Vivian's Bodyguard (3)
Deep in the night, faint candlelight flickered across the room, casting a dim glow. Vivian narrowed her tired eyes.
She let out a long sigh and set the thick book aside.
The words she had crammed into her head were still swirling chaotically.
She closed her stiff eyes and slowly leaned back in the chair.
“You haven’t been concentrating well today, disciple.”
A fine voice, laced with amusement, answered as if to soothe her.
Vivian inhaled the scent of the pipe Elena was smoking and slowly opened her eyes.
Her gaze drifted to the corner of the room where Elena lay on the massive bed.
Long hair spilled over her shoulders and dress.
Her white, toned legs were softly revealed beyond the hem of her gown.
If it had been anyone else, they would have told her not to lie there. Yet the sight of Elena was so beautiful that Vivian felt no real revulsion.
Perhaps the bed itself felt more like her own than her parents’ property.
Vivian answered honestly.
“…It’s hard.”
“Huh? Why the complaint?”
The lessons with Lady Linne had been intense, but those with Elena had still been bearable.
That was only the beginning, however.
A different kind of difficulty waited ahead in her lessons with Elena.
Vivian swallowed and lifted the book slightly.
“…Does any of this really mean anything?”
“What meaning?”
“The history of witches, qualifications, suitability… It’s all stories with nothing to do with power.”
Vivian felt as though she had walked a path far different from what she expected.
Three months had passed since she began her journey as a witch.
During that time, she had learned only records, timelines, and the long philosophies of witches.
Curses, simple spells, potions, or the sacrifices and ingredients required for rituals…
None of it matched her expectations.
Elena smiled faintly, rose from the bed, and approached Vivian.
As if to comfort her, she said,
“Teaching sword fighting to a baby who hasn’t even learned to walk—what meaning does that have?”
“…But…”
“I understand your impatience. But everything has stages. If I taught you such complex curses now, you wouldn’t be able to use them?”
“… ”
Vivian sighed deeply once more.
Then, as if truly concerned, Elena squatted beside her chair and asked,
“What’s happened, Vivian?”
The naive question made Vivian’s chest feel tight.
“…Master seems to know everything, yet sometimes knows nothing at all.”
Vivian’s knowledge of herself was astonishingly thorough, but Elena knew nothing of the atmosphere inside Rondore Castle.
She truly had no idea how tense the castle had become lately or how stiff the vassals’ expressions had grown.
She could not understand how such an imbalance in information had occurred.
As expected, Elena answered,
“Because I focus only on what interests me…”
“… ”
Vivian had nothing to say.
After all, even a witch was not a newcomer. If she had been such a great being, witches would not have been hunted.
Approaching this realization, Vivian felt the image of witches peeling away layer by layer.
She had believed power would make anything possible… Perhaps she had been wrong.
Vivian said,
“Master, does that mean I must read these books until I become an adult?”
“You’ll learn light witchcraft. However, the witchcraft that will fulfill all your dreams, you must learn after eating more.”
Vivian shook her head.
“…I don’t know. I need power I can use right now. If it’s something I can only use after becoming an adult, is there a reason to become a witch?”
“If I remain powerless even after becoming an adult, will I regret it by becoming a witch… At least, think of this as a blessing that I’m preparing now.”
“… ”
“Only five or six years. Your life stretches far beyond seventy. If you think about it, isn’t it fine?”
“What frightens me… is that someone will kill me soon.”
“If I give up now, I won’t be safe even after becoming an adult.”
Vivian’s eyes wavered.
Elena gazed at her with a calm smile and whispered as if to soothe her one last time.
“Vivian, if you truly want it, I can teach you about complex curses early. As long as it eases your heart even a little.”
“Really?”
“But as I said, it’s witchcraft that cannot be used anyway… Knowing that is meaningless. It only makes you more restless. By the way, what happened recently?”
“… ”
Vivian recalled what would happen days later.
In a few days, after leaving several thousand people to guard the castle, the entire knight order would depart.
Kailo Allen was among them.
Vivian did not want to admit it, but she was shaken more by his absence than before.
Last time, after he left, she had not even been able to eat… What about this time?
Even if she could identify poison in food with light witchcraft, she had no power to protect herself from a raging fire.
And after he left, her uncle Robert Rondore would arrive at the castle.
At that time, Robert would bring his own people… Could she overcome that pressure with her own vassals?
They were vassals who had grown irritated by harsh words tens of days ago.
Vivian had no words.
She eventually looked up at Elena and pleaded,
“…Master, can’t you find out who is targeting me?”
“… ”
Elena smiled faintly, as if apologizing and trying to ease the tension.
Then she began to persuade her.
