Garon immediately apologized. He shut his eyes tightly, trembling, yet offered no excuses. Judging by the way he'd already been prepared for what he'd done before I arrived.
After sitting down on the prepared chair, I asked Garon.
“What are you sorry about?”
"I believe you already spoke with Sir Mila, so you know the situation. Sir Mila's words are completely true. What I said in front of everyone was a lie."
I frowned. Garon, seeing that I didn't say anything, finally lowered his head.
"I know. You'll probably think I'm ungrateful. I know how much Your Highness has cared for me."
"If you knew this, why did you do this? Were you so greedy for the knight position?"
"No!"
Garon shook his head vigorously. He looked determined, as if he absolutely could not believe that, as if he wanted to prove his own meager innocence.
“I will listen to your excuses.”
At my words, Garon exclaimed, "Thank you!" and bit his lip. Then he opened his eyes and began to speak.
"It was ten years ago, just before I became a soldier for the Count of Winsley. My father was a gambling addict, and as a result, our family was deeply in debt. The creditors tried to sell me and my siblings into slavery. I fought them, and with all my might, I managed to beat them all. Naturally, there were many onlookers, and one of them offered to pay off my debt. He said he had something to do for me."
"No way."
Garon nodded.
“Yes, that’s right. What that man asked me to do was become a soldier for the Count of Winsley.”
“Become a soldier? What did he tell you to do?”
"At the time, I wasn't asked to do anything. I was simply told to work as hard as I could to earn their trust. I was content with my life here, and while I initially tried not to get attached, after ten years... I couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging."
Garon spoke with a bitter expression. If his story were true, he would have spent a full decade feeling the pressure of not belonging here.
"Besides, His Excellency the Count was a man everyone could not help but respect. I wondered if the person who entrusted me with this task even existed in the first place. Perhaps he was just a kind person who arranged the job for me. Then, finally, the man came to me. He said the time had finally come and told me to go to the punitive expedition, demoralize the soldiers, and ruin their discipline."
“...I should have refused.”
I spoke coldly, trying to hide the slight sympathy I felt for Garon. Then, Garon, with an even more self-reproachful expression, spoke painfully.
"That's right. I refused at first. I'd already grown attached to this place. But then the man said, 'My master is Her Highness Princess Abigail. If you refuse this offer, you'll have to return all the money I gave you ten years ago, and your family's safety will be at risk.'"
What? Princess Abigail? I couldn't believe my ears. But Garon clearly said it was Princess Abigail.
However, Garon said that he had received the offer ten years ago. Princess Abigail was still a young girl, not yet an adult, and ten years ago meant before she had even turned ten.
So a young girl planted someone in the Winsley family? Why on earth? For what reason?
Why were they so wary of a family so simple and naive that they only considered defending the border and remaining loyal to the imperial palace to be the highest honor?
Garon seemed to have mistaken the emotion on my face for anger. He continued, his voice trembling with nervousness.
"At first, I doubted that. But soon after, my father's head, with whom I had lost contact, arrived at my house..."
Garon made a horrified expression as if he was remembering that time.
"I don't know if what that man said is entirely true. But it's true that my father's head has reached me. I couldn't send my mother and siblings away in such a miserable way. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
I stood up. Garon was still on his knees, not even daring to look up at me.
His head only sank lower and lower as time passed. Knowing a sin is a sin doesn't make it any less of a sin.
But the misery he felt when he saw his father's neck was something anyone could sympathize with.
"Garon, I will punish you. You will be bound and imprisoned, and even after this battle, you will remain imprisoned in the dungeons of Count Winsley's house."
Garon closed his eyes tightly.
"And I will tell the world that you have lost your eyes. So, even in the future, a long time in the future, you will have to wear an eyepatch whenever you go outside."
At my words, Garon raised his head.
"I'll check on your family's safety, too. I won't promise to protect them, because you've sinned. But yes, it's just my whim. I think you deserve to know at least the safety of your family."
Tears began to well up in Garon's eyes. He stared at me blankly, then closed his eyes tightly.
