Chapter 53

The way Vivian began to befriend the boy soldiers of the Penal Unit started to change the atmosphere within Rondor Castle.

It wasn’t as though people were too foolish to understand why she was doing it or what her intentions were.

Everyone knew just how precarious Vivian’s position was.

There had already been two overt assassination attempts, which made it clear that someone was targeting her.

Because of that, everyone understood her motive in cozying up to the boy soldiers—she wanted to build her own force.

This, in turn, sparked discontent among the remaining members of the knightly order, excluding the boy soldiers.

Of course, they would complain; it was inevitable.

After all, there was an implied message behind Vivian’s actions—that she did not fully trust the rest of the knights.

However, Vivian ignored such complaints.

Her position made it clear that she simply couldn’t move forward by trying to please everyone.

Even within the Penal Unit, the reactions were mixed.

Some were ecstatic just to be chosen by Vivian, while others made it clear they had no intention of walking a thorny path for her sake.

Whether those sentiments would change with time remained to be seen.

But one thing was certain: tension like never before began coursing through the entire castle the moment Vivian made her move.

Because if Vivian was on the move, so were her political enemies.

The factional strife lurking beneath the surface was gradually coming into the open.

As if that wasn’t enough, Vivian also began another peculiar series of actions.

At first, it was only gossip, but as more and more people experienced it, the story turned out to be true.

Every day, Vivian would call upon one of her vassals or maids and ask them questions.

She would pose two or three questions, sometimes sharp and pointed, other times trivial and nonsensical.

When this absurd story reached my ears, I couldn’t resist my curiosity.

I asked her during one of our shared meals.

“Is it true you’re calling people over to ask questions? What’s that about?”

Vivian replied in an uninterested tone.

“…I think I can tell when people are lying lately. So I’ve been testing it out.”

I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh at her ridiculous explanation.

She wasn’t some all-knowing deity. How in the world was she supposed to know that?

I followed up, intending to mock her.

“So, how’s that going?”

Surprisingly, Vivian answered with a confident smile, unaffected by my sarcasm.

“Pretty well.”

***

Vivian could distinguish lies up to three times a day.

Even then, three was already pushing it.

As Elena had mentioned, because the Witch’s Vessel was still small, Vivian couldn’t use much sorcery yet.

And after using it three times in a single day, Vivian would feel her body grow fatigued in an instant, followed by an overwhelming drowsiness.

Elena assured her that this would improve as her abilities grew, but Vivian remained cautious.

Over the next few days, Vivian tested her power.

She’d ask obvious questions, expecting obvious answers.

“Serena, can you tell me the color of the cloth I’m holding?”

She held up a white cloth in front of a maid and activated her sorcery.

Serena, flustered, looked back and forth between Vivian and the cloth before stammering her reply.

“I-it’s white.”

Vivian had been told that if someone lied, their eyes would briefly glow red; if they told the truth, their eyes would glow blue.

And in that moment, Serena’s eyes glowed blue.

Thus continued a string of downright silly questions.

She could only do it three times a day, so it took quite a bit of time.

She even wanted to test it on Kylo, whom she often saw at meals, but she refrained, uncertain if the sorcery truly worked.

And so, time passed, and Vivian reached a conclusion:

Her power was real.

Three times a day, she could determine truth from lies at crucial moments.

From then on, she began calling her vassals one by one to question them.

Because of this, the castle was thrown into an uproar all over again.

Vivian’s sudden actions were shattering the previously tranquil routine and putting everyone on edge.

Yet Vivian avoided directly asking overly sensitive questions.

There was no need to rush when there was plenty of time.

Asking someone to their face, ‘Do you bear ill will against me?’ …would hardly produce a good reaction.

So instead, she asked minor questions—or made small requests.

For instance: ‘I hope you’ll continue to work hard for me.’

—and then watched how they responded.

When Lady Linne responded with “Yes,” her eyes glowed blue.

Her conduct might be strict, her methods not always efficient, and sometimes her candid words made one’s face burn… but at least her heart seemed to be in the right place.

