He didn’t order the door not to be opened because of his own wounds. If he could treat Leona kindly in exchange for such wounds, he would have done so a thousand times.
Aiden knew Millard well, and strangling Leona was akin to dealing with Millard. Millard looked out the window. The crescent moon, almost hidden, cast a faint light.
* * *
It was midday two days later when Themis Erazem arrived at the royal palace. Leona, who had been carefully measuring the amount of brandy to pour on her pudding, ended up pouring all the brandy on top of it when she heard that Marquis Erazem had arrived.
She jumped up and ran outside, where Themis was walking briskly across the garden. Themis’s white hair gleamed in the light. Ian, the attendant beside Themis, bowed to her. Before she could respond, the spry old lady embraced Leona tightly. In the still strong arms of the old lady, Leona seemed like a mere handful.
“Grandma!”
Themis, who had hugged Leona tightly and let go, repeatedly stroked her face with her wrinkled hands.
“How did our lady get so thin?”
“No, I’ve actually gained a lot of weight recently… Anyway, was it difficult to come here? Ian, were you alright? No issues on the way?”
“Yes, we arrived without any problems, Your Highness.”
Ian nodded with a soft smile. Leona led Themis into the mansion.
“Did you meet Father and Mother?”
“I came up to meet you, not them.”
“Still…”
As Leona smiled, Themis shook her head with a feigned stern expression.
“I will be staying in the capital for a while, so I just need to take my time and visit them later. You come first.”
“I’m all better now!”
“…So why did you leave the palace without saying anything, huh? This old lady told you to take care of yourself.”
“I was just so curious about the world outside the palace.”
“Don’t think you can fool this old lady.”
Themis spoke in a stern voice. Leona smiled bashfully and led her to the garden. With Themis’s arrival, the attendants had carefully prepared refreshments on the tea table.
While the attendant pulled out Leona’s chair, Ian pulled out Themis’s chair, and the two sat side by side. After each took a sip of the tea Ian poured, Themis spoke.
“How can a young lady, who is about to get married soon, be so pale and skinny?”
“No, no, what marriage? That’s still a long way off.”
“It’s not far at all.”
Leona waved her hand dismissively and smiled while scooping pudding, but Themis wore a stern expression.
“In the future, if you want to go outside the palace, make sure to take a guard with you.”
“Can I go out if I take one? They won’t let me.”
“Grandma will talk to Sir Rashid later. You know what I mean, right? It would be best not to go out, but how can this old lady handle our young lady’s fierce spirit?”
“Why do you say such things, Grandma~!”
Leona waved her hands, laughing. Themis, looking at Leona as if she couldn’t help but find her adorable and lovely, lifted her teacup with a soft expression.
“I thought it would be fine to arrange a match for you, but you still smile like a child. I don’t want to let you out of my arms.”
“Then don’t let go!”
“Do you plan to live in my arms forever?”
“That sounds good!”
Leona looked very silly as she shoved refreshment into her mouth with a relaxed expression.
Themis, who had lovingly cared for her youngest granddaughter since her birth, had only returned to her territory last year. She had intended to stay close and watch over her until she was fully grown.
“When will you go back? Grandma, you’re not leaving, right? You’ll stay here, right?”
“Well… If I stay close, it might be uncomfortable for the young people.”
“They should just deal with it!”
“My, isn’t our lady uncomfortable?”
“Hmm? Of course not!”
Leona now understood that many people not only felt a sense of awe, but also a burden from this old woman who had achieved the title of marquess with her own hands at the age of twenty and come so far. This was especially true for those who inherited what was given to them naturally rather than earning it on their own.
However, to her, Themis was always kind, trying to give her all the beautiful things in the world.
“Ian can manage the estate. Grandma, stay here.”
“Our lady has grown quite demanding.”
“And you like it, right?”
Themis, with no other choice, nodded with a laugh, her wrinkled eyes crinkling even further.
The boy was pouting. No, it was a girl. Now it was clear. Aslan inwardly stifled a laugh as he looked at the girl standing to his left, clutching a tray.
It was the girl who predicted the future weather in advance. He didn’t completely believe her absurd story that it was going to rain suddenly, but decided it wouldn’t be a bad idea to prepare, so he changed his strategy. While he was in the meeting, he sent the girl to fetch something to drink and the girl came in to make tea, unable to hide her worried expression.
‘Lord Meyer, didn’t you say you taught Leo properly?’
‘I tried my best, but…’
‘Why don’t you try the first cup?’
‘The first cup is for the general.’
‘…’
The two people looked at their reflections in the teacups. As Aslan lifted his head, he quickly spoke.
‘As planned, the front line will be moved back in preparation for heavy rain, but the infantry will hide in the grass on the left and right to prepare for a surprise attack. And prepare additional firewood.’
‘Yes!’
‘Yes, General.’
‘The meeting is adjourned.’
The meeting ended without anyone drinking the girl’s tea, which left her sulking. He remained in the tent, after the two officers escaped, staring at the still-steaming teacup. Glancing at the girl, she muttered something about there really being no poison.
‘Did you learn how to make tea well from Senis?’
‘I did my best… There’s really no poison.’
The girl had something like soot on her cheek again. Now that he thought about it, he realized she was trying to hide her true appearance, at least a little.
It was as common as breathing to discard the tea servants made without even taking a sip, so he didn’t know why he felt the need to soothe that girl here. In the end, he sighed and put the teacup to his lips. It was indeed a taste that would have made Paulus Heian spit it out after drinking it, but he forced himself to finish the cup. The girl’s face showed a slightly surprised expression.
He spoke with a hint of teasing.
‘I can tell whether something is poisoned or not.’
‘ Of… of course, you’re the General!’
This topic seemed unpleasant as the girl hastily gathered the remaining teacups and fled the tent.
He stayed inside, watching the fluttering tent fabric, deep in thought.
The girl kept checking his meals for poison. Despite scolding her many times, she showed no sign of stopping. She seemed worried he might be poisoned. He had mixed feelings about this.
His childhood ended long before he turned twenty. Losing both parents on the battlefield, he had to stand on the front lines as a general.
Many had sacrificed their lives for him. In the war zone, danger was as common as leaves in the forest or grains of sand in the desert. Each time, he understood that his survival was paramount to those around him, even if he felt the weight of their blood on his shoulders.
Just as he had led the army to this point, even before coming of age, someone else would do well if they became the general. He shared a deep understanding with the officers around him. Although there would be a temporary disruption in command, he believed they would overcome it.
But he couldn’t say such things. A general shouldn’t assure his soldiers that someone else could replace him if he died. So, someone always sacrifices themselves for him.
But that girl…
“…General?”
Aslan snapped awake. He had briefly closed his eyes with his chin resting on his hand and even dreamed. Senis looked at him with concern.
“Are you tired? It’s almost done, so you should rest.”
“No. Has the retreat been completed?”
“Yes. The delegation to Lord Hyeon is almost finished.”
“Anything else to report?”
“…No.”
Senis hesitated slightly, knowing exactly what Aslan’s vague question about ‘anything else’ meant. Leo, who had suddenly disappeared one day.
“I see… Understood.”
Aslan nodded, his face slightly tired but still showing the ironclad resolve of someone who never gave up, even in the face of fruitless tasks. There must be a reason for her disappearance. He believed there was a reason for her silence. No matter the reason, he intended to find her again.
And when he did, there was something he wanted to say. Something he wanted to convey.
Aslan stood up. The war was completely over. It was time to return to the capital.
