In the meantime, the Iron Eagle Knights, now awake, were watching Elia and the Duke of Cartellani.
Dmitri approached with a sly smile.
“Little lady, even if you’re leaving, like His Grace said—you should at least pay for the candy.”
When Dmitri pointed to the now-empty candy pouch, Elia was speechless.
They gave it to her out of kindness, and now they wanted repayment?
And those sparkling eyes looking at her—why were these grown men gazing at her with such innocent expressions?
She felt a lump rise in her throat.
She knew the candy was just an excuse—they were trying to stop her from leaving.
In her past life, Elia had led these people to their deaths three times.
The first time, for Prince Raul.
The second, for revenge.
The third, because they tried to stop her from destroying the Empire…
And yet, they stood here, earnestly telling her not to die, not knowing anything. Their sincerity was so blinding that she couldn’t take another step.
If she turned her back now, she’d regret it to her grave.
“I’ll really just pay for the candy I ate and leave right away.”
The candy they gave her had tasted too good—she’d stay just long enough to repay it.
“Kid, how about some introductions? I’m the Duke of Cartellani, and these guys here are the Iron Eagle Knights.”
“So you’re all knights. I’m Elia. Please feel free to call me Ellie.”
“Alright, Ellie. Let’s get along for a while.”
“Yes, let’s. I’m in your care.”
Since she agreed to stay until she repaid the candy, Elia decided to give life a temporary pause.
[Might as well go along with it, right? Better than going badly.]
‘Shut up.’
[Ellie, now that it’s come to this, why not reconsider?]
‘Even if I think it over, dying is still the right answer for me.’
[Ellie, this could be a chance. Have you ever thought about why the World Tree gave you this judgment?]
‘You know why, Branch. You know how I lived those three lives. Do you really think someone like me deserves to live?’
[Not all life is noble. Everyone makes mistakes.]
‘I’m tired. Don’t talk to me.’
[So prickly.]
In the end, Elia joined the Duke’s group.
And she soon learned why they were hunting monsters.
The Cartellani Duchy, located in the North, was barren. Behind them lay monster-infested mountains; in front, a desolate wasteland. It was incredibly difficult to produce food there.
In the past, Elia had used that fact to isolate and destroy the ducal house. It was a strategy that exploited their weakness.
A petty and despicable tactic.
But at the time, there was no other way to bring them down. They were just that powerful.
A direct assault wouldn’t work.
So she had resorted to every underhanded trick in the book.
She’d even poisoned their drinking water.
‘I really was awful.’
Now that she thought about it, she had been a true villainess.
She had done every wicked thing imaginable.
“Your Grace, we’ve finished clearing out the spiders.”
“Is that all of them?”
“Yes, not a single one left.”
“It’s finally over.”
The Duke of Cartellani wiped the blood from his sword and looked at Elia, who was still piggybacked on Dmitri’s back.
“Kid, there’s no more danger now. You can relax.”
“It’s over?”
“Yeah, it’s over. We’re heading back now.”
While the knights fought, Elia had been carried on several people’s backs. She had thought they were just passing her around out of annoyance—but that wasn’t it.
They were all eager to carry her, arguing over who’d get the turn, and in the end, they had to settle it with rock-paper-scissors.
Dmitri, being last, was the one currently giving her a piggyback ride. Even with her on his back, he had fought flawlessly.
* * *
After riding for several days, the ducal fortress came into view in the distance.
It was the impregnable stronghold known as the Black Castle.
“That’s the ducal fortress,” said the Duke.
Still on his back, Elia peeked her head around to look at it.
It was large and grand—worthy of being called an iron fortress.
They rode through the outer wall and headed straight for the castle. They crossed the drawbridge, passed the gates, and entered the courtyard.
The knights went off to their private quarters while the Duke and Elia headed for the mansion.
Once he dismounted, the Duke finally set Elia down and took her hand, leading her inside.
The mansion was barren.
The old swords and shields hanging on the walls were rusted, and the carpets were too worn to be of any use.
