Chapter 80
Chapter 80
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: The Sacred Offering
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Several hours seemed to pass, or perhaps days had gone by. He lost consciousness briefly under the onslaught of exhaustion, only to wake screaming time and again. Both body and mind were crumbling bit by bit.
Gilliwood huddled into a crouch. He could no longer tell if this was a dream or reality.
Death felt very close now. If I die, who will take care of Riselra? One question led to another. Is Riselra even alive?
He opened his closed eyes. A groan came from behind him. He slowly turned his stiff neck. There was his wife, bound hand and foot to a chair.
"Y-you."
He crawled toward her on his knees. His wife had fainted.
Her eyes were sunken, her face sallow and yellowed. With trembling hands, he caressed her cheek. It was cold. Unnaturally cold.
He frantically checked her breathing. Fortunately, she was still alive. But it was a faint, shallow breath.
"Darling, darling."
He shook her gently. His wife opened her eyes. He could see her cloudy pupils shifting left and right.
"Do you recognize me?"
His wife said nothing. She merely struggled to exhale breaths that seemed ready to snap at any moment.
He tried to untie the ropes binding her hands and feet. He pulled and pushed with all his might, but the ropes held firm, tightly knotted.
He needed something sharp. He bit into the rope with his teeth. He chewed desperately. The fibers unraveled in his mouth. His gums bled, the roof of his mouth scraped raw. Still, he couldn't stop.
"Look upon us in mercy."
A voice came from behind. He whipped around. Men in brown hoods stood in a row. The one in the center held a knife and a bucket.
"Here lies the holy offering to present to the god."
"Wh-what are you doing! Darling! Darling!"
He tried to resist, but his body had no strength left. His hands and feet were subdued. Face-down on the ground, he watched his wife tied to the chair. The man with the knife approached her side.
"Riselra!"
The man raised the knife high. His wife’s head lolled limply.
He screamed with bulging eyes. Stop it, kill me instead, please!
The knife slashed down. Blood splattered against the ocher wall. His wife’s body convulsed violently, then stilled in an instant. He dry-heaved and tried to close his eyes, but the two men pinning him forced his eyelids open.
Blood flowed from his wife’s severed wrists. It trickled down her fingers into the bucket below.
"O God! Look upon us!"
His body was flipped over. He screamed as the bucket approached. Above his head, the bucket slowly tilted. Blood poured down.
Warm blood seeped through his clenched eyelids, through the gaps in his sealed lips. His mind flashed. Time flowed backward. He had experienced this exact thing before.
His limbs trembled uncontrollably. His tightly shut mouth opened as he held his breath. He wept as the falling blood rained on him.
The men gripping his limbs stepped aside. The one holding the bucket knelt and prostrated himself.
He rose to his feet. He stroked the head of the man, seeing only the back of it.
"Seer. Have you returned?"
The man who had bowed his head lifted it and asked.
* * *
His tailbone was definitely cracked. Inebil massaged the throbbing bone. From Blue Button to Shelder Territory, he had ridden without rest.
It had been ages since he’d spent so long in the saddle. His master had said it was nothing serious, but the urgency suggested otherwise. In times like these, action spoke louder than questions.
"We’re almost there."
The mansion came into view in the distance. It felt like an eternity since he’d left, even though it had only been a short while.
"Just a bit more."
Dianne urged her horse faster. Upon arrival, she dashed straight to the study. He expected to go with her, but she ordered him to wait.
"How was your trip?"
Butler Pablo opened the drawing room door and entered. Overjoyed, she hugged him.
"Pablo!"
"This is awkward out of nowhere. At my age, I might throw my back out."
She grinned broadly and let go.
"Did you manage without me?"
"Of course. It was quite peaceful, thanks to that."
"Peaceful without me?"
"You know exactly why."
"I have no idea."
She pulled the standing butler by the hand and sat him in a chair.
"Did more white hairs sprout in the short time I was gone?"
"Who do you think caused them?"
"Even this is my fault? You’re too harsh on someone who just got back."
"That’s why you need to stay by the lord’s side from now on. No more wandering off. Understood?"
"I will."
"You’ve finally grown up."
"Not quite. I’ll report and head out again. There’s unfinished business, so I have to go soon."
"Did you cause trouble out there? Haven’t I told you time and again? Caution above all."
"Stop treating me like a child. If he heard that, he’d think you and Charlotte are the same age."
"You two seem about right to me."
"Keep that up, and I might really throw a tantrum. If I chase Charlotte around all day, even you won’t last, Pablo. Confident?"
The butler shook his head slightly with a troubled expression. Now it finally felt like home.
Being with Lander and Guchi was fun and enjoyable, but this was truly where she belonged.
"And Charlotte?"
"She’s asleep. She threw a fit this morning about horseback riding lessons. She won’t wake until evening."
