Chapter 176: Chapter 1
Maxi held the door handle as she waited for a reply. Ludis hesitated, a troubled expression on her face.
“His lordship ordered that the guests be served food upon their arrival,” said the maidservant reluctantly. “They will likely be in the dining hall.”
As soon as she heard the answer, Maxi swung open the door and stepped out. Though she was aware of Ludis’s quick steps behind her, she ignored her and hurried down the stairs.
Servers bustled about bearing trays laden with wine and food. Ignoring their surprised faces, Maxi cautiously approached the dining hall. She ducked into the corridor just outside, where the sonorous voices of the knights filtered through. The men spoke in a mixture of Southern and Western languages, and the only thing she could discern was that they were talking about stallions and weapons. It was difficult to pick out further details.
Maxi’s brows furrowed at the banal nature of the conversation. Judging by the boisterous chatter, it did not seem like they were gathered to discuss any matters of importance.
Are they really hired just to bolster Anatol’s defenses?
Maxi considered peeping through the gap in the door but thought against it. At this angle, the knights could easily spot her. She was straining to hear the conversation when someone tapped her shoulder. Maxi jumped and turned to find Ruth frowning at her.
“Might I ask what you’re doing out here, my lady?”
Embarrassed at having been caught eavesdropping, Maxi’s cheeks grew hot. She hastily straightened her back.
“W-Well...”
Ruth’s eyes narrowed as he watched her absently fiddle with her hair. Maxi looked down. They had not had the opportunity to speak properly after the events at Croyso Castle, and she did not know what expression to put on in front of him.
Flustered, Maxi barely managed to continue speaking. “I heard that... we had guests...”
“You must have seen the mercenaries from Lakazim.” Ruth glanced toward the dining hall and clicked his tongue as if to say it was an easy guess. “Is that why you raced down here to eavesdrop?”
“E-Eavesdrop? Y-You offend me.”
At his accusation, Maxi forgot her earlier discomfort and glowered at him. Ruth stared at her for a moment before turning away with a snicker.
“Sir Riftan will give you an earful if he catches you loitering like this. Come with me.”
Without waiting for an answer, he started up the narrow servants’ stairwell. Ludis had followed her and now hovered behind like a shadow. Maxi looked at the maidservant, then to the dining hall where the voices of the knights leaked through. She turned and reluctantly went after Ruth.
Upon entering the drawing room on the second floor, Ruth threw open the curtains and lit a brazier with magic. He pulled a chair close to the fire and sat down.
“Are you well now, my lady?”
Maxi nodded, remaining awkwardly in the doorway. “I-I’ve... gotten much better.”
“I wished to check on you personally, but his lordship simply would not allow it,” he muttered bitterly, then motioned with his head for her to join him.
Ludis had trailed after Maxi to the drawing room. After asking the maidservant to bring them something to drink, Maxi cautiously sat across from Ruth. A moment of silence passed before he spoke.
“I’m relieved to see you looking well. Are you taking your tonics on time?”
“Y-Yes. Thank you... for your concern.”
After fidgeting with her skirt, Maxi plucked up the courage to look up at him. She saw that there were no traces of pity or discomfort in the sorcerer’s eyes.
Watching him poke at the fire with his typical bored, indifferent expression drained the tension from her shoulders. She exhaled in relief at his unchanged manner and asked her most pressing question.
“W-Why... are those men here? Why are we h-hiring mercenaries from the Southern Continent?”
“Has Sir Riftan not told you anything?” Ruth asked in lieu of an answer.
Maxi hesitated before nodding. Ruth looked uncertain for a moment, but he heaved a sigh and disclosed the truth.
“Sir Riftan has formally declared war on the Duchy of Croyso.”
Maxi felt her whole body freeze. Though she had half expected this, having someone confirm it sent her heart plummeting.
Seeing the color drain from Maxi’s face, Ruth quickly added, “It was a decision made after thorough deliberation. The Remdragon Knights have been ill-disposed to the Duke of Croyso for a long time now. War was inevitable.”
“B-But... no one spoke of war until now. It’s my fault... th-that things have come to this...”
Ruth opened then closed his mouth as though unable to think of an adequate reply. Maxi’s face fell, and her clasped hands trembled. Guilt pressed on her chest. She bit her lip at the weight of it when she heard Ruth’s somber voice.
“It is too late. Sir Riftan infiltrated Croyso Castle and assaulted the duke. Though he has remained silent so far, the duke is not one to let such offenses slide. It would be better for us to strike first.”
“B-But... the A-Armistice of the Seven Kingdoms prohibits war. King Reuben... w-would never pardon it.”
Ruth shrugged as if to say that this had also been taken into consideration.
“You are correct,” he said, sounding indifferent. “It is highly likely that the king will impose sanctions, but we have enough reason to justify our declaration of war. It is indisputable that you now belong to Anatol, and that the duke no longer has any say in your affairs. The fact that he harmed you is grounds enough for war. We can assert our validity and go through with this even if the royal family interferes.”