Then tears streamed down his cheeks. He scratched at the floor as if clutching it, and spoke in a choked voice.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. Thank you, Your Highness. I’m sorry, Your Highness... Thank you, Your Highness...”
He cried endlessly, alternating between words of apology and gratitude, as if he could only say those words.
I didn't hug him or comfort him. I just stood there. When he finally stopped crying, I grabbed a thick black cloth from outside and wrapped it around his eyes.
“From now on, you are blind. This is for you and your family.”
"Yes."
Garon nodded obediently.
“Do you remember that man’s face?”
“Yes, I remember. We met recently, so I haven’t forgotten.”
“Then I will send someone secretly later so that you can complete the montage.”
“You don’t have to do that. Your Highness, you’ve already met him.”
"He's met me before, too? Does that mean you've kept a familiar enemy close to you all this time?"
After sitting down on the prepared chair, I asked Garon.
“What are you sorry about?”
"I believe you already spoke with Sir Mila, so you know the situation. Sir Mila's words are completely true. What I said in front of everyone was a lie."
I frowned. Garon, seeing that I didn't say anything, finally lowered his head.
"I know. You'll probably think I'm ungrateful. I know how much Your Highness has cared for me."
"If you knew this, why did you do this? Were you so greedy for the knight position?"
"No!"
Garon shook his head vigorously. He looked determined, as if he absolutely could not believe that, as if he wanted to prove his own meager innocence.
“I will listen to your excuses.”
At my words, Garon exclaimed, "Thank you!" and bit his lip. Then he opened his eyes and began to speak.
"It was ten years ago, just before I became a soldier for the Count of Winsley. My father was a gambling addict, and as a result, our family was deeply in debt. The creditors tried to sell me and my siblings into slavery. I fought them, and with all my might, I managed to beat them all. Naturally, there were many onlookers, and one of them offered to pay off my debt. He said he had something to do for me."
"No way."
Garon nodded.
“Yes, that’s right. What that man asked me to do was become a soldier for the Count of Winsley.”
“Become a soldier? What did he tell you to do?”
"At the time, I wasn't asked to do anything. I was simply told to work as hard as I could to earn their trust. I was content with my life here, and while I initially tried not to get attached, after ten years... I couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging."
Garon spoke with a bitter expression. If his story were true, he would have spent a full decade feeling the pressure of not belonging here.
"Besides, His Excellency the Count was a man everyone could not help but respect. I wondered if the person who entrusted me with this task even existed in the first place. Perhaps he was just a kind person who arranged the job for me. Then, finally, the man came to me. He said the time had finally come and told me to go to the punitive expedition, demoralize the soldiers, and ruin their discipline."
“...I should have refused.”
I spoke coldly, trying to hide the slight sympathy I felt for Garon. Then, Garon, with an even more self-reproachful expression, spoke painfully.
"That's right. I refused at first. I'd already grown attached to this place. But then the man said, 'My master is Her Highness Princess Abigail. If you refuse this offer, you'll have to return all the money I gave you ten years ago, and your family's safety will be at risk.'"
What? Princess Abigail? I couldn't believe my ears. But Garon clearly said it was Princess Abigail.
However, Garon said that he had received the offer ten years ago. Princess Abigail was still a young girl, not yet an adult, and ten years ago meant before she had even turned ten.
So a young girl planted someone in the Winsley family? Why on earth? For what reason?
Why were they so wary of a family so simple and naive that they only considered defending the border and remaining loyal to the imperial palace to be the highest honor?
Garon seemed to have mistaken the emotion on my face for anger. He continued, his voice trembling with nervousness.
"At first, I doubted that. But soon after, my father's head, with whom I had lost contact, arrived at my house..."
Garon made a horrified expression as if he was remembering that time.
"I don't know if what that man said is entirely true. But it's true that my father's head has reached me. I couldn't send my mother and siblings away in such a miserable way. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
I stood up. Garon was still on his knees, not even daring to look up at me.
His head only sank lower and lower as time passed. Knowing a sin is a sin doesn't make it any less of a sin.
But the misery he felt when he saw his father's neck was something anyone could sympathize with.
