Chapter 25

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Chapter 25

“Then, shall we go to the East Annex with sister and sleep together?”

“…Really?”

“Can’t we do that, Sir Bediviel?”

At Min-ha’s following words, Noah raised her head with his eyes twinkling. She wrapped her hands around the child’s cheeks tenderly and met his gaze.

Meanwhile, Bediviel looked like he was worried for a moment, then immediately loosened his stiff expression and asked Min-ha.

“If you do that, we would be grateful… Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Yes? Is there any reason why it’s not all right?”

“…No. It’s just that the Madam had never left the residence where you’re staying in the past. And, it’s also possible that there may be attacks.”

“…Ah. I see. I’m fine.”

“All right. Well, I will prepare a room next to Young Master Noah.”

“Yes. Please.”

‘I’m not sleeping in the same room as Noah. Well, I guess so since they might not believe in myself yet.’

Min-ha thought so and nodded her head slightly. However, Noah, who was quietly listening to the conversation, pouted his lips, shook his head, and shouted.

“No! I want to sleep with sister-in-law!”

​​

“Noah! That’s…”

At Noah’s words, Bediviel put the brakes on a perplexed expression, though the child’s persistence remained the same. Min-ha hugged Noah, who was hanging on her arm, and spoke to Bediviel.

“I’ll just sleep in the same room with Noah.”

“…Madam.”

“Is the room too small for me to sleep with Noah?”

She knew what he was wary of and wanted to watch out, but she gazed back at Bediviel with a deliberate, calm smile.

Eventually, Bediviel, who was looking at Min-ha and Noah alternately, sighed and replied briefly as if he couldn’t help it.

“…It’s not that.”

“Then, it doesn’t matter.”

“…Yes. Please, follow me. I will guide you.”

“Okay. Noah, wake up. Let’s go together.”

“Yes!”

He then got up, and Min-ha followed him up as she extended her hand to Noah.

Taking her hand with a bright smile, Noah followed Bediviel, who was walking a little ahead. Min-ha held his hand tightly as though excited and stroked the child’s hair, who was smiling.

Min-ha and Noah followed Bediviel to the third floor, passing through the entrance of the East Annex, which was now quite familiar.

The scenery on the third floor of the Eastern Annex, which she saw for the first time, amazed her. Unlike the first floor, where the library and drawing room are located, and the second floor, where Seth’s office is located, the third floor, where people live, felt quite cozy.

Bediviel opened his mouth as he opened one of the many large doors in the hallway with a small wooden decoration attached to the entrance.

“Come in, Madam. This is Noah’s room. Come on, Noah, too.”

“Yes!”

“Oh, thank you.”

Min-ha nodded her head slightly towards Bediviel, and followed Noah, who had already run with an excited expression, into his room.

When she looked around his room, which eventually came into her sight, she muttered a little involuntarily.

“…You must be scared to sleep alone.”

If you raise your head up and look up, you can see the colorful fresco murals and red curtains. And, the room decorated with colorful paintings and loot was large enough for dozens of people to enter.

Still looking around, she walked over to Noah’s side, who was waiting for her in front of his bed, and said.

“Have you slept alone all this time?”

“Yes! Except, sometimes I slept with you.”

“…That’s amazing, Noah. I would never have slept alone in a room like this when I was your age.”

“Sister-in-law?”

“…Oh, no. Let’s sleep now. Noah! Hurry up and lie in bed. Sister will hold your hand until you fall asleep.”

“Hmm!”

With those words, the little boy quickly climbed onto the bed and whimpered with her little hand, lifted the blanket, and laid down.

Seeing this, Min-ha sat next to him and took Noah’s hand. She then turned towards Bediviel, who was glancing at her with a slightly awkward face.

“Don’t worry. I will no longer do anything that harms Noah.”

“I know. However, what I’m worried about is ‘him’ and…”

“Yes?”

“…It’s nothing. Please rest.”

