Chapter 54: The Knights Who Know Only Their Master.
There was no need for discreet searches or investigations.
The central and northern regions were abuzz, caught off guard by an unexpected event.
It was due to the overwhelming volume of goods being transported to Baloch’s territory.
From wood and stone to dried fruits, smoked meat, rehydrated bread, and fabric, Baloch was greedily consuming supplies.
However, people were not overly disturbed, mistakenly attributing it not to the collapse of Baloch’s fortress but to the ‘princess’ who had crossed over into Baloch’s domain.
Instead, they simply rejoiced over the unanticipated prosperity.
“Idiots. They’re so thrilled over scraps when they might die soon.”
Crown Prince Jeremy couldn’t hide his disdainful expression as he listened to his lieutenant’s report.
“To think they’re so happy about petty pennies dropping at their feet.”
Tuk.
Jeremy clicked his tongue in irritation, folding the report neatly before setting it on fire. The remaining ashes were swept into the fireplace.
Though it seemed he was preparing to draft a new report for the Emperor, that wasn’t the case.
Jeremy simply began his own ‘work.’ And as he did so, he didn’t forget to throw a sharp remark at his idle lieutenant.
“Are you so free?”
“N-no, sir!”
Engrossed in his tasks, Jeremy suddenly asked, as though remembering something.
“Where is His Majesty?”
The lieutenant furrowed his brow briefly, thinking, before responding quickly.
“Today, a meeting with the Western Nobles’ Union is scheduled. The location is…”
“I’ll go. There’s some business I forgot to mention.”
Ah, Baloch’s status.
The lieutenant, recalling Jeremy’s ‘business,’ quickly fetched his jacket and coat.
***
By the time Jeremy caught up with the Emperor, who had just finished the meeting, he began addressing the ‘forgotten’ business he came for.
The lieutenant could hardly believe his ears.
“Your Majesty, there’s no need to worry. Upon investigation, it was found that the collapse of Baloch’s fortress was limited to certain parts of the old walls that couldn’t withstand the passage of time.”
“What?”
The room fell into a silence as cold as ice.
Amidst the Emperor’s shock, Jeremy added cheerfully.
“It wasn’t an issue of prophecy or Jillian Balocg’s capabilities. Even if Silas Baloch had been alive, there’s nothing he could have done about a fortress eroded by time.”
One of the figures standing behind the Emperor turned pale and stammered.
“The fortress… collapsed?”
“Oh, it’s nothing serious.”
“The fortress of Baloch… wasn’t that meant to protect the ice wall? It collapsed?”
“When did it collapse?”
In an instant, the nobles’ attention zeroed in on Jeremy.
Jeremy met their gazes with a broad smile, free of any concern.
“As I said, there’s no need to worry. His Majesty was already aware, and I merely confirmed the details. Upon investigation, it was found that a section of the wall, worn out with age, had partially collapsed.”
The tense atmosphere cooled rapidly. But it wasn’t because Jeremy’s words had reassured them.
All eyes, which had previously been fixed on Jeremy, now turned to the Emperor.
What their gazes held was near-certain betrayal.
Jeremy observed their expressions as he bowed politely.
Meanwhile, the Emperor’s gaze had grown colder than ice. His expression hardened, as if he might strike Jeremy or knock out one of his teeth at any moment.
Yet, sensing the Emperor’s growing discomfort, Jeremy found it insignificant.
“How reckless you are!”
“My apologies, Your Majesty. I was so pleased that I failed to gauge my surroundings.”
“Look, they’re terrified over something so trivial, aren’t they?”
The Emperor didn’t respond with violence.
His rebuke, though sharp, was hidden beneath his usual warm tone, leaving everything flawlessly veiled.
Only Jeremy could decipher his true meaning.
And yet, even that bitter reprimand tasted sweet to Jeremy. Because what the Emperor truly cared about was the fearful gazes of the nobles, not Jeremy himself.
How delightful his reproach was.
Beneath his deeply bowed head, Jeremy couldn’t suppress the smirk tugging at his lips.
Only his lieutenant, standing behind him, noticed it.
***
‘I will stand by your side for a lifetime.’
A steady, warm voice sounded.
‘I’m fine. Just being allowed to remain by someone great is more than enough for me.’
The voice was unfamiliar.
Drip, drip.
Unbidden, tears spilled from her eyes.
“Bianca!”
Jillian’s alarmed voice and Bianca’s habitual whisper of ‘I’m fine’ mingled and faded.
Bianca widened her eyes, but her vision was quickly darkened as though black water were spreading across it.
The last thing she saw was the face of a young man with neatly combed white hair.
The man gazed at her with kind, warm eyes and whispered,
‘Thank you for letting me stay by your side, even like this. I will stand by you for a lifetime.’
