TISND Chapter 62

Chapter 62

**

The border of Frantor was in a tense standoff with the Kingdom of Kelymborn’s forces.
Kelymborn, a multi-ethnic kingdom, had long been eyeing opportunities to invade.

Recently, a new king had ascended to the throne in Kelymborn.
However, due to the nature of their tribal system, consolidating absolute power was no easy feat.
The unstable domestic situation seemed to have prompted an attempt to strengthen the upper echelons’ authority through war.

“What’s their scale?”

“Three hundred men. They’ve already crossed the plains near the border.”

“At that size, it’s likely an advance force.”

Despite the news of enemy troops advancing, Caligo remained calm and composed.
Even the knight who was urgently reporting the situation began to catch his breath at the sight of his master’s unshaken demeanor.

“Should we deploy the army?”

“No, I’ll lead the campaign myself.”

“You, Your Grace?”

“It’s better to uproot them now. If we completely annihilate the advance force, they won’t be able to escalate the situation any further. Instead of sending reinforcements, their leaders will likely divert their focus elsewhere.”

With the enemy troops right at their doorstep, Helena tightly held Jeremy’s hand, her face pale.

Caligo quietly approached her.
“It might be better for you to head to the capital first.”

“Wouldn’t it be safer to stay together? I’ll wait at the estate.”

“No, it’s nothing serious. You should go to the capital ahead of time,” Caligo said firmly.

“Don’t worry…” He trailed off before redirecting his words.
“It’ll be safer for you to go first. Jeremy should stay with you, too.”

“…If you say so, I will.”

Though battles like these were frequent, Helena couldn’t help but feel anxious every time he marched off to war.
The tides of battle could shift in an instant.

No matter how skilled a commander, the battlefield was a place where one’s life could be lost in a heartbeat.

“I’m counting on you to look after Jeremy.”

She thought he would leave right after speaking, but he surprised her by adding another comment.
Caught off guard, Helena blinked in astonishment.

As she froze in place, Caligo seemed to consider his words concluded and turned to leave.

“Please don’t get hurt!”

Her voice rang out, halting his steady strides for a moment.
Caligo turned his head slightly to glance at her.

He looked at her for just a brief moment before continuing on his way to lead the campaign.

Though he didn’t reply, Helena felt certain he had heard her words.

—

They left Frantor and began their journey to the capital.

As befitting a land renowned for its knights, the procession was led by Frantor’s banner carried by a group of gallant knights.
They marched valiantly, surrounding the carriage in the center.

For the most part, Helena had lived in the North as Helena Eskel rather than as someone associated with the name of Frantor.
She preferred to act independently, avoiding burdening others.

But in the capital, she would have to live as “Frantor,” whether she liked it or not.

“The stares are intense,” Helena murmured.

It was only natural for a noble’s carriage to draw attention, but the stares directed at Frantor felt even more pronounced and sharp.

“Jeremy, everyone’s looking at us.”

“Of course they are,” Jeremy responded with a proud smirk.

Helena, noticing the gazes of the crowd, spoke in a low voice, and Jeremy replied with confidence.

“We’re Frantor. It’s only natural that people would look at us with awe.”

“Even here in the capital, not just in the North?”

“Isn’t it only natural?”

Some even tried to peek inside the carriage, though they were quickly stopped and driven away by the knights.
She had been subjected to such attention in the North but hadn’t expected it to be the same here in the capital.

“Frantor has a legacy built over hundreds of years. A noble reputation that won’t fade no matter how much time passes.”

“Jeremy, doesn’t this kind of attention bother you?”

“I’ve been used to it since I was little.”

Of course, Helena was well aware of the influence Frantor wielded.
However, she had never truly felt its impact directly.

Even when she went to Seantillen, the visit was so secretive that she barely noticed the attention, and she had rarely traveled far from Frantor.

The reason she had liked Caligo was never because of Frantor’s power—it was simply because she liked him as a person.
She had never given much thought to the weight of the Frantor name.

But the gazes she felt from every direction as they passed through the streets made her tense up.

“Why are you so nervous?”

“Well, it’s the first time I’ve experienced something like this after being spat on and mocked all my life.”

