Chapter 053
“Absolutely not! We have fought with the Snow beasts for centuries! How can we form an alliance with them now?”
Sir Mike, one of the more aggressive knights, slammed the table as he spoke.
“How can we ignore the situation? Everyone knows that Snow beasts have fought countless battles against the monsters! Honestly, I’m more surprised that this alliance wasn’t suggested sooner!”
The knights’ voices grew louder as they argued.
“Enough.”
Cassius raised a hand, silencing them.
“I understand your opinions. But right now, we must seriously consider this option.”
His cold gaze met the eyes of the knights who had opposed him.
“The Imperial Palace has abandoned us.”
“What do you mean…?”
“No matter what happens, we will receive no aid from them.”
A bitter smile played on Cassius’ lips. His voice dripped with cold sarcasm.
“Your Grace…”
Even hot-tempered Mike faltered at those words.
“I never told you before because I didn’t want you to realize we had been discarded. But it’s time to face reality.”
Cassius’ voice was sharp and decisive.
“The only good news is that during the full moon, one of the werewolves was killed in a battle with the Snow beasts.”
At this, the knights stirred.
“The Snow Beasts tore it apart with their bare hands.”
Considering how brutally their young had been slaughtered, it was a small act of revenge. But it also meant that the Snow beasts had fought desperately—enough to kill a werewolf.
Snow beasts were simple creatures.
They only knew how to crash, break, and tear. The fact that they managed to kill even one werewolf was impressive. It showed how desperately they had fought.
“Thanks to them, our enemy’s numbers have decreased. ‘The enemy of my enemy is my ally’—that saying has never felt more true.”
The knights fell silent.
“What about the letters we sent to the other lords?”
Giverny bowed his head.
“There was no response.”
Cassius chuckled darkly.
He had expected this.
Istheria was always on the front lines, always fighting.
The other nobles only enjoyed the peace built on Istheria’s blood.
They didn’t want to risk anything.
Right now, the only ones willing to fight alongside them were the Snow beasts.
“They are our only allies. They are the only ones willing to bleed with us. I can no longer deny that fact.”
“Damn them…”
“When were they ever different? No point complaining now.”
The knights muttered curses under their breath.
Even though they had always been disregarded, it was still annoying.
“Your Grace, why do you always endure this?”
“If I don’t endure it, what then? Do you think the Emperor would care? Do you think his guards and loyal generals would suddenly turn against him?”
Cassius let out a hollow laugh.
The nobles—everyone except Istheria—stood together, united.
Istheria had always fought alone, like an egg being thrown at a stone wall.
There were times he had wanted to give up.
But he couldn’t.
The pride of Istheria and the duty to protect the people they had fought for all these years—he couldn’t throw that away.
He knew the long, bloody history of Istheria.
He knew the sacrifices of those before him.
“We fight in our own way.”
“If word gets out that we allied with the Snow beasts, the nobles will be furious.”
“Do they ever pay attention to us? If they don’t know, it won’t matter.”
One by one, the knights began to agree.
Cassius was right.
They needed more strength.
Even if it meant joining hands with former enemies.
Even if it meant going against the rest of humanity.
Meanwhile…
Janice glanced at the peacefully sleeping Lorencia.
For some reason, the knight guarding their door wouldn’t even let her open it.
“…What in the world is going on?”
Janice was anxious.
By now, Count Mers should have sent word.
Why was it so quiet?
Shwe walks around the room, unable to sit still.
Outside, she could hear noise, but she had no idea what was happening.
“What’s going on out there? Tell me! Has something happened?”
Unable to hold back, Janice grabbed the door and demanded an answer.
The knight glanced at her briefly before replying.
“The Duchess has returned.”
Janice’s hand slipped from the doorknob.
Her heart pounded.
Did she find out?
Janice bit her lip hard.
“T-The Duchess is back? That’s… great news.”
She forced a smile.
“But why are you blocking the door?”
“The Duke’s orders. The culprit hasn’t been caught yet, so we must protect any potential targets.”
Janice exhaled quietly in relief.
So they weren’t watching her.
They were protecting her.
Just in case there was another attack.
“I… see. Thank you.”
She had no more reason to argue.
Janice sat on the bed.
Her mind raced.
“How did she return? What about Count Mers?”
She bit her lip.
She hadn’t been caught yet.
If she had been, she’d probably be dead by now.
Cassius was merciless.
He never forgave his enemies.
If Count Mers had been captured, it was big trouble.
It would be better if he was dead.
“That idiot failed. I wasted so much money on him.”
Janice clenched her teeth.
What now?
She rubbed her lips anxiously.
Her gaze landed on Lorencia.
That useless, pathetic woman.
She acted like she deserved the title of Duchess, but she couldn’t do anything herself.
She was nothing without Janice.
For a brief moment, Janice felt a flicker of… something dark.
But she quickly turned away.
Meanwhile…
Count Mers groaned in pain.
Somehow, he had barely escaped on horseback.
But that was all.
Now, he was hiding in an empty hut, waiting for everything to blow over.
If the Snow beasts found him, he was dead.
If Cassius found him, he was worse than dead.
“Damn it all.”
Count Mers’ voice trembled with fear.
“How did things end up like this?”
That cursed woman must have done something to the Snow beasts.
“Filthy witch. She must be working with those monsters!”
He had heard rumors that some humans secretly cooperated with the Snow beasts.
He had laughed it off before, thinking it was nonsense.
But to think that the Duchess herself was one of them!
Because of her, he had ended up in this miserable state.
If things had gone wrong, he could have been killed by those beastly hands.
Count Mers gritted his teeth as he tore a piece of cloth from his clothes to secure his broken leg.
Hatred burned inside him.
He had to expose Charlotte for conspiring with the Snow beasts. Only then would he feel satisfied.
According to the law, witches who colluded with enemies were burned at the stake.
And Count Mers would be praised for revealing the witch, climbing even higher in status.
“Hehehehe…”
Tomorrow, at dawn, he would move.
First, he would head to the city for treatment, then contact House Mers to send men to escort him back.
Once he had recovered, he would go straight to the Duke and tell him everything.
Wait… but how would he explain how he knew?
Count Mers’ eyes darted around as he thought.
The Duke’s estate was already in chaos over Charlotte’s disappearance.
I need to match my story with Janice.
They could claim that they witnessed Charlotte secretly sneaking out to meet the Snow beasts.
And he, Count Mers, had risked his life to reveal the truth—becoming a hero.
“That filthy woman… That cursed witch… I will tear you to pieces.”
In the darkness, Count Mers swallowed his rage.