It was only now, two years later, that Vivian began to understand why her mother had appointed Lady Linne as her mentor.

She might not have been exceptionally skilled, but her convictions were always unwavering.

Meanwhile, for every other vassal besides Madam Linne, their eyes flashed red.

It was shocking at first, but then again, if everyone was lying… Vivian couldn’t be entirely sure what that meant.

If she thought pessimistically, it could mean they all wished for her death.

But she didn’t believe that possibility was very high.

Optimistically, perhaps none of them trusted her enough to pledge loyalty yet.

People are inherently self-serving creatures, after all. Maybe her vassals were still weighing their options about which faction to side with.

…Of course, just because she understood didn’t mean she planned to leave them be.

In Vivian’s mind, she was already deciding who to cut ties with and who she should keep close.

This small spell that let her detect lies was stirring up a quiet yet monumental change.

To be honest, she’d already been aware of their hostility.

She’d always known her vassals didn’t particularly like her.

But seeing it with her own eyes evoked a different kind of feeling.

Directly confirming it gave rise to a bit of fear, a sense of being overwhelmed, and a spark of fighting spirit.

If she had known about this spell earlier and realized how many adults around her opposed her, she might have been paralyzed by fear.

But the current Vivian was not the same as before.

A certain someone she despised was supporting her all along.

Just thinking of him made it bearable to face what once was so frightening.

“...”

Yet, when it came to that person in particular, Vivian couldn’t bring herself to use the sorcery.

Previously, she thought it was because she didn’t want to risk testing an unproven power on him.

But as her confidence in her ability grew, she realized that wasn’t the reason.

“…Why?”

Kylo, who had been shoveling food into his mouth, paused to look up at her inquisitively.

Realizing she had been staring at him absentmindedly, Vivian quickly pretended otherwise and resumed eating.

“…It’s nothing.”

If she thought about it, Kylo was the least complicated person to use such a sorcery on. It didn’t matter what words she spoke, or what questions she asked—he would hardly be affected.

Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to use the spell on him.

The reason became clear to her later;

She was afraid.

Afraid that his eyes might glow red.

Afraid that everything he had ever told her might turn out to be a lie.

That fear kept Vivian from confronting the possibility, making her turn away from it again and again.

***

“Where are you going?”

Following Vivian’s orders, I fetched my leather armor, a real sword, and that crimson bear helm.

The same was true for the 50 boy soldiers under my command.

Early that morning, Vivian’s orders, relayed through Burger, had disrupted our monotonous routine.

“Heading into the city. To see the Las Church.”

Vivian, dressed in far more dignified attire than usual, answered.

The fine fabric, impeccable stitching, and the Sun of Rondor emblazoned here and there spoke of her authority.

“Why the Las Church?”

Even as I asked, I could guess she was going to meet someone important.

She shrugged her shoulders, holding off on an explanation.

Her expression said, ‘You’ll find out once we’re there, anyway.’

I quelled my curiosity and placed the helm on my head.

My comrades were already lined up, waiting only for me to finish preparing.

As soon as I secured the helm, Vivian looked up at me in silence.

Then, with a faint smile, she murmured.

“…The more I see it, the better it looks.”

I pointed to my helmet and asked.

“…This humiliating thing?”

“Why humiliating?”

“You stuck an animal’s head on a person’s, and you call that not humiliating?”

“It’s your family’s symbol, isn’t it?”

“Stop acting like you don’t know. It wasn’t even made for me in the first place.”

Vivian let out a soft chuckle at my words.

She brushed aside her silky hair and said,

“Fine, I’ll admit it was made to mock you. But still, I really think it’s well-made. Especially… that shade of red.”

“...”

My helm was the same crimson color as Vivian’s hair.

I wondered if that had any influence on her comment.

Unable to find an answer, I stopped thinking about it.

Before long, Vivian turned to the boy soldiers and asked,

“Are you all ready?”

A resounding “Yes” in reply prompted her command.

“Then let’s go. I hope you’ll all guard me well.”

.

.

.

Once again, I took the reins of Vivian’s horse.

Today, at least, nothing was flying in my direction.