She was far more accustomed to the countless insults hurled at the Eskel name.
Jeremy snorted in disbelief at her response.

“You’ll have to get used to it from now on. To the power of Frantor, I mean.”

The carriage finally reached the Frantor estate in the capital.
The land was so vast it took quite a while to reach the main gates of the mansion.

Past the gates, engraved with swords and shields, they saw towering cypress trees standing like sentinels.
Through the cypress grove, a beige-colored building finally came into view.

Beside the building was an expansive rose garden, and on the other side, what appeared to be a training ground.
Every corner of the estate was beautiful.

There were no lavish sculptures or luxury items, yet everything felt exquisite, as if infused with life and vitality.

The mansion seemed much larger than the one in the northern estate, and all the windows were grand and imposing.
Even the central front door was massive enough to let a giant pass through with ease—less a mansion entrance and more like the kind of iron door one might find on a fortress wall.

“They say the door was built so large because of the heavy armor and equipment that needed to be moved through it,” Jeremy explained.

“Is it even possible for a person to open that door?”

Standing in front of the lion-engraved entrance, Helena felt a bit overwhelmed.

“Usually, it takes three or four servants to open and close it. And to become the head of Frantor, you’re supposed to be able to open that door alone. Father did it by himself before becoming the head. Isn’t that amazing?”

“One day, when I grow up, I’ll open that door on my own too!” Jeremy declared proudly beside her.

“Welcome, madam.”

Emma, who had arrived in the capital ahead of them, greeted Helena and Jeremy at the entrance.
Behind Emma stood several unfamiliar servants.

The servants all stood with impeccable posture, and their faces reflected a quiet but unmistakable pride.

“We’ve been waiting for you. We’ve prepared everything so you can rest comfortably as soon as you arrive.”

“I’m glad to see your face here in the capital. Since it’s my first time here, could you guide me through the layout of the estate?”

“Of course, madam.”

While Jeremy went ahead to his room, Helena began exploring the mansion’s interior.

The Eskel estate wasn’t particularly large, but it was filled with extravagant luxuries—golden statues and unused pianos that served more as decorations than anything practical.

But this place was different.

The massive halls and corridors were so vast they could easily be mistaken for a ballroom or a training ground for knights.

What was remarkable was how, despite the spaciousness and the minimal furnishings, the mansion didn’t feel empty or lacking.

Even without much furniture, the high ceilings, intricately crafted walls, and the natural light and breeze filling the space made it feel complete.

The mansion embodied the prestige and long-standing history of Frantor.
There was no need to overfill it with ornaments—it was stately and splendid in its simplicity.

“I’ve never seen such a beautiful place in my life,” Jane said in awe as she explored the mansion.

“Me neither,” Helena replied, her reaction no different from Jane’s.

This was especially true when they wandered into the chapel, which was housed within the mansion itself.
The chapel’s pillars were etched with intricate patterns that resembled tree trunks, and faint green light filtered through the stained glass on the ceiling.

It didn’t feel like a chapel but rather like walking through a forest.

Helena couldn’t help but think, ‘Do I even deserve to live in a place like this?’

“This mansion was built at the same time as the imperial palace,” Emma explained, smiling at Helena’s amazed expression.

“To be honest, it’s more like a museum than a mansion.”

She added, “It has a completely different atmosphere from the mansion in Frantor, doesn’t it? That one’s old as well, but it’s been rebuilt many times due to raids and fires. Not to mention, it’s located in the mountains.”

Emma spoke with evident pride.
“This mansion here in the capital is the very embodiment of Frantor’s power and history.”

Soon after, Emma led Helena to a room on the second floor.

“This room has been used by the duchesses of Frantor, from the first to the previous, and now it will be yours.”

The room had a bright and welcoming tone overall.

“It’s also the sunniest room in the mansion.”

“This is…”

Helena ran her hand across the bookshelf in one corner of the room. It was filled with novels, botanical guides, and books about farming and medicinal herbs.

“Do you like it?” Emma asked.

“Was this prepared in advance?”

“Yes, His Grace gave me specific instructions. That’s why I came up to the capital ahead of time. I had a tough time selecting books I thought you’d enjoy.”

Emma chuckled softly as she noticed Helena’s cheeks subtly redden.

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