The Cabin, Part 2
It was a very old, dilapidated cabin. There was simply no other way to describe it. It had stood for so long that thick cobwebs clung to the eaves of the roof. The timber, which must have once been a rich, deep brown, was stained dark with the grime of passing years, and the steps leading to the front door creaked underfoot. Had I seen it in my past life, I might have dismissed it as just another run-down log cabin. I had only been an ordinary citizen, after all.
Though old and weathered, it didn't look particularly cramped. In fact, it bore the marks of careful craftsmanship. At the very least, it gave off the distinct impression of a place meant for human habitation. But of course, that was only my perspective. To the young lord and lady of the Grand Duchy of Ilencia, it was an entirely different story. Sure enough, standing a few paces back, the siblings wore stiff, grim expressions.
"Uncle. Where is this place?"
"Hmm. You could call it a safehouse. It is a location known to almost no one else in the family."
These were children who, provided they grew up safely, would one day ascend to seats of absolute power. They had lived lives of unimaginable luxury, where a simple meal required the labor of dozens of servants, and a single formal gown cost as much as a townhouse. In the eyes of such highborn children, it wouldn't have been surprising if this cabin looked like a pigsty. Even the servants' quarters back at the grand estate were far more luxurious than this shack.
To think that after their long, grueling flight, they had ended up in a place so wretched. Though no one had said it aloud yet, it was painfully obvious they would be staying here for some time. The sole young lady of Ilencia looked as if she might burst into tears at any moment.
"Uncle, I hate it here. It smells strange, and it looks so dirty."
"I am sorry, Sirien. It cannot be helped. Won't you bear with it for just a little while?"
"Really? Is there truly no other way? Does it have to be here?"
"I am sorry."
Her voice was thick with unshed tears. Yet, Count Roxen did not budge. Considering what Sirien's tears usually meant back at the estate, this was an extraordinary sight. She was the daughter whom the Grand Duke of Ilencia cherished like a priceless treasure, the most beloved child in the entire household. Whenever Sirien cried, the servants would throw themselves into a panic. At those times, either her family or I would have to go and comfort her.
But how could mere servants hope to sway the direct bloodline of the Grand Duke? In the end, the only person the servants could rely on was me. I had yet to receive a formal title, and I was on easy, friendly terms with the household staff. The snacks they gave me as "bribes" to soothe the young lady had been quite delicious—even if half of them ended up right back in Sirien's mouth. At any rate, because I was summoned every time she wept, Sirien had grown accustomed to my presence.
I felt the presence of the small girl shifting behind me. A damp warmth began to seep through the back of my shirt, suggesting she was trying to hide her tears. Even when she was much younger, Sirien had never been one to throw tantrums. She must have instinctively realized that she couldn't persuade Count Roxen. She knew that crying would change nothing now. And so, she was trying to endure it. All I could do was pretend not to notice, ensuring her quiet struggle wasn't in vain.
"I, too, wish to hide you in a more comfortable place, but right now, this is the safest."
"If it is because of Eligos, haven't we already come quite far?"
"Yes. We have come far. This place is quite a distance even from the borders of the Grand Duchy."
Fortunately, Sirien's tears had not been entirely in vain. Perhaps Count Roxen felt a twinge of guilt deep down, because the man who had kept his mouth tightly shut until now finally began to open up.
"As you have likely guessed, the situation is grim. The border gates were ambushed, and..."
He spoke in circles, but his point was simple: the war was going terribly. The Grand Duke's current position would naturally be the primary target, and Eligos's vanguard was already ravaging the territory. To make matters worse, both the Grand Duke and Count Roxen suspected a traitor in their midst. There was no other explanation for how the enemy's strikes had been so swift and devastatingly precise.
"If anything were to happen to you at a time like this, the consequences would be catastrophic."
Therefore, I must hide you. In a place no one knows. The safest place, where no one can ever find you. That was what Count Roxen's words amounted to. In the end, the siblings had no choice but to accept it.
"Then are you certain this place is safe?"
"Absolutely. Humble as it may look, this place has never once been discovered. Even your ancestors sought refuge here to escape danger on several occasions."
"What about the wild beasts in the forest? What if they come here?"
"Ah, yes. I must explain that to you as well. Come, look around."