"Not many good days left. You said training starts when the year turns? Charlotte becoming a lady. Hard to imagine."
"No time to worry about others. You’ll need remedial lessons from me too, Lady Inebil."
"No thanks. You know stuffy, outdated etiquette doesn’t suit me."
She liked Pablo, but his etiquette lessons were torture. She’d endured the basics at her master’s insistence, but no more. She’d rather train in full armor on the field all day.
"You’ll be standing by the lord more often. You need to know protocol."
"Let Master handle that. I’ll be at the forefront as Shelder’s sword."
"A sword shines more in its sheath than when drawn. You need polishing, Lady Inebil."
"Shouldn’t have come back. I’ll declare it to Shelder and leave again."
"I’ll hold you back this time."
"I have no allies. I’ll wake Charlotte. She understands me."
After light banter, she glanced at the firmly shut drawing room door.
Her master, gone to see Shelder, wasn’t returning. Reports were always brief—that was Shelder’s way.
"Listen, Pablo."
"Yes?"
"Is something happening in the territory? Master coming to fetch me, riding nonstop from Blue Button—it’s all suspicious."
"Blue Button?"
The butler repeated.
"Yes."
"Why there..."
"Circumstances. It’s personal, so I can’t go into details, but I saw something deeply unpleasant. I want Shelder’s help to uncover it."
She looked at the door again. When would the report end? She itched to burst into the study. Shelder, who loved people and upheld law and order, would expose the secrets of the "two-story house" and punish the evildoers.
"Anyway, something’s going on in the territory, right?"
"Nothing problematic as far as I know."
"Really? Then why was Master in such a hurry?"
"Let’s wait a little. If there’s a reason, she’ll tell us."
"Fair enough."
"Shall I bring tea?"
"I’d prefer wine. Riding so long left me sore everywhere. I need alcohol to push through."
"I’ll prepare something light."
"Thanks."
The butler left the drawing room. She propped her feet on the table and leaned back on the sofa. Her body felt languid.
Irresistible drowsiness washed over her. Shouldn’t lie down, she thought, but let her eyes drift shut anyway.
That was when the door burst open. Something flew in with light footsteps.
"Inebil!"
It was Charlotte. She quickly sat up and caught her. The impact to her abdomen was surprisingly strong. Looking down at Charlotte in her arms, she said.
"Weren’t you sleeping?"
"Butler grandpa told me. Inebil’s back. Where on earth were you?"
"On an adventure."
"An adventure? You should’ve taken me!"
"You can go alone when you’re grown. That’s adventures for. Anyway, let go. You’ve gained some weight."
"That’s rude to say to a lady."
"There are ladies who tackle-hug to say hello?"
"You know nothing, Inebil."
She hoisted Charlotte up and sat her beside her.
"Was the adventure fun?"
"Very."
"Tell me."
"Now?"
"No?"
"This big sis is exhausted right now."
Charlotte sniffed. A thin line creased her smooth forehead.
"You smell. Didn’t you wash?"
"No time. And adults don’t wash as a routine."
"Liar."
"Truth."
"You still think I’m a kid? I won’t fall for it anymore, Inebil. Plus, Dia said cleanliness is a virtue."
Laughing, she asked back.
"What’s a virtue?"
"Good things."
"Not sure. Explain precisely."
"You’re too dumb, Inebil. You wouldn’t get it even if I explained. Just remember: virtues are good. Got it?"
"You learned weird stuff from Master. From now on, learn how the world works from me."
She tickled Charlotte’s side. Charlotte squirmed and huffed at first, then burst into giggles, delighted.
I’ve watched her from her babbling days. She’s got a long way to go to beat me.
"It seems it’ll take a bit longer."
The butler returned, bringing drinks and snacks for Charlotte. She handed a snack to Charlotte and asked the butler.
"What is it exactly?"
"No need to worry too much. If it were serious, they’d have gathered everyone for a meeting."
"True. Shelder would do that."
Charlotte, having devoured her snack, said.
"Why Daddy?"
"Nothing."
She stroked Charlotte’s hair and said.
* * *
"Not good."
Shelder opened the window for ventilation. The air had grown stuffy.
"What do you think? Should we move the 1st Knight Order?"
"That would be best to clean it up thoroughly."
Discovering the two-story house didn’t put this place at risk. There was no connection between him and Master.
"Why did they investigate there?"
"We can ask Inebil for some details."
He clasped his hands behind his back and gazed outside. A tree half-bare of leaves caught his eye. Preparing for winter.
"We need to move up the schedule. I’ll give Inebil a new body."
Dianne said quietly.
"Master’s returned."
"Perfect timing."
"Then we prepare. I’ll tell Inebil. She’ll follow us."
"Other preparations too?"
He turned to meet Dianne’s eyes. She nodded gravely.
"No hesitation. If she refuses, I’ll handle it."
(To be continued in the next installment)