Chapter 17: The Lord’s Castle

Jerond was clear. He didn’t drag it out or make cowardly excuses. There was no false comfort like “it’s not strange, just special.” He was simply saying, “What are you going to do about being born that way?”

Aren’t you…… uncomfortable?

At Luti’s desperate question, Jerond frowned.

“What are you saying is uncomfortable?”

“Everyone says these eyes are…… uncomfortable and unpleasant……”

At Luti’s foolish words, Jerond clicked his tongue. Then he made a slightly annoyed face, as if asking if he had to explain even this.

“Listen carefully.”

“I’ve seen bastards with pus-filled eyes absorb human entrails, and I’ve pulled out eyes that spew poison and thrown them into a volcano. I’ve gouged out eyes mixed with red and filthy yellow and shoved them into monsters’ mouths. I’ve seen countless grotesque and disgusting things. You think I’d be uncomfortable with just your odd eye?”

If those kind eyes were unpleasant, dragons and monsters were beyond anything human language could express. The reason he stabbed and gouged out eyes with burst blood vessels from rage was exactly that. Because it felt so disgusting.

“That was the most useless and absurd question I’ve ever heard.”

The man walked heavily to the carriage as if he had nothing more to say. Luti’s eyes, watching him, seemed to grow slightly wet, but the man didn’t know. He just spoke again in a cold tone to Luti, who stood cowed.

“Get in the carriage.”

“……”

“From now on, we’re going to my land, where my castle is.”

Jerond opened the carriage door. Luti looked down the hill and at the giant empire standing as if to pierce the sky, and sighed. It was a relief that he didn’t take her eyes as bad, but that didn’t change what was to come. As he said, she would eventually learn why only Jerond could see the differently colored pupil in her eyes, but even if she never found out, nothing would change.

What would change, what she could be certain would change, was that she had left the forest, that she could never return, and that she would have to live by that man’s side keeping a secret. She would live hard, mistaken for a woman, pretending to be mute, always anxious about when she might be found out.

Even if that man discovered everything and raised a sword to gouge out her eyes, Luti had no strength to protect herself.

Beyond the transparent eyes looking at the sky, sorrow rises. But soon, as if accepting reality, she held the two hybrids in her arms and climbed into the carriage.

Luti looked gloomy the entire time. She did not shed tears, but she did not say a word while racing to his castle. Even so, the black horse ran at tremendous speed. They passed through the forest, over a long mountain ridge, and through places made only of blue plains and sand. After running like that for a long while, green trees and yellowing fields appeared along with the blue sky. They had finally arrived in the land he ruled.

“Amblin.”

Even upon hearing the new name, Luti did not raise her head. With a face like the world had collapsed, she only held the two hybrids.

“Do as you like. But nothing will change just because you act like that.”

It was a cold, indifferent statement. She thought he didn’t have to go that far, but he was the man in the black cloak who had destroyed the forest. Luti, now even more depressed, didn’t even look at the scenery outside the carriage. Even though she heard the cheers of people welcoming Jerond and smelled fresh fruit, Luti held only the hybrids the whole time. As she sat sullenly, as if she had no interest in what was happening inside, Jerond’s gaze stabbed deep into her.

“Hey.”

Even when called, she paid no attention. Whether his gaze pierced her or he raged silently, she did not move. She continued to run while waging that war of nerves with Jerond. After running for half a day, a large castle appeared. Standing tall on fertile land was Jerond’s castle.

“This is my castle. I am the lord here. A knight with a title.”

She knew from books how great a titled knight was. No, he had the surname Gladzor, meaning one who protects the emperor, so regardless of title he was surely a great man. An ordinary person would prostrate themselves before someone with the surname Gladzor, but Luti didn’t want to. Even if she was frightened half to death, she didn’t want to now.

“Inside the castle, there is the inner citadel where I stay, a village and shops, and merchants. There are commoners and serfs. There are servants and slaves, facilities for the poor, and playgrounds for children. There are artificial waterways and sea routes, so I exchange information closely with lords of other regions.”

Luti glanced at the man’s face as he explained calmly. She was glad he explained kindly, but it was truly dry. Though he called himself the master of the castle, there was no pride in the castle or arrogant showing off.

“Can you write?”

