Reasons to Protect the Witch's Son

 

Ash and Elaine were riding as fast as possible.

“How long until we reach our destination?”

The man on the horse behind them answered while gasping for air.

“We’re almost there now.”

This was none other than Jackson, the Lister family’s butler. Jackson had visited Ash two days ago to earnestly ask for assistance.

 

‘Your Grace! Please save our master!’

 

The story of Edwin Lister and the Galloit Mercenaries. When Ash heard the whole story, he had set off immediately. They had been riding continuously and had finally arrived at the Count’s mansion.

“The Lady told me not to tell you but… I was just so anxious that I couldn’t stay still. I’m really sorry.”

After Hilaire’s silence order had been issued, Jackson felt his blood grow colder day by day. Hilaire was doing her best to save Edwin on her own, but Jackson, who was on the sidelines watching, couldn’t help but feel impatient.

No matter how perfect the plan is, they had a magic device that was a bomb.

‘If something goes wrong, master…’

In the end, he went to Killiard. He knew he was being disloyal to the Lady by disobeying her orders.

“No, you did the right thing. If its me they’re after, then it’s my problem too.”

Ash shook his head at Jackson’s apology. He then glanced at Elaine who was riding her horse in silence. It was a strangely calm atmosphere. For some reason, she had been in that state ever since they had left Killiard.

However, Elaine was lost in though and didn’t notice Ash’s gaze.

‘Bring Ash. No matter how you look at it, it’s obviously a trap.’

Of course, they weren’t coming all this way just to fall into an obvious trap. It was to help save Edwin Lister. Ash’s people were in trouble so they couldn’t just sit still. And above all…

“This way.”

Jackson led them to the back door of the Count’s mansion.

‘The name Lister… It feels so familiar for some reason.’

Elaine swallowed a sigh as they followed Jackson inside.

 

‘Please, save Edwin. If anything happens to him after Walter has gone missing, I…”

 

This is what Jackson said when he first visited Ash and told him everything that had happened. When Elaine head this, she almost reflexively asked who Walter was.

Where had she heard that name before?

‘Walter. Hmm…’

At that moment, something came to mind. Why did she keep getting a feeling of déjà vu every time she heard Hilaire’s name?

‘Hilaire Lister.’

And…

‘Walter Lister.’

A man who was a long-time friend of Ash’s father, Lloyd de Philion. At that time, she saw someone walking toward them from the other side of the hallway. Elaine slowly turned her head toward that person.

“There should be no disruptions to the plan. Group 1 proceeds as mentioned before and Group 3…”

Flowing light blond hair and light blue eyes. Just like him…

Her name was Hilaire Lister, daughter of Walter Lister. Hilaire, who had been carefully giving directions to someone, sensed their presence and raised her head.

“…Your Grace?”

Hilaire’s eyes widened when she discovered the unexpected person.

“Why are you here?”

The she saw Jackson standing with Ash and fell silent. Her voice instantly lowered, displeased.

“Jackson.”

“I’m sorry Miss! I will receive my punishment later.”

Jackson closed his eyes and bowed low.

“He has done nothing wrong. It is something that should not have been hidden from me.”

Hearing his voice, Hilaire’s eyes turned back to Ash again. Ash stared at her in silence. After a short while, Hilaire slowly turned around.

“It would be best to change locations first. Please follow me this way.”

Elaine followed behind the two. Her face showed confusion as she stared at Hilaire’s back.

‘Why didn’t I notice earlier? Even though she was so close?’

However, Elaine and Walter had only met once. That’s why she hadn’t clearly remembered the last name. But, he was Ash’s long-time escort knight, and was now missing, without a word on whether he was dead or alive.

“Elaine? Are you alright?”

Ash looked back at her, who had stopped walking.

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

She shook her head and started walking again. After a while, they entered an empty room and closed the door. There was then silence. Eventually, Hilaire slowly turned back around and looked at her and Ash.

“Did you hear about everything?”

“Yes. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“It was a trap made for you. I couldn’t bring myself to put you in danger.”

Ash’s brows furrowed.

“Hilaire, this may be your problem, but it involves me as well. We could at least discuss it together.”

