Chapter 2

Leaving the plaza, we arrived at Rondor Castle, where the knights handed me over to a man.

“Well then, hang in there, Kylo Allen.”

“Don’t die too soon; that’d be no fun.”

Each knight left me with their own version of advice before departing.

“...”

As I watched them depart, the man before me spoke up.

“Please call me Pippin. I am the head butler of the Rondor family.”

“...”

Pippin stared at my bloodied appearance for quite some time.

Being scrutinized made my wounds throb and burn even more.

The urge to ask for at least a bandage rose to my throat, but my petty pride kept me silent.

Pippin observed me for a moment before speaking briefly.

“...Lady Vivian is waiting for you.”

It seemed he had no intention of offering me any treatment either.

With a shallow sigh, I followed behind him as he led the way.

“...”

As I trailed after him, a question arose.

The butler had mentioned the name “Vivian.”

As far as I knew, the Duchess’s name wasn’t Vivian.

There was only one person known as Vivian in the Rondor family.

Vivian Rondor.

The eldest daughter of the Rondor family, their last remaining child, one year younger than me.

“...”

...Why was she mentioned before the Duchess?

It was puzzling.

I hadn’t paid any attention to Vivian Rondor in the first place.

I was more wary of the Duchess of Rondor.

Recalling the scream my mother let out as we parted, I was certain the Duchess—who had lost her husband and son because of us—would surely have prepared a hell for me.

After all, it was said that the one who strongly demanded a hostage from our family was none other than the Duchess herself.

So I feared the Duchess, not her daughter.

But the mention of Vivian earlier stirred my dark imagination.

What state could she be in for the butler to mention Vivian Rondor first?

Could she be more enraged than the Duchess?

Or was her temperament worse than the Duchess’?

I hadn’t heard any such rumors, though.

“...Ha.”

But there was no need for me to dwell on it too much.

I would find out the answer soon enough.

So, I awkwardly wiped away the blood running down my face with the sleeve of the fine clothes my parents had dressed me in for the last time.

Soon, I would be meeting the members of the Rondor family. I felt it was somewhat humiliating to show up like this at our first meeting.

Perhaps that’s why the butler offered no help before leading me inside.

“...”

The southern castle was decorated in a completely different style from that of the north.

While the Allen family’s castle back home was more somber, everything in this Rondor castle was extravagant and vibrant.

Curtains hung on every window. Vases filled with vibrant flowers adorned the halls. The red sun emblem of Rondor was engraved in various places. And mounted on the walls were the heads of ferocious beasts.

“...”

As we walked, I suddenly froze in place, my eyes locking on the head of one particular creature.

Noticing that I had stopped, Pippin turned to look back at me, then followed my gaze to the animal.

Hanging there was the head of a white bear—the symbol of the Allen family.

“...”

Even upon seeing the white bear’s head, the head butler offered no explanation. Instead, he stood silently, as if allowing me to slowly grasp the situation.

‘There are no white bears in the South. Did they go out of their way to get it?’

Their animosity toward the Allen family was evident even in such trivial details.

“Let’s go.”

Seeing that I couldn’t tear my eyes away, the head butler spoke softly.

Soon, we arrived at a massive door.

The grand door was adorned with intricate craftsmanship:

The red sun—the emblem of Rondor. The faces of a griffin and a dragon. Gold-plated handles.

Four soldiers stood guard at the entrance, along with more than a dozen maids.

Not one of them hid their hostility toward me.

Some even seemed to sneer at my disheveled appearance.

The head butler who had escorted me nodded to the soldiers.

—Swish!

At that moment, a sack was pulled over my head.

“What are you—”

I cried out in surprise, but a hand touched my shoulder. Pippin spoke.

“—Please excuse us for a moment.”

Gritting my teeth, I said,

“...Surely, you do realize I’ve come here as a guest?”

“You know very well that’s not the truth, Mr. Kylo Allen.”

“...”

My heart, which I had managed to calm, began pounding once again.

Soon after, the soldiers grabbed my arms, treating me like a heinous criminal.

It seemed to be their way of humiliating me further.

I tried to pull my arms free, but I couldn’t overcome two grown men.

Feeling their hostility, I was brought back to reality.

I realized once again where I stood.

‘Rondors are beasts; never believe a word they say.’

I remembered my uncle’s words…

‘If you show weakness, they’ll take advantage of you... sob... Never show weakness, my dear.’

…My mother’s words.

‘If you are the eldest son of the Allen family, fight until the end. Never yield to Rondor.’

…And even my father’s voice.

—Knock, knock.

At that moment, a retainer announced from beyond the door.

“From the Eastern Kingdom, Kylo Allen, eldest son of the Allen family and son of the Undefeated Knight Jade Allen, has arrived.”

“...”

“Let him in.”

—Thud.

I heard the door open.

