Chapter 09
“How have you been, Sir Romanov?”
It was Albert who broke the silence.
“It’s been a while, Albert.”
I could only roll my eyes around, feeling like I wanted to hide in a mouse hole, and buried my face in Keith’s shoulder.
“Were you also Eugenie’s lover?”
Lev asked Keith. Keith nodded readily.
“Before Adel went north.”
At those words, another terrible silence descended. Watching the three men’s quiet war of nerves, my exhausted body felt as heavy as if weighed down with lead.
“I think it would be best to put the child to sleep first.”
At Albert’s words, Lev looked at me intently, then abruptly turned his head away.
“A new carriage will be prepared by tomorrow morning. Stay in the village until then.”
“Thank you, Sir Romanov.”
While Albert and Lev spoke briefly, I remained in Keith’s arms, following the person who had come to guide us.
So much had happened in a single day.
The altered path of fate was by no means an easy one.
I fell into a deep sleep as if a thread had been suddenly cut.
—
***
The next morning, a new carriage was prepared.
Though we were weary from the previous day’s commotion, we had to depart for the capital early. Having fallen behind schedule, we couldn’t keep His Majesty the Emperor waiting too long.
“By the way.”
Keith’s gaze shifted from Albert, seated in front, to the man beside him.
“Why is this big lug riding with us?”
Lev had left his splendid black horse behind to join us in the carriage.
“This carriage is cramped enough. Why don’t you ride your horse?”
“The decision is mine to make.”
Lev retorted sharply at Keith’s jab.
I instinctively shook my head at the sight of the three men who couldn’t seem to get along. Still, a small smile crept to my lips.
“It’s only a three-day journey to the capital. It makes no sense that so many monsters appeared.”
Albert, his eyes dark with fatigue, spoke in a grave tone.
“I intend to report this to His Majesty. I’ve left my men behind for a thorough investigation as well.”
Keith, hearing Lev’s words, looked dubious.
“It was abnormally many. The forest was lush and clean for it to be a monster’s territory.”
Albert paused for a moment before answering.
“There are two main causes for monster outbreaks. The first is natural occurrenceāwhen accumulated lingering thoughts leave their host and attach to another animal. The second is when dark mages create them.”
At Albert’s words, Lev raised an objection.
“Are you suggesting yesterday’s incident could be the work of a dark mage? Euredea has strict procedures for using dark magic.”
“Because illegal acts don’t require procedures. If it truly was someone using dark magic, there’s a high possibility they were targeting Daphne.”
Me?
I shook my head to clear my mind.
“If His Majesty in the capital knows about this matter, then the issue of Daphne’s custody cannot remain a secret. Neither can the fact that the child is the heir of Thersus, capable of commanding birds of prey.”
“And?”
“Commanding animals is impossible even with magic. Thersus’s magic is itself a subject of study, so it would be of interest even to dark mages.”
“…That makes sense.”
“Perhaps it’s better for her to stay in the palace. To kidnap Daphne right under the Emperor’s nose, they’d have to go through a great deal of troublesome effort.”
Lev nodded, and Keith offered no further objection. Somehow it all felt distant to me, as if it were someone else’s affair.
Lev’s gaze lingered on me. But soon his dark eyes looked past me toward Albert. It seemed I couldn’t expect even a shred of goodwill from him.
“I looked into it and found that the Count has an aunt. What about her?”
“Not good. She only sees Daffy as a source of money.”
Keith, the only one among the three who had experienced the Patelliers firsthand, answered. There was no more accurate description. My stomach churned for no reason.
When Keith briefly explained the circumstances of the treasure hunt incident, both men’s expressions grew serious.
“Those people must never raise Daphne.”
At Albert’s words, Lev nodded.
At least they wouldn’t send me back to the Patelliers.
A warm sense of relief enveloped me.
The afternoon sun shone brightly.
The carriage, which had been running since morning, arrived at a wide meadow around noon.
The sunlight was pleasantly warm, and the sound of surrounding trees swaying their branches in the wind was refreshing.
After a hearty lunch, Albert took me out to the meadow.
“Daphne, could you call the white-tailed eagle?”
I blinked at him as he lowered himself to my eye level and asked kindly.
“How?”
When we were being chased by monsters, the white-tailed eagles had protected me of their own will. When I went up to the west tower to send the items, Marilynn had come just in time.
Though I had succeeded in communicating… I didn’t know how to call them.