"Garon, I will punish you. You will be bound and imprisoned, and even after this battle, you will remain imprisoned in the dungeons of Count Winsley's house."
Garon closed his eyes tightly.
"And I will tell the world that you have lost your eyes. So, even in the future, a long time in the future, you will have to wear an eyepatch whenever you go outside."
At my words, Garon raised his head.
"I'll check on your family's safety, too. I won't promise to protect them, because you've sinned. But yes, it's just my whim. I think you deserve to know at least the safety of your family."
Tears began to well up in Garon's eyes. He stared at me blankly, then closed his eyes tightly.
Then tears streamed down his cheeks. He scratched at the floor as if clutching it, and spoke in a choked voice.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. Thank you, Your Highness. I’m sorry, Your Highness... Thank you, Your Highness...”
He cried endlessly, alternating between words of apology and gratitude, as if he could only say those words.
I didn't hug him or comfort him. I just stood there. When he finally stopped crying, I grabbed a thick black cloth from outside and wrapped it around his eyes.
“From now on, you are blind. This is for you and your family.”
"Yes."
Garon nodded obediently.
“Do you remember that man’s face?”
“Yes, I remember. We met recently, so I haven’t forgotten.”
“Then I will send someone secretly later so that you can complete the montage.”
“You don’t have to do that. Your Highness, you’ve already met him.”
"He's met me before, too? Does that mean you've kept a familiar enemy close to you all this time?"
I asked, trying to hide my surprise.
“Who is that?”
“He's Chris, a knight belonging to the Imperial Army.”
I remembered who he was. He was definitely someone I knew. Chris Jenna, a middle-aged knight with considerable trust in the imperial court, had distinguished himself in this battle. It was quite surprising that such a man was one of Princess Abigail's longtime subordinates.
How much preparation had Princess Abigail been doing behind the scenes? How did she use her brother as bait to interfere in the throne struggle before she was even ten years old, become wary of the Earldom of Winsley, and even reach out to the Imperial Knights?
“And Your Highness, I have one more thing to tell you.”
Garon reported in a low voice, as if he didn't want anyone to hear. I listened intently, then left.
"Hela, take Garon away as secretly as possible. And when I give the order, make sure the entire army knows of Garon's punishment."
"Yes."
“Remember, no one is allowed to know until I give instructions.”
Hela followed my instructions and dragged Garon along. Garon didn't resist once, just obediently being dragged along, and it strangely exhausted me. Then Julian approached me and wrapped his arms around my waist, gently yet firmly.
“Julian.”
“You look tired.”
I smiled bitterly. It wasn't my body that was tired, but my mind. The very thought of betraying those you'd known intimately for ten years for the sake of your family was what made me weak.
But at the same time, it was chilling to the heart to learn that Princess Abigail had been targeting the Count of Winsley for ten years.
“Layla, take the day off.”
Julian spoke with a voice full of worry, but I shook my head.
“Not yet. There’s still work to be done.”
I had to write down the information Garon gave me.
It was midnight. The forest should have been quiet, as the sun was setting and the moon was ruling the sky and earth.
But today was different. The silence was shattered by the advance of Count Winsley's army into the small forest just before the lake. Small animals, startled, fled, hiding in the rocks and trees.
I was with them, too, because this was the place Garon had mentioned. We quickly began clearing out the items piled high in the forest.
It was then that dozens of horses galloped toward the forest. In an instant, they surrounded the small forest. More threatening than the spears they carried were the flags some of them held high.
The red flag visible beyond the trees and bushes, bearing the golden emblem, was the imperial emblem. It was a sign that they were the imperial army.
"Count Winsley! I heard reports that you are here! Disarm and show yourself!"
Someone shouted loudly. It was a terribly menacing voice. The soldiers began to murmur. I briefly mounted the horse I had tied and emerged from the forest.
"I am Layla Duchzan, the eldest daughter of the Count of Winsley and the Grand Duchess of Dukezan! State your affiliation!"
As I shouted loudly, the knight raised his torch and shouted again.
"I am Chris Jenna, a knight of the Imperial Army! Margrave Winsley, do not leave the responsibility to your daughter and show yourself!"