Count Roxen gestured to their surroundings. A snow-covered clearing stretched out around the cabin, its shape strikingly artificial. It was a perfect, pristine circle of white, as if drawn by a painter's brush, and the dense coniferous forest surrounding it held its breath in absolute silence. It looked as though this clearing and the cabin had been carved out of the very heart of the vast wilderness.
"This circle is where you will live for the next ten days. You may think of it as a field protected by ancient magic. Therefore, you must never, under any circumstances, step outside this circle or enter the forest."
"T-Ten days?"
"Yes. I cannot leave you in a place like this forever, after all."
Count Roxen offered a faint smile. He was trying to reassure the siblings in his own way, but it was a futile effort. Their faces remained utterly grim. Sensing his failure, the count cleared his throat awkwardly and returned to his usual solemn demeanor.
Ten days.
It was a span of time that could be considered either long or short, depending on the perspective. To these two, however, who didn't want to spend even a single second here, it would undoubtedly feel like an eternity. Yet, Sirien was not the type to throw tantrums. Even though her face was a mask of misery and resentment, she forced herself to speak.
"Alright. But you must promise to return quickly, okay?"
"Of course. I will resolve the situation and return for you within ten days, without fail."
"Ten days... *sniff*. Yes."
Sirien nodded, her eyes brimming with tears. A watery flush rose beneath her pale skin. Soon after, Count Roxen departed. We stood there for a long time, watching his retreating figure. It was as if we were harboring some faint, foolish hope that he might turn back and take us with him. Of course, he did no such thing, vanishing from our sight without looking back even once. And so, our life in the cabin began.
Fortunately, the interior of the cabin was in decent shape. If we gave it a thorough cleaning today, we wouldn't have any major issues surviving here for ten days. At the very least, the roof didn't seem to leak, and nothing was structurally broken. In fact, it was surprisingly spacious and comfortable inside. It was more than enough room for the four of us: the Ilencia siblings, Therion and Sirien; myself, an Apprentice Knight; and Hena, the maid.
Though worn, the cabin was furnished with all the essentials. The first floor was arranged like a communal living room, while the second floor was a cozy loft nestled right beneath the sloping roof. The loft contained four beds, which meant that would be our sleeping quarters. Finally, there was the basement. It wasn't damp, but it was exceptionally dusty. It seemed to serve as a pantry; to our surprise, it was already stocked with a variety of preserved rations.
When I finished inspecting the basement and climbed back up, Hena was just stepping out of the kitchen. Since the cooking would inevitably fall to her, she had naturally inspected that area most thoroughly.
"I have good news, Sir. Most of the cooking utensils are perfectly usable. Rajen, do you happen to have a whetstone on you?"
"In my pack. Want me to get it for you now?"
"No, later is fine. May I just take it out myself when I need it? I should start cleaning first."
"Sure."
Hena rolled up her sleeves with determination. As the fabric of her maid's uniform slid up, it revealed slender but toned arms. In a situation like this, Hena was the most reliable person we had. She was a maid who had attended to Therion since they were children. Aside from myself, Hena was the only person the siblings treated like a true friend. That was undoubtedly why Count Roxen had trusted her enough to bring her along.
The servants of this world were all elite specialists in domestic labor. Clumsy, half-hearted work could never satisfy the exacting standards of the nobility. And if one had risen to the rank of a personal lady's maid rather than a mere housemaid, their competence went without saying.
Still, I can't let her clean this entire place all by herself.
No matter how capable Hena was, she was only one person. We couldn't exactly ask the pampered young lord and lady to scrub the floors, and since I technically held noble status as well, Hena would find it difficult to ask me for help. The only solution was for me to volunteer.
"I'll help you."
"Pardon? Oh, no, it is quite alright. This is my duty, after all."
"Don't worry about it. I just want to get this over with so we can rest. I won't be able to sleep easy in a place like this anyway."
"In that case... may I ask a favor of you? I believe I saw a well outside earlier. Would you mind fetching some water?"
"Ah, I think I saw it too. I'll be right back."
I recalled the well sitting solitary in the middle of the circular clearing. With nothing else around, it had been hard to miss. As I stepped outside to fetch the water, I heard soft footsteps trailing behind me. It was Sirien.
"You don't have to tag along."
"I'm just stepping out because it's stuffy inside. And I'm thirsty."
"It's freezing out here, you know."
"I'm fine. Hena found some fur gloves for me earlier. I'm coming with you."
Suit yourself, then.