Chapter 105

Chapter 105

The calm Baron Berman’s mansion, where darkness fell, was full of crows. As Ramashter had said, the mansion was burned black and had become a ruin.

Leasis left the captain of the gilatans on the hill and began to wander around.

One step after another.

Whenever she moved forward, her heart rang ominously. As she walked half-heartedly, the surroundings suddenly brightened.

Then, she saw someone far away. Just in case anyone knew about the mansion, Leasis rushed along.

The middle-aged man was standing in the graveyard. He bowed his head and prayed in front of a grave.

The old tombstone was engraved with familiar names. Leasis discovered the name ‘Leasis Ren Berman’.

She falters in shock and stepped on leaves.

Tap tap.

At the sound, the man opened his eyes and turned his head. His eyes widened as soon as he saw her.

“Young Lady?”

“…Calorque.”

The name that automatically flowed out was unfamiliar. Leasis opened her trembling lips again.

“Calorque… Calorque, how can you…”

When she asked, Calorque kneeled down.

“I’m guilty of death.”

“That’s… What do you mean?”

Instead of answering, Calorque took out a dagger and put it on the ground. After years of guilt, he was exhausted.

The price of following Calibaut’s orders was beyond imagination. He had lived in hell for more than ten years. He had to suffer all kinds of hallucinations, and in his dreams came Baron Berman and the dead servants of the mansion.

Calorque opened his mouth as if making a confession.

“That day… it was me who brought the wizards into the mansion and started the fire. I locked the door and watch the restricting magic operate. It was me.”

Why?

She could not understand. No matter how hard she thought about it, Leasis could not find an answer.

The burned mansion and Calorque apologizing after a decade looked unreal.

Leasis, who had been staring blankly for a long time, asked.

“Why… why did you do that?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Why… why!”

Leasis could not hold back and shouted. Her anger was directed at the cruel reality, not at Calorque.

After putting everything down, Calorque told her the truth with a bitter voice.

“It was an order from the former Count-nim. In fact, I was not serving Baron Berman-nim, but Count Calibaut-nim.”

Hizen’s father, Calibaut. A cold and handsome blond man came into Leasis’ head.

It did not matter that Calorque had been working for Calibaut. Leasis wanted the truth. The reason why everyone had struggled in pain.

“Why… why did he order that?”

“It was for the honor of the Dratius family.”

The tower that she had build all her life collapsed and fell deeply under the ground. She had eagerly hoped, but Ashley’s words were true.

Her tearful red eyes were filled with resentment, anger, and sadness. Calorque could not face her and looked down.

Leasis asked in a low voice.

“Honor… just because of honor?”

“Calibaut-nim… was such a person. He could kill people for power and honor, and was capable of annihilating entire families…”

“That’s ridiculous.”

Leasis, who was shedding tears, burst into laughter like a lunatic and ran to the ruins. She could see the remnants and pieces of iron in front of her.

She remembered the night she had forgotten. Those who screamed, shed tears, and struggled in pain to save their lives were clear in her mind.

She knelt down and gripped the remnants of the fire. Blood started to flow from her hand, but her heart ached more than that.

“Uh… Ugh…”

Her sorrowful shoulders shook greatly. Leasis burst into tears and struck the ground.

[Young Lady, how about cream stew tonight?]

I don’t want to. I like meat!]

[Hmmm. Young Master Hizen would prefer sweet cream stew, wouldn’t he?]

She remembered clearly. Her father’s sacrifice to raise his daughter alone, the mansion filled with love and the friendly voices of the maids.

“Ahhh!”

Leasis’ cry spread through the dawn. In the unbearable pain, she lost her reason.

She struck her fists on the floor. Blood dripped on the white powder covering the ground.

[You have to survive.]

[Father…]

The cruel fire and the memories of her loved ones were intertwined. Leasis was devastated, tearing her head apart with her blood-soaked hands.

Her father had regarded Hizen as his own son and had believed in Count Dratius with all his heart. But the price was a miserable death.

Calorque approached her from behind. He could not dare say anything and waited for her to calm down. Leasis asked in a trembling voice.

“Hizen… does he know this?”

“He just came to see me a while ago. He said he would speak directly to the Lady…”

Leasis closed her eyes in despair. Yes, that must be the best. She admitted that Hizen’s decision was the best.

But although she understood with her head, her heart found it completely unacceptable.

‘Who will pay for those who have suffered and died in distress in those hellish flames?”

Her throat burned as if she had swallowed lava. She did not think any words would relieve this feeling.

Tack.

Calorque took the dagger and aimed it at his heart. He was ready to atone with his death even before she came.

Leasis grabbed his hand. Blood was dripping down on the back and palm of her messed up hand.

