults, including the servants, were like that.
But what followed was an unexpected eye contact. The butler, who had an impressive red bobbed hair, had a rather stiff impression, but she gave Luciel a kind gaze.
With one knee bent, she asked Luciel carefully.
“… … This is the first time such a young lady has come to the castle. I am Eva, who oversees the Castle of the Duke of Bellstein.”
“My name is Luciel.”
“Okay, Miss Luciel. First of all, please sit in the living room and wait. The Lord will come down soon.”
Luciel, guided by Eva, sat quietly on the sofa in the living room. Gilliard also sat down next to her. She lifted her head and looked at the circular chandelier hanging from the ceiling of the parlor.
The interior was as elegant and beautiful as the exterior. Luciel loved this place for its elegant and neat interior.
Her eyes rolled endlessly while watching the black dragon badges on the swords and shields, the white deer statue, and the white indoor fountain flowing in the middle of the parlor.
Luciel, who was eagerly looking at the castle, was like a curious squirrel. Gilliard let out a low laugh.
“Haha. Luciel, do you like this place?”
“Yes. It’s a wonderful place like grandfather.”
Luciel said with bright eyes.
“Hmm, that… Is that so?”
She nodded her head.
……!”
‘Is that why everyone said granddaughters were the best?’
The sight of a cute child who listens to everything he has to say made Gilliard enchanted. He seemed to understand a little bit why the vassals boasted that their granddaughter was the best.
His wrinkled eyes narrowed.
Thud. Thud.Thud.
At that time, at the appearance of a man coming down the stairs, both Luciel, Gilliard, and Eva, who returned to where they were, all stopped moving,