Whispers from Distant Lands
“What are your plans for dealing with the bandits?”
“While I’m away, I want you to handle it.”
“How long do you intend to be gone?”
“I told you, didn’t I? If Hyunwoo has forgotten me and is fooling around with that princess, I’ll kill them both. He might come back, or he might not, so treat him as dead and proceed with the subjugation.”
“Oh, my lady, you mustn’t!” Sinclair cried out in dismay.
Was love truly blinding her? The Adelia before her burned like a raging flame, yet she was also a naive, foolish woman who knew nothing but love.
“Everyone faces disappointment in life. With time, it passes. Just kill Kang Hyunwoo and return. You must live, Lady Adelia.”
“There is no greater shame than being abandoned by the man you love. And he was my first love. I would rather die than endure a love that begins with rejection.”
Sinclair sighed, her face filled with pity.
“Because of that worthless Kang Hyunwoo, you keep swinging between madness and reason.”
“Don’t call him worthless Kang Hyunwoo! He is your superior’s fiancé! And madness? Sinclair! Do you think I’ve gone mad?”
“F-Forgive me……”
Sinclair immediately shrank back. To her, Adelia was an absolute existence. Seeing her adjutant’s cowed expression, Adelia realized she had gone too far. She lowered her voice and spoke calmly.
“Sinclair. If you ever fall in love like I have, you’ll understand. Love is truly strange. No matter how anxious your heart feels, the moment you’re in his arms, you feel as though you possess the entire world. All your worries vanish like a lie, and your mind becomes perfectly at ease. You can stretch out your legs and sleep soundly, dreaming pleasant dreams. But that feeling is like a drug. You become addicted without realizing it. After time passes, memories of those days with him keep resurfacing and torment you. The desire to experience it again dominates your thoughts. But imagine being unable to meet him. Imagine receiving no word from him. The thought that you can never relive that ecstatic night again fills me with fear. I’m terrified he might coldly leave me behind.”
Adelia’s expression was more serious than ever. After a long hesitation, Sinclair asked,
“…If I fall in love, will I understand how you feel right now?”
Adelia gave a gentle smile and nodded.
“I believe so. Try falling in love yourself. Love isn’t bad. But it hurts deeply. You must be prepared for that.”
Just then, a knock sounded from outside the door. Sinclair went to open it, revealing Belita, a junior officer.
“I’ve come to report news regarding Lord Richard to Lady Adelia.”
Adelia stopped what she was doing and rushed to the door.
“What news? Speak quickly.”
“Word is that Lord Richard has raised an army and is marching toward the neighboring territory of Cluiston.”
“What?”
Adelia’s eyes widened at the sudden report.
“Does he mean to wage territorial war? Why?”
“It seems a clash broke out between the two houses because the Cluiston family detained Lord Richard’s envoy.”
“What on earth is going on……?”
Adelia furrowed her brow and fell into thought. After sending Belita away and closing the door, Sinclair spoke with unnecessary concern.
“Our unit has no authority to interfere in disputes between lords. Both the Richard and Cluiston houses have sworn loyalty to His Majesty the King. They must resolve this themselves.”
“They dared to lay hands on the son-in-law of House Hildegrart!” Adelia suddenly raised her voice, but Sinclair pressed on.
“The fact that Lord Richard is your fiancé remains undisclosed at his own request. House Hildegrart has no justification to raise troops in his aid. If you intervene, His Majesty or Marquis Espera of House Penclau will grow suspicious. That would bring Lord Richard nothing but harm.”
“You’re telling me to just stand by and watch?”
“Please be at ease. Since Lord Richard has Princess Irene with him, His Majesty may step in as mediator. He will surely spare no effort to help both houses reconcile.”
Adelia stared at Sinclair in clear dissatisfaction.
“Mediator or not, an attack on Hyunwoo is the same as an attack on House Hildegrart. I cannot stand idly by when my family’s honor is at stake.”
“You must act with caution.”
“But if my house cannot openly intervene, then I shall go with the Valkyrie Mercenary Group instead.”
Adelia’s resolve toward her lover was unshakable, and Sinclair could no longer dissuade her.
The next day, Adelia and twenty members of the Valkyrie unit left the Lion Heart Unit in disguise to conceal their identities. Though Adelia had intended to keep her departure to Lanchester a secret to surprise Hyunwoo, Sinclair, worried for her safety, immediately sent a carrier pigeon to Lanchester.