Though she couldn’t possibly feel it, his cautious grasp felt warm and comforting at her fingertips.
***
Jillian caught Bianca as she collapsed, cradling her easily as she had already been in his arms.
Supporting her limp neck and lifting her effortlessly, Bianca’s feet dangled in the air as Jillian carried her away.
“Bianca…”
He murmured softly, though there was no one to hear him.
The only sounds in the room were Bianca’s faint breathing and his own.
Jillian laid Bianca gently on the bed.
She looked much better than before.
The sharp jawline born of frailty had softened, and though her once hollow eyes still cast deep shadows, they no longer seemed pitiful.
She is beautiful.
Though the remnants of her past struggles lingered, Jillian believed they would soon fade.
He pulled the blanket up to her neck.
Unlike him, Bianca was delicate—a person who could easily lose her warmth to the northern cold and fade away.
He had already faced such a moment once.
The memory of her small, cold, lifeless body and her lips that would not respond no matter how he called her made his heart freeze again.
“…Ha.”
Jillian clenched his trembling hand into a light fist to steady himself.
He would never let such a thing happen again.
“Bianca.”
“…”
“Soon.”
“…”
“When spring comes.”
Jillian swallowed his words and smiled faintly.
“When spring comes, when everything is neatly resolved, and I am free from all other considerations, when there’s no need to worry about anything anymore.”
He continued calmly.
“Please become my bride. I will fill the world with the white lisianthus flowers you love so much.”
“…”
“Even if it won’t wash away all of Baloch’s sins.”
Suddenly, Jillian turned his head toward the sound of tapping on the window.
Tap, tap, tap.
It was a white bird with a black spot on its crown—his bird.
His gaze, which had been soft and unguarded, immediately hardened.
“You really can’t get the timing right. Like master, like bird, so lacking.”
He muttered while checking what the bird had brought.
It was a message urging action.
The disbanded commanders were being summoned again in the middle of the night.
“It’s the second report of a fissure.”
At Jillian’s words, Raymond, who had been grumbling, closed his mouth.
“Isn’t that too soon?”
Blatt asked with a doubtful expression.
“It’s strange; the snow hasn’t even started falling yet,” Killian added, nodding his agreement.
“The snow will start again the day after tomorrow.”
“…”
No one asked how he knew. It was one of the Baloch dukes’ abilities—they had an uncanny sense for predicting snow.
“Could it be your joints acting up, sir?”
Unable to suppress his curiosity, Blatt cautiously joked but was promptly elbowed hard by Killian.
Jillian furrowed his brow, which was a rare sight.
“The snow should have continued falling in the first place.”
“That’s true. It didn’t seem like it was going to stop anytime soon.”
“When do you think it’ll happen?”
“Within a week.”
“This time, it’s taking longer than expected.”
“What, do you wish it would come sooner?”
“No, of course not. With the repairs on the Seventh Fortress Walls ongoing and temporary shelter construction still underway, every extra day we can get is a blessing.”
Jillian’s rare frown deepened as he pressed a hand to his forehead.
His face, usually composed, had grown pale.
“Are you feeling unwell, sir?”
He didn’t respond directly but sighed heavily.
“I’m just tired.”
Blatt mumbled jokingly to lighten the mood.
“Did the duchess scold you for something?”
To everyone’s surprise, Jillian replied.
“It wasn’t light scolding, I’ll say that.”
The unexpected admission drew chuckles from the group.
“Does she really nag at you?”
“She’s usually gentle, but being forgiving and being soft are different matters.”
Hailey chimed in with a graceful tone.
“Forgiving, huh…”
“She’s shown plenty of kindness, wouldn’t you agree, Captain Elizabeth?”
“I’m not sure. Sometimes, the line is hard to distinguish,” Elizabeth responded, her tone sharp.
“We should be careful about blurring the lines between loyalty and arrogance ourself,” Hailey replied smoothly.
Both of them were smiling, but the atmosphere was tense, almost hostile.
Raymond nudged Killian’s side and whispered.
“What’s with those two? Weren’t they inseparable?”
“Maybe Elizabeth is upset that Hailey’s left to become head maid.”
“Oh, she ditched her? But, didn’t Hailey take good care of Elizabeth before?”
Elizabeth’s sharp glare immediately pinned Raymond in place.
“What? Why not just let Captain Elizabeth oversee the Fourth Fortress? She’s always had your back, so it’s only fair to return the favor.”
“No need…,” Elizabeth began, but Hailey cut her off.
“The knights of the Fourth Fortress know only their ‘master’ and follow no one else’s orders.”
Hailey’s gaze was fixed firmly on Elizabeth, who stared back just as intensely.