I shook my head from side to side. My hair, tied in two pigtails, swayed like soft fluff.
“Any method is fine. Yes, Audrey is a white-tailed eagle too. Shall we start by taming her?”
Audrey seemed too young to understand words, so I wasn’t sure if it would work, but…
“Okay. I’ll try.”
Albert took Audrey and placed her a little distance away from me. Suddenly left alone, Audrey squawked anxiously.
Albert gave me a look. I stared at Audrey and moved my lips silently. Saying “Come here!” out loud felt embarrassing, as if Audrey wouldn’t come.
I called to her in my mind.
*’Audrey, come here.’*
But Audrey only chirped nervously, trembling, and didn’t come.
“It didn’t work.”
As I pouted, Albert sat down in front of me and gently held my hand.
“Daphne, you are already a capable member of your house. You’ll learn the method gradually.”
His green eyes, warmed by the summer sunlight, held a gentle light.
“Peep!”
At the cry-like sound, I looked down to find Audrey at my feet, flapping her dusty wings. She pecked at my shoe with her tiny beak as if to ask why I was making her do such a thing.
Albert’s lips curved into a graceful arc.
“You did it, Daphne. However you did it, that’s your method.”
Albert handed me a pouch he had prepared. Inside was finely chopped raw meat.
“You’re the only one who can tame her, so give it to Audrey.”
I followed Albert’s instructions, picking up the bloody meat and offering it to Audrey. After eating her fill, Audrey puffed up her belly and raised her chin.
It was as if she were saying, *’I’ll let you off for today.’*
This little ball of fluff!
“The power of Thersus is ancient. It’s a magical mystery that even the first Merlin couldn’t unravel. Someday, it will become Daphne’s great strength.”
Albert wiped the bloodstains from my hands with a handkerchief.
“We should wash them with water once more.”
Is this what it feels like to have a father?
Having an adult who recognizes my talent and worries with me. The protection and attention I had desperately needed.
A breeze blew, wildly tousling our hair.
“Peep!”
Audrey was so light that she was swept away by the wind.
She landed near Lev, and, seeking shelter from the wind, she scurried to his feet.
“Audrey!”
I ran toward Lev to retrieve Audrey. But the moment I drew near him,
“Stay back!”
Lev sprang from his seat. He stepped back from me, shoutingāa movement that clearly showed he was avoiding me.
*’Does he dislike me that much? But he said he came south to see me…’*
I was bewildered. I couldn’t think of a reason he would avoid me.
After picking up Audrey and holding her, I took another step closer to him.
“Stop. Stay away from me.”
He stepped back a few more paces. Honestly, I was a little hurt. Not only did he not like me, he didn’t seem to welcome my presence at all.
“Cough!”
At that moment, the large man coughed up blood. Lev quickly covered his mouth with a handkerchief, then staggered and collapsed.
“Sir Romanov!”
Everyone present rushed to Lev. Several soldiers moved him to a proper position and laid him down.
Albert immediately placed his hand on Lev’s chest. A white, fluffy energyāthe same that had healed Alfred’s armārose from Albert’s hand.
“His insides are a complete mess.”
Lev’s face, receiving Albert’s treatment, was pale. So much so that he didn’t look like the commander who commanded so many soldiers.
“He’s weaker than he looks.”
Keith sat beside me and held my hand tightly.
“He didn’t collapse because he’s weak, sir.”
The person who approached and retorted to his remark was someone who had been moving around near Lev all along. Keith frowned as if seeing him for the first time.
“Who are you?”
“I am Pyotr Oleg, aide-de-camp to Sir Romanov. I’ve been traveling with him all along.”
“I don’t know you. More importantly, why did the big guy collapse?”
At Keith’s question, Pyotr’s face darkened.
“Unless Sir Romanov permits it, I cannot say.”
Then Pyotr knelt before me as if seeking understanding.
“The Black Lion Duke regards the Countess as his own daughter. However…”
“Pyotr, that’s enough.”
Lev stood up with Albert’s support.
“Our priority is to enter the capital at His Majesty’s summons.”
“But… surely you need more rest…”
“I’m fine. We depart immediately.”
He walked past me. In that fleeting moment, I saw the handkerchief still clutched in his hand.
On the bloodstained handkerchief was embroidered the white-tailed eagle crest symbolizing the House of Thersus.
We set off again, each burdened with difficult questions.
