Chapter 48
It was roughly the fiftieth repetition of the same movement. She had stopped counting after the thirtieth, but it was likely around there. A week had passed since she began learning swordsmanship from Edwin, yet she hadn't learned a single move that could threaten an opponent. A stance that involved lightly gripping a wooden sword and aiming at the chest of a straw doll was hardly something that would prove useful in a real fight.
Up until yesterday, the lesson had concluded with nothing but exercise, him saying she needed to build stamina first. She was beginning to doubt whether Edwin even had any intention of teaching her swordsmanship. Since he had said he would have to return to the 2nd Knights before long, she worried she might end up having learned nothing but these easy movements.
"They say someone is coming to replace Edwin, but…."
In the end, it would be someone she had never even met. Edwin had offered to teach her because he wanted to, but the person replacing him wouldn't spare the young lady living here a single glance.
At any rate, she was growing bored. Funny enough, she didn't feel tired, perhaps because the exercises until now had actually built up her stamina. Strength was gradually filling her arms, but that was different from feeling exhausted.
"How much longer does he want me to do this?"
She muttered rebelliously, afraid she would end up completing a hundred repetitions, but there was no one to hear. Of course, Helen was well aware of that.
It had already been ten minutes since Edwin had left, telling her to keep practicing. A knight had come to report something, and Edwin had frowned deeply before heading off somewhere with him. He hadn't returned since.
After that, the knights passing by had looked much busier. She was certain something had happened this time, yet she didn't feel like asking. She simply felt that way.
* Sibello
A carriage crossed into the Hexilov boundary. It was a carriage of House Everett, bearing a crest depicting a sword with its tip pointed upward. It had arrived after five days of riding ceaselessly, save for the bare minimum of rest since departure.
The carriage drove a little further past the entrance of Hexilov and stopped before the training grounds of the Imperial Knight Order. While the coachman calmed the two horses that had run vigorously, Carlisle opened the carriage door and stepped down himself.
It was vastly different from the scenery he had seen last winter. In other words, this was not the place where blizzards had raged so fiercely that taking a single step forward had been terrifying. The sky was so clear one might believe it was the south. He thought that it was certainly summer, yet when the fairly cool breeze touched his skin, it reminded him that this was indeed Hexilov.
A young knight standing guard spotted the crest of House Everett and came scrambling over. Having been dozing off in the lazy afternoon, he hurriedly wiped the drool at the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand and greeted the Duke of Everett with due courtesy.
"A-ah, greetings!"
What was he supposed to call this man? There was no one in the empire who did not know he was the Duke of Everett. However, he had come by the Emperor's command as a special supervisor for the construction site of the training grounds belonging to the Imperial Knight Order. The knight had never heard of such a position existing in the world since joining the order, but what could he do when it was His Majesty the Emperor's own command?
"I had heard you would arrive the day after tomorrow, Your Grace... no, um…."
"Speak comfortably. Usually people call me 'Your Grace.' But it's not as though we're acquainted enough for you to use my name."
"Y-yes, that's right!"
Did that mean he should use his name once they were acquainted? He would be asking for trouble, so he shook his head vigorously to banish the sudden stray thought.
"Your Grace, I shall move your luggage to your quarters. But is this all the luggage you have brought?"
There was barely anything that could be called luggage in the rear compartment of the carriage. He had heard the Duke would stay until this winter, yet in contrast to that, the only thing loaded on the carriage was one thick travel bag. It looked like luggage for barely a week's trip, but he couldn't pry too deeply.
The other party was the empire's only duke. The man who had led the last demonic beast subjugation force. Not being in a position to expect an answer, the knight soon closed his mouth and attended to the luggage instead.
But contrary to the knight's expectations, Carlisle was a kind noble.
"I don't plan to stay long. Why? Are you grateful that I'm sparing you the effort?"
"Yes? Rather than grateful…."
"Never mind. Where is the commander of the 2nd Knights right now? I'd like to meet him first."
Carlisle looked down at the cup of lukewarm water that showed absolutely no sign of care for a moment. If his throat hadn't been parched from the long carriage ride, he wouldn't have even glanced at it. Naturally, he couldn't expect much from a knight who thought protecting people with a mere blade was the only courtesy required. Carlisle had expected him to be different from an ordinary knight since he was someone who had long guarded Violet's side, so a lingering sense of disappointment remained.
Still, seeing that the quarters were well-organized, it seemed some preparation had been made. Well, of course. It must have been on their minds that a man who had never expected to come to the northernmost tip of the empire again was coming.