I rode my horse closer to them. Then the imperial soldiers aimed their spears and arrows at me. It was a clear signal to me not to approach any further. I raised both arms.
“Sir Chris, the Count of Winsley, is not here.”
"What! That's nonsense! I've already received reports that Count Winsley is headed here!"
"But he's really not here. You can check. And you told us to disarm, but we're already unarmed. Feel free to check that, too."
At my words, Knight Chris looked utterly bewildered. But since he'd come this far, he couldn't just leave without doing anything.
He rode closer to me, and at that moment, the man who had been standing behind me appeared from the shadows.
“Do you know whose tomb you dare to touch?”
Julian threatened Chris in a very low voice.
“Who is that?”
“He's Chris, a knight belonging to the Imperial Army.”
I remembered who he was. He was definitely someone I knew. Chris Jenna, a middle-aged knight with considerable trust in the imperial court, had distinguished himself in this battle. It was quite surprising that such a man was one of Princess Abigail's longtime subordinates.
How much preparation had Princess Abigail been doing behind the scenes? How did she use her brother as bait to interfere in the throne struggle before she was even ten years old, become wary of the Earldom of Winsley, and even reach out to the Imperial Knights?
“And Your Highness, I have one more thing to tell you.”
Garon reported in a low voice, as if he didn't want anyone to hear. I listened intently, then left.
"Hela, take Garon away as secretly as possible. And when I give the order, make sure the entire army knows of Garon's punishment."
"Yes."
“Remember, no one is allowed to know until I give instructions.”
Hela followed my instructions and dragged Garon along. Garon didn't resist once, just obediently being dragged along, and it strangely exhausted me. Then Julian approached me and wrapped his arms around my waist, gently yet firmly.
“Julian.”
“You look tired.”
I smiled bitterly. It wasn't my body that was tired, but my mind. The very thought of betraying those you'd known intimately for ten years for the sake of your family was what made me weak.
But at the same time, it was chilling to the heart to learn that Princess Abigail had been targeting the Count of Winsley for ten years.
“Layla, take the day off.”
Julian spoke with a voice full of worry, but I shook my head.
“Not yet. There’s still work to be done.”
I had to write down the information Garon gave me.
***
It was midnight. The forest should have been quiet, as the sun was setting and the moon was ruling the sky and earth.
But today was different. The silence was shattered by the advance of Count Winsley's army into the small forest just before the lake. Small animals, startled, fled, hiding in the rocks and trees.
I was with them, too, because this was the place Garon had mentioned. We quickly began clearing out the items piled high in the forest.
It was then that dozens of horses galloped toward the forest. In an instant, they surrounded the small forest. More threatening than the spears they carried were the flags some of them held high.
The red flag visible beyond the trees and bushes, bearing the golden emblem, was the imperial emblem. It was a sign that they were the imperial army.
"Count Winsley! I heard reports that you are here! Disarm and show yourself!"
Someone shouted loudly. It was a terribly menacing voice. The soldiers began to murmur. I briefly mounted the horse I had tied and emerged from the forest.
"I am Layla Duchzan, the eldest daughter of the Count of Winsley and the Grand Duchess of Dukezan! State your affiliation!"
As I shouted loudly, the knight raised his torch and shouted again.
"I am Chris Jenna, a knight of the Imperial Army! Margrave Winsley, do not leave the responsibility to your daughter and show yourself!"
I rode my horse closer to them. Then the imperial soldiers aimed their spears and arrows at me. It was a clear signal to me not to approach any further. I raised both arms.
“Sir Chris, the Count of Winsley, is not here.”
"What! That's nonsense! I've already received reports that Count Winsley is headed here!"
"But he's really not here. You can check. And you told us to disarm, but we're already unarmed. Feel free to check that, too."
At my words, Knight Chris looked utterly bewildered. But since he'd come this far, he couldn't just leave without doing anything.
He rode closer to me, and at that moment, the man who had been standing behind me appeared from the shadows.
“Do you know whose tomb you dare to touch?”
Julian threatened Chris in a very low voice.
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