Bediviel, who was about to say something, turned to her curious expression. Then, he bent over to show respect before heading out of the room. Min-ha still tilted her head while listening to the footsteps of Bediviel moving away little by little.

‘What was he trying to say?’

Maybe, it had something to do with the reason that Seth Persen wanted to keep everyone in the mansion when he left that he was talking about earlier? She was worried about Bediviel’s expression when he said, ’suspicious.’

“Sister-in-law, can’t you sleep?”

“…Ah, nothing. Let’s go to sleep.”

Well, it must be a big deal.

In the end, Min-ha put out the candle next to the big bed and lay down next to Noah, closing her eyes.

She kept having a vague thought in the corner of her head, though she tried to ignore it and grabbed the small hand that was holding her hand tightly.

Even the bright moon that illuminates the world hid behind the clouds on a pitch-black night.

Scott Morrison, the commander of the unit guarding Joaquin Castle, a natural fortress surrounded by the rugged mountains, was looking down at the outside of the fortress wall with an anxious expression on his face.

This was because tonight, at midnight, the elite knights that his master, Count Joaquin, had worked hard to raise for a long time would enter the city. Indeed, Count Joaquin’s life-and-death efforts to create an army like his everything was finally equipped with the scale and capabilities he wanted.

If only elite knights join safely, they would be one step closer to the new world that their master will open in the future…

The pitch-black night that put everyone in the castle to sleep grew deeper and deeper, though Morrison’s eyes grew brighter with excitement. He waited for midnight, wishing that the hands of the pocket watch beside him would move faster.

“Look, boss! ‘Gray hyenas’ have arrived.”

How long had he been waiting so patiently? A soldier who had been standing guard in front of the castle gate a while ago ran up to him with an urgent expression and said,

‘Finally!’

Morrison quickly turned his head and looked down with the torch in his hand that was illuminating the base of the castle. There, in front of the fortress wall, the dignified figure of the knights who wrapped their bodies in gray robes seemed to fill their view.

Even though Morrison’s heart swelled at the sigh, he tried not to show his appearance and shouted at the knights in gray robes.

“If you are the ‘gray hyena’ we have been waiting for, show the insignia and give the password!”

Hearing Morrison’s cry, one of the most spearheaded knights in gray robes answered, raising the badge in his hand.

“A new sun and a new moon shall rise in the red sky.”

“Oh! Hurry up and open the gates!”

As an unmistakable code flowed out of the knight’s mouth. In response, Morrison cheered loudly and shouted for the gates to open.

Kugong—!

At that, the bridge of the gate, which had been tightly closed, was released and slowly descended. Morrison quickly climbed down the stairs in the wall to meet the gray hyenas who had arrived on time.

“It’s a good thing you’re here! How long the Count awaits you!”

Morrison, who arrived in front of the castle gate at once, stood in front of the approaching gray knights, raising dust and shouting with excitement.

He proudly stared around the knights that filled the large vacant lot in front of the castle gate. A knight who had been in the vanguard a while ago came down from his horse and slowly approached him.

The knight, who appears to be the captain of the elite knights, was dignified and strong enough to not be covered by the gray robe that covered his body.

The knight then prostrated before Morrison. Seeing so, he smiled happily and moved closer to the knight who was paying his respects.

“Oh! There is nothing to be so polite about.”

“How can you not show respect to the commander?”

“It’s done. Now, get up quickly. The Count is waiting for you.”

“That’s right.”

“Yes, yes! Promptly, you, too…!”

It was then when he turned around with a smile after a short conversation with the knight. Immediately, a sharp silver blade flashed in his sight, and in an instant, it flew into his neck and stabbed him.

“Ugh—!”

At that moment, Morrison slumped down as his knees fell due to the excruciating pain he felt near his neck.

‘Damn, what the hell is this!’

Morrison’s trembling hand touched the painful neck and shoulder joint. However, the moment he brought his hand there, the pain felt stronger and he had to let go of it. He was startled by the sight that came to his view.

His hand, which was on his neck, was full of crimson blood.

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────