Chapter 36

 

It was deep into the night.

 

A faint candlelight flickered inside the room, scattering its glow, and Vivian narrowed her tired eyes.

 

With a long sigh, she put down the thick book.

 

The letters she had forced into her mind until now drifted aimlessly through her head.

 

She closed her dry eyes and slowly leaned back in her chair.

 

“Today you’re having trouble focusing, my disciple.”

 

As if to comfort her, a gentle voice, tinged with laughter, spoke to Vivian.

 

Vivian took in the scent of Elena’s smoke and opened her eyes slightly.

 

Where Vivian’s gaze fell, on the large bed in the corner of the room, Elena lay stretched out.

 

Long hair flowed over her shoulders and dress.

 

Her white, firm legs peeked softly from beneath the hem of her gown.

 

If it had been anyone else, Vivian might have told them not to lie on the bed, but perhaps because Elena was too beautiful…? The sight of her there looked like a painting, and Vivian felt little resistance to it.

 

Besides, that bed no longer felt like it belonged to her parents. In a way, it was Vivian’s own now.

 

Vivian answered Elena honestly:

 

“...It’s hard.”

 

“Oh, my? You rarely complain.”

 

Because of the rigor of her lessons with Madam Linne, learning under Elena had seemed bearable at first.

 

But that was only at the beginning.

 

In the lessons with Elena, there awaited a different kind of difficulty than with Madam Linne.

 

Vivian swallowed and lifted the book a little, showing it to Elena.

 

“...This, does it all really have meaning?”

 

“What meaning do you mean?”

 

“History of witches, qualifications, vessels... It’s all stories that have nothing to do with power.”

 

Vivian felt as though she was walking down a path far different from what she had expected.

 

It had already been three months since she began walking the path of a witch.

 

All she’d learned were records, chronicles, and the long-standing philosophies of witches.

 

The curses she’d imagined, the simple spells, potions, or the sacrifices and materials needed for rituals...

 

All of these were far from what she was studying now.

 

Elena, with a slight smile, rose from the bed and approached Vivian.

 

Gently, she tried to soothe her:

 

“What meaning is there in teaching swordsmanship to a baby who can’t even take its first steps?”

 

“...That’s true, but...”

 

“I understand your impatience. But everything has its stages. Even if I taught you complicated curses right now, you wouldn’t be able to use them, would you?”

 

“...”

 

Vivian sighed deeply again.

 

Sensing genuine concern, Elena crouched down beside Vivian’s chair and asked:

 

“Something has happened, Vivian.”

 

That clueless question made Vivian’s heart feel a bit stifled.

 

“...You seem to know everything about me, and yet at times, it’s as if you know nothing at all, Master.”

 

Elena knew astonishingly well the details about Vivian herself, but she knew nothing about the atmosphere within Rondor Castle.

 

Did she truly not know how tense it had become lately, how stiff the faces of the retainers had grown?

 

Vivian couldn’t understand how Elena gathered her information for it to be so skewed.

 

As expected, Elena replied:

 

“Well, I only focus intensely on what interests me…”

 

“...”

 

Vivian had nothing to say to that.

 

After all, just because she was a witch didn’t mean she was a god. If witches were such grand beings, they wouldn’t have been hunted in the first place.

 

Realizing this peeled away one layer of her illusions about witches.

 

She had thought that once she gained power, anything would be possible... but maybe that wasn’t the case.

 

Vivian asked:

 

“Master, does that mean I have to keep reading these kinds of books until I become an adult?”

 

“You’ll learn some light spells. But the spells that will fulfill all your dreams... you must grow older to learn them.”

 

Vivian shook her head.

 

“...I don’t understand. I need power right now. If it can only be used once I’m of age, what’s the point of becoming a witch?”

 

“If you reach adulthood and remain powerless, you’ll regret not becoming a witch then, don’t you think? At least now, you’re preparing for the future—try to consider that a blessing.”

 

“...”

 

“Just endure for five or six years. Your life stretches on until you’re seventy or beyond. Isn’t it all right if you think of it that way?”

 

“What I’m afraid of... is that someone might kill me before then.”