The drawbridge was just opening. As servants and soldiers tried to greet him, Jerond asked again.

“You said you can draw, so you can write too, right?”

Luti’s eyes trembled. If she said she could write, he would surely ask questions and tell her to write the answers.

After worrying, she slightly shook her head. Jerond’s expression as he looked at her hardened. She wondered if he had noticed she hadn’t told the truth, but Jerond only let out a low hum, almost muttering to himself.

“Why do you keep……”

His words were not clear. But she didn’t want to care. No, before she had time to, Luti had completely entered his domain.

Servants who had been working all bowed, and women with baskets on their hips waved handkerchiefs. Children playing with spears and shields ran out and greeted them again and again, then ran after the carriage along the stone road. The carriage, which had been running slowly among those people, came to a complete stop. Sensing it, she raised her head. Dozens of people stood in a line on the stone steps. Among them, an old man standing at the lowest step approached the carriage and welcomed his master.

“Welcome back safely.”

When the carriage door opened, fragrant scents and the unique smell of the human world rushed in. Hearing the joyful voices of people welcoming Jerond, Jerond got out of the carriage and held out his hand to her.

“Get down.”

Luti shook her head. She was burying her face in her fur hat and making a pointless resistance. Jerond took away the pouch containing the hybrids he had been holding all along.

“Ardo. They’re hybrids. They’re tired from the journey, so wash them and give them food.”

Jerond handed the pouch to his butler, called Ardo. The old man looked surprised at the two hybrids, but soon gave a generous smile.

“And this is a woman from Lavarus. She will paint my portrait, so attend to her.”

Jerond grabbed Luti’s hand. It would have been better if she got down on her own, but since she was being stubborn, there was no choice. He pulled the thin arm hidden under the cloak. Just as he tried to make her step on the carriage threshold, Luti’s body went stiff with tension and nearly collapsed.

“……!”

He caught Luti, whose first appearance had almost been spectacular. With a truly amazing motion, he scooped her up by the waist and set her straight, and Luti’s cheeks were slightly flushed.

“You must be tired from the long journey. She’s tired enough for her legs to give out, so assign a maid to her.”

“Yes. I will do that.”

“Give her everything she needs and let her stay in the highest room in the castle.”

Jerond, holding Luti who had almost fallen beautifully, furrowed his brow. Even after being set straight, she couldn’t stand properly, and when he frowned at that, the quick-witted butler quickly dismissed all the servants and maids lined up on the stairs. As the servants vanished in an instant, Jerond lifted Luti in his arms.

“You’re really troublesome.”

“……!”

Jerond held Luti firmly. He carried Luti, who struggled in his arms, up the stairs with big strides, and the butler Ardo began to speak.

“I didn’t know you would bring such a beautiful lady. If you had sent word, I would have decorated the castle or something.”

“Why would I?”

Just then, the old man noticed blond hair sticking out from between the fur hat. The beautifully colored hair was a little different from what he had seen in the castle.

“You said she would paint a portrait, so I thought providing a good environment was the courtesy due to an artist……”

“Ardo.”

At the sound of his name, the old man immediately sensed the changed atmosphere.

“Yes, speak.”

“She is a woman of few words and weak body. During the time she talks with me, she must not be disturbed by anyone.”

“Of course.”

“Receive visitors only with my permission.”

“Yes. Understood.”

“What did I say I was returning from just now?”

At the sudden question, the old man’s eyes lost their bearings. But he soon answered with wise eyes.

“Didn’t you say you were returning from bringing the woman from Lavarus? The knight commander also told you to have a portrait made, so I thought my lord must have been in a hurry.”

The old man reached a clear conclusion. He had thought Jerond had left to scout the forest, but when told to answer otherwise, he had to.

“I want to rest.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Before he knew it, they had climbed all the stone steps. He had climbed the high stairs without even pausing for breath, looked once at Luti lying as if dead in his arms, and began walking on the marble floor again. Wearing armor under his black cloak, he carried Luti up the spiral staircase. There were no fancy decorations, but under the round ceiling born from a master’s touch, Jerond, who had been walking, opened his mouth.

“You probably want to tell me to put you down.”

“……!!”

“But at your pace, it would take half a day to walk. My castle is large and spacious. Just figuring out the rooms and reception rooms in this castle would take you half a year.”

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