To Lord Richard.
Lady Adelia has departed for your location. Please send someone to meet her.
— Sinclair
***
Sunvine Castle of House Metis. Beneath a clear sky, a jousting tournament was underway, attended by Lord Loweldriger, Lady Libilla, the lord’s mother Lady Chettley, and Pasvachio, who was being treated as an honored envoy. The arena was packed with spectators.
Two knights spurred their horses toward each other. The crowd held its breath. When the clash ended, supporters of the victor erupted in cheers while those backing the loser groaned and wiped their faces in disappointment.
Jousting had a way of awakening a man’s primal instincts. Pasvachio found himself smiling throughout the matches. It was thoroughly entertaining.
“You look like a child who’s been given a new toy.”
Lord Loweldriger, seated beside him, grinned playfully and raised his tankard. Pasvachio lifted his own and clinked it against the lord’s.
“It’s been a while since I’ve watched a joust. It’s quite exciting. Or perhaps the knights of House Metis are simply exceptional? This is the most entertaining match I’ve seen in years. One of the finest spectacles of my life.”
“Our knights do possess remarkable skill. Their personal equipment is also top-notch.”
Lord Loweldriger laughed with satisfaction and shrugged. The young lord, roughly the same age as Hyunwoo, seemed pleased by Pasvachio’s flattery.
While Pasvachio smiled quietly, Lady Chettley, seated beside the lady of the house, suddenly spoke up.
“I hear the Richard and Cluiston houses are at war. Shouldn’t you be hurrying back?”
“Ah, you needn’t worry about that. This morning I received a letter from my lord instructing me to fulfill my duties as envoy and remain here for an extended period. I am here to strengthen ties with House Metis. My role is not to fight a war, but to ease the minds of those troubled by the rumors spreading through the land.”
“Truthfully, Lord Richard started a war almost immediately after taking office. I can’t help but wonder if he has a natural fondness for battle.”
At Lady Chettley’s worried remark, Pasvachio offered a gentle smile.
“Rest assured, my lady. I remain here to dispel every misunderstanding surrounding Lord Richard and to serve as a bridge of communication between the two houses amid the chaos of war and rampant rumors. Lord Richard is no warmonger. When it became known that Lord Cain of Cluiston had mistreated our envoy and insulted our lady, Lord Richard had no choice but to take military action.”
“I would have gone to war myself!” Lord Loweldriger bellowed, clenching his fist. He then leaned over and planted a quick kiss on Libilla’s lips. The two gazed at each other lovingly. Newlyweds, indeed—the affection was palpable.
Loweldriger boasted proudly to Pasvachio.
“If some other lord dared to leer at my beautiful wife with lustful eyes, I’d want to kill him too. I completely understand Lord Richard’s feelings.”
A sigh escaped Lady Chettley’s lips as she watched her son. In her eyes, he still seemed far from being a proper lord.
That evening, during dinner with her son and daughter-in-law, Lady Chettley brought up the subject of Pasvachio.
“It would be best to send him away from the territory as soon as possible. He’s a spy. Lord Richard planted him here to monitor the movements of neighboring houses while he wages war against Cluiston. He’s watching to see whether we make any suspicious moves.”
“That may be true,” Lord Loweldriger nodded lightly. “But it’s not as if we’re suffering any real harm. Through Sir Pasvachio, we can learn how the war is progressing. I don’t see any great disadvantage in keeping him here.”
“Our military strength could be exposed. If House Cluiston falls, we might be next. For all we know, Sir Pasvachio could be trying to assess our armaments at this very moment.”
“Mother.”
Her daughter-in-law Libilla cut in.
“I believe your concerns are merely unfounded worries. We stand to gain far more by keeping Sir Pasvachio in our territory. If Lord Richard wins the war, we can use Sir Pasvachio to build friendly relations. Conversely, if Lord Cain wins, we can simply capture Sir Pasvachio and hand him over. He has value. Letting him go freely would be foolish.”
Foolish? How dare she say such a thing in front of her mother-in-law?
Lady Chettley could not hide her displeasure. Her daughter-in-law’s reply was insolent and shameless. Meanwhile, her son, oblivious as ever, took his wife’s side.
“Oh, my love! You are the greatest strategist in the Kingdom of Ingibar.”