 

“Even if you give up now, you won’t be safe when you become an adult.”

 

Vivian’s gaze wavered.

 

Elena looked at her calmly and, as if soothing a frightened animal, whispered softly:

 

“Vivian, if you truly want it, I can teach you about complex curses early; If it would ease your mind even a little.”

 

“Really?”

 

“But as I said, you won’t be able to use those spells. Knowing them will be meaningless. It’ll only feed your impatience and torment you more. By the way... something really has happened recently, hasn’t it?”

 

“...”

 

Vivian thought about what would happen in a few days.

 

Soon, leaving only a handful of guards to protect the castle, the entire order of knights would ride out.

 

Kylo Allen would be among them.

 

Vivian didn’t want to admit it, but his absence shook her more than before.

 

The last time he left, she couldn’t even eat properly... How would it be this time?

 

Even if she could use a simple spell to check if her food was poisoned, that wouldn’t protect her from a raging inferno.

 

And once he left, her uncle Robert Rondor would arrive at the castle.

 

He would bring his own people... Could she counter that pressure with her own retainers?

 

These were vassals who had grown distant after her harsh words a few dozen days ago.

 

Vivian lacked confidence.

 

In the end, she looked up at Elena and pleaded:

 

“...Master, at the very least, can’t you find out who’s targeting me?”

 

“...”

 

Elena smiled a small, apologetic smile as if trying to ease the atmosphere.

 

Then she tried to persuade Vivian:

 

“...Vivian, as I’ve said before, I’m here to teach you how to hunt, not to do the hunting for you.”

 

“I know, but...”

 

“Once you start relying on me, where will it end? Will identifying your enemy solve everything? After you find out who it is, what then? Will you come and ask me to eliminate them?”

 

Vivian had no answer, so Elena continued:

 

“What if there’s more than one enemy? What if others target you as well, or if their underlings continue their plans? Will you rely on me again to deal with them?”

 

“...”

 

“And Vivian, remember what I said: every spell requires a price. There are sacrifices, yes, but beyond that... when performing complex spells, a witch must offer up a part of her own beauty.”

 

“What?”

 

“You must have heard how witches look. Enormous warts on their noses, hunchbacked spines, lumpy faces, hands as thin as bones, terrible voices... That’s the fate of witches who overuse powerful spells.”

 

Vivian looked at Elena.

 

Gazing at the flawless witch, questions arose.

 

“Then Master, have you... never used a spell before?”

 

Elena burst out laughing at Vivian’s question.

 

Then, patting Vivian on the head, she said:

 

“Of course I have. I’ve killed many people as part of my revenge. What I meant is that you must never overuse complex spells. That’s also why I can’t step in for you. You must save it for moments that truly matter, don’t you think?”

 

Elena spoke for Vivian’s sake, but Vivian couldn’t hide her disappointment. Elena said:

 

“Vivian, becoming a witch... it’s not like grasping a powerful sword. It’s not like you’re handed a weapon you can swing about freely.”

 

“...Then what is it?”

 

“Think of it as a hidden dagger you can use once in a very crucial moment. When that time comes, having it or not will make a big difference.”

 

Vivian understood Elena’s words, but it did nothing to calm her immediate impatience. She was just as frustrated.

 

She slumped over the desk, expressing her disappointment. She didn’t intend to throw a tantrum at Elena.

 

She was just worried about the days ahead.

 

“...”

 

Before she knew it, Vivian recalled Kylo’s proposal.

 

‘Or... you could join the expedition.’

 

...That foolish suggestion.

 

Just as in the past, it was something only someone ignorant of politics would say.

 

How could the head of a house abandon the castle to go hunt monsters?

 

Especially a woman—if she followed him, it would be seen as lacking decorum and would surely cause whispering among the retainers.

 

If she came away from it without some strange nickname like ‘Monster Maiden,’ she’d be lucky.

 

...Yet the idea wouldn’t leave her mind.

 

She was afraid to remain alone in the castle. Facing her uncle alone felt unsettling.

 

And the fact that she felt ‘alone’ now that Kylo would be gone proved how large his presence had grown inside her.