Worst of all, the curtains covering the windows were so old that they were faded and fraying at the edges.
‘They really are poor.’
The state of the mansion was worse than that of most noble houses in the capital. Elia was at a loss for words.
But the Duke seemed to misinterpret her silence.
“It’s kind of gloomy, isn’t it?”
She nearly answered honestly but held her tongue just in time.
“Master, you’ve returned.”
An elderly man, likely the butler, approached with a gentle smile. He looked to be in his sixties, with white hair and a matching beard.
“Norman, nothing happened while I was gone?”
“No, sir. All was well.”
Nodding, the Duke introduced Elia.
“This child will be staying here for a while. She’s my guest, so please take good care of her. Treat her with the utmost respect.”
He then whispered Elia’s circumstances in Norman’s ear.
Having heard her sad story, Norman’s heart softened.
“I will do my absolute best to make sure she never feels otherwise, Master. Leave it to me.”
Elia respectfully put her hands together and bowed to him.
“My name is Elia. I look forward to your care.”
“Welcome, young lady. I’m Norman, the butler of this household.”
Elia knew Norman well.
This gentle-looking old man was actually a hidden knight who had long protected the ducal house.
He was incredibly skilled in martial arts.
Not just Norman—everyone working in the ducal fortress had combat prowess. She had learned that in her past lives. The moment they picked up weapons, they became terrifying.
“I believe both of you should bathe first. Meril, would you assist the young lady?”
A woman named Meril approached.
She had short, auburn hair and was known for her expert throwing weapons.
‘Her knives killed many of Raul’s knights in the past.’
While Norman was a martial artist, Meril was a master of throwing techniques.
Realizing exactly where she had returned to gave Elia chills.
“Ellie, let’s meet in the dining hall after you wash. We’ll hold a banquet tonight to celebrate our return.”
Elia simply nodded, and the Duke gave her a gentle pat on the head before walking off with Norman.
Meril introduced herself as the head maid of the fortress.
She’d served there since childhood and was well experienced in attending to others.
“This is the first time a young lady has come to the fortress, so please forgive me if I’m a little clumsy, miss.”
Meril treated Elia with great care. She had heard about her from Norman.
When she heard the child had tried to let herself be killed by a monster, her heart ached.
And since she was the Duke’s guest, it was only right to treat her with reverence.
Most of all, Norman said they should show the girl how precious she was.
Her touch while washing Elia was gentle and delicate.
After bathing, only boys’ clothes were available.
“I’m sorry, miss. These are the only clothes that might fit you. They used to belong to the Duke when he was young. Will you be alright with these for now? I’ll have new clothes made for you immediately.”
“No, this is more than enough. Thank you.”
“Miss, please speak comfortably. You’re the Duke’s precious guest, so you don’t need to be formal with me.”
“Is that okay?”
“Of course it is.”
“Mhm.”
When Elia nodded slightly, Meril smiled warmly.
“So understanding, too.”
Since the clothes were the Duke’s from childhood, they were a bit loose. Meril secured the waist with a belt and rolled up the pant legs to fit.
She folded the long sleeves of the shirt a few times, and it was wearable enough.
Because the mansion wasn’t heated, Meril gave her rabbit-fur slippers to keep her feet warm.
Standing in front of the mirror, Elia looked like a mischievous little girl.
“You’re so adorable.”
“…Thanks.”
“I’ll tie your hair.”
Elia nodded, and Meril brushed her hair and tied it neatly into a ponytail.
“Shall we go to the dining hall now?”
When Meril reached out her hand, Elia took it, and they headed to the dining room.
The closer they got, the more lively the noise became. When they opened the door and stepped in, the noisy chatter stopped, and everyone stared wide-eyed at Elia.
The first to speak was the Duke of Cartellani.
“Meril, those clothes…”
“There was nothing else suitable, so I dressed her in the clothes you used to wear as a child.”
Elia sensed that Meril was holding back something as she said that.