“…Vivian, as I said before, I am teaching you how to hunt, not to hunt for you.”
“I know, but…”
“If you start relying on me, where will it end? Will finding out who that person is solve everything? After finding out who they are, what will you do then? Will you come to me again to have him removed?”
Vivian could not answer. Elena continued.
“If it is not one person? If someone else targets you again? If their subordinates continue the plan? What do you think those people want me to do?”
“… ”
“And Vivian, as I said. Every witchcraft requires a price. Sacrifice is a sacrifice, but… as a witch, in performing complex curses, you must offer a bit of your beauty.”
“Really?”
“You’ve heard, haven’t you? What witches look like. A huge bump on the nose, hunched back like a hunchback, bumpy face, bony hands, terrifying voice… Those are the words of witches who used too much witchcraft.”
Vivian looked at Elena.
Looking at that perfect witch, doubt stirred within her.
“Then Master… have you never used witchcraft before?”
In response to Vivian’s question, Elena laughed loudly.
Then, patting Vivian’s head, she said,
“Of course not. I have killed many people too. As part of my revenge. What I meant was that you should not use complex curses too much. It can also be a reason I cannot stand for you. Because it should only be used at important moments for you.”
To hide her disappointment, Elena said,
“Vivian, becoming a witch… is not holding a powerful sword. It is not holding a weapon that you can swing around.”
“…Then what?”
“You should think of it as a dagger that you can use only once at an important moment. At that moment, whether you have it or not will make a great difference.”
Vivian understood Elena’s words, yet the immediate impatience remained unresolved, leaving her just as frustrated.
She lay on the desk and expressed her disappointment. She had no intention of pretending to be delicate before Elena.
It was simply that the next few days worried her.
“… ”
Vivian was now recalling Kailo’s suggestion.
‘Or follow the expedition.’
…That foolish suggestion.
As in the past, it was a statement from someone who knew nothing about politics.
How could the duke simply leave the castle to hunt monsters?
Especially if a woman like herself followed, it would be embarrassing, and there would be gossip from around.
It would be fortunate if she did not receive an odd nickname like ‘Monster Heiress’.
…However, it was true that Kailo’s suggestion refused to leave her mind.
Leaving the castle alone was frightening. Facing her uncle alone was irritating.
And the presence of Kailo in her had grown so strong that she thought of herself as ‘alone’ without him.
Vivian muttered while recalling Kailo,
“…Is there no witchcraft to become braver?”
It seemed necessary to have courage to endure the next few days.
Something to make her feel no fear, like opium juice for pain.
Then Elena, who placed her hand gently on Vivian’s head as if she were adorable, answered,
“There is witchcraft that can maintain a steady heartbeat.”
“…Does that also require offering beauty?”
Elena chuckled and shook her head.
“No. For simple witchcraft, no need. Thinking of offering beauty as a reaction to strong witchcraft is comfortable.”
“…Then, can you teach me at least that witchcraft?”
“If you want.”
It was not a witchcraft that solved her fundamental problem, but… she seemed to have to be satisfied with just that.
Vivian, who had felt the castle very frustrating for the first time in a long time.
It was like being locked in a wide prison.
A prison where you could neither escape the pain nor close your eyes, and could only endure.
Vivian sighed and raised her upper body.
Then she said to Elena,
“…Teach me.”
****
From the high balcony of Rondore Castle, looking down at the courtyard, the figures of knights preparing for departure were everywhere.
Horses leaving the stables walked with light hoofbeats, and pages ran around excitedly at the smell of the battlefield that had come alive for the first time in a long time.
Old knights who knew there was a grueling schedule ahead woke their bodies by drinking warm water, and occasionally seen captains were busy giving orders here and there.
Carts loaded with food were lined up moving, and blankets and clean cloths were piling up.
Men drying their bodies after wiping sweat walked around, and some were laughing and playing pranks.
However, the more noisy the courtyard was, the more the inside of the castle was gradually becoming quiet.
The castle where Vivian had to stay looked so empty and desolate.
“… ”
It was not good at all from the perspective of those who were targeting her that there were no people.
The lack of witnesses meant it was the optimal condition to secretly plan something.
…In plain words, someone might come at night and slit Vivian’s throat without witnesses.
This vast castle being empty meant that.
However, I understood that there was no other way for Vivian.
She had invited Robert Rondore, her uncle, to Loktana for help… she could not not go to greet him.
Since Vivian did not get along well with Robert Rondore, she had to be even more cautious.
She knew logically, but… she was definitely worried.
Vivian said she would bring many maids. How much help would that be?
Of course, this might be my excessive paranoia. Maybe I do not have to worry so much.
