ILOIML 45

Chapter 45

As time passed, the castle became quiet. Only the occasional sound of sobbing could be heard. The castle maids began handing out large pots of stew to the people.

“I can’t stand this any longer. Even if Madam told me not to, I’ll go and reveal that you’re the Grand Duchess of Aster and ask if they can arrange a separate place for you to stay.”

Amy jumped up as if she couldn’t bear it anymore. I pulled her back and said,

“In this chaos, does it matter if I’m the Grand Duchess or not? Please just stay still.”

Amy dropped her gaze at my words, sighed deeply, and sat back down next to me. The smell of the stew filled the castle. My stomach growled loudly in response.

“Our madam loves meat, but I don’t think there’s a single piece of meat in this.”

“Don’t say things like that. I already know I don’t have a great reputation, and you’re just making it worse. I didn’t say anything. Let’s just get in line for stew.”

Amy, Mary, and I got up and stood at the end of the long line to receive our stew. After returning to our spot, we devoured the vegetable stew in no time.

“I’ll go get more.”

Amy stood up with both our bowls.

“You really don’t suit a survival story.”

I shook my head at her.

“Sorry?”

“Just stay still.”

Then suddenly, the people near the door started murmuring. Mary craned her neck to see what was happening, then looked back at us with a worried expression.

“Madam, what’s going on?”

I tilted my head, trying to catch what people were saying, but all I could hear was the growing noise.

Finally, after a while, the word spread to us.

“The Emperor’s royal guards have arrived.”

“Madam!! Thank goodness!”

Mary clapped her hands with joy.

“That’s a relief.”

Though neither Amy nor I clapped our hands, we both sighed in relief at the news of the Emperor’s guards. The expressions on the people’s faces also changed drastically from despair to hope.

“We’re saved at last!!”

And as if that hope had come true, the castle gates opened wide. People cheered and rushed out.

“Isn’t it still dangerous to go outside?”

Amy grabbed my arm as I tried to follow them out and asked carefully.

“It’ll be fine.”

I held their hands tightly and went outside with the crowd. Between the castle and the outer walls, the Emperor’s guards were lined up in formation. But what about Zeus and the others who went out earlier? I stretched out my neck, looking for Zeus.

“Madam!!”

Zeus, who stood out even from afar, waved at me with a bright smile I had never seen before and came running.

“Amy, why is Sir Zeus acting like that?”

I was caught off guard by his overreaction and asked Amy. She also looked baffled as she stared at Zeus. Since we arrived in Palanuvo, he had never smiled at me like that. His intense presence now looked soft and gentle thanks to that smile.

“Are you alright?”

“…What about you, Sir Zeus?”

“As you can see, I’m perfectly fine. Even though the Emperor’s guards are making a big show, the one who really did something is someone else.”

Zeus beamed as he spoke. I still wasn’t used to seeing him smile.

“Who is it? It’s not you, is it?”

“Excuse me? That hurts… Why do you think it’s not me? But yes, it’s not. That person appeared like a dark knight at the moment of crisis… Anyway, those guys will take all the credit, and that’s what really annoys me.”

He lowered his voice as he spoke.

“Either way, I’m glad it’s all resolved now.”

“I think I made the right choice by following your orders, Madam.”

Now he was even humming a tune.

“Let’s hurry and gather our things and return to Aster.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Outside the walls, it was chaos. The corpses of monsters were covered with white cloths, but the stench still filled the air, making us gag as we searched for a carriage to return to the villa.

But all our carriages had disappeared in the monster attacks, and we couldn’t find any hired ones either.

“This won’t work. Let’s just head straight back to Aster. Sir Zeus, please make sure the things at the villa are sent to Aster later.”

“Excuse me? What do you mean? I’m going back to Aster with you. Hahaha.”

He laughed loudly.

“What? Why?”

“As you said, Madam, I’ve become the Duke’s right-hand man.”

Did he go a little crazy fighting monsters? How can a person become someone’s right hand? Maybe it’s due to stress and fear. I looked at him with pity.

“What are you even saying?”

“Exactly what I said. I’ve been appointed as His Grace’s right-hand man.”

Why is Leon being mentioned now, and what’s this about being his right hand? His strange words were enough to make me feel like I was losing my mind.

When I stared at him with a confused face, Zeus scratched his head and widened his eyes.

“Ah… So, what happened was… Right! I, I received the order through the, uh, communication stone. I was told to escort Madam back since preparations have already been made in Aster.”

Leon?

I looked at Zeus with a puzzled expression. It could be possible Leon gave that order. But Zeus had too many rivals to be considered Leon’s right hand. Maybe Leon’s pinky toe.

“So Leon told you himself to escort me back to Aster?”

“Yes. I mean, no. I mean, it wasn’t him.”

“What are you saying?”

I yelled. I was sure he didn’t even know what he was talking about.

“I mean, it wasn’t him. It was Sir… Sir Kal… Kalsen!”

“I see.”

I nodded and pushed back my messy hair. Even if the order came from Kalsen, it was still likely on Leon’s instructions. Should I take this as a small positive sign? My heart suddenly began to race.

“Then let’s all head straight to Aster. Please make sure to bring my things from the villa once Palanuvo is safe again. There’s something important there.”

The money Walter gave me is there too.

“Don’t worry. I’ll need to come back for the handover anyway, so I’ll bring it then.”

Without wasting time, we headed straight for the teleport portal.

But apparently, many others had the same idea—the place was packed with people trying to leave Palanuvo.

“It looks like we’ll be waiting a while…”

“Ah!!”

Zeus suddenly searched through his coat and took out a golden card, then held it up in front of me..

“Please wait here a moment.”

He looked around and squeezed through the crowd toward the portal staff.

“What’s that about?”

“Madam, don’t you know? That’s a Royal Pass, a special pass granted to those of Duke rank or higher.”

Like a theme park?

“Royal Pass? Of course I know.”

Amy didn’t seem to care about my reply and was struggling to shield me from the pushing crowd.

But why had I never seen one before? If I had one, I could’ve used it too.

“I heard Your Grace never uses it, but I didn’t expect Sir Zeus to have it.”

“Exactly, why does Zeus have it and not me?”

Come to think of it, it made sense that Leon wouldn’t use privileges granted by the Emperor. He probably didn’t want to accept any favors. But why would Zeus have it? There was never much crowding between Palanuvo and Aster anyway.

Zeus returned to fetch us, pushing through the crowd and making a path. People around us glared and protested loudly.

“These people have a Royal Pass. Please recheck the portal use policy.”

It seemed the portal manager heard the complaints and loudly repeated the rule.

The shouting died down, but people still gave us dirty looks.

Thanks to the Royal Pass, we were able to return to Aster in an instant. Somehow, the Duke’s carriage was already waiting for us in front of the portal.

The cold of Aster hit us differently than Palanuvo, but I was just grateful to be alive. Aster was freezing, but quiet and peaceful.

Unlike the small hope I had expected, Leon did not come to greet us. Instead, Kalsen met us.

“Madam, are you hurt anywhere?”

“No, thankfully I’m fine. Where’s Leon?”