Maxi flinched. She had to ask.
“Do the rest of the knights... kn-know everything?”
Ruth immediately grasped the vague question. Hesitating briefly, he rubbed the back of his neck and bobbed his head.
“It’s not that I, Sir Elliot, or Sir Ursuline said anything. I’m sure everyone was able to figure out that the duke had done some grievous harm to you. I’d say Sir Riftan’s demeanor and those of the men who accompanied him were a dead giveaway.”
Ruth then tentatively added, “To tell you the truth, quite a few brought up practical reasons to oppose the war. But those in favor of it were far more adamant. Sir Riftan is not the only one who is angry... The knights are furious too. I don’t think anything will be able to stop them.”
Flustered and unsure of how to react, Maxi fixed her gaze on the floor. Ruth heaved an exaggerated sigh as if to dispel the heavy air.
“As you know,” he continued, “those creatures we call knights will not be content unless they brandish their swords in the name of honor and chivalry. Please don’t let this trouble you too much. They’ll calm down after they’ve fought it out.”
“I... c-cannot think s-so lightly of a war! Th-There is no need for the Remdragon Knights to do this... for my sake...”
“My lady,” said Ruth, his voice growing heavy.
Maxi flinched and raised her head. The sorcerer regarded her with a solemn expression as he spoke.
“You are not only the Lady of Anatol but a mage of the Remdragon Knights. And the knights never forgive those who harm one of their own. The majority were in favor of the war, and even those who opposed for pragmatic reasons are inwardly in agreement.”
“Th-That’s...”
At a loss for words, Maxi dumbly opened and closed her mouth. Her heart fluttered as she recalled how she had once envied the bond shared by Riftan, Ruth, and the knights. Since when had she become one of them? Noticing her bewilderment, Ruth gave her a bitter smile.
“You fought for the people at Eth Lene with no regard for your own safety. It is the same for us now. The Remdragon Knights have the right to be angry and to retaliate against those who would harm you.”
“I-I...”
...
Maxi bit her quivering lip. Her eyes grew hot, and she felt a choking sensation as though she had swallowed lead. If she had not followed her father to Croyso Castle, Riftan and the knights would not have had any reason to wage this war.
If only she had not been so weak and had been brave enough to face Riftan. If only she had trusted people. If only she had not abused her body...
Squeezing her eyes shut, Maxi mustered up the strength to continue talking.
“I am grateful... but... I-I still... do not w-want a war. I never wish to see... s-such a terrible tragedy again.”
“It won’t become an all-out war,” Ruth said resolutely. “Although Sir Riftan wants to raze the duchy to the ground, doing so would give us no loopholes to avoid the sanctions for breaking the armistice. It’s why armed conflicts between territories are settled through cavalry battles. Knights of both territories will face off, and the winner will be determined after several battles. It’s not uncommon for a war to be won in a single fight by taking out the opposition’s commanding officer. It’s a completely different nature from monster raids.”
“E-Even so... we won’t be able to... a-avoid casualties. How could we make the men fight another war... when they’ve just returned from a long campaign?”
Hearing the tremor in her voice, Ruth’s expression grew troubled as though he were worried she would burst into tears.
“With Sir Riftan leading, the war should be over within a month... No, make that half a month,” Ruth said reassuringly. “The duke’s knights may number almost three times ours, but the Remdragon Knights’ prowess in battle is at least ten times greater. The reason why they have yet to declare war on us is because they know it’s a battle they cannot win.”
He then shrugged and mumbled, “Though it would have been better if they had declared war first.”
“I-If the duke is not likely to retaliate...” Maxi blurted, “isn’t that more reason not to go to w-war? I will... t-try to persuade Riftan, so... p-please talk to the knights, Ruth. If Anatol w-withdraws its declaration, th-then my father will-”
“You should know better than any of us what kind of man the Duke of Croyso is, my lady. He might try to avoid an armed conflict, but he will never overlook such an offense completely. He’ll certainly find a way to retaliate. That being the case, it’d be better to settle this in a manner that is more favorable to us. Going up against that man politically would be difficult.”
...
Maxi hunched her shoulders. Cold sweat prickled her back as she recalled her father’s bloodied figure limp on the floor. Indeed, he would never overlook such an affront. After quietly gnawing her lip, Maxi nodded with a stiff expression.
“I understand w-what you mean. Thank you... for explaining all this to me.”
Having ended the conversation so decidedly, Maxi rose from her seat. Ruth gave her a grim look.
“My lady, there is nothing you can do. Please don’t pursue any foolhardy endeavors.”
Stung, Maxi pretended not to understand. “W-Whatever do you mean?”
Ruth narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms. “I mean, give up the notion of writing to your father to sway him. We both know no amount of persuasion from you will change his mind, nor is Sir Riftan likely to change his. The blows have been dealt. It’s unlikely that any interference from you will get the two lords to set aside their animosity. I’m afraid conflict is unavoidable.”
Feeling as though Ruth had seen right through her, Maxi’s face flushed crimson.
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