26. You can return to the capital.
“Since you are now equipped with a dedicated maid and an escort knight, how about taking a tour of every nook and cranny of the main castle?”
Rappin’s eyes widened at Hailey’s words.
“Did I make it?”
“That’s how it is.”
It was an ambiguous answer, but Rappin did not ask again.
Although he was just asking if he could take his new post now, it was a moment that revealed how well-trained a knight he was.
And while he was admiring Bianca, he laughed softly.
Was he now under Bianca Termina’s command?
This was what it felt like to stay in Baloch every now and then.
“Can I go out today?”
At Bianca’s question, Rappin’s eyes widened.
“Are you saying that as a question?”
Only then did Bianca realize that she had asked for permission, instead of giving an order.
It was a mistake.
Although her face was hot because she was embarrassed by the habit of begging, Bianca generously showed off the skills she had honed in social circles.
“The Duke wanted me to refrain from going out because there was work to be done.”
“Ah! I heard the story too. That……….”
Julie quickly interrupted Rappin’s words.
“You know it was difficult then, because we had some floor reinforcement to do.”
“…..…Aha.”
Rappin, who responded briefly to Julie’s words, immediately bowed to Bianca and spoke softly.
He immediately understood how to take care of the Duchess when Julie summarized the Giant Rabbit invasion as ‘floor reinforcement work.’
“Madam, I will serve you however you wish.”
He didn’t know what shook Bianca’s big eyes for a split second, but Rappin thought it was his imagination because she immediately smiled.
“Great.”
Rappin happily took Bianca’s outstretched hand.
***
Rappin was a good knight and a good teacher.
He explained Baloch nature in an easy and interesting way that even Bianca, an outsider, could understand at once.
“Unlike other territories, the Baloch Territory maintains the ducal residence in the form of a castle for the sake of defense.”
“It’s because of the monsters, right?”
“That’s right. It is in that context made up of seven fortresses, including the main castle.”
Rappin stepped onto the stairs one step ahead, asking if I knew that the place where the Duke was staying was called the main castle or the first castle.
His way of taking a step forward, as if covering half of my body, was a far cry from the way of the escort knights that Bianca was familiar with.
However, Bianca felt good because she could clearly see that he was genuinely concerned about her.
At the same time, it was a little dangerous to walk by the side of the wall instead of the railing.
‘It’s more dangerous as you can’t see your feet because they’re covered by a skirt and there’s nothing to hold on to.’
Thinking that doing this as a lady could be a disgrace, Bianca called Rappin over.
“Sir, when escorting, do ladies usually avoid leaning towards the railing?”
“Oh, is that so in the capital?”
Bianca asked back at the answer that made her feel uncomfortable.
“I guess this isn’t the norm here?”
“Just because it’s a castle by nature doesn’t mean it won’t be attacked by monsters.”
Only then did I fully understand why Rappin was leading the way, as if covering half of my body, and was guiding me towards the wall.
“Even though we are surrounded the multi-layered fortress, even the main castle could be attacked, as the monsters are quite infested.”
“The ones that penetrate the castles are usually the flying-type monsters.”
“It must be dangerous.”
“It’s fortunate that they don’t venture out into other areas because they tend to be quite obsessed with their own habitat.”
Coming to think of it, there wasn’t a single monster that came out of Baloch territory.
Should I call this fortunate?
I have an unknown feeling about this.
Rappin calmly guided Bianca through the first floor.
I had already received a brief introduction from Hailey on the first day, but it is now different from then.
For example, I got to know that the wooden door at the entrance to the main castle is two spans thick, so it matches the thickness of the wall so that monsters cannot easily find the entrance.
The reason the windows on the 4th floor are so large is not for lighting, but to lure flying monsters to the top of the main castle, the highest of the seven castles, and deal with them.
Even though I just heard of it, it didn’t feel real and it was scary for some reason.
According to his words, Baloch Territory sounded like a space that exists solely to deal with monsters.
“And, at both ends of each floor of the main castle, there are secret passages that lead to the vicinity of the transportation circle.”
Knock.
When Raffin took me to the corner of the study on the second floor and knocked on the wall, It made a loud sound that I could not believe was coming from a stone wall.
“It’s unlikely that the Castle will be breached, but just in case.”
The secret passageway that Rappin showed by twisting the candlestick was quite narrow.
“Ah….”
Bianca unconsciously took a step back at the sight of a long, narrow, dark passage with no end in sight.
The wind blowing through the passage was so cold that it gave me goosebumps.
“Madam, normally I should take you with me and guide you through the passage, but I’m sorry I can’t do that.”
“It’s okay. I’m not dressed appropriately for walking down the passage today either.”
“No. As a knight, I cannot go.”
“This place was created only for children and women, not knights. Madam, you have to lead the evacuating people in case of emergency, so please take a look around at any time.”
In case of emergency, women, not a knight.
Each and every word of those was an unpleasant sound that made the back of my head ache.
“In case of emergency…”
“If the duke was no longer here, and the place had fallen to demons. Madam, then please lead the young and women outside while the knights buy time.”
“Then, what about other adult men…”
“Who are you talking about?”
Those who can evacuate are the duchess, her child, and women who are not knights.
