Chapter 4

“...”

Come to think of it, the Duchess wasn’t wrong.

For some reason, I had been thinking that when the time came, I would naturally leave this land.

I thought all I had to do was endure... but now I wasn’t so sure.

“Actually, you two have a lot in common. Couldn’t you rely on each other?”

“...What do we have in common?”

“You both have to face a harsh world, you’re both still young, you’ll come to miss your parents’ embrace, and you’ve both witnessed your family’s battles. It’s all quite similar.”

“...”

When I didn’t answer, the Duchess lightly pinched and shook my cheek.

It was an action that treated me entirely like a child.

She spoke with her signature gentle smile.

“I hear that in the Eastern Kingdom, knights from the Allen family are highly esteemed.”

“...”

“Kylo, if I were to leave... could you protect my daughter? Like a true knight?”

At her absurd request, I cautiously brushed away the Duchess’s hand.

“Does that make any sense?”

“Why wouldn’t it?”

“Our families are enemies.”

“I told you, that was in our generation. You’re different. Do you have any reason to hate Vivian? Does Vivian have any reason to hate you?”

“There is. Not everyone can separate their emotions based on the cause as sharply as you can, Duchess. Besides, on what grounds are you saying this? Isn’t entrusting protection to someone from an enemy family a crazy idea in itself? And what am I supposed to protect Vivian from? The Delrum Kingdom won the war.”

At that question, the Duchess’s smile gradually faded.

Just as I wondered if I had said something wrong at her serious expression, she whispered.

“...Protect her from the Rondor family.”

“Pardon?”

It was an incomprehensible statement. Protect Vivian Rondor from the Rondor family?

If not for her utterly serious expression, I would have thought she was joking.

“When I’m gone, wild dogs will swarm to take Vivian’s position and everything she has.”

“...”

“Up until now, our vassals—the families who swore loyalty to us—all followed my husband. But now that we have no son and I’m about to leave... won’t enemies appear who aim for Vivian?”

“...”

“Please protect her, Kylo. If you feel compassion for the lonely Vivian... if you can feel my earnest plea... if you can show mercy to the Rondor family...”

‘...If you have any conscience, Kylo Allen... please show mercy to our family...’

That voice echoed once again.

—Screach!

I stood up from my seat.

“...Please stop. Don’t you know how old I am? It’s hard enough to take care of myself; how on earth could I protect anyone?”

I’m only fourteen now. My height has only recently started to shoot up. I’m just starting to grow a beard these days.

When adults push me, I get tossed around; what could I possibly do?

The Duchess smiled softly.

“Are you sure you can’t?”

“Yes. No. Please stop saying such nonsense.”

I turned to leave the room but then remembered that the only place I had to stay was the prison.

In the end, I froze in the middle of the room, unable to do anything.

Seeing me like this, the Duchess shook the bell beside her bed.

—Ding.

The door opened, and Pippin entered.

“You called?”

“Please prepare so that our guest can wash and rest. Tend to his wounds, and make sure he gets a meal.”

“...”

Pippin glanced at me briefly and nodded silently.

“Follow Pippin, Kylo. We’ll have another day to talk.”

“...”

“And then, please tell me about my son.”

She was referring to Royce Rondor, who had once been captured as a prisoner by us.

I gave her a slight bow and left the room.

As I stepped out, I noticed someone who had been waiting for me to come out.

She was the one the Duchess had asked me to protect.

Vivian Rondor.

Once again, my heart tightened. Her presence always took my breath away.

I couldn’t decide whether to greet her or just ignore her.

While I stood there awkwardly, Vivian made a decision.

—Thump!

With tears glistening in her eyes, she bumped my shoulder as she passed by.

Vivian went through the door, and from beyond the closed door, the sound of sobbing reached me.

At that sound, I fell into deep thought once more.

The Duchess had also said she was leaving this world; what state would Vivian be in then?

Would she face reality and become stronger... or would she crumble?

Either way, I didn’t like it.

****

“Cough, cough!”

The Duchess of Rondor coughed harshly. She could feel her body weakening with each passing day.

“It seems I don’t have much time left.”

She whispered self-mockingly.

A man who was in the room with her nodded.

“Indeed.”

“...”

The Duchess hoped he would offer some empty words like telling her she could live longer or to stay strong... but well, this honesty was one of his virtues.

That’s why he was someone she could trust.

Perhaps, if there was a vassal in the Rondor family she could rely on, it was this man alone.

Because of that, she could discuss important matters and even talk about her affairs after death with him.

Didn’t her husband also tell her to rely on this man when times got tough?

“So, how did the investigation go?”

The Duchess whispered momentarily, revealing a hint of hatred.

“Is it true... that a third party was involved in the deaths of my husband and son?”

The atmosphere grew heavier in line with the grave topic.

Officially, it was known that Duke Rondor and their eldest son, Royce Rondor, were killed by the Allen family.

Duke Rondor died from festering wounds he received in a battle against the undefeated knight, Jade Allen.

Royce Rondor, who had once been a prisoner of the Allen family, was released by them on humanitarian grounds after the Duke’s death. However, on his journey home, he and his escort were all killed in a landslide.

The Duchess did not want to believe that Royce’s death was an accident.

Instead, she believed it was a scheme by the Allen family.

They didn’t want to return the eldest son to the Rondor family, which had lost its head, but they wanted the honor of appearing humanitarian—so they concocted such a complex plot.

But later, she came to know one fact—That Royce Rondor had met the young Kylo Allen, who was observing the war.