 

Picturing Kylo, Vivian mumbled quietly:

 

“...Is there no spell to become braver?”

 

She felt she’d need the courage to endure the coming days.

 

Like the juice that could numb pain, she wanted something that would make her impervious to fear.

 

As if finding her adorable, Elena gently placed a hand on Vivian’s head and answered:

 

“There is a spell that can keep your heartbeat steady.”

 

“...Do I have to sacrifice beauty for that too?”

 

Elena chuckled softly and shook her head.

 

“No. Simple spells require no such thing. Think of sacrificing beauty as the backlash of using powerful magic.”

 

“...Then at least teach me that spell, please?”

 

“If you want it.”

 

It wouldn’t solve Vivian’s fundamental problems, but... perhaps she would have to be satisfied with just that.

 

Vivian felt more trapped than ever in this castle.

 

It was like being locked in a vast prison.

 

A prison where she couldn’t flee from pain, couldn’t close her eyes, and could do nothing but endure.

 

With a sigh, Vivian straightened her upper body.

 

Then, looking at Elena, she said:

 

“...Please teach me.”

 

****

 

From the high balcony of Castle Rondor, if you looked down at the inner courtyard, you could see knights everywhere preparing to depart.

 

Horses leaving the stables trotted briskly, their hooves sounding lively, while squires dashed about excitedly, thrilled by the scent of the battlefield that had returned after so long.

 

Older knights, knowing the grueling schedule that lay ahead, sipped warm water as they roused their bodies; meanwhile, the knight captains were busy issuing orders left and right.

 

Carts loaded with provisions rolled in single file, sleeping bags, and clean cloth piled up in neat stacks.

 

Men still steaming from their baths wandered about, drying off their damp bodies, and some broke into laughter, joking around.

 

Yet the more raucous the courtyard became, the quieter the interior of the castle grew in contrast.

 

It was hard to believe how empty and lonely the castle—where Vivian would remain—appeared.

 

“...”

 

Having fewer people wasn’t necessarily a good thing, not when so many had their eyes on Vivian. No witnesses meant ideal conditions for some secret scheme.

 

...To put it bluntly, if someone snuck up on Vivian in the dead of night and slit her throat, there might be no one to see it.

 

That was what it meant for the castle to stand so empty.

 

But I understood there was no other way for Vivian.

 

She had invited her uncle, Robert Rondor, to Roctana, asking for help. She couldn’t possibly not greet him.

 

And especially since she wasn’t on the best terms with Robert, she had to be even more cautious.

 

I knew this logically, but knowing didn’t lessen the worry.

 

Vivian had said she’d bring plenty of maids with her, though who knew how much help they’d be.

 

Of course, maybe I was just being paranoid. Perhaps there was nothing to worry about after all.

 

If I thought about it, the person who’d handed me those notes had been quiet lately. Maybe there wouldn’t be any problems.

 

...But my gut feeling kept clouding my reason. It kept telling me something felt off, that trouble might arise once I was gone...

 

“Hah.”

 

I shook my head.

 

No amount of worrying would change anything.

 

All I could do was see Vivian’s face, leave at the right time, and hope she held on.

 

I stepped away from the window and walked on alone.

 

Before long, I reached the hall, and as always, Vivian waited for me at that long dining table, looking quite familiar in her usual spot.

 

“...”

 

Even though she must have noticed my arrival, she said nothing.

 

Was she feeling a bit uneasy? Just as that thought occurred—

 

Vivian lifted her head.

 

Surprisingly, she looked clearly more at ease than before.

 

Strangely enough, she seemed… braver?

 

“...”

 

Seeing that expression somehow put me at ease as well.

 

I quietly picked up a piece of bread.

 

I tore off a chunk and shoved it into my mouth, then passed the rest to Vivian.

 

Vivian, accustomed to this routine, accepted the bread and took a bite.

 

“You look better,” I opened the conversation.

 

Vivian didn’t deny it.

 

“I’m fine.”

 

“Just a while ago, you looked like you were dying.”

 

“...That was just a while ago.”

 

“Think you can welcome your uncle properly?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“...”

 

But as the conversation continued, I found myself puzzled.