So what about the men in the territory?
“…..the ones who aren’t knights”
“All Baloch men are knights.”
The moment she heard Rappin’s answer, the narrow, deep passage with no end in sight seemed like a monster standing with its mouth wide open, so Bianca quickly looked away.
“But if it’s this narrow, won’t it be difficult for the knights to escape later?”
It wasn’t an appropriate question, but I just felt like I had to ask it.
At Bianca’s words, Rappin’s eyes widened for a moment and then curved like a bow again.
“Madam, knights don’t run away.”
“Then……?”
“There is a secret passage near the transportation circle zone, but we need a bait to buy time for evacuating people to get out of the passage and get to the that zone.”
Rappin said the word ‘bait’ very naturally.
“Okay, then. Where should I transport to?”
“Madam, you can return to the imperial castle.”
“Return……”
“Yes, madam. The Duke has prepared a place for the others to stay in the capital, so you don’t have to worry.”
What about the request for reinforcements?
Bianca was speechless.
Rappin was talking about their annihilation with a gentle face the whole time.
***
Three hours was enough for Rappin to give a tour of the castle.
Unlike other nobles, due to the nature of the Baloch territory, the Castle of the Duke was focused on defense, so its structure was very simple.
Although it was a somewhat boring schedule, Bianca was exhausted when she returned to the bedroom.
‘Madam, you can return to the imperial castle.’
It was because Rappin’s words were constantly ringing in my head.
Baloch’s responsibility, which I had unexpectedly got a glimpse of, was horribly heavy.
However, Bianca could not possibly say anything about running away together or requesting reinforcements.
It was because she was aware of the reality that they could not deal with monsters without Duke Baloch, and the imperial family would not give up their troops.
I felt like I couldn’t breathe again because I got to know whose dedication had made my normal daily life possible.
“Would you like to see Outside the City another day? We are now entering winter and the days are short.”
“Yes, Sir.”
What he said was true, it’s only around 4pm and the sun was already setting.
Everything is turning red and dark.
I felt glad that the day was over.
I could use the night as an excuse to stretch out and rest.
But when I reached the third floor,…
“Madam, the Duke has requested that he would like to have dinner with you tonight.”
Although it was difficult to smile at Hailey’s words, Bianca answered that she would go.
Now that I had clearly seen what kind of life I was living, I couldn’t shamelessly say that I was tired.
“There’s still time. Would you mind bringing me a cup of tea?”
It was difficult to move at this state, so I thought of just entering the bedroom for a little and asking for a cup of tea.
Bang!!
Rappin stepped forward in an instant at the sharp sound.
At some point, Rappin, who had drawn his sword, called out to Julie in a voice full of caution.
“Julie! Check the bedroom.”
Kuaaaa!
Bianca was the only one startled by the strange sound that made her ears ring.
Rappin and Julie both looked noticeably relieved after hearing the cries.
Even Hailey disappeared, saying she was going to take care of the remaining work.
“What is going on?”
The only one surprised was Bianca.
“It looks like a flying type monster has come in.”
Rappin, who retrieved the sword, and Julie, who said, ‘The bedroom is okay,’ returned to their usual selves.
“If it’s the flying type, is it upstairs?”
“Yes, ma’am. Should I bring you into the bedroom?”
According to what I learned from him today, flying monsters will come in through the 4th floor window and be subdued there.
And it was ‘normally’ Jillian who dealt with the monster.
Bang!!
After a moment of shrugging her shoulders at the intimidating sound, Bianca asked Rappin.
“So, is Jillian upstairs now?”
“Yes?”
“Jillian, no, the Duke.”
“Of course he’s upstairs.”
Kyaaaaaa
As Rappin’s words, ‘Of course’, and the monster’s cries rang out together, Bianca felt like her mind was turning white.
“Jillian!”
“He is okay.”
How could he be okay!
The sound alone was this scary, so how could Jillian be okay when dealing with that thing in person?
“Please call the knights, Sir! Call the knights.”
Rappin and Julie looked puzzled, but it was none of Bianca’s business.
“Send the knights to Jillian quickly!”
“Madam, the Duke is okay.”
How on earth could anyone be okay with dealing with monsters? She wanted to scream, but Bianca was used to having her opinions ignored.
“Please send me a knight, Sir. Or, it would be nice if you could go and see what happened. I’ll be in the bedroom with Julie.”
Coming up with an alternative that the other party could understand was something Bianca was very good at.
But even Bianca was taken aback by Rappin’s next words.
“Would you rather go and see it together?”
“Lord Rappin!”
“No, she is anxious, so I think she’ll feel relieved once she sees it herself.”
Julie, who was startled, eventually nodded, probably thinking that there was some truth to what he said.
***
Bianca ran along the way, pulling up her skirt.
At this moment, I couldn’t even remember the etiquette that was ingrained in me.
Roaaar!
At the ear-piercing sound, Bianca ran up the stairs until her lungs was about to burst.
“This is why I banned the maids from entering the fourth floor.”
What Bianca faced when she arrived on the 4th floor with Jillian’s calm voice was hell.
Jillian, without any armor, was standing alone against the wyvern.