And at that time, Royce Rondor had shown mercy to Kylo Allen.

If so, it was possible that Jade Allen released Royce out of gratitude for that mercy.

...Given that the Rondor family was already on a path of decline after losing the Duke, there would have been no need to go out of their way to kill Royce.

This led to one assumption.

Perhaps, amid all this chaos, there was someone aiming to swallow up the Rondor family.

From the outset, there were many strange aspects to Duke Rondor’s death.

Would such a robust man really die from a single festering wound?

Was Royce’s death truly an accident? Or did someone else intervene?

The man who was with the Duchess shook his head.

“...There are many unsettling parts, but we haven’t found definitive evidence that a third party was involved.”

“Is that so.”

“Madam, as I’ve always said... all of this might just be my imagination. Perhaps they all really died at the hands of the Allen family...”

The Duchess nodded.

“I almost wish that were the case now.”

“Pardon...?”

“Then I could close my eyes knowing there are no enemies targeting Vivian.”

“...”

“I’m afraid. That after I leave this world... Vivian will live in daily fear of death. That she’ll be all alone, searching for solace every night.”

Before she knew it, tears were welling up in the Duchess’s eyes.

The man let out a long sigh and asked,

“Did the child from the Allen family accept your proposal? Did he agree to protect Lady Vivian?”

The Duchess wiped her tears and smiled faintly.

“Of course not. I’m just glad he didn’t think I was crazy.”

It had been an unreasonable request from the start.

Why would Kylo protect Vivian out of his own goodwill?

But even if it was an unreasonable request, it was something she had to say at least once. That’s how desperate the Duchess was.

No effort was too much when it came to the safety of her last remaining child.

There were several reasons why Kylo Allen had come to this land.

As the Duchess had told Kylo, there were certainly aspects for the sake of the territory’s people...

...But in truth, she needed his presence.

They didn’t know what kind of enemies might be lurking in Rondor.

But even so, those enemies wouldn’t be reckless.

Kylo Allen didn’t realize it, but he was an invincible existence in this land.

No one would dare to even think of killing him.

If they killed him, the undefeated knight Jade Allen would come running with eyes ablaze.

There was no point in seizing a land that would only be trampled upon.

So she thought that having Kylo stick close to Vivian would ensure her safety.

That’s why she had demanded him as a hostage.

She wasn’t sure if the plan was unfolding well.

“What was your impression of the child from the Allen family?”

The man asked the Duchess.

The Duchess smiled as she recalled their previous encounter.

“He was a good child.”

The man raised his eyebrows, seeming surprised.

“Really? I heard he argued with thousands in the plaza and provoked them. Do you know how big of a quarrel he had with Lady Vivian in this very room?”

The Duchess chuckled.

“That’s a good thing. It means he’s brave. Do you think there are many boys who can act like that in enemy territory?”

“...”

“The Allen family is truly remarkable. If that courage could be used to protect Vivian, nothing would be better.”

“Aren’t you worried about his unruly tendencies?”

“It’s not unruliness... Perhaps Kylo was scared too. When we were alone, he wouldn’t raise his voice above a certain level, as if he were worried about me. Even when he brushed off my hand, he did it cautiously—Cough, cough!!”

The man hurriedly offered a glass of water to the coughing Duchess.

But she shook her head.

Then she spoke.

“I just hope Vivian hasn’t made too many mistakes with Kylo.”

“Mistakes, you say?”

“Kylo might be the only friend Vivian can find in this land. She will become very lonely. Not just because we’re gone... but because the power she must bear will make her lonely. The only one free from that burden will be Kylo.”

“...”

“But if she ends up hating Kylo so much... and later learns that our family actually met its demise due to another enemy... if she vents her anger on an innocent person...”

“Who knows, Madam? If, in the end, all of this was just my imagination and the Allen family was entirely responsible, then perhaps it could be seen as justice served.”

“Maybe. But is it truly justice to blame a child for the sins of his family?”

“...”

At that moment, the Duchess swallowed hard and said.

“...Please write down my will.”

The man, gritting his teeth, nodded reluctantly and prepared paper and ink on the table.

“Go ahead.”

“I’ve already spoken to the nanny about Vivian’s education. I asked her to raise Vivian especially strictly... I trust the nanny... Even if the punishments become severe, please overlook it.”

“Delegate Lady Vivian’s education to Madam Linne... And...”

.

.

.

The Duchess’s will continued to be written down.

“Lastly…”

“Yes?”

“I will entrust Vivian’s protection to Kylo.”

The man froze momentarily.

“...But Madam.”

“Whether she accepts it or not... that’s up to Vivian. I will leave my will as such.”

“Understood.”

The Duchess finished her will and looked up at the man.

They exchanged glances for a while.

The Duchess spoke softly.

“...Thank you so much for everything.”

The man tried to lighten the mood.

“It’s still too early for final goodbyes. We’ll see each other a few more times.”

“Even so, I wanted to express my gratitude.”

“...”

“You can protect Vivian, right?”

The man smirked and shook his head.

“Not likely. I have to survive too. I plan to distance myself from Lady Vivian for a while. I’ll go into hiding. Even if she’s in danger, I won’t risk my life to save her. I don’t want to die a meaningless death.”

“Must you be so honest until the end?”

The Duchess spoke with a tinge of disappointment, but the man didn’t retract his words.

After a long silence, he finally said.

“...I’ll try.”

The Duchess smiled.

“That’s enough.”

And six days later, the Duchess passed away peacefully.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

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