Not that there was absolutely nothing, but any time something did come hurtling toward me, Vivian would shoot a cold glare that practically said, ‘Don’t you dare.’

Thanks to that, such incidents quickly dropped off.

Moreover, as Vivian hadn’t brought a large army, we were able to move through the city somewhat quietly.

Of course, we still drew stares, but it was nothing compared to the crowds that would’ve gathered if we’d marched in with the entire knights’ order.

“Kylo, this way.”

Balon, a commoner well-acquainted with the city’s layout, led the way.

He claimed to know many hidden alleyways in the city, but Vivian had no reason to go down such paths, so we stuck to the main roads.

Strolling so leisurely and wandering through Roctana allowed me a clearer view of the commoners’ lives.

It was a reality I hadn’t fully seen before, as they were always busy throwing stones or rotten fruits at me.

Some seemed to live ordinary lives, but most appeared impoverished.

Their clothing was shabby, their bodies gaunt. With filthy skin and unkempt faces.

When I first arrived in Roctana, I never imagined I’d feel any sympathy for them.

But maybe it’s because two years have passed?

My perception had definitely changed.

“No matter how I look at it, I don’t think it’s possible.”

Vivian suddenly spoke to me.

I questioned her, puzzled.

“What?”

“That these people will ever come to love you.”

Vivian was bringing up our bet again. When I fell silent, she continued.

“...But, were you really serious back then? About being loved by these people?”

“I was serious.”

“What exactly are you going to do? I really don’t get it. Honestly, you seem even more stuck than I am.”

“…Just wait and see.”

“Do you actually have a plan?”

…Of course not.

But ever since the intense anger they had toward me began to subside, I vaguely thought there might be something I could do.

When I couldn’t answer, Vivian spoke again with a mocking tone.

“See? You’ve got nothing. Too bad, Kylo. Looks like you’ll rot here forever.”

“…Not if I can make you cry even once.”

“I’m never crying again. Didn’t I tell you?”

“We’ll see about that.”

“...”

After a brief silence, Vivian kicked my helmet.

-Thud.

Her sudden action irritated me slightly.

I turned to look at her, and there she sat on her horse, looking somewhat drained.

But her gaze remained piercing as she asked:

“…Do you really want to go back that badly?”

Her words left me breathless.

Why did she suddenly look so lonely?

Then again, she’s always been lonely.

Realizing I’d taken too long to answer, I hurriedly responded:

“Would you let me?”

“Are you crazy?”

Her fierce reaction—despite looking so worn out just a moment ago—made me let out a small laugh.

Then, carefully choosing my words, I confessed my true feelings:

“…It’s my home. Of course I want to go back. There’s so much I miss.”

She didn’t reply for a moment. Then, looking somewhat forlorn, she asked:

“…Like what?”

That unfamiliar expression strangely pricked at my heart, but I forced myself to reply as if nothing was wrong.

“My family, for one. Food, too... Oh, and I want to see snow falling from the sky. It’s too hot here—it’s rough.”

There were so many other things.

Too many to count.

Whenever I felt such differences, I was reminded of the fact that I was living in a foreign land.

Vivian bit her lip slightly and looked at me. There was a tangled mess of emotion in her gaze, something I couldn’t quite read.

Then, she turned her head slightly and spoke in a low voice.

“Forget about the snow. Family... I can’t see mine either, thanks to your family, so it’s the same for both of us. And if it’s food... I can make that happen here.”

There was a hint of bittersweet regret in her words. Was she feeling sentimental today?

Unsure of her mood, I deliberately sneered.

“Sounds like you’re saying you’ll provide everything here, so I shouldn’t leave. Would you miss me if I were gone?”

Vivian’s face twisted for a split second at my words.

She narrowed her eyes and replied coldly:

“…I’m telling you to give up. You’re going to rot here anyway. Missing something you’ll never have again... only makes it harder.”

An odd silence settled between us.

I wondered why our conversation had taken this turn, but held my tongue.

Vivian, too, had nothing more to say to me after that.

– – The End of The Chapter––

 

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