“…”

Ash spoke softly while looking at Hilaire who was stubbornly keeping her mouth shut.

“They said they had a magic tool, a bomb.”

The mercenaries who had come to threaten Hilaire claimed to have bombs, they were trying to intimidate her.

“A bomb is not a magic tool that can be obtained easily. This is especially true if it is a mercenary group that had already been disbanded.”

The Galloit Mercenary Group had previously been torn apart by Hilaire and Ash. The mercenaries who had been scattered had come back together just for this.

“Gathering such a large group with just a simple desire for revenge is not an easy task. Surely a considerable amount of money would have been needed. So, where did they get the funds?”

He said all this while looking directly at Hilaire.

“Do you know what this means? There is definitely someone behind them.”

“…”

Silence was her answer. Perhaps this was the real reason she had tried to hide this from him.

“I may not be the only one the mercenaries are targeting, but I am responsible for this. And above all…”

His eyes, which had been calm, turned bitter.

“I don’t want you to lose your only brother, along with your father, because of me.”

Hilaire’s eyes shook at his words. She answered in the calmest voice she could.

“What happened to my father is not your fault.”

“No, the reason Walter disappeared was because he was entangled with me. Otherwise he may still be here with you today.”

“…”

“So, don’t try to solve everything on your own. Let me help you.”

There was no wavering in his purple eyes that were looking right at her. Yes, those were the eyes that she had pledged to serve as her master for the rest of her life. Finally, Hilaire spoke.

“Then please promise me one thing.”

Ash nodded, signaling for her to continue.

“You must not become bait like they demanded.”

The mercenaries had told her to bring Ash to the location that was written on the paper before, then they would release Edwin. In fact, deliberately falling into their trap as they had requested would be the safest way to get Edwin back. But, would they really keep their promises? Hilaire was not foolish enough to naively believe what they had said. It was the same for Ash.

“Okay. I understand.”

When he agreed to her demand, her tense mood eased somewhat.

“Actually, we were planning to carry out a rescue operation tonight.”

“What is your plan?”

“Well…”

Hilaire’s gaze suddenly landed on Elaine, who was standing next to Ash. She felt Elaine’s gaze on her as she stood quietly to the side listening to their conversation. She then lowered her hood.

“My name is Elaine. I am His Grace’s bodyguard.”

Elaine then lowered her head, hiding her mixed feelings. Hilaire stared at Elaine with narrowed eyes. She had heard that there was a newly appointed guard. It was the first thing that Lowell had told her upon her return from her long mission. He had smiled saying that their lord now had a trustworthy bodyguard.

Ash spoke then.

“You can tell her. She accompanied me in order to assist with this matter.”

The way he spoke, clearly conveyed the trust he had in Elaine. Besides, she had had already heard of what had happened in Valendor, and had been quite surprised. Along with Ash’s words, the fact that she had saved him then made her trustworthy. Hilaire took a deep breath and then took out a sheet of paper spreading it on the table.

“This is a drawing of the hideout where the mercenaries are located. I have been told it is a building that was once used as a prison.”

Because it was such an old building, it was not easy to obtain the blueprints. The drawing even looked old at a glance.

“The number of people they have there is also considerable. There are mercenaries standing guard throughout the building. Security is very tight.”

She continued speaking.

“Plus, the structure of the building is complex which will make it difficult to infiltrate.”

Generally, prisons are designed to be complex structures, like a maze. This is to prevent prisoners from being able to escape easily.

“Has the hostage’s location been confirmed?”

Hilaire answered by pointing to the pictures on the drawing one by one.”

“Based on the guards’ movements, it is presumed that he is probably somewhere in the central prison or the west building.”

“What was the original plan?”

“Because we have to infiltrate the building in secret, we have chosen a small number containing only the most elite, focusing on those from the family’s knights…”

“That makes sense. What about me and Elaine?”

The strategy meeting continued for a while. The deadline they had been given by the mercenaries was approaching. There was no time to waste.

After they had finished their discussion, Ash spoke.

“We shall proceed with the operation tonight as planned.”

Now, it was time to act.