Thinking about it, the person who gave me a note was not calm now.
Perhaps there would be no problem.
…However, my intuition kept blurring my reason. It kept telling me something was off. That something would happen when I was gone…
“Hah.”
I shook my head.
There was nothing I could do by thinking about it.
I just had to look at Vivian’s face, leave appropriately… and hope she endured well.
I moved away from the window and walked alone.
Soon, in the hall I arrived at, just like always, Vivian was waiting for me at the long table.
“… ”
She did not say anything even though she knew I had come.
Just as I was wondering if she was a bit uneasy.
Vivian raised her head.
Surprisingly, her expression looked much more relaxed than before.
She seemed strangely brave.
“… ”
Seeing that expression, I felt oddly reassured.
-Click.
I quietly picked up the bread.
I tore a piece and put it in my mouth and handed it to Vivian.
Vivian also received the bread with familiar hands and put it in her mouth.
“Your expression looks fine.”
I opened the conversation.
Vivian did not deny it.
“It’s okay.”
“Last time it was so dead.”
“…That was a while ago.”
“Will you be able to welcome your uncle well?”
“Yeah.”
“… ”
But in the following conversation, I felt strange.
Was she originally like this?
Even so, there was a part where she showed a bit of it… she had become too calm.
I guess I should say she was wearing a thick mask. But since I have been watching her for over a year, I could react sensitively to such changes.
“… ”
However, it was not something I could point out.
If she had gathered courage to hide her expression with a mask, that alone would be something to applaud.
I thought it was right for me to leave with a good feeling about her change.
Thinking about that, I set my goal to fill my stomach steadily.
While putting food from the table into my mouth, I only observed Vivian without conversation.
After the long meal ended, it was time for me to leave.
“… ”
“… ”
I waited a moment, but she still did not say goodbye to me.
We were not growling at each other like before, but there was always an insurmountable barrier.
A thick wall tied by blood and hatred.
Unable to do anything, I wiped my mouth and stood up from my seat.
-Scrap!
In response to that sound, Vivian’s body trembled as if she had returned to reality.
However, no agitation was found on her face.
With her courage in her eyes, I moved my steps.
….Then, just before leaving the hall, I stopped for a moment and looked back at Vivian.
I found her shoulders drooping as if she had become dejected.
Her expression was still stiff, but her body was telling something else.
I did not remember the next part well.
-Click!
Suddenly I was standing in front of her, grabbing her arm.
Vivian looked up at me in surprise.
“W-what…! Why are you like this…?”
She was flustered and tried to pull her arm away, but I did not let go.
My intuition told me she was hiding something.
She was not this brave. She was not this calm.
I did not know how she was hiding it, but she was afraid.
And I was anxious too.
“Get up. Prepare.”
I said firmly as if giving an order.
Vivian looked at me blankly for a moment.
“Pre-prepare… what…”
“Departure. Come with me too.”
“What?”
“Being a duke and staying only in the castle makes sense? If the entire knight order goes, you have to at least come along. So get up.”
Vivian stopped still, and it seemed like she was trying to pull her arm away again and again.
“Are you crazy? I told you it’s not possible. My uncle is coming—”
“-What do I care?”
I cut her off strongly.
“If you’re a duke, you move as you want. Why can’t you act without looking at the vassals’ eyes. Tell him to wait until you return.”
“I-I want to stay in the castle—”
“-Don’t lie.”
In my shout, Vivian stopped moving.
The mask had melted away and her weak self was coming out again.
With that, I changed my tone.
“It will be fun. Getting covered in mud, vomiting blood…”
“How is that fun…”
But in Vivian’s face as she said that, there was already a subtle smile.
Whether she was dumbfounded or mocking… she was laughing.
I shook her more pitifully.
“Idiot, and what uncle? Did you forget that I’m the eldest son of the Allen family? Did you forget that you should be more afraid of me than your uncle? At least if you put me in the Disciplinary Unit, isn’t it your job to watch what kind of figure I’m in?”
“… ”
At this point, the strength in Vivian’s arm had loosened.
It became easier to pull her towards me.
Her hips were slowly leaving the chair.
“…Why are you doing this?”
Then Vivian lowered her head and muttered to herself.
Holding the clothes near her heart tightly.
“I definitely walked properly…”
Vivian muttered with a confused expression.
“What?”
I asked Vivian, not understanding, but she did not react.
Instead, she just slowly held my arm.
Realizing that as a positive sign, I said again.
“Let’s go.”
I pulled her.
Now her body was following me.
Facing the standing her, I said firmly again.
“Let’s go, quickly.”
As I walked holding her arm, Vivian followed reluctantly. She was no longer resisting much.