 

Had she always been like this?

 

No matter what, there’d always been some tell—a crack showing her real feelings—but now she was calm to the point of excess.

 

It felt like she was wearing a thick mask. Having watched her for over a year, I was sensitive enough to notice such changes.

 

“...”

 

Still, it wasn’t something I could openly question.

 

If she’d mustered the courage to hide her true feelings behind a mask, I ought to applaud her for it.

 

It would be best for me to leave with a good impression of her change.

 

With that thought in mind, I focused on filling my stomach, repeatedly bringing food to my mouth. I ate quietly, just watching Vivian.

 

When the long meal ended, it was time for me to go.

 

“...”

 

“...”

 

I waited for a moment, but as expected, she didn’t say goodbye.

 

Though we no longer growled at each other as before, there remained an unbreachable barrier between us.

 

A thick wall of blood and grudges.

 

With no other choice, I wiped my mouth and rose from my seat.

 

—Creeaaak!

 

At that sound, Vivian flinched as if returning to reality, but her face remained unmoved.

 

I took in her courage with my eyes and began walking.

 

...But just before leaving the hall, I paused and looked back at her.

 

I saw that she had grown despondent, her shoulders slumped.

 

Her face was still set in that hardened expression, but her body told a different story.

 

What happened next I couldn’t really recall clearly.

 

—Thump!

 

Suddenly, I was standing before her, gripping her arm.

 

Startled, Vivian looked up at me, shocked.

 

“W-What’s wrong with you...!? Let go...!”

 

She tried to pull her arm free, alarmed, but I didn’t release her.

 

My intuition told me she was hiding something.

 

This wasn’t the kind of courage she’d have. Nor this kind of composure.

 

I didn’t know what she was doing to mask it, but she was afraid.

 

And I was too uneasy to leave her like this.

 

“Get up. Get ready.”

 

I spoke firmly, as if issuing an order.

 

Vivian stared blankly at me, stunned.

 

“G-Get ready for what...?”

 

“The expedition. You’re coming with me.”

 

“What?”

 

“You’re the head of the family. Does it make sense for you to hole up in the castle while the entire knightly order marches out? So stand up. You’re coming along.”

 

Vivian stood there, her mind racing. Then, as if snapping out of it, she struggled harder to free her arm.

 

“Are you insane? I told you I can’t! My uncle is coming—”

 

“—Who cares?”

 

I cut her off sharply.

 

“If you’re the head, you move as you please. Why can’t you act without worrying about your vassals? Let him wait until you return.”

 

“I, I want to stay in the castle—”

 

“—Don’t lie.”

 

My pointed words halted Vivian’s movements.

 

The mask melted away, revealing the frail girl beneath.

 

Seeing that, I softened my tone just a bit.

 

“It’ll be fun. You’ll get splattered with mud, retch at the sight of blood...”

 

“How is that fun...?”

 

Yet even as she said this, a subtle smile played on her face.

 

I couldn’t tell if it was incredulous or mocking, but she was smiling nonetheless.

 

Seizing the moment, I shook her again, more firmly.

 

“You idiot, what’s all this about your uncle anyway? Watch me.”

 

“What?”

 

“Have you forgotten I’m the eldest son of the Allen family? Shouldn’t you fear me more than your uncle? At least if you’re going to throw me in the Penal Unit, you ought to watch what happens to me, right?”

 

“...”

 

By now, Vivian’s resistance weakened. It became easier to pull her toward me.

 

Her hips began lifting off the chair.

 

“...What’s going on?”

 

Vivian bowed her head and muttered to herself, clutching at the fabric near her heart.

 

“I’m sure I walked properly...”

 

She whispered, confused.

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

I couldn’t understand a word, so I asked, but she gave no reply.

 

Instead, she slowly grasped my arm.

 

Taking that as a sign of agreement, I spoke again:

 

“Let’s go.”

 

I tugged, and her body followed.

 

Faced with her standing form, I confirmed my intent once more:

 

“Let’s get out of here, quickly.”

 

As I pulled her along by the arm, Vivian was dragged forward, no longer offering any significant resistance.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

 

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