The soldiers gripping my arms began to march forward, dragging me along.

I walked ahead, trying to steady my breath that was quickening with tension.

With the sack over my head, my heartbeat sounded louder, thudding in my ears, making me more aware of my emotions.

And in that darkness, I could finally be honest with myself.

I was afraid… Honestly, I was terrified. I longed for my mother’s embrace.

This place was filled with hostility, and everything felt so overwhelming.

If I were just a bit older, would I have been braver?

It was my first time standing alone like this, and everything had happened so suddenly—it was hard to adjust.

Just ahead, the Duchess and her daughter would be waiting.

I felt as if I could sense their gaze, like predators watching me, ready to devour me.

“...Sniff...Hic...”

“...?”

At that moment, I heard a faint sobbing.

A soft, delicate sound, like the whisper of a small, fragile creature.

A sound completely opposite to what I had expected.

With each step, the sound grew louder.

I wondered if it was an auditory hallucination born from my own desire to cry.

—Thud!

“Ugh!”

The soldiers kicked the back of my knees, forcing me to kneel.

They grabbed the back of my head and slammed me onto the floor.

—Bang!

A burning pain flared from the gash on my forehead.

But even amidst the pain and humiliation, I bluffed to show that my spirit was unbroken.

“So this is how Rondor treats its guests? Even goblins would offer better hospitality.”

But there was no response.

Silence.

Complete silence.

The silence was so overwhelming that I began to feel anxious… as if speaking had been a mistake.

Then, finally, a small voice asked:

“...Is, is this Ky...Kylo Allen?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Hic...sob...”

It wasn’t an adult’s voice. It was definitely not the Duchess’ voice.

The owner of the voice continued to sob, her words barely audible through her tears.

“M-Mother, the, the o-one you’ve been longing for... o-our enemy is here.”

She was stuttering.

“You… y-you were waiting. You said you were waiting…”

Before I knew it, I had fallen silent, focusing on that soft, fragile voice.

“S-so please, please wake up. P-please...”

Wake up?

—Swish!

As my confusion grew, my upper body was lifted, and the sack was removed from my head.

Blinding light struck my eyes.

I squinted, blinking against the sudden brightness.

It was a large bed. On it lay a frail woman, motionless.

And at the bedside, with her back facing me was a small girl. She was kneeling facing the motionless woman with tears streaming down her face.

Red hair. A small frame. Trembling shoulders.

It didn’t take long for me to realize who they were.

The Duchess and Vivian Rondor.

“.........”

Even the sharp vigilance I had honed crumbled at the sight before me.

Only one thought crossed my mind.

...It was so pitiful.

I had made all preparations, was ready to fight.

But the Duchess was asleep, and her daughter looked so fragile.

The gap between my expectations and the reality before me left me frozen.

My enemy was not a mother consumed by rage after losing her husband and son.

It was a small girl who had lost her entire family.

“...”

I couldn’t take my eyes off the sobbing Vivian Rondor, watching as she gently caressed her mother’s face, weakly shook her hand, and clutched her clothes tightly as tears fell.

Even from behind, I could feel how frightened and lonely she was.

“Mother, p-please... please don’t leave me a-alone... hic...”

It was the first time since entering Roctana, where I had felt only fear, I was experiencing a different emotion.

After all, it wasn’t easy to fear someone who looked obviously weaker than me.

And as the fear faded, another emotion filled the space it left behind.

...A strange sense of empathy. An odd sense of pity.

I knew I shouldn’t feel this way, but my resolve was already crumbling.

‘...If you have any conscience, Kylo Allen...’

At that moment, the voice of someone who had made a particular request of me years ago suddenly echoed in my mind.

“Sniff...hic...”

As the Duchess didn’t wake, Vivian Rondor slowly turned her head.

...And for a moment, my breath caught at a beauty beyond expectation.

“...”

Large eyes. Sharp eyebrows. A delicate nose. Small lips.

As I looked at her, I felt my heartbeat quicken.

Even though Vivian was a mess—her face tear-streaked and her hair disheveled—it was hard to take my eyes off her.

Then, her fiery red eyes—like the sun—locked onto mine.

The moment our gazes met—

‘You will fall in love with someone you shouldn’t.’

—Thud!

I slammed my forehead against the ground.

‘Get it together!’ I scolded myself.

Why was I recalling such nonsense now?

Just because her pitiful appearance had briefly captured my attention, it was ridiculous to let my thoughts wander like that. Even I found it laughable.

If my father saw me like this, he’d laugh and shake his head in disbelief.

Regaining my composure, I lifted my head.

Vivian Rondor looked as though she had plenty to say about my strange behavior but chose to let it pass.

“...Ky-Kylo Allen.”

Her voice lacked any strength or emotion as she spoke.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

“I’ve... been waiting for you.”

That was our first meeting.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

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