"Had we known you were arriving today, we would have gone out to escort you."
"That's what everyone says. I sent a letter when I was about halfway, saying I planned to arrive today. I entrusted it to a fast messenger, but it seems he didn't handle his task very well, does it not?"
The letter Carlisle had sent arrived just before he did. The envelope was slightly crumpled, but there were no signs of it having gotten wet. If the weather had been bad, there would have been at least some trace of it. He should have caught the man and interrogated him. The fellow seemed frail, and it appeared he had realized his mistake and disappeared before Carlisle's carriage arrived, but still.
The knight who had received the letter knew the man's appearance and face; he couldn't have gotten far yet, so if they sent knights after him now, they could capture him. Since they needed to hurry, the knight was about to step away for a moment.
As if understanding what was on Edwin's mind, Carlisle stopped him.
"There's no need to argue over who's at fault. Rather, why don't you tell me about yourself? How have you been all this time? Why, even trivial stories are fine."
Trivial stories? Edwin raised an eyebrow. Were an orphan-born knight and a high noble duke in such a special relationship that they would share the details of their daily lives?
Had he not guarded Violet's side, he would never have become acquainted with Carlisle. Even when he was guarding her, he had hardly exchanged a few words with Carlisle. Even on the rare occasions they spoke, the subject had been about Violet.
"I was under the impression that you didn't concern yourself with others' private lives."
"I asked expecting you to refuse."
"I see."
Since he had even anticipated refusal, it would have been better not to ask at all. He couldn't afford to waste time on more pointless conversation. Now that Carlisle had arrived, he needed to hand over the duties and return to the capital. There were still unfinished matters, but he could not disobey the Emperor's command.
"Then please rest. I have training, so I shall take my leave first."
Edwin pushed back his chair and stood up. He bowed respectfully, and as he turned and headed for the door, he showed not the slightest hint of reluctance. He had never wanted this man to come in the first place. It was true that he was a figure respected among knights for achieving meaningful results in countless wars under the status of a duke, but still.
They said his only wife was the deceased Imperial Princess, yet look at the endless stream of marriage proposals sent to the Everett estate. Carlisle would ultimately be unable to abandon the name Everett and would marry a noble befitting his status for the endless glory of the family. After all, a successor to inherit House Everett was needed.
Just as Violet was gradually fading from people's memories, this man who had sworn to love only her for his life would eventually forget as well. Those who believe in God say death is not the end. Even knowing that death exists at every end. Even love is but a wall that will soon crumble before death.
That was why he hated Carlisle Everett. It was obvious they would meet in tiny Hexilov whether he wanted to or not. Whether the young lady wanted it or not.
Edwin decided to add just one more thing before grabbing the handle and pushing the door open. Had Carlisle not spoken first, Edwin would have done so himself.
"Won't the knights dislike it if you participate in training?"
Edwin answered without turning around at a tone that was closer to jest than mockery.
"I am not the one participating in training."
"They'll dislike that even more."
"Unfortunately, I am teaching swordsmanship. By now, she must be searching for me anxiously."
"She?"
Carlisle tapped the top of the table with his finger. The highest authority here before his arrival had been Edwin Vance, so who could he be referring to as "she"?
"The young lady here said she wanted to learn how to catch a rat by its lifeline from me, so I am personally teaching her swordsmanship."
"If you mean the young lady…."
Edwin, who had turned his back, turned to look straight at Carlisle, who was watching him with an unwavering gaze.
"Ah, you wouldn't know, Your Grace."
As if he couldn't know. Last winter, while organizing an expedition to the northern forest for the demonic beast subjugation, he had sought out the Hexilov estate during a fierce blizzard. Given Carlisle Everett's personality, he wouldn't have barged in without the owner's permission.
Even if he hadn't met her...... No, such a supposition wasn't right. If they hadn't met, would the young lady have fallen for that man?
"At any rate, please rest comfortably."
Edwin left, and the door closed silently.
"Rest comfortably?"
After saying something like that to me? Or does he truly think I don't know who the young lady here is?
No way.
It had been a tone of someone displeased that his position had been taken, sneering. He was probably telling Carlisle to pay attention, to see what sort of relationship he had with her.
Suddenly, the image of moisture welling up in Helen's eyes and trickling down her pale cheeks came to mind. And that was merely from thinking about what relationship he had with her.
Looking back, he had never seen her smile. If the eyes bearing green irises that suited this season were to curve gently......
"She would be beautiful."
In his imagination, her smiling face didn't come into focus easily. Rather than curving, those eyes seemed on the verge of spilling tears once more.