“Live in atonement for the rest of your life.”

“Young Lady…”

“Suffering all your life… That’s the only way you can pay it.”

Leasis no longer looked at him and climbed on the gilatan’s back.

She did not know where she was going or how much time had passed. The rain and tears mixed were flowing on Leasis’ cheeks, soaking her body.

The agony of her mind rather than her body was squeezing her neck. She did not rest at all, but she could not feel any fatigue or pain. Only her heart was burning.

The captain of the gilatans took her to her destination, despite the difficult situation. As if he had read her distress.

Thanks to him, she was able to quickly enter the Dratius territory. Leasis raised her head in front of the iron gate of the Dratius’ mansion.

Unlike the burned Berman’s mansion, it was very fancy. The mansion, surrounded by lush trees under the sunlight, looked like a fairy tale setting.

“Hoho! Butler-nim, what are we making this morning?”

“Let’s make what our Master likes. He’ll be back soon.”

Her heart ached. The distant laughter sounded like a mockery to her.

Leasis’ heavy head dropped toward the ground. Her father, who was burning and struggling with pain, seemed to appear in front of her.

A stupid father who had given everything to the rich Dratius without knowing anything. The only thing that he had eventually got back was a cruel death.

It was still clear in her head how he had hugged her in the hellish fire. She could not resist and clenched her fists.

The hand that was strongly holding the blade was already messed up, but Leasis’ was not even willing to try healing herself.

Her heart was burned by the resentment, sadness, and agony of the past, when she lost her father and memory and lived a hard life.

When Hizen was lying in a warm room, Leasis had to curl up on the floor of a cold orphanage.

Leasis glared fiercely at the mansion. It felt like he had taken away all her rights and happiness.

Leasis’ judgment had already been blurred. The crime was committed by Calibaut, but because there was no one to blame, her anger switched to Hizen.

Why did he kill my father?

Why couldn’t Hizen stop his father?

Her hatred for Hizen, who failed to stop Calibaut, caught fire. Leasis shed tears without knowing how far her anger went.

On that day, Leasis did not meet Hizen.

Max, who came into the Commander’s office, found some strange things. All the pens on the desk and the coats on the hangers were gone.

But he found something on the desk. It was a letter from the Imperial Family with a silver bird on a black background.

It did not seem to be a normal correspondence to be tied with a red string. Max hurriedly untied the string. It was something he would normally never do.

Then the unbelievable contents appeared before his eyes.

[As of now, I have ordered the appointment of Leasis Ren Berman as the Commander of the Imperial Elite Knights…]

She’s the Commander? Max finished reading the letter with trembling hands. He thought it might be an joke, but the content of the letter was an imperial decree to promote Leasis to the position of Commander.

It was unacceptable. He understood the time Leasis had lost, but it was ridiculous. How dedicated Hizen had been to his country?

Max ran straight to the Emperor’s bedroom. The imperial servants tried to stop him, but he could not stand still.

But there was an unexpected guest in the room. Leasis, whose hands were covered with blood, was kneeling in front of Elnos.

Elnos was wearing a white gown and looked calm, but she was cold. There was no smile on her face that was always bright. She just had an expressionless face like a doll.

Max’s heart ached. He had seen Leasis countless of times, but he had never seen her like this before. It was as if she had become someone else.

“Leasis Ren Berman.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Take your first assignment as the Commander of the Imperial Elite Knights.”

Leasis’ shoulders trembled slightly. She lowered her gaze and looked down at the red carpet. No pattern could be seen beyond her shaking vision.

“For many years, Count Dratius has made all kinds of irregularities. It’s time to punish him.”

“Your Majesty!”

When Max could not stand it anymore and stepped in, the guards blocked him from behind. Elnos said with a cruel smile.

“Sir Max. Are you breaking the Imperial Laws?”

“If you know your life is precious, stay still.”

Elnos spoke softly and looked down at Leasis. He really liked the despair on her doll-like face.

“Sir Leasis Ren Berman. Lead the soldiers out right now…”

In Leasis’ ears, Elnos’ words sounded like noise. It felt like the name ‘Leasis’ was not hers.

This place, her body, her mind. Everything felt unreal, like an illusion.

“…Kill Count Dratius.”

Listening blankly, she could not say anything. Then Elnos whispered like a devil.

“Hizen is your father’s enemy. He will have to pay you back now so that your father can rest properly.”

Father

Anger flared up in her mind at the word. Leasis replied while strengthening her bowed neck.

“I will follow your orders.”

“Yes, then get out.”

Leasis slowly rose at Elnos’ command. As she left the bedroom, she stumbled heavily, but Elnos did not hold her.