Reasons to Protect the Witch's Son

Around this time of the year when the cool spring breeze arrived, Killiard always became lively. This was due to the ‘Butterfly Flower Festival’ that was held every year.

It was a time when everyone was busy preparing for the festival. Ash was also working without rest, reviewing and processing the documents related to the festival. On the other side of the room Lowell spoke as he gave his report to Ash.

“Then shall we proceed with increasing the the budget as we had planned.”

“Okay.”

Ash nodded behind his pile of documents. Looing at Ash like that, Lowell signed in concern.

It had only been a few days since they had returned from Valendor. It hadn’t been long since he had recovered. Lowell wondered if it was okay to be suffering from such a heavy workload. However, it was also true that work had been delayed while he was away, and he was not the kind of person who would listen to someone who was trying to stop him. In the end, Lowell could only sigh inwardly.

Even now, sometimes, when he thought about that time, he felt dizzy. A letter had arrived in the middle of the night. He had been shocked to hear that their lord was in critical condition after being attacked by a monster. However, his master was now in front of him, unharmed. He then thought of the one person who had made that possible.

If it wasn’t for them, what would have happened to their master by now? Lowell asked, looking over to the spot she usually occupied.

“When did Dame Elaine say she would be back?”

“She applied for a week of vacation.”

Several days had already passed since she had left.

“Maybe it’s because I always see her with you, but it feels strange now that she’s away.”

Lowell scratched his cheek as he muttered.

“It feels a bit empty somehow…”

“…”

In a way, it was slightly amusing. In reality she hadn’t been Ash’s escort for that long, but just because they hadn’t seen her for a few days, everything felt different. It was unbelievable that her absence was so big.

“Don’t you feel the same?”

“…Are you done with your report? If you’re finished you can leave.”

He then gestured toward the door without even looking away from the document he was reading through.

Ash seemed to be in a bad mood. Lowell grumbled under his breath, said goodbye and was about to leave the room when a servant came in with a polite knock and quickly approached.

“What is it?”

“Sir, Dame Hilaire Lister has returned.”

At that, Lowell’s movements stopped and at the same time his eyes met Ash’s. Turning their heads in the direction of the door, they saw a woman with light blond hair entering the room. Raising her brow, she spoke.

“Hilaire Lister, I have returned from my mission.”

***

“Ah, I finally found it.”

A clear voice let out a slight shout. Brightly colored petals were reflected in their light green eyes. White delicate fingertips slowly stretched out and grasped the delicate stem. Elaine then carefully broke it off and lifted up her dark hood.

“Phew…”

Transparent petals, like fairy wings, shone in five colors in the sunlight.

She had been worried that something could have changed here in the last 20 years but, fortunately everything was the same. It was as if no one had set foot in this place the whole time. The only change was that the trees were a bit thicker and the lake was slightly deeper.

Saturan. An extremely rare flower that blooms and then withers immediately after the fairy’s sweet rain falls. And it was the flower that the wizard so desperately wanted to get his hands on.

With this, the terms of their transaction were complete.

“Shall I head back then?”

She pulled up her hood again and rose to her feet again. Then, the scenery of the lake came into view. It was a scene she had once viewed with the people she had loved most. Above the lake, where the fairies rested, a large rainbow appeared that seemed to cover the surface of the water.

***

After the servant departed, only three people remained in the office. The blond knight approached Ash and bowed her head politely.

Hilaire Lister. The other deputy commander/vice-captain of the Knights of Philres and the sharpest sword serving the Lord of Killiard. While Lowell was in charge of overall affairs of the Knights, she was the actual commander of battle.

She had left on a long-term mission right after the face-to-face meeting with the new knights and she had just now returned from that mission. But that was in name only, there was actually another reason that she had gone on her long-term mission.

“…And this is the subjugation report from that area.”

Hilaire fell silent after completing her report. After a short moment, Ash responded.

“And the result of your other task?”

“…I couldn’t find it this time either.”

Hilaire answered heavily. Lowell let out a small sigh and Ash calmly parted his lips.

“Alright.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. The person who wants to find him more than anyone else is you.”

“…”

Instead of answering, Hilaire just bowed her head in silence. She had done her best however, it was not easy to find someone who had disappeared 10 years ago.

‘Walter.’

When Ash was young, he was the only escort knight who stayed by Ash’s side in the cold palace grounds.

 

‘Sir Ash!’

‘Who did this?’

‘Even so, you are definitely not a monster.’

 

And the person who first had first mentioned ‘Elaine’.

 

‘He was the grandson of a blacksmith. He asked me to deliver this to Ash.’

‘He knew Elaine’s name.’

 

Ash had been looking for Walter all along.

 

‘I’ll be back soon.’

 

Walter had disappeared 10 years ago, leaving behind only those words. Ash remembered him carrying a large lantern moving away in a hurry, saying there was something he needed to find out.

Where was he going that day? There were many puzzling aspects to Walter’s disappearance. Ash tried to find out why he suddenly disappeared. He needed to know, at least, if Walter was still alive.

However, despite using all the information he had, there had not yet been much progress in the investigation, the destination that Walter wanted to head to. From the royal palace where he first departed, to the place he finally disappeared. However, little by little, he was tracing the path then, one day…

After sending Lowell and Hilaire away, Ash was left alone. He looked down at the documents Hilaire had left behind. It was a document posted by Killiard’s informants along with Hilaire summarizing the investigation results.

As he was looking down at the documents, he muttered to himself.

“…Is it really too late?”

Now it was too late to find any traces. Actually, he had been fully expecting this already. It wouldn’t be easy. But what made him endure that damn palace? Ash had no intention of giving up this easily.

The document in his hand was crumpled in his strong grip.

***

Elaine’s eyes widened as soon as she arrived in Killiard.

“It’s so crowded…”

Groups of people were walking up and down the busy streets. The festival hadn’t even started yet, but people were already soliciting customers. It will most likely be much more crowded than this on the actual day of the festival.

She crossed the main street and headed toward the dutchy. As she did so, she passed the main gate and was about to pass the headquarters of the Knights of Philres when she heard a commotion coming from the entrance. A group of knights in uniform were gathered around the front. Elaine tilted he head slightly.

‘It’s my first time seeing them… Who are they?’

Among them, she saw Sophia chatting. They were greeting each other warmly, as if they hadn’t seen each other for a long time. Then, she accidentally mad eye contact with Sophia who had turned her way.

“Dame Elaine?”

Sophia’s eyes started to sparkle as she ambled over to Elaine.

“I heard you had taken a vacation. Are you back already?”

“Yes. However…”

“Ah, these are people who recently returned from a long-term mission. This must be your first time seeing them.”

Sophia who noticed Elaine’s gaze quickly introduced the knights. One of them looked at Elaine and asked.

“I haven’t seen your face around here before. Are you a newbie?”

“Yes, its nice to meet you. My name is Elaine and I am in charge of guarding His Grace. And you…”

“What? You’re the Lords escort knight?”

The knight who suddenly interrupted her asked, waving his hand in dismissal.

“Hold on a moment. What you just said… it’s a joke, right?”

“Huh?”

“Being his escort knight. If you’re going to joke around, at least make it believable.”

Immediately another member joined in.

“We’ll let it slide since you’re new. Still, it would be better not to play pranks like this on other members.”

He then patted her on the shoulder as if encouraging her.

“…?”

Elaine stood there in a daze for a moment. She felt slightly embarrassed, but soon understood. Because they had just returned from their long-term mission they had not heard anything about her yet. If you thought about it that way, it was a natural reaction.

For the past four years, Ash had never hired anyone as an escort. He was above any of the other knights in terms of skill. In this situation, her words must have sounded like she was joking, but sill, the truth needed to be properly communicated.

“It was not a joke. I am truly in charge of being the Lords guard.”

“…You’re really telling the truth?”

“Yes. You can even check with the vice-captain.”

Elaine said, pointing to the headquarters where Lowell’s office was located. As soon as the vice-captain was mentioned, the expressions on the knights’ faces changed as they realized it was not a joke.

“What in the world…”

“I never thought…”

Soon an unpleasant expression appeared on each of their faces.

“But how? Didn’t you just say you were a newbie?”

“That means His Grace gave his permission.”

“Has he decided now that just anyone will do as his escort?”

“She isn’t just anyone! Please speak carefully.”

It was then that Sophia raised her voice and intervened. She frowned glaring at the knights.

“Don’t speak carelessly when you don’t know a thing. I won’t tolerate